mrshtobe's Blue Wedding Blog - Wedding By Color

Well.. - Things are not as good as I thought.

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:55:00 PST

It looks like we're now going to be here (in my hometown) for the long-haul.. well, at least longer than we thought. Long story short, it turns out that B lied when he said we were going back home to be with him a few weeks ago. We got talking the other night about when to put my transfer in at work, and he said not to do it.. this isn't just "a 4 month fix". Apparently he just told me that we were going to 'cause I "pushed the subject" (oh yeah, 'cause asking once is totally pushing), and he didn't want to say no, and then have me upset around the family, and ruin the weekend.. nice, right? $#@&! Needless to say, I'm not in a good place, right now.. I'm not eating, not sleeping.. I have to find a place (as we can't stay with my Dad, forever) with no money, no furniture, ANYTHING.. beds, dishes, table, pots&pans, bedding, etc.. On top of that, now I have to enroll DD in a new school, try to change my hours at work so I can try and be home with her, then I have to somehow find a way to get her to-and-from school (if I work from 7-3, she'll need to go to a sitter's in the AM, I guess).. I hate that I now have to go on welfare, but I have to do what I have to do, right? There's no way I'm making enough $ to support myself right now, and B's being a d*ck about everything.. he says he'll give me $ for child support, but he "doesn't have to help me with [my] place". Um, it's not just mine, it's our child's, as well. He doesn't see it that way, though, so now I have to take this all on, myself. This is his way of teaching me a lesson, I guess, since "[he's] done it all himself, before" (making a stab about how he supported me). I understand he's stressed/pissed/whatever, but you don't do this to someone you supposedly love, y'know? He says this isn't the end for us, and that he just needs more time to figure out what he wants in life. BS, I say.. do you want us to be a family, or not? Easy as that. I feel like he's keeping me on a hook, just in case something doesn't work out with some other chick (he says he's not looking for another relationship, but whatever.. I know him). Anyway, he's coming to visit on Monday, and we're talking about things.. I made a list of questions, and points I want to go over (child support, how long he thinks this will take, if he does start another relationship, I want to know, etc.). We're in this grey area where we're not separated (I think), which makes getting financial aid harder, but he's not willing to help.. this needs to get figured out ASAP. I feel physically ill from the stress. I'll probably be deleting this account, too.. just thought I'd give you all a heads-up as to why I probably won't be around, anymore..

{ Things are lookin' up! }

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:11:00 PST

DD, and I just got back from a visit with Mr. H, and his family. You see, One of Mr. H's younger brothers (and, his girlfriend) had been teaching English in China for the past 11 months, and just got back on Monday. That being said, they're moving to England to teach at the end of August, so they're trying to get in as much family time as possible while they're around. We all headed up to Mr. H's parents' cottage, and had a blast! There were drinks, lots of laughs, lots of storytelling, and I even got in some good girl talks with J (the girlfriend who was in China), as well as Mr. H's Mum. Both of them have been more-than-amazing during this whole ordeal with Mr. H, and I, and it felt good to actually hear their support IRL, rather than talking over MSN, or e-mail messages! ** Both of them had said from the start that this would all work out in the end, and that B was probably just super-stressed, and let it get the best of him. J even joked that it was like a quarter-life crisis for him, just like I had wondered, myself, lol. ** Anyway, the visit with Mr. H was an incredibly short one (he arrived late, last night after working a full day, and was gone by 7am, this morning), but we definitely made the best of it! Despite the humid weather, we cuddled like maniacs, made-out like we had just met, and also had some really good talks.. To make a long story short, I basically full-out asked him if he wanted us back (as in, moving back after summer/camp is over). He joked by saying, "I'm not sure" with a huge grin on his face (which made me BAWL like a baby!), but he immediately pulled me in for a huge hug, kissed my forehead, and said, "Of course, babe". I asked, "Are you sure?", to which he replied, "yes, but there are things we need to work on". Understood, of course. From there, we cuddled some more, and then topped the evening with a beautiful moonlight swim, together. We kissed, we gazed at the stars, we said about a billion, "I love you"s, and then proceeded to have the most amazing sex, EVER! It had been months since we were intimate, and, Oh. My. Goodness! How we've missed each other! It was a deeper connection than I've felt with him in months, and the way he gazed at me.. that was best part. I won't lie, usually we're full-out crazy with each other, but this was.. romantic.. special.. *sighs*. I feel like I'm getting my Schmoodle back! Like we've discussed before, we're trying not to jump back into things too quickly, and we definitely have other issues to hash out (*ahem* his communication), but things are so much better than where we left it a few months ago. YAY! :]

{ kmiller1 } - These are for you!

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:31:00 PST

Last night, a WBC bride posted on the forum, asking for help/advice with her monogram(s). I offered her my services with no bite, but I decided to create her a few monograms, anyway. Heck, isn't that what WBC is about? Helping other brides-to-be out? I think so! :] So, without further adieu, I present to you, my masterpieces! LOL, just joking.. Hope you like them, Ms. Miller! Do with them as you please. :] ** Click on them to see them full-size. **

{ Taking orders! } - Need a monogram?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:06:00 PST

Hey ladies! Long time, no post, huh? My bad.. I don't post much at all these days, but I still lurk, often. I can't seem to stay away from WBC for too long! Although things still aren't 100% with Mr. H again, yet, part of me is still in 'wedding mode', thinking of the wedding we were planning, etc., etc.. I definitely can't just let go of it, quite yet. Sad, huh? Well, maybe it's not too bad. Sure, things aren't they way they were a month-or-so ago, but Mr. H are working on it. In fact, he came down for another visit, last week (and, is planning a visit next week, as well), and we let out a bunch more emotions to each other, which was amazing.. To make a long story short, we got talking about our (possible) future together, and I let him know that I still wanted to be Mrs. H (down the road, of course.. no rushing things, and potentially making things worse) .. I don't want another man, and my love for him has never wavered over the years.. We got talking about how the wedding planning was stressful to him, as he saw it as a major financial burden (on top of other things.. which I understood), so I brought up the point that I wanted to do the JoP thing, and he shot it down.. so, we talked about that for a good while, and if things work out for us in the long-run, that's probably the route we will go. After all, I don't need the flash.. as much as I love all the DIY I had planned (and, begun! LOL!), all that really matters is us.. the union.. Anyway, like I said, we're still not sure as to what will happen, but he knows where my heart lies.. and, it seems as if we're still moving in the same direction (he even wished me a happy 'monthiversary' the other day--9 years, 5 months--he wouldn't have said that if he pictured us as split, or not trying to work on things, right?). But, this wedding talk brings me to the point of this post.. I miss creating! I still have the wedding adrenaline pumping, and I don't want to stop.. I want to design, and I want to help other brides out in the process! I'm working a lots these days, but my mornings are pretty clear (evenings suck, but you gotta do what you gotta do!), so I have a pretty quick turnaround. If you're looking for a monogram, you've come to the right place! My prices are as follows: $3.00 per monogram, or 2 for $5.00 (US funds). YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE STYLES SHOWN! All monograms are 100% custom made for you--these are just examples of what can be done! If you have any examples of a monogram you would like, send it to me in an attachment, via e-mail. For questions or to place an order, please email: shannypooh.designs@gmail.com

{ Still here.. } - Sort of.

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:28:00 PST

Hey my gorgeous, ladies! It's been a while since I last updated, so I thought I should drop in, and let you all know that I'm still lurking, lol. I don't post much (obviously, 'cause I don't have any wedding plans to share), but I like to keep up on how things are going for you guys! Some weddings have passed, and some are very, very close for some of you, and I can't possibly be any more thrilled for each, and every one of you.. As for me, not a lot has been going on. The job is going, well.. it pretty much takes up all of my time, though! It's weird, since it's only part-time, but during my mornings, I'm doing laundry, and doing stuff around the house, and then my evenings are spent there. It's something I'll get used to, I'm sure, but it's definitely different than what I've been used to! I'm totally looking forward to my extra-long weekend, this weekend, though! No work from Fri.-Tues.. ahh, how sweet it will be! In other news, things with Mr. H are slowly, but surely starting to come around (even more), I'm happy to report. Of course, we're still taking things day-by-day, and not rushing into things, but we've been talking a lot, and he's even made another trip down to visit us.. I mentioned in my last post that he was still acting 'coupley' (calling me names, cuddling a lot, etc.), and that's happening even more, these days.. he talks about DD going back to her school, he's mentioned having a specific birthday party for her, he's talked about putting her in dance classes this fall.. Sure, it may not seem like too big of a deal, and there's still quite some time for us to sort everything out, but as time goes on, I can feel our relationship starting to get stronger, which is a huge relief! In all honesty, I think the distance is taking us back to when we first got together, and were doing the long-distance thing.. it's giving us the space to figure out what we (okay, so him.. I'm cool, lol) really want out of the relationship, together, and it's also forcing us to communicate a lot more. We're constantly e-mailing each other to see how things are going, we're laying out all our feelings, and so-on.. in fact, his e-mails haven't been so sweet (or, naughty, LMAO) in quite a while.. so much for his, "I don't want our physical relationship to overshadow the problems that need to be figured out" idea! Someone sure does miss me, ladies! LOL! :P Anyway, that's about all I have to say, right now.. but, hopefully all you ladies are doing well, too! Never hesitate to contact me through my profile if you want to keep in touch!

{ Got a job! } - Step 1, complete.

Fri, 28 May 2010 17:48:00 PST

Yep, that's right! I got a job! Okay, okay, so it's only retail, and it's only part-time, for right now (I have no $ for sitters, so I'm working around hours that my Dad will be around to look after DD for me), but it's still something! I've been unemployed for almost a year now, with no job prospects in sight (other than a few sporadic interviews which never amounted to anything), so I'm pretty dang excited about it! :] Orientation (paid, I believe) is Monday afternoon/evening from 3-10pm, so I can't complain! Thus completes (well, begins, really) step 1 of relationship reconstruction! Mr. H wanted me to come down here, and use my 'connections' to find a job, and I did it.. .. now all he has to work on is him! Speaking of Mr. H, we got talking again, tonight, and he seems pretty happy for me, which is good, but I'm still worried about the possible outcome of what could happen at the end of summer. I guess I just have to take it day-by-day, and hope for the best, though, right? ** He is, however, still calling me 'hun', and acting pretty 'coupley'.. he's even coming up to visit, tomorrow, for the day..** I've completely lost my appetite, and I'm losing sleep over these emotions, though, so it hasn't been easy.. .. too many sleepless nights, and early mornings will definitely (unfortunately) catch up with me if I'm not careful! Especially since I'm not a morning person! LOL! Oh well, at least I have my girls here (-1.. my BFF left, today, to be with her fiancé about 4,000kms away), supporting me.. it's amazing what some wine (or, even coffee.. or, in my case, tea), and good talks can do! I'm still planning on taking monogram/etc. orders, though, on my spare time, just in case anyone's interested.. every little bit helps!

{ In LIMBO } - I hate this!

Thu, 27 May 2010 05:12:00 PST

After a great weekend visit a coupe of weeks ago, I thought as if things were getting back on track for Mr. H, and I.. we were laughing like nothing had changed, we we loving like nothing had changed.. after a chat with him, yesterday, however, I'm not sure what to think of things. Sure, only 2½ weeks have gone by since our DD, and I moved out, and nothing has changed (job-wise), but I thought we were good. I thought that us being gone was the wake-up call he needed, and that he felt that he made a huge mistake, but he's still unsure about everything. I get that he's frustrated, and I totally understand why (I mean, being the loan breadwinner for a family isn't an easy task.. I've been there), but is he really that unsure about our future together? He says the job/$ thing is one reason that this is all happened, but there's also a deeper issue to be dealt with.. his unhappiness. This is where I'm totally caught off-guard--he's unhappy? With me? With 'us'? With what? And, that my friends, he's not sure of.. He says it could just be an unhappiness with himself, but he's got to figure it out before we move forward with anything. Of course, I'm not talking about a wedding here, by any means.. just about us moving back in with him. I don't want to rush into anything either, as this is a pretty major blow to the foundation of our relationship (and, if after the summer, we do want to give things a try, I'm definitely pushing for couples counselling), but I hate being in this limbo! Will I find a job? Will he want us back? OMG, what if he doesn't want us back?! I guess that's something I may have to face, but I'm not giving up without a fight. It would be different if it were just he, and I involved, but with a DD, as well, it's a whole new dynamic. It's starting to sink in for her that we're here for another 3 months without Daddy, and she's been crying, and telling me that she misses him a lot.. but, now she's also asking questions, like, "Will I be here for my birthday?", and "What about Hallowe'en? Will we be here, then?" I don't know what to say to her, 'cause I really have no idea.. Like I said, I hate this limbo. I wish he'd just make up his @#$%*&! mind, and sh*t, or get off the pot, y'know?! Either we give this another try, or we call it quits. The uncertainty is what's getting to me.. I have a life to live, and a child to raise, and either he wants to be a part of that, or he doesn't. Of course, after 9½ years, I hope this does get resolved in the next few months, but this certainly does suck. A LOT. It's not fair to me, and it's absolutely not fair to our DD.. it boggles my mind that he could put her through this. He's a great Dad, he really is, but this is definitely not part of that equation.

{ To start a business? } - Or NOT to start one?

Sun, 23 May 2010 16:47:00 PST

So, as I wait to hear back from a few prospective employers (which I hope happens sooner-than-later.. must do some follow-up calls, this week!), I've been fiddling around with Photoshop a lot. I've posted my designs a few times on my blog, here, here, and here with a lot of great feedback, and a few of you ladies have commissioned me into creating a few designs for you, as well.. .. that being said, a few of you have even mentioned that I should create an Etsy page, or a blog to drum up more business, and it's gotten me thinking.. Should I really jump into it? It's something I really enjoy, I love helping other brides-to-be out, and I have some extra time on my hands.. but, could I really do this? Could it be lucrative? Of course, I could always just do this on my own time, even when I do get a job.. Yeah, I think I just might do this! Ladies, if you need some monograms, I'm your girl! My prices will be as follows (but, some exceptions may apply): Monograms 1 for $3 2 for $5 (maybe 5 for $7) Signs (candy buffet, bathroom basket, photo hunt, etc.) $5 each Water Bottle Labels $7 STDs, or bridal shower invites, etc. (postcard size) $10 Mix 'n' Match Value Pack 1 2 monograms, 3 signs - $15 Value Pack 2 3 monograms 2 signs - $12.50 Value Pack 3 2 monograms 3 signs and water bottle labels - $20 Value Pack 4 - 2 monogram, 3 signs, and 1 label - $25 A big shoutout goes out to Amber (foreverstartsnow) for pricing things out for me! I figured if I used a friend/customer to help with that part, I wouldn't feel like I was overcharging, or something. Get at me! Just convo me through here, or e-mail me at: shannypooh.designs@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you! ;]

{ Update on me! } - Obviously, lol.

Wed, 19 May 2010 08:06:00 PST

It's been 11 days since I've updated here, and I thought it was about time to let you all in on what's been going on.. y'know, 'cause I know some of you care, lol. Well, at least I like to think so! ;] Anyway, a lot has happened in the last 11 days, but I'm ecstatic to report that everything has been on the positive side of things! Great news, right? The best thing that has happened, is the fact that not only have I gotten my foot in the door for finding a job, but I've had 3 interviews with 2 different companies. Okay, so it's only retail, and it's not THAT big of a deal, but for me, it's pretty major--to go from applying like crazy at home, with absolutely no luck at all, to having 3 interviews happen in less than 2 weeks is pretty cool, I think. In fact, I'm waiting to hear back from one place, with big hopes.. the interviews (2 were at the same place) went really well, I have good connections that helped me get in this far, so I'm hoping it pans out in the end! On top of the job thing, however, things with Mr. H are coming along nicely, as well. When I first posted here about our 'breakup', I thought it was just that-- a clean break. Now that some time has passed, though, we realize that this isn't dunzo for us, at all. Yes, he went about this in the wrong way (for which he has since apologized for, more than once), and it seemed like things would never go back to the way they were, but after only a week, things are already looking up for us. As a matter of fact, DD went to visit him, this past weekend, and it was like absolutely nothing had changed between us--we cuddled, we kissed, we goofed off with each other.. we were the family that always had been. I was afraid things would be a bit awkward, as we went to our nephew's birthday party, and family knew about our situation, but Mr. H was affectionate, we smiled, we cuddled.. like I said, it was like nothing had changed, at all. Sure, not all has been forgiven, or even forgotten, for that matter (and, there are still things to be worked on), but he has let me know how proud he is of me for working my butt off down here, so far. We're optimistic that this job situation gets worked out quickly, and he's been talking about when DD, and I get home.. not IF, but WHEN. Maybe this was an early mid-life crisis thing, for him? In any case, the past 11 days have went really well (with a lot of thanks going to my friends, for being there! Not only as a chauffeur to interviews, or stepping in to look after DD while I was at interviews, etc., but also as my shoulders to lean on, and vent to).. I'm just looking forward to the next 3 months going by quickly, the $ starting to roll in.. and, a lot of good times along the way! :]

{ S.O.S.! } - Fishing for answers.

Sat, 08 May 2010 11:31:00 PST

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support to my last post. After a brief sleep, some more talking, and a lot more crying, things are still uggggh.. but, it's good to know I have the support of all you wonderful ladies! That being said, it looks as if DD, and I will be moving out of our apartment, sometime tomorrow. A few bags are packed, and there's more to be done, but everything is in motion. I'm still shocked, and saddened, but I'm surviving, heh. All joking aside, we're still fairly civil (no screaming, and no harsh words, just lots of back-and-forth, and trying to see why the other feels the way they do), and things seem a bit better. B has provided a bit more insight into how he feels, and although the wedding is off, we're still on okay ground. We're not necessarily together, or broken up, and we definitely have things to work on, but we both want to do so, and that's all that matters. He understands he went about things in the wrong way, and he's hoping for the best, but we're taking it day-by-day. Anyway, let's get to the reason for this post, shall we? As an outlet for me, creatively, as well as a source of extra income (as I start off as a single Mum), I was wondering if I should offer my monogram/invitation/etc. services? I enjoy doing it, and I don't think I suck at it, but if I were to offer say, 2 monogram designs for $5, is that a dealbreaker? Too high of a price? I'd also create custom packages for a fee (candy buffet sign, monograms, reserved chair signs), if one should so wish.. I've put a few of my designs in my gallery, so you can take a look. Let me know what you think! :]

{ Wedding is OFF! } - MrsHNOTToBe

Fri, 07 May 2010 21:40:00 PST

I'll spare the dramatics, but what you're reading is unfortunately true: there will no longer be a S&B H wedding. To be honest, I don't know how to feel. Obviously I'm not happy in the slightest (or any other variation of that word, for that matter), but I'm definitely shocked, upset, angered, appalled.. the list goes on. The part that gets to me the most, however, is the fact that we have a daughter together. Sure, we're not the only parents to ever split, but I totally did not see this coming at all. One minute we're fine, and the next, B is telling me how unhappy he is. What else gets me, is the fact that this all boils down to finances. Yep, a relationship that's been strong for 9½ years, crumbles in a matter of moments due to f*^@%ing finances! Apparently, B feels like he's alone in everything, all because I've been a SAHM for the last few months. I haven't been putting out enough resumés, I haven't cooked enough dinners, etc., etc... but, that's all that bad, that he doesn't even want to give me a chance to correct anything.. Which leads us back to our daughter--tomorrow we're discussing whether or not to pull her out of school early (and, the 2 of us will move back to my hometown), or if we'll be living in awkwardness until school is out in 51 days (I refuse to leave the house without her with me). I'm pretty sure we'll be out of here before Monday, however. Thankfully through all of this, though, here's been no real harshness thrown around. I'd never bad-mouth B to our DD, and I'm sure he'd never do the same of me--he's just frustrated, and need some time.. so, this how it ends for now.. over finances.. Does anyone else think this is crazy? Or is it just me? I guess they're right.. sometimes love just ain't enough. P.S. - It completely stinks that I've been crying my eyes out for hours, while B seems to be totally taking it in stride. He's fast asleep upstairs, while I can't seem to shut my mind off; he hasn't shed a tear, either.. Maybe us being over is for the better, after all. I deserve to be loved as much as I love, right? Not that I'm thinking about moving on.. I doubt I'll never find anyone to love me, anyway.. if my own ex-fiancé can't love me after 9½ years, who else will?

{ Making lemonade? } - When life hands you lemons..

Mon, 03 May 2010 09:55:00 PST

I've probably mentioned it a few times, already (okay, so I've definitely mentioned it, before), but Mr. H applied for a pretty lucrative job a while ago, and he recently (last Monday) just had his job interview for it. We were pretty hopeful that he'd get it, as it worked really well wage/time-wise, and we thought he'd be a shoo-in, as he has ties to the centre, and the staff, itself.. .. however, we just learned over the weekend that he didn't get it. *pouts*. This means our plan of a June (2011) wedding is no longer achievable. He had/has a fall-back job, but with it, he'll be away from home beginning the first week in June, until mid-late August. Actually, he'll be home one night a week to do laundry, but there's no a lot of planning that can be done in that short amount of time.. nor could we squeeze in the wedding in that time, lol. Which brings our plans to August. This actually works out better for us, however, as it 1) gives me more time to plan/DIY 2) gives us time after the wedding to relax before he'd have to go back to work (if we did it in early June, he'd basically have to leave for work right away, not giving us a honeymoon period) and, 3) it's better for my MOH. I've also mentioned this before, but she's moving 1,000s of kms away at the end of the month, and she's not quite sure when she'll be back to visit. That being said, she's also a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding next September, so she's thinking that if we do the August thing, she'll come home for that, and just stay until after her cousin's wedding.. saving her from paying out extra for flights, or what-have-you. *sighs*.. now we just have to firm up things with our venue! Hopefully we'll do that, sometime this week!

{ Comments } - steady decline!

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:18:00 PST

I know I'm definitely not the first one to notice this trend, nor am I the first to blog about it. I know that people sometimes don't have anything to say after reading posts (heck, I don't even comment on every post I read, but I do to about 95% of them). I know that it shouldn't bother me.. but, it does.. even if just an itty-bitty bit. My last post got 3 comments, but over 30 views. What's up with that? Sure, I may not be a big-league WBCer with the DIY-fu skills (à la futuremrsredford, or sarahdarling), but is it really that hard to make a tiny comment? Y'know, a 4-letter word, even.. "Nice.", or "Cool." I think the part that gets to me the most, however, is if a question is asked in a post. If you read in the subject, or subtitle that it's there, and you enter the post.. at least answer it! LOL! I mean, if you don't, then what was the point of opening the post in the first place? Right? I mean, it makes sense to me! Buck up, ladies! Please? Give me a star (*) if you've read this, at least.

{ Just for fun } - a question!

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:41:00 PST

And, a bit of an update? Not a lot has been going on in our world (wedding-wise), lately, but there is a definite possibility of us not only changing our date, but also our colour scheme. You see, I've been thinking a lot about our venue choice (although we haven't 100% decided, we're pretty sure we're going with option #5). It's gorgeous, but it just doesn't match the funky-fun feel of the aqua/red scheme I had hoped for. Don't get me wrong, we could still go with that scheme, but I recently found another inspiration palette (via The Perfect Palette), and it matches the venue so much better. The reception room (note the panelled ceiling, and gorgeous, rustic chandeliers). The new, more rustic colour palette. Along with the colour change, is the date change. We'd only be pushing the wedding back a couple more months (from June, to August), so it's no big deal.. but, it would definitely help with the DIY I want to do! An extra couple of months? During summer break (when my girls would be more able to help with things)? I think, yes! :P I also figure it would be nice to let BIL J, and his fiancée K get married before us, as well. They've been kind of peeved that we were planning to get married before them (despite the fact that we've been planning this since years before they got together), and this way people will be pleasantly surprised by the caliber of our wedding compared to theirs.. LOL! I'm just kidding.. it's not a competition, at all.. but, it would serve them right, for acting like they're friggin' amazing all the time! :P Which brings me to the question part of this post: What are 5 words/phrases to describe your dream wedding? How about 5 that describe your nightmare? Everyone says they want their wedding to be fun, and memorable, but really think about it.. I can some my dream wedding up in one word: Legend - wait for it - DARY! ;]

{ NWR } - favourite TV shows!

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:54:00 PST

It's been just short of 2 weeks since I posted about putting our planning on hold, but I just can't stay away from WBC! That being said, I know some people get really ticked off at (seemingly) pointless posts, but I feel compelled to do this, anyway! LOL! It is my blog, after all. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather be posting about my latest DIY, or a menu tasting we just did, but, unfortunately that'll just have to wait! ** I'm really hoping that we get back on track, come the end of the month, though! *crosses crossables*. ** So, now, the topic of this post: TV shows! What are some of your favorite TV shows? Is there anything off the air that you wish was still on? Personally, FH, and I love forensic/crime shows. 'Dexter' (UNF! Michael C. Hall!), 'CSI', 'Criminal Minds', etc., etc.. On top of that, however, we get a kick out of reality TV. 'Billy The Exterminator' is always good for a chuckle, but we also watch 'Shear Genius', 'Million Dollar Listing', and 'Love It, Or List It', among other things. Haha, he'll hate me for admitting that for him. :P Let's see.. what else do we like? OH! 'House', 'Glee' (okay, that's all me!), 'How I Met Your Mother' (although we're only on season 2.. we learned about it late, and watch the seasons on DVD), 'True Blood', etc. We tend to spend a lot of time just snuggled on the couch, when he's not busy working! We're not really the type to go out a lot, as we don't like asking people to babysit (unless it's for something important, or special). TV shows I wish were still on air: 'Gilmore Girls', 'One Tree Hill' (since it'll be done in a few weeks), 'Boston Public', 'Ally McBeal', 'For Better, Or Worse' (a show on TLC where friends/family planned your wedding for $5,000).. the list goes on!

{ Brownie points } - for venue #5!

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:21:00 PST

Now, don't go gettin all excited for us, or anything.. we still haven't decided on what venue to choose. That being said, however, venue #5 just won some HUGE brownie points from me! This morning we received a call from the coordinator (Melissa), checking in on us. Now, some people may see this as pushy, but I think it shows just how committed to this whole process, she is. She didn't hound us about why we haven't called, or if we're still thinking of using the Inn's services.. she genuinely seemed interested in what was going on for us. Of course, that could just be her, being a good business woman, but never-the-less, I was impressed! As a matter of fact, as B hung up the phone, I exclaimed, "See! THAT'S just another reason WHY I like that place" LOL! Anyway, B let her know about our whole job hunt/wait thing, and Melissa asked if she could contact us again at the end of the month (when B told her he should know his fate by). I really am impressed by her professionalism, though, ladies! She been the only coordinator I've felt completely at ease with through this process (although, one other comes pretty close)! Again, she just seems so genuine, and happy for the couples that go through there.. I really think this is 'the' place for me. :] Hopefully B sides with me on it, too!

{ NWR } - Change in (house) plans?

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:16:00 PST

B has always thrown things out of left-field at me (the proposal being one of them), but this really came out of nowhere! You see, today while we were just chillin', and watching a few cheesy reality shows, he mentions, "So, we're not going to the cottage anymore, this weekend." No big deal (the boat isn't in the water, yet), but it's the next part that really caught my attention--"We're going to go to some open houses, instead!" Uhh, what did he say? Okay, so we've been together almost 9½ years now, and living together for 7½ of them, but we've always rented. We've talked about buying home a billion times before, but it was always in the 'when' sense.. "When we buy a house, we'll.." or, "We'll buy a house when..", etc.. Lately he's been talking about purchasing a lot more frequently, and with more passion (we've even gotten pre-approved for a mortgage!), but I never thought we'd actually go to look at open houses.. especially when we're planning on getting married, next year! I think part of this all has to do with age, and where we're at in life. Like I said, we've been together for 9½ years (in July), but we're not getting any younger.. I'll be 28 in July, and he'll be 31, come November.. not to mention, our DD turns 6 (!!!) in September. We've also been talking about adding another little one to our family, but it's just not possible to do with what room we have, lol.. DD's room is tiny as it is, and with her in school, we think it would be a pain to have a crib in there, going in-and-out for the baby, numerous times a night.. Anyway, that's thinking a bit too far ahead for right now, but we definitely don't want to stay here much longer! This place was supposed to be temporary, anyway, but we've been here for 3 years, now! Our lease is up in September, so we're hoping to move then, if all goes well.. however, a little looking/researching, now, can't hurt, right? ;] Problem is, I've already semi-attached myself to a home that's for sale, now! D'oh! It's by B's parents' new condo, and it's completely renovated, and it's lovely! A bathroom (1 of 2). Bedroom (1 of 3). Deck/backyard. The kitchen! *swoon*. Living room/dining room combo. I wish the pics had better angles, but we're going to see it on Sunday, anyway! WOOOO! I want it! LOL! Oh well, in due time, I guess! I'm just excited..

{ Just for fun } - Your FH's annoying habits!

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:02:00 PST

We usually write on our blogs about how much our FHs mean to us, and how much we love them, but that's no fun! I want to get into the grimy stuff that really grinds your gears.. what are some things that your FH does that just drives you nuts? There are tons of things that B does that drive me mental: 1) He never rinses out dishes when he puts them in the sink. Now, usually this wouldn't be a huge problem, but it's especially bad if we've had a pasta dish, with tomato sauce, and cheese.. y'know, the cheese gets stuck to the bowl, and gets caked on after a while.. blech! At least give it a quick rinse, or something! Same goes for glasses with milk.. it gets caked in the little crannies at the bottom, and my hand doesn't fit in there to get at it! LOL! If you give it a rinse first, then it wouldn't sit on the counter with water in it to release the guck! 2) He leaves his dirty socks laying around. He's usually good about putting things in the hamper, except for his socks. He has the tendency of taking them off in the living room (downstairs) after work, but then I have to take them upstairs for him. Again, not too bad, but after he's been in them for hours (in a hot kitchen, no less), they're extremely smelly, and just gross! Your smell, your socks, your problem! 3) He never refills the sugar. This isn't too bad, these days, since I'm cutting back on my tea/sugar intake, but I really dislike going to make a tea, and there's no sugar left in the bowl. Same goes for the tea bags! 4) He leaves the shower curtain open. This could also be seen as a good thing, since I'm a super scaredy-cat who always thinks there is going to be a murder hiding in the shower (LOL!), but if it's left bunched up, it takes forever to dry! Plus, it gets all musty, and gross. 5) He piddles on the floor! Haha, that sounds worse than it really is. He's toilet trained, but when he *ahem*, shakes it off, he tends to get a little bit on the floor. I hate walking into the bathroom to pee, myself, and stepping in pee! How hard is it to give a quick little wipe? Even DD knows how to wipe the seat if she piddles on it! Sheesh! 6) He never makes the bed. This is probably just a bit of OCD on my part, really. I never used to make my bed, growing up (okay, I straightened it quickly, but never 'made' it), but I do it every morning, now. Just once I'd love it if he could do it! Or offer to help! There are others, but man, I feel better. :] In reality, I'm so lucky to have him as my FH--it makes me emotional sometimes. Seriously, just thinking about how awesome he is, and how happy our life together has made me, can get me going into full on emotional crybaby mode. But, my gosh, can he be a pain in the a$$ too! So, ladies, what about you? What are some small pet peeves about your honey?

{ Ex-girlfriends } - What do you think?

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:05:00 PST

The ex-girlfriend drama (or lack-thereof) is a whole different situation for me. B had only one serious girlfriend before me, and even then, they were only together for about 5 months. On top of that, however, she was, *ahem*.. how do I put this nicely? Uhh, very promiscuous behind his back, so it wasn't a very healthy relationship at all. This is where it gets weird, though.. I now count his ex as an acquaintance. You see, his ex's parents live just around the corner from his parents, and they are quite good friends. So-much-so, that about 5-months into mine, and B's relationship, I spent Easter over at the ex's parents' place, since B's parents were out of town (they sort of took us in, since they didn't want us to be alone, lol). The families are virtually extended family, I guess you could say.. so, over the past 9 years, they've become my family in a way, as well. Is it weird that we'll be inviting his ex to our wedding, though? I mean, we've all moved on, she has been married for about 5 years (to a guy she actually left B for, ha!), she just had their 3rd baby.. but, is the wedding supposed to be a no-ex zone, or something? I guess I should add that even if/when we invite her, she probably won't come. For some weird reason, her husband gives B death glares every time they're around each other (at a Christmas party, etc.), even though B's done nothing wrong. His wife dumped B for him, so there shouldn't be any bad blood at all! Anyway, what do you ladies think? Is inviting exes to the wedding a no-no? Do you know any of your FH's exes? Do you like them?

{ Wedding planning } - screeched to a halt!

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:07:00 PST

After my post the other day (venting about a possible date change), I came to the realization that I was freaking out over nothing. I mean, sure I'd like to get the show on the road, but I'm seriously putting the horse before the cart, here.. That being said, I haven't done any wedding related designing, guestlist foolery, song picking, etc. since. It feels weird, to be completely honest, but it feels surprisingly good! LOL! ** Well, I have done one thing.. I gave my Dad the CD I made him, the other day when he was here for a visit! HE loved it! I don't know if he's listened to it, or not, but he thought the idea was really sweet, as he even teared up a little.. aw! ** Don't get me wrong.. as soon as work related issues get sorted out, and we have a better idea of when this whole she-bang is going down, I'll be jumping right back into over-drive.. but, right now, I just don't see the point in getting frustrated with the wait, is all. I might as well take this time to relax, and enjoy myself before things really get underway, right? Right! I do still find myself looking at a bunch of wedding pr0n, though! I just can't stay away from WBC! Or WeddingBee, or StyleMePretty.. Oh dear, hopefully these issues get sorted out soon! LOL!

{ Vent! } - Possible date change?

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:33:00 PST

Even though B, and I haven't yet nailed down a venue (we actually go view yet another, tomorrow), the idea of possibly having to change our (prospective) date gives me a headache! A bit of background: I actually picked the date of June 18th, 2011 back in 2008, even before he popped the question--I really just wanted a date when anemones would be in season, lol--silly, maybe, but we had been talking about marriage for years (and, we had been together 7+ years at that point).. Anyway.. Since we've gotten engaged, June 18th has always been 'our' date. As it turns out, however, we've totally overlooked a big obstacle in the whole date thing.. a work conflict. You see, B has applied for a huge opportunity to be a chef at a local conference centre in town, here (that will take effect next month). We figured he'd be a shoo-in, as he's worked there in years passed, and has an amazing report with the staff/team there, but we have to be realistic about things--what if he doesn't get the job? If he gets the job, he'll be working Mon.-Fri. 6am-3pm, which would be amazing. However, if he doesn't, he'd be working at the camp his Dad helps run from June-late August.. therefore making our June wedding impossible. A summer camp isn't the type of place you can book time off from, y'know? Okay, so June 18th, 2011 has no special significance to me/us, so it shouldn't be a huge deal if it has to be changed, but having your heart set on something for over a year, and then not being able to have it is sort of hard to take. Would I get over it? Yes. Could I possibly love another date? Sure. But, it just wouldn't be the same. In all honesty, I just want to get things booked, and move on, already! This limbo is what drives me nutty. For now, I'll just have to hold my breath, though. Prayers, and positive thoughts would be greatly appreciated, too. ;]

{ I ? my FH! }

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:37:00 PST

It's true, I do (which , I guess, is a good thing, since I am marrying him, huh?)! LOL! Planning this wedding hasn't been easy, though. For one, I was gung-ho to get things done since the beginning of the new year (after the newness of the Christmas Eve proposal began to wear off), and it took him a bit of extra pushing. Secondly, we've visited 6 venues (with another tour scheduled for Tues. morning), and we seem not even remotley close to choosing where to get married. Third, he bugs me about everything! Okay, so maybe he's not really that bad with bugging me, but he definitely makes fun of my über-planning! Yes, I have the majority of our DIY projects designed, already, and, yes, I've been researching potential vendors like mad, but that's not really a bad thing, is it? I mean, I want to find something I/we really like, for a price that won't put us in debt for years to come! Yesterday, however, Mr. H seemed to have a (small) change in heart towards my planning, though.. You see, BIL J (Mr. H's youngest brother), and his fiancée are planning their wedding for July 2011, and they've booked a hall, and caterer.. but, that's where their planning stops. Mr. H thought it was kind of weird, since J, and FSIL were all about planning/obsessing over plans ever since they got engaged in October. No big deal, or anything, really, but on our way home from Mr. H's parents' last night, Mr. H chimed, "They're gonna get so far behind, I know it--they won't know what hit them. That won't happen to us, though, since you're all 'Ready Freddy'!" LOL! I told him that as cute as I thought that exclamation was, I definitely wasn't 'Ready Freddy'. He just said, "Okay, but at least you have a lot of stuff somewhat figured out.. you're on top of things, for the most-part." *sighs*. It's good he sees how much this really takes! And, I'm so glad he's there for/with me, every step of the way! Sure, it took him a bit to really get into planning, but he has really stepped up! :]

{ NWR: excited! } - Is it Easter, yet?

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:14:00 PST

Mr. H, and I just got home from a lovely morning out. We hit up a sports store so he could get new shoes, we wandered through 'Pier 1' (where he voluntarily smelled candles with me.. and, even pointed out red/aqua votive holders!), we browsed through 'Chapters', where he bought me a bridal mag.. and, then we finally hit up 'Toys 'R' Us'! With Easter around the corner, we wanted to get DD something.. .. and, after spending over $400, we're now proud owners (albeit, a bit behind the times) of a Wii, and Wii Fit Plus console! DD is definitely being spoiled (this is turning out to be more like an early Christmas for her, lol), this year, which we're kind of leery of (we don't want her to think this will happen every year, after all), but it's not all that bad. I mean, she's an amazing kid.. and, it's not like we do this all the time! Plus, if you really think about it, this is more of a family gift. If anything, the Wii Fit Plus was bought for me, in hopes of shedding some lbs before I really get into dress browsing, and down the aisle, next year. We didn't get any extra games, as we felt we were going overboard as it is, but hopefully soon I'll be the proud owner of the 'Biggest Loser' game! If it's anything like Jillian's 30 Day Shred that I've heard so much about, I'm in for a butt-whoopin'! LOL! I think I'm more anxious to see DD's face on Sunday morning, when she finds everything, though! I actually just picked up a gum pack shaped like a Wii controller, so we're going to put that in her Easter basket. I have a feeling she'll get excited seeing it there, but then kind of bum-out that it's only gum.. that's when we'll hit her with the actual console! Haha, I can't wait!

{ GRRR! } - Damn you, shipping charges!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:16:00 PST

Last night I got talking to a friend, and we got onto the topic of linens. Now, I'm 15-months out from our proposed date, so I hadn't really given much thought to them, yet (aside from when Sam brought them up at our latest venue tour/meeting. Anyway, after the ball got rollin', you can only guess where it went.. .. to decor! I'm fairly certain I want black table linens (cotton/polyester, not satin), with white chair covers, and black sashes. Throw in a damask runner.. but, then I get stuck! I want aqua, and red to show up in the decor, somehow, as well! I mean, if we left it at black and white, it would look really modern (and, oh-so pretty, I'm sure), but that's not the entirety of our colour scheme. Which brings me to candles. There's a bylaw in town that states candles are okay, as long as they're contained in holders of some sort (higher than the flame, itself). That's well-and-good, but I picture our reception having an abundance of these suckers (aw, romantic!), and I don't want to shell out a bunch of $! I've been Googling like MAD for red, and aqua votive holders (on the super-cheap), with not much luck. Okay, so I've come across a pretty decent website that sells them as a case of 72 for $36.88 (um, SCORE!), but the shipping charge is outrageous! $40 (without duty/other 'special' charges)? Uhh, thanks, but no, thanks! I haven't been in the dollar store for ages, now, so I'm not sure what kind of stuff they're carrying, but I sure as HECK hope they have something I can use! Do any of you ladies know where to get cheap red and/or aqua votive holders? What about nightmare shipping charges? Have you encountered any? Did you still by the product regardless?

{ Venue tour #6.. } - Is this 'it'?!

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:13:00 PST

Yep, yet another venue tour. I know, I know, we're crazy for wanting to see so many (and, really, the more options we have, the harder it it to choose!), but B really wanted to see this place.. if for nothing other than comparing the price to the first golf course we went to, lol. I have to say, BG&CC (where our very own shesallnat got married!) is impressive. When I first walked up to the door, my first reaction was, "WHOA." It (the whole venue) really is nice, though.. from the first glance, to the ballroom, to the patio.. it's all very fresh, but still very warm. Aside from the look, however, our coordinator Sam was on top of her game! She was a bit frazzled, as the golf course is actually opening (early!) this coming weekend, but she got right down to business as soon as she got her bearings back, haha! She asked us what colour scheme we were thinking of (we'll have to order in specialty linens), what we had thought of for food/bar, etc., etc.. A lot of the other coordinators we've worked with just sort of plugged a few of their best sellers for us, whereas Sam really wanted to know what we wanted. It all boils down to $, now. From the quotes she gave us (host bar, and $2 bar), it seems very comparable to both the first venue, and our other recent venue, which isn't surprising.. Now we just have to view a couple more venues, and finally make our choice.. I can't wait! :] ** Just for fun, what venue do you think is my favourite? Mr. H's? **

{ GTA Brides } - HELP!

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:45:00 PST

** I saved these photos agessss ago, and I can't properly credit. If you recognize any of them, please tell me.** Even before B proposed, I was on the hunt for a photographer. I wanted to find a certain someone whose work I fell in love with, in a price point we could swallow. LOL! ** I don't know what it is about the wedding industry, but everything always seems way too over-priced, right? SHEESH! ** I don't know what's with me, either, to be honest.. I seem to have quite the champagne tastes, heh. I seem to gravitate towards photographers who do a lot of post-production (colour correction, photo filters, vintage-y feel, etc.) to the photos, which of course is more work (and, we all know more work = more $).. It's hard to find the right balance, too. Some people over-edit, and some people who claim to be professionals do amateur work.. .. but, the hardest part to swallow, of course, is the price. Some photographers offer some really great packages, but I'm really, really picky. I figure this is a good thing to be picky about, though, as these photos are going to be the only real lasting memories we'll have of the day, for years to come. Sure, we'll think back to a day for of bliss, but those memories will fade over time, y'know? *sighs*. Beyond that, however, I'm also on the lookout for 2 photographers (who shoot together.. again, more $), as I want the maximum # of photos as possible! Both Mr. H, and I tend to be camera shy, so we don't have a lot of pictures, together.. and, I want this day to make up for it, in a way. We'll be all decked out, during one of the most important days in our lives.. yeah. My must-have list for photography: * 2 shooters * full day (if possible.. as many hours as will fit in our budget, though) * vintage-y/good photo editing.. more edited than not * the fewer travel fees, the better * under $3,000 * and, if possible, with DVD, and album.. just the DVD od high-res photos would do, however I think I've e-mailed 12+ photographers, now, with only one of those really sticking out for me. The biggest problem with this, though, is the fact that she's located 5 hours South of us, so her travel fees will probably be horrendous! I guess we'll have to wait, and see, though. Is it weird that I'm this picky? How many photographers did you 'research' before you found 'the one'? GTA brides, please give me your recommendations! Even if you didn't go with a particular person, just send 'em my way, anyway.. I need to find someone I love, but closer to home!

{ Venue tour #5 } - Yes, ANOTHER! :P

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:06:00 PST

I loved this venue!!! I could leave the post at that, 'cause it pretty much says it all.. but, what fun would that be? So, yeah.. today we went for a tour of another ski resort/conference centre/Inn. Upon arriving, I was a little bit taken aback at the size (much like the second venue we toured, it has multiple buildings/areas, albeit not quite as big), but it definitely gave me a good first impression. As you turn into the 'driveway', you notice a little chapel on the left, and I think I let out an, "Oh, honey.. look at that! There's a chapel on site!" ** Now, we're not having a religious ceremony, nor will we be using said chapel (sad.. it only seats about 60 guests, to our 100+ list), but it's still amazing to think that it's there (in case we change our minds, LOL!). Mr. H is pretty set on the tent, outdoors, though. ** The 'driveway' is pretty long, and is kind of hilly, but we soon found our destination at the main part of the Inn. We met our coordinator (Melissa) inside, and she immediately made me feel at ease. She's a bit on the younger side, like us, and she genuinely sounded enthusiastic for us.. she asked about when Mr. H proposed, she commented on my ring, and she loved DD, lol. I have to say, our daughter is extremely well-behaved, and we're such proud parents, but it's always nice to hear it from someone else how amazing she is. :] Asking to adopt her is a little funny, but it definitely broke the ice! Anyway, this tour was a little different than the others, in the sense that we sat (in the cocktail lounge!), and talked about packages, etc., before we toured. Melissa was very thorough, though, and broke things down for us, which was nice.. it wasn't quite a direct quote in-hand, but at least we know this-and-that is included in the steep price per person rate, rather than tacked on at the end (it makes the $165/person a bit easier to swallow, for sure!). After we had our chat, and a few more laughs, we headed out to see a few different areas.. First was a standard hotel room, followed by the bridal suite, which I completely fell in love with! Not only is it home-y, but it's also very modern (winding staircase to the upstairs loft bedroom, 2-person jacuzzi, and standing shower, very modern sinks, a sitting area with fireplace, etc.).. I could definitely picture me, and the girls getting ready there, the day of! :] After viewing the hotel rooms, we took a short walk across the 'driveway' to the reception area, where the 2 main reception rooms are (as well as a bar/cafe). The first room was nice, but they're in the middle of redecorating, so you couldn't get an overall feel for it. That was okay, though, 'cause the next room was 'it' for me.. chandeliers, separate area for DJ/dancefloor.. After our walk-through, we sat, and talked a bit more (mostly about the changes happening to the area--they're putting in mini-putt, zorbing, and other stuff next spring--and, how Mr. H has connections at the venue, lol), and later, Melissa walked us to the car.. not before sending us off with a CD of about 50 pictures of the venue, though! Score! What I liked most about this place, however, was the fact that if you choose a certain package (the aforementioned $165/person one), linen colours can be changed, instead of the basic white. On top of that, though, it includes: * Ceremony spot - usually the tent would be $500, even on top of a different package * Deluxe hors d'oeuvres for cocktail hour * 5-course dinner (vs. 3-course for the next tier down) * Unlimited wine with dinner (vs. 2 bottles per table) * 4 hour host bar (which other people add on top of food costs, plus room rental, etc.) * Late night coffee/tea/cake cutting/etc. * Chocolate fountain (which we'll be removing from package, and lowering price) * Linens/chair covers - in colour of choice * Candles for table/centrepieces * Bathroom basket for the ladies (which I may take off, as well, and make my own, as previously planned) * Bridal room * Golf for 4 * Brunch for 2 the next morning * Menu tasting for 2 * and, anniversary dinner for the next year .. so, if you think about it, the price tag isn't really that bad, considering. Oh, I should also mention SOCAN fees, bartender fees, gratuities, etc., etc. are included in that price, as well! OMG, love, love, love this place!

{ Venue tour #4! } - A bit better..

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:29:00 PST

Today we had yet another venue tour. I know, I know, we seem to tour a lot of places, but we want to make sure we're getting the best value.. not to mention, the place really has to speak to us, y'know? The wedding will be one of the most important days of our lives, so we're not just going to pick the first place we see, to get it done, and over with (more on that in a second, though *)! I don't know if you can tell by the pics, or not, but this venue is actually a ski lodge. It was a bit weird, going to see it while people are still gunnin' down the slopes, but it wasn't too bad.. the wedding/event coordinator had plenty of pictures to show us, and assured us that they beautify the area after the season ends. :] With that being said, however, this place still didn't jump out at me. It was a bit too country for my overall vision (haha, I sound like my father!), but it's definitely not out of the running by any means! The prices seem pretty competitive, the coordinator was extremely helpful (offering to customize packages, and even coordinating the florist/DJ/etc., if we wanted, just to name a couple things), and the lodge actually has 2 areas for the reception which comes in handy.. For instance, if the 'Alpine Room' (main reception room where the DJ will be) gets too noisy, guests can opt to sit in 'Duffy's Tavern' for a bit. It's right across the hall, and is actually where the bar, itself, is. 'Duffy's' will actually be where guests will mingle for cocktail hour while we get photos taken. * about our venue choice: We've now been to see 4 venues, have another ski lodge tour set up for tomorrow, and still plan on viewing at least another 3-4 venues after that, but our favourite so far has been the first. Go figure! Maybe it was because the coordinator gave us a direct quote right away, but I was telling Mr. H today that it seems the 'freshest'. It looked nice as soon as we drove up, I love(d) how it has the gazebo for the ceremony, the fact that it had the media screens in the reception room, etc., etc.. Not only that, but the palette of the clubhouse, itself, was very neutral, and we could jazz it up no problem.. *sigh*. This is all a lot harder than I was expecting it to be! Thank goodness we still have 15-months left 'til W-Day! ** Totally off-topic, and not very important at all: today marks 3-months since Mr. H proposed! Yay, happy 'engagiversary' to us! :] :P

{ Venue tour #3 } - Uhh, thanks.. but, NO!

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:26:00 PST

Yesterday after we dropped our Munchkin off at school, B, and I headed out to do another venue tour! I was pretty excited, since it's been a while since we toured the last place, but the excitement didn't last long, unfortunately.. To put it mildly, this tour (at a certain golf course) sucked. To start, the girl who handles the bookings/quotes/etc. wasn't even there (strike #1!), so we had an older gentleman (presumably the owner) show us the room. He was very friendly, but definitely wasn't the right person for the job, y'know? He didn't have anything on hand (i.e. a price package, or a book of different setups, etc. that we've seen at other venues). While this wasn't a huge problem (he got/showed us both things before we left), it just showed how unprepared he was for our visit, which sort of left a sour taste in my mouth (strike #2!). I'm not a business woman, or anything, but you'd think if you want the business/profit, you'd be prepared! Oh, and he wasn't even dressed professionally.. ripped jeans, and t-shirt? No, thanks. Anyway, the reception room didn't wow me by any means--for one, it seemed sort of tucked away in the basement, and kind of dark--it was set up for 72 people when we were there, and there was hardly any room for a head table, without the dancefloor even being in there, yet. The worst part of it all, however, was the ceremony site. Basically, there wasn't any room for chairs/seating out on the terrace, and there was really nothing around.. you either set up in front of a little (concrete) staircase, or you face the opposite way, and look at the golf greens.. BOR-RING (strike #3!)! Needless to say, I don't think we'll be going with them, unless their pricing is beyond better than somewhere else (which I already know it won't be). Kind of sad, since the clubhouse itself looks gorgeous from the outside (which could have been great for pictures). Oh well, I guess it's like they always say, "Never judge a book by it's cover!" Thankfully we go tour a ski resort tomorrow morning, followed by another ski resort on Thursday. Hopefully these tours go better!

{ Our father/daughter dance woes.. } - I made a CD!

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:50:00 PST

After I posted on Thursday, my search for the perfect (for us) father/daughter dance went into over-drive. I cross-posted on 5 different bridal/wedding websites I frequent (sad, I know, haha!), in hopes that Id get maximum help, but unfortunately that wasnt the case. Not that I didnt appreciate the responses I got (cause I always do!).. its just that you can only hear, How about blah-blah-blah? so many times, yknow? I was hoping for some fresh ideas. Fast forward to today: Mr. H left at the butt-crack of dawn to do some interviewing (hes helping his Dad gear up for summer.. he runs the kitchen portion of a summer camp), and for some gosh-awful reason, I couldnt seem to sleep in past 8am (on a Sunday? WTF is up with that?! GRRR!). After I got my first tea of the day into me (essential!), I hopped online, and Googled for the umpteenth time.. Im pretty sure I just punched in some generic father daughter wedding songs string, but for some reason, my prayers just happened to be answered! I came across a website that not only had the fresh ideas I was hoping for (SWEET!), but it also the me narrow down my options by categorizing the songs into genres.. goodbye, country! Anyway, after I chose about 20 songs (okay, more like 12-15.. I still slipped some of my favourites on, regardless of how country Pops might think they are), I settled into making our very own father/daughter mix CD! :] I pimped the jewel case, complete with a CD booklet of some of the songs lyrics, a picture of us (as the cover), and even threw in a love note for good measure. It was more work than I thought it would be, but Im definitely very proud of it.. and, Im sure Pops will be, too! Heres how it turned out: The cover (obvs., haha!). The back/track listing.. in our theme, to boot! ;] I wish I had CD stickers to jazz it up a bit more.. oh well! My note, and lyrics to Father and Daughter, by Paul Simon. I plan on making one for MIL H. of mother/son songs, as well.. Mr. H says she'll love it! I can't wait to give it to her! :]