First RVSP card back home!

Actually, 2 came back! We just send those puppies out on Thursday, and they're already coming back! Unreal! :) Anyway, I've been having a really bad couple of days, and the first RSVP I opened made my day. At the bottom, the lady wrote out, "P.S. LOVED your invitation!" All that hard work has been paid off...that really meant a lot to me. :) *gushing*

Finally took a pic of the GM and usher gifts!

Yes, yes...I know I'm SUPER late getting this up. These were all wrapped and boxed individually and we'd hid them from the cats, since they're in a large bag. We know the cats would have had a hay-day in that bag. So anyway, here they are! I had a difficult time getting a decent pic, but they're engraved with their initials. The shot glasses are for the ushers. I also got flip-flops for the girls, but I didn't feel a burning desire to drag those out and have them pose for a pic. :) So, all we have left for gifts is....the jr.'s and our parents. Whew. Getting there! :)

We finally got my band! :)

So, funny story (not really)....I get a phone call at work from an unknown number. I listened to the voicemail and it was the jewelry store, stating that if we paid off my ring today, we would get a bag of goodies, some of which included "very nice jewelry." I called Jim up, and asked him what he thought. He figured what the hell, and went for it. Well, turns out the goody bag was a faux jewel of some sort, an empty NFL watch sachet, and a Hershey's cookbook, which we can't use since we're doing P90X. hahaha Ah well. At least we have my band! It actually lines up so perfectly with my diamonds on my e-ring!

Here they are together! I will be getting them soldered and engraved...and sized. :( Hopefully soldering them will make a huge difference We will see! 

We've had his band for a while, but I never took a pic of it! :) He's really picky, but this one fits him perfectly (personality-wise and size). It is titanium...that's about all I know. :)

Here they are all together. I'm not much of a jewelry person, but damn...I love these! :D <3

So far this week....

~Paid off ceremony site

~Finished guest list

~Stamped, numbered, stuffed, sealed, and MAILED invitations!!!!

~Bought flowers for bouts and bouquets

~Printed the page that needed fixed for coloring books

~Got cake topper and more flower petals for decor

~Got flip flops for girls

~Got gifts for ushers and groomsmen

~Got flutes

~Got lists for both showers and bach party

~Bought thank you cards for showers 

~Got fabric and patterns for BM dresses

Holy cow!

FLUTES!!!

Oh, I LOVE them! They messed up originally and put "Forever..." on both, so they redid them. The gal at Things Remembered said she'd never seen anyone do that before, and asked for my permission to suggest it to future customers. AWESOME! Forever...and a Day is a saying between us, so it's pretty special. :)

Today is a very special day, for TWO reasons!

#1 Today marks the 1 year anniversary when Jim proposed to me at his nursing graduation. <3


#2 Our wedding is THREE MONTHS from today! (well...maybe that's not so good)


Things are starting to come together...we ordered the groomsmen and ushers's gifts, our flutes, the cake topper, some flower petals for decor, and made a payment on our ceremony site. 

Technically, first shower gift?!

My mom asked me a while back if she could get me earrings to wear on my wedding day as a shower gift. Now, I really don't care for jewelry, but she really wanted to get them for me, so I gave in. This pic is terrible, but these earrings are such a close match to my e-ring! They're princess, and my e-ring is a princess plus, so, very close! I was thinking about not wearing any jewelry, or maybe dangly earrings and that's it, but I really like these! Just needed to AW this! 

Invitations are DONE!

THANK YOU GOD! I only have to figure out postage for the 2 international invitations, but otherwise...here they are! We spent DAYS stamping, stuffing, sealing, and addressing these puppies. I am SO happy they are finished! I can't wait to have the rsvps come back! *skipping around the room*

Look at what came in the mail today!

Yes, it is! It's our cake topper! This cake topper is very special to us because our first kiss was in the rain, so it seemed too perfect to pass up! 

Ah, and I know everyone is thrilled about these! I found a site that had fuchsia flower petals on clearance, so I bought 3 bags. I have 2 boxes that are similar...some will be used for the flower girl, some for ceremony decor, and some for reception decor. Honestly, I'm wondering if I need more...?!  

100 DAYS TO GO!

Hhmmm..I'm not too sure I like that we ONLY have 100 days to go, but I AM certainly ready to be done with this stressful planning so that we can get back to working on our house. Well, I'm working on the invitations and getting those ready to be sent out here soon (I hope!), and I ordered our cake topper and some extra flower petals the other day. I'm hoping that the seamstress will give me another fitting, since my dress DID NOT fit me well AT ALL...so that's my #1 stressor right now. We ordered the groomsmen's and usher's gifts the other day, and hopefully they will be ready next week. Still need to figure out parent gifts. We also had a sudden change in the party (AGAIN)....so we will continue to wait on fixing the coloring books for now, I guess. ugg! I need to start looking for a new place to tan...seems like they all started changes their prices and terms at once, so I'm feelin' kinda screwed right now. Hopefully I'll get my hair and makeup trials done soon too! Oh, the stress! 

What I've been doing to stay awake tonight...

Here are the pens for the guest book! They are black markers wrapped in ivory ribbon and fuscia feathers coming out the top. I bought these from fellow local knottie *tricklet17, but one of them snapped in the envelope. I really wanted 3 pens to have to use, so I bought a VERY similar feather from Hobby Lobby, removed the ribbon and redid it, using glue dots all way back up. I had to trim it a little bit, so it's just a little bit shorter than the others. They're in a drinking glass in this pic, but I will get a plain glass cup or vase for them. 

Well, this isn't completely DIY, but I did add to it. :) I ordered these and had them engraved through Oriental Trading Company, but they're awfully plain. I was going to completely remove the ribbon and rose and change the ribbon, but when I started to, it seemed like the rose was tearing apart, so I just added ribbon behind it and around the bottoms. I haven't decided if I really like them like this or not...

I made USPS a lot richer today!

 I have NEVER walked out of a post office with a bag! So, I was HOPING that my invitations would cost regular postage...dream on! They're .61 a piece (with the exception for the out of country ones), and the rsvps will be regular postage. SO...I spent $147.00....JUST ON STAMPS! :( I was planning on spending around that on stamps AND envelopes...and I haven't ordered those yet! *sniff sniff* Anyway...the rsvps are the LOVE stamps, and the invitations are the wedding cake stamps. I guess they're cute. 

Met with the cake lady....

I think we got it figured out...it will be similar to this..we just need to find the ribbon. I'm hoping to get to our cake topper soon!  This is a cell phone pic...sorry!

For pink's sake!

Okay, two of the three envelope samples came in today....and I'm starting to see double. lol It depends on the lighting, and this pic is definitely not the best, but I'm not all that crazy about either one! The one on the left (shiny one) is the same as the rsvp envelopes, but I don't know that I really like it for the whole invitation as well. The other one looks hot pink (not quite neon like the ones I shouldn't have paid for on eBay)...but when it's alone with the invitation, it looks alright. AAHHH!!! Still waiting for the other envelope sample to come...hopefully tomorrow! 

Jewelry for the little girls!

I'm soooo happy I found something for them! Okay, so, Alyssa's dress is obviously pretty busy in itself. I got to thinkin' that maybe a necklace would be too much...so I figured I'd get her a bracelet and maybe earrings. Alexis will be wearing the same dress as the adults, but is obviously going to be smaller, and the necklaces I got for them are bigger...so I thought I should find her a necklace of her own instead. WELL....we ran to Kohl's today after picking the kids up from school so the groom could use my coupon and get some non-holy socks :). I stopped in jewelry and found that I *gasp* liked the pearls....NOT FOR ME...but for the smaller girls. :) So, the necklace is obviously for Alexis. The bracelets actually came in a set of 3, and I took them apart and won't be using the 3rd one...I didn't really care for it. The earrings are the same in the package, just different sizes, so Alexis will get bigger ones and Alyssa will get smaller ones...whatever fits them best by then. SCORE! 

Here's some pics of Alyssa in her dress...

I tried to curl her hair...it didn't really work. :( 

She'd found this headband at Claire's and bought it herself because "it matches the pink for the wedding." lol

Oh, Jim. :) 

Ugh, he's so wonderful!

I woke up and was getting ready for work, and look at what I found on the table! He worked on them the night before while I was sleeping! I think he's a keeper! :)

Purse valets!

They FINALLY arrived! I got purse valets for the girls (minus the jr and flowergirl). <3! All I have left for them is their flip flops and we're good! YAY!

Heart Vistaprint!

Well, obviously we do not live on Sesame Street (or do we?!), and I deleted our last names....BUT this is the style I chose for our return address labels for our invitations! I ordered 140 of them for free and paid $3.62 for shipping (it was .30 more for the fastest shipping. Big whoop.). ha ha Now that I think about it, I'll need more since we will have the RSVPs that guests will send back to us, but I think I might buy some clear ones for that. Not sure yet. 

Peace out, 2010! Hello 2011!

Well, 2010 has been a great year! Interesting, but great! In February, Jim proposed to me in front of a huge auditorium filled with people at his graduation (and I said yes!). Later in the spring, I got rid of 2 more of my 4 debts in collections, now I'm down to 1! Something also happened to Jim that was in his favor, but we fear that if I gloat, we will be jinxed, but those of you that know us well know what I'm talking about. That was a huge sigh of relief and a big help for us. In August, Alyssa started kindergarten (the BIG school, as she calls it).  In October, we bought our first home, along with our beautiful dining set that I'm madly in love with. I also gained another cat during that time. In November, I bought a different car (not completely thrilled over it, but it's an improvement over my damaged Jetta :( ). Later on, we find out the Kyle (who just started violin a couple months back) is being drafted into the advanced class. Also in November, I was offered a promotion at work. :) 


Some of the bummer things are: my back is still all jacked up from my accident, and I have developed constant tinnitus, which drives me INSANE! My parents are getting divorced, which is a good thing, but a bummer thing as well. I think it's harder dealing with it as an adult, but what do I know..?! Jim hasn't been able to find another job, but we're lucky we have jobs, and the one he's currently at isn't bad, it's just that he could have a nursing job right now instead, had there been any to apply for. His job pays well for what he does and he's lucky to have it (and he's good at what he does). My computer went suicidal and I lost all my pictures and all of the wedding stuff we'd worked so hard on. Yeah, that was a MAJOR bummer. 


I'd say it's been a good year. :) Much better than the couple of years before (aside from my graduating and us meeting). 2011 should be good, considering we're getting married in the middle of it! :)
 

Santa came!

Yes, Santa brings the animals presents too! 

That fat dude ate a ton of cookies! 

Christmas Cookies for Santa!

Look at how stiff this stuff is! 

The mixer was about to start smoking! 

I think Santa will like them. They're too cream cheesy for me, but they're pretty! 

The BLING!

Well....I've obviously had my ring for a while...and I have this posted in my planning bio, but I figured I might as well post in on here too. Hey, a girl's gotta show off her ice, right? :) 
I absolutely LOVE my ring! I had a little part in picking it out...I had picked out a couple that I liked and Jim got the one he said, "Made me glow." hehe It's a Princess Plus, and they are no longer available. They are really one-of-a-kind, no two are exactly alike. It has a diamond inside on the left side, to be placed on "the vein that leads straight to your heart." It is always sparkly and brilliant, even when it's not it's cleanest. This was my first attempt at working on getting a crisp, clear picture with my camera (which is smarter than I am). Of course, the pictures do not do this ring justice....it shines CONSTANTLY. <3

Holy 5 MONTHS, Batman!

Unbelievable! Time is going by WAY too fast! I did FINALLY get the guestbook done today...well...it's been done for a few days now, but I had to find a frame for the sign, and after printing it FIVE times, it finally fits without cutting off any words. All I need to find are some cute pens! I love how it turned out! :) 

Showing how a card will fit inside when a guests places it there. :)

The Fiskars blades are committing suicide!

Well, between all the cutting for the invitations and the guestbook...I've went through 3 blades...2 brand spankin' new! ARGH! They're not the cheapest thing in the world, and for some reason, Wal-Mart no longer carries them! At least not the one I just went to....so I guess I'll have to wait until I can get to Michael's to get more, but here's what I've got so far. 120 RSVPS are done...not sure on the rest...I had to toss a couple of the smallest ones as I cut words off by mistake. OOPS! I will need more paper, but I'm not even sure how many invitations to make right now. SIGH So tired of cutting....anyone else think that the Fiskars paper cutter cuts at a slight angle?! 

My Vista Print cherry has been popped!

Okay okay, so I didn't care for what they had to offer, and I didn't care if things were free and all I had to pay was shipping...until I saw that I could get a stamp and save myself from writing our return address ten THOUSAND times! ha ha I Also got Alyssa a cute tote that says Flower Girl with her name and date (she's a bag lady already anyway!), a hat for Owen, our Ring Bearer, although I'm certain it will be WAY too big...lol, and a t-shirt for me to wear after the wedding, that say's Mrs. Jacobs est. 5.21.11. <3!!!

I'm a little surprised I didn't see this box of goodies on our porch last night before I left for work. SOOOO thankful we live in a good 'hood now....it would have been long gone if we were back in our old neighborhood! I wonder how long it was out there for. ha ha 

Oh, and never put a rubber stamp together after coming off a night shift...dingbat here put it on upside down. ha At least it was free. It's nighty night time for me!