wedding dilemma #who knows

so today mum & i met with the coordinator at the maennerchor.

we plan on serving beer and wine at the wedding, with a cash bar. we want our guests to have fun and be able to drink, but we can't break the bank doing so. we're going to pick three wines and one beer.

there's the dilemma. i know nothing about beer. i need some help from you out there who may have more experience with beer! josh, i need your opinion as well.

so, what's a good "standard" beer that people will enjoy? i need some suggestions and then maybe we'll do a poll to pick the winner! (or we just choose the beer josh picks, as he might prefer one over another...)

registry (un)fun

ok, so you can put registry stuff down as wedding dilemmas #5-#80 probably, since there are so many things to think about and so many different "departments" of things you can get and registry for.

i just spent the last 2 1/2 hours with my mum doing MORE REGISTRY STUFF. maybe i'm a little obsessed. Josh and i decided we would do some of the initial registry stuff together (focusing on those things that really mattered to him), trying to spend as little time shopping as possible, and i would take care of the rest. so, i've been on and offline searching and doing things, plus another visit to the stores today.

they may tell you registries are fun. they are not fun. getting things is fun, yes, but setting up registries = hard work. as a designer and not just "designer" but INTERIOR DESIGNER, i feel like i need to be taking my time with these things we are registering for, picking awesome pieces that we'll be able to keep forever! yeah, that's just...not possible.

i've just come to the conclusion that there are some things i can't get at the stores we're registering at (Target & BBB). i love Target, but i don't like their bathroom stuff really, so i'm not registering for it. hopefully we (i...) can find some stuff elsewhere that is more "us" and that i know i'll really like. so, i'm going to stop stressing about that. i'm going to get the stuff we really want and not get the stuff i'm not sure about.

another issue i'm finding is that Target DOES have a lot of stuff i'd like (in the Kitchen department especially), but it's all ONLINE! is it bad that half of our registry is products only available online? i hope not, cause i'm doing it anyway. like i've said before, i'm totes Rachael Ray-obsessed, and she has a lot of stuff online at Target. so screw it, i'm registering for those pieces i want! buying registry and gift stuff online is awesome b/c people don't have to leave their homes and it's SO much easier than going to the store (i think). only issue is shipping: i hope Target isn't too bad in this area.

well, anyway, now it's time to go back online and make more changes. ah!

wedding dilemma #5

(i think that's what number this would be...)

ok, so you all should know by now i'm a LITTLE bit obsessed about finding the absolute PERFECT shoes for the wedding.

here's my list of wants:

1. comfy enough to wear all day (don't want to be switching shoes)
2. no higher than a 1 1/2" heel (prefer flats)
   
3. colorful, jewely or both
4. peep toe if possible
5. awesome, funky, beautiful, cute, adorable, unique, "wow-factor"...

well, last week i posted on twitter and this blog that my aunt should be my personal shopper, because she found the most fun, funkiest, cutest, unique and elegant shoes ever. the color wasn't exactly what i was looking for, but everything else was perfect and i knew the color would tie in beautifully. Friday of last week the shoes came in, Monday of this week i brought them back to my aunt as they are too small for my LONG FEET. it was a total bummer.

so, here are said shoes:

seriously, aren't these SO FUN!? the top sparkley bit are ZIPPERS, it is leather inside and raffia (i believe) on the outside. and so awesome.


i bought another pair yesterday online, gorgeous looking flats, with only one left in my size! i hope so bad i get them soon and they fit. i would love to have them for my dress fitting Monday!! maybe you get to see a picture if they work. you definitely get to see one if they don't. hope that isn't the case!!!

my aunt should be my personal shopper

no, i was not kidding when i just sent out that tweet.
didn't see that tweet? @volleygalore. that's me!

anyway, my Auntie Paula is a great shopper and bargain hunter (yes, i said she was a great "shopper"). last year i was looking for a dress for a friend's wedding and she found this grey, v-neck Calvin Klein dress from Gabriel Brothers for like $20!!!!!! it was so awesome, and it fit me perfect. i wore it with a red sash and awesome red shoes, and i think it was a hit.

so, when i put out the tweet/blog saying i was hunting again for a different pair of wedding shoes, she was eager to jump on the search committee! i want to share the image, but we got them offline, so i'm not sure how they will fit yet (let's just pray they do!). i should get them in time for my first fitting!!! they are pink and funky yet elegant and feminine. not the *exact* pink i was going for (a little paler), but they are going under my dress, so, not like the color matters THAT much (i mean, i'm not getting blue or turquoise shoes here).

anyway, no pictures yet...maybe...not until the wedding! mwahaha!

yippee! i'm very excited. i hope everything works out!!

wedding progress: 142 days to go

(no i don't know that by heart. yes i check the status of the counter i have on facebook. yes i have a counter on facebook.)

not much to say on progress here, but i did make an appointment for my first dress fitting, it is in three weeks. i was watching say yes to the dress the other day, and i had a major major desire to put my dress on again, so that really pushed me to making the appointment! i'm still not 100% sure on what shoes i'll be wearing, so i really need to get searching online and at more stores (hello DSW, i will be back this weekend, i'm sure). i just wish the shoes i bought weren't so dang HIGH. other than that, color, style - everything - is perfect. plus i got them online with a DSW sale & coupon so i paid like, $26.00 for them, including shipping.

have i shared with you the shoe yet? well here it is...

ta da! 3 1/2" heel...
(ha, i almost wrote "hell." how appropriate...)

i'm thinking i might end up wearing this for the ceremony and finding some cheap ballet flats or jewely sandal flats for the reception. it also depends on what shoes the guys (Josh) wear(s). i guess i'll have to figure that out with him way sooner than i thought. sorry, Josh :(

seriously though, AREN'T THOSE SHOES AWESOME?

in other news, i've made myself a to-do list of more immediate things that need to be done. hopefully by the end of April, mum and i will meet with our florist friends. we might have to do a weeknight, though, since we are both very busy with other things on Saturdays.

oh ALSO, i got called 1 1/2 months ago about our honeymoon return flights being changed, and they said they would email me an updated itinerary, and they STILL HAVEN'T! i do not want to call them again, as last time i was on and off hold for over an hour while the guy waited for someone else to tell him the flights were changed (um, hello, just CALL ME BACK WHEN THEY HAVE THE INFO). ugh. oh well, there's another thing-i-don't-want-to-deal-with on my to-do list :(

other than that my to-do list of things that need to be done ASAP or pretty darn soon are:

• registries (doing this weekend WOOT!)
• song list & initial meeting with DJ
• tuxes & shoes for guys
• shoes for gals
• call expedia (dumb!)****
  
• contact the Etsy vendor i'm using for bridesmaid's gifts
• call florist, set up appointment
• contact reception vendor:
  *need to visit site and try out the decorations i am thinking of using and get a better idea on what they have
  *need to know info on seats per table, table dimensions, dimensions of room if possible, dance floor dimensions, max amount of tables on first floor (there is a balcony we are trying NOT to use) can you tell i do space planning for a living?
  *talk about dessert table ideas (and having someone man the station so people don't eat stuff before they are supposed to!!)
  

phew. and that is only a few things!

****UPDATE! UPDATE! i just checked online and it looks like they DID change our flights, and they aren't QUITE as bad as i thought (they said it was going to be departure at 8am, get back into Erie after 9pm, looks like it is departure at 8am, get back into Erie around 5pm. MUCH BETTER)!!

how much is too much?

so, i've been doing some..."research"...at stores to see where Josh and i should register for the wedding. i'm leaning towards Kohl's & Target, cause both places are awesome, and i adore Target so so so much. most of the things i've put so far in my Target wish list have been Rachael Ray kitchen items. RR annoys the CRAP out of me, yet i love watching her so bad. (i like to watch mostly because she doesn't do that "TV Kitchen Magic" and makes all her food in front of the camera, except for commercial breaks of course). and roomie and i love to comment every time she talks about how much of a money saver frozen spinach is, or how her in-laws don't like lots of garlic, so she just throws in a clove or minces it with one of those awesome grater things i want! oh, also, she has all these awesome orange things that i love. unfortunately, it looks like Target doesn't have many (or any) of them in store, they are mostly online. not sure if they will have them by the time we need to register, but that was a major bummer.

all this wish listing makes me wonder though, how much is TOO MUCH? like, i would LOVE LOVE LOVE these Rachael Ray pots and pans, but they are like, $200. that means, reasonably, at LEAST 5 or 6 people would need to go in on this gift together. is that too crazy? is that too much to request? sissy said that we could always register for the individual pieces and the set, to make it easier for smaller groups or single people to purchase, so there is the option...

so, am i being greedy? is a single item worth $200, or even more, too much to put on one's registry? (yes, i also want a kitchenaid mixer. and a dyson vacuum. and a house.)

struggling

i've been really struggling lately. at work, with money, with wedding decisions...i've been in a funk.

i really don't like it.

i feel like i'm not doing my best at work. i feel like i'm not doing my best with budgeting. i feel like i'm getting too frustrated over stupid wedding details that don't matter. i'm not really quite sure what to do with myself.

i have a very hard time getting up in the morning. sometimes i think i should ask the bosses if i can work 9-530 and maybe that extra hour in the morning will help me feel better all around and therefore make me a better employee.

usually i'm convinced it's my attitude that is my problem. with everything...

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough problems of its own..."
Matthew 6:34

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7


why are these so hard to live out? no matter what your faith entails, being joyful and not worrying about "tomorrow" is good advice...it's just so hard...

hunt and a sort of dilemma

i've been on the shoe-hunt and bridesmaid-dress-hunt for the last couple of weeks. the conclusion we've come to for the girls is a very common one now - let them pick out what they want. because i'm looking for a dark purple color that isn't very easy to find, i've realized this may be just as hard as them agreeing on a dress! but we're keeping our options open at bridal stores, so they might just pick from there anyway, but at least there is the option!!

i've been excited looking for shoes. i've wanted something that is a crazy color (purple or orange or even pink) and i've found some awesome ideas so far. i'm back and forth between the idea of flats or kitten heels (i do not want something higher!), and i need to make a decision by February because that is when they told me i should get my dress hemmed (mum wants to do the bustle and other alterations, so i need to get the hem done ASAP so she gets enough time for the rest of it, if she does in fact do it).

i'm absolutely in love with NINA brand shoes. it seems many of the ones i've shown roomie Kristen have been those shoes. did you know you can "create your own" shoe with them?!! yeah, for $150 +!!! the ones i love the most are under $100, but not much. i was hoping to spend more like, um, $25. haha. the dilemma here is probably that i want to spend more than i should/have. also i'm nerve about buying something online, though i'm sure i could send it back if need be.

i want to post pictures of the ones that i like the most, but i guess i want that to be a "surprise" as well...

what kind of shoes did YOU wear or are you planning on wearing? high heels? flats? dress color or something funky??

wedding dilemma #3

dilemma #1 was picking a date. dilemma #2 was cupcakes vs cake (we voted cupcakes).

my mum and i have been discussing the option of having a DJ at the wedding reception. originally, josh and i were under the impression we would ask one of our good friends to do it and a reasonable (CHEAP) price. mum was at a wedding a few weeks ago that had "such a great DJ," so now she's thinking she wants to pay the price for this. they are willing to pay for most of what a "good" DJ would cost, but that means josh and i have to pay for the rest of it...

so there's the dilemma. to DJ or not to DJ. what are your thoughts? is it worth paying that much for a DJ? or should i convince them to use that money on more cupcakes, more bridal shower fun, or helping fund the honeymoon (insert winking face here)? who thinks one of my friends could do just as awesome of a job as a professional DJ??