Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 1!

Wedding Wednesdays is a new weekly post that I'm going to be doing as Matt and I plan the wedding of our dreams! I totally stole this idea from Life of a Busy Wife, where Kaitlin posts photos and memories of her wedding on Wednesdays, but I'll be posting planning progress updates and things I find out as I go! Enjoy!

It's been 11 days since I got engaged (but really, who's counting?) and I already feel like I'm slacking off on this whole planning thing. No date, no location, nothing. One thing I do have, though, is a crap ton of magazines! I went to the locally-owned bookstore thinking I'd just pick up the new issues of the wedding magazines to peruse, and came back with no less than 6 - and that was only half of them!

Cakes and To-Do lists... so many pages, so little time!

The nice thing about all of these magazines is that each one seems to have a different focus. The Real Simple magazine up there, for example, focuses on checklists and etiquette, while the one next to it has lots of eye candy (dresses and cakes primarily). The Knot, down there on the left, has hundreds of pages of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen, and Brides has a huge section about destination weddings and honeymoon locations.

So many magazines with so many dresses!

It's so strange to me that there are so many magazines devoted to one day of your life - I mean yes, it is one of the most important days of your life, and is probably the biggest choice you ever make in your life - but it's so... institutionalized. These magazines make me realize how much work this is all going to be if I do everything that everyone expects me to do, from the teeth whitening to the centerpieces to the bridal slip. And they've also made me realize how much I want to do this my (and Matt's) way, without paying so much attention to the rules and all that. Which is totally going to make me the girl at prom with the duct-tape dress, but whatever.

I will say, however, that Emily Post is going to get me through this thing, and that this is the best wedding-related purchase I've made so far: Emily Post's Wedding Planner. It's got time-lines, general etiquette rules, lists of questions to ask potential vendors, and pockets!

Emily Post still knows what's up!

This is going to be such an adventure, and I can't wait to really get my hands dirty in the planning process to make this day truly symbolic of the love Matt and I share: being with our friends and family, and basically having a super fun party - while I look fabulous, of course. And let's face it, that's basically the story of our relationship. :D

Monday, April 6, 2009

You know you're becoming a domestic goddess when...

... you have someone over for dinner, and your guest and your fiance decide that they want some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and you disappear into the kitchen (okay, maybe not disappear, but you know) and emerge 20 minutes later with a heaping plate of cookies from scratch without breaking a sweat or having to run to the store for ingredients.

Yum!

Nothing says domestic goddess like a warm cookie baked with love. :D

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Menu Plan Monday


So I have to be completely honest -- I wrote last week's menu plan before Matt came back from his business trip and proposed, and we hardly stuck to it at all! There was too much celebratory what-not to cook! :D This week's got a lot of recycled stuff from last week as a result. As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more fabulous menu planners!

Monday: Curry with tofu and leftover veggies

Tuesday (class night and my birthday!): Probably dinner out after class - might even spin the wheel this year!

Wednesday:
Wraps with falafel, goat cheese, and baby spinach

Thursday:
Soup and grilled cheeses

Friday:
Baked tofu (probably marinated in BBQ sauce) and Asparagus Parmesan

Saturday:
Tom Kha Tofu soup from Vegetarian Times

Sunday:
Leftovers

Lazy Sunday

This week has been a whirl-wind - lots of people to see, phone calls to make, stress at work, a new quarter starting up at school - I feel like I haven't gotten a break yet! So much stuff happens sometimes that you just have to kick back and relax to remind yourself why you're putting up with The Crazy, and that time is usually Sunday afternoons for me.



You know that I'm crazy for those cupcakes cousin!

So what's on my agenda for my "Lazy Sunday"?
  • First up - LAUNDRY. I am in dire need of some clean socks.
  • Cleaning (the bathroom and the kitchen) and dishes.
  • I also need to go for a run - it looks like a beautiful day outside, so it's time to pull on that running skirt and hit the trails!
  • I have some work stuff that I have to get done before tomorrow... boooooooo.
  • I need to do some shopping - pick up the wedding scrapbook, figure out the food situation for the week, etc.
  • Rachel is back from Puerto Rico, so a neighborhood coffee date might be in order!
  • Matt and I need to celebrate my birthday (I know, right? Week of celebrations like whoa!) at one of Spokane's fine dining establishments.
  • I want to get a preliminary list of potential wedding venues figured out!
Wow, on second thought, this Sunday might not be so lazy after all! How are you all spending your Sundays and preparing for the week to come?

Thursday, April 2, 2009

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Sorry this is a little late, but I was a little late getting home because I was getting toasted at the running club! Why was I getting toasted?

BECAUSE I'M GETTING MARRIED!

Matt and I got engaged at noon on Sunday, March 29th, and we couldn't be happier! We haven't set a date or decided on where, or basically made any decisions at all, but we're going to start discussing everything this weekend. I'm so excited I can't even tell you! I already own basically every bridal magazine out there!

These are on my dining room table right now!

So, in honor of my upcoming nuptials (and 100th post!) I'm going to be doing my first ever give-away! I'll have more details next week, but check back for details on the prize and how to enter. Alright, that's it for me tonight, I've got a wedding to plan!

Really, Spokane? REALLY??

I would like to remind you all that today is April 2nd. And that today, I woke up to an inch of THIS covering my balcony, driveway, and street. THIS IS NOT OKAY SPOKANE. April is not the time for snow! Especially when we've already had so much snow this year!

I hate you.

It's been so hard to work today with this business going on outside. All I want to do is go pick up a big pile of Soulful Soups soup and head on home to curl up with a blanket and light a fire in the fire place. But alas, I already have a commitment to run outside with The Flying Irish Running Club, and they just sent me an email to rally the troops for the run today. *sigh* If only the weather would cooperate! Ever!



This is just a friendly reminder to check back tonight at 8pm for the big announcement! You'll be glad you came, I promise! 8pm Pacific Time!

See you tonight at 8!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I'll be making a big announcement on Thursday night, around 8pm (Pacific time). You should all check back on Thursday! It'll be great, I promise. :D See you then!