Bridesmaid Dresses

Somehow figuring out bridesmaid dresses has been the hardest part about this wedding planning. I want to choose a color that I like that the ladies will also like. I also want them to have a dress they actually like.

Some designers have beautiful dresses, but don't have the right color of blue. Some have the right color of blue...well, you get the idea.

If my ladies are reading this, I do really like the dress to the left. What do you think?

Chris and I are going to Estes Park in a week and a half. I can't wait. I'll be very busy as I am meeting with every vendor in 2 days. Chris gets to go skiing. But hey, I am getting him out there to take engagement photos so I am happy. Of course I wish I weighed at least 5 pounds less (as I eat a potato chip- ok no more of those). I had a dream the other night about the Stanley Hotel. It was paradise! The ocean on one side and mountains on the other with a really cool water park in front of the hotel. We'll see if it lives up to my expectations. I can't wait!

Different

So, Chris and I are discovering that we like to do things a little differently. He tends to want to throw money at a problem and I am a DIYer. Ah, the joys of almost being married. I have a friend who will remain unamed who once told me that when she was first living with her husband she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake. Secretly I wondered myself. Now I know. (Love you H)

Getting ready to spend the rest of my life with someone is quite a daunting task- especially after 14 years of living on my own. I want things done my way. Oh. And so does Chris. The trick is realizing that neither one of us is 'wrong'. We just do things a little differently. Learning to share space and share decision making is not so easy for me. Let's face it- I am right the majority of the time :)

Fat Frustration

Has this ever happened to you? You have a really important event coming up and you'd like to lose a few pounds. Nothing major- maybe about 10. Somehow you end up gaining 10 pounds and so now you have 15-20 to lose?

What's up with that?

I would guess that most brides try to lose weight for their wedding day. That's my plan anyways. But somehow my brain and body are working against me. I am gaining weight! I had thought this would be the easiest time of my life to stay on a diet and exercise more since I am getting married and I thought that would be a great motivator. I am finding the opposite to be true. I just want to eat. And then eat some more.

ARGH!

Every day I think, "OK, today is the day I am going to be super good and I will be super good from now on." And then I eat cookies. And the next day I think, "OK, today I am going to start my running again and I will run every other day." And then it is raining and I take the dog out for the quickest walk ever.

There must be a trick out there somewhere. There must be something I don't know.... Except I don't think there is. I know for a fact it is all about the math. Calories in VS Calories out. That's all that matters in this whole weight rollercoaster.

Calories in VS Calories out. Calories in VS Calories out. Calories in VS Carlories out
(my new mantra)

Piece of Cake

Wedding planning has been pretty easy so far. I've been able to find almost everything I need and I am comfortable with the choices I have made. I've mentioned the florist. The venue is going to be great. I just need to find a minister- well, I need him to call me back. Either way, I have been blessed with a fairly easy road so far.

Chris was away for the Christmas week and was on call all last week. Needless to say, we have not had as much time to spend together. Things should get back to normal this week and I am happy about that. One benefit to him being gone for a week proves the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" to be completely true. He has been much more excited about the wedding. He's talking about us as being married and having kids. He's thinking about and planning for the future. I think he'll need to go away more often :)

I think what really happened was that the time away allowed him to realize and cherish how he feels when he is with me. We are so well suited for each other- we really get each other and are comfortable being ourselves around each other. I love that man.

Work

I am having a problem most brides to be have. I don't want to work. All I can think about is the wedding- the details, the schedule for the day, how to wear my hair. It really is silly. I even woke up at 5am this morning thinking about it and had trouble going back to sleep. And if I'm not thinking about the wedding, I am thinking the about the house I will be moving into and where everything should go and what color the walls will be.

The last thing I want to do is call up mean ol' car guys and ask if they want to buy something. Ick.

My latest project- I've made the place cards and escort cards out of the paper I bought a few weeks ago. It lended itself to that task so easily. It has the perfect stiffness. I had been thinking about hiring a calligrapher, but I think I'll ask my mom to do all of the handwriting to save some $$. My mother has the most beautiful handwriting and I am surprised she hasn't taken up calligraphy. She could probably make some good money doing that. I am going to see if I can find some ivory or cream labels that we could use. Self adhesive. Gotta love it. If not, I'll use paper, but cutting all of the names and such out would be a pain- even with a good paper cutter. Luckily I just found some online! I love the internet. The company I found offers so many different labels- from favor labels to return address labels to lip balm container labels.

Tonight I think I am going to visit my favorite stores of late- Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I've decided on a favor and I can make the container beforehand. I need a project. Yes, another one. Chris is out of town so I need something to keep me busy.

Closer

I have gotten a lot accomplished today. I bit the bullet and booked a day of coordinator. I can't believe how much they charge for the service so it better be worth it! I also booked a baker and a florist. I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the florist and I am so excited. She loves my book theme and has already come up with some good ideas. She definitely knows her flowers and I had such a good time chatting with her. This bouquet of dahlias is just absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn't mind holding these on my wedding day.

I think all I have left to book is an officiant and Mary the florist had a suggestion for that that I intend to look into. Everyone has been so helpful today. I really am blessed.

Yay! I'm getting married!

Voting Revisited

Which one do you like???





Time for vote. I had Creative Montage redo the monograms with the new color scheme for the wedding. I am planning on using these in a number of ways including as stickers on the back of the Save the Dates. It takes about 4-6 weeks to produce the stickers and so I need to order them asap. So I would love to get input from everyone. If you would be so kind, please leave a comment with your favorite monogram noted.

I do love the new colors though. They are vibrant and just great. I am very happy with Aimee's work and highly suggest using her

if you ever need a monogram.

http://www.creativemontage.com/ Check her out.