This weekend is literally our last weekend of "freedom" until Easter. By freedom, I mean that Mr. Tal and I both have some sort of commitment every weekend from now until Easter, and I think that includes Easter. Oy. Don't get me wrong, it is all fun stuff, here's the list: next weekend is our (seperate) bachelor and bachelorette parties, the weekend after that is another bachelorette for those that can't make it to the first and a shower, the weekend after that is an engagement shoot with our new photographer, and the weekend after that is another shower. We are both really excited about all of these activities. It's just when you have that much scheduled it makes you feel a little overwhelmed. Especially when there are a lot of projects and things to get done for the wedding. So what are a bride and groom to do? I guess I can only answer that question for us.
We decided to take this weekend and make it both work and fun. Today and tomorrow we are going to do something fun, we haven't decided what. Kalahari was thrown out there, which is an indoor water park that's about an hour away but I don't think it is decided, we both just want some alone together time before the weekend marathons begin. Then Sunday, my Mom and sister 'maids are going to go to Momma Tal's house to work our tails off on some wedding projects. I really hope we get a lot checked off the list and we get some project pictures so I have some DIY posts next week.
Anyone else have a boatload of weekend activities before the wedding?
Have a good weekend everyone, I'll be back on Monday to hopefully share some finished projects.
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Torn
(No, not the Natalie Imbruglia song. Do you remember that song?)
Our RSVPs have been rolling in since we sent our invites out a few weeks back. We sent them out a little earlier than called for to give folks a chance to book hotels and make the necessary travel arrangements if necessary. I must say that our guests are pretty creative with the Mad Lib style responses, some have been downright HI-larious (I may have to display the guests creativity at the reception...hmm, I foresee another project in the near future). I have also been a little suprised with the number of our guests who are attending. Not that I doubt that people want to be there for us on our big day, but we are having a Friday wedding and we accepted that some people might not be able to join us. However, out of the 24 response cards we have gotten back so far, only one has been a "no".
I got that first "no" response card yesterday and I felt really torn. I was at first very sad that the person was unable to make it, but then I was also a little happy because we need a few people to decline (like we counted on) to even out our numbers. Then I kind of felt like a jerk because I was happy. Ahh, the feelings involved when you are a bride, me thinks there are way too many emotions running through me at all hours.
Has anyone else felt torn when recieving a "no" response from friends or family?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Our RSVPs have been rolling in since we sent our invites out a few weeks back. We sent them out a little earlier than called for to give folks a chance to book hotels and make the necessary travel arrangements if necessary. I must say that our guests are pretty creative with the Mad Lib style responses, some have been downright HI-larious (I may have to display the guests creativity at the reception...hmm, I foresee another project in the near future). I have also been a little suprised with the number of our guests who are attending. Not that I doubt that people want to be there for us on our big day, but we are having a Friday wedding and we accepted that some people might not be able to join us. However, out of the 24 response cards we have gotten back so far, only one has been a "no".
I got that first "no" response card yesterday and I felt really torn. I was at first very sad that the person was unable to make it, but then I was also a little happy because we need a few people to decline (like we counted on) to even out our numbers. Then I kind of felt like a jerk because I was happy. Ahh, the feelings involved when you are a bride, me thinks there are way too many emotions running through me at all hours.
Has anyone else felt torn when recieving a "no" response from friends or family?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thievery
Most of my ideas for the wedding have been inspired from others. I see things that other people create and I find ways to modify it to fit the vibe of our wedding. I honestly think that is the way most brides are, they search the web, read books and magazines in search of inspiration, take ideas and make them their own. It works for the most part, because every wedding is different.
There have been very few ideas that I have seen and thought, "I must do that exact project!" Except this one:
(Source)
SO CUTE! I have been in desperate need to jazz up the tables at the reception and I saw this and just thought it was too perfect. This was one of the Bee Blogger's on Weddingbee (Miss Poodle to be exact) project. Well they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I hope she agrees. I showed Mr. Tal and he loved the idea so we ordered the utensils and bought some fabric and we are hoping to put these little beauties together this weekend.
Are there any ideas you have seen and just had to do the exact same thing?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Working my tail off
Quite literally. In Jaunuary Mr. Tal and I joined one of the gyms in the area. It's not just any gym, it is the mother of all gyms. Pool, Carido Movie Theater (showing a different movie every day), a plethora of classes, a seperate women's area, this gym has the works. It is pretty amazing and I have to say that it makes working out a lot easier. While I run on the elliptical I can watch TV or a movie, when I lift weights I can go to the women's area so I don't feel so self-conscious.
Getting in shape for the wedding was a goal of mine and I have been working my tail off, but I haven't lost a single pound. That's actually a good thing because I met with a trainer he told me to focus on getting in shape rather than losing weight but it is kind of frustrating because I don't know how to measure my progress. I mean my jeans are loose, I feel like I look better and feel better, I guess that is progress but I should really focus on how good working out makes me feel. Working out has become a real release for me, a way to escape for an hour. It makes me feel great when I do it and it relieves some of the wedding stress that has been mounting. I think I am going to go to the gym more with the wedding rolling closer, I think I will need it.
What do you do to relieve wedding stress?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Getting in shape for the wedding was a goal of mine and I have been working my tail off, but I haven't lost a single pound. That's actually a good thing because I met with a trainer he told me to focus on getting in shape rather than losing weight but it is kind of frustrating because I don't know how to measure my progress. I mean my jeans are loose, I feel like I look better and feel better, I guess that is progress but I should really focus on how good working out makes me feel. Working out has become a real release for me, a way to escape for an hour. It makes me feel great when I do it and it relieves some of the wedding stress that has been mounting. I think I am going to go to the gym more with the wedding rolling closer, I think I will need it.
What do you do to relieve wedding stress?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Creating a calm space
I have a confession. I am a closet slob. Okay, maybe slob is a really harsh word, I am a little messy but (that's a big BUT) I am messy where no one can see it. What I mean is, when I have a guest over I clean everything he or she will see, such as the kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathroom. That leaves the bedroom, which quite honestly, I could care less if it is messy. However, I know that Mr. Tal cares. He can stand a little mess, but he has asked me time and time again to organize the bedroom. He has also asked me to get the wedding stuff (the mountains and moutains of stuff) organized. He also thinks that organizing everything will help to create a calmer space for us to come home to, which I something I actually kind of agree with.
So this week, I am spending my time and energy organizing the bedroom and the rest of the house. I really want to get this place in order before the wedding and honeymoon so that I have a calming space among the craziness. It will be nice when we come home at night not to worry so much about organizing and cleaning, we can just relax together. It's also going to be a nice little suprise when Mr. Tal comes home from his buisness trip later this week.
How do you escape the craziness of the wedding? Is your home a calming space?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
So this week, I am spending my time and energy organizing the bedroom and the rest of the house. I really want to get this place in order before the wedding and honeymoon so that I have a calming space among the craziness. It will be nice when we come home at night not to worry so much about organizing and cleaning, we can just relax together. It's also going to be a nice little suprise when Mr. Tal comes home from his buisness trip later this week.
How do you escape the craziness of the wedding? Is your home a calming space?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The name song
(You know the one, Manda, Manda, fo-fanda, fi-fye, bo banda...so on and so forth.)
My whole life I have been Amanda Mylastname. My last name has always been misprounced, mispelled and generally a big mess. I thought when I was younger that I would change my last name when I got married, it seemed an easy choice. However, as I've grown, I've learned more about the world and become a not so angsty teenager who loves her family. I have learned to love my name, because it is part of me. I have also come to the realization that my dad's name will not live on, my sister's and I are the last in the Mylastname line. It makes me so sad and that all combines to make my decision to change my name harder.
The feminist in me says, keep your name! It is you! The traditionalist in me says take his last name! You want to be a family unit! The crazy side in me wants to make a new combined last name! It's a compromise!
It's insane all the different options I have. It is good that I have these options but it is frustrating as well. With the wedding right around the corner I know that I need to decide and I know what I am leaning towards. Mr. Tal has been amazing through this process, which hasn't brought out my warm fuzzy side. Conversations like this have taken place more than once: "Why don't you take my last name? Why should I have to bow down to traditional, sexist sandards?" To which he sweetly replied, "Okay, that's fine." God bless him. He deals with my rants so well. I am leaning towards this combination: Amanda Mymiddlename Mylastname Hislastname having my last name be a second middle name, which Mr. Tal has sweetly agreed that if I ask him to, he will also take my last name as a second middle name. I haven't completely decided, it's really hard, I'll probably end up deciding on the honeymoon.
Have you had a hard time with the name change decision? What have you decided if anything?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
My whole life I have been Amanda Mylastname. My last name has always been misprounced, mispelled and generally a big mess. I thought when I was younger that I would change my last name when I got married, it seemed an easy choice. However, as I've grown, I've learned more about the world and become a not so angsty teenager who loves her family. I have learned to love my name, because it is part of me. I have also come to the realization that my dad's name will not live on, my sister's and I are the last in the Mylastname line. It makes me so sad and that all combines to make my decision to change my name harder.
The feminist in me says, keep your name! It is you! The traditionalist in me says take his last name! You want to be a family unit! The crazy side in me wants to make a new combined last name! It's a compromise!
It's insane all the different options I have. It is good that I have these options but it is frustrating as well. With the wedding right around the corner I know that I need to decide and I know what I am leaning towards. Mr. Tal has been amazing through this process, which hasn't brought out my warm fuzzy side. Conversations like this have taken place more than once: "Why don't you take my last name? Why should I have to bow down to traditional, sexist sandards?" To which he sweetly replied, "Okay, that's fine." God bless him. He deals with my rants so well. I am leaning towards this combination: Amanda Mymiddlename Mylastname Hislastname having my last name be a second middle name, which Mr. Tal has sweetly agreed that if I ask him to, he will also take my last name as a second middle name. I haven't completely decided, it's really hard, I'll probably end up deciding on the honeymoon.
Have you had a hard time with the name change decision? What have you decided if anything?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Third time is a charm
Seeing as yesterday I posted about vendor indecision, I decided to continue that theme with today's post.
Remember the first hair trial that lead to a second hair trial? I never really elaborated on what happened at that second hair trial. It went well, the stylist that did my hair was really nice and easy to talk to, they style was good, and the salon is great. Too good to be true of course. The nice people at the salon told me that they would only book us if we booked the entire bridal package for myself and my girls. That was $250 for me plus $99 for each girl. I kindly told the lady that ran the salon that I didn't need all the services offered in that package and neither did my girls. I failed to tell them that my parents were not about to lay down $500 to get myself and my two younger sisters pretty. I was in tears when I walked out. My mom and I went to lunch and talked about our options. I decided to call the salon and try to compromise. They problem with us and the salon is that they didn't want us taking over the salon just to get our hair done. So I asked if they would be willing to schedule us seperately. I waited a day for them to call me back and they said yes. However, when I told my maid of honor, she thought it was unacceptable for us to get ready seperately. I can't say that I disagree, I had always imagined my mom and my girls by my side while I got ready.
My maid of honor, my bestie, took it upon herself to call salons here (she is based about 3 hours away) in search of a place that would do our hair and allow us to be there together. I was so touched by this, it was a moment of above and beyond the call of duty. It only took her a day to find a place. She got quoted for every girl, she made sure they could get us out by 12:30, and she even scored us some food to snack on. Completely amazing. I had a trial there yesterday and the girl that did my hair was uh-mazing. By midnight last night after laying on my hair, head banging a little, walking around outside, only a few hairs were out of place, my hair looked fantastic. And no you don't get to see pictures, I'm leaving the final hairdo for my recaps. I'm so happy that this is done and I don't have to worry about it anymore.
Anyone else have a 'maid step above and beyond? Were the results awesome?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Remember the first hair trial that lead to a second hair trial? I never really elaborated on what happened at that second hair trial. It went well, the stylist that did my hair was really nice and easy to talk to, they style was good, and the salon is great. Too good to be true of course. The nice people at the salon told me that they would only book us if we booked the entire bridal package for myself and my girls. That was $250 for me plus $99 for each girl. I kindly told the lady that ran the salon that I didn't need all the services offered in that package and neither did my girls. I failed to tell them that my parents were not about to lay down $500 to get myself and my two younger sisters pretty. I was in tears when I walked out. My mom and I went to lunch and talked about our options. I decided to call the salon and try to compromise. They problem with us and the salon is that they didn't want us taking over the salon just to get our hair done. So I asked if they would be willing to schedule us seperately. I waited a day for them to call me back and they said yes. However, when I told my maid of honor, she thought it was unacceptable for us to get ready seperately. I can't say that I disagree, I had always imagined my mom and my girls by my side while I got ready.
My maid of honor, my bestie, took it upon herself to call salons here (she is based about 3 hours away) in search of a place that would do our hair and allow us to be there together. I was so touched by this, it was a moment of above and beyond the call of duty. It only took her a day to find a place. She got quoted for every girl, she made sure they could get us out by 12:30, and she even scored us some food to snack on. Completely amazing. I had a trial there yesterday and the girl that did my hair was uh-mazing. By midnight last night after laying on my hair, head banging a little, walking around outside, only a few hairs were out of place, my hair looked fantastic. And no you don't get to see pictures, I'm leaving the final hairdo for my recaps. I'm so happy that this is done and I don't have to worry about it anymore.
Anyone else have a 'maid step above and beyond? Were the results awesome?
Tune in next time for more tales from a DIY bride.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
