Shower, Bachelorette Party, Veil

I have been horrible at keeping updated! I can't believe just how busy I've been! A couple weeks ago, my future mother in law threw me a bridal shower. It was so much fun, and we got a lot of exciting things! We aren't going to use anything until after we're married, but I did have to break out the crock pot, which was quite possibly my favorite present of the entire shower. We received some amazing wooden bowls, I can't describe them, but they are awesome. We also got a toaster oven, coffee maker, wine rack (fun), mandoline slicer (another exciting gift), lamps, napkin holder, pitchers, glasses, cutting board, and so many more that I can't even think of them all. It was really nice seeing my family again too. I haven't seen my cousins for years! There were only two of them there (out of my eight, and then all of their kids), but it was nice to see them.My momma and me

The girls in the wedding, plus one of my friends

Me, my mom, my aunt, two of my cousins, and my sister - Geez, I am TOWERING!

Friends for 20 years!

Two of Matt's aunts, myself, Matt's niece, Matt's mom, Matt's grandma, and Matt's little sister.

Myself and my Maid of Honor, Mo - she is amazing and also my graphic designer.

Last weekend, I went to Chicago for my bachelorette party. It was such a blast! We started off at the nail salon for mani's and pedi's. It was a byob place, so we brought champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. Very relaxing!! Not all of the girls could make it, but it was ok, it was still a lot of fun! Then we went to a dueling piano bar called Howl at The Moon. Matt and I had been there once before when we first started dating, and it was such a memorable time, I definitely wanted to go for my b-party! It was crowded, but so much fun. I wish I could go back to last weekend!
Lauren (bridesmaid), myself, Mo (MOH), and Kelly (groomswoman) at the nail salon

Myself and other bachelorette's participating in a dance at Howl at the Moon - not enough drinks in me yet to not be embarrassed!!!

Some of the girls!

Everyone at Howl

Then, on the way home from Chicago, Matt's grandma contacted me to pick up my veil. I had purchased the supplies, and she made it for me. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be what I had wanted, but it was so perfect! I wish I could have better pictures, but these will have to do until the wedding pictures!!!

Cathedral length, cascade cut with Turquoise satin trim.

Upclose of turquoise trim


Then I wanted to add this picture of Addi boo and Harper dog. She is getting SO big!!!

I can't believe just 5 months ago she looked like this:

Check, Check, Check!!

I drove down to Ann Arbor this saturday to pick up our bridesmaids dresses. I was so excited! They look beautiful, and I'm happy with the choices! We were a little worried about the sizes for every one, but I think it's going to work. I'm going to give them the dresses at my shower at the end of this month. I'm excited to see them all in the dresses! The color was perfect as well.

Then, I drove over to Birch Run to the Coach outlet. It was an interesting trip. I just kept thinking about the scene in Mean Girls when they're at the mall and everyone acts like animals around the fountain that's like the watering hole. I felt like a wildabeast amongst lions. Girls were just ripping purses off the shelves and carrying gobs full to make decisions. It was like people were just lost in this bizzare purse world! I quickly grabbed the purses that I decided to purchase for my bridesmaids presents and waited in line for 20 minutes to check out. The deals were amazing, however I don't think I could go except for once or twice a year.
The colored one is the same for my bridesmaids and my usherette. The black one is for my Maid of Honor.

The following morning, I woke up early to go meet with the cake maker. She sketched out the cake for me, and I signed the contract. The cake is going to look like my stationary that Mo designed for me. She is going to do the same flower/grass/leaves design. I'm really excited to see what it's going to look like!

I'm such a faker!

As Matt would like to say. In the past few days, I've purchased a lot of stuff for the wedding, and maybe one or two that aren't. I have been so worried about losing enough weight by the time the wedding comes around, due to the fact that my bridal store ordered a size too small. It's been tight! So, I decided to purchase a bustier from victoria's secret. It was expensive. Way more than I had wanted to spend! But it works so amazingly!!! It pulled me in like I couldn't even believe! I haven't tried it with my dress yet, but I just have a huge feeling that it's going to be perfect! I have a little help with my spanx, that I finally found! It's helping pull the rest in... haha.

A couple days ago, I decided to purchase some hair extensions for the wedding. I want to wear a half up/half down style, and I don't think that my hair is going to grow long enough by the wedding. Plus, I want my hair to look fuller as well. I wore it to work yesterday, and every one thought it looked so good! And real! I'll have to post pictures when I get them back in. It's kind of weird wearing hair extensions, it feels a little funny on my scalp, but I love the way it looks! I miss my super long hair. :o(

I know that every one has seen those commercial for the "bump its". I saw them at Sally's when I was purchasing my hair extensions, and thought eeehhhh... maybe I'll look at the box later. I've been interested in them, but really skeptical that they would work. Today, I went to purchase a new curling iron, since I think mine is on the fritz, and started talking to the store clerk about them. She told me that she uses them, and that they worked really well! She took them out of the box, and showed the to me, and I just thought why not? I back comb my hair every day, and I'm sure this would be healthier for it, and also take less time. When I got home, I got the box open and put the bump it in my hair. It works! It works really well! The only problem is, I keep putting my hand on my head, and the little "spikes" come through, so you can see it. I can't feel it, though, and when my hair isn't stuck through the "spikes" it looks like I just back combed. I'm really happy with the purchase. Hopefully Matt doesn't find out about these, or he'll really start having second thoughts! haha!

Other exciting news, I got my first RSVP back today! I got it from my cousin. I'm really excited! It's really happening!!!

Oh, and here's a picture of our Groomsman's gifts. I accidentally spilled the beans to our usher yesterday... ooops!And I wanted to add this picture. It's hilarious. This is one of the dogs that come into my work every day. He is an adorable 1.5 year old beagle (probably the most beautiful beagle I've ever seen). His dad loved it.

Oh, what a day!!!

We finally sent out our invitations! I was happy to say "goodbye" when I was shoving them through the mail box at the post office. I've already received some feedback from one of my bridesmaids about how much she loved them! I'm excited to see how early we'll be getting some responses back!

Today, I received a call from the bridal company. Our bridesmaids dresses are in!! YAHOO!!! I'll be going down to pick them up this saturday.

Also, when I got home, I had an invitation for my bachelorette party from my Maid of Honor. It is going to be amazing!!! My maid of honor even said that she had some other surprises planned!

I broke down and actually purchased some hair extensions. Eeek... it cost about $90. I had the original plan to just make them myself, but one of the girls at Sally's showed me their "best hair". Which, of course, was the most expensive. I was just thinking, I want my hair to look amazing at my wedding so might as well spend the extra money. Plus! It's not like I won't use them ever again. I have them in my hair right now, which they need to be cut to match my hair. I love having long hair again!!

It's all Coming together!!!

Matt and I got a ton of wedding stuff done in just a few days. We went back home to my parents' place to "research" a/k/a eat at different restaurants for our rehearsal dinner. We discussed a couple of places, and I think we may have found a winner. We're just waiting for contact back from the manager so we can (hopefully) reserve the night for the rehearsal dinner! Yay! I'm excited to get something started for this!

Also, Matt booked our honeymoon! We're going to [drum roll, please]... Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! I'm so excited! I've heard nothing but great things about the D.R. A girl I work with said that it was the best vacation she ever went on! I think we're staying 7 days, so such a nice, long, relaxing time that I feel like I will totally deserve after dealing with all of these plans, and projects! I can't wait for blue water, and hot sand!

Yesterday, we went to Mens Warehouse Tux, and ordered tuxes. Matt is getting one that's a little nicer than the other guys, but they are both notch lapel tuxes. Matt is going to wear white, the best man and man of honor will wear turquoise vests and euroties, the groomsman and the usher will wear the chartreuse color, and our dad's will be in ivory. It seems like it's all starting to come together!

Then, while we were already at the mall, I thought I'd show Matt an idea that I had for the boys' gifts. They were personalized beer mugs. He really liked it, and decided to get them right then and there! They are glass, but spray painted with a gun metal finish. We won't be able to pick them up until about 2 today, but I will put up pictures when we get them.

Stick a fork in me I'm [almost] done!

I decided that I was really going to start hammering out these invites. I purchased all the stamps I needed for the rsvp post cards. I have to wait until we get the actual mailing envelope so I know how heavy the invites will be before I can purchase the final stamps, but I came home and stuffed all the pocketfolds, put the stamps on the rsvps, and wrote names on the inner envelopes! Almost done, and it's starting to sort of kick in that we're actually doing this!! 2 months and some change and we'll be there! WOW!!

And, I am almost done with pomander #2. It didn't (well at least didn't seem to) take as long as the first one. I tried to do it step by step, as in stack, fold, and gather the tissue paper to however many I thought I needed. Then I cut the "petal outline", fluffed and put in the styrofoam ball. Also, I tried to spread them out a little more than the first one.

Do It Yourself... a little too much... and hair and make up call

I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I love craft projects, and putting things together, but taking on two really big DIY projects has got me going CrAzY!

My number one project is our invitations. Other than our pocketfold and rsvp postcard, I have printed, cut, and assembled everything myself. I gave an invite to one of our bridesmaids, and she just loved them! She kept telling me how professional they look! I think that she will want to use something like mine for her wedding next year because she told me I'd have to show her how I made them. My parents were really stunned by the look of them as well. I felt like my mom was really proud because she isn't too involved with the planning, and to actually see a project that I've been working on, she seemed to juts be amazed at my "creativity".




I'm really happy with the way they have come out! It hasn't necessarily been too time consuming, just boring mainly with the cutting. I've got 40 more to go, which I plan on completing today on my wonderful day off. :o)

Another project I have taken on, which has oddly been the biggest one yet, is our tissue paper pomanders. I worked and worked on one... ONE... yesterday for approx. 4 hours, and I got half way done! Maybe I'll make the flowers bigger so they take up more space, therefore not using as much time. It's a good thing I have 3 months to complete these!!!


Listed are the two websites where I found inspiration, and directions for these two amazing projects!
- Road to the Aisle blog. She has been amazing for DIY projects! I highly recommend using this blog as a guide to all of your projects!
- This is a knottie (a/k/a a person from theknot.com). I don't know who she is, but these directions were posted on a board that I follow on the knot.

I, also, blogged about my hair and make up trial that was coming up. I love the make up! We will be adding false eyelashes to really make my eyes pop. But my hair was a total disaster! It was nothing like what I had asked her to give me, and the sad part is I ended up spending about $65 on something that ended up falling out in about 1 hr. I will have to go back to try to work something else out as far as my hair goes.



Oh, and p.s. My dad and I were going over my taxes and he ended up making a small mistake! I don't owe the IRS money, I am actually getting money back! YAY!! Which, all the money will more than likely go to wedding things... haha...

Some little checky-poo's

Well, we did it... Matt and I FINALLY got pre-cana out of the way for our church. We went last saturday for 8 hours. It was long... and a tad boring, but at the same time it was pretty interesting. A small thing that happened was that this guy I used to date was there with his fiancee. It was interesting and a smidge awkward... Especially when he and Matt were talking. Oh, and he sat next to us the entire time.

In other news, I FINALLY ordered the majority of our invitation stuff! I ordered the pocketfolds today, the cardstock, and the rsvp postcards. I think I finally found the color I want for our invites, and Mo has been amazing with all of her help. I don't know where I'd be without her! I hope I can get everything soon so I can start printing and assembling.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment for a hair and make-up trial. I'm really excited, but a little nervous because I'm sick so I'm afraid I'm going to look horrible even after my make-up is done. Hopefully I'll feel better by tomorrow. I will update with pictures as soon as I get my trial done! I'm pretty excited!

So mad!

I am SO mad! My dad called me today to let me know that he did my taxes and said I owed the IRS $873!! I was expecting to get around that much back! I'm so upset, and so mad. I made a small deal with my parents that I would pay for all the paper things, and I was relying on my tax returns to be able to get all of our invitation stuff printed and everything! Now, I don't know what I'm going to do! I'm so mad...

Invite mock up

Yesterday, I had the epiphany that our wedding is only 4 months away. It really started to freak me out! I realized that I need to get all of our invitation stuff done by this month in order to send out our invites at the beginning of April. EEK! I have nothing done! I haven't even purchased anything! Last night I decided to make a mock up of what I want our invites to look like with the sample pocketfold I received from Renaissance Writings.I love the outcome, but I wish it was closer to my color instead of black. I'm also trying out a different color for the invitations that what I had originally planned (it would have just been too expensive to do that much color). I still haven't found exactly it.
The directions/map card is driving me crazy because I can't get it to work, and I'm the worst at wording directions. I'm happy that I was at least able to make a mock up so I know what it'll somewhat look like. At least I have a little while longer to make up my mind!

Oh, and p.s. it won't be a save the date card, it will be a R.S.V.P. postcard (cheaper postage)!

Hmm... A little thinking, a lot of thoughts!

I've had so many things running through my mind lately, I just haven't had the time to situate them out! So, I'm taking the opportunity, now, with no dogs, fiance's, tv's, radio's, and what not's to try to get these thoughts down!

1.) I'm worried that our registry has too many things on them/it. We've only finished registering at one store, but there are a million things on there! Also, since I am such a huge fan of cooking/baking, there's a ton of kitchen electronics on our registries that are on the expensive side. I'm scared that we'll end up with all the small stuff, and have to buy the big stuff ourselves. Which, if that ends up being the case, I think it would be a huge struggle with Matt to make sure I'd get at least my Kitchen Aide stand mixer (which is my dream wedding present)! I'm starting to feel like I should take some things off, but I can't find anything that I have been willing to part with! I guess we just need to finish our Target registry, then I can make the decision after wards. We still don't know where we're going to find wall decor/art. You'd think that since we live in our state's capital that the stores around here would be amazing, but they are less than up to par. :o(

2.) I'm pretty sure that my parents haven't put down our cake deposit yet. In fact I'm 99.99% sure. They are such procrastinator's and I'm scared she's going to get booked before I can send the money in! I would just do it myself, but I don't have an extra $200 that I can part with right now. Alas, I'll just have to rely on my parents for that deposit! The sad thing is, the cake maker only lives a block away from where my mom work's, so she could easily drop off the payment during her lunch break or something, but I know she won't.

3.) I feel like I'm falling behind on wedding stuff. I've just realized in the past few days that I need to get all the invitation stuff prepared this month in order to have it ready for send off the first week of April! AH! Luckily, Matt said he'd help me, and I plan on asking my maid of honor to come up from Chicago to help out, but I'm still freaking out just a little. Those direction cards are going to be the bain to my existence!

4.) I thought that I had made my veil, but I've decided that I want something more intricate. I just made a simple cathedral length veil, but discovered that the color was off. So sad, my poor little fingers hurt from doing so much sewing! Well, while I was researching fabrics/veils/beading and so forth, I remembered how I had tried on this gorgeous veil with my dress when I went to go pick it up. The veil was amazing, the price tag wasn't. I knew my dad would not be thrilled about paying $300 on a veil when he had just coughed over over $3,000 for my dress! Matt's grandma said that she was more than happy to help make my veil, but this pattern is so hard! I've tried to find paper patterns for it, but have come up with nothing! I don't know how I'm going to make it work! I would LOVE a cathedral or chapel length veil with a cascade cut, and maybe some turquoise jewels or satin rat tail around the edge. We'll see if she'll be able to work it out! It's pretty much like the picture below, but the end would be rounded/curved rather than coming to a point.
5.) Our honeymoon is starting to stress us both out. We had thought we found the perfect place. An all inclusive in Cancun that was at an extremely reasonable price. But with the ongoing drug wars going on in Mexico, we've decided that it would be better to stay away. We've started researching the Dominican Republic as well as Bermuda, but neither of them have seemed too attractive so far. I guess more or less just a lot of crime. I wouldn't mind just going to Hawaii! I just want to swim with the dolphins and go snorkeling.

6.) Lastly, I am so torn about b-pics (better known as boudoir pictures). They're usually done either in cute lingerie or something that you'd think your man would find sexy. It's tasteful, beautiful pictures of art. However, my body is not at it's best. In fact, it's the worst that it's ever been! I'm so ashamed to show any part of myself in public right now! I've heard that so many girls feel the same way, but (as long as your photog is good) their photographer makes them feel at ease and a lot of the times they end up leaving feeling sexy and impowered. I know that Matt would love them, but I don't know if I'd look back on them and think... ugh, what was I thinking?! Maybe I'll just put it off until next year and give it to him for our one year anniversary.

We are REGISTERED!

Finally! After so many weeks and weeks of us saying that we were going to register, we went and did so today! Matt got out of work early, and I got out of work at my normal time. I assumed that it would be some what of a struggle between us since I just wanted to scan whatever it was that I wanted, and that he would be more or less all about the price. Luckily, it wasn't that bad. I was surprised as well that Matt didn't get too irritable. It was actually really fun! I came home once we were done, and added on a few things, but shhhh... ha. I even started our one for Target!

I've been a bad, bad blogger!!

I haven't done too much wedding stuff lately, but enough to know that I should have updated our blog. Work and everything else that is going on has just been so crazy! I have no time to even think!!

Well, I think we've found our cake maker! My dad and I went to a cake tasting a couple weeks ago, and I have to say it was definitely one of my favorite parts of wedding planning. All the cakes were delicious, and I had a literal tooth ache when I left. Best of all, I got to take all of the left over cakes home! Once we have put down our deposit, we will have all of our vendors booked! PHEW! What a relief!!!

Also, the same day as the cake tasting, my dad and I went to Macy's and he bought us our first wedding present!!! It's a beautiful crystal cake stand! It's Lenox "Opal Innocence".
Matt and I plan/hope to go register for presents soon. I really hope today, but we are still a little "under the weather" from a crazy valentine's night out with our friends! I'll try to update once I get this checked off our list!!!

Made My Veil!

I made my veil yesterday! It wasn't too hard. I read up on it online, and every website said it was so easy. I bought some fabric, a comb, and some crystals. I did a trial run Monday night, and then made my actual one last night. It's not completed yet, there's still a few finishing touches that I'd like to do. I'll post pictures when I'm done!

Also, I've been receiving a TON of positive feed back on our save the date cards. I guess hard work and determination really does pay off! ;oP

Picked Up My Wedding Dress

I'm so excited! I picked up my wedding dress yesterday, and I am still so absolutely in love with it! I couldn't believe that it was finally here! It makes it seem just so real! I can't wait until I can wear it. I had a hard time leaving it at my parents, but am not risking Matt seeing it! I'll visit it often...

My dress is in!

While I've been putting off wedding planning due to a recent death in my circle of friends, I did hear some good news today. Or, at least something that lifted my spirits a little. I did receive a call today letting me know that my wedding dress is in. I hope to be able to pick it up within the next week. I'll update when I pick up my dress!

Also, I've hired a Day of Coordinator. Fairly inexpensive, under $300. I'm happy to have that checked off my list. And, my mom will be talking to a friend of my sisters to hire her as a cantor and a pianist for the ceremony.

I don't know when I'll be in the mood to start wedding planning again, hopefully I'll be able to put this behind me soon. It is a haunting situation, and I cannot think of anything else but what has happened.

STD's are OUT!

Finally! After many many weeks of cutting, scoring, and stuffing... our save the dates went out today!! We've been handing them out to friends, but the rest of our guests will hopefully be getting them soon.

I only have a few more things to check off, then I'm done!! I plan on going to an invitation store to try to look at envelopements. You can't buy them from the online store, but they look really good, and hopefully be affordable.
I'm also hoping that I can get an appointment with the cake maker soon. Hopefully within the month.
In other news, we have a new addition to the family! Well, kind of. I've taken in an adorable, absolutely sweet little puppy! I'm hoping to find her a home, but until then, she'll be staying with us, and we'll be trying to train her and make her into a good pet! Yay! Will keep updated on our adventures of training, and finding Addison a home!

Bridesmaids Dresses: Check!!!

Finally! We've decided on a dress! Originally I was going to let my girls pick whatever dress they wanted by Melissa Sweet as long as it came in the color Atlantis. After a couple of trips to the dress store, my bm's all decided they wanted the same dress! So, we will be ordering them in a couple of days/a week, hopefully! I'm just waiting on two more girls for payment! My maid of honor will still have the previous dress, but the girls decided on MS120 for theirs, minus the black band.

On another note, I'm a little worried. I tried on my dress (the sample) for my girls while I was there. The dress fit me perfectly, which was a 8 and the same sample dress I tried on when I purchased the dress originally. When I ordered, they told me they were getting me a 4, apparently I was a "perfect" 4. I kind of started freaking out... they assured me that it will fit, and that it's only 1 inch difference between the 4 and the 8, but I'm still a little scared it won't fit. I guess I'll just have to start running and working out to lose some of those lbs!!!

Lamenting over STD's!

It seems that we're having issues with these STD's. I thought that I was saving money on my STD's by getting free postcards and doing everything DIY, rather than purchasing everything from a store or something. Now, it seems that I am having some major issues. Apparently, because of the magnet and size of my postcards, stamps are going to be really expensive for mailing. Ugh! So, now I'm starting over, and having some major issues! I just wish something would work out right!!!

In other news, Mo and Jenny have picked their dresses for the wedding! Yay!! So, here are pictures of each.

Update on envelopes

I made a quick trip to my post office today. When I first got there, the line was LONG. I thought, "crap, I'm going to have to wait for a half a hour just to make sure I can use this envelope... nice...". Well, lucky for me, there was a woman who was walking up the line asking if there were just little things that she could help out with. I asked her about my envelopes and she said that I could use them. She measured the envelope, and told me that I would have to just pay .62 cents rather than .42 cents. It ends up being about $17 more in the long run, but it's worth it so I won't have to start all over again!!! Yay!