Skipping through polka dots and daisies...

Today I checked off yet another major wedding task. I'm more than proud of my progress at the moment, as wedding planning hasn't been super convenient what with the Christmas and New Years hubabaloo and working overtime hours at the office.

But I guess I can't take all the credit.

Let me just tell you, creating our wedding announcements has been the most enjoyable, pleasant wedding-planning experience we've had as of yet. However, things weren't always looking so good. I was very distraught actually, frustrated that I couldn't find an invitation that portrayed our own personalities with a touch of creativity and flavor. They're all the same, it seemed. Each paper company I found printed the same old card with the same old layout and the same old pictures. Seriously. They. All. Look. The. Same. Ugh.

So as I perused site after boring website I became even more discouraged with my search. I began considering custom designs, which is of course an extra cost, extra time and therefore an extra burden, but I felt it my only choice to get a unique announcement that I am completely satisfied with.

That is until I stumbled through Polka Dots and Daisies. And yes it was as lovely as it sounds.

A modest company located in Bountiful and Lehi, Utah, Polka Dots and Daisies was more than pleasant to work with. Their website showed a number of beautiful invites that I admired, but the designs I loved (such as the picture above) were not in my budget. But I set up an appointment anyways, more out of desperation than anything else.

And boy am I glad I did.

I had a dress fitting in SLC the same day, so stopping in Bountiful for a quick appointment was quite convenient. It was a quaint little place, looking more like an elegant two-story home than a business. Rechecking the address, we headed up the steps and up a grand staircase to the happy office on the top floor.

Mollie greeted us with smiles- a pregnant 20-something girl with wonderful people skills and a listening ear. Let me tell you, I am SO grateful to find people in the wedding industry who actually listen to what I want! Mollie took notes of important factors such as when I need my invites completed, what colors I'd like to use, what paper I like, how many pictures I want, etc. Then we went to work.

We went through a stack of samples, pretty ones, but not the one. Then we went through a second stack, pulling out favorites here and there to take note from. Then I found it. A little square invitation peeked out from behind the others. And it was perfect.

• It was a tri-fold- perfect because they aren't overdone.

• It used eight engagement pictures- perfect because we have an excellent photographer that I am more than happy to show off.

• It features a quote in one corner- perfect because I have collected quotes for years.

• It was square- perfect because square envelopes are just too darn cute.

• It was linen paper- perfect because I love the feel of it beneath my fingers. *Macaroni Grill uses linen menus. Believe me I know, I rub the menu all through dinner.

For once I was able to say with certainty, "That's it! That's the one!" If only I could be that certain with everything wedding related. How easy life would be.

Beaming with excitement we began to plot the layout, picking fonts, motifs, etc. Our announcements were in the works, and it was the first invitation vendor I'd met with! (Thank goodness I didn't have to go though 11 like I did with dress shops)

To celebrate our wedding progress, The Captain and I stopped at Salt City Burger Co. afterwards. Apparently our luck continued because we were surprised with a buy one get one special when we received the bill. (If you ever get the chance to try Salt City, do. It was one of the best burgers I've had) Let me just take this moment to say I am never going to be one of those starving brides. If I gain 15 pounds I gain 15 pounds. Let's just hope it goes to the right place. ;)

Anyway, from there the design of our wedding announcements was a cool summer breeze.

Mollie and I emailed ideas back and forth for a week. She sent me updated proofs and I messaged right back, changing things around here and there until today everything looked just right. Being at work, The Captain called up Mollie with my credit card information and we confirmed that the proofs were ready to print. And bam, it's done!

Well kinda. In 7 business days our lovely little invites will be ready for pick up. I can't wait to see the lovely little announcements that came together so well. What a refreshing take on wedding planning.

If only everything wedding-related was as easy as Polka Dots and Daisies. :)

Joy to the World...

It just doesn't feel like Christmas. It's been an interesting year, and I've been left wondering how it is already Christmas Eve.

But some things always remain constant.

My mom always has a beautiful tree. Each year it is different, adorned with flowers and feathers, branches and berries, but no matter what decorates its' branches each year, it is always a one-of-a-kind stunning beauty. I love this year's jewel tones.

There's something about the crinkle of paper and the glimmer of ribbon that stirs excitement in the hearts of America. Tis' the season for giving!

My mom is one of the most talented people I know. I'm grateful to spend one last Christmas at home. Although I'm not crazy about my brothers waking me at 7 a.m., there's no better way to spend the holidays than with young ones.

My mom made each of those stockings herself one year. I love them!

Christmas stories remind you what it's all about. :)

Joel made paper chains to adorn our mantle.

There's nothing like sparkling cider for New Year's Eve!

Each year Joel is responsible for the Santa Claus punch. Raspberry sherbet, vanilla ice cream and Sprite is certain to lift your spirits.

So many things to be grateful for. What a beautiful season it is to celebrate Christ's birth with those we love. Maybe tomorrow it will feel more like Christmas. ;)

Happy Holidays!

Just...breathe....

It's official. I'm a bridezilla.

I've been in bed two hours and I'm still huffing and puffing about the planning meeting I had with my reception center today. I'm so heated/stressed/frustrated that I feel ready to scream... or vomit.

Warning: For readers who are not especially fond of whiny posts, please turn back now.

I understood the 8 week notice planning meeting to be a designated time to communicate ideas and plans with the reception site. However, after 3 1/2 hours of "planning" at the meeting today I feel as if nothing was communicated, understood, or nailed down. At all.

Let's see if I can explain. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who talks in circles? One of those people who you swear just likes to hear their voice, and talks and talks and talks without allowing a word in edge wise?

Well, I walked into my 2:00 appointment today feeling pretty prepared. I have a vision- a pretty detailed vision- of how I want my big day to go. I have a plan for everything, from food to feathers to tablecloths to traffic. The problem? Rarely was I asked what I wanted. And if my opinion was asked, my decision was picked apart and questioned.

Seriously. When I explained the table setup I had in mind, she explained that I am the first bride to ever change the usual setup. When I was asked my preference on dessert, she explained that my choice of chocolate covered strawberries hardly compare to their house-made wedding cookies. When I asked about branches, she offered floating candles. When I asked about music, she showed me floating candles. When I asked about tablecloths, she suffocated me with floating candles. And just so you know, I don't want floating candles!!!!

Then there were these ridiculous conversations about labor costs, but how they pride themselves on the fact that they don't have hidden fees. Here's what happened- my mom and I decided we would spend extra money on purple tablecloths rather than the white cloths they provide. Because we'll be holding a luncheon prior to the reception, she suggested two tablecloths for each event, in case Uncle Bill's spaghetti doesn't make it to his mouth. (Jk, seriously I am not having spaghetti in a white dress) I agreed with her suggestion, and we moved on. That is until she decided that changing the tablecloths on 5 tables takes so much time that we will have to implement an additional labor cost. As if $45 for colored cloths isn't enough, we have to pay an additional amount for someone to change the purple linens, than they would have done with the white for free. Am I crazy or does that not make sense?

Apparently we'll be seeing plenty of extra charges. Since we can't bring in our own snacks for the kids after the ceremony, we'll be paying for the reception center to make pb&js. We'll be paying to take one picture off the wall if I want an engagement print hung, and we'll be paying to take the floral decorations out of the overcrowded serving area. Oh and if I hear the word "cognisant" one more time I swear I'm going to freak.

After 3 1/2 hours of this I was ready to sneak my written check right back into my pocket. For someone who assures my wedding will be just how I want it, there sure wasn't a lot of listening.

Lately I'm just feeling so sick of people disregarding my opinion. In my search for the dress, I explained a concern about a sash fastened around my midsection. Her solution? "Well honey, just stick your nose in the air and don't look at it!" My hasty reply, "Excuse me maa'm, if I'm going to pay $1000+ for your wedding dress, I sure as hell want to like looking at it!!"

(Grandma if you're reading this please disregard my language. ;)

PHEW! Okay I think I'm done venting. I apologize for the negative thoughts and feelings in this post. Believe it or not wedding planning is not all fun and games, and lately I am definitely becoming friends with the unpleasant moments a wedding has to offer.

In these moments, I just need to brush up on those two semesters of yoga, reavaluate my relationship with f'real milkshakes, and crack open my laptop.

Has anyone felt like a Bridezilla when it came to wedding planning? Were you completely frazzled? How did you handle the unavoidable amount of stress?

I SAID YES TO THE DRESS!

No this is not the dress. But it's a Maggie similar to mine!

Exactly two months before my wedding date, I found the dress.

Call me crazy, but I found it funny that my wedding is 02/11/2011 at 11 a.m., and I found my dress at the 11th shop on the 11th of December. Who votes 11 my new lucky number?

Saturday morning I was up at 7 a.m. to prepare for the biggest dress sale of the year at Alta Moda, a fancy little dress shop near Trolley Square. Once a year they hold a sample sale where dresses of designers Vera Wang, Monique Lhuiller, Priscilla of Boston and more are sold for a fraction of their original cost- 60-80% off.

Yeah, it's pretty intense. I call it Black Friday- wedding style.

They open the doors at 10:00 a.m. and give you exactly 40 minutes in the dressing room with only four dresses at a time. Being first come first serve and holding only a limited amount of dresses, I guess it's no surprise that a line had already formed when my mom and I arrived at 9:00. But we got in line anyway, cuddling under blankets and nursing our mugs of hot chocolate.

I was desperate. And I mean desperate. How depressing it is to find dress after dress disappointing. I was certain I was too picky, and I was lining up backups, in case the one was simply not in my future. With a single month before my scheduled bridals, the stress was taking over.

When the doors finally opened, we entered the shop one by one. With only 7 dressing rooms, you are helped in the order you arrived, and I was the 9th bride. As we waited for our turn, the anxiety heightened like a pressure cooker. The first three girls to finish purchased dresses- and let me tell you, every one was DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS. I have never seen such amazing, unique gowns before, and they were heading out the door, unavailable to anyone else. The tension was mounting and jealousy floated around the room like smoke.

No wonder they only do that once a year! A competitive enviornment with more than a dozen Bridezillas can not be safe! When my name was finally called, I stood up feeling like Jerry in the waiting room in one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. "Well... I've been chosen... so long suckas!"

Suddenly I was thrown into a whirlwind of pouf, tulle, sparkle and satin. I was zipped, strapped and buttoned into dress after dress, all three sizes too big, too simple and too expensive. Fed up with sleepless nights of wedding dress worry, my mom had left me a gracious budget for the dress of my choice. While it would be lovely to spend a day in Vera Wang, I couldn't bring myself to purchase a plain jane sheath that needs sleeves, sparkles and a serious size adjustment.

They were beautiful, I admit. But they weren't my dress. When we were kicked out of the dressing room, 25, not 40 minutes later, we felt as if we'd just fallen out of a washing machine. We were completely frazzled, and utterly disappointed that Ines di Santo couldn't cure our long streak of wrong dresses.

To recouperate, we calmed ourselves over lettuce wraps and sesame chicken at PF Changs. I busted out my backup list of SL bridal shops and reavaluated my plan. Our sweet server noticed my desperate plight and pulled out her phone to show me her own wedding dress. She told me about Fantasy Bridal where she finally found the one- a strapless that needed a jacket to cover her garments. I thanked her profusely, and immediately scheduled an appointment at 3:00.

Our next stop was Fairy Godmother's, a woman I'd found on the internet. She's worked out of her home for years, stocked with a great deal of temple ready dresses. But after 5 dresses thrown over my head, I was really getting nervous. They all looked the same- the same shape, the same lace and the same sparkle in all the same places.

I eventually tried her strapless selection and found two amazing princess-style poufs that I was ready to order. They were gorgeous, with texture and detail that was different than any I'd seen. But I still had that 3:00 appointment, and I'm the kind of girl that wants to extinquish ALL options before making a decision.

And boy I'm glad I did.

For the first time in all 11 shops I'd been to, I had a good feeling. Instead of the rush and pressure I'd felt earlier, sweet Hailey told me I could grab six dresses at a time and go back for round two and three if I want. And when you see so many incredible dresses, round three is totally needed.

With so little time before the date, ordering is out of the question. So when I was laced into the first dress and smiling ear to ear, I knew I'd gotten lucky. Somehow this gorgeous Maggie Sotterro was the perfect size and color.

Finally I was left with two dresses, both exquisite and both exceptionally priced. The first- fun and flirty, with personality and crystal organza. The second- a satin Beauty and the Beast ballgown, with little detail, but elegant.

At each bridal shop I was always asked the same question. "What kind of dress do you want?" And at each shop I answered, "Something different." I'm sick of those Utah dresses that you see on your friend, your sister, your cousin and her dog. I wanted something completely unique, seen nowhere but the runway.

But I was worried about what people would say. Being different is difficult. You're up for critique and on display for the opinion of others. When I voiced these concerns the owner of the shop offered me practiced wisdom. "The people you invite to your wedding should think you're beautiful no matter what. Anyone to talk bad about you should go suck on an egg. Your friends and family are there to support you and love you and anyone to do otherwise isn't your friend at all."

Wiser words have never been spoken. And that's why the first dress was sold.

Well, only after a bit of a panic. As we added up the dress, bra, slip and jewelry, my mom reached for her card, only to find.... nothing! In a rush out of PF Changs, we had left her card on the table, and on to our dress appointments. The bridal shop was closing in 7 minutes and we had no money to purchase my dream dress! We zipped off to the nearest America First, praying they'd be open late on a Saturday night. But the luck of the 11th was still upon us, and we were able to withdraw the money needed for the purchase. Phew!!

We returned to the PF Changs to pick up my mom's card. I tracked down our sweet server and expressed my gratitude for her generous help in finding me a bridal shop. I know that without her I would not have found my dress. There we were, two strangers hugging in the middle of a busy restaurant, tears teasing my eyes. I know it was no big deal to her- just a suggestion to help a girl out, but her help ended my search.

I've been having a dream over the past few months. And not just any dream. It was horrific. Brace yourself. I dreamt I had no lingerie on my wedding night. Sounds ridiculous right? I was livid that my shower was heavy on crock pots, baking dishes and picture frames, but that I hadn't received a single thing red, lacy or see-through. I told The Captain about my dream, laughing over the silliness. But he was serious when he said, "It means your worried you'll have nothing to wear." No duh, I've been stressing about my dress!

So long bad dreams, my Maggie will fix that. After 11 bridal shops and a myriad of satin, sequins, pouf and puff, it's true when they say good things come to those who wait.

:)

Lust List- Christmas 2010

With my wedding two months away, my current wishes include things like pretty centerpieces, a bed for my future home, oh and a wedding dress would be nice. So when my mom asked me what I want for Christmas, I realized my wedding wishes have pretty much overtaken any Christmas presents I hoped for.

With my day off today The Captain suggested a trip to the mall for no reason at all. What a lovely change that was, to shop and browse for nothing in particular. In the process we found some gift ideas for each other. Here's some of the great things I found.

The Dillard's jewelry salesman was more than happy to show me the newest ceramic Fossil watches. He didn't miss a chance to tell me that this is the same watch Sandra Bullock wore in The Blindside, and not surprisingly now the most sought-after watch for the holiday season.
Surprisingly I like the silicone more than the ceramic (I don't like heavy things on my wrists) but it sure is cute isn't it??



I've been wanting these pumas for ages. Don't know why I haven't bought them yet, but it's a good thing I waited because now they're on sale! What better way to buy a beautiful pair of shoes.


Okay I have to have one wedding-something on my holiday wish list don't I? I have found the most amazing centerpiece ideas in this excellent furniture store. From flowers to candlesticks, they have it all. I badly want to register here, but Z Gallerie is not as practical as Target or Walmart. Sigh.... I guess I'll be lusting after Z Gallerie gift cards instead.

Alright alright I'm definitely not expecting a baby yorkie for Christmas, but I just had to include his adorable face in my wishes. Once again it's not practical to be getting a dog right now, but you can be sure I'll be begging The Captain for a yorkie as a wedding present, and a Valentine's present and my birthday present and any chance I can! I guess it's kinda sad when you've picked out a name for a dog you don't even have... haha

Look at these lovelies!!! They just have to be in the entrance of Dillard's, unsurpassable and calling my name. The 20% sign just lured me into their trance and now I'm in love. I'm crazy about the 2010 Poppy collection. Look at the orange and pink one!

Once again I'm wishing for Rock Revivals. The Captain got me some for my 20th birthday, but they were two small and I had to take them back. (Bless his heart thinkin' I'm smaller than I am) Sadly they didn't have my size in that style and in my size they didn't have a style I liked. I'll just keep on wishin'.

Has anyone noticed the amazing music in Eat Pray Love? Exotic/fun/sexy/relaxing all at once. That's the kind of music I want to cook to. ;)

I decided I have one too many pea coats/jackets/dress coats and not enough practical coats for the weather of northern Utah. I rarely needed more than a small coat in St. George so I never bothered getting anything warmer. Now I'm freezing everytime it snows!

It's no surprise that my holiday wishes are barely practical and most likely not obtainable.

But that's what a wish list is for right??

*Note: Yes I know I shouldn't be blogging, but since I shopped for wedding dresses today I figured I could reward myself with a blog post for the small dent I made in the wedding plans. ;)

Easy, breezy, baby!

I realized last night that I'm a control freak.

Okay I guess I've always known that, but last night confirmed it. Being Friday night, The Captain thought it appropriate to plan a surprise date. That doesn't happen often because I'm almost always the one to plan weekends, let alone weeknights, holidays and vacations as well.

Sadly, the date didn't pan out, as my own plans got in the way. We did go out to dinner, but it was at the place I suggested, at a time most convenient for me. No wonder he doesn't do the planning more often. :(

I feel bad. My New Year's resolution should be, "Relax, chill out, just be easy breezy, baby." Serious. I need help just letting go. To combat this control problem I have, I am letting go of all control in an area that I would normally dominate all the planning.

The Captain's going to plan our honeymoon.

A childhood friend of mine suggested this a few months ago. She allowed her fiance to surprise her with a honeymoon location. Although she wasn't thrilled with Jackson Hole upon arrival, she said it was one of the best vacations her and her honey have had together.

It scares me, letting go of control for a vacation I want just perfect. I have lofty expectations for a honeymoon. Visions of hammocks and spa days, drinks and palm trees sway through my head. None of that up the canyon, around the corner, camping in the woods stuff. I'm vying for an all-inclusive resort where we can play in the ocean, hit the spa or hang out and relax, but still near enough to the city that we can scuba, shop or tour.

But I'm fighting it- my overwhelming tendency to take over. While it is difficult to remove myself from such plans, I'm sure it will be good for me to let go. I need it. And probably good for The Captain as well. He keeps reminding me to delegate wedding plans, so why not hand off one of the stressful tasks weighing so heavily on my mind?

It's trust, really. If I couldn't trust my fiance to plan a vacation, then maybe we'd have bigger things to worry about. But he's really good with surprises. For Valentine's one year I found myself on a catamaran to Catalina Island! A complete surprise. Shoot, if he can pick out the engagement ring I wanted before I'd even seen it, I think he can plan a decent tropical trip.

So in two months time, I'll be boarding a car/plane/ship to an unknown location. With my own desires aside, I'll trust my new hubby to plan the honeymoon of a lifetime. No pressure dear. ;)

Control freak aside, this time I'll be easy, breezy, baby!

Making way...

Monday I got a swift kick to the balls. Okay maybe not so literally. I apologize for my crude humor, I just don't know how better to describe it.

In a single day my mom, fiance, hairdresser and reception center all managed to tell me I suck at wedding planning. Okay not really. In a matter of words they said I'd better hop on the wedding train or it's gonna leave town without me.

I've been slacking.

I hate making big decisions. It takes a while for me to feel good about something. And in this case, with a wedding right around the corner, time is not something I can barter with. I need to start making decisions. And quick.

But instead of solidifying, plotting and planning, I avoid it altogether. Really, I do. The Captain had to give it to me straight. "Shan," he said sternly. "You need to put the chairs away and lay off the blogging until you've got a better hold on the wedding."

What a kick to the balls. No more blogging?? :'(

Okay, okay it's true. With the time I spend blogging each week I really could make a dent in my wedding to-do list. But instead, I sit here writing yet another blog post. Shhh, don't tell The Captain.

I think I've been avoiding it. Decisions scare me, so I've buried myself in hobbies to hide from the pile of work I have looming about. I have 50-something blog posts and almost 20 chairs to sell, but I am without invitations, guest lists or a wedding dress. Somehow my priorities are all wrong...

So tomorrow I'm going to get to work. Without my spray paint and laptop to act as a security blanket life will be tough, but I've just got to buck up and do it. I'll dust off my planner and start establishing weekly goals to accomplish. Shoot maybe I'll post my weekly goals and then follow-up at the end of the week with how I did! :) I'll start making calls, decisions and appointments as painful as it is.

You know, planning a wedding around the holidays is REALLY distracting! It is really hard to focus on planning when finals are coming up, work parties need invitations and Christmas gifts need buying. But I guess these kinds of plans will never be convenient. I do like wedding planning, really I do, it's just difficult to be rushed. Ideally I'd like to make these decisions on my own time, when it's easiest for me. But that would require a pretty long engagement...

Anyways, I'd better get off to bed. Tonight's post was more thinking out loud than anything else.

That's how I work through things, I think, is talking or writing about it. That way my thoughts are organized and acknowledged instead of creeping around somewhere inside my head. If nothing else, this is a written promise to myself that I'll start making way on the wedding. And if blogging has to go in order to make way for that promise, I guess it will.

Sigh...

Simple Treasures

After months of working, I have accumulated almost 20 chairs. Each time I bring home another ugly chair my youngest brother says, "Shan are you gonna sell these ugly things?" Joel's a business man. He's always brainstorming money-making ways. That's an idea, but honestly I had no idea what to do with my chairs. I had no intention to make money, I just liked doing it.

It started out as a challenge, developed into a hobby and turned into a collection. But when my collection moved from the backyard, to the basement to my parents' living room and then into my future home, I knew my hobby was getting a touch out of hand.

Just like Joel had, many people suggested I sell my work. From consignment to Craigslist, they were convinced I could indeed make money off of my collection. So when I heard about Simple Treasures, I knew an opportunity had come.

Simple Treasures is an annual craft boutique in Davis County that features local vendors selling homemade goods for the holidays. But not just anyone can join. To be accepted as a vendor, your goods have to fit into the theme of the show. But I was determined to try. Hesitant and scared to get my hopes up, I entered the show and crossed my fingers. Besides my personal blog, I had never displayed my work for public show and critique.

Within a few hours I had a reply.

This week my 12 chairs and I will be up for sale. That's how I feel, honestly. There's just something about selling your work that makes you feel as if you're selling yourself. All your ideas, personality and labor is engrained in your work, and that product is slapped with a price that is either accepted or denied by others.

I can do it though. I'll be paying for an 8x8 booth despite sucess or failure. And if I lose money trying at least I gave it a shot. So this weekend come check out my little booth for Sitting Pretty, my business of chairs.

I can't wait!

It's all about the doubles

This weekend Jason and I set up double dates with some really good friends. Since we're engaged now we're right in the middle of single and married dating, so this weekend we did both!

Friday night we met up with the Wilkinson's for pizza and game night. Marie and I have been friends since elementary school, and we recently got back in touch with each other. I'm so grateful for her forgiving and kind heart, welcoming us into our home to get to know each other again.

Jace and I picked up pizza at Papa Johns- Hawaiian for Marie and sausage for Kagen, and they provided hand-tossed salad and fresh baked Ghiradelli brownies for us. Mmm! The boys talked business and checked out Kagen's motorcycle while Marie and I mixed up the brownies.

Unfortunately the boys won Squabble by a long ways- a battle of the sexes version of SceneIt. Then Marie and Jason got competitive with Disney SceneIt. My favorite was Mad Gab, a game I haven't played in ages. That's one I definitely want to buy. We sounded like drunks, trying to sound out crazy sayings that are oh so obvious to the other team. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

After three hours of good food, good laughs and good friends, it was time to hit the sack. Spending time with the Wilkinson's was a blast.



Saturday night we caught up with Megan and Chad. I met Megan in St. George last year, and we became good friends right off the bat. She was the work-out buddy I really needed- someone to push me on my lazy days. If I have anything to say about Megan, it's that she is a very determined and hard-working girl.

We'd done a double date once before with Megan and Chad, but sadly haven't done one since. Megan and I both moved from St. George to our hometowns of Ogden and Roy after the spring semester at Dixie so we really have no excuse to get together more often!

As much as I hate to admit it my Harry Potter curiosity was getting the best of me, so I suggested a plan of dinner and HP 7. We were going to go with Marie and Kagen to the midnight showing on Thursday, but my 9 am shift the next day wouldn't have gone down so well. It's a good thing we reserved tickets early because Saturday night Harry showtimes were selling out quick. But that's why I love the Megaplex' reserved seating. Too bad we ended up by pot-smoking loonies...

For anyone who hasn't already seen it, (highly unlikely considering the amount of my fb friends who saw it opening day) it was really good! After the producer change in the second HP, my excitement for the series dwindled considerably. I stopped reading them after the fifth book and I never even saw Half Blood Prince. However, Deathly Hallows completely changed my mind. As geeky as it sounds I really want to curl up and have an HP marathon.

Salads and burgers at Iggys allowed us to do some serious catching up, and sweet Megan picked up the tab. How good it was to spend time with her again. I'm so happy to see her with such a good guy. They're going on eight months together!



I'm grateful for amazing friends to double with. Thanks to Marie and Kagen and Megan and Chad for an awesome weekend together. :)

Anticipation Overload

Since Rebekah Westover is completely booked for the remainder of 2010, she estimated a full three weeks for our engagement shoot pictures to be edited, posted and ready to view.

Three weeks seems like foooooorever! That's almost as bad as the 86 days left until the wedding. Yes we counted tonight. And now I wish we hadn't.

I'm on anticipation overload.

First, I can't wait to see our engagement pics! She did such an incredible job with the teaser above that I am dying to see the rest of them! I'll post them just as soon as they're up.

I can't wait to spend Thanksgiving with the Tippetts.

I can't wait for Christmas! Christmas village in downtown Ogden, temple square all lit up, full-blown snowstorms, and baking, decorating and gift-buying....

I can't wait for my wedding! Of course I want that day to come as fast as possible!

I can't wait for a tropical honeymoon with my new husband. More to come on honeymoon plans..

I can't wait to move to ____________ for Pinnacle this summer. And I can't wait to actually find out this unknown location.

I can't wait to have a home of our own.

I'm on anticipation overload.

I'd say I need something to keep me busy for the next 86 days, but I think wedding plans, finals, diy projects, house preparations, blogging, the holidays and a full-time job should move things along pretty quickly. At least I sure hope it will!

Ugh...

Pinnacle Backend Party 2010

Saturday was Pinnacle's annual backend party.

For those of you that don't speak security, the backend party is a celebration of the biggest paycheck of the year to all employees of Pinnacle Security. That and everyone and their date is pumped up with excitement from inspirational speakers, food and prizes. The black tie affair was held at Thanksgiving Point this year instead of the usual Salt Palace. A red carpet rolled out of the building to welcome salesmen and technicians reuniting with their summertime offices.

Last years backend party

Hors' d oerves and awards opened the night, with bumpin' music to get everyone excited. Then the motivation came in with great speeches from the managers and owners of the company. I was blown away with a video about Elijah Watkins, an attorney at one of the most prestigious lawfirms in the world.

At one time Watkins had very little money to pay for an education. Then he started knocking doors for Pinnacle. For three summers he knocked doors, selling security systems just as my fiance does now. With the help of that summer job, he was able to land his dream job. When other guys were getting out of law school with $200,000+ in debt, he graduated with enough money to buy a home for his family.

"You may not want to make Pinnacle your career," he said. "But it was a great opportunity to let me do what I ultimately wanted to."

I loved this video. What a testimony of how life really is. How many people honestly love working their current job? Is it what you really want to do with your life? I don't necessarily want to work in optical, but I do so day after day to pay for an upcoming wedding, for a house, and to begin a family. I'm sure Jason isn't crazy about knocking doors in 100 degree weather six days out of the week, but he works anyway to pay for an education, to provide for a family and to grant us the financial freedom that we so desire.

How grateful I am for the opportunity Pinnacle has been to Jason and I. For a young newlywed couple who are eager to get their degrees, a summer job fits into our lives perfectly. I am thrilled to explore and experience new cities, living in new places that I would never settle in otherwise.

I am excited for the surprises that each summer brings. Jason has moved from being a tech, to a lead tech, to sales, to sales manager in four years. Along with keeping the job interesting, it offers new challenges and achievements that are gratefully accepted.

To end the party, prizes were thrown from the stage into outstretched arms. Jason won one of those wiggly skateboards in the raffle, along with How to Train your Dragon, a Canon Powershot camera and an awesome watch. I caught Toy Story 3 and my first Pinnacle t-shirt. Since Jason doesn't skateboard anymore, we returned that and the camera for almost $300. However, since I really want/need a camera, I think I'll go back to get it. :)

Pinnacle rented out the Thanksgiving Point theater after the party, so Jason and I packed up all our prizes and headed over to see Social Network. I found it really interesting to learn how the youngest billionaire in the world came up with the most brilliant idea of our age.

I guess I'm just very grateful for a good job to support our family.

Stress? What Stress?

Last week I broke out my planner for the first time since May.

Two words: Wedding plans.

I guess you could say I have offically begun the long journey of wedding planning. Jason was making a trip up to Utah and I was determined to get a good jump on things while he was here. This may come as a shock to some, but I am determined to have Jason involved in the planning. (Having the groom help with wedding plans is becoming increasingly popular you know) And let me just tell you skeptics, it has been great. We'll be up against a few more decisions than cake and colors in our marriage, so why not get practice with matters that don't matter much in the long run.

Our week as outlined in my planner:

Monday- Shop for semi-corresponding engagement outfits. *Don't buy spike heels; Jace can't keep up.

Tuesday- Meet with the cake lady for the first time. *Let Jason make the decision on cake flavor. Pray he will choose something generally pretty. (Red velvet tastes great, looks awful)

Wednesday- Meet in Provo promptly at 4pm for engagement pictures. *Don't eat anything while wearing white dress. Don't forget to shave legs.

Thursday- Meet with florist. *Try not to be Bridezilla. Or just come to grips with the fact that I will be Bridezilla.

Friday- Go over reception-provided invitations. *Remain calm when mom has a mini-freak out over the number of invites we expected to order.

Saturday- Check out that little bridal shop by the freeway. *Don't get attached to anything strapless.


And this is how the week actually went:

Monday- While searching for flats I found some gorgeous heels that just so happened to match my dress perfectly! The steep price and original plan not to tower over Jace didn't do much to stop my beeline for the register.

Tuesday- Two hours and a few sketches later, we had ourself a good-looking idea of a cake. Jason looked like Christmas day when the cake lady told him she would go out of her way to make the chocolate mousse he requested. Although I was secretly hoping for aesthetically-pleasing vanilla, I couldn't shatter his happiness. Chocolate mousse it is.

Wednesday- By the power of all things holy, we actually made it on time! And my legs were shaved too! In our hurry, we stopped at a Wendy's drivethrough for the cleanest snack we could think of: chicken nuggets. (I'm not going to mention the drippy frosty that accompanied those nuggets) Jace held the honey mustard and all-but spoon fed me the nuggets in hopes of preserving my cream-colored dress.

However, upon getting out of the car Jason spotted a bloody cut on my ankle (I must have shaved too fast again) and (prepare yourself) a nice food stain smack on my behind. Let me just tell you those yoga breathing techniques sure come in handy when I'm trying not to freak out.

Thursday- I'm afraid Bridezilla may have reared her ugly head. When the florist said, "Don't worry about it, I'll just throw something together," I just about experienced a heart attack. As nicely as I could, I asked for a follow-up appointment when I have more solid plans- plans that she can follow to the T. I definitely do not want last-minute flower surprises.

Friday- With a quick pep talk in Jason's car, we came back into the house with game faces on. Upon further explanation, we showed my mom that 500 invitations doesn't have to cost a lot if you pick the right vendor.

Satuday- Alas, I fell in love with something strapless. The little sign in the window advertising my beloved Maggie Sottero's didn't do much to hinder the strapless ordeal. After 5 or 6 different dresses, the owner pulled an incredible Maggie that I had not ever seen. It was not lace, or sparkly, or sleeved by any means, (all things I expected from THE dress) but it was incredible. From the six bridal shops I have been to, this Maggie by far trumps them all. We'll just have to do some serious altering if I decide to go back and get it.


In between chaotic meetings and appointments, decisions and choices, Jason and I were really good about keeping the romance alive. I read somewhere that in order to keep the peace, (and the sanity) a bride should take one night a week with her fiance to go on a good old-fashioned date where wedding plans are not allowed to be discussed. Well you don't have to ask me twice! Just like the good old days in St. George, Jace and I went out for sushi. To our surprise, we happened to come right during happy hour! (Sushi rolls are half off once a week apparently)

We each ordered our old favorites, then compromised on a new roll to try. I can't tell you how great it was to cozy up at a table just for two to discuss future married life. It was one of those nights where you feel pretty and attractive, conversation is lively and interesting, and every bite you take just seems over the top amazing.

Jace admitted he was surprised how well I had taken the stress of the week. We confronted quite a few curveballs, but I managed to keep my cool throughout. That made me happy to hear that I seemed generally calm and collected because honestly I've felt pretty good about everything. It's stressful and overwhelming to plan a wedding of course, but I've been taking everything one step at a time, focusing on what is really the most important and that is the relationship I have with my almost-husband.

Despite the wild schedule and detailed to-do list of last week I swear Jace and I have never gotten along better. We worked as a team and compromised, being careful to sense each other's feelings. I stand by my statement that having the groom involved in wedding plans is not something to run from. In planning a day that I want just perfect, who better than to be by my side?

Up next: Saturday was the Pinnacle Backend Party. A black tie affair, Jason's work party was held at Thanksgiving Point instead of the Salt Palace. Check out the prizes we made out with.

A Sugar Daddy and his Baby.

I wanted to celebrate my 50th blog post with something special. Maybe a list of the top 50 greatest foods of all time, or 50 reasons that I love my fiance or something cliche like that. Instead, I decided I would simply press on with yet another post. For a girl used to writing 2 articles a week for the newspaper, a blog post once a week is leisurely, even somewhat (gasp) enjoyable!

Recently my grandma has started following my blog. She had been reading certain posts to her friends as well as showing them the chairs I refurbish. "You write so much," she told me. "New ones just keep popping up!" "Well yes," I replied. "There are about 50 of them."

While 50 posts seems like a whole lot of writing, it's just a small pat on the back to me. They will continue to add up, after each great vacation, weekend or memory that I feel I must record before it slips from my mind. 50 is nothing. Maybe a solid 100 will be cause for celebration.

In the meantime, it's been almost a week since Halloween and I have yet to document the good old-fashioned Halloween party Jason and I attended at the Bryant's home. We didn't stay very long since I had work before the party and then early the next morning, but I was glad we went for the short time that we did. Everyone was dressed up, and in fun, creative costumes. None of that lame, "I'm too cool to dress like an idiot" mentality existed at this party!

Sara used her pregnant belly to her advantage by dressing up as a cute little treasure troll! Could you be more creative than that??





Jason has always referred to himself as JT$. So when I saw these costumes I jumped at the idea. For a boyfriend that constantly buys me jeans, heels, food, etc., dressing up as a Sugar Daddy pretty much comes natural. Add me as his Sugar Baby and we had ourselves a couples costume.

While I had a great Halloween with my fiance, I'm looking forward to future Halloweens when I will have my own home to decorate for the holiday, host costume parties, or hand out candy to trick or treaters. I can't wait for Halloween nights traipsing up and down the neighborhood with my own little ones. Someday soon.

Rebekah Westover Photos= Perfect Photos

Years ago, my mom divulged some serious words of wisdom.

"When you get married, don't spend your money on hoardes of flowers, towering cakes or designer dresses. Use that money to invest in something that will last - your wedding pictures."
Years later I'm engaged to marry, and those words still ring in my ears. I couldn't agree more with her advice. Pictures are invaluable. They preserve those precious feelings, emotions and memories that eventually fade from the mind. A picture says a thousand words they say, so why wouldn't I take the time and pay the money to preserve the happiest day of my life?


Essential qualities of a wedding photographer:

• I was positive I wanted a female photographer. Women have a natural ability to see details better than (most) men do. Also, I would feel more at ease with a woman. (Not to be taken in a dirty way, haha)

• I want her to be experienced. Yes it's less expensive to find an "underground" photographer working to build his/her portfolio, but I don't want my wedding to be someone's experiment. Instead, it's critical that she be familiar with the camera.

• Social skills and a sense of style would be nice. 'Nuff said.

• Details are important. Too many pictures lack the dimension of detail. Leaves on trees, freckles on a face, the folds in a dress, each are important to the quality of a picture. I recently changed my mind on a photographer I adore, but I felt could not photograph the color white. On a day where I am head to toe in white, this was the deal breaker.

• I want my photographer to have a creative eye. Seems simple right? You'd be surprised. Photography is so much more than smiling faces. Props, location and style add so much to the character of a photoraph.

Clearly, finding a photographer was near the top of my priority list when it came to wedding planning. I was picky though. A trip to the South Towne wedding expo a few months ago throughly confused me. Dozens of wedding photographers drowning you in albums and business cards gets more than overwhelming. When the vendors didn't immediately draw me in I continued my search, using my investigative journalism skills to track down a photographer that would perfectly match the style of my fiance and I. That's when I found her.

Two words: Rebekah Westover.

I first saw her work in Latter Day Bride magazine. From there it was almost impossible to evade her incredible photos. A bridal shop I visited had framed her prints to hang on their wall, adding a dash of panache to the shop. Her name is scattered over hundreds of Utah weddings, each done in equal excellence. Type her name into google and you will find page after page of wedding-goers crazy about Rebekah.

I began stalking her blog frequently, studying nearly every post intensely. Just like a kid with a cookie jar, I couldn't keep myself away. I was/am constantly attracted to her work. How's that for a match?


It didn't take much to convince my mom that Rebekah is the one. We fauned over every image, every detail, and every photo. Mere days later we had Rebekah Westover booked for our February 11th wedding. Wednesday Jason and I meet with her for our engagement shoot. While I admit I'm stressing about outfit selections, I have upmost faith that our engagment pictures will be nothing but fabulous with Rebekah Westover as our wedding photographer. I can't wait!



Check out Rebekah Westover's blog at http://rebekahwestover.blogspot.com/