I asked my first Bridesmaid today! I hadn't planned on doing it this soon - We still have one year, nine months and some odd days to go (yaaaay - time is passing!). The FH asked his best man back in August a few days after we got engaged. They've been friends since they were 8 or so and it was an expected assumption that he would be asked, plus he was moving to Virginia. Whatever. I felt like it was too early and that there would be a great deal of wasted time with nothing to do.
Sooo, a few months go by, I settle on a set list of 'Maids. We are a big wedding party couple. We have lots of friends and wanted them all to be in the wedding. So two girls from college, the FH's sister, a girl I work with, girls I have become friends with through the FH and his friends, and last but certainly not least the wonderful girlie who has the mindset to convince me to date the FH in the first place.
KS moved to California about a year ago. I haven't seen her in FOREVER. We kept in touch via Facebook and texts and randomness. I knew immediately that I would want her to stand by the FH and I on that very special day.
I did a great deal of research on how I would go about asking these fabulous ladies to accompany me on this fabulous day. And I decided on a card. I got a Cricut for Christmas and have been OBSESSED with using it for the last few days. I'll be sharing an entire spot about the cards in a day or so.
So KS came over for dinner tonight and I gave her the card. She was totally shocked and surprise and said YES! Soooo...I have my first Bridesmaid. It's fitting that is KS too, because without her I wouldn't be as happy as I am today!!
How did you ask your bridesmaids? Did you do something special?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
One year and TEN months....
There is a standard clock on the wall in my favorite classroom. On the left of the clock it says, "Time is passing..." On the right, "Are you?" Time has certainly passed and much too quickly for me since August. I don't know where the last four or so months have gone.
I will admit that as far as checklists go the FH and I are doing well. We have our reception hall booked and a deposit down. I 'accidently' found my DREAM DRESS (many posts will follow about it (-: promise!). I know what DIY project I want to do for my shoes. I am planning on making our invitations/stationary suite (still trying to figure out Publisher enough to use it) and have drafted a few examples. We have a rough idea about who we will want to ask to be in the wedding party outside of our family members. We've narrowed down the DJ to two companies. And I know what brand of bridesmaid dresses I want my girls to wear.
*Phew*
I know that there are plenty of people out there saying that I have more than enough done...but I don't. I love crafting, and want to DIY more projects, but I feel like I keep coming up with random stuff to make and it will look like garbage.
But as for the rest of today, I'm going to savor the moment and enjoy it. In one year and ten months - I'LL BE MARRIED!!!!
I will admit that as far as checklists go the FH and I are doing well. We have our reception hall booked and a deposit down. I 'accidently' found my DREAM DRESS (many posts will follow about it (-: promise!). I know what DIY project I want to do for my shoes. I am planning on making our invitations/stationary suite (still trying to figure out Publisher enough to use it) and have drafted a few examples. We have a rough idea about who we will want to ask to be in the wedding party outside of our family members. We've narrowed down the DJ to two companies. And I know what brand of bridesmaid dresses I want my girls to wear.
*Phew*
I know that there are plenty of people out there saying that I have more than enough done...but I don't. I love crafting, and want to DIY more projects, but I feel like I keep coming up with random stuff to make and it will look like garbage.
But as for the rest of today, I'm going to savor the moment and enjoy it. In one year and ten months - I'LL BE MARRIED!!!!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, helps to make the season bright
It's our first Christmas in our own house. We spent last Christmas together as our first official holiday living together, but in an apartment that was terrible, leaky and drafty. We had a tree and some decorations, but it was a half-hearted attempt at the holidays.
This year has been an all out endevor to fully celebrate every aspect of the holidays. We got a turkey and all the fixings: green bean cassarole, stuffing, sweet and regular mashed potatoes, corn bread, cranberry from a can. We invited over a large group of friends, went through several bottles of wine and celebrated Thanksgiving in our own special way.
The FH and I had to split up for the real Turkey day, due to his shift work. It did mean that I got to spend the holidays with my family in raucuous laughter and good times arguing over cards games. I knew that once the shopping was done on Super-Sale-Friday we would start decorating. I had work on Friday and Saturday and figured we could start on Saturday night and I could finish on Sunday when the FH went to work. WELL WAS I WRONG.
I went minor shopping on Friday morning, then went back to bed around 6 am to get some more rest before work. The darling FH went out with his mom to help her out while shopping. I came home from work around 7 that night to find our new house all decorated outside with tons of multi-colored lights wrapped around the porch and house. I had a smile ear to ear. I rushed into the house to find a brand-new Christmas tree put together with sparkly new LED lights. He wanted to surprise me and have the house ready for Christmas. I fell in love all over again. He knows that in my family Christmas is THE HOLIDAY and everyone decorates to the 9s and then some. After some kisses and almost tears, we made some hot chocolate and pulled out the box of ornaments. He put on some Christmas music and we decorated the tree together. I tried several times not to cry as I realized exactly what makes my FH so special: he's sweet, thoughtful, still surprises me after 6 years and I can fall in love over and over again when he smiles at me.
This year has been an all out endevor to fully celebrate every aspect of the holidays. We got a turkey and all the fixings: green bean cassarole, stuffing, sweet and regular mashed potatoes, corn bread, cranberry from a can. We invited over a large group of friends, went through several bottles of wine and celebrated Thanksgiving in our own special way.
The FH and I had to split up for the real Turkey day, due to his shift work. It did mean that I got to spend the holidays with my family in raucuous laughter and good times arguing over cards games. I knew that once the shopping was done on Super-Sale-Friday we would start decorating. I had work on Friday and Saturday and figured we could start on Saturday night and I could finish on Sunday when the FH went to work. WELL WAS I WRONG.
I went minor shopping on Friday morning, then went back to bed around 6 am to get some more rest before work. The darling FH went out with his mom to help her out while shopping. I came home from work around 7 that night to find our new house all decorated outside with tons of multi-colored lights wrapped around the porch and house. I had a smile ear to ear. I rushed into the house to find a brand-new Christmas tree put together with sparkly new LED lights. He wanted to surprise me and have the house ready for Christmas. I fell in love all over again. He knows that in my family Christmas is THE HOLIDAY and everyone decorates to the 9s and then some. After some kisses and almost tears, we made some hot chocolate and pulled out the box of ornaments. He put on some Christmas music and we decorated the tree together. I tried several times not to cry as I realized exactly what makes my FH so special: he's sweet, thoughtful, still surprises me after 6 years and I can fall in love over and over again when he smiles at me.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The awkward pause and silence
OK...I am a teacher. Unfortunately, I was laid-off at the end of last the last school year due to budget cuts in the fabulous state of NJ. My then boyfriend and I bought a house in April and in the same week we closed and finally had keys in our hands, I found out I was being laid-off. It stung. My darling boyfriend then proposed, much to my super surprise, over the summer. So here we are: engaged since August and happily living together in this house that we bought.
So where's the awkward pause and silence? We are having a long engagement due to our new "financial situation". We are not getting married until October 2012 because we are paying for the whole thing ourselves. Here's the awkward pause and silence: last night we were at a surprise birthday party for a friend's mom. There were other parent's of our friends there. One dad came over to say congratulations then asked when we were getting married. My FH knows how irritated I am by the fact that we have to wait so long, so he usually fields this question. He replied, in about two years: October of 2012. The friend's dad looked at me, gave me one of those sympathetic frowning smile and then said nothing. I could feel my blood boil. I know I could be over-reacting and I do feel self-consious by being unemployed but I HATE THAT FROWNING SMILE!!!!!
This has happened numerous times with varied types of people. I had one friend pause, frowningly smile at me and say "what a shame you can't save faster and have it sooner." Some folks have just blankly looked at us and changed the subject. I don't understand why it's so awkward.
If you have read my first post, you know I was not a girl who pushed to get engaged and married. I was utterly and incandescently happy with buying a several thousand dollar house. I am also someone who seems to get sick for weddings. I believe it's the stress and the busy-ness that push my immune system down, but still it does factor into how I feel about them. So I was in some respects happy with a long engagement. Plus, the positive to only substitute teaching a few days a week is I've had time to tackle a few DIY ideas and do some trial runs. I'll be making our invitations (yay - that post will come later).
I know I ranted and raved and probably had no clear meaning or idea going forth, but I had to vent about the pause and silence. I have to learn to get over it. Did anyone have a long engagement? How did you field the answer when telling people you were waiting so long?
So where's the awkward pause and silence? We are having a long engagement due to our new "financial situation". We are not getting married until October 2012 because we are paying for the whole thing ourselves. Here's the awkward pause and silence: last night we were at a surprise birthday party for a friend's mom. There were other parent's of our friends there. One dad came over to say congratulations then asked when we were getting married. My FH knows how irritated I am by the fact that we have to wait so long, so he usually fields this question. He replied, in about two years: October of 2012. The friend's dad looked at me, gave me one of those sympathetic frowning smile and then said nothing. I could feel my blood boil. I know I could be over-reacting and I do feel self-consious by being unemployed but I HATE THAT FROWNING SMILE!!!!!
This has happened numerous times with varied types of people. I had one friend pause, frowningly smile at me and say "what a shame you can't save faster and have it sooner." Some folks have just blankly looked at us and changed the subject. I don't understand why it's so awkward.
If you have read my first post, you know I was not a girl who pushed to get engaged and married. I was utterly and incandescently happy with buying a several thousand dollar house. I am also someone who seems to get sick for weddings. I believe it's the stress and the busy-ness that push my immune system down, but still it does factor into how I feel about them. So I was in some respects happy with a long engagement. Plus, the positive to only substitute teaching a few days a week is I've had time to tackle a few DIY ideas and do some trial runs. I'll be making our invitations (yay - that post will come later).
I know I ranted and raved and probably had no clear meaning or idea going forth, but I had to vent about the pause and silence. I have to learn to get over it. Did anyone have a long engagement? How did you field the answer when telling people you were waiting so long?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lucky Duck
I love Bridal Expos...at least now I do. I cringed at the thought that throngs of brides to be, mother of the brides and bridal attendants would converge on one spot to crowd tiny booths elbowing and shoving to get at free pens and pencils. I was wrong. And slightly over-exaggerating - but only slightly.
There are tons of brides with entourages in tow (even the occasional fiance - poor guy). Some are cordial, some do shove for the pens and pencils, but most are very willing to chat on and on incessantly about the tiny details of their weddings. So I was in love. I was no longer the only female with "wedding" on the brain 24/7. When I realized there were give-aways at the expos, I was even more interested to attend. Then I started winning.
People say I am a "lucky" person and I guess I should believe them. I've won a prize at every expo I've attended. First one I ever went to: Bachelorette Party to NYC to see the Awesome 80's Prom http://www.awesome80sprom.com/. Next time I attended: MaryKay home spa day for the bride and bridesmaids. This past weekend, I won an additional MaryKay package but gave it to another future bride who was with me.
I'm addicted now. I want to go to win. I want to enter every contest at every booth. I have created a new email address used for the sole purpose of entering. I created stickers (at the advice of my future sister-in-law) so I don't waste time filling out the entry cards. I analyze the numbers on my raffle tickets to try and figure out if any combination of the numbers contains or can make my "lucky numbers". I stalk out certain booths and put multiple entries in for the prizes.
I am going to keep going. I am certain to win a honeymoon at an expo in the next 22 some odd months I have left before we tie the knot. Are you hooked? Do you attend every chance you get? Have you won anything at any expos?
There are tons of brides with entourages in tow (even the occasional fiance - poor guy). Some are cordial, some do shove for the pens and pencils, but most are very willing to chat on and on incessantly about the tiny details of their weddings. So I was in love. I was no longer the only female with "wedding" on the brain 24/7. When I realized there were give-aways at the expos, I was even more interested to attend. Then I started winning.
People say I am a "lucky" person and I guess I should believe them. I've won a prize at every expo I've attended. First one I ever went to: Bachelorette Party to NYC to see the Awesome 80's Prom http://www.awesome80sprom.com/. Next time I attended: MaryKay home spa day for the bride and bridesmaids. This past weekend, I won an additional MaryKay package but gave it to another future bride who was with me.
I'm addicted now. I want to go to win. I want to enter every contest at every booth. I have created a new email address used for the sole purpose of entering. I created stickers (at the advice of my future sister-in-law) so I don't waste time filling out the entry cards. I analyze the numbers on my raffle tickets to try and figure out if any combination of the numbers contains or can make my "lucky numbers". I stalk out certain booths and put multiple entries in for the prizes.
I am going to keep going. I am certain to win a honeymoon at an expo in the next 22 some odd months I have left before we tie the knot. Are you hooked? Do you attend every chance you get? Have you won anything at any expos?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Florist Consultation Numero UNO
Flowers. I feel as if most women fall into one of two categories. You either looooove flowers, or you can live without them. I fall into the latter category. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love to have a garden of flowers that I can enjoy and tend to all spring, summer and fall. HOWEVER, I am not one the pine over my FH bringing me home elaborate flower arrangements.
I let him know in the beginning that I was not one to demand flowers on anniversaries, birthdays or Valentine’s Day. He was relieved, grateful even that he was “off the hook” on this oh-so-expected ritual.
So why, you ask, is there a flower consultation if I don’t care for flowers? First, my FH is friends with the florist and they went to hs together. He’s also the only florist either of us have ever bought flowers from for whatever reason. So...to the florist.
I’ve had a decently clear view of my “dream wedding” style and our beach theme. But when it came to the flowers I was fuzzy all over. Submerged flowers? Giant fish bowls with live fish? Silk flowers? Low? High? Tropical? Exotic? Stay in season? Import flowers in?
Well, our florist is a miracle worker. He is fabulous. Fantastic! Amazing! He took my rambling, non-coherent, every-which-way ideas and created a cohesive, elegant, masterpiece.
The price was enough to give my FH a heart attack. But it was a ballpark price and included everything we could possible need/want. I know that I can switch out flowers, provide my own containers and get shells right off the beach to help offset the cost too. But it is still going to be a large sum of money for things that will potenally die with in a few days. Any suggestions? Ideas on things you have done? I want something lush, elegant and beach-y. I will gladly take comments/suggestions/ideas!!!!!
I let him know in the beginning that I was not one to demand flowers on anniversaries, birthdays or Valentine’s Day. He was relieved, grateful even that he was “off the hook” on this oh-so-expected ritual.
So why, you ask, is there a flower consultation if I don’t care for flowers? First, my FH is friends with the florist and they went to hs together. He’s also the only florist either of us have ever bought flowers from for whatever reason. So...to the florist.
I’ve had a decently clear view of my “dream wedding” style and our beach theme. But when it came to the flowers I was fuzzy all over. Submerged flowers? Giant fish bowls with live fish? Silk flowers? Low? High? Tropical? Exotic? Stay in season? Import flowers in?
Well, our florist is a miracle worker. He is fabulous. Fantastic! Amazing! He took my rambling, non-coherent, every-which-way ideas and created a cohesive, elegant, masterpiece.
The price was enough to give my FH a heart attack. But it was a ballpark price and included everything we could possible need/want. I know that I can switch out flowers, provide my own containers and get shells right off the beach to help offset the cost too. But it is still going to be a large sum of money for things that will potenally die with in a few days. Any suggestions? Ideas on things you have done? I want something lush, elegant and beach-y. I will gladly take comments/suggestions/ideas!!!!!
Ta-Da a Bride is Born
I was never someone who thought I would get married. At least, that's what I told myself. Repeatedly. Over and over. While I dated Mr. wrong, after even more Mr. Wrong. I met Mr. SandyToes at college and was set up through a mutual friend. We had been aquaintances but never considered us good friends. Ms.Pac Sun was a friend of ours and insisted that we would be perfect together. Blah, blah blah we ended up together and have been inseparable ever since. I could not be more at peace and happy than I am with my future husband.
Awww, future husband. I am going to marry the man of my dreams. But not for another 713 days. Not that I'm counting.
And let me tell you, 713 days feels like forever. Especially since I've been laid off from teaching. So my heart was broken in June when the school year was done. Mr. SandyToes proposed in August on a whim and I've been vacillating between extream living-in-a-bubble-happiness and dark days of stay-in-bed-and-wallow depression. I don't want to wait. I want to marry him today. I want to marry him yesterday! However, with the cost of a wedding now we have no choice but to wait. I do try to remind myself that we did just recently buy our dream house so I can't complain all that much.
I cannot stop thinking about wedding details. It's all I can talk about. It's wedding vomit every time I open my mouth with one of my girlfriends. What happened to me? I have been a great girlfriend and have been in several (17) weddings myself so I know the drill and know the routine of doing my bridesmaidly duties. All of that still never sparked all that much of a desire to pressure Mr. SandyToes into popping the question because I couldn't wait. I knew I was happy with him but I can't say that I would day dream about a big white dress, flowers, cake and dancing. Yet, here I am, having only been engaged since August 17th and I cannot stop. Is the ring poison? Did it come with a lobotomy that replaced my normal-self for a wedding obsessed self? Is this normal? Am I just excited? Or was this side of me always here and I repressed it for so long because of so many negative relationships and now, since I am truly happy, I can let the wild wedding diva out of her cage?
I have a few close girlfriends who are waiting to get married this year. At least they are some solace for my crazed wedding starved brain. So to all my brides to be out there - is it just me? I am I alone in my wedding craziness? HELP! Save my normal self!
Awww, future husband. I am going to marry the man of my dreams. But not for another 713 days. Not that I'm counting.
And let me tell you, 713 days feels like forever. Especially since I've been laid off from teaching. So my heart was broken in June when the school year was done. Mr. SandyToes proposed in August on a whim and I've been vacillating between extream living-in-a-bubble-happiness and dark days of stay-in-bed-and-wallow depression. I don't want to wait. I want to marry him today. I want to marry him yesterday! However, with the cost of a wedding now we have no choice but to wait. I do try to remind myself that we did just recently buy our dream house so I can't complain all that much.
I cannot stop thinking about wedding details. It's all I can talk about. It's wedding vomit every time I open my mouth with one of my girlfriends. What happened to me? I have been a great girlfriend and have been in several (17) weddings myself so I know the drill and know the routine of doing my bridesmaidly duties. All of that still never sparked all that much of a desire to pressure Mr. SandyToes into popping the question because I couldn't wait. I knew I was happy with him but I can't say that I would day dream about a big white dress, flowers, cake and dancing. Yet, here I am, having only been engaged since August 17th and I cannot stop. Is the ring poison? Did it come with a lobotomy that replaced my normal-self for a wedding obsessed self? Is this normal? Am I just excited? Or was this side of me always here and I repressed it for so long because of so many negative relationships and now, since I am truly happy, I can let the wild wedding diva out of her cage?
I have a few close girlfriends who are waiting to get married this year. At least they are some solace for my crazed wedding starved brain. So to all my brides to be out there - is it just me? I am I alone in my wedding craziness? HELP! Save my normal self!
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