DIY Wedding Planning: Save-the-Date

Wedding planning can be expensive and Dennis and I are determined to save money wherever we can during the planning.  We only want to make our wedding beautiful and cut costs by doing what we can on our own.  So the first project we tackled together...the save-the-date.

Save-the-dates can get pretty pricy depending on the how professional you want them to be plus the cost of engagement photos if you are doing a picture.  With Pinterest, there are so many ideas for save-the-dates that I knew I could find a design that I liked and try it out, which I did.

In my opinion, engagement photos are a waste of money.  I would rather save some money and use it later on for wedding photos, which will get more use.  Dennis got me a new Nikon camera for Christmas, so I set it up on a tri-pod and took the pictures at three different sites myself.

We never have off at the same time, so when we did this week we decided to utilize that time wisely and take the photos.  Since our wedding isn't until October, they don't need to be sent until March but I didn't want to wait and then not have time to do it.

Last night, I was bored and decided to play around in Publisher.  I created a save-the-date that we both like, which is key.  It wasn't hard either and I just inserted the photos that I edited from our DIY engagement session.  It still needs some edits but come March it will be ready to go.

No pictures of the save-the-date yet.  I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone.  You can have one picture tho.  I'll post the rest later.

Do you hear the people sing?

Last night, my dad and I finally got to see Les Miserables.  It was by far one of the best movies I had ever seen and the music, as expected was phenomenal!  From the beginning, I was literally drawn into the French Revolution and sat wide-eyed for the entire movie, never even touching my snack or drink because I was so connected to the film.

 

My love of Les Miserables started in eighth grade when I first read the classic by Victor Hugo.  For a 14-year-old the book should have been intimidating but I was fascinated by the characters and the plot lines and the music, which we heard in the special anniversary video that our teacher played for us to help us understand the book better.

 

From the moment I finished the book, I wanted to see the musical.  The next year it came to Pittsburgh and I used my hard-earned library paycheck to buy tickets.  I went with my friend Kristin and we sat up in peanut heaven but just to hear the music was amazing.  Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to see it again but some day.

 

Since then I have just been listening to the music a lot...especially when I had long drives.  When I found out their was going to be a movie last summer, I can honestly say I COUNT NOT wait wait until Christmas Day.  Just watching the commercials I got chills and very excited!  I knew my dad wanted to see it too, so I gave it to him as part of his Christmas gift and then I got to go to!

 

If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it.  I know its not for everyone but just to hear the music or see the story or say you saw an Oscar-worthy performance or to make fun of Russell Crowe singing.  Ha ha!  It's worth it!  Then go to the library and get the book and the musical CD!  Those are free and totally worth it as well!

 

(YouTube)



Goals for the New Year

I normally set New Year's resolutions that as predicted I never follow through with or I do but I'm not happy with the outcome.  This year I'm just focusing on five goals (I'm better with the goals) and I will work on smaller goals each week to accomplish these.  This year I am going to:

Plan a wedding and GET MARRIED.

So far, I've bought a dress and picked my bridesmaids dresses (now I just need to ask them) and we've almost secured a venue.

Run a half-marathon again and IMPROVE MY TIME.

If I could say I was in perfect health right now, I would already be out running; however, until I kick this ear infection for good I'm not officially starting to train until February 10.  Slow jogs for now...

Be a better person and PRACTICE MORE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

This year, I want to strive to be more selfless.  To think less about myself and more about others.  To not complain as much.  To be happy and thankful for EVERYTHING in my life.  And to do nice things for others.

Organize the apartment and MAKE IT OUR OWN.

We love our new apartment but it lacks organization in particular areas (kitchen and office) and personal touches to really make it ours.  Pinterest should help with this one...

Make little changes in my lifestyle so that I'm HEALTHIER.

2012 was not a healthy year.  I had a stomach virus, a throat virus, one or two sinus infections, jaw problems and an ear infection.  I promise to not stress as much, sleep more, eat better and drink more water.  I'm sick of medical bills.

Well, that's my 2013 goals in a nutshell.  Here's to a healthier 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Better Late Than Never...Our Engagement Story

Well, it's official...WE ARE ENGAGED! What a wonderful early Christmas present!  So, since many of you were inquiring how Dennis proposed and what the ring looks like, here it is... (Sorry it took so long, I've been out of commission with an ear infection all week.)

Dennis asked me to meet him downtown on Wednesday evening for dinner.  I, knowing that I needed to make nine dozen cookies for a cookie exchange after work the next night, was not exactly thrilled and protested a bit.  He assured me that we would have an early dinner and still have plenty of time to bake. 

The evening started with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - Noodle Company. Afterwards, Dennis wanted to walk to the point to see the lights. Again I protested and said it was too cold and we should just go home. He said a quick walk would warm me up.  So on we went to Point State Park.

We walked through the mud right up to the Christmas tree.  There with the tree to one side and the skyline to the other, Dennis got down on one knee and proposed (not in the mud, there was a concrete slab).  Of course I quickly said yes!

 

Then we headed back to the parking garage to get my car. I had left the ticket in the car, so we went and grabbed that before going to the pay station.  Me, being still in shock from the whole proposal, locked my keys in the car. So, Dennis called AAA and we waited until someone came to unlock the car.

Afterwards, we went to see my parents and sister and then his parents and brother. It was a wonderful evening and I couldn't be more happy! Thank you for all the well wishes! We are very blessed!

Welcome December!

When I started this post at the beginning of the week, I intended on making up for the last month of not keeping this blog updated with an end-of-the-month list of 30 things I'm thankful for; however, as started to write the post, I realized that my brain was far too much into Christmas to dwell in the past of November and Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful!  I have an amazing family, a wonderful boyfriend, a new apartment to call home, a job that pays the bills, my health (well, not right now) and fabulous friends - I am very blessed and thankful this year.

I had the day off today, so I've been thinking a lot about how I plan to spend the holiday season.  I did some more decorating today around the apartment.  My gift lists are complete, so now I just need to complete the shopping.  Dennis and I are working on the Christmas cards and baking cookies to deliver to special people from our families, work places and churches.  Thanks to Pinterest I am obsessed with the random acts of kindness lists.  Instead of my normal daily goals, I incorporated these.  I also made a holiday bucket list for Dennis and I to attempt on the few nights that neither one of us has work or a meeting.

Happy Holidays!

The Start of the Holiday Season

For me, the official start of the holiday season is the annual wreath party at my church.  Since I was a small child, this has always been one of my favorite days of the holiday season.  My sisters, friends and I would wear the red wreath party t-shirts and serve homemade cookies and cranberry tea to congregation and community members attending the party. 

After we had fulfilled out duties, Nancy Price, the wonderful woman who started and led this wonderful tradition at our church, would patiently teach us kids to make a wreath of our own to take home.  At the time, I think I found this more tiresome and boring and probably took making a wreath with Nancy for granted, but now I am thankful that I know how and refuse to purchase a wreath. 

As the years passed, my sisters and friends stopped participating as much but I still loved the wreath party and would rearrange my travel plans as life took me to different states just so I could be home for this special time.  There were many years I didn't make a wreath but that was fine because I was happy just spending time with the other volunteers and talking to participants.

The party has changed in the last few years...

...the red t-shirts aren't so red anymore and are getting vintage...

...not as many people are interesting in making a wreath when they can buy one (we used to fill three rooms with participants and have four sessions, we are down to one now)

...Nancy, who ran the wreath party, has passed and we miss her terribly...

 ...but the spirit of the holiday season and Nancy's presence is still very much alive as we sip our cranberry tea, eat delicious cookies, listen to holiday tunes and make beautiful, handmade wreaths. 

I haven't had time to make a wreath these last two years, so last night I made one for the back door of our apartment.  It was the first time I had made a wreath since Nancy died.  The first time I had made a wreath without help from all the wreath "pros."  And the first time I made one the hard way.  It's not the best looking wreath but I made it myself.

I know some of the other kids, who are all now adults, have made wreaths for their own homes and I hope Nancy is smiling down us and is proud that we are all carrying on her wonderful tradition.

Yummy Christmas Crack!!

Since I have my own kitchen, I can cook and bake on my own terms with out Martha Stewart (Beth) and Julia Child (Meg) looking over my shoulder.  When I was little my mom made this great cookie with crackers, brown sugar, butter and chocolate.  For some reason she didn't like to make it and has told me in recent years to make it myself.  Well, I did!  I found it on Pinterest and they were calling it Christmas Crack! Love it!  It is super addicting!  Dennis and I are actually going to make cookies to give to people this year!  Bring on the holidays!