Wedding Chore Update

So this is my "master to do list" for my wedding.  I wanted to share it on my blog so that I can update everyone on my progress.  I have seen this on several blogs but I based mine on Megan's from Fried Green Pickles.  It's a rather long list that I'm tackling one list at a time so bear with me.  The items crossed have been completed and the items that are highlighted are on the list for August.  I will be reposting monthly as a update to my readers and also a reminder to myself.

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book Music and lighting

Decide on bridal party

Book caterer & bartender

Create wedding website

Register for shower

Book florist

Purchase wedding dress

Purchase bridal accessories

Rent linens

Take engagement pictures

Select bridesmaid dresses

Select groom & groomsmen attire ß bowties and vests are still needed

Book cake baker

wedding coordinator guidebook

Buy cake knife & serverß registered for it at Belk

Order save the dates

Send save the dates

Book officiant

Pre-marital counseling ßOctober

Order guest book

Finalize guest list

Obtain guests addresses for invitations

Order cake topper

Decide on videographer services

Hotel room blocks

Rent hotel rooms for March 22 and March 23

MOB & MOG dress shopping

Find wedding shoes

Find wedding jewelry

Book makeup artist & hair stylist

Reception menu tasting

Hair, nails, tan for bridal portraits

Take bridal portraits / hair & make up trial – Scheduled for October 18th

1st dress fitting – Scheduled for August 20th

Bridal portrait bouquet

Final dress fitting

Make ceremony programs

Practice Carolina shag

Write out escort cards

Find 10 glass milk vases

Pay venue for ceremony chair set up

Order invitations

Address invitations

Mail invitations

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Buy Rehearsal dress

Buy sparkler for send off

 Find hair accessories for FG

Decide on bridesmaids shoes

make table numbers

make cake stand

Buy groomsman gifts

Buy FG and RB gifts

Reader and coordinator gifts

Bridesmaids gifts

Bachelorette party outfits

Bachelorette party

Buy gifts for mothers

Bridal shower attire

Bridal shower

Shower thank you notes

Shop for wedding bands

Purchase wedding bands

Create wedding day timeline

Put together picture list for photographer

Buy drinking straws

Buy mason jars

Bridal Makeup trial

DIY signs for reserved seating

Engagement photos framed for auxiliary table

Book a salon for day of wedding

Makeup for MOB

New passport?

Decide on setup for cocktail table décor and purchase accessories

Escort card display and welcome sign

Purchase alcohol for reception

Get marriage license

Create signs for sparkler exit and favor

Book transportation from reception to hotel

Book honeymoon

Honeymoon outfits

Bridal luncheon invitations

Bridal luncheon favor

Decide who will return reception rentals

RD invitations - FMIL

RD groom's cake - FMIL

Final vendor payments

Music selections to band

Order thank you notes

Hair, nails, tan for wedding

Ring cleaning

Pack for honeymoon

Wedding announcement in News and Observer

Walk down the aisle & say I do!

Stress, breakouts, and a sick computer

Have you ever had a hard week?  I'm talking about one that never ends...

I had a hard week about four weeks ago and things have gotten worse.  I'm trying to remind myself how blessed I am daily (even hourly) but I'm really hoping things will look up soon.  I haven't posted in a while because my computer was infected with some funky virus and lots of money later I have it back good as new (literally because they restored it to factory settings).  I got the virus from a recent Adobe update so I'm hoping my readers will be super careful.  R and I have a lot on our plates with my new position at work, moving in a few months, and planning our wedding.  I thought wedding planning would be my greatest source of stress but honestly I think it has been my stress-relief. 

We registered last weekend and went ring shopping today.  I'll be posting a list this week of all the wedding chores we have accomplished so far.  I saw the idea in a few wedding blogs that I've been reading and even though I'm behind in my updates I would like to add it to future posts.  I've also been doing a new face routine that I would like to share.  All the stress from the recent few weeks were causing frequent breakouts so I tweaked a few of my products and now everything is under control. 

I'm hopeful that thing will get easier soon.  I definitely think things with work will slow down soon and R and I will figure out whether or not we need to move (at least we have some time left on our current lease and the best landlord ever).  Meanwhile I will try to post more frequently.

Is everyone enjoying the olympics?  I've found myself to be more patriotic the past few days!

Engagement Photos Session One

Will Stricklin from Levasseur Design took our engagement photos this past weekend.  I don't have all of them back but he put a few on his facebook page as a preview.  I'm so excited about them!  We still have one more session with him so we can get a few pictures on our college campus.  Those will likely be taken in two weeks.  It was hot hot hot outside when we took these and our dog didn't really want to do anything but pant.  We had to put in her in the truck with the air condition on and of course high quality bottled water....she is such a diva dog! 

These photos were taken at a local park and downtown.

 This brick wall belongs to the bar where R and I met in 2004.  The name has changed but the outside of the building is the same.

Big Life Decisions

Hello All!

I have not forgotten my blog.  This past month I've made some very big decisions and I really haven't felt much like talking about it.  But I can officially share my news...

I've been offered a new job!  I'm still in dialysis and technically still working for the same company (or rather the much bigger company that just purchased the smaller company that I worked for).  I will have to move for this job...ANOTHER move.  I'm so sick of it and I can't wait to purchase a home and make it all mine.  I will be closer to my family and Russell and I have several friends that we will be able to see more often.  I also will not have to commute as far as I do now.  We are hoping to move by October 1 but there is a lot riding on getting ending our current lease by finding our landlord new tenants and of course we have to find a new house to live in.  R will be having several discussions with his boss about a job transfer as well.  So really thats all...

1.  Plan a wedding
2. Find a new house
3. Find new tenants so we can end our current lease
4. Move to new house
5. Start a new job

Oh. My. Goodness. 

Wedding Inspiration: Colors and Flowers

Mom and I had a lunch meeting with a florist on Thursday and I'm over the moon about working with her!  Finding a florist was the most challenging vendor that we researched.  I think you have to find one that just "gets it" when you discuss what you're wanting for your wedding.  I found her through the bridal expo back in April and didn't have a chance to meet with her until this week.  I brought a long a few photos to show her for floral inspiration:

This is a palette I found online.  The center color is the one I have picked for my bridesmaid dresses.  I'm using the lighter pink, the yellow, and the gray for accent colors.

 Our moms have been collecting old fashioned glass milk bottles that we can use for vases on the tables.  I love the look of peonies and scabiosa pods.

 Another inspiration picture, I love hydrangea so I have asked her to incorporate them in my arrangements.

Love these bouquets!

This is my favorite bouquet!  The florist will use this as the main inspiration for my wedding flowers.  I love the twine and the mix of flowers - roses, peonies, hydrangea, oh my!

**All of these photos were found on internet and I don't have the information to give credit for them.  If they belong to you please contact me and I will be happy to credit you! Thanks!**

The Seven Deadly Sins (beauty edition)

 I saw this going around on several blogs a few weeks ago and I wanted to participate.  I thought it was so much more creative than some of the ones I've answered in the past. 

1.  GREED: What is your most expensive beauty item?

Ole Henrikson Three Little Miracles

What is your most inexpensive? 

Covergirl lash blast

2.       WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with?

L'Oreal Lineur Intense is a great liquid liner and I love the look of it on my eyes but it takes longer to apply and a much steadier hand than my cream or pencil liners.

3.       GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

 Avalon Organics Vitamin C Cleansing Gel - smells like orange juice!

Essie Watermelon is a great color for toes.

4.       SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz is the best highlighter for my skintone but most days I can not be bothered with it.  I wear it for special occasions and nights out but definitely not for day to day wear.

5.       PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

  Coco Mademoiselle is my favorite perfume.  It's too strong to wear to the clinic every day and it's a little too heavy for summer so I'm only wearing it in the evenings for now.  The scent is so long lasting and I get a ton of compliments on it!

6.       LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Brown Eyes and a beautiful smile - lucky for me R has both!  In the photo below he is a proud uncle showing off his sweet nephew.

      7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

 I have the Daisy roller ball for my purse and I enjoy the fragrance so much I'd like to have a full bottle.  It's perfect for working at the clinic because it's a light scent.

 I love Tocca fragrances, the candles are so scented that you only need to light them for 20 minutes for long a lasting scent for a whole room.

 Tocca hand cream in Cleopatra - this is the lotion I keep in my handbag.  It's a great formula and the scent is clean and very adult.

This isn't a beauty product but I've been eyeing this silver elephant ring holder for a while.  It would be the perfect addition to our bathroom!

Our weekend and a few purchases

I've had an awful cold since last Sunday that caused us to leave our Memorial Holiday beach weekend early.  I missed a couple days of work because I felt so terrible and I was worried that I had strep throat.  R took care of me all week making sure I had tissues, medicine and homemade chicken noodle soup - best fiance ever!  I started feeling better on Friday morning and we canceled our weekend plans so we could relax for a few days.  Friday was very low key, we watched Horrible Bosses from netflix and turned in early.  Saturday R was adamant that I was going to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather so we did a little shopping.

 My Target purchases - Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser brightener (as recommended by Veronika), Essie Peach Daiquiri, Suave Dry Shampoo (I'm giving this a try as it is a little cheaper than the Tresemme version), and a new Soho Cosmetic "weekender" bag.  My usual travel bag that I've had for years had a zipper malfunction on our trip last weekend and I'm tired of fixing it every time I need to zip up my case.  This bag is thin and has three compartments so I can carry my mini toiletries and my makeup when I travel...plus it's pretty.

 New summer jewelry!  I actually purchased these last week but I'm including them because they are so pretty and I wore each of these items this weekend.  The coral earrings are from Target, the bracelet is from the Banana Republic Outlet, and the gold earrings are from Bevello which I purchased to go with a dress than I'm wearing in my upcoming engagement photos.

 I stopped by Express this weekend for the 40% off sale.  Normally I only purchase my work slacks there but I really wanted a pair of white shorts and they were on sale for $30.  The red embellished tank was on sale for $24.

 These are a few purchases that I made over the past 2 weeks.  The Michael Kors turquoise sandals were a Marshall's purchase on clearance.  I wanted a straw hat for the beach and I found this one on sale at the J Crew outlet.  The brown wedges and the black peeptoes were purchased on Saturday for buy one get one 50% off at Rack Room Shoes.  I rarely ever go there but I could not find a pair of neutral wedges that were comfortable so I feel like I lucked up when I tried these on. 

 Saturday afternoon we split a pizza and enjoyed some local music on the patio of Mellow Mushroom.  We had so much fun we stayed for the whole show!

Today we caught a matinee of Dark Shadows.  I've never made it any secret that I'm obsessed with Tim Burton and this one didn't disappoint.  We laughed several times during this movie, Johnny Depp plays this type of character so well.

We went by Fresh Market on the way home from the theater and R bought some items to grill for dinner.  We enjoyed our hammock and played Bocce ball while our pork chops were marinating.  He grilled squash and zucchini and we had Ranier cherries for dessert.  I also wanted to show off the flowers he bought this week to cheer me up.  This has probably been the first weekend in several weeks that we have actually stayed in town the entire time and enjoyed some quality time together.