I've actually started...

I've finally started looking into a florist.

I don't know why it has taken me this long to get into the florist, but I've actually started to look into one. I've got appointments set up next week to start meeting with four different consultants, hopefully one of them can come up with something that I like that doesn't cost an arm and a leg! I don't think we will need anything too elaborate since we only need flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres and nothing for the centerpieces.... But that will remain to be seen.

I'll talk with them to see if they recommend anything for the ceremony, but I am not a flowery frilly kind of girl. I have a feeling that what I want now isn't going to be as simple (or as inexpensive) as I think it will be. I was thinking about hydrangeas in a nice blue, but after talking with Jessica I'm a little worried that might be a bit too much blue. Blue dresses, blue on my dress, blue in the groomsmen attire... Should I really get blue flowers? Hopefully these florists have some ideas! I'm at a loss!!

On another note, I've decided to start taking ballet. Austin's mom has been taking tap and ballet and is starting an Irish dance class at the studio where I will be going. I've always wanted to take ballet but have never had the chance, so I figure why not?! I'll be stopping by the studio today to sign up and get all of my things, hopefully I'll be able to start sometime this week!

Makeup Trial

So I had my makeup trial today with AH Makeup and things went great! I met with Amanda and Meghan and we discussed what I wanted, who would be getting makeup and my bridals. I had figured that it would take about two hours to get the trial/consult done, but it only took  about an hour so I was able to get back before traffic got too bad. I signed the contract and put down my deposit, so we're all ready to go! 

I did take a quick picture of how it all looked when I got home. Forgive the poor quality, I took it on my Blackberry!

Hair and Makeup!

Well, I've been able to book the people in charge of the hair and makeup for the bridal party! Tomorrow I have a consult with AH Makeup Artistry and they'll do a trial run, but so far everything looks great! They've been such a dream to work with so far and I think things will go swimmingly! If anybody can't remember, or they missed the post, I've been able to book with AH Makeup and they're fabulous! I've heard nothing but great reviews from anyone that's used them.

I've also been able to set up appointments to have the bridal party's hair done by Avalon Salon and Spa in the West Village. I've been going to Avalon since I moved to Dallas and I've always had Savy work his magic on my hair. He's been a dream to work with and I trust him 100% with doing what he thinks is best for my hair. I'll bring in a couple ideas for what I would like, and since he's always honest, I know he'll let me know which one he thinks would look best on me and how to make it more "me".

Anyways, I'm pretty excited to be able to have all of this planned out a little ahead of schedule and know that there is one less thing for me to worry about!

Our Invitations are Done!!

Well, all of our invitations are done! After many hours and a lot of trial and error, they are all finally all printed out! I finished assembling everything last night, all that I have to do is start putting all of the inserts and the invitation cards into the pocket-folds! After that, its a trip to the Post Office to figure out how much all of the postage will be. And I'll have to start printing up all of the wrap-around labels for the addresses. And stamping our address on everything...


Maybe there's still more to do with these than I thought....

In any case, the biggest part is complete! Even Austin was impressed with the finished product!

Checklists...

So, the more I look at my checklist, the more it feels like I'm forgetting to do. I've started a checklist, but I just don't feel like everything is included on it! I keep looking at it and worrying that I'm missing something and it really freaks me out. I don't want to forget anything, but I don't know if I just think I'm forgetting things because I'm stressed out about it. With nine months to go, I don't think its a good sign that I'm already starting to stress out about everything that needs to be done.

Get Engaged --- Check!!
Decide Colors/Theme ---- Check!!
Book Photographer ---- Check!!
Book DJ ---- Check!!
Ask Attendants ---- Check!!
Pick out THE dress ---- Check!!
Order Dress ---- Check!!
Pick dresses for the girls ---- Check!!
Make Invitations ---- In Progress
Start Guest List --- Check!!
Book Venue ---- Check!!
Book Caterer ---- Check!!
Decide on Menu ---- Check!!
Book Make Up Artist --- Check!!
Book Hair Appt. ---- In Progress, Searching
Order Bridesmaid Dresses --- In Progress, one out of four ordered
Finalize Guest List, Including Addresses --- In Progress
Block Hotels --- Check!!
Create Registries --- Check!!
Take Engagement Pictures --- Scheduled!
Block Hotels --- In Progress
Decide Groomsmen Attire
Get Bridal Accessories
Meet with Officiant
Meet with DJ
Finalize Ceremony
Book Limo/Car Service
Find a Florist
Order Cakes
Distribute Invitations
Pick out our food --- Check!!
Have dress altered
Buy rings
Buy Parent Gifts
Buy Attendant Gifts
Make Favors
Get Marriage License

Scuba Diving!

Austin and I are one step closer to being certified divers! We met with Austin's cousin, Curt, in order to start our certification process to learn how to dive on Sunday. I've been driving Austin crazy for as long as I know trying to get him to go out and learn how to dive with me, and we're finally doing it! Curt is one of the partners at A-Team Scuba and is a fabulous teacher! We didn't go into open water, but we did spend the day in the pool learning the basics and how to use the equipment. Even though Austin was nervous, he even managed to have fun doing it!

It didn't take us long to be swimming around like pros, and I know we're both excited to go out to open water and start diving. We're both looking forward to being able to get out of the pool and see everything in the water. Even though it was only a pool, it was still a lot of fun. I recommend it to anyone that can swim! Its an experience that you wont ever forget.

And if you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I recommend A-Team Scuba, and not just because they're family. Unlike most SCUBA training, A-Team will actually give you a lot of one-on-one time to ensure that you fully understand and are comfortable with everything. There will be more to come as we continue with our certification and eventually start to go on more trips in order to go diving!

Six Flags!

This past weekend Jessica, Dan, Mel, Austin and I all went to Six Flags. I'm a huge roller coaster fan, the bigger and faster and more turns, the better. And since I was able to get the tickets from our concierge ($22 vs $60 at the gate) so we thought it would be a great way to spend the day and have Jessica get to know a couple of our closest friends. And what doesn't bring people together more than waiting in lines and then going on roller coaster rides?!

Too bad it was about 105. That's right, 105 and it felt hotter. And it was sunny.

Luckily, we were able to get through the lines fairly quickly since most people were smart enough to stay home and not spend the day outside and risk heat exhaustion and dehydration and whatever else we were at risk for. We all agreed that the next time we go, we'll spend the extra money and get a flash pass so we don't have to wait in line. And we're also not going to be going during the hottest week of the year.

Theknotpostsecret

So, I was reading theknotpostsecret and I saw this secret:

and it really made me think. I had an eating disorder for about five years and only recently have I been able to start to over come it. I doubt that the person that originally posted this is going to read this, but if they do, I want them to know they aren't the only one that goes through this. I feel like this all the time, even though I hear people tell me I'm beautiful and I never heard that before in my entire life.

You aren't alone. This feeling never goes away, but it does get a little better. And having people that really care about me have been more helpful than any psychiatrist ever was.

The Pocket-folds are Done!!

Yesterday I spent most of the day working on all of our pocket-folds. I was able to finally able to finish cutting, measuring, scoring and gluing together 150 pocketfolds. I felt like it was a huge accomplishment to finally get it all done. I'd been putting off finishing them since it has been a huge undertaking, but I'm glad to finally get it all done. About two (or three) months ago, I had been able to measure and cut down all of my 11"x17" card stock.

But then I stopped. I don't know why, but I was burnt out on all of the wedding work. And since Austin hasn't been too interested in the planning or anything, it was hard to get motivated to get back to work.

I guess it was because Jessica and I had been talking about wedding stuff while she was here, but I suddenly got the urge to finish my project. I don't really know why it happened, but I sat down on Friday and started scoring everything. Sunday I spent the day cutting tape down and taping up every flap so that I had pockets on my pocket-folds. I would not recommend this project to most people, but I'm picky and didn't want to spend almost $500 on the invitations I wanted. And I didn't realize how much of a project it would be. Well, I knew, I just didn't think it would be quite this big,

I'm hoping I can finalize my wording this week for my three inserts and my invitations. I'd like to start printing them all this week, but I'll be realistic and shoot for the middle of next week. I think I'll be able to start putting them together in about two weeks or so... I'm hoping. My goal is to have the entire invitation, all 150 of them, put together by the end of the month.

If I don't get distracted I think its possible. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can stick with it!

And, to feel like I actually did something, I'm going to show off my template for the invitations. Its not perfect, but this was my first one I made and I'm using it as my guide. What do you guys think?

Prop 8

I can't believe I didn't say something yesterday, but I wanted to say that Prop 8 was overturned!!! YAY!!!!!!!! I'm glad the judge realized that gays are, in fact, people too!

That is all.

I need a florist

So I've come to realize how badly I need to start making appointments with florists. I don't know why, but this is one of the things I'm dreading the most. I really like these, and they have the right blue I'm looking for:

I just cant bring myself to actually start looking for a florist! I've talked to Austin's mom (who has been WONDERFUL, just saying, and I'm really hoping she knows somebody that can help me out. I do feel a little accomplished when I'm still 9 months out. We have the DJ, Photographer, venue, officiant (as of today), the menu, my dress, my Maid of Honor's dress is ordered and I've started the invitations. I will finish the pocketfolds this weekend. I have to! I just feel like I got off to a great start and now I'm falling behind. I haven't been doing wedding stuff for a while, now I realize how much I need to!

What a great weekend!

So this weekend, my Maid of Honor, Jessica, was in town to visit! I took off a couple days from work so we could spend some quality "girl time" together. We didn't really have any plans, but we did end up going to the Hare Krishna temple (which is beautiful!) and to the Dallas World Aquarium. Since it is Shark Week, we figured it was fitting to go to the aquarium and see the sharks. I've never been to the aquarium here in Dallas, but it is actually a pretty cool place. Its right in the middle of Downtown and you don't really think it would be great looking at the outside of it since its all brick. There are tons of different birds and monkeys and fish and snakes and lizards and penguins and spiders and even a jaguar! I would recommend it to anyone!

The Hare Krishna  temple is beautiful. We've both gone before, but we still wanted to go. The temple has an amazing Indian restaurant, Kalachandji's. They are always vegetarian and most dishes are even vegan! Neither of us have gone to a service there, but I think it would be absolutely marvelous and eye opening. And probably very centering. Anyways... We walked around the temple and meditated a little before going shopping. Yes we went shopping...

We went to Alfred Angelo and got Jessica her dress! Well, we ordered it. I should be going to pick it up in about 8-10 weeks. Its a great tea-length dress that I will be posting pictures of later. She tried on about 15 different dress of all different styles in order to figure out what we wanted. So, we were both pretty happy that she was able to get a dress. And, it was under $75!

We really liked this one, but its not quite the style we wanted...

This is one dress we liked, isn't she adorable!

And this is the one we picked! It'll be cobalt with ivory trim!

Dinner for Schmucks

So on Friday, Austin, Dan, Melanie and myself went to see "Dinner for Schmucks" at the Studio Movie Grill. If you haven't been to Studio Movie Grill, you should try it. You can drink and eat actual food while you watch your movie. Its a cool concept. Its a very, very funny movie. And it has Paul Rudd. And that guy from "Flight of the Concords". But anyways, its extremely funny and will have you in tears for most of the movie. Paul plays a dick that is trying to impress his girlfriend by getting a promotion. In order to get the promotion, he has to take a "Schmuck" to dinner and make fun of him. Steve plays a divorce  that works for the IRS. And he makes mousterpieces, art work using dead mice. Yeah, its kinda gross. Steve tries to help Paul in his love life but instead brings in a crazy stalker woman that is into S&M and chases his girlfriend off. Can you really get any better than that?!