{ Planning } The Wedding Fair

This weekend, Mom, Carl & I packed up and headed to The Wedding Fair in downtown Minneapolis.

 

Originally, Mom & I were going alone, but talking about our breakfast date, Carl suddenly had an interest in going (the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right?). We all got in the car and headed to Hell's Kitchen for the best breakfast ever. Seriously. Don't believe me? Let me convince you --


Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes
Maple Bison Sausage.
The Best Damned Heuvos Rancharos.
Housemade peanut butters and jellies.
SOURDOUGH TOAST.

Are you drooling yet? Because I am... Anyway, breakfast was just the beginning of the day!

 

I was a little overwhelmed when we first walked in. We were bombarded by pamphlets and postcards and LOTS of pink. It only took about a half an hour to get comfortable and finally focus on my personal mission for the day: DJ and photog. Within the first few minutes, I was handed a champagne glass of chocolate and had my ring cleaned (even though it had just been cleaned for our engagement photos a week ago!). I might be a little addicted to getting this ring all shiny! Nothing like making my bling get a little more bling bling! Alright, I promise to never do that again. You have my word.

We saw cakes that we loved (though we want just a small cake and cupcakes). We could always have our little cake be inspired by this beauty! I love it. Simple but really pretty. I'd almost feel bad eating it. Almost...

I would not, however, feel even slightly bad about eating the above... Cake pops are delicious. Yes, I know I can and have made cakeballs. And they are incredible. But these were so friggen cute! Mom thought they would be a great idea for showers or for the gift opening.

We found this stellar get-up for the guys. Not only will Carl look amazing in brown (I swoon a little when my man is in earth tones), but the best man and my brother also look great in brown. We currently think Carl will be in brown with a green vest and the guys will be in brown with cream vests. All the guys will have the same tie. I get all giddy just picturing it! Now I just need to order a swatch of the brown the girl's dresses will be in and make sure it doesn't clash. I also have to get one of my ivory... The things you think of weeks later...

We spent a good four hours and made sure to at least pass by each booth. Overall, Carl was glad he joined us at the last minute. He got lots of good information on tuxes, we gathered ideas for honeymoons, and we found our DJ (now if only I had enough time to call them...). I got some good leads on photographers, but turns out... photogs are really fracking expensive. Like... woah. But that's a post of a different color.

I think that it was good to have attended the fair this early in our wedding planning. If we had been any deeper in, I think that it might have been a wasted day. Thankfully the three of us had a really good time together and enjoyed this event in good company.


Did you attend a wedding fair or expo? Did you think it was productive for you and your planning? Did you pursue any of the vendors you saw that day?

{ Tasks } The Budget

Know what this is?

It's about the third version of a budget I've created. I think this one is going to work! I think that it's a little depressing how much weddings cost, but at least by tracking our expenses we can see where we are at and what we have left of our budget. We can make better choices when we book vendors and track what and how much has been paid.

At first, I decided not to create a budget tracking tool. I figured we would just wing it and plan as we went. Pfft! Who needs a budget? We would be able to just sort of keep track in our head of what we'd spent so far, right?... HA! Now, three months into planning... I realized the Type-A monster in me just would never be satisfied with that.

Yes, it's the first task after getting your parents and future in-laws to meet... And it is one that will constantly need re-working. I spent a lot of time pulling budget tips and info from The Knot and Wedding Wire and the books I've purchased on wedding planning... Not to mention scouring the message boards on Wedding Bee! And after a full night of hard work... ta da! Out came our spreadsheet. Personalized to us and what elements we will need for our wedding.

I look forward to using this spreadsheet to track our everything... I also dread it a little. I know the first bug purchase is going to instantly make me feel like I can't afford anything else and make my freak out a little about 'all the other things we need to buy yet!' But I think having this done and in place early on will help prevent any major over spending or even... under spending (can you under spend?)

I'm currently tracking our actual expenses, how much is left in our base budget, and how much we are paying for 'out of pocket' (I'm not counting my dress toward our baseline budget, I bought that for me!). I think it will help me keep my DIY spending in line, too! I know I can go a little overboard when it comes to crafting. I have so many good ideas... Just not enough time or money to make them all come to life!

Hopefully working with this tool will help us have the wedding we love at the budget we can afford.

Did you create a formal budget to track your spending? How did you count your costs and track your purchases? Did your budget include your personal splurges or did you keep those separate?

{ In Love } It's the Little Things

This past week was rough. It was high paced and frustrating. By the end of Monday, I was already looking at my calendar begging it to be Friday as soon as possible.

 Image Source / Laurent Duveau

Work was hectic, I hadn't slept through the night in two weeks, and I was just burning out all over. On Friday, it all culminated. I was cranky, tired, and just wanted to hide under a rock. Carl let me scream and vent to him. He suggested some more Big Bang Theory and a beer to add a high note to the crummy past few days.

While we were getting dinner upstairs, I sighed, "I think I want wine instead of beer. A nice big glass of red wine. Want to join me?"

Carl replied "Not really. I'm not in the mood for it tonight."

"Right - you don't like red wine. Never mind. It's not worth it to open a whole bottle and waste it for just one glass. I'll just have a beer." I said as I filled my plate.

Carl, without pausing said, "No, baby. I'll have a glass with you so it's worth it. If that's what will make you feel better, I'll have a glass with you."

It's the little things. The little bits that make me swoon a little and realize just how much he loves me. Carl has this way of making sure I am always taken care of, even in the tiniest little gesture or comments... And I can't believe how wonderful that makes this girl feel. I'm so thankful for that selfless love he gives me. I only hope he feels that I give him the same love and care in return. Even writing this, I have a big, warm smile on my face.

What are some of the little things your significant other does that make you thankful for them?

{ DIY } Folded Fabric Flowers

The working title of this post is "SQUEEEEEEEE 2, the sequel", because early this morning, Chrissy informed me that this project was FEATURED on Wedding Bee! This time is was as a part of their DIY Friday feature! I got a nod, twice in one week!! I say for a third time... HOW COOL IS THAT!!?

 Image Source / Screen shot from Wedding Bee

Anyway, now that my inner child is under control (I got another gold star and another cookie! Teacher likes me bestest!) I thought I would share the project, here!

These flowers are pretty versatile and really pretty. I sort of figured out how to make these by looking at a few pictures and a couple of shoddy tutorials... Not saying mine is perfect, either, but I think the pictures will really help. Here we go!

 

We're working top to bottom, left to right:
1. Start by cutting out about 15 circles. I made mine about 1.5 inches in diameter for a big, full flower.
2. Set aside one circle. This will be your base to build the flower on.
3. Take a new circle and fold it in half. Like a taco! Now I'm hungry...
4. Take one corner of the half circle and fold it into a quarter circle.

5. Flip your circle over.
6. Fold the unfolded corner back so your circle looks like the top right picture above.
7. Place your first petal onto your flower base. Don't let the base extend farther than the petal! I like to have mine just barely hang over the edge to be sure that I'm hiding the base.
8. Stitch the petal in place.

 

9. Continue folding and stitching flower petals all around the base.

10. Completed base! You're a rockstar!

11. Start a second layer of petals and continue with the fold and stitch.

12. Completed flower! Now to add some bling!

  

13 & 14. The choice is yours! Sparkle, pearl, button... The sky is the limit.

15. Add a little fabric glue (Fabritac is awesome!) to the center of the base.

16. Attach a small fabric scrap to the glue.

17. Once the glue has set,center a wire on the fabric scrap.

18. With another dab of glue, fold the edges of the scrap fabric over the wire to secure it in place. Once it dries, twist your wire together to form a stem. If you like, wrap it in floral tape to hide the wire.

Ta da! Even my kitty Dagny insisted on making an appearance. She certainly thinks she is just as pretty as any flower.

Try them out! Make a vase of flowers for your desk at work! Give someone a flower to cheer up their day! The would be great decor for any party or a really nice accoutrement to accent any package or gift. Stitch them onto a sweater, or some shoes... Make a brooch by adding a pin back instead of the floral wire... The possibilities really are limitless. Most of all, have fun!

{ Life } SQUEEEEEEE!!!

So, normally I have a pretty structured plan as to what and when I am going to post each week. Sometimes little things throw my train off the thought track... But sometimes...

A kinda big thing does.

Kinda. Maybe. Sort of...

Chrissy (MOH) emailed me this afternoon. She had been scrolling through Wedding Bee (my wedding addiction) and happened to notice something. That something was this:

 Image Source / Screen shot from Wedding Bee

Know what that is?? It's me! And Carl!! It's my bio on Wedding Bee, and it was featured as the Bio of the Week! How cool is that? I feel like the little kid whose teacher just gave her a gold star and a cookie.I had been working on updating it to make it shiny... and the work paid off! I even got a special blog badge for being featured. Seriously... I say to thee once again - how cool is that?!

When I left this morning, it wasn't there... this afternoon, I just skimmed my Google Reader feed and I must have just missed it. I checked the time that it was posted and it must have been put up somewhere between my morning website check and my lunchtime newsfeed catch up! I'm so glad Chrissy emailed me!

So now, I intend to have a celebratory beer and relax all night with some Big Bang Theory and snuggles with Carl.