45 days!

The countdown is really on now!

We have wrapped up all the major contracts and are going to look for someone to handle the set-up at our reception venue.  Originally we were going to handle (OK family was going to handle) but there is an event in the ballroom before our reception so we can't get in to set-up any earlier.  Oh well.  We interviewed some capable coordinators earlier in the process that we will circle back with.  Other than that we just have final meetings with our vendors and the never ending debate about transportation.

Had my hair colored close to what nature intended last night; Mark's friend Vanessa recommended Michael Raboir (sp!?) who did a stellar job.  And, as a natural salesman/seasoned pro, whipped up a few rough ideas with bobby pins to show me some ways to do wedding hair.  I already have someone booked but I really appreciated it.  Maybe if the person who I hired sucks I can ditch them...! 

The next wedding shower, a bridal tea, is a few weekends away.  I updated my registry a bit to beef it back up.  Target seems to have the most stuff left on the registry--which is GREAT because Mark and I have been receiving a lot of Target gift cards (Christmas, birthday, Valentine's), I want to use them toward registry items we don't receive.  Mark wants a flat screen...so if you want to come watch movies/games at our house buy us stuff at Target.  LOL!

Ahh vacation!

I slacked off a little with the postings. Sorry to anyone that actually reads this on a semi-regular basis. But Mark and I had a very relaxing trip to Key Biscayne where we stayed with the amazing Alison. Mark now understands when I say how cool she is that if anything I’m UNDER exaggerating her coolness. Thanks to her for hosting us during the chilly few days we were there.  Here's a fun photo she snapped of us sitting outside the lighthouse keeper's cabin:

One of our favorite jaunts was the day we spent at South Beach roaming around Ocean Drive and all the surrounding side streets. I wish we could go back and spend a little more time there. I won’t wear suntan oil though since it gave me a weird rash like reaction. That, coupled with low SPF, didn’t pan out all that well!


Mark and I got all the invites out in the mail and have been getting our replies! Super fun. In fact, Mark calls me when I’m at home and has me update him on who sent in their RSVP that day. I am now going to write a little note on my response cards because that is my personal favorite part! It never had crossed my mind before but it’s really that much more fun. Everyone has just over 20 days to get those all mailed back!!

penmanship and pizza party

My family, friends and family to be are so awesome!

This Saturday I hosted a penmanship party, well it was actually free use of other people's time and handwriting for invitation addressing time.  I had a posse of help: my mother, two aunts, a cousin, friends, a future sister, almost daughter, near niece, mother to be and soon to be husband (oh SNAP! a husband?!?! Insanity, that might be the first time I've said or typed that).  Thanks so much for all your help, we only had a few envelope casualties so I was impressed!

Got to the post office at around 5:40 tonight with all the invites in tow.  The line was too long so I commandeered the mail slot and started stuffing them in.  After getting 80% in I had a slight panic attack because I never weighed them to ensure I was using the proper amount of postage.  Now, with a pit in my stomach, I got in line with 20 people and tried not to get too worked up that I just messed up big time.  As I finally got up to a USPS representative I briefly flashed through every worst possible scenario and then understood why people "go postal."  The woman weighed the envelope and said, "oh."  I had one tear fall out and simultaneously almost barfed on her scale (today was like the last day I could mail these puppies and fall within proper etiquette for invitation arrival).  She obviously noticed my panic-stricken face and said, "It's good!!! It's one ounce exactly and it has the stamp on already, you're good!"  I was immediately relieved, no longer felt like barfing and after flashing a grin and saying thanks as I went back to my tiny mail slot and pushed through the last handful of invites.  Yay!

let them eat cake

Cake tasting starts this afternoon.  YUM.  Well I don't love cake but I won't mind eating some :)  Details to follow...

"I could make that"

I'm famous for saying this, and famous for definitely NOT being able to make it.  Well, that's not entirely true...I'm fairly adept at craft projects.  Maybe not for my age but I could still get an A for effort.  So where does a girl with a love for making it myself find someone to make it for me?  Etsy of course!  If you haven't gone on this site, please check it out. 

I found someone to craft together flowery headbands for the flower girls and I'm probably going to get a veil from the site as well.  The headbands are cute, I don't think they look too homemade, especially from the distance, HAHA!  I mean who is going to plop their nose in the flower girl's hair? I will inspect them again from home.  I think they might be OK.  Wait, oh man. Why am I just now thinking of this?!!?  I will pretend I made them.  Oh yes, yes I will.  That way no one can say anything except how crafty I am.  Noice.  Done and done.  So on April 10 if you want to see my handiwork plop your nose into the head of a flower girl.

Banned from the wedding: Jersey Shore tan

We are going to have a frank and open talk about tans.  I love them.  I look good with one.  I don't want any body parts removed or cut-off though.  Therefore I'm anti-tanning booth.  I've gone to them, it's so cozy and warm (and smelly) but they have music and you get a few minutes of honest to goodness alone/quiet/reflection time.  However the dangers outweigh and the last handful of times I've gone tanning I can hear my Grandpa Neal telling me how awful it is.  And then I picture the shot glass sized mass he had on his shoulder.  Ew.  So now I go to Florida for natural vitamin D during the cold, grey Michigan winters or hold out until June.  And I wear a higher SPF than I did in my tanorexic days.

So then how did this OOPS occur?!  My wedding is in April.  And from October 15-May 31 I make Casper look tan.  Hmmm....what to do?!  Spray tan!  That's the ticket.  In early March I am going to go do a practice run to see how this all works out.  And then I might do it again just to be certain we're all set on the proper shade: "sun-kissed" or "blazin' Brazilian!?"  I have to be careful not to get scary orange though...

Brooke Hogan example of said scary orange:

Here's the issue:  how do I, a former tanorexic, tell everyone to keep the Jersey Shore tan at the beach!?  By photo montage of course! Children, no one is this color naturally.  Stay away from tanning booths!  Look too tan lady now and at her wedding:

Here's a properly bronzed couple for the end of summer, perhaps a little tan for April still:

FOOOOOOOODDDDD

Score!

Mark, myself,  my parents and Mark's mom & stepdad all went to Vince's for dinner last night.  This place is amazing plus very special to my Shine family and I'm so happy to say it's the official site of our rehearsal dinner.  The food is stellar (if you like to eat baby animals I hear the veal is superb) and it's a ten-minute drive from the church.  It's a good Detroiter experience for anyone that hasn't been there before. 

Last night I had the spinach fettuccine noodles and arriabata sauce. MMMM, so happy I stopped myself and saved some for lunch today.  Topped it off with a delicious dark chocolate and raspberry frozen dessert.  Mark went with pizza; the rest of the meals consisted of two veal marsalas, a spaghetti & meatballs and baked mostaccioli.  And Morettis.  Yum.