Turkey Time

After being cooped up in the house for the last couple days working on invites, I decided Rob and I needed to have a little fun. So we went bowling. Rob and I both used to be pretty good at bowling, and were both on leagues.

That was years ago tho. Today...we stink!

We started off doing ok in the first game. We both broke 100, which isn't too bad. Rob started pulling ahead and it came down to the last frame. The dreaded 10th frame. When I was younger, this frame used to scare the crap out of me. I would get really nervous and mess up.

That was then. Now.... I get turkeys!!! 







Rob even made a joke about me needing to get 3 strikes in a row to beat him. I have only gotten a turkey once in my life before this, so I knew it wasn't going to happen. Until the next thing I know, it happened!

After we were done bowling, there was going to be league bowling. I walked past a guy and he says "nice way to end". Wow.

101 Things in 1,001 days

I have come across this project on a few blogs and I thought, I could do that! Then about 15 minutes into making my list I realized how hard this was going to be. Not just making the list, but executing everything on my list! Here goes nothing!

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on your part).

Not familiar with this project? Check out this website.

Start Date: March 26, 2010
End Date: December 21, 2012

1. “Date Night” with Rob once a month (1/33)
2. Marry the man of my dreams
3. Drive cross country
4. Buy a house
5. Upgrade my camera
6. Start a “Newlywed Map”
7. Get Rob to go camping
8. Finish Popi’s scrapbook
9. Save $10.00 for each completed item (1/101)
10. Sell something I’ve made
11. Paint a picture (Completed 4/5/10 Evidence)
12. Learn to crochet
13. Take cake decorating classes
14. Buy a new car
15. Donate my hair
16. Try snowboarding once
17. Don’t stalk registries for a month
18. Upgrade to cell phones
19. Take a cooking class
20. Try 2 new recipes a month (0/66)
21. Go to Disney World with Rob
22. Give up fast food for a month
23. Quit smoking
24. Finally stand up while trying to wake board
25. Build something made of wood
26. Take ballroom lessons
27. Organize and back-up all digital photos
28. Take a trip to MD to see an old friend
29. Join a gym
30. Go to the gym (at least) 3 times a week for 6 months (0/6)
31. See a Bengals game
32. Whiten my teeth (Zoom!)
33. Take Fat Man to the park once a month in the summer (0/6)
34. Continue blogging
35. Go back to college
36. Buy a Coach purse
37. Take a trip to Seattle
38.Organize book collection
39. Go on a cruise
40. Volunteer at a pet shelter once a month (0/33)
41. Buy a sewing machine and learn how to use it
42. Don’t swear for a whole week
43. Go to a concert
44. Organize my craft area
45. Decorate house on every holiday for a year
46. Take a “Girls Only” weekend
47. Play paintball
48. Go horseback riding
49. Fire a gun at a shooting range
50. Take a wine tasting class
51. Cook and host a holiday meal at home
52. Change my name
53. Don’t use the computer for a week straight
54. Go to a drive in movie
55. Go to the dentist
56. Attend Rocky Horror night in costume again
57. Re-organize my DVD collection
58. Make a scrapbook page once a week for 6 months (0/27)
59. Get dress up and go to a nice restaurant with Rob
60. Get Fat Man’s tattoo
61. Stay at a B&B
62. Visit Rocking Horse Ranch in NY
63. Take a trip to Wisconsin Dells
64. Hand paint charger plates for Wedding Party (0/8)
65. Hand make bridal jewelry and bridesmaid’s jewelry (0/4)
66. Get holiday shopping done 2 months early!
67. Get nails done (0/5)
68. Save $500 in coins
69. Go to be every night for a week with all the dishes clean
70. Blog every day for a month
71. Take Rob on a surprise getaway
72. Make a recipe scrapbook
73. Pay off my car
74. Learn to play a whole song on the guitar
75. Clean out closet 2 times a year and donate unwanted clothes
76. Wear skirts and dresses for a week straight (0/7)
77. Learn how to drive a manual car
78. Put favorite photos into frames
79. Organize coupons and toss expired one
80. Go white water rafting
81. Visit the ocean
82. Visit a Halloween haunted house
83. Visit a haunted place
84. Get 100 followers
85. Donate blood and find out blood type
86. Make something with my cricut once a month for a year (0/12)
87. Own all my favorite Disney movies
88. Release a message in a bottle
89. Read 10 new books in a year (0/10)
90. Go to a festival
91. Learn how to use photoshop
92. Start a home business
93. Get pregnant
94. Get back into freelance modeling
95. Become debt free
96. Decorate every room in the house
97. Have a yard/garage sale
98. Visit 5 new states
99. Learn to juggle
100. Go on a honeymoon
101. Put $10 into savings for each task not completed

Water Bottle Labels

I love how personalized water bottles look at weddings. Since our wedding will take place in August, in Ohio, I knew I would have to have water for everyone. All I have done so far is the template, which took a few hours to make. Oh well, it was worth it! They are so freaking cute. I think they are even better than the ones you order online. Next step, ordering waterproof labels from labels by the sheet. I have heard nothing but good things about them.


What do you think?

FREE Photo Book from Picaboo

Click here to view this photo book larger

I couldn't figure out how to post the cat book, so here is what our guest book looks like

While browsing the Coupon Codes Forum on thenest.com, I came across a thread stating that picaboo is offering a free photo book (just pay shipping) for all new customers. I already had our guest book made by Shutterfly, so I decided to make a book about my cats. They are always making us laugh and getting into things!

Little Man playing with his pink ball.

Bailey "Monster"

Fat Man loves the outdoors

Little Man and Fat the day after my roommate got the Little Man

Little Man is not so little anymore. I can't believe how big he has gotten in only 7 months! 

That's a main coon cat for ya.

He is so strange!

Invite Assembly STAGE 1

Today is a beautiful day! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and I am inside slaving away making invitations. I figured I would get a head start on assembling my invitations. I know that this will be a long and stressful adventure, so I thought I would break them up into stages so i don't get burned out by them.

STAGE 1:
I ordered patterned paper from cards-and-pockets and had them cut it to my backing size (which is saving me a ton of time!). I also went to Michael's and purchased a Xyron 5" Creative System glue machine. This also saves me a lot of time and money.
So for stage 1 I am gluing the patterned paper to my pocketfolds I also ordered from cards-and-pockets.

My work station. 

I love this little machine! 

Back to Reality

So these past couple weeks I have been on "vacation" in Ohio to work on wedding stuff with my mom. Since the wedding is in Ohio and it was the only time I could make it out before the wedding, we crammed as much stuff into each day as we could. It was a long 12 days, but I must say, we got a lot done!

Just a few CHECKS!

Check 1: Met with our baker and decided on the look for our cake. Here is a photo of my inspiration. We will be having a floating cake and we will be using the cake topper I am in the process of making instead of the crown. The rhinestones will be in the colors of the W cake topper as well. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Check 2: One afternoon, My mom, an old friend, and I went to the Spaghetti Warehouse to check out our reception area and to try their food! We decided on the SW as our reception site a while ago, but since I am in WA I had never been to one (lol). Let me just say, their food is AMAZING! Their downstairs (where the reception will take place) poses a couple problems. I had planned on having hanging lanterns everywhere, but since their ceiling is really low I won't be able to do that idea.... so it's back to the drawing board.

Check 3: Good Bye Dress!
I dorpped my dress off to be altered. I now have to maintain my weight for 4.5 months!! Growing up I never had a problem with my weight, so I hope I won't balloon up due to all the planning stress! Ha Ha
Back to a more serious note, I am really sad my dress is gone. It was the 2nd dress I tried on, after my dad bought it for me it sat in my roommates closet for 4 months. On the occasion, someone would come over and want to see me in my dress, but other than that it sat in the closet untouched. Now I won't be able to look at it anytime I like, or put it on to reassure myself I had choose the right dress. I have to wait until a week before the wedding to try it on, and it's KILLING ME! I know a lot of women feel this way, so I just have to suck it up, and forget about it until the wedding.

Check 4: We found a DJ!
Our first DJ had to let a couple people go and canceled on us. He recommended another DJ and my mom and I went out to his house to meet him. He was really nice and really easing going. We liked him instantly!

Check 5: Invitations Printed

Dropped them off at kinkos and picked them up the next morning! For a small fee ($65 for 97 sheets) they printed them in color! Now all I have to do is cut all of them, assemble, and mail...ugh.


What do you think of our new sheets? Thanks Greg and Chewy! ----------------->


Check 6: Bridal Shower!!

This was so much fun. We had it at my moms house and a bunch of my relatives drove 2-8 hours to be there for me. I was truly touched!

The shower started off with lots of good food! My mom really out did herself. Then came games and opening presents!! Then there was the awesome jell-o cake my mom and bridesmaid/cousin Hailey made (so good) and then lots and lots of mingling. Most of us hadn't seen each other in over 6 months.

                                                                        *my mom made a jell-o cake that was to die for!*




Now its "back to reality" and trying to stay focused! Next on my list, Invitation. So stay tuned!

DIY Silhouette Plate

Today I decided to do something non-wedding related. I have been so consumed with RSVP cards, aisle runners, dress alterations, and everything else involved with planning a wedding that I wanted to make something that had nothing to do with weddings! The funny thing is, while I was making this I decided to incorporate this into the wedding (lol) as our charger plates using our monogram.

A few months ago I purchased a book called "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts" and while looking through it I found this guide to making your own silhouette plate.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: (as per the book)

- Glass Plate, in any size
- Black acrylic paint, in any brand (I used Americana)
- What spray paint (I used Krylon white gloss)
- Flat artist brushes in various sizes (I would recommend getting a small round brush if you have an intricate design)
- Clear coat spray paint (I used Krylon)
- Image of what you would like on your plate (I did a google search and picked a swirl I liked)
- Sharpie marker, fine tip in black (I didn't like that after you painted your design you could still see the marker if you got really close. I will try and find a different item to use)

HERE'S HOW:

1. Enlarge your image to fit the plate you have. (this is the image I used)

2. Tape the picture on the front ot the plate, upside down. You will be tracing it on the back of the plate.

3. Trace image onto the back of the plate with your marker.

4. Fill in the tracing with the black acrylic paint, using your artist brushes (This will take several coats)

(almost finished with 1st coat)

(after 3 coats)

5. To see if you missed any spots, hold the plate up to the light and look at the front of the plate.
6. Once you filled in the image and the paint has dried, spray the back of the plate with white (or any color) spray paint.

7. After the paint is dry, apply 3 coats of the clear spray to the back of the plate, letting it dry at least 30 minutes between each coat
8. Once its dry, you can either hang it on the wall as art, or eat dinner off it. Its up to you!

I dont know what I will be doing with mine yet. For now it will sit in a box until I can get a stand for it and put it on my bookcase.  I am really pleased with how it turned out. While I was painting it (I'm not the best painter) I thought it will never look like the one in the book, but I am really happy with how it looks. Even with the crooked lines! lol

*If you decide to eat off these, do not put them in the dishwasher. Hand wash only!!

Here's what I will be trying on the next plates:

Our monogram charger plates (If this goes well I would like to make one for each of our bridal party with their name, instead of our monogram.)

A blue bird (I think I will be spray painting the background dark blue)

Crazy designs

So be on the look out!

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE!!

A couple days ago I received an e-mail from Michael's saying that all their flowers were buy 1 get 1 free this week!!! So me and Rob (my FI) went there this evening and got tons of flowers. Because of the awesome sale, I wasn't able to get as much as I would of liked. Oh well, I've never made bouquets before so i only need enough to make a sample.

While I was at Michael's I couldn't believe how much they were! I had no idea. I guess compared to the price of real flowers, its a good deal. And just standing there in the aisle, holding a handful of white roses, made me want to walk down the aisle even more!! Rob was even getting into it. He was grabbing different flowers and putting them together to see if he liked the way they looked. It was the most enthusiastic he has ever been at Michael's.

Here are some of my bouquet inspiration.

*my bouquet-but all white and without the beads on the last one*

For my Girls
*I will be using blue flowers instead of the black*


For the Guys
I am in love with the guys bout. idea I found online.

*For Rob*



*For the Groomsmen*

I will be attempting these when I return from Ohio after St. Patty's Day.
So stay tuned.....!