12.11.11

Slight change of pace...

So since I've been primarily blogging about my so far not so pleasant experience wedding planning, I'm going to do a slight change of pace and also talk about my weight loss experience as well among other things.

First, wedding... Buds and Bells florist is willing to meet my mom's budget with her original proposal which is kinda awesome.  We have one other florist to go talk to on Tuesday.  I also have to email the other florist I talked to with a crazy high price and see what they're willing to negotiate on.  If I could combine my two florist people that would be kinda awesome.  However, we shall see.  Cake - I am supposed to meet with the cake people to try their cake which is exciting!  I'm 90% sure we're going with them because they're pricing is pretty much on point and they supposedly have awesome cakes. So I at least have that much.  Photography - While I love my photographer, I'm kinda annoyed at his serious lack of response to me.  However, I guess I can understand cause I haven't finished paying my deposit and at the way it's going I'm not going to until January.  But I'm super excited to see my pictures.. If my paycheck this week is high enough I might actually be able to pay him some.  Invitations & Favors are coming from the PI which basically covers everything major.

Second, my life in general... I still work at Vici which I love the people I work with but honestly, I'm kind of tired of working there.  But I don't think it's there that I'm tired of working, I think it's more of being a server that I'm tired of.  I'm supposed to have an interview at the Ritz Carlton sometime next week to be a server, so then I can quit Vici :/ - but it's just too far to drive for not enough money.  I did get a job however as a Personal Assistant/Sales Assistant to a Publisher for Southern Distinction Magazine.  It's very much a door to door sales job and I'm not super thrilled.  So we'll see how that pans out.  Really, I'm just biding my time until Sapient has a job for me.

Finally, weight loss... So as I mentioned before I'm doing the HCG thing.  I'm super excited but this diet is kinda hard.  Cause I just want dessert and I can't frickin have it! :( However, I know that in order to lose the weight I want to lose I have to make sacrifices because the cookie/brownie/dessert isn't going to look as good on me as when I lose the weight.  So sacrifice I shall!  The HCG thing is from Atlanta Medical Institute and I feel like they are kind of half assing (excuse my french) the process.  I feel like I don't understand everything fully, but luckily Rachel has already done it and I can ask her.  :)  So this amino supplement thing they gave me.. IS NASTY - well I think it is.  I can't really tell if it's that or the protein powder in my shakes but something seriously tastes like vomit.  :-(  Luckily, it's not a huge smoothie.
However, on the bright side..... I HAVE LOST 3 POUNDS and I just started yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I guess that's it for now.  Have a great one!

4.11.11

Still at a stand still

HI!
I know it's been a minute since I've written, but it's been a little busy on my end.  So really no wedding planning has taken affect.  My mom is supposed to schedule a meeting with some flower guy in Monroe, but she hasn't done that yet.  I'm pretty sure I have a cake person... sorta.  I found 2 options for Paul's ring... A) Sam's club (I KNOW!) titanium ring for about 120... B) Gemvara with 2 rubys and 1 peridot for about 600.  Personally, I'm opting for the Sam's Club one cause it's hella cheaper.

So what's new besides these really boring details.... We moved! It's kinda awesome here too! We moved from being in the center of everything Buckhead portion of Atlanta, to the middle of no where surrounded by nothing Greensboro.  It's such a huge change.  However, it's kinda awesome out here.  Nothing much to get in our way, no traffic, no way for me to be tempted to spend money.. (except online - which is seriously going to be the death of me), quality time, and me learning how to be a cityfied version of Martha Stewart. :) Time to get all crafty and stuff.

On a note with the crafty and Martha Stewart version of me.... I'm not in the slightest bit crafty or really talented in the creative department.  Also, my cooking/baking skills are well minimal to say the lease.  However, the things I do cook... I'm Downright AWESOME at.  So this whole new version of me is kinda exciting!  I've always wanted to do this kind of stuff, but never bothered with the time or energy or any of that.  However, since there really isn't that much here to run off and do... I figured now is as good of time as any. :) I'm going to make an awesome wreath for our door.  I'm going to decorate for the holidays. I'm going to cook and bake and lose weight! I'm sooo excited!

On to the losing weight part....I'm TOTALLY DOING THE HCG!  I'm soooo excited!  Like super excited.  Weight and self image has always been a huge problem for me.  Not in the sense I'm massively overweight, but more in the sense I look in the mirror and feel like I am.  On average, I'm about 5'3" and weight about 160lbs.  To me, this weight is crazy overweight and I feel like I might as well weigh 300.  I know there's a mental issue with this and it has a lot to do with what society says and my own personal neurosis, but I can't help it.  I have never looked at myself for a consistent amount of time and said wow I look good and feel good and I'm hot.  Yea I have those moments in the mirror when I'm having a good day, but it's pretty fleeting.  So I'm SOOOOOOOOOO ecstatic to finally be doing something about it and getting the assistance I need to get off my lazy ass, eat healthy, and actually see results.  I think the issue is that on the diets I've done I've never seen the results.  Nothing serious enough to really feel like what I'm doing is worth it or working.. So I give up.  But now... OH YEA!!!!!! I'm gonna get down to my goal!  :)

Ok well I guess that's it for now.  Have to drive forever away for work.  Will try to update more.

3.10.11

It's been a while

Yes. It's been a little while and really I'm kinda at a stand still.  The other day I went to the Harbor Club and took some pictures which was fun.  I sent them to my potential florists and to the lighting people.  So things are coming together. yay!

What I'm missing:
Veil
Headpiece
flowers/decorations
invites
save the dates
favors
lighting

YAY! And the cool thing is 4 of those things are going to be taken care of by my mom in January.  The save the dates will be done by November. I'm getting a quote from the lighting people this week.  I'm just waiting on a quote from the other flower people and that pretty much calls it a day! yay! :)

I guess that's really it. I just need to hit the lottery to be able to buy all the things I need. lol.
Oh and I purchased Paulie's gift which is gonna be awesome. I'm getting engagement pictures on Friday in Knoxville, which is gonna be awesome!

ok I guess that's it.

22.9.11

well no real progress..

Only minor progress.

This past Sunday my mom and I went to the PWG bridal show which was pretty good.  I kinda wish I went to one when we first started... woulda saved a little bit of a hassle. sheesh.
Great people I met and will be talking to again... Florists, jewelry people, gift people, beauty people, and invite people.
Jewelry people/gift people were awesome.  I met with The Southern Jewelry Box today and they were super sweet, and I've got great ideas from them which is exciting.
The invite people were super great and I was finally able to show my mom the things I like the best and the styles.
The beauty people.. ideas of what I can do and laser hair removal (which if you know me I have a very large hatred towards personal body hair... which is funny since Paul is hairy).
OH! And I have a DJ! He's frickin awesome.  Has great music, nothing cheesy or crap. YAY!

The one thing however... that this bridal show has done is f up my venue option.  UGH.  My mom talked to  some portion of the Gwinnett Civic Center and found out they may be more affordable than previously thought.  So now my mom is considering that place especially if they are the same price.  LORDY! Just when I think I'm good.

We met with the SJB lady and her hubby today and they were awesome.  They're totally customizing just about everything for us which is soo cool.  If I can keep her under budget that WOULD BE HELLA AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Ok so like I said no progress, but progress...

7.9.11

So many things...

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I officially have a venue.  However, the more I think about it I'm a little concerned with the size.  But whateves.

I'm getting married! June 23 at the Harbor Club on Lake Oconee.  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!  I already picked out the food and alcohol available, so even that part is done.

Also, I've booked my photographer - Derek Shane.  I decided to go with him because basically I get more for the price.  Plus he's a lot more willing to work with me in terms of payment cause well we all know that I'm not by any means wealthy. But Derek does awesome work.  However, I'm not sure if his name is Derek or Shane.  It's a little strange really. I've got planned to have our engagement pics taken on October 20 the Tuesday after Columbus Day.  This works out great cause then we can get those printed and send out save the dates and stuff like that.
Speaking of photographer I just have to pick my "half" photographer in Knoxville, and call UT.  In the event I haven't mentioned this... I super want my engagement pictures to be around UT and especially on the field cause that would be FRICKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I've contacted a few photographers in Knoxville (I don't wanna pay a travel fee) to see where they are on pricing.  I may be a little delayed on paying by my aunt or my mom but it's totally gonna be worth it.

What's even better.... I'M GOING TO THE TENNESSEE/UGA GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I need to work out my half photographer for the Friday before the game.  I'm so excited.  I think I'm more excited about the game than the pictures, but I'm sure it's going to be awesome!!! OMG I'm so excited!

So that's really it in terms of wedding planning, but I'm kinda still excited cause I can actually start planning things and looking at other things.

On a totally non-wedding related note... Paul and I are looking at buying a fully furnished townhouse on Lake Oconee.  It's hella far away but it's a great place and super cute.  Also, after a couple of years maybe we can buy waterfront property.  I just have to find a job out there, which let's be honest I'd really rather not work.  The townhouse is super close to a really awesome charter school/academy.  However, if my future kid doesn't get in cause we didn't sign up early enough then I'm gonna have to schlep them to Athens.... ugh.  Oh well.

So I'm finally starting to act like a grown up.  It's a little freaky I'm not gonna lie.  :)

1.9.11

Things are coming together...

So now that it's September.. yes... I've been engaged since April... and it's been 6 months... I am 99% sure I have a venue and a date! yay!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure I'm getting married at The Harbor Club at Lake Oconee.  My only downside I have for it is that it is super plain.  It needs a lot of decorations.. :( So I'm excited and yet not so.. Terrible right?  My date is officially June 23, 2012. YAY!
Now I'm down to a terrible dilemma with photographers..still. I really want to hire 3 photographers.  1 has video which is awesome, 2 have a photobooth which is awesome, and 1 just has awesome pictures. So I worked it out with all 3 photographers, basicish package for 2 and full on package with 1 and photobooth.. I need about 12K.  UGH! So I really need to pick one and I can't.

So let's look at what we got...
Ashah - she takes awesome pictures. Not sure if she has a photobooth.  And well my parents, Tanya and I love her pics - $2700 for basicish - 6 hrs, engagement
Derek Shane - takes awesome pictures. Has a photobooth. For the same price as Ashah you get video with his package. And my parents like him too - $5300
Mac + Cheese - I like her pictures. She has a photobooth, and included in price guest can take home their pictures, which is great! So if I do a basicish package for her and her photobooth - $3800 & $575

SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want all 3!!! Not really sure how they would feel.. lol... sharing picture taking with 2 others.. lol SHIT.

Logically - i should choose Derek. He's got the best deal for the price. I know that, I really do.  Since I have to pay for it I really should go with him. But I love the other 2 as well.  UGH!!!!!!!!
So what I really should do is find out if the other 2 are available June 23, cause they checked to see if June 9 was open not the 23.  hmmmm... hopefully with any luck they won't be and then I can just cut  them out. :)

So I guess that's really it.  I have a venue - more or less, and a date...so that's something. :)

25.8.11

Well it's narrowing down..

Well I've narrowed down some choices... I think.  I've got 4 wedding venues, 4 photographers, 4 invitations, and 4 favor ideas. Lordy!

First the photographers:  I love all 4 of them for different reasons, and can't really narrow it down.  Mac+Cheese I like cause it's fun and seems relaxed.  Mike Moon I like cause he's got some sweet pictures. Ashah has just some flat amazing frickin pictures. Derek has great pictures and does video.  But out of the survey of my parents and best friend they all agree Ashah is the best.  However there is debate between second place - Mike Moon vs. Derek Shane.  Well actually my dad said Ashah and Mike are the best - so I guess that's a tie? So I think I'm just gonna stick with Ashah and call it a day.. However I do need to get some other pricing information from her. Oh that and I need about $1000 to book her.. Ugh.

4 Wedding venues: I know I've covered some of them before. So I'll just highlight the ones I know I haven't covered... So The Fox. I've mentioned them before, so I don't need to talk much about them.  However I must say that I'm kinda annoyed I haven't heard anything from the frickin caterer. Harbor Club I'm pretty sure I've mentioned them before.. still waiting on them.  Foundry at Puritan Mill is apparently only available on Sunday in the month of June.  So if I really wanted them I'd have to super change the date. - so it may just be out, but it's pretty... :( Last but not least, Conservatory at Waterstone in Acworth. This place may be a great frickin option.  Cause I can pretty much have an all inclusive and it be less than 10k.  Which would be nice.  Then we can spend more in other areas.  However, what I may try to see if there's a Catholic Church up there and get married in the church and cut out some pricing at venue.  So then I have a church and decent venue for way less than budget. More research will have to be done here.

4 invites: Well I keep finding amazing invites, but they're expensive which kinda blows. So I'm not really sure what to do about that.  I'm pretty sure that my mom is gonna end up waiting cause of the invites in the PI.  Oh well. I'm kinda over that.

4 favors:  I really like the whole idea of the coasters, the towel shaped treats - but really why do i need a towel, just putting the money to a shelter, and i kinda like the whole peas in a pod snp shaker set.  It's adorable. However, again i'm over it.

So GOAL: Have a venue by 8/30! If I don't have a venue by then I'm gonna quit and just elope.  LOL.