Friday Photo

It's Friday! I'm so ready for it this week. The constant fog is getting to me. It's so gloomy! And I think it has my kids going a little stir-crazy. Pretty sure it's just bugging everyone right now. The weekend forecast has a chance at rain, which I will happily embrace.

Anyway, last weekend my bestie came over and I finally got to see all her wedding pictures. Remember last June when I was in a wedding? Well, she used the same fabulous photographer I used (hey Mariano!) so I was already going to love every picture.

Then I came across this one. Which I had totally forgotten about.

That would be me with another dear friend from college, Liz (or Liz Liz as I like to call her). We decided to have an epic battle of the bouquets. Because that's the kind of stuff we do when we're together. Really. Mariano turned and caught us playing and told us to continue. I love how into it we are in this picture. I might have to put this one up in my house.

So have a laugh, and happy Friday!

2 Years

Two years ago I woke up early because I couldn't stay asleep. I got all prettied up (with the help of friends), put on a poofy white dress (with the help of mom), tried to stay calm in the back of the church (with the help of bridesmaids), and married Tim.


Best. Day. Ever.

It's Finally Here!!!

Praise the Lord it's finally my sister's wedding day!!!

There was a lot to do with this wedding so I'm really relieved everything has been done and we can finally enjoy a day. And I'm REALLY thrilled that hubby and I leave for vacation tomorrow.

But I thought it might be fun to celebrate the day being here in some way. Preferably an odd way. So off to Etsy it was, to look at vintage bridesmaid dresses. Because I could really be unlucky and have to wear one of these babies...

There's just no way this can be flattering. No way. (via TimelessVixenVintage)

This made me laugh. It's like, Little Bo Peep's wedding dress! I understand this was the style, but I'm so thankful it's not anymore. (via differentHues)

I think this one could almost be cute. Almost. (via TimelessVixenVintage)

This one popped up on my page and I immediately thought of a space-themed wedding. Doesn't it look kind of futuristic? Click on the link to go see the bodice up close. You must! (via TimelessVixenVintage)

And this... well, there are no words. Except that I think a couple of my aunts have worn a version of this one. I want an "outdated dress" party now. Hmmm... my birthday is coming up. (via differentHues)

So happy Saturday, and happy wedding to my sissy. Feel free to send good vibes all day. Good vibes are always welcome on a wedding day.

Hmmm...

So what do I want to share with y'all today?

Well, if you ever peek over at my Twitter feed you saw that my sis called me with some wedding crises yesterday. We're doing silk flowers and so we ordered some online. They came yesterday. Yay!

Um, they were totally the wrong color (and I won't go into whose fault it was in public, but it's not mine or the bride's).

So now sis has to call around to see if we can round up thirty-four stargazer lilies. Poor sissy. I thought she was going to cry when I was talking to her.

Second crisis: there are three flower girls. My mom did one dress. The other two were supposed to be done by someone else. My mom is done. Yay!

The other two have barely been started. Like, one is slightly started. The other is still a piece of fabric.

So now we're figuring that out. It's looking like my mom (who should be nominated for sainthood at this point) is going to do them. I'll try to help as much as possible (I swear mom!). But a few things have to be worked out first.

Did I mention the wedding is a week from Saturday? It is.

So if things get neglected around here, I'm sorry. I try to write posts ahead of time so that won't happen, but we'll see. All I know is, thank God for my gym membership. That treadmill is totally helping with my stress...

Evil...

Tulle is the bane of my existence. I swear I'm going to be having nightmares about drowning in it for the rest of the week.

We're less than two weeks from my sister's (okay, technically my in-law) wedding. As of right now the weather looks good (78 and sunny), the bride still fits in her dress (isn't that every bride's fear?), and things are coming together. I'm cutting tulle for centerpieces this week, making necklaces for us bridesmaids, and whatever else I get assigned.

*whew*

So how was everyone's weekend? We threw a second shower for Beth. I made cupcakes (mini ones!!!) and many incriminating pictures were taken. I'll post the cupcakes later (and maybe one or two bad ones, hee hee). If not today, then check back tomorrow. I'm hoping I don't lose time to write here daily. We shall see...

I'll see you soon. "I hope not sporadically."**

**quick, what's the quote from????**

Cupcakes! For a Shower!

So Saturday we (my mom and I) threw a bridal shower for my sister-in-law. We're overachievers so there was a ton of food and super cute centerpieces (that I stupidly DIDN'T take a picture of).

And there were cupcakes.

There were chocolate cupcakes with cappuccino frosting. Some had plastic skull rings on top (just for Beth, she's weird like that) and the rest had coffee beans. Then there was a lemon white chocolate cupcake with lemon buttercream (with fake bling or white chocolate chips on top). They went over pretty well and hubby got to take some to work this morning. I think he's ready for me to make the lemon white chocolate again.

So it really did turn out well. The day was way hotter than we would have liked. But isn't that how it goes? But the food was awesome, Beth got some good stuff, and everyone had fun. And just so this looks like it's about the bridal shower and not all about me, here's the bride-to-be.

Yeah, that's an Easter card you see. My husband's family is... interesting.

Friday Y'all!

As I typed that I was saying it in my head in a very Britney Spears voice. So I have issues... but I've got a hundred things to do today so my brain is a little off.

Woke up and went to Wal-Mart to return a dress (not enough room in the chesticle region) and happened upon a cute shirt for five bucks. Then came home and had some cereal, read the paper, and watched the finale for SYTYCD. I wanted one of the girls to win, so I was happy. By that time I had digested enough to go for my run, so I did. *whew* I hate that I let myself get out of shape, this is going to be actual work!

And now I have to make two kinds of cupcakes (okay, I don't have to but I'm an overachiever), head to my mom's to clean a bit, make a grocery list, and if I have any spare time start planning a bridal shower.

So let's take a moment to watch some goodness this Friday. Since I'm throwing a bridal shower in a few weeks, I chose to go with cute proposals. Which I sat here and watched. And cried. Because I'm a big fat girl.

The only way hubby could have done better (he proposed at Disneyland) would be to do this. We heart Scrubs.




This one made me giggle. I've had that song sung to me at karaoke before. Stupid boys.




I love this. Did I ever tell you guys about the time that we saw a proposal at a concert? It was when we saw Diamond Rio. Every girl in the audience squealed and cried. Myself included.




This is just insanely cool.




And this is the cutest, coolest, most awesome thing ever.

Wedding Shout Out!

Yesterday I talked about my wedding day. And mentioned that there were a lot of people I couldn't have functioned without. So why not throw in a couple quick shout-outs...

mom (and dad): This needs no explanation. And I really can't say anything that makes more sense than THANK YOU.

grandma Karen: I don't know if there's anything that makes sense here either! THANK YOU! I had the most amazing flowers and rockin' crinoline ever!

Mariano: You are amazing and so not just my photographer. I totally consider you a friend and one of the coolest people EVER!

my girls (Bon, Beth, Kristen, Kayla, Micah, Lis, Jules): Holy cow you were all gorgeous! I have some excellent taste in bridesmaids (haha)! Every single one of you are so important to me and there's no way it would have been the same without you!

Alyssa: I owe the amazing hair that I still get compliments on to you! And I owe some sanity-saving to you! What would I have done if you hadn't told Beth to say something funny while we were waiting to walk out?? *

Nicole B.: Thankyouthankyouthankyou for taking care of the church for us! I'm so glad I didn't have to do without my mommy while getting ready! And of course you made it look fabulous!

And of course there are an impossible amount of other people to thank, but I'll stop there. Or we could be here all night... Just know that all of you who were there for me in any way, shape, or form get a big thank you hug from me!

And I promise I'll quit the wedding and anniversary talk tomorrow...

*Children leave! I'm about to demonstrate the foul mouth on sissy Beth! While we waited in the back to walk down, we lost track of one of my grandmothers. She was in the bathroom, and when she came out, it was obvious she had been crying already. Kayla and Micah (my cousins) looked at me with tears in their eyes when they realized that Grandma was already tearing up. Grandma came back to hug me before she was escorted out, and I started to lose it. Tears were welling up, my breath was getting short, and I was trying not to look at Kayla and Micah or we would ALL lose it completely. So Alyssa told Beth, "Quick, say something funny so they don't cry!" (This is knowing full well that Beth has a twisted sense of humor and will likely say something unpredictable.) Beth turns quickly and says, "What? Like 'cock?'" And the crying stopped. Our makeup was saved. And Beth was the hero of the day for saying "cock" in the back of a church.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Hubby and I have been married a year. Last year on this very day I was in the back of the church trying not to cry, throw up, or pass out. Let's be clear though: I wasn't nervous. I think I was just overwhelmed at it all. To be nervous would imply that I was unsure of what I was doing. And I was never unsure of marrying Tim.

I don't even know what to say about the day. It was absolutely gorgeous for one thing. If I had been able to know that it would be that perfect of a day I would have had the wedding outside. I was calm until it was my turn to get down the aisle at which point I gripped my dad's arm. I didn't cry until my grandma cried. And everything FLEW by. I owe so many people thanks for helping that day happen the way it did. You all know who you are.

Since it's so hard for me to relate the whole day to you, I thought I'd gift you with a picture post! When you have as many FABULOUS pictures as I do (thanks again Mariano) it's impossible to pick only a few favorites. But I managed to keep the number semi-low. So here we go!!

And the day began with hot rollers and makeup.

There was plenty of laughing, no tears at this stage.



See? Mom was laughing too.



There's my fabulous Alyssa doing the cutest wedding hair ever!


There's my handsome hubby, helping best man Adrian with his tux.

And there's my hubby gettin' all handsome for me!



Look how hot he is!


The boys got ice cream.

And mom got her "grandson" ready.

See? My hot mom and my little man!



The boys' cool shot.



Here's hubby lookin' all nervous.


And here's me cursing the sporadic breeze.





I love this one of us.



And this one.



And me with my fabulous girls!



And the cutest picture ever of my little Tad!



The now famous crinoline pic.


I love this one too.



This one makes me happy too.




Our beautiful cake!



Laughing with my father-in-law. I seriously love this picture.




And dad singing to me.




My matron-of-honor did some serious partying.

And I did some obnoxious singing with Beth and Nikki.

**I just realized there are no ceremony pics. Oh well, most of you have seen all the pics anyway. And like I said, I tried to keep the number small here.**

Friday Photo

Let's try out this "weekly photo" thing. Today I leave you with a favorite wedding photo...

Very little explanation needed here. This was the first time Tim and I saw each other that day. We opted to see each other before the ceremony. I felt like a little kid playing dress up. And that was the first time I almost cried that day. It really hit that we were getting married.

For wedding guests...

So there was an article on Yahoo about what not to do at weddings, and I just wanted to throw in my own two cents. Go ahead and call me a brat or worse for giving you suggestions on how to behave, but I guarantee you most brides today wish they could tell their guests some of this stuff ahead of time.

1. Turn off your flippin' phone. Seriously. No one wants to hear your phone ringing (even if it's a song at the top of the chart) during the ceremony. Or during the bride and groom's first dance, or any other time. If you're that important, at least put it on vibrate.

2. Pay attention to the names on the invitation. Those are the people who are invited. If your precious "angels" aren't listed, find a sitter for one night. If that's impossible, PLEASE don't call and ask if you can bring them. Please. No bride (or groom, or family member) likes to be the one put on the spot. Just RSVP with your regrets and don't take it personal. Weddings are not circuses, or zoos, or carnivals. Children will get bored.

3. Don't ask the happy couple (or their families) how much everything cost. It's just rude. Speculate on your way home if you must, but don't come out and ask.

4. If you respond that you will attend, please try to attend. Yes, things happen that are beyond our control. But just because you're having a fat day is not an excuse. Being irritated at your spouse for not cleaning the bathroom is also a lame excuse. Just try.

5. Don't try to steal the show. This should be a no-brainer, but I've heard stories. Ladies, leave your white dresses at home. Even black is acceptable now, so there's no reason to wear white. Also, put your boobs away. This isn't a singles bar. Gentlemen, could you leave the jeans at home for one night? Dressing nice is your own little way of showing that you care enough to put in some effort for this huge occasion.

6. Watch your alcohol intake. I know some sloppy drunks. I would be horrified if I had to deal with them at my wedding. Thankfully there was only our semi-retarded black sheep and I didn't have to deal with her. Anyway, just don't drink that much! The only exception to this is if a good portion of the other guests are also wasted. Then no one will notice at least, haha. But really, know your limits. You don't want to end up being "that guy" that groped the mother of the bride. Or "that girl" that tried to make out with the best man in the kitchen.

7. Keep the snarkiness put away for the evening. So you don't get along with some of the other guests normally? Get over it for the night. Think your wedding or your daughter's wedding was prettier/nicer/more fun? Don't say anything out loud. Weddings aren't the place for family drama or catty attitudes. Let the couple have their day without all these issues.

8. This is a "controversial" topic, but I'm going to mention it for the sake of all the brides that think it. When shopping for the couple, buy off their gift registries. Sure there are people who know the bride and groom well enough to get something totally them that isn't on their registry, but you should be absolutely positive they'll love it. And please, when shopping off a registry, turn in the printout to the cashier so the items can be marked. Five sets of baking pans are a bit excessive.

9. This isn't so much a guest problem as it is a suggestion to everyone who knows an engaged couple. Never ask if you're invited before the invitations go out. Just don't. It's awkward if they weren't planning on inviting you. I got some of those (also heard were, "So I'm invited, right?" or "I can't wait to get my invitation."). Do you know how hard it is to be put on the spot? So don't. Please.

10. If there ever is some problem, whether you got married and the couple doesn't know it or you have some other question about the wedding, call or email the parents or couple directly. Don't go through extended family members. I ended up with some nice drama because someone brought something up with my aunt instead of me or my mom.

11. Last one. RSVP. On time. Please! Nothing sucks more than trying to track down the people who didn't respond. I would much rather get some "no" responses than have to track people down all over again. They're stamped and ready to go, so take the one minute to check yes or no and choose your meal. Thanks.

So there ya go wedding guests. Don't pull a party foul.

Wedding Tips... part one

I was married about three months ago and have had a lot of time to reflect on the day itself, the planning process and everything wedding-related. So I thought I would share some thoughts and tips from a recent bride. A lot happens during wedding planning and there are plenty of tips for me to give you. So there will be part two, possibly part three. But for now...

When you first get engaged, don't plan. Just enjoy it for a while. Don't set a date, don't pick your bridesmaids, don't even think about your colors. Just enjoy saying "fiance" instead of "boyfriend." There will be plenty of time to plan (ignore this if you're knocked up and want to get married before you pop the kid out).

When you start planning, figure out what you can afford. If any parents are going to help out financially, figure out what they want to do. Do they want to pay for a specific aspect or contribute a dollar amount? Or are you guys footing the whole bill yourselves? However it's going to happen, figure it out before you get your heart set on certain aspects that could take a big chunk of your budget.

A lot of people will tell you to pick the location and date first. We picked our date, and less than two weeks later I had my dress picked out. Obviously my dress set the tone for the formality of the wedding. And somewhat influenced the venues. I would recommend picking your date first. And be prepared for it to be somewhat difficult. We were lucky and had it narrowed down to two pretty quickly. It was one of the easier things we did. That said, you also need to be prepared to wish you had chosen a different date at some point during your planning. Every once in a while I found myself wishing I had been able to have the fall wedding I had always envisioned. But I love how my April wedding turned out. If I had been married in the fall, where would my hot pink shoes and crinoline fit in?

The last tip I'll give you for today is a good one I read on theknot. Sit down, just you and your fiance, and decide what parts of the wedding are most important to you. Make a list of your top three and have your fiance do the same. Then compare. Don't just say the reception is most important either, what part of the reception is important? The food? Alcohol? Cake? Music? Figure out your big three based on your lists (yes, you may have to compromise) and tell yourselves that those three things will be what you spend the most time and money on. Those three things should be what you want guests to remember, and what you feel is really "you" as a couple. I wanted little touches that really brought our personalities to the party. Tim's groom's cake had a pirate topper. His cuff links were pirates. We had a pirate bar with specialty drinks. Then there were my pink shoes and crinoline. All these little things that people LOVED when they noticed them. I had more compliments on my pink crinoline... because it was distinctly me.

So there ya go, part one down. Hope it helps any brides who run across it!

Trendsetter???

I have never thought of myself as overly trendy. Yes, I've bought into things that proved popular, but not because they were popular. I wear things because I like them. I also know that I am not nearly brave enough to wear things so fashion forward that I could be called a trendsetter. I'm pretty tame when it comes to clothes. That said...

I was at the grocery store last week looking and walked by a few magazines on the way to the register. One of the bridal magazines caught my eye. Now I'm still easily distracted by all things bridal, but this caught my eye for a different reason. To your right is the cover of the most recent issue of Brides magazine.

You're loving the pink shoes, aren't you? Well look at this shot from my wedding on the left. In April. About two months before this magazine was published. That's right, pink shoes. I think I'm going to take credit (even though I know there are brides before me who wore colored shoes) and call myself a trendsetter. Besides, the picture from my wedding would make a better cover than the real one anyway...