Not only is "Let it Be" a fave Beatles song of mine, it's also something I'm trying (desperately) to practice. Not in some existential, mantra-ish kind of New-Agey way, if that makes any kind of sense, but in a "loosen your freaking grip on everything, Amanda," kind of way.
Like yesterday. I was already a day late in my cleaning and checking my finances, due to Hband's bday on Monday, but Bestie was in town because Bestie Jr. had her baby (pictures to come), and she had time to hang out with me. So we sat on my couches and talked and laughed and poured out our hearts like the old days. The laundry didn't get done, the kitchen didn't get cleaned, and the clothes stayed on my bedroom floor. But you know what? The sky didn't fall. I enjoyed relaxing and trying to loosen my grip on that day.
Hband says I don't roll with anything very well, and he's probably right. I'm as flexible as they come in my classroom, because I just have to be. But at home, that's not the case.
Today, I still had that cleaning to do. But I wanted to spend time with my niece, because hey-- she's only three days old once. :) So I cleaned the clothes off the floor and did the laundry, but the kitchen really can wait another day.
There's no use putting pressure on myself to be Donna Reed when Donna Reed didn't have to work 10 hours in a day and then do all her wifey stuff, and still look pretty. I'm just going to try to slow it down and try to let it be. Try to live in the moment. Try to just roll with it.
We'll see how that goes. But for now I'm more relaxed than I've been for a while. You should try it, it's nice.
xoxo,
A
4.12.2012
4.11.2012
Recipe Wednesday: Energy Bites
Well, let's just say I made this recipe back when I thought we'd need a lot of energy for working out after school. We had started P90X, and instead of eating right after work, we were working out. That lasted just a few days, after we hated our lives/I pulled a muscle/I rammed a weight into my thumb, but the little snacks I whipped up have lasted. We love them.
This recipe is not unique to me, and I know, I know... I fail again because I don't have pictures. But this is so easy that you don't need pictures. I don't really know how good these are for me, but they do give me needed protein and energy, and are perfect little snacks if you can pop a couple in your mouth from the fridge.
I found this recipe here. There are lots of variations of this all over the Internet-- especially Pinterest. But this is the one I tried, so I can vouch for it. She has other notes, but this is the way I made them, and they were YUM.
Combine room temp. peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Then add the rest. Once combined, put in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Then form into little balls and put in a Ziploc bag and store in the fridge. DONE!
See how easy? This makes like, 20 bites, depending on how big you make them. Be careful you don't keep popping them into your mouth... that's easy to do! Enjoy your energy bites!
xoxo, A
This recipe is not unique to me, and I know, I know... I fail again because I don't have pictures. But this is so easy that you don't need pictures. I don't really know how good these are for me, but they do give me needed protein and energy, and are perfect little snacks if you can pop a couple in your mouth from the fridge.
I found this recipe here. There are lots of variations of this all over the Internet-- especially Pinterest. But this is the one I tried, so I can vouch for it. She has other notes, but this is the way I made them, and they were YUM.
- 1/2 C peanut butter
- 1/3 C honey
- 1 C old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 C shredded unsweetened coconut (I used sweetened because it's what I had)
- 1-2 tsp vanilla (more like 1.5 for me)
- 1-2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 C other add-ins (I used chocolate chips the first time, but then opted out the second. I don't like crunchy chocolate, and when they're cold, the chocolate is crunchy. EW.)
Combine room temp. peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Then add the rest. Once combined, put in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Then form into little balls and put in a Ziploc bag and store in the fridge. DONE!
See how easy? This makes like, 20 bites, depending on how big you make them. Be careful you don't keep popping them into your mouth... that's easy to do! Enjoy your energy bites!
xoxo, A
4.10.2012
Tip for Tuesday: Wedding Tips
I don't want to box anyone out with this post; you know, focus entirely on just the engaged or nearly engaged. So, maybe if you're single, file this away, and perhaps if you're married, add your own advice in the comments (remember, I don't hate comments ;) ).
I should have written this when the event was fresher, but as it is, I'm not even three months into my marriage yet, so I'd say that's fairly fresh. I mean, if I was a can of beans, I wouldn't have even come close to my max shelf life. That's fresh. Oh dear. Anyway, I made it through wedding planning. I survived my wedding. I returned alive from my honeymoon. So I'd say that's a success. After living through that, and well, you know what they say about hindsight, I have a few tips for those planning and executing all the festivities involved in a wedding. Ready, set, go (warning-- this is a long one!):
You will probably feel overwhelmed at first. Your first step should be to find out who is contributing what to the wedding, and develop a budget. Decide which things are most important to you, and spend more money on those. The reception will most likely take up 1/3 to 1/2 of your budget. I allocated more money to photography because that was one of the most important things to me. Also, when you are assuming how much things will cost, always assume higher. Then you'll be pleasantly surprised. And be sure you list every possible cost you can think of-- even down to little gifts for those who help you, and the gifts for your minister, musicians, etc. Don't cheap out and not acknowledge those who help you. We couldn't pay much for musicians, so we asked friends to do it. We couldn't afford to give them large gifts, but we did give them a small, thoughtful gift, and acknowledge our thankfulness for their talent and time because it was valuable to us. Seriously, don't cheap out on your friends.
Stick to that budget. You will go over in some areas of your budget, but then you'll come in under in other areas. But if you go over in every single one, your $10,000 wedding will soon be a $20,000 wedding. Don't forget random things like dress cleaning and preservation and thank you notes.
After you have a budget, think about the feel you want your wedding to have. Ours was soft, cozy, and intimate, which made me think of soft, neutral colors and lots of candles. We built our theme around that.
You must have some kind of bulletin board/workspace to collect pictures and ideas. I loved Pinterest, because I could search for things and collect them on a virtual bulletin board, and they had so many DIY ideas! It also helped my mom and others get the concept I was going for.
Even if you can't draw, sketch out what you want the tables to look like, or anything else-- cake, dress, etc. It's always easier for others to catch your vision if they can actually see it.
Have a few working themes you'd like (different colors, etc.) and run them past your fiance. He might not care, or he'll want to be really involved. Hopefully he'll be like Hband and just want you to have the wedding of your dreams. :) This will also help in case the wedding venue you book doesn't quite fit the theme you want-- you'll have other options.
If it's in your budget, get a wedding planner. I'm not talking J.Lo, here-- she doesn't have to be terribly expensive. A wonderful woman at our church has her own wedding planning business, and she does a wonderful job at a fantastic price. Not only did she help me plan and organize beforehand, but on the day of the wedding, she was priceless-- she got everyone where they needed to be, and we had no disasters!
Do lots and lots of Internet research before you visit places. Your time is valuable, and gas prices are high. View venues online and call/email for pricing before you visit, and narrow your choices down to five or fewer. Then if you don't like any of those, expand your search.
Realize you can haggle with venues. Tell them your budget and ask them what they can do to meet it. We opted out of the bar package (saved TONS), and even though some family members moaned about it a bit, there was an in-house bar and they helped themselves. They also worked with us to bring the food and beverage minimum down, and that was fantastic. Don't be afraid to haggle and discuss-- they have an employee whose job it is to do that and work with you. Just don't be unreasonable. Also, realize the initial price they quote you might not include tax or gratuities, which can be $1,000 more than the quoted price. Get the full picture.
Make lists, lists, lists! Make a list of every single thing you can think of that needs to be done, and rejoice when you start crossing them off the list! Invite a friend over to help you with this, because two minds are better than one. Write in deadlines for yourself, too. Make a list of every song you want in the wedding and at the reception, and for what event. Make a list of every single person you can think of who can help set up at each venue/take things from the ceremony to the reception/take back tuxes, etc. For each thing that needs to be done, find a friend to do it. Be sure those friends are willing to help, though. And give them a printed list of their responsibilities via email. Make a detailed timeline of the day before the wedding through till when you leave the reception. Try to include everything. It will help you not forget anything. Make a list of every gift you need to give. This is what saved my sanity most: lists!
When you go try on dresses, don't try on anything outside your price range, unless you're prepared to go over budget. Boy do I know what this is like. You will inevitably fall in love with a dress that's $300+ more than you budgeted, and you will have to have it. Maybe you'll be able to make it work, or maybe you'll go way over budget. Just ask the woman helping you to only bring you dresses within your price range. Also, don't be afraid to try on other styles than what you think you want. I originally wanted something very simple and streamlined. I ended up with a simple dress, but it was more of a ballgown-- everyone said they never would have guessed I'd pick that dress. And don't forget, your veil will be expensive. Either be prepared for that, borrow a friend's, or make your own.
Also realize you will probably need your dress altered-- at least hemmed. Do your research and find a tried and true tailor or seamstress in your area. I had a friend get married about seven months before me, and she loved her tailor. I tried him and not only was he unbelievably good, but his price was far more reasonable than anywhere else, for three fittings. We actually overpaid him on purpose because it was worth it and we were so grateful.
Find a florist who will work with your budget and catches your vision. The last thing you want is a florist who doesn't get your theme/look, and you wind up with flowers that you don't love. My florist immediately caught my vision and ran with it. She invested herself in my wedding and saw it as a chance to be creative, and I ended up with fantastic flowers that I loved. We did go over budget here, but we made the mistake of not telling her our budget to begin with. She still worked with us though, and we brought the price down. Plus, she substituted my favorite flowers at the last minute... gotta love that!
Your photographer is one of the most important vendors of the wedding, if not the most important. Find one who will do the style of photos you want, and meet with them beforehand, to make sure they get "you," and your theme. Discuss the day with them, and the timeline, to make sure it works, and tell them all the important things you want in your photos. Give them a list of shots you want, but realize that if you look too forced/posed, those shots may not really be what you want. Be sure that in the contract, you have a date nailed down for when you receive your proofs, and that they will also give you digital copies of all the pictures. I'd also recommend (though my whole life I wanted the traditional first look to be at the church) you get most of your pictures done before the wedding. You will be so much more relaxed knowing those are done, and your guests won't wait forever for you. Haven't we all been there?! I felt so much better knowing all the important shots were done, and we still had special "first-look" pictures. But that still didn't spoil coming down the aisle. That moment will be incredible no matter what. In addition, I think it calmed me to be able to spend time with Hband before the ceremony. Consider it.
I would suggest getting a hotel suite with your bridesmaids the night before the wedding. It is so nice not having to clean up, and you'll all be together and have two bathrooms for getting ready. I've done that for three weddings (including my own), and it's been SO relaxing.
Don't do anything extreme before your wedding. If you're normally not tan, don't get a real or fake tan. Don't cut your hair short. Don't remove every bit of body hair. Make sure you look like you for your wedding. I was really grateful I tried out the fake tan a week and a half before my wedding. It looked OK, but too dark for me, in January. It was still wearing off on my wedding day.
If you do your own makeup every day and it looks nice, you can probably do your own on your wedding day. Buy some makeup and practice (it's fun). Find a look that's natural, but stepped-up a notch. You'll want to make sure you have good foundation. The pictures may wash you out a bit, so be sure you do wear good makeup, but don't go too dark. Experiment and take pictures of yourself. Don't make your eyes too dark or you'll look like a skeleton.
On the day of, don't sweat anything. Let other people take care of things. You just show up where you're supposed to be, and remember the end game: if the day ends and you're married, it's a success. Take mental snapshots the whole day so it isn't a blur. Especially, just before you walk down the aisle, choose to remember that moment. I remember the day very clearly because I chose to, and I'm so thankful I did. It was the best day ever!
We thought that the vows were one of the most important parts of our ceremony, considering that's what we were promising to each other. So we took the shell of the vows and then augmented them to say exactly what we wanted to promise. I encourage you to do the same. They weren't trite or cheesy-- they were straight from Scripture. Maybe someday I'll post them here. Perhaps you'd like them.
If you're going away for your honeymoon, don't get a flight the night of your wedding. Spend the night in a nice hotel close to your reception first. You'll be more refreshed in the morning. It's worth it!
You probably wont' eat much. I didn't believe that and didn't want to believe that (we had good food at our reception), but it's true. I hardly ate, but I wasn't hungry. Just be sure you eat a light breakfast and a light lunch (protein!), and hydrate-- drink lots of water! You'll be starving after the wedding and will probably eat leftovers with your hands in your hotel room like we did... or not.
Get out on the dance floor and enjoy every song. It is so worth it and you'll have a lifetime of memories.
Be sure to set up a time and place to say goodbye to your parents at the end of the reception. My parents live out-of-state, so I wanted to make sure I said goodbye instead of having a Father of the Bride moment. I actually got to hug each of my out-of-town relatives goodbye, and that specified time for our parents and bridal party was sweet.
When vendors tack the word "wedding" onto anything, it instantly adds more cash. Try to avoid wedding stuff and just get stuff. If a giant, gorgeous cake isn't super important to you, then get a small cake from a grocery store to cut and freeze for you, and sheet cake for everyone else. Do you really think they'll care? A pretty cake is amazing sometimes, but it doesn't last. To me, it was one of the least important details, and cost us $20. I regret nothing.
Don't over-estimate your DIY abilities. I consider myself pretty crafty, but even I had to draw the line somewhere my sanity was more important than saving a bit of cash.
Borrow, borrow, borrow! Talk to anyone and everyone in your life and borrow all you can for decorations. Buying everything yourself will not only be hard on your wallet, but you'll end up with TONS of stuff you can't get rid of.
Choose bridesmaid dresses quickly, and if you give your bridesmaids free reign to find their own dresses, don't be too picky. Remember, they're paying a lot to be your bridesmaid, and even though you can't always help how expensive dresses can be, you can try to make their lives easier.
Remember this day is special, but it really isn't all about you. It's about you and your fiance, but more importantly it's about what God has done. Keep focus.
I told my mom a few times that it was "my wedding," which was true, but she reminded me that though it was my wedding, it was sort of a big thank you to everyone who had ever meant anything to me, so I had to think of my guests. She was right. You can't cater to every guest, but do all you can to make sure they're taken care of and are comfortable.
Limit your registry to two places. I recommend Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They are amazing! I hear Target can be annoying, and I found JC Penney to be annoying. Perhaps another good choice would be Amazon? It's more customizable, anyway. Tweak the list at home online, and be sure to have a wide price variety.
Don't save all your thank-yous until after the wedding. As gifts come in, make detailed lists, and write the thank yous as you go. Writing one thank you takes maybe 2 minutes. Writing 150 takes lots of minutes. And DO send thank yous. It's a big faux pas not to. You want to be sure to show your gratefulness.
Either ask your in-laws to handle the rehearsal dinner, or make it as low-key as possible. You don't want it to rival the reception, and it's just supposed to be a relaxing celebration before the big day.
Do not let your wedding define you. It is ONE day. Your marriage is infinitely more important, so invest more in that than the wedding day.
Think about what traditions you want to incorporate: a special prayer? A fun song? Part of your mom's wedding dress? A special wedding has special details. Think about those things.
Check out websites like ruffledblog.com, where you can buy and sell used wedding stuff; it's like a wedding Craigslist.
Be sure you have some kind of guest book, whether it's traditional, a photo book, a fingerprint tree, or whatever. You'll want it in the future.
Put someone in charge of giving you all the cards at the end of the night. You'll have some cash for your honeymoon and can plan how you'll spend your wedding money!
You will only get married this one time, so do think about all the things you've always wanted. Some will happen and some won't, but you don't want to wish you'd done something differently.
Pray. Start praying about your day now, and don't stop.
Breathe. It will be fine, and you will get married.
xoxo, A
I should have written this when the event was fresher, but as it is, I'm not even three months into my marriage yet, so I'd say that's fairly fresh. I mean, if I was a can of beans, I wouldn't have even come close to my max shelf life. That's fresh. Oh dear. Anyway, I made it through wedding planning. I survived my wedding. I returned alive from my honeymoon. So I'd say that's a success. After living through that, and well, you know what they say about hindsight, I have a few tips for those planning and executing all the festivities involved in a wedding. Ready, set, go (warning-- this is a long one!):
You will probably feel overwhelmed at first. Your first step should be to find out who is contributing what to the wedding, and develop a budget. Decide which things are most important to you, and spend more money on those. The reception will most likely take up 1/3 to 1/2 of your budget. I allocated more money to photography because that was one of the most important things to me. Also, when you are assuming how much things will cost, always assume higher. Then you'll be pleasantly surprised. And be sure you list every possible cost you can think of-- even down to little gifts for those who help you, and the gifts for your minister, musicians, etc. Don't cheap out and not acknowledge those who help you. We couldn't pay much for musicians, so we asked friends to do it. We couldn't afford to give them large gifts, but we did give them a small, thoughtful gift, and acknowledge our thankfulness for their talent and time because it was valuable to us. Seriously, don't cheap out on your friends.
Stick to that budget. You will go over in some areas of your budget, but then you'll come in under in other areas. But if you go over in every single one, your $10,000 wedding will soon be a $20,000 wedding. Don't forget random things like dress cleaning and preservation and thank you notes.
After you have a budget, think about the feel you want your wedding to have. Ours was soft, cozy, and intimate, which made me think of soft, neutral colors and lots of candles. We built our theme around that.
You must have some kind of bulletin board/workspace to collect pictures and ideas. I loved Pinterest, because I could search for things and collect them on a virtual bulletin board, and they had so many DIY ideas! It also helped my mom and others get the concept I was going for.
Even if you can't draw, sketch out what you want the tables to look like, or anything else-- cake, dress, etc. It's always easier for others to catch your vision if they can actually see it.
Have a few working themes you'd like (different colors, etc.) and run them past your fiance. He might not care, or he'll want to be really involved. Hopefully he'll be like Hband and just want you to have the wedding of your dreams. :) This will also help in case the wedding venue you book doesn't quite fit the theme you want-- you'll have other options.
If it's in your budget, get a wedding planner. I'm not talking J.Lo, here-- she doesn't have to be terribly expensive. A wonderful woman at our church has her own wedding planning business, and she does a wonderful job at a fantastic price. Not only did she help me plan and organize beforehand, but on the day of the wedding, she was priceless-- she got everyone where they needed to be, and we had no disasters!
Do lots and lots of Internet research before you visit places. Your time is valuable, and gas prices are high. View venues online and call/email for pricing before you visit, and narrow your choices down to five or fewer. Then if you don't like any of those, expand your search.
Realize you can haggle with venues. Tell them your budget and ask them what they can do to meet it. We opted out of the bar package (saved TONS), and even though some family members moaned about it a bit, there was an in-house bar and they helped themselves. They also worked with us to bring the food and beverage minimum down, and that was fantastic. Don't be afraid to haggle and discuss-- they have an employee whose job it is to do that and work with you. Just don't be unreasonable. Also, realize the initial price they quote you might not include tax or gratuities, which can be $1,000 more than the quoted price. Get the full picture.
Make lists, lists, lists! Make a list of every single thing you can think of that needs to be done, and rejoice when you start crossing them off the list! Invite a friend over to help you with this, because two minds are better than one. Write in deadlines for yourself, too. Make a list of every song you want in the wedding and at the reception, and for what event. Make a list of every single person you can think of who can help set up at each venue/take things from the ceremony to the reception/take back tuxes, etc. For each thing that needs to be done, find a friend to do it. Be sure those friends are willing to help, though. And give them a printed list of their responsibilities via email. Make a detailed timeline of the day before the wedding through till when you leave the reception. Try to include everything. It will help you not forget anything. Make a list of every gift you need to give. This is what saved my sanity most: lists!
When you go try on dresses, don't try on anything outside your price range, unless you're prepared to go over budget. Boy do I know what this is like. You will inevitably fall in love with a dress that's $300+ more than you budgeted, and you will have to have it. Maybe you'll be able to make it work, or maybe you'll go way over budget. Just ask the woman helping you to only bring you dresses within your price range. Also, don't be afraid to try on other styles than what you think you want. I originally wanted something very simple and streamlined. I ended up with a simple dress, but it was more of a ballgown-- everyone said they never would have guessed I'd pick that dress. And don't forget, your veil will be expensive. Either be prepared for that, borrow a friend's, or make your own.
Also realize you will probably need your dress altered-- at least hemmed. Do your research and find a tried and true tailor or seamstress in your area. I had a friend get married about seven months before me, and she loved her tailor. I tried him and not only was he unbelievably good, but his price was far more reasonable than anywhere else, for three fittings. We actually overpaid him on purpose because it was worth it and we were so grateful.
Find a florist who will work with your budget and catches your vision. The last thing you want is a florist who doesn't get your theme/look, and you wind up with flowers that you don't love. My florist immediately caught my vision and ran with it. She invested herself in my wedding and saw it as a chance to be creative, and I ended up with fantastic flowers that I loved. We did go over budget here, but we made the mistake of not telling her our budget to begin with. She still worked with us though, and we brought the price down. Plus, she substituted my favorite flowers at the last minute... gotta love that!
Your photographer is one of the most important vendors of the wedding, if not the most important. Find one who will do the style of photos you want, and meet with them beforehand, to make sure they get "you," and your theme. Discuss the day with them, and the timeline, to make sure it works, and tell them all the important things you want in your photos. Give them a list of shots you want, but realize that if you look too forced/posed, those shots may not really be what you want. Be sure that in the contract, you have a date nailed down for when you receive your proofs, and that they will also give you digital copies of all the pictures. I'd also recommend (though my whole life I wanted the traditional first look to be at the church) you get most of your pictures done before the wedding. You will be so much more relaxed knowing those are done, and your guests won't wait forever for you. Haven't we all been there?! I felt so much better knowing all the important shots were done, and we still had special "first-look" pictures. But that still didn't spoil coming down the aisle. That moment will be incredible no matter what. In addition, I think it calmed me to be able to spend time with Hband before the ceremony. Consider it.
I would suggest getting a hotel suite with your bridesmaids the night before the wedding. It is so nice not having to clean up, and you'll all be together and have two bathrooms for getting ready. I've done that for three weddings (including my own), and it's been SO relaxing.
Don't do anything extreme before your wedding. If you're normally not tan, don't get a real or fake tan. Don't cut your hair short. Don't remove every bit of body hair. Make sure you look like you for your wedding. I was really grateful I tried out the fake tan a week and a half before my wedding. It looked OK, but too dark for me, in January. It was still wearing off on my wedding day.
If you do your own makeup every day and it looks nice, you can probably do your own on your wedding day. Buy some makeup and practice (it's fun). Find a look that's natural, but stepped-up a notch. You'll want to make sure you have good foundation. The pictures may wash you out a bit, so be sure you do wear good makeup, but don't go too dark. Experiment and take pictures of yourself. Don't make your eyes too dark or you'll look like a skeleton.
On the day of, don't sweat anything. Let other people take care of things. You just show up where you're supposed to be, and remember the end game: if the day ends and you're married, it's a success. Take mental snapshots the whole day so it isn't a blur. Especially, just before you walk down the aisle, choose to remember that moment. I remember the day very clearly because I chose to, and I'm so thankful I did. It was the best day ever!
We thought that the vows were one of the most important parts of our ceremony, considering that's what we were promising to each other. So we took the shell of the vows and then augmented them to say exactly what we wanted to promise. I encourage you to do the same. They weren't trite or cheesy-- they were straight from Scripture. Maybe someday I'll post them here. Perhaps you'd like them.
If you're going away for your honeymoon, don't get a flight the night of your wedding. Spend the night in a nice hotel close to your reception first. You'll be more refreshed in the morning. It's worth it!
You probably wont' eat much. I didn't believe that and didn't want to believe that (we had good food at our reception), but it's true. I hardly ate, but I wasn't hungry. Just be sure you eat a light breakfast and a light lunch (protein!), and hydrate-- drink lots of water! You'll be starving after the wedding and will probably eat leftovers with your hands in your hotel room like we did... or not.
Get out on the dance floor and enjoy every song. It is so worth it and you'll have a lifetime of memories.
Be sure to set up a time and place to say goodbye to your parents at the end of the reception. My parents live out-of-state, so I wanted to make sure I said goodbye instead of having a Father of the Bride moment. I actually got to hug each of my out-of-town relatives goodbye, and that specified time for our parents and bridal party was sweet.
When vendors tack the word "wedding" onto anything, it instantly adds more cash. Try to avoid wedding stuff and just get stuff. If a giant, gorgeous cake isn't super important to you, then get a small cake from a grocery store to cut and freeze for you, and sheet cake for everyone else. Do you really think they'll care? A pretty cake is amazing sometimes, but it doesn't last. To me, it was one of the least important details, and cost us $20. I regret nothing.
Don't over-estimate your DIY abilities. I consider myself pretty crafty, but even I had to draw the line somewhere my sanity was more important than saving a bit of cash.
Borrow, borrow, borrow! Talk to anyone and everyone in your life and borrow all you can for decorations. Buying everything yourself will not only be hard on your wallet, but you'll end up with TONS of stuff you can't get rid of.
Choose bridesmaid dresses quickly, and if you give your bridesmaids free reign to find their own dresses, don't be too picky. Remember, they're paying a lot to be your bridesmaid, and even though you can't always help how expensive dresses can be, you can try to make their lives easier.
Remember this day is special, but it really isn't all about you. It's about you and your fiance, but more importantly it's about what God has done. Keep focus.
I told my mom a few times that it was "my wedding," which was true, but she reminded me that though it was my wedding, it was sort of a big thank you to everyone who had ever meant anything to me, so I had to think of my guests. She was right. You can't cater to every guest, but do all you can to make sure they're taken care of and are comfortable.
Limit your registry to two places. I recommend Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They are amazing! I hear Target can be annoying, and I found JC Penney to be annoying. Perhaps another good choice would be Amazon? It's more customizable, anyway. Tweak the list at home online, and be sure to have a wide price variety.
Don't save all your thank-yous until after the wedding. As gifts come in, make detailed lists, and write the thank yous as you go. Writing one thank you takes maybe 2 minutes. Writing 150 takes lots of minutes. And DO send thank yous. It's a big faux pas not to. You want to be sure to show your gratefulness.
Either ask your in-laws to handle the rehearsal dinner, or make it as low-key as possible. You don't want it to rival the reception, and it's just supposed to be a relaxing celebration before the big day.
Do not let your wedding define you. It is ONE day. Your marriage is infinitely more important, so invest more in that than the wedding day.
Think about what traditions you want to incorporate: a special prayer? A fun song? Part of your mom's wedding dress? A special wedding has special details. Think about those things.
Check out websites like ruffledblog.com, where you can buy and sell used wedding stuff; it's like a wedding Craigslist.
Be sure you have some kind of guest book, whether it's traditional, a photo book, a fingerprint tree, or whatever. You'll want it in the future.
Put someone in charge of giving you all the cards at the end of the night. You'll have some cash for your honeymoon and can plan how you'll spend your wedding money!
You will only get married this one time, so do think about all the things you've always wanted. Some will happen and some won't, but you don't want to wish you'd done something differently.
Pray. Start praying about your day now, and don't stop.
Breathe. It will be fine, and you will get married.
xoxo, A
4.09.2012
Inspiration Monday: Today's Gatsby Bedroom
You know, I think Monday is my favorite blogging day. Which is what I was hoping, since Monday has so little going for it. I just love inspiration days. Which day is your favorite?
Incidentally, today is even a MORE favorite day because it is Hband's bday! He is the big 2-4 (I know, I'm a cougar! I just turned 28!). I hope he has oh, 100 more birthdays. I love him.
PS, he had a tummy ache in the above photo. hahaha so cute.
Back to the inspiration at hand. I caught wind of a new Great Gatsby movie starring Leo, and I got so excited! I fell in love with the classic book when I read it in high school. I always loved that time period, too-- the glamour and the ritz! So are more modern-day bedroom decor ideas, inspired by The Great Gatsby.
Incidentally, today is even a MORE favorite day because it is Hband's bday! He is the big 2-4 (I know, I'm a cougar! I just turned 28!). I hope he has oh, 100 more birthdays. I love him.
PS, he had a tummy ache in the above photo. hahaha so cute.
Back to the inspiration at hand. I caught wind of a new Great Gatsby movie starring Leo, and I got so excited! I fell in love with the classic book when I read it in high school. I always loved that time period, too-- the glamour and the ritz! So are more modern-day bedroom decor ideas, inspired by The Great Gatsby.
There would be a mirrored headboard-- very tall.
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This would be the wallpaper-- lovely!
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Could you handle this beadspread pattern? I could.
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Mirrored chest-- classy!
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Dark peonies are lush and vibrant. There would be tons of these in lush arrangements.
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Inspiration source:
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Sconces on either side of the bed are so lovely.
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Let's imagine this as sheets!!
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Herringbone floor. Mmmm.
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A cute little throw:
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This adorable armchair:
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Throw pillows!
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Inspired? I was.
xoxo,
A
4.07.2012
Photo Sunday: Honeymooners
Oh, honeymoon. :) In typical "us" fashion, we had lots of misadventures, and we endured bitter cold. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. I got to walk the streets of NYC with my best friend and new husband, and the only thing we had to think about was where we were going to eat and what new sight we'd see next. Is there anything better than a honeymoon? Maybe an "official" honeymoon (coming in June)!
Can I make a recommendation to all you single women? It was fantastic having a domestic honeymoon. Our official one will be international, but six months after our wedding. Can I recommend that for you, if you're considering an international honeymoon? I mean, I'm positive it would still be amazing (because international traveling always is), but it seems like it would be so much less stressful when you don't have a 10 hour + flight, weird food, and a foreign language as stressors on this special trip.
My suggestion, if you feel like listening to it, is if you want an international honeymoon, plan it for a while after your actual wedding, so that by the time it comes, you've got fewer things to worry about and more time to plan. Planning a wedding is hard enough, but add planning an international trip, and you may end up in a foreign land with a few more gray hairs. Try planning a lower-key, domestic trip as your immediate honeymoon. You might find it more relaxing. Just saying!
Unless of course, your in-laws are loaded and are sending you somewhere fantastic. In that case: GO, you fool, GO!
xoxo, A
4.06.2012
DIY Friday: Fabric-Covered Books
I did this DIY for Bestie Jr.'s baby shower, and they turned out fantastic. I'm sure there are other, better ways to cover your books with fabric, but here's a little bit of information about me: I am expedient. I like doing things quickly, mostly because who has time to labor over something that doesn't deserve my labor? The faster I can get a little task done, the more time I can spend with Hband, or friends, or (especially) the Lord!
So here's a quick way to cover your books with fabric-- use them to decorate in little piles, or put them all on a bookshelf for a very design-magazine look, like this:
Supplies:
Then I ravaged my bookshelves for old, fat books. I originally had bought most of them when I was in my antique book phase, but I realized many of them were not anything special. So I used those. I do have some treasured antique books that I'll never harm. I'm a book lover.
Open your book on top of your fabric so the covers and spine are flat. Cut roughly two inches around the perimeter. Place your book where you want it on the fabric and locate the spine. Cut the fabric on the left side of the spine and stop at the spine, and do the same for the right side, so you have a little flap as wide as the spine. Do the same for the other end. Cut the flap even with the spine or try to tuck it in-- whichever works.
Now simply fold the fabric over the inside covers and secure with tape! It won't look good on the inside, but from the outside, no one would ever know.
Tip: don't have too much fabric around the edges or when you fold it up, it will be bulky and your book won't close.
And now you have adorable, fabric-covered books that take very little time and very little money, but pack a lot of decorating punch. They're completely customizable. Just don't let anyone open them up. :)
xoxo, A
So here's a quick way to cover your books with fabric-- use them to decorate in little piles, or put them all on a bookshelf for a very design-magazine look, like this:
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or this:
Supplies:
- fabric-- any kind of lightweight cotton.
- tape that will hold onto fabric
- books-- I suggest cheap ones bought at a thrift store. Choose fatter ones rather than slim volumes.
- fabric scissors
Then I ravaged my bookshelves for old, fat books. I originally had bought most of them when I was in my antique book phase, but I realized many of them were not anything special. So I used those. I do have some treasured antique books that I'll never harm. I'm a book lover.
Open your book on top of your fabric so the covers and spine are flat. Cut roughly two inches around the perimeter. Place your book where you want it on the fabric and locate the spine. Cut the fabric on the left side of the spine and stop at the spine, and do the same for the right side, so you have a little flap as wide as the spine. Do the same for the other end. Cut the flap even with the spine or try to tuck it in-- whichever works.
Now simply fold the fabric over the inside covers and secure with tape! It won't look good on the inside, but from the outside, no one would ever know.
Tip: don't have too much fabric around the edges or when you fold it up, it will be bulky and your book won't close.
And now you have adorable, fabric-covered books that take very little time and very little money, but pack a lot of decorating punch. They're completely customizable. Just don't let anyone open them up. :)
4.05.2012
Thoughts for Thursday: Verbal Affirmation
I sometimes laugh when "love languages" are discussed. It's not that I necessarily disagree with the concept, but sometimes love languages are used as pat answers or sound trite. But the more time goes by and the more I learn about myself, I realize there are specific ways I feel love more than others. One of those is verbal affirmation. I like to hear that I'm loved in conjunction with the knowledge that I am loved. I like to hear that I look nice today instead of just assuming Hband likes the way I've done my hair.
The funny thing about love languages is that not only do we have certain ways we like to receive love; we also have certain ways we like to show love. And Hband does not always show love by verbal affirmation. He shows it in so many other ways, and I never doubt his affection.
But in the three months we've been married, I've realized a problem. It's not necessarily Mike's problem, but it's mine. I feel this need to know that I'm loved, desired, appreciated. etc, and I want to hear it. While that's normal, and not necessarily bad, I know the root of this is pride.
And it's not in Hband's job description to feed my ego and coddle my pride. Besides-- if I need affirmation and words that tell me I'm worthwhile, loved, and pretty, I know where I really need to go: the Word.
God tells me I'm beautiful-- Psalm 139
God tells me I'm loved-- John 3:16
God tells me I'm worth it-- Romans 5:8
And that's just the beginning. That's just the tiniest peak of the iceberg.
This is another illustration of how marriage is designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church-- the love and affirmation that a husband might give his wife is only a taste of the love and affirmation given by Christ to his followers.
Of course, he also kicks my butt, too-- but that's for another day. :)
xoxo, A
The funny thing about love languages is that not only do we have certain ways we like to receive love; we also have certain ways we like to show love. And Hband does not always show love by verbal affirmation. He shows it in so many other ways, and I never doubt his affection.
But in the three months we've been married, I've realized a problem. It's not necessarily Mike's problem, but it's mine. I feel this need to know that I'm loved, desired, appreciated. etc, and I want to hear it. While that's normal, and not necessarily bad, I know the root of this is pride.
And it's not in Hband's job description to feed my ego and coddle my pride. Besides-- if I need affirmation and words that tell me I'm worthwhile, loved, and pretty, I know where I really need to go: the Word.
God tells me I'm beautiful-- Psalm 139
God tells me I'm loved-- John 3:16
God tells me I'm worth it-- Romans 5:8
And that's just the beginning. That's just the tiniest peak of the iceberg.
This is another illustration of how marriage is designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church-- the love and affirmation that a husband might give his wife is only a taste of the love and affirmation given by Christ to his followers.
Of course, he also kicks my butt, too-- but that's for another day. :)
xoxo, A
4.04.2012
Recipe Wednesday: BBQ Calzones!
Mkay, this is my favorite thing to eat, currently, though it's probably not too good for my recent health consciousness. However, this is easy and unbelievably delicious!! I just made them not more than an hour ago, and they have been devoured. They were devoured so fast that I don't have any pictures, however. SORRY!! I'll make them again and add pictures later. For now, follow the directions and it will be YUM.
First, make this pizza dough either in advance and refrigerated, or fresh. I had mine in the fridge. Now, the last time I made calzones, I used half the dough for ONE calzone (twice as much as the original blogger recommended). It was HUGE (I ate half; Hband ate whole). This time I made two smaller calzones out of half the dough. It's probably a more normal portion size, but I found myself wanting more! In reality, it's the right size, and way easier to maneuver when placing on the pizza stone.
This recipe is for two small calzones (half the batch of dough).
Aside from the ingredients you'll need for your dough (basic recipe-- if you have yeast, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry), this is what you'll need:
pizza stone
shredded or chopped cooked chicken, about two handfuls. Leftover chicken? Perfect use!
shredded pepper jack cheese (two handfuls)
About 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (I love Sweet Baby Ray's)
French fried onions from the jar-- about 1/4 cup
1/4 cup olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic powder in it
Preheat oven to 500 degrees, with your pizza stone already in the oven.
Manipulate one small ball of dough on a floured surface until it makes a rough circle. Be sure there aren't any holes. I don't roll it out; I stretch it with my fingers. Spoon half the BBQ sauce onto one half of the circle. Add one handful of chicken, one handful of cheese, and about half the friend onions. Pull the other side of the dough over and roll up the edges of the crust so you have a nice little half-moon pocket. Do the same to the other small ball of dough.
Brush the olive oil mixture onto the tops of the calzones. Use metal spatulas to put onto the already hot pizza stone. Cook for about 15 minutes. Be sure to COOL before eating that molten lava goodness.
These things are amazing. You could fill them with anything, really. I've made buffalo chicken, corned beef and ricotta, etc. You could make them with pizza toppings, ham and cheese, veggies... the possibilities are endless! Enjoy!
xoxo, A
First, make this pizza dough either in advance and refrigerated, or fresh. I had mine in the fridge. Now, the last time I made calzones, I used half the dough for ONE calzone (twice as much as the original blogger recommended). It was HUGE (I ate half; Hband ate whole). This time I made two smaller calzones out of half the dough. It's probably a more normal portion size, but I found myself wanting more! In reality, it's the right size, and way easier to maneuver when placing on the pizza stone.
This recipe is for two small calzones (half the batch of dough).
Aside from the ingredients you'll need for your dough (basic recipe-- if you have yeast, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry), this is what you'll need:
pizza stone
shredded or chopped cooked chicken, about two handfuls. Leftover chicken? Perfect use!
shredded pepper jack cheese (two handfuls)
About 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (I love Sweet Baby Ray's)
French fried onions from the jar-- about 1/4 cup
1/4 cup olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic powder in it
Preheat oven to 500 degrees, with your pizza stone already in the oven.
Manipulate one small ball of dough on a floured surface until it makes a rough circle. Be sure there aren't any holes. I don't roll it out; I stretch it with my fingers. Spoon half the BBQ sauce onto one half of the circle. Add one handful of chicken, one handful of cheese, and about half the friend onions. Pull the other side of the dough over and roll up the edges of the crust so you have a nice little half-moon pocket. Do the same to the other small ball of dough.
Brush the olive oil mixture onto the tops of the calzones. Use metal spatulas to put onto the already hot pizza stone. Cook for about 15 minutes. Be sure to COOL before eating that molten lava goodness.
These things are amazing. You could fill them with anything, really. I've made buffalo chicken, corned beef and ricotta, etc. You could make them with pizza toppings, ham and cheese, veggies... the possibilities are endless! Enjoy!
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xoxo, A
4.03.2012
Tip for Tuesday: Organized Chaos
As I told my mom when she and my dad were visiting this past week (yay!), I love organized chaos. And if I may say, I'm not too bad at it. What I'm really good at, I'm trying to say, is hiding clutter. I don't know when this started-- maybe when I went to college and had my own space-- but I clearly remember visiting my parents and helping out by doing the dishes... and hiding all the counter clutter in the cabinets. I'm pretty sure my mom felt like saying, "Thanks... but no thanks."
When I lived by myself, I could just shove stuff in my closets-- I had the room, even in a one-bedroom apartment. But when I got engaged and I had to start planning how to fit TWO people in my one-bedroom apartment, I had to get creative.
I couldn't just put things on shelves, and I couldn't just shove things in the closet. But I had lots of paper work and supplies, and a husband who likes to make piles (seriously... he had a literal pile on his parents' counter top). I didn't want a typical file cabinet (though I AM into the cool industrial look)... so here's what I found works like a charm: dedicated baskets.
I have one of those fantastic IKEA bookshelves that connects to a table to make a desk. It has sixteen cubbies that I had previously been using for knick-knacks and paddy-whacks. Now, it holds eight pull-out baskets, three boxes, and five magazine holders. Each basket/box holds specific items. You won't find the card supplies in the financial box. Neither will you find the technology equipment in the mail supplies basket. And of course, one of the baskets is a simple "catch-all" or "what do I do with this" basket that is invaluable. In bigger living spaces, sometimes it's known as a junk drawer. This allows me to store TONS of well, crap, without having to rifle through unrelated material, or wonder where it could be.
Hband also had bathroom supplies scattered all over his former vanity. That wasn't going to fly, mostly because I already had used up all my vanity's space with MY bathroom supplies. So Hband installed some cheap but efficient and kind of cute shelves, and then I went to HomeGoods (OMG. I love this store. It's like Marshall's but just for home stuff. Baskets are the cheapest I've ever found!) and picked up two baskets of the same size. My daily-use stuff went in the bottom one, and Hband's daily-use stuff went in the top one. It's so much easier to toss supplies in a basket and toss the basket on a shelf than to stare at junk on a vanity and weep.
Finally, I found myself with far too many seasonal items. Don't ask me to get rid of my fake leaves or Christmas cookie cutters. I simply won't consider it. Because my closets are literally stacked to the ceiling, I had to get creative-- I found my way over to HomeGoods again and picked up two big, lidded boxes. They remind me of giant picnic boxes. In them, I deposited my seasonal goodies. And there you go. Hidden chaos behind cute wicker boxes. Though I've been told they look like faces. Ew.
No one would ever know my dark secrets, if I hadn't told you here. Don't judge me. But do try your hand at organized chaos.
xoxo, A
When I lived by myself, I could just shove stuff in my closets-- I had the room, even in a one-bedroom apartment. But when I got engaged and I had to start planning how to fit TWO people in my one-bedroom apartment, I had to get creative.
I couldn't just put things on shelves, and I couldn't just shove things in the closet. But I had lots of paper work and supplies, and a husband who likes to make piles (seriously... he had a literal pile on his parents' counter top). I didn't want a typical file cabinet (though I AM into the cool industrial look)... so here's what I found works like a charm: dedicated baskets.
I have one of those fantastic IKEA bookshelves that connects to a table to make a desk. It has sixteen cubbies that I had previously been using for knick-knacks and paddy-whacks. Now, it holds eight pull-out baskets, three boxes, and five magazine holders. Each basket/box holds specific items. You won't find the card supplies in the financial box. Neither will you find the technology equipment in the mail supplies basket. And of course, one of the baskets is a simple "catch-all" or "what do I do with this" basket that is invaluable. In bigger living spaces, sometimes it's known as a junk drawer. This allows me to store TONS of well, crap, without having to rifle through unrelated material, or wonder where it could be.
Hband also had bathroom supplies scattered all over his former vanity. That wasn't going to fly, mostly because I already had used up all my vanity's space with MY bathroom supplies. So Hband installed some cheap but efficient and kind of cute shelves, and then I went to HomeGoods (OMG. I love this store. It's like Marshall's but just for home stuff. Baskets are the cheapest I've ever found!) and picked up two baskets of the same size. My daily-use stuff went in the bottom one, and Hband's daily-use stuff went in the top one. It's so much easier to toss supplies in a basket and toss the basket on a shelf than to stare at junk on a vanity and weep.
Finally, I found myself with far too many seasonal items. Don't ask me to get rid of my fake leaves or Christmas cookie cutters. I simply won't consider it. Because my closets are literally stacked to the ceiling, I had to get creative-- I found my way over to HomeGoods again and picked up two big, lidded boxes. They remind me of giant picnic boxes. In them, I deposited my seasonal goodies. And there you go. Hidden chaos behind cute wicker boxes. Though I've been told they look like faces. Ew.
No one would ever know my dark secrets, if I hadn't told you here. Don't judge me. But do try your hand at organized chaos.
xoxo, A
4.02.2012
Inspiration Monday: Friday Afternoon Fish Fry
I guess this is a little late, since Lent is almost over. Oh well.
Though I am a Christian, I don't usually observe Lent. Not because I disagree with the idea, but because I always seem to forget until the last minute, and I don't want to just give up some random thing just to do it. The point is to give up something you love and will miss, and in its absence, you think about Christ's sacrifice. One year my closest friend from high school gave up her pillow. I admired that-- she really got the idea. Hband said one year he gave up fighting with his siblings. That made me laugh because that meant he both enjoyed fighting with them and would resume it after Easter.
But anyway, I somehow got to thinking about Friday fish fries, and then I imagined a little Friday afternoon fish fry in a summery backyard. You must wear a sun dress and cute espadrilles; straw hat optional. Oh, and come on your adorable bicycle, please.
xoxo, A
Though I am a Christian, I don't usually observe Lent. Not because I disagree with the idea, but because I always seem to forget until the last minute, and I don't want to just give up some random thing just to do it. The point is to give up something you love and will miss, and in its absence, you think about Christ's sacrifice. One year my closest friend from high school gave up her pillow. I admired that-- she really got the idea. Hband said one year he gave up fighting with his siblings. That made me laugh because that meant he both enjoyed fighting with them and would resume it after Easter.
But anyway, I somehow got to thinking about Friday fish fries, and then I imagined a little Friday afternoon fish fry in a summery backyard. You must wear a sun dress and cute espadrilles; straw hat optional. Oh, and come on your adorable bicycle, please.
Such as this:
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Or this:
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And look like this, if possible (haha, right ):
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We'll eat here:
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On a tablecloth like this:
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Topped with this:
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And this:
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And we'll drink these rosemary lemonades:
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We'll enjoy these salads:
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And of course, the main event (MUST be in newspaper, of course!) :
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Finish it off with some lemon gelato:
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Ready for the fish fry?
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