7 months

Time for a reality check! Actually this list could go either way; it can either stress me out or calm me. Any bets as to which one it'll do?

Done/in process:
- Venue
- Officiant
- Baker
- Bridal party chosen, dress picked out
- Florist
- Photographer
- Tat offered to do my hair & makeup for the day. YES PLEASE.

Next steps:
- Invites (design and DIY)
- Keith asking his side!! GAH GET ON THAT ALREADY.
- Decor (buy centerpieces, linens/chair sashes, orange pom-pom napkin rings I'm DIYing)
- Rings
- Decide whether I want to apply to blog for weddingbee.

Not even thinking about (or don't WANT to):
- Dress/overall look (other than an orange bolero) for myself.
- Attire for the men.
- Marriage license - this is only in this category because it's only good for 3 months, so we won't be getting it until August at the earliest.
- Music situation
- Bridal shower/bachelorette (which I'm going to combine into one)
- Hotel
- Timeline of the day, other than the ceremony time: 2:30pm.

Honestly, I think we're fine for being 7 months out. Other than the dress thing, but I have my own personal reasons (and a plan) for that aspect.

What do you think?

ABC's of me

I totally stole this from Amber over at Girl with The Red Hair. Why? Because its fun. And I'm sick of breathing/thinking/talking about the wedding 24/7.

Age: 24

Bed size: Queen. It's heavenly. We used to have a double, and a queen is just so.much.better.
Chore you dislike: Vacuuming and dishes. Vacuuming because I have a black dog and a biege carpet. And dishes because ITS NEVER ENDING.
Dogs: 3 year old black lab mix, otherwise known as the cutest thing ever. Or Molly, if you really want to know.
Essential start to your day: A drink of some sort (usually Crystal Light) and a smoke. And twitter.
Favorite color: Orange! and yellow.
Gold or silver: White gold. Definitely!
Height: Somewhere between 5″4 and 5″5
Instruments you play(ed): Violin, trumpet, a BIT of piano.
Job title: Student. I also manage all the bills, housework and social life of this house.
Kids: Um...Can I confess something? I HAVE BABY FEVER SO FRICKING BAD. Except then I think of all the actual work that goes into having kids, and it goes away. A bit. Plus we can't afford one just yet, and we are in total agreement that not married = no kids.
Live: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Mom’s name: "I-will-kill-you-if-you-ever-put-my-name-out-there-on-the-internet". Or "Mom" for short.
Nicknames: Sarsee, Pooky.
Overnight hospital stays: Appendix burst when I was 12, RnY surgery at 23.
Pet peeve: Justin Bieber. Those new Conservative party ads. I can't believe people watch those and don't scream at their TV (or worse, believe them). I also have seeeerious road rage. Slow/bad drivers take the cake. Also? TURNING SIGNALS ARE NOT AN OPTIONAL FEATURE. USE EM.

Quote from a movie: "You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years."
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Siblings: Older brother, younger sister.
Time you wake up: What time did I go to bed?
Underwear: Why yes, I wear them. Thanks for asking. Rude.
Vegetables you don’t like: Onions and mushrooms. Deeeesgusting.
What makes you run late: Smoking, traffic.

X-Rays you’ve had: Lungs for my appendix, teeth.
Yummy food you make: Banana bread.

Zoo animal favorite: Tiger, polar bear and elephant.

Blimp

I posted that I reached the magical number of 101 pounds lost on December 11.

Then Christmas happened. And I started eating junk food and bread products and fast food.
And Tat stopped doing flyers, which meant I stopped doing flyers.
Then I got sick in early January.

The result of all of this is that at my six month appointment (January 28), I was 259.

two hundred and fifty nine pounds.

I gained. And not just a little bit. Apparently my body likes to go big or go home.

***

Awful doesn't even begin to cover how I felt. This was further compounded by the highly unsatisfying doctors visit where I felt like a big, fat, RnY failure.

I wallowed for about a week. And then I realized a few key things:
1) I need physical exercise. Some people can do this on diet alone. I, apparently, am not one of them.
2) I really can't eat stuff like cereal or bread or junk food. The junk food is a no brainer, but I can't believe I let it creep back into what I eat.

I refocused and did two major things:
Redefined what I consider a treat. My two big things right now are No Sugar Added Jell-o chocolate pudding and honey lemon tea.

Added a wack of physical exercise. I do Biggest Loser on the Wii at home 3-4 times a week and Tat & I have made a re-commitment to the gym - we go 2-3 times a week and spend a solid hour and a half each time.
I conquered my fear of the treadmill and everything bouncing, and I set a major goal for myself: To run two 5k's this year - one on May 28, and the other on October 2. Run. Not walk. (To do this I started following the C25K program). We go to Zumba a couple of times a week and I'm hoping we make it to an Aquafit class sometime soon.

I'm still not down to my December 11 weight, but I'm close. In 3 weeks I've lost 16 pounds.

But most of all?

I don't feel awful anymore.

Love Story

Saturday night I looked out my 7th story window and noticed the rink was empty.

"Let's go skating." I suggested.

I hadn't skated since before I hit double digits, but it's like riding a bike, right? Easy-peasy.

Um. Not exactly.

I basically spent the majority of the time like this:

What struck me was the fear.

Fear made my legs go stiff. I didn't trust the surface of the ice; I didn't trust my balance. I locked my legs and swayed from the waist, too terrified to move.

"Take my hands," Keith urged me. I placed my hands in his and he pulled me along, gently, slowly.

I put my hands in his, and for a brief moment, I glimpsed a tiny sliver of our future together. I saw our three year old, skating for the first time, her tiny hands being held in her daddy's hands as he guided her around the ice.

The fear shifted, diminished.

I knew I wouldn't fall. I knew I was safe, my hands in his.

cake v.02

(courtesy of The Cake Whisperer)
Feeling slightly better.
It's pretty awesome eh?
Can't wait to see it in real life!

Stuff I'm digging lately ....

This sign:
(from Etsy)Wouldn't that just be the cutest thing to have propped beside the card box/guestbook? I'd obviously change the colours and after I could hang it somewhere in our house!

These hangers:
(Also from Etsy)
I'll confess: I really want these. Like, really really want. For me & all my girls. They're freaking adorable.

Another confession: I've been spending a LOT of time looking at different dresses for myself. And the best place to do this? PreOwnedWeddingDresses, hands down. They have EVERYTHING. From David's Bridal to Maggie Sottero to Jim Hjlem to even designers like Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier. Best thing? You actually get to see the dress on a real woman, not some 6 foot size negative 6 model, and the prices can be up to 75% off retail. Effing. Score. Every bride needs to know about this site.

True story: Earlier this week I was so engrossed in looking at dresses I completely forgot to leave to pick up Keith from work. Ahem. (Can you say em-barrr-aaasssing?)

So that's what I'm into lately. Anything you'd like to share?

The cake

I'm currently hyperventilating over the cost of our cake.

I think this will be a battle won by Keith.

And I'm realizing that according to all the 'experts' out there, I'm going about planning my wedding the entirely wrong way. I'm basically booking the first vendor I meet with. 'Experts' say to try at least 3 of each.

Can you say EXHAUSTING? I literally do not have the time or patience to meet with three separate vendors for each thing. Plus, this internet and email thing? VERY HANDY TOOL.

But still. Hyperventilating over the cost of this damn cake.
Keith likes our baker. Doesn't want to meet with anyone else.
Therein lies our problem.

I think I might let him have this one. He conceded on the honeymoon registry idea (not registering at all, thank you. One less stressor).

I don't have any pictures to show you of it because its a custom designed sketch, but I'll try my best to describe it:

Three tier cake. The bottom and top tier will be white, with the middle tier being orange. The white tiers will have a dark gray ribbon around the bottom. There will be a spray? cascade? of sugar-paste flowers on the side of the cake, reaching from the top of the bottom tier to the bottom of the top tier, and the colour of the flowers will be white in the middle and then gradually whiten so that the ones at either end will be orange.

Whew. That was a mouthful. Hopefully I'll have a sketch pretty soon so I can actually show you what it's going to look like.

And the flavours?
We've tentatively decided on chocolate cake with raspberry filling, vanilla cake with cookies & cream filling, and red velvet with cream cheese filling.

Its a damn shame I'm probably only going to be able to eat three bites of it.

Still alive ... just not kicking.

So far 2011 has been kind of shitty.

First, I got sick to the point of losing my voice. And it lasted two weeks!

Secondly, Keith did something to his back. He took 3 days off work last week & still can't even manage to put his own socks on.

I'm in a funk with school - and this whole wacked out sleeping schedule I'm currently enjoying (umm...not) doesn't really add to the situation.

I haven't lost anything significant since hitting 100 pounds lost over a month ago. I'm getting frustrated and impatient. Although I will fully admit I've been letting carbs sneak back into my food choices. I've noticed something odd: When I eat carbs, I find I crave food; specifically, more carbs (naan bread & hummus is particularly delicious). Compare that to being able to have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude towards food when carbs aren't a food choice (still not "normal person hungry"). Time to wean off the carbs. Sigh. FML.

As far as the wedding goes, we've made progress on bridesmaids dresses and met with our baker, whom Keith really likes.

Bridesmaids dresses: I found them off Etsy, of all places! My requirements for bridesmaids dresses are pretty simple: Cheaper the better, knee-length and the same shade.

(Aside: although 2 of my girls are BEYOND amazing and told me they'd be okay with shelling out up to 300$ for a dress, my sister can't pay for her own, which means I'm going to have to. And I know I can't afford that much. So, yes. Cheaper = better.)

Anyway, without further ado:

The Infinity Wrap Dress by Localovespirate!

Isn't it gorgeous??! My girls can wrap/wear it any way they feel most comfortable on the day, I really don't care. I ordered the 'silver' (pictured) and 'steel' fabric samples to compare. I'll get everybodys opinions on the 19th when Peggy comes down for a visit. YAY!

As for the cake, I think I'll do a separate post on that because this post is getting super long. And no, it won't be a month later. Swearsies.

Christmas

I was complaining how my sister was rude about the bra I wore for Christmas dinner to Keith tonight. He replied, "Is that because she was mad that M [her boyfriend] was staring at them?"

I replied: "HE WAS WHAT??!"

Which clearly demonstrates: I am COMPLETLEY clueless when it comes to guys. Completely. Sorry Becky, but next time please date someone who's more respectful to you than one that stares at your sister's tits at Christmas. Jeez.

Keith did super well on gifts this year. Actually, both him & his dad did. I made out like a bandit:
-Katy Perry CD Teenage Dream. (I only listen to CD's in the car when I drive alone, and Katy Perry is awesome driving music.)
-MASSIVE Mistletoe scented Yankee Candle.
- 50$ gift certificate to Starbucks.
-50$ gift certificate to Old Navy. (Keith).
-75$ gift certificate to Chapters
- Novel, Open Doors by Gloria Goldreich.
- Blue cable hoody sweater from Old Navy.(Keith's dad).

See? I got SPOILED.

Other funny stories: We got Harry wiper blades, and wrapped them separately. After he opened the first one, we told him we couldn't afford the second one, but hey. Here's one, sorry, go buy the second one. HE BELIEVED US.

I nearly died.

I realized this Christmas Keith is going to be super fun to have kids with. He comes up with stuff I would never think of - like Christmas Eve, we were discussing Norad's tracking Santa deal, and how cute it was for the kids, and he said, "oooh, you could just go; See? Santa's in England, its time to get to bed!!" He is BRILLIANT. I would have never thought of saying that!! LOL.
And today; he wrapped one of my gift cards in a big box, and actually put a spoon and screws in the box so it 'rattled' if I shook it. Seriously! Where does someone come up with stuff like that?

He's awesome.
I love.

How was your Christmas?

Christmas wish

Dear life:

Could you possibly find it within yourself to stop kicking me?

It's hard & it hurts, and I'm already down. To keep doing it is just cruel.

You big bully.

Piss off and die;
Sarah

Who knew?

Playing around with linen combinations could be pretty fun?

Which of these combinations looks best? Also, 2 things: the napkin rings will be orange, I just couldn't find any offered, and there will be a black/brown lantern as a centerpiece.

101 reasons surgery was worth it.

I did it!
First major milestone reached!
50% of the way there.

Extremely happy :)

I'm not that bad, honest.

Keith says I'll be exactly like the bride in this ad on our wedding day.

I promised him I wouldn't be...but trust me, the thought of it is tempting! :)

This morning

Keith (trying to screw on the lid of his B12):
I can't get it to close! Why isn't this closing?

Me, peering at it:
You're probably just overthinking it.

Keith (still trying, his movements becoming slightly more frantic):
It just won't go! This is really weird! Why can't I do this?

(I pick up the bottle, look at the lid, put the lid of B12 on the multi-vitamin bottle, and the lid of the multi-vitamin on the B12 bottle - whaddya know, both of them close properly).
See? I told you you were overthinking it.

Keith (sheepish):
Oh. Thanks.

Me Heart Decor

A few decor ideas:

First off: I FOUND THEM! My #1 centerpiece idea:

{ source }

You know how bloody hard it is to find that kind of style in lanterns?! Honestly!

Basically a bride on weddingbee used them in her wedding and I contacted her about selling them - so now I'm just crossing my fingers that it doesn't cost a zillion dollars to ship them from the US. Once I get them I'll be spray-painting them silver to fit our colours; hopefully it works out.

And I've decided to go with the chair sashes & pompom napkin rings, and to purchase them in January. (I just made up a month-to-month payment schedule in order to figure out what cost goes into which month. Barring any unforeseen calamities, it should work.)

Now that I have the general idea for the reception decor figured out, it's time to brainstorm about ceremony decor ....(can you tell that this category is fast becoming my favourite part about wedding planning?) A few ideas:

• Monogrammed aisle runner (we need one anyway & we're having monogrammed invites)
• Free-standing (since we're most likely having an indoor ceremony and even if we aren't, our outdoor space is a deck, not grass) shepherd's hooks with mini lanterns on them (can I even find them?)
• Ceremony ritual accessories (can't forget to add those to the budget, damnit)
• Something up front, maybe, but not sure exactly what.

Total budget for this stuff is 180$, so we'll see if all my ideas come to fruition.

Venue: Check!

We did it! Told ya I'd have the venue chosen/paid for by the end of November!

Introducing the place where all the magic will happen:

(photos taken from here)

Top: Outside ceremony area, bar/cocktail hour & dance floor.
Bottom: two views of banquet room.

Picture this

This:

filled completely with these:

Elegant. Simple. Clean. Gorgeous.

And now for a little math:

10 tifle bowls @ 12$ each = 120$
Candles (projected budget) = between 100-150$

Total cost of 10 centerpieces: between 220$ and 270$.

Also on the table would be these napkin-ring pompoms in orange, as an alternative to having to price out, hunt down, and rent orange napkins (can you say $$?). Aren't they ADORABLE?

(Found here)

Two other things: our venue includes chair covers with its rental fee, so I'm in the middle of deciding if the cost of chair sashes (orange, duh) is worth it for that extra added "pop" AND I found a great deal on weddingbee. Another thing I'm currently deciding is if I want a silver pin-tuck overlay, (also found on weddingbee), but is that just too much? Will anybody really notice?

Plus, then we're wandering into slightly-more-expensive-but-definitely-getting-sick-about-that-amount-of-money territory; a conservative estimate puts all the decor for the reception (excluding the overlays) around the 400$ mark, and I still have to price out chinese lanterns for over the dance floor. My estimated budget (given to me by the lovely Martha Stewart) puts centerpieces & decor for the reception at 600$, and I really, really want to be under that.

So. What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Not your style?

Four months out - a visual representation

Yes, I realize there is no 2 month. I was despairing that I would never lose anymore weight, wah wah wah. So I skipped the picture.

And please click to enlarge. I have no idea why it's so effing small.

On Alcohol

Quick poll here:

1) Full cash bar
2) Full "toonie" (2$) bar
3) Full bar, but anything that's not wine, signature cocktail, or domestic beer are full price, while the aforementioned items are charged 2$.
4) Modified bar - only serves wine/signature cocktail/domestic beer, and charged 2$.

Which of these is
a) the least rude
b) the least confusing
?????

Centerpiece Idea

A stack of books, individually wrapped in alternating colours with opposite ribbon, complemented with a small vase with a single orange Gerber daisy inside.

The best part about this idea is that I have a quite embarrassing amount of books I've only ever read once and really don't care about never seeing again.

What do you think? Tacky? Unique? Really cool idea? Abort abort abort?