Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Thank you all for your well wishes and congratulations! I cannot express how happy your comments make me! Planning a quick wedding definitely has its challenges as it eliminates any venue that is already booked, eliminates dresses that require ordering, and it forces you to make decisions quickly. Despite all of that, I'm actually really happy we're going this route because I'm the kind of person who needs to make decisions quickly and not be allowed to agonize over stuff. (I'm saving that for the larger religious ceremony that will probably have me pulling out my hair, but that's neither here nor now.)

I'm still working on the venue issue, as I had an idea but it would require some work and it would probably be a first for the place. I'm not sure I'm willing to undertake all of that, especially if it ends up costing more than a place that is used to hosting private events. I got in touch with a second option and fortuitously the date I really want is open. I've put a tentative hold on it since it's the right date and the price is right. I'm waiting for the menus to be e-mailed and the girl to discuss the layout options with her boss.

Which brings me to invitations. For the original venue, I had pretty much decided on this set:

However, now that I'm considering another place I feel these invitations don't work as the new venue option does not have that rustic, casual fee to it as the original option did. So, I'm considering different invitations. The new venue is more classic, clean and traditional Louisiana with a wrap around balcony and wood paneling. It's very light and airy on the inside and more formal than my original venue choice. So now, I'm on the hunt for invitations that match...

{All Invitations via Hello Lucky!}

So, what do you think? Anything that jumps out at you? My favorite design wise, is the art nouveau inspired invitation but I worry it's too flowery for J and too formal for this wedding. The invitation with the little tree seems most appropriate for the new venue as it is near a huge park and it looks appropriate for a restaurant wedding. I'm open to any and all thoughts/suggestions!

Also, I promise to post about things other than this wedding. I will not turn this blog into an all wedding blog! :-)

Weekend Surprises

This weekend was full of high's, some anticipated, some surprising and some just straight out of the blue!

First, J and I are getting married! It's super spontaneous and very small but we are going to make it legal! I know, you're probably wondering "What about the proposal?" "Were you even engaged?" Believe me, I know how confusing this is going to be to our friends and extended family!

Number one, we are not engaged. We had picked out a ring and it's being worked on right now since it's an estate piece that needed some tlc. J had been thinking about proposing for the last three months but we got caught up in life, his school, and family events. We were planning to get engaged this spring at some point and get married in a year or so. A few weeks ago, I had tossed out the idea of doing a civil ceremony and then a religious ceremony once I convert (which can take a year or more). The civil ceremony could be done before we move/he starts residency and the religious ceremony could take place at a later date, when I'm converted and we actual have a few dollars to our name. I just tossed the idea out and never expected J to like it or even think about it after that.

Flash forward to Saturday night when I'm watching tv and being lazy. J calls after he left the restaurant where he and his family had met to have dinner and watch a Mardi Gras parade. We are shooting the shit when suddenly he says, "So, I told my parents about your idea to do a civil ceremony and then a religious ceremony." I of course was preparing myself to hear that they thought it was a horrible idea and there was no way we were going to do that.

I was wrong. Big time. Apparently, they thought it was a great idea and liked the idea of us being at least, legally married before we move. He also showed his parents the ring we had picked out and they liked it. Now, at this point, my brain stopped working and the processing of information was not happening. My mouth was just hanging open and all I could say was "You're shitting me right?!" Yes, I know, I'm an extremely eloquent speaker when surprised. I know...

Once we had ascertained that he was not kidding and we were actually getting married before we moved, I just kind of flipped out. (The good kind of flip out... The "jump up and down and run around your house" flip out.) I told my parents what had just transpired and my Mom was ecstatic, since she had loved my idea to begin with.

So yeah, we decided to get married before we could decide to get engaged. I'm now throwing together a small wedding in less than seven weeks! My life is like that. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way!

Going back to the other great things that happened this weekend...The Saint's won! I'm not a huge fan of football but I can appreciate how big of a deal this is for my state and my city. It's huge! Also, when Drew was holding his son Baylen and tearing up...I have to admit, it made me tear up a little bit.

Alright, so there you go. This past weekend will forever go down in history as a very good weekend for my state, my city and my love life!

{Photo via We Heart It}

Re-Opening My Etsy Shop

I'm working on re-opening my Etsy shop but need some input from you all!

What pictures would you all like to see in the store and what sizes?

I can have just about any size printed, so what I'm wondering is whether most people would prefer smaller prints that can be combined, larger prints that stand alone, or both?

Anything else you would like to see??

Please, let me know! No suggestions are too big or small!

I appreciate anything and everything you can throw my way!

Ads vs. Sponsorship

This is a post for all of you blogging veterans...

I received an invitation to apply for Blogher ads today. I had originally put myself on their waiting list because their ads are more attractive than the google ads and I like their site. This was a few months ago, so I had forgotten about the application. Now, that I have the invite, I'm wondering what you all think about big box ad services vs. helping out small businesses? I'm not looking to make a ton of money either way and since I once had my own Etsy store (and may open it again) I feel the pain of the small business. It's hard to get word out and draw traffic to your site. So, I would be open to going the route of sponsorship.

That being said, I'm not sure how to go about attracting sponsorship. I'm not even sure I would attract anyone because I got out of the Etsy loop when I closed my store. :-\

Any ideas, suggestions, past experiences with either route?

Please let me know!

Workout Week Two Update

Well, it's time to take my measurements and weigh again for this week. This week was good activity wise. I got the the Shred in Monday and Wednesday (hoping to do it tomorrow too). On Tuesday and today, I did the Bar Method videos a friend loaned me. I really enjoy them and feel like I can see a difference in little parts of my body. My legs look slightly more toned and my abs are slightly more present.

Differences in this weeks measurements? All the same but my waist. Apparently, I lost an inch off my natural waist. I don't see this, but it makes sense as I have less trouble losing weight in my upper body compared to my lower body. My weight is the exact same as last week, so I guess it's good to know I'm holding steady despite not eating as clean of a diet as I should... Oh well. I'll tackle diet at some point this venture... Right now I'm just aiming for activity everyday!

Rainy Days...

Today started off rather oddly for me. I had one of those nights where you are sleeping but you are dreaming of all the stuff you have to do the next day and how you are going to do them I was dreaming about getting the tomatoes I forgot to get that day and how I should saute my onions and garlic before I put them in the crock pot.

Yes, I know I sound like a crock-pot job myself. Needless to say, I awoke and did not feel rested at all. Instead, I felt as though I had done those tasks and more, over and over and over again! I made my way into the kitchen to start prepping for the veggie soup I planned to make. As I shuffled down the hall and into the kitchen I noticed the first strike against today. It was raining.

Now, I know I could watch the news and maybe know these things ahead of time but that would take all the fun out of life. Right? Right. I go on about my business preparing the soup and once everything is in the pot, I add my broth. I empty the entire box of broth and realize I need more. *insert string of curse words* I realize that I need to go throw some clothes on and go get the broth so I can get this soup going. I trudge back into my bedroom, throw on whatever is clean and warm, since it's still damp and chilly, and make my way to the car. I decided to stop off at the post office and mail a package that needs to go out. Of course, everyone and their mother is at the post office at 10 am. I haven't had tea, breakfast, or anything at this point and the fact that it is pouring is just pissing me off more. Finally, after addressing two labels and wrestling with the stupid postage machine, I'm done.

I get in the car and hope for a swift trip to Whole Foods. I run through Whole Foods like a crazy person because I put the crockpot on low without enough liquid and bad scenarios keep running through my head. I did, however, find time to swing by the bread section and pick up my favorite bad treat at Whole Foods. It's called White Chocolate Orange Bread and it's divine. It also goes straight to your ass so I'll be doing the bar method today.

As I'm rushing home, picturing my kale all shriveled up and burnt from lack of liquid I remember I need to get more tulle for a tutu I'm making. Because apparently, 2 yards of tulle is not enough to encompass a 2 year old. I really need to learn how to sew tutu's because I suspect they use less fabric than the no-sew tutu's. I make the critical decision to go home and help the soup along and then go out again, later, for the tulle.

I'm still sitting at home trying to convince myself I need to go get the tulle.

Rainy days do that to me.

Unsettled...

Here goes the usual cycle again in my life. I'm feeling very unsettled right now and have lots of questions. Questions that can't be answered by anyone right now. I wonder how much longer I can go without working. I e-mail/hand out my resume on a fairly consistent basis. I haven't heard anything. Granted, my skill set is lacking and it's not the best time to find a job. In fact, I would say it's worse right now than it was a year ago.

I am taking some classes and working towards a certification, though it's a small certification. I'm also counting down the days to March 18th when J finds out where his residency will be. I'm trying to be an active, contributing member of society but more and more I just want to close my eyes and hope another day flies by.

In an attempt to pass time, make a little money and pretend to be an active member of society, I've thought about re-opening my Etsy shop. I'm hesitant to do so because it was hit or miss last time and it required alot of work. At this point, I'm just not sure but it's definitely there, in the back of mind being mulled over continuously.

Hopefully, time will continue to pass quickly and before I know it, March will come around.

Here's hoping...