Overdrive

Its been almost a week, a WEEK since I've blogged, so prepare for a mind dump because so much has happened!!!!

• Andrew got me a car!  His uncle sold us his very gently used Honda Accord for a steal and I'm pretty happy to have a decent car.  Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the Impala but its really Andrew's car so its nice that we now both have fuel efficient cars to drive to work.
  
• We celebrated my grandmas 78th birthday over the weekend, it was a simple party but nice to see her happy.  She's been caring for my grandpa for the last two years while he's been battling lung cancer and she needs time for herself.  Her sister has been here for almost three weeks helping out but she has to go back home soon.  Thankfully home health is coming to help now.
  
• I've gotten A LOT of wedding stuff done: porta johns booked, first half of our honeymoon adventure in Kentucky is booked, most of the favor bags are done, rings are ready to go, about 90 out of 125 RSVP's have come back with only 10 no responses, have all of the week of stuff coordinated, found my undergarments, had my hair trial, got gifts for my bridesmaids....I could go on!  I'll get more done this weekend.
  
• I've been so busy at work and at home that I can hardly keep things straight.  I sit down at night and its like I have not stopped thinking, going and moving all day long and the exhaustion about slaps me in the face.  On top of that, I've been trying to get so much done in the evenings and can't remember the last time I slept through the night.  I am so looking forward to our honeymoon and a whole week of relaxation.

For now this is all I can think of, but I'm sure after the weekend there will be more updates!  Oh and we are under 30 days till the wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So What Wednesday!

 

It's that time again, time for another So What Wednesday.  So here's what I'm saying "So What" to this week:

• That my wedding guests have a little less than two weeks to send in their RSVP's and I'm already worrying about tracking people down.
• That I went through a pack of glue sticks already making my favor bags.
• If I've been a really lazy cook lately and I can't wait for fall so I can start using the crockpot again.
• That I am making dinner in the crockpot tonight, barbacoa beef just like Chipotle (we'll see how it turns out)
• If my pinterest obsession is out of control, I'm on there for an hour or more every night.
• That just when we get it together with money, Andrew decided to buy me a car and trust me I'm excited but not so much for the financial aspect.
• If this car is also the second car I've ever owned, I drove the same car from age 18 to 23 - it had over 250,000 miles when I got rid of it and the girl who bought it still drives it!  Yeah Chevy Lumina!
• If I screamed like a baby when I cut my finger open this morning making our crockpot dinner and Andrew came running in the kitchen thinking I was on fire or something.
• If I have a low pain tolerance.
• That I'm getting married in one month and I feel a lot less anxious then I did this time last month, maybe I'm just starting to realize it will all fall in place.
• That I'm going out of town for work for 5 days just a week and a half before my wedding, I think I can handle it.  Oh and Andrew goes out of town the week of our wedding on Monday and Tuesday......we must be nuts!

What are you saying "So What" to this week?!  Link up at Life After I Dew!

Wedding project update - one more month!

I've FINALLY been accomplishing things on my wedding to-do list and even added a few things, here's an update!

• Pick up Andrews wedding band.  Check to make sure my band doesn't need re-sized.  His ring looks awesome and it fits perfect, I'm glad that he found something he liked because he is so picky!
• Find someone to do my hair and makeup (I've got several places to call, two are off the list because they are too expensive).  I found someone to do my hair this morning and have a trial run on Saturday morning!!!!!  AHHHH I'm so excited!!!!!!!
• Book our hotel room for the wedding night.
• Make tissue paper pom-poms to hang around the tent.  I've got the supplies but I haven't started making them yet since I'm working on the favor bags.
• Make the mailbox for the cards.  I've delegated this to my dad who is super artistic!
  
• Set up a time to meet with the girls from my mom's work who have volunteered to serve food, alcohol and keep the day moving along without a hitch!
• Make sure that my dad books the dance floor.  I know he's working on it!
• Book the Porta Potties - you'll love this one the place is called King John - Your Throne Away from Home......hahahahaha
• Purchase my undergarments and shoes.  We're doing that this weekend
• Make my three batches of cookies for the reception cookie table.
• Get all of the items needed to make the favor bags.  I've started making the bags, so even more progress!  I've got about 35 out of the 135 that I need completed!
• Check on the progress of the bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses (all of them are being made by a family friend and my mom).  Check, the bridesmaids dresses are almost done and my mom has all three of the other dresses started.
• Adjust the date for the bachelorette party if possible!  We are having it on September 1st now since one of my bridesmaids can't come next weekend when we had planned the party!
• Meet with my mom and dad to go over the final to-do list.  Did it this weekend and I feel so much better about things!
• Buy colored cupcake papers for the wedding cupcakes.
• Clean out the deep freeze to make room for wedding cookies.

And here is a sneak peak of the favor bag making process!!

It feels so good to accomplish something!!

Weekend wrap-up

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over and that in just over a month I'll be a married woman!  Friday night we started the evening off with a visit from Andrews old roommate and his wife, I made BLT's and we sat out on the deck, enjoying a cool summer night.  

Saturday was a typical morning of me cleaning while Andrew messed around in the garage.  We headed down to Lancaster for the Mt. Pleasant Truck & Tractor pulls around dinner time after a quick visit with my grandparents.

This is one of the many hillbilly summer activities that I enjoy, big clouds of diesel smoke, loud engines and clapping after a pull that is close to 300ft.  My brother and his fiance stopped by for a little bit and we had some awesome burgers as well (which I forgot to take a picture of but man was it good).  I've also recently become obsessed with Instagram.

Sunday was a packed day, grocery shopping, more cleaning, Andrew's family reunion and my parents coming over for dinner to discuss wedding plans.

I'm in the bright tie-dye the soon to be newest family member

 It felt good to finally go over the to-do list with my mom and really hash out what still needs to get done and it also made me feel thankful that I have my parents help with so many things.  Its been a rough road for my mom and dad over the last four years, but they know that this wedding is important and want to do what they can to help.

I've got a busy week at work ahead, but dinner with my maid of honor on Friday and looking forward to my bachelorette party the following weekend is keeping me going!  For tonight, I'll be watching the Steelers and making some more favor bags.

So What Wednesday!

It's that time again, hard to believe that it's Wednesday already.  Here's what I'm saying "So What" to this week:

- That I didn't check much of my wedding to do list this weekend because I was spending time with my family and volunteering at our church.

- If I didn't check things off the wedding list till yesterday, but its a lot of things: picked up Andrew's wedding ring, make a mock-up of our favor bags, got the hotel room block booked, saw a sneak preview of my bridesmaid jewelery and called at least one hair salon!

- If I cried a little and hand to turn my head when Andrew tried on his wedding ring.  It's all becoming so real!

- That I pulled my butt muscle since I didn't workout for almost two weeks.

- If I ate chips and hummus for dinner last night because I was pooped when I got home.

- That my house is a hot mess, I've got a plan to do a little cleaning each night this week.

- If I've also been so lazy that I have my clean laundry all folded in a basket on the floor but I've never put it away.  I swear this is not normal for me I'm just so over cleaning!

What are YOU saying "So What" to this week?  Link up over here http://www.lifeafteridew.com/, you'll be glad you did!

To-do list.....haha

I didn't accomplish much on my weekend to-do list but I knew it wasn't going to happen. I knew how busy I was going to be and how hard it would be to get much of anything done.  I did manage to make a trip to the dollar store to purchase some of the items I needed to make the tissue paper pom-poms and favor bags.  I still need to find a few more items and I'm hoping to make a trip to Party City this evening.  

Friday and Saturday night I was volunteering at our church festival doing photography.  It was quite a shock to the system when it cooled down on Friday and Saturday despite the rain a lot of people still came out.

Yes, that is me with the Star Wars guys, I blame Andrew for this!

Friday night there was a really neat group of Star Wars impersonators that took pictures with the kids and walked around.  The R2D2 actually ran around (controlled by a remote) and made noise.  The kids loved it and obviously so did I because I just had to have my picture taken with them.  Andrew has been trying to get me to like Star Wars since we started dating.

My dad's band

 On Saturday night it rained for the first hour or so of the festival and my dads band played from 6:30 till 8pm.  I wish they could have played longer, they did a really nice job.  Andrew has never seen my dad play electric guitar or with a band and he was totally blown away.  It was so cute to see his jaw drop to the floor, especially when they played Freebird at the end.

My dad's beautiful guitars, the one on the left is my favorite.

It's always good to get to see my dad having a good time.  I may not have checked many things off my to do list but I did get a few things done: weeded, deadheaded and cut back some of the wedding flowers Andrew's mom and I planted, went to visit my grandparents and great aunt, bought supplies for a few wedding crafts, froze 12 quarts of sweet corn and did all of my shopping for the week.

My lengthy weekend to-do list

I finally caved the other night and made my to-do list for the next 7 weeks till our wedding.  When it became 1 1/2 pages in size 12 font with no double spaces and a 0.5 inch margin, I wanted to throw up.  I'm really hoping that I can get a lot done this weekend.

Tonight and Saturday night I'm doing the photography for our church festival.  This is another event I've been helping plan all year that I was not expecting to happen so quickly!  Thankfully my whole family volunteers at the festival so its more of a fun little job.

Here are the other things I need to get done this weekend/possibly next weekend:

• Pick up Andrews wedding band.  Check to make sure my band doesn't need re-sized.
• Find someone to do my hair and makeup (I've got several places to call).
• Book our hotel room for the wedding night.
• Make tissue paper pom-poms to hang around the tent.
• Make the mailbox for the cards.
• Set up a time to meet with the girls from my mom's work who have volunteered to serve food, alcohol and keep the day moving along without a hitch!
• Make sure that my dad books the dance floor.
• Purchase my undergarments and shoes
• Make my three batches of cookies for the reception cookie table.
• Get all of the items needed to make the favor bags.
• Check on the progress of the bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses (all of them are being made by a family friend and my mom).
• Adjust the date for the bachelorette party if possible!

Looking at this list again makes me a little nervous, but I am hoping that I can really get my booty in gear this weekend and get a lot done.  Most of the major things are thankfully out of the way, we got our marriage license and we don't need to meet with the priest again unless something comes up in the mean time.

How are all of you other soon to be married ladies getting things accomplished?  What are/were your secrets?

So What Wednesday!

 

That I got my first wedding present in the mail yesterday and I had no idea if I was supposed to open it, but how could I just let it sit there unopened?! (It was a coffee pot)

If I have had to take Advil PM the last two nights because I haven't been sleeping through the night.

If said Advil PM makes me act a little crazy in my sleep and I was apparently patting my fiance on the back half the night as if I was burping a baby....whoops!

If I'm behind on my wedding to do list, I know it will all get done.

If I jumped up and down when I saw my first heirloom tomato starting to turn red last night. They take forever to become ripe and I just want to eat one so bad.

I went through a two week bout where I was a terrible cook, I'm going to blame it on stress.  My last two dinners have turned out really well.

That I'm having my rehearsal dinner at a pizza place, it was so hard to find a place close to the church with a room to accommodate our bridal party/family.  Our wedding isn't fancy, so the rehearsal doesn't need to be fancy either.

What are YOU saying So What to this week?  Link up over here!

Weekend Review

My three day weekend didn't really feel like an extended weekend at all!  Friday we went down to the courthouse to get our marriage certificate and came back home to hang out for the afternoon.  It was hot and neither one of us wanted to do much of anything. We went out to dinner that night at Tumbleweed and came home to watch the Olympics (which we've been doing A LOT).
Saturday morning we decided to go to an auction at the last minute but didn't stick around long, again because of the heat.  I did manage to score two boxes of bottles and old jars for the wedding for $4 each as well as some kids glass milk bottles and a nice platter for my mom.  I was proud of myself for not spending a ton of money, its hard to resist the temptation.  We came home and took a nap (rare for both of us) and spent another lame night at home drinking and watching the Olympics......we are 90 in case you didn't know.  I also FINALLY got to use my Kitchenade that I got for a shower gift and made a chocolate zucchini cake to take to work.

Sunday I made my traditional huge breakfast complete with some way too salty bacon (yuck), pancakes and scrambled eggs.  I ran errands while Andrew did his manly things in the garage for most of the morning/afternoon.  We eventually made it to one of our favorite fairs later in the afternoon.  I was proud of myself for resisting most of the fried food but did treat myself to a coke ICEE and some french fries (no salt, only ketchup).  We stuck around for the figure 8 truck and bus races which were a blast and enjoyed a pretty summer drive home with the windows down.  Thankfully a cold front came through and it wasn't super hot.

Before the start of the race, I've never seen anything like this!



This guy flipped over just a few laps into the race.  Don't worry, he was okay!

The jerk in this red car was trying to run everyone off their spot on the track and he got smashed to pieces!

Love this fair!

49 days

Till this piece of paper is official!!!!

We headed down to the courthouse this morning to get our marriage license since we both had the day off work.  My cousin and her husband were supposed to come visit this weekend but unfortunately she's really sick and they couldn't come.  We're still planning to enjoy our long weekend together and have a lot planned.

Tomorrow is the last big tractor pull of the summer and Sunday is the start of one of our favorite small town fairs.  Though I know we need the rain, I hope it doesn't affect our plans.

So What Wednesday

It's time for "So What Wednesday" again and here is what I'm saying "So What" to this week!

So what.....

That I just realized I am 52 days away from my wedding and there is so much to be done!

That all I can think about is cutting off my hair that's taken me a year to grow past my shoulders. I love it but man is it so much work!

If I still haven't put all the gifts away from my bridal shower, I've been so unmotivated.

That after organizing my basement about three weeks ago,it's a hot mess again.  I needed a place to store all of this wedding stuff and it will only be down there for a few more months.

If I haven't weeded my flower bed or garden in a few weeks.  Andrew's going to take care of that for me :)

That I am obsessed with my new pots and pans, I get so excited to cook dinner because my pans are so much easier to clean!  I will never buy non-stick again!

That I am ready for fall so I can cook in the crockpot all the time, watch football with my dad, freeze apples and corn and make all things pumpkin!

That I am unmotivated to workout at night because I'd rather be watching the Olympics and Andrew hasn't hooked up cable to the TV by my treadmill in the basement.  I think its a pretty legit excuse!

So what are YOU saying to what to this week?  Link up over at www.lifeafteridew.com!