tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37793570377246151612024-03-14T00:08:02.602-05:00Cheap Chic BrideChampaign taste and a beer budget - planning a fabulous wedding on a budget.The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-36165335413507268422011-02-13T11:11:00.000-06:002011-02-13T11:11:32.775-06:00FYI...I just wanted to post a little diddy and let you guys know that the CCB is on Facebook... I am a Facebook (well, social media in general) addict and I follow all of my favorite blogs on Facebook, just to see what little tidbits of information they might offer via FB that is not on the blog. <div><br />
</div><div>If you're interested, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cheap-Chic-Bride/110218519024097">here is the link</a> for FB. The CCB is <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/cheapchicbride">also on Twitter</a>, so if you Tweet, be sweet and follow me. (Sorry, bad joke.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>It's Sunday morning and my mom and I already made a quick trip north for one of our flowergirls to try on her dress (which fit AWESOME btw, a little big, but that is good since she had 6 months to grow.) Can't wait to see our other flower girl in it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>On the agenda for the rest of the day? Clean the house, laundry, pack for my work trip this week, get a workout in (outside hopefully - it's a whopping 40* outside!) and perhaps do a mock-up of our boutonnieres. Maybe I'll also finish glueing the crystals on the unity candle...</div><div><br />
</div><div>What am I going to do with all my time after August 27th? </div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-40936969817880111932011-02-12T23:46:00.000-06:002011-02-12T23:46:10.501-06:00Practically Stealin'The MIAB (Missing in Action Bride) is back! Reason for my long hiatus? Lots of wedding projects of course. :) Lots of updates coming. But I wanted to post a couple of STEALS I have gotten in the past month.<br />
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</div><div>First - the flower girl dresses. I was walking through Target about a month ago when I stopped dead. in. my. tracks. Right in front of me was a rack of beautiful, poofy, little girls dresses in white. I told myself there was no way there was a 2T AND a 5T on the rack, but I calmly walked over to the rack to check it out. Low and behold, there was a dress in each size I needed for the girls, in the color I wanted!!! Best part!?! $20 each!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfAYOPkPZMk/TVdtQUoudCI/AAAAAAAAA7g/qOZse-6z1-w/s1600/Dress+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mfAYOPkPZMk/TVdtQUoudCI/AAAAAAAAA7g/qOZse-6z1-w/s320/Dress+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnJIBfyiFlU/TVduEszSojI/AAAAAAAAA7k/GdnkndGHmFY/s1600/Dress2+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnJIBfyiFlU/TVduEszSojI/AAAAAAAAA7k/GdnkndGHmFY/s320/Dress2+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am having my seamstress add a couple of extra layers of tool for some extra poof - you can never have too much poof before age 6. We are also going to add a Lapis sash to each of them, which are only $10 at David's. Hopefully with the extra tool and sash, the total for each dress should be less than $40, not bad considering the cheapest alternate I had found was $80!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up: my rehearsal dinner dress... Yes, the wedding is still 6 1/2 months away and I have a dress for rehearsal dinner, but wait until you hear this... I had been eyeing this dress at Younkers since right after Christmas, but I just could not justify the $168 price tag. (And I am VERY good at justifying ANYTHING). So I was at Younkers today with my mom, looking for a MOB dress and I wandered over to the clearance rack. The 75% off clearance rack. And I saw my dress. There was only one left on the rack. "It will be a size 12" I told myself as I reached for it. I turned the tag over and... SIZE 6!!! My size!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried it on to be sure, and it fit PERFECTLY. With 75% off, my grand total came to $37 and some change. Yep! $168 to $37. Done deal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iry3ryX4wzA/TVduTAy24JI/AAAAAAAAA7o/VsF6__QdK7o/s1600/DSC_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iry3ryX4wzA/TVduTAy24JI/AAAAAAAAA7o/VsF6__QdK7o/s640/DSC_1348.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This dress also gives me a chance to wear the kick ass purple Jessica Simpson heals that I impulsively bought before I bought my wedding dress and figured out that I am too tall and need to wear flats with my wedding dress. Now I just need to find a really awesome necklace for it... Preferably purple... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My advice: Be patient, check unconventional places for what you're looking for and keep checking back for sales. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-21357839807449530022011-01-16T21:45:00.001-06:002011-01-16T21:47:25.099-06:00DIY: PomandersI've got a lot of work ahead of me in the next 7 1/2 months... Here is my list of DIY:<br />
<ul><li>Pomanders (about 40 to be exact.)</li>
<li>Boutonnieres </li>
<li>Personalized water bottles</li>
<li>Out of town bags/boxes</li>
<li>Centerpieces (30 of them, 3 different styles)</li>
<li>Bathroom baskets</li>
<li>Petals for the flower girls</li>
<li>Guestbook</li>
<li>Signage</li>
<li>Programs/invitations assembly</li>
<li>Aisle runner</li>
<li>Table numbers/escort cards (we are still up in the air as to wether or not we are going to do these.)</li>
<li>Unity candle (almost done... and just realized I forgot to get more crystals at Michael's today...)</li>
<li>Photobooth</li>
<li>Flower girl baskets</li>
</ul><div>Yea, time to get started.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Last weekend, I worked on the unity candle (ran out of crystals at the very end!) I will hopefully be able to check that one off the list by the end of next weekend. I also did a mock up of our pomanders. You read correctly above, we will need approx. 40 pomanders! Here is the breakdown:</div><div><ul><li>20 - 5" pomanders with cream colored roses for the church</li>
<li>8 - 5" pomanders in blue, aqua and teal mums for the entry doors and head-table</li>
<li>10 - 8" pomanders with purple mums for 1/3 of the centerpieces</li>
</ul><div>I started my first attempt with cream, opened roses I picked up at the Dollar Tree and a 6" styrofoam ball. (I originally thought I wanted 6" pomanders, but quickly figured out that the finished product would be too big...) I also started with 2" ribbon, a hot glue gun and floral wire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO0-lbKioI/AAAAAAAAA6U/yRXph8fC8jU/s1600/Pomander1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO0-lbKioI/AAAAAAAAA6U/yRXph8fC8jU/s320/Pomander1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I first started out by making a small loop with the floral wire and by twisting together the ends of a small piece... My original loop was way too big, you honestly only need the loop to be about 1" in diameter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO1zrOJCTI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/6wsVP6JCXao/s1600/pomander2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO1zrOJCTI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/6wsVP6JCXao/s320/pomander2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You do this part at the end, but you will eventually stick your little loop in the mess of flowers and this is what you will loop your ribbon through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO2CWmH8LI/AAAAAAAAA6c/JReV3x77w2k/s1600/pomander3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO2CWmH8LI/AAAAAAAAA6c/JReV3x77w2k/s320/pomander3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Before I stuck the floral-wire loop in, I put a dab of hot glue on the spot I stuck it in at and then added a little more hot glue after it was in to secure.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, I used some kind of weird tool in Bryan's tool box to cut the buds off of the stems... PSA: Don't use scissors to cut anything on the fake flowers - it will ruin them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5JGFjTkI/AAAAAAAAA60/KB5nzS7tmCo/s1600/pomanders4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5JGFjTkI/AAAAAAAAA60/KB5nzS7tmCo/s320/pomanders4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then stuck the flowers in each "pole" of the pomander... Kind of like the north, south, east and west pole. I have seen in other posts on DIY pomanders, people say that they secured with hot glue. I am here to say, this is unnecessary. Just make sure when you cut your buds off, you make your stems about 1" - 2" long. The longer the stem, the more secure it will be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5GW9mCPI/AAAAAAAAA6w/otwpjPb3SDs/s1600/pomander5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5GW9mCPI/AAAAAAAAA6w/otwpjPb3SDs/s320/pomander5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then started filling in the rest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5MmYBSGI/AAAAAAAAA64/VgjImIK7q38/s1600/p6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5MmYBSGI/AAAAAAAAA64/VgjImIK7q38/s320/p6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of our Fur-Babies wanted in on the action too...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO4VMKj2GI/AAAAAAAAA6g/dQytkaNeaTA/s1600/p7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO4VMKj2GI/AAAAAAAAA6g/dQytkaNeaTA/s320/p7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I cut some ribbon... This will need some tweaking - I cut off waaaaayyy too much. I think about 18" will suffice in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5BpiJt4I/AAAAAAAAA6s/BhPGs_jhC_E/s1600/p10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO5BpiJt4I/AAAAAAAAA6s/BhPGs_jhC_E/s320/p10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then used a lighter to singe the edge to prevent it from fraying</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO49t-A3NI/AAAAAAAAA6o/p9bJc0AN-Zo/s1600/p9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO49t-A3NI/AAAAAAAAA6o/p9bJc0AN-Zo/s320/p9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then looped it through the floral-wire loop I had installed by this time and tied it in a tight knot. I then secured the knot to the floral wire with a little more hot glue. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ta-da! Finished product:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO45YM-uPI/AAAAAAAAA6k/vzYBC8wb798/s1600/p8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TTO45YM-uPI/AAAAAAAAA6k/vzYBC8wb798/s320/p8.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This pomander was done on a 6" ball and took about 55 open rose buds from Dollar Tree. As you can see, it turned out HUGE. I am going to downgrade 5" balls in for the real-deal pomanders and hope they take up less flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have on order and am not so patiently waiting on about 500 buds from silkflowerfactory.com. I'll be sure to post on the quality of these little babies once they get in. </div><div><br />
</div></div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-44436322811046306902010-12-26T22:17:00.000-06:002010-12-26T22:17:02.081-06:00DIY: Unity CandleMerry Christmas to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful and not TOO busy holiday weekend! My whole month has been insane, however, after the first of the year, things should slow down - basically because I am going to make them. :) I have a lot of projects that I want to get completed during the cold, dreary mid-west winter and I need to start clearing my schedule for them.<br />
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Which takes me to the start of my first REAL DIY wedding project. (I know I talked about my first DIY project being the wedding binder/bible, but this is the first project that will actually be used for the wedding.)<br />
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The unity candle! Here is my inspiration:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgNSMCeBDI/AAAAAAAAA5w/WkBgA8OIlQo/s1600/Unity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgNSMCeBDI/AAAAAAAAA5w/WkBgA8OIlQo/s1600/Unity.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No idea who Sara and Justin are, but I like what they did with their unity candle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started with our GIANT pillar candle from IKEA and measured out a "template" where a purple backer and our wedding monogram will go (don't mind my mom cooking Christmas dinner in the background or the bowl of chex mix I was munching on...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgOj9DI26I/AAAAAAAAA54/6FDNnOOtgt8/s1600/DSC_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgOj9DI26I/AAAAAAAAA54/6FDNnOOtgt8/s320/DSC_1219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I started measuring out where the crystals will go with a ruler:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgPBCF-okI/AAAAAAAAA58/0tNo5btSuNk/s1600/DSC_1220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgPBCF-okI/AAAAAAAAA58/0tNo5btSuNk/s320/DSC_1220.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To mark where the crystals would go, I made a little divot with a pencil and then went back and made a clearer mark with a Sharpie:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgQNAXHYtI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KxlGBMp2L-4/s1600/DSC_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgQNAXHYtI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KxlGBMp2L-4/s320/DSC_1222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Making the divots first and following with a Sharpie allowed me to adjust the pattern if I needed to. The crystals I purchased are pretty good sized and will have no problem covering the black dots all over the candle. At about this time I figured out that using a cloth measuring strip on a round candle is much easier than a hard ruler:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgQnPGnWLI/AAAAAAAAA6I/fW64PxtGDY0/s1600/DSC_1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TRgQnPGnWLI/AAAAAAAAA6I/fW64PxtGDY0/s320/DSC_1223.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is as far as I got on Christmas. Shortly after this shot, my mom served an awesome meal of prime rib, party potatoes, green bean casserole and roles. Then we all hopped in the car and went and saw the new Foeker's (did I spell that right?) movie - that series is one series of movies that I would probably still go and see even when they're on the 7th installment. Still funny as ever! Hopefully, I will get the candle finished on one of my days off over the next week and I can show you the finished results. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-23950989753729097182010-12-14T21:04:00.002-06:002010-12-14T21:07:00.979-06:00Adorama is AmazingHow was everyone's Tuesday? Isn't business suppose to slow down for most offices during the holidays? Apparently we didn't get that memo because I have been insanely busy since right before Thanksgiving. It is making the holidays come insanely fast! Still have a few more presents to buy yet... :/<br />
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Tonight, after stopping by UPS to pick up a Christmas present for my mom, I raced home because I knew my photobooks I created through Adorama for our engagemnet pictures were waiting for me. After giving both of my fur-babies hugs and kisses for the day, I ripped into the packaging.<br />
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Be still my heart.<br />
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Our. Books. Are. Amazing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgqOKRnopI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/g-5e11CFWK4/s1600/DSC_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgqOKRnopI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/g-5e11CFWK4/s400/DSC_1095.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cover is extremely sturdy and has a nice metallic sheen to it. When I say it is sturdy, I mean it reminds me a of a text book cover - very durable. (Not sure if it would stand up to a puppy and I am hoping we don't find that out...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgq_5E2hYI/AAAAAAAAA5c/Td_tfrD15Qc/s1600/DSC_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgq_5E2hYI/AAAAAAAAA5c/Td_tfrD15Qc/s400/DSC_1096.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The binding is amazing - I love how thick it is and that the cover continues around the back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgrXkyVKTI/AAAAAAAAA5g/Q9u-Q6qUBNE/s1600/DSC_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgrXkyVKTI/AAAAAAAAA5g/Q9u-Q6qUBNE/s400/DSC_1097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pages are nice and thick. Not as thick as a flush-mount book, but definitely more than a glossy paper or even card stock. The finish on the pages is awesome as well - very nice, clean finish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgryuGSc7I/AAAAAAAAA5k/-Y5en0cc0qk/s1600/DSC_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQgryuGSc7I/AAAAAAAAA5k/-Y5en0cc0qk/s400/DSC_1098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite part is the lay flat pages... I HEART full page spreads. I have multiple spreads like these throughout the book. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Adorama software is also extremely easy to figure out and for those who have no layout skills, there are plenty of templates to choose from. Adorama also offers many different options in terms of backgrounds and extra stickers and frames, which will be cute for a baby book... Someday. Maybe a fur-baby book. Hm....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In total, I bought a 10 x 10 album for ourselves and as well as two 6 x 6 books - one for each set of parents. I was a little nervous that the 6 x 6 books were going to be too small for the parents, but they turned out to be the perfect size for them. For all three books and for express two-day shipping (because I am impatient) I paid $129 - not too bad!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So - for those of you who do not know what they're going to do with their engagement or wedding pictures, I HIGHLY recommend Adorama - you will not be disappointed. If you want to view our full album, just <a href="http://www.adoramapix.com/ripkehommerepics/book/engagement-pics/ic5djpum0w">click her</a>e. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-48686081798745868202010-12-10T20:13:00.000-06:002010-12-10T20:13:44.070-06:00Giveaway!CSN stores contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would either like to review a product of theirs or giveaway a gift certificate - I of course wanted to reward my readers with a gift certificate! So - I have a $35 to ANY of CSN's over 200 online stores!<br />
<br />
CSN stores sell everything from <a href="http://www.Luggage.com/">luggage sets</a> to cookware. I don't know about you guys, but I love online shopping - especially for wedding things. There is nothing better than sitting on the couch in your sweats and slippers looking at dresses, jewelry, shoes and honeymoons! CSN stores have a lot of great things for your new house or maybe even for bridesmaids or groomsmen gifts!<br />
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All you need to do to be entered in the giveaway is to leave a comment telling me what topics you want me to cover. More posts about getting married as an interfaith couple in the Catholic church? More DIY? More about what to look for in vendors? You tell me!<br />
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Contest ends a week from today... So ready, set, post!The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-85202879051706271712010-12-10T20:04:00.000-06:002010-12-10T20:04:55.321-06:00I'm Back!So - you can see, I didn't get the blog migrated to WordPress. I tried though. Oh how I tried. I eventually figured out that I like the simplicity of Blogger better and staid put.<br />
<br />
Then life kicked in. After Thanksgiving, I had to travel to this amazing resort in Palm Springs, CA for a work function:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQLIsCx0A1I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/NdtHhxsnLR4/s1600/DSC_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQLIsCx0A1I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/NdtHhxsnLR4/s320/DSC_0798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yea, I know, poor me. I got to leave the mid-west at the end of November and go to a place where waterfalls don't freeze after October. I promise though, it was all work and no play - at least the scenery was nice!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I arrived back, I hosted a fundraiser for a professional non-profit group I am apart of and the next night we brought home this little cutie!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQLKiuhJsRI/AAAAAAAAA5U/bJ0kq6GKUSE/s1600/DSC_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TQLKiuhJsRI/AAAAAAAAA5U/bJ0kq6GKUSE/s320/DSC_1050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yep, we decided our lives were chaotic enough and added a 6 (now 7) week old puppy to our mixture of a 16 month old chocolate lab and 18 month old cat. Her name is Josie and she is my beagle baby and our Christmas present for each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We brought Josie home last Friday, had a wedding on Saturday and recovered from the wedding on Sunday. Then Bryan had to go to Colorado for work for the entire week, leaving me at home with a cold, a tiny puppy, a big puppy who just wants to play with the little puppy and a cat who thinks the puppy is prey. Not to mention that the puppy is like a baby and wakes up multiple times a night and feels a need to make sure everyone else in the house is awake too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a long week three weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To reward you all for your patience, I am going to put up another post right after this with my first giveaway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do any of you guys have furbabies? Do you treat them like kids like I do? I like knowing that I am not the only crazy dog lady out there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-50302007619801386522010-11-22T21:07:00.000-06:002010-11-22T21:07:51.263-06:00Pardon Me for a Minute...Hey, hey! Yea for a short work week!!!<br />
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I hope everyone had a good weekend, I sure did. Lots of rest as I haven't been feeling the best, but I also managed to squeeze in Bryan's birthday dinner as well as some major work on our engagement picture album - which I should hopefully be showing you by the end of the week!<br />
<br />
Since this week is a short week, I am planning on doing some major work on the blog frontier - I'm migrating everything to WordPress! As soon as the link is ready, I will be sure to update you all. In honor of the migration, I am going to have the CCB's very first GIVEAWAY!!! Yep, I love free stuff and I am sure you do too! Should be ready by Sunday at the latest, so stay tuned...<br />
<br />
So, pardon me for a couple of days while I new and improve everything - it will all be worth the wait!The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-72209560262920400522010-11-16T22:06:00.000-06:002010-11-16T22:06:47.855-06:00There Goes My Chance At Queen...<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Did anyone else have a crush on him when they were younger?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONSZTMwlOI/AAAAAAAAA4s/kRC2EOOBTOM/s1600/prince-william-birthday-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONSZTMwlOI/AAAAAAAAA4s/kRC2EOOBTOM/s320/prince-william-birthday-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I did. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Sigh) There goes my chance at queen… Good thing I found my prince a long time ago.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONS5e-essI/AAAAAAAAA4w/XKSYHCH_-sY/s1600/prince-william-5-240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONS5e-essI/AAAAAAAAA4w/XKSYHCH_-sY/s1600/prince-william-5-240.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Good thing I found my prince already. :)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONTgnvV4zI/AAAAAAAAA40/4QDs1P00_xs/s1600/DSC00666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONTgnvV4zI/AAAAAAAAA40/4QDs1P00_xs/s320/DSC00666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is anyone else obsessed with the Royal family? I don’t know why, but they fascinate me… Now that William and Kate have officially announced their engagement, I am even more intrigued!!! Earlier this year I was fixated with the Chelsea Clinton wedding and even got my veil inspiration from her. Now I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dying </i>to see what colors Kate picks, what type of dress she chooses, what their first song will be - knowing everything they do will be gorgeous and classic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You gotta respect this chick </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONUsNSQygI/AAAAAAAAA44/UjC7Pu3m7jM/s1600/alg_middleton_pf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TONUsNSQygI/AAAAAAAAA44/UjC7Pu3m7jM/s320/alg_middleton_pf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">– she waited <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eight years</i> for a ring!!! I was getting antsy at the one year mark! (Patience is not a word that is commonly associated with me.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On another coincidental note, my parents got married the same year as Diana and Charles. Now Bryan and I will get married the same year as Kate and William… Not sure that actually means anything expect that I should find a hobby other than stalking celebrities online. </div><!--EndFragment-->The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-906688544327901332010-11-11T12:32:00.001-06:002010-11-11T12:33:13.298-06:009.5 Months to Go...<div class="MsoNormal">Is this week going fast for anyone else? Loving it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Does anyone else use TheKnot.com’s checklist to make sure you’re on schedule to have a fabulous wedding? I actually spent a lot of time researching digital checklists and theirs is by far the most comprehensive. I actually do not find TheKnot.com that helpful, aside from the checklist of course. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNw2jVVyWjI/AAAAAAAAA4U/XB3YerMqaUc/s1600/TheKnot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNw2jVVyWjI/AAAAAAAAA4U/XB3YerMqaUc/s400/TheKnot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have printed myself two copies of the checklist – one for work so I can mull over it during lunch about once a week and one for the wedding bible. While I was looking it over, I discovered that as of Thanksgiving weekend, we will be in the 6 - 8 month bracket! Yikes! I feel like after Christmas, time is going to fly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Luckily for me, I have roughly half of the 6 -8 month tasks completed already – yea for being an over-achiever! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But this is what I do not have done yet:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Get deposit to our florists – we do have a florist picked out though.</li>
<li>Get an idea of ceremony musicians and the type of music we want played… NO clue on this one. I was hoping to have someone that we know do the music, but I didn’t realize all of our friends and family are musically challenged… So this one could be difficult.</li>
<li>Block hotel rooms for guests – this one is half done, I have rooms at one hotel, but need to block a few more at another.</li>
<li>Fill out your wedding registry – we’ll do this closer to 6 months I think…</li>
<li>Order and send out save-the-dates… Need to do a lot of work on this one because I am doing them myself, but I have a great idea for it!</li>
<li>Book ceremony musicians – probably around 6 months.</li>
<li>Start planning rehearsal dinner… We have an idea of what we want to do, but nothing definite yet.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Finalize invitation wording… The wording of the actual invitation is done, but the cards associated with them are not…</li>
<li>Order wedding invitations and announcements – will do this around the 6 month mark.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Not too terrible of a list – what about you guys? Do you have lots to do for where you are at in your planning or are you way ahead of the game? </div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-46221878472593675922010-11-09T12:00:00.000-06:002010-11-09T12:00:01.765-06:00You Know You Want to See More...... WE'VE BEEN BLOGGED!!!<br />
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Sorry, couldn't contain myself any longer. Our photographers emailed me last week and told me they had chosen OUR engagement pictures to put on their blog!<br />
<br />
I have a dirty little secret: I've always wanted to be blogged about. Not me blogging about my life, someone else thinking that my life is worth blogging about.<br />
<br />
So you can imagine how excited I was when I found out we were going to be featured on their blog... I was even more excited when I figured out this would give me readers a chance to view ALL of our E-pics without my painfully uploading each high-res file.<br />
<br />
Here is <a href="http://ninaceciliacreativespark.com/blog/2010/11/bryan-and-katie-mt-vernon-ia/">the link</a> to their blog.<br />
<br />
And one more picture for you. (The last one, I promise.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNiuN-mpDBI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/DHYAqMbcNbc/s1600/IMG_0470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNiuN-mpDBI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/DHYAqMbcNbc/s320/IMG_0470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-28284546047212715062010-11-08T20:02:00.000-06:002010-11-08T20:02:24.385-06:00My Good Deed for the Day<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I must say, this Monday was easier than other Mondays have been as of late. I think the extra hour of sleep Saturday night combined with the fact that the sun was actually half way up when my alarm went off was a huge help. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today I was at Target buying a baby gift for my matron of honor (she’s due in about 6 weeks!!!) I was browsing the baby gift wrap and this lady randomly came up to me and asked if I knew if there was a wedding section. (No, I was not wearing a red shirt OR khakis.) As she started to walk away she mumbled something about unity candle. I asked her if she had tried Michaels or Hobby Lobby, she said she had and that she didn’t like any of their stuff. We started chatting and I said that I was planning on making mine. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was intrigued. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I told her I got a pillar candle and two candlesticks and the holders from Ikea like these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNirbFcN_oI/AAAAAAAAA4M/dLZV1BjjItE/s1600/Ikea+Candle+Holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNirbFcN_oI/AAAAAAAAA4M/dLZV1BjjItE/s1600/Ikea+Candle+Holder.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNirYczbCNI/AAAAAAAAA4I/-7pWdNnj4uc/s1600/Ikea+Candlestick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNirYczbCNI/AAAAAAAAA4I/-7pWdNnj4uc/s1600/Ikea+Candlestick.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mind you, I know I am going to decorate these myself, but at this point in my day, I was not exactly sure HOW I was going to decorate them. I rattled off some ideas that she could do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think this lady fell in love with me in the three minutes I was talking to her. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I told her some of the other things I was planning and she looked totally amazed. I mean honestly, doesn’t every bride make most of their stuff?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I felt pretty good about myself after that. Hopefully I helped her see that you don’t have to buy everything out of the box. I love when I go to weddings and you can just TELL how much time the bride and groom (…mostly the bride…) has spent on all the details. You can really see their personalities come through. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Help give me some more ideas, what are you doing to help bring your personalities into your wedding and reception? </div><!--EndFragment-->The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-7711501902471718192010-11-03T19:50:00.001-05:002010-11-03T19:52:57.575-05:00Cakeballs...Mmm...As you read in a previous post about our <a href="http://cheapchicbride.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-found-our-cake-topper.html">cake topper</a>, we have been planning on doing a dessert bar for our wedding in lieu of a giant cake. My reasons for this is I wanted to be different (or difficult as some associated with the planning process may say) but I also just feel like people don’t really eat cake anymore at wedding receptions. I know I rarely do. But if they have something cool like cookies or cheesecake, I’m all over it!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, it was settled. We would do a dessert bar and our mom’s friends were going to help bake the goodies to help save on costs… Until reality set in. I started thinking about how difficult it was going to be to coordinate 9 different people baking, getting it all arranged nicely and keeping it fresh. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then I discovered <a href="http://www.bite-sizedbakery.com/">The Bite-Sized Bakery</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNICpNQ8lVI/AAAAAAAAA30/YIXZUHC6sFg/s1600/BB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNICpNQ8lVI/AAAAAAAAA30/YIXZUHC6sFg/s320/BB1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> And my world was complete. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIC_te788I/AAAAAAAAA34/-dbtCcs8txk/s1600/bb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIC_te788I/AAAAAAAAA34/-dbtCcs8txk/s200/bb2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These amazing ladies have started a bakery for just cakeballs! Don’t know what cakeballs are? Let me tell you. To make cakeballs you bake a cake, then take the cake and crumble it into a bowl. Mix the cake with some sort of filling like cream cheese, make into balls, dip in almond bark and enjoy! (Check out Bakerella to see some fantastic cakeballs.) <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIDMMBYDJI/AAAAAAAAA38/f3Oe_5SEwbc/s1600/bb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIDMMBYDJI/AAAAAAAAA38/f3Oe_5SEwbc/s320/bb4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We met up with one of the gals from Bite Sized Bakery last Sunday to sample a few of these treats, and we were not disappointed. We sampled chocolate raspberry, peanut butter chocolate, lemon, birthday cake, chocolate and spice cake. The ladies kept telling us that we would only need to figure two/person and I was a bit skeptical of that number. I looked at the size of them and was thinking “I could dominate 15 of these EASILY!” Wow, was I wrong. These little babies are dense and filling, if I were attending a wedding, I would probably just stop at one. (I am usually too distracted by cocktails to bother with dessert though…)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIDTM9InKI/AAAAAAAAA4A/V2sVugDWgcE/s1600/bb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNIDTM9InKI/AAAAAAAAA4A/V2sVugDWgcE/s320/bb3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The gal we met with had some awesome ideas for set up and they will be coming by the reception hall the day of the big shin-dig to set it all up for us. No dessert-related stress for this girl!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So tell me – what are you guys doing for dessert? A big ol’ cake? Cheesecake? Candy bar? </div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-10343822494703544482010-11-02T19:57:00.000-05:002010-11-02T19:57:08.770-05:00The Rest of the E-PicsThe wait is over! Our photographers emailed us a link today with the rest of our engagement pictures - TOTALLY worth the wait. Here are a few of my favs. :) Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCvaqFdhjI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/lFrcx0LNtLc/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCvaqFdhjI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/lFrcx0LNtLc/s320/IMG_0235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCvxJIlS9I/AAAAAAAAA3U/6N7hYO-pEvo/s1600/IMG_0263bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCvxJIlS9I/AAAAAAAAA3U/6N7hYO-pEvo/s320/IMG_0263bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCwSSYBigI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/m01Eypw3cVE/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCwSSYBigI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/m01Eypw3cVE/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCyVeKz3PI/AAAAAAAAA3c/jwse9paz2_0/s1600/IMG_0622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCyVeKz3PI/AAAAAAAAA3c/jwse9paz2_0/s320/IMG_0622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCy7LnTLII/AAAAAAAAA3g/iSP3RoQSfuc/s1600/IMG_0681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCy7LnTLII/AAAAAAAAA3g/iSP3RoQSfuc/s320/IMG_0681.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCzT-I-thI/AAAAAAAAA3k/UJBGFvSa6dY/s1600/IMG_9446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TNCzT-I-thI/AAAAAAAAA3k/UJBGFvSa6dY/s320/IMG_9446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-54839127667650108672010-10-25T21:52:00.000-05:002010-10-25T21:52:11.402-05:00E-Pics Photobook<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">When we were getting ready for our engagement pictures, I started thinking about what I wanted to do with the pictures when we got them. Our current house is not the biggest house and therefore we do not have a ton of wall space to work with as well as limited table space on which we could set our engagement pictures. I am also not a big fan of pictures in bedrooms because I once read that you are not supposed to put pictures in bed rooms because it counteracts the “calming” effect of the room… I am not sure how calming a room with laundry thrown everywhere can be, but for some reason, that tidbit has stuck with me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the thought of a photobook came to mind. I have a couple of friends who frequently put together photobooks for events that happen throughout the year. One uses a service called Blurb and another uses Snapfish. I looked into both of these services and was going back and forth between the two when I came across <a href="http://ht.ly/2YWU6">this post</a> on Wedding Bee today. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After reading that, I looked at <a href="http://www.adoramapix.com/home">Adorama</a>. I clicked around their website a little and discovered that uploading and placing the pictures was a breeze. I also liked the layouts they had available as well as the fact that you can very easily create your own. Adorama is a bit pricier than say Snapfish, but I am hoping this translates into better quality. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, as soon as our engagement picture proofs come in, you can tell what my next project will be! BTW – yes, I have been running to the mailbox every day to see if they’ve arrived. It’s worse than when you were a little kid expecting birthday cards!!! </div><!--EndFragment-->The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-68167211695068502802010-10-22T17:45:00.000-05:002010-10-22T17:45:49.032-05:00It's HERE!!!!My dress that is! It came in on Wednesday and was delivered to my parent's house. I of course rushed right home from work, straight over to their house to try it on. I was so nervous it wouldn't fit! When the measured me at the bridal shop, I measured a 4 in the bust, a 4 in the waist and an 8 in the hips (yes, I am shaped like a boy!) The dress lady tried talking me into a 4, but I wear a 6 in pants, so I knew there was no way. I ended up getting a 6 and then started second guessing myself, thinking that I should have ordered an 8 since that was the biggest I measured... Luckily it fit!!!<br />
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The length is also good, I won't be able to wear very high heels since I am already 5'9", which is somewhat of a bummer because I actually already bought some purple high heels that I will now have to sell since the 30 days is up. (DANG!) So, if you find any 2" purple heels, throw them my way please!<br />
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The only other thing that needs to be done is a bustle and change the neckline from straight to a definite sweetheart.<br />
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Oh, and can I just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my dress even more now that I have MINE!<br />
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Now the search for shoes, veil, and jewelry begins... Suggestions welcome!The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-26514555348963263932010-10-13T22:31:00.002-05:002010-10-13T22:33:45.658-05:00I Found Our Cake TopperOK, quick back story. We are having a mother-mandated cake. We are actually having a dessert bar in lieu of cake because I am not a huge cake person, but I love me some pie, cheesecake, rice krispie treats, brownies, cookies... Oh yes, ESPECIALLY cookies!!!<br />
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My mom was OK with the dessert bar thing, but she <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>insisted</b></span></i> there be a cake. By insisted, I mean had a mini-freak-out. (Love you mom!) So as a compromise, we are having the dessert bar with a small, simple cake like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TLZ5YoK6FoI/AAAAAAAAA3I/yZrb1p_FEcE/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TLZ5YoK6FoI/AAAAAAAAA3I/yZrb1p_FEcE/s320/cake.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Without the roses on top and maybe purple ribbon.</div><br />
Once it was decided we were having a cake, had to find the topper.<br />
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More back story. Bryan, my wonderful fiance, is a gamer. I am not talking a PlayStation 3 gamer (although, we do have one of those), <i>I</i><i> am talking World of Warcraft via the computer gamer</i>. Oh yes, I see those looks of pity on your face - I get it all the time.<br />
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(In his defense, he is pretty good about it, but it's his thing! The way I look at it, he could be at the bar or out with his buddies shooting at things (we live in Iowa, it's what boys do), but instead, he is at home, in the recliner next to me, playing his game. Could be worse.)<br />
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Plus, it gives me an excuse to buy this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TLZ4EGa5ebI/AAAAAAAAA3E/Cw0D2XgV-e8/s1600/il_430xN.179735391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TLZ4EGa5ebI/AAAAAAAAA3E/Cw0D2XgV-e8/s320/il_430xN.179735391.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yes, its going on top of our cake. You can customize the hair color, the type of pop (or beer) cans laying around AND the game on the screen. It is perfect. I found this from Etsy seller <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/awesometoppers">AwesomeToppers</a> for $70... More than I had wanted to spend, but Bryan was genuinely excited about it, which is rare when it comes to wedding decor related topics, so it's a go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are you guys doing for your cake and/or toppers? </div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-59932861537902435562010-10-07T22:16:00.000-05:002010-10-07T22:16:29.044-05:00StandstillI know, I know, it's been awhile! So sorry. I feel as though I am at a bit of a standstill right now with the wedding plans. We have a little under 11 months to go and according to all the checklists out there, I am about three to four months ahead of the game. :)<br />
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So, to make it feel like I am doing SOMETHING, Bryan and I had dinner with my parents tonight and discussed what is next with the wedding plans. I feel a more motivated to stay ahead of the curve ball again and <i>should</i> have some interesting posts coming up in the next week or so. :)<br />
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In other news, it's been a couple of weeks since I posted a Workout Wednesday. I will make sure to post one this week, incase any of you actually read them. :)The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-89556622214185098162010-09-27T20:32:00.001-05:002010-09-27T20:33:00.930-05:00E-Pics Sneak PeakOur engagement pictures were a week ago today and our photographer posted a few shots for us right away - you know, just to drive me completely mad for the next three weeks until we get the CD with all of them on there!!! :)<br />
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I could not be happier with how the pictures turned out - it is EXACTLY what I was looking for! Bryan, being the good fiance that he is, was looking for the exact same thing that I was looking for in the engagement pictures... Actually, he was just happy I told him NOT to tuck in his shirt.<br />
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Without further delay - here they are!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFLfP4zGI/AAAAAAAAA20/JzNjwozs0ys/s1600/62775_659881121163_38201485_37664318_1957802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFLfP4zGI/AAAAAAAAA20/JzNjwozs0ys/s320/62775_659881121163_38201485_37664318_1957802_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFNJxh1wI/AAAAAAAAA24/eEIBT4Lo9aw/s1600/62775_659881126153_38201485_37664319_4023630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFNJxh1wI/AAAAAAAAA24/eEIBT4Lo9aw/s320/62775_659881126153_38201485_37664319_4023630_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFZAJMQ_I/AAAAAAAAA28/JNJTzPlMG00/s1600/62775_659881131143_38201485_37664320_6254650_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFZAJMQ_I/AAAAAAAAA28/JNJTzPlMG00/s320/62775_659881131143_38201485_37664320_6254650_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFZ7dUqSI/AAAAAAAAA3A/npgUCvJ0HWc/s1600/62958_659881096213_38201485_37664317_361174_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TKFFZ7dUqSI/AAAAAAAAA3A/npgUCvJ0HWc/s320/62958_659881096213_38201485_37664317_361174_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-80639977369192364842010-09-16T12:00:00.000-05:002010-09-15T21:37:58.640-05:00E-Session OutfitsPhotography is on my mind lately! Our engagement pics are set to take place on Sunday, keeping my fingers triple-crossed that it does not rain. I've had our outfits bought and stowed away for a little over a month now and I am SO excited about them! We are not dressy people - in fact, we can wear jeans every day of the week to work - so I think our outfits are pretty normal/natural for us, but still look nice.<br />
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I personally have two outfits and one pair of FABULOUS shoes. I like clothes. :) Bryan's technically has one outfit - a button down shirt with a nice t-shirt under it - so, for some of the pictures he will wear his button down and for some he won't, so he's not <i>technically</i> changing. (I had a hard enough time convincing him that we really did need a 2 hour photography session, getting him to completely change outfits was a battle I did not chose to pick.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">First, anchor of both my outfits - the shoes! Love, love, love them!!! Living in a small town (I mean, less than 5,000 people) I feel I can pull these off no problem.</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGByWHdxfI/AAAAAAAAA2s/hqujRWEyuT4/s1600/DSC01021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGByWHdxfI/AAAAAAAAA2s/hqujRWEyuT4/s320/DSC01021.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My fabulous shoes will be paired with this dress</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_uazlplI/AAAAAAAAA10/1F26WfOEs7U/s1600/DSC01015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_uazlplI/AAAAAAAAA10/1F26WfOEs7U/s320/DSC01015.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">with this AWESOME jacket</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_6W-VV7I/AAAAAAAAA18/vXyOT9T6vrA/s1600/DSC01016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_6W-VV7I/AAAAAAAAA18/vXyOT9T6vrA/s320/DSC01016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My next outfit will consist of the boots and this shirt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAG_I0qsI/AAAAAAAAA2E/UaaJX8lsJ0s/s1600/DSC01018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAG_I0qsI/AAAAAAAAA2E/UaaJX8lsJ0s/s320/DSC01018.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and this little number</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_h7hegiI/AAAAAAAAA1s/8Tc9RZ6-UWM/s1600/DSC01014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF_h7hegiI/AAAAAAAAA1s/8Tc9RZ6-UWM/s320/DSC01014.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bryan will be wearing jeans (didn't feel the need to photograph those) with this shirt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAfCU94QI/AAAAAAAAA2U/LcLyHFUS7Ck/s1600/DSC01019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAfCU94QI/AAAAAAAAA2U/LcLyHFUS7Ck/s320/DSC01019.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">over this shirt</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAQRKmrJI/AAAAAAAAA2M/Yj9RHm9vIb4/s1600/DSC01020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJGAQRKmrJI/AAAAAAAAA2M/Yj9RHm9vIb4/s320/DSC01020.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So excited for the combinations and to show you guys the sneak peaks!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-28525718985048931282010-09-15T21:10:00.000-05:002010-09-15T21:10:38.711-05:00Nina.Cecilia - Creative SparkI love pictures. I love candid pictures, professional pictures, pictures of babies and pictures of old people. I ESPECIALLY love wedding related pictures. Before we got engaged I spent MONTHS pouring over the websites over local photographers, trying to find just one that met my style.<br />
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A little over a year ago, I saw that a couple of girls, twin sisters in fact, that I had hung out with for a short stint early on in my college career had started a photography business. (Via Facebook of course.) I became of fan of their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ninaceciliacreativespark">Facebook page</a> - Nina.Cecilia - Creative Spark and Fell. In. Love. They're photographs are amazing and just my style. Their pictures are not overly posed, very natural and capture the true emotion of the subjects. Their editing skills are also amazing - they're incredibly creative and talented!<br />
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I knew I had to have them as our photographers.<br />
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Around the time that I knew we would be getting engaged, I emailed Nina and asked for a menu of services. It must have been a good omen because we were engaged about a week and a half later! I immediately booked them the next day. <br />
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Since they had been around for less than a year when I booked them, it was a bit of a leap of faith as they had only done a couple of weddings at that point. However, this summer they have had quite a few and with each wedding they post on their Facebook page and <a href="http://ninaceciliacreativespark.com/blog/">blog</a>, I get more and more excited! Our pictures are going to be amazing and I really can not wait.<br />
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Here is a sampling of a few engagement pictures and wedding pictures they have done so far - AMAZING!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7gPcMgMI/AAAAAAAAA0s/j_Sp1DJDfJM/s1600/34061_408333743761_100446473761_4208414_4195424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7gPcMgMI/AAAAAAAAA0s/j_Sp1DJDfJM/s320/34061_408333743761_100446473761_4208414_4195424_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7nO9Hf5I/AAAAAAAAA00/ryHY5GP55W4/s1600/36745_408758003761_100446473761_4220569_5220865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7nO9Hf5I/AAAAAAAAA00/ryHY5GP55W4/s320/36745_408758003761_100446473761_4220569_5220865_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7_Dfq2yI/AAAAAAAAA1k/rygxN-aEZFI/s1600/45598_429592753761_100446473761_4718178_5119134_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TJF7_Dfq2yI/AAAAAAAAA1k/rygxN-aEZFI/s320/45598_429592753761_100446473761_4718178_5119134_n.jpg" /></a></div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-48500719920784832522010-09-08T18:46:00.002-05:002010-09-08T18:48:08.396-05:00Wedding Workout Wednesday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Whoo-hoo! The fiancé is on a business trip, I am SO going out!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">HA!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yeah right.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am actually sitting here eating Mac & Cheese and watching my dog sleep. My how times have changed… <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, it’s Wednesday, which means I need to recap the workouts I have done this week… Or lack there of! I have had a severe motivational problem this week. Here is what my schedule looked like:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><ul><li><b>Thursday</b>: Items from my Pampered Chef party arrived, my exercise consisted of ripping open boxes and kicking myself for not getting that set of measuring cups.</li>
<li><b>Friday</b>: Day off from work, ran/walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes (about 25 minutes of running, 5 of walking.) Lifted free weights.</li>
<li><b>Saturday</b>: Iowa Hawkeye Football home opener!!! Does walking around tailgating while drinking a beer count? Maybe. In my book it does.</li>
<li><b>Sunday</b>: Too tired from Saturday to do much, sat on the couch a lot.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b>Monday</b>: Had intentions of working out… Then decided I needed to clean the house and get groceries instead.</li>
<li><b>Tuesday</b>: Attempted to run on the treadmill, lasted 10 minutes. Did another 10 on the elliptical and then lifted free weights.</li>
<li><b>Today</b>: Have an appointment with the florist right after work, won’t get a workout in.</li>
</ul>My past few weeks have gone like this, so I finally did something about my motivational level (which is usually about ZERO) – I joined a gym with classes!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Upside (s)</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>I like being told what to do and when to do it when working out, I do not like motivating myself. This gym will help that problem.</li>
<li>It is close to work, so there is less time from the time I leave work until when I get home to talk myself out of working out.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Downside</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Its 20 – 25 minutes from my house (I said it’s close to work) – this means workouts REALLY have to happen during the week.</li>
</ul>I’ve tried becoming a morning person before and have failed miserably at it each time, but now I just might have to… Stay tuned to see how my first week at the new gym goes!The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-89640878805945811522010-09-05T20:14:00.000-05:002010-09-05T20:14:36.486-05:00The Main DishAh, wedding food. We've all been to the weddings where the food has been less than stellar and perhaps even swung by a McDonalds after leaving the reception because you were still hungry. Bryan and I wanted the food at our reception to be a reflection of who we are. We are not chicken marsala people, nor are we veal people. We really like steak and salmon, however, that does not fit within our budget. We are pizza people, and roasting hot dogs and hamburgers over an open fire people and down-home, comfort food people.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TIRAMB_zHHI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/jot9DUjRMe0/s1600/Pulled+Pork.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TIRAMB_zHHI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/jot9DUjRMe0/s200/Pulled+Pork.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Picture from www.mccormick.com - not where the recipe is from.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The part that sold us on our reception location is the fact that we can bring our own food and alcohol - MAJOR money saver there. Bryan's uncle has an amazing recipe for pulled pork. Being born and raised in the heart of pork country, pulled pork is a favorite meal of both of ours and it is a good reflection of who we are - simple but delicious. So, his uncle has agreed to make enough pulled pork for 320 people and it will only cost $1 to $2 per person! This of course does not include buns, but still a fabulous price.<br />
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Our goal for food is to keep it around $5/person - not including dessert of course. With the price of the pork and using an up and coming caterer for the side dishes (more on that later) I think this may be an achievable goal. If we maxed out the capacity of the reception location at 320 people, this would be around $1600 on food - not too shabby!<br />
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Now that we have the main dish decided on, I will be working with a caterer for our side dishes - more on that in the coming weeks!The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-20857291230582132352010-08-31T21:45:00.000-05:002010-08-31T21:45:38.075-05:00Wedding Workout Wednesday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The other day I was on the dreaded treadmill and it occurred to me that workouts are probably a hot-topic for other brides. As you know, I have already purchased my dress, over a year in advance, which means I need to stay the same size for at least 360 more days. My friends and family reading this already think I am crazy for worrying about this, I have maintained the same weight for the past 3 years and a few would probably tell you that I should gain some weight. (Woe is me, I know.) I am a pretty superstitious person though and I have this deep fear that I will gain 20 pounds now that there is a reason for me to really keep the weight off.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let me back up, I am currently 5'9" and weight about 128 pounds. I know, most girls would kill for this, but I have not always been like this. When I graduated college, I tipped the scales at 164 pounds - on a good day. It was a combination of little exercise, a bartender's schedule, a diet of whatever I could find, when I could find it and a lot beer that got me to that weight. Once I graduated college, I worked HARD for a year and a half to get all that weight off, plus some. I'm talking 5+ days in the gym for 90 minutes at a time and Weight Watchers to get my cravings under control.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Me at my heaviest</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TH26nEJl6zI/AAAAAAAAA0A/OEWlkqSMb9c/s1600/bigpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TH26nEJl6zI/AAAAAAAAA0A/OEWlkqSMb9c/s320/bigpic.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Me now:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TH27NznqmAI/AAAAAAAAA0I/yHktTnGC_ZY/s1600/DSC_0879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/TH27NznqmAI/AAAAAAAAA0I/yHktTnGC_ZY/s320/DSC_0879.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Was it easy losing almost 40 pounds? Absolutely not. Am I one of those girls who *claim* to "love" going to the gym and all that jazz? Yeah right. I'll be honest, working out is not my favorite things. There are even days that I HATE the gym. I've tried every workout imaginable, still haven't found that that I just can't wait to do everyday. Most days I get home from work and I literally have to force myself to put my running shoes on. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My favorite part of working out? Being done. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This brings my to my new blogging category: Wedding Workout Wednesdays! Each week I will share with you what I have (or haven't done) in the form of physical activity. Maybe even share some good-for-you recipes that I may stumble upon... You'll probably hear more about how I have to have a cookie after lunch AND dinner. (This is why I have to keep myself in the gym.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since this post is long enough already, I'll create a new one for this week's Wedding Workouts.</span></div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3779357037724615161.post-26080174371253072322010-08-24T07:29:00.000-05:002010-08-24T07:29:00.194-05:00Invitations: Couture InvitationsI am currently scouring the internet trying to find the perfect invitations for our wedding. I know we are a ways a way from even thinking about ordering invitations, but it's never too early to start looking. This afternoon while I was watching One Tree Hill re-runs and surfing the internet, I came across <a href="http://www.couture-invitations.com/">Couture Invitations.</a> I love some of the ideas the designer has - especially some of the belly-band ideas like this<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/THGX8luJ4QI/AAAAAAAAAzo/W1zsS1v8_3Q/s1600/CoutureInvites1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/THGX8luJ4QI/AAAAAAAAAzo/W1zsS1v8_3Q/s320/CoutureInvites1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/THGYAC3BVRI/AAAAAAAAAzw/Pl0d5IEtbIw/s1600/CoutureInvites2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jcVe304XXk0/THGYAC3BVRI/AAAAAAAAAzw/Pl0d5IEtbIw/s320/CoutureInvites2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Plus - the designer is an Iowa girl - double score. :) For all the brides out there looking for invitations, be sure to check out their <a href="http://www.couture-invitations.com/">website</a>.</div>The CCBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16009458724407808720noreply@blogger.com2