what we doin

i saw a friend of mine last night who asked me how my blog was going - shout out to LM! :-)
i had to think and remember i had not updated it in a while. I guess I've been busy, started school, but it's not hard yet b/c it's early in the semester. Love this part of the school year. And my one class is taught by a Chinese prof who believes in lecturing for 3 hours straight, so the reading that is required is not discussed in the class... at this point I'm thinking, why read it?! Word is it's the easiest A in the program - saaaaawwweeet!

What we are working on:

• invites - FH's cousin, and BM drew us up a diddy of a pine cone design we will be using on our invites. not sharing the pic - no chance for copywright infringement (is that right?) and want to be a surrrprise!
• decor - it's ongoing. been buying tall vases from Michael's for part of centerpieces - got 50% coupons and help from my FIL's!
• ceremony - how long (25 min-ish), readers, unity candle?, much much more... Starting this very large discussion with PW in couple weeks at next counseling session
• guest list - think we're done. ahhhhhhhh. need some more addresses - not too many. have them all in label form.
• music - mainly ceremony.... what are we going to do. this is a priority.
• wedding party gifts - for me, my bridesmaids and brideman - i'm nearly done... I'm so excited for my theme of gifts & surprises that i already can't wait to give to them!
• guest book - friend of FH family has home in the Keys and has purchased a book for us to possibly use, which sounds exactly like what we want! waiting on that...
• shower labels for MOH - DONE! bringing them to her on Tuesday.
• my accessories - i need a hair comb piece. I'm seeing my stylist on 9/12 and i'd like to have something to bring with me that day. Need to look NOW! i found one i really like at DB, but it's $50, and i don't want to spend that much... Got my corset, shoes, and veil in hand already!

Ok, i'm exhausted. half from that list, half from drinking wine last night and going to bed too late.

109 days!

As The Knot reminds me, there is 109 days until our wedding! All very exciting as well as nerve racking (sp?). I started my Fall semester this week, which means I will have school on the brain as well as wedding planning & work from now until the Thursday before we are married (12/10). WOW. It's an insane thing to think about, but also so exciting that it's getting closer and things can start to be planned more.

This past weekend I worked on centerpiece ideas with my FSIL, and we (mostly she) came up with some great ideas! Now the shopping for what's necessary begins. We are going to be doing something like pictured here with twigs and berries (haha, i said it!).. with pine cones anchoring the bottom of the vase (we didn't have any to play with). These will be on my high top tables (our cocktail reception is mixing high tops & traditional rounds). We have an idea too with some birch wood that will incorporated into the design...

My FH has officially asked everyone to stand up and we are set with a FULL bridal party - yay! People have started booking rooms - last I checked, 15 rooms have already been booked at the Carleton Hotel! I'm so excited for this, as I love the hotel and the fact we are able to do a "breakfast" the following day for those that are staying.

I am now on the hunt for a hairpiece.. I'm looking for a smaller comb to only go in the side of my hair - I am wearing it back/up, but do not want too large of a bling bling in my hair - something elegant & discreet. My dress should be in next month, so I feel like I will have more to pull together once I see it again and will gain some inspiration.

out.

where to register...

FH and i spent few hours in Macy's yesterday tidying up our registry... He got the gun and I headed over to lingerie to try on some corset/boustierres (no clue spelling and don't feel like looking it up). I had no luck, they had like 2 items... I want to get a few things to take with me when my dress comes in to see what I like best. The search continues.

We then headed over to Sears, where we thought we wanted to register as well. After walking through the store, where there was 1000 employees working (have no clue how they can afford that?!), we were stuck with not having too much we want from there! I really want an air mattress, since we only have a 1BR apartment - i always have to borrow my FSIL's air mattress when we have guests... so that was the main reason for my registry at Sears. Not really a good reason! So we decided to scratch that store, and to to Target instead - they have everything that was on my Sears registry and are so much more convienent... and they have more stuff too and at reasonable prices.

So, it's final: Macy's, C&B, Target. all with very easy on-line access! I also have been updating our website which i'm about to add to this site - the info is out there people! no excuses!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/JamieLamm&JoshuaTate

4 months 4 months 4 months!

Holy majoly - but very exciting! I think of 4 months ago [April] and that doesn't seem too far away, so it is nuts to me that in 4 months we'll be getting married. Today I'm sending in the retainer letter & deposit to my florist (very excited about the direction we are going). My FH and I are going to have a date night on Friday - our pastor has given us the 'orders' and we must report back to him on Monday, our next session of counseling. We are at the point where we are going to start discussing ceremony and timelines and all that other stuff. I went to Borders after work yesterday to look for a Florida Keys coffee table book to use for our guest book - no such luck - nothing even close! I am going to have to order one online and hope for the best that it will be good. I was hoping to be able to skim through it to make sure it's what we'd want... but there are some choices online.

Other things I have been thinking about and working with others on: menus, itinerary for evening [my aunt], programs [FSIL], and FH has started working on music - starting by initial reception music... I told him I'm in control and on top of the late night music, ha!

whatimadoin

i'm on a 2 week break from school. although I am still working, I feel like I am vacation. I have begun to work on some projects. I have assigned my mom the "welcome bag" job for the hotel guests - she has already purchased a small item to include inside. I have given her the direction I am looking for with them, and I feel good that they will not be a last minute thing. I just placed an order for "oatmeal" brown paper gift bags with handles [in bulk] that I will be using for them. I also need them for project #2 I am working on and that is a surprise I don't want to discuss b/c I think some of my BMs may read this blog from time to time... no big deal, just something I've thought up for my shower. no more hints.

I went to Michaels yesterday - I was trying to avoid it b/c i want to buy everything - but had to stop at SuperTarget for some food (Atkins day 6!) - I have a new obsession with rubber stamps and homemade cards. I for a long time do not really purchase "regular cards" and like to use blank ones anyhow, but now I just bought some very nice cardstock and envelopes with some cute stamps to use as my thank-yous... I made a purchase a couple months back of 50 cards for thank yous from Home Goods (wayyy good price) but I will be needing more than 50! Right now I have about 120 thank you cards including the cards I purchased from Michaels yesterday to make. I want stamps for everything now. Birthdays, thank yous, Miss yous, thinking of yous, etc...... I realize there is a whole sophisticated world of rubber stamp card making, but i am exciting to try to enter it! :-) i want every rubber stamp to my disposal! Could I get this good?:

so it begins!

So i can write.. i have things to say. I started my "diet" on Tuesday - it's my combo atkins/south beach diet. I did this for Emily's wedding last year, without working out, and lost about 10 lbs?! maybe a LITTLE more? SOoooo, with working out, b/c I am going to add that in (although my weight was ok, I was flabby - particularly my arms) and I want to be CHISELED yo! Day 2 was rough, yesterday was OK - but I drank wine, a NO NO, but it was my last day of summer school, I attended a wake of a friend that tragically died, and I was having dinner with another friend I haven't seen in a while... 2 glasses of vino was in the cards!

So on my lunch today out of boredom i decided to check out Payless for some shoes, and I ended up buying my wedding shoes for $7!! I love them too -they are adorable with a good size heel, and comfortable enough! I'm sure I could have found ones i love MORE (i've been eying some peep toe ones on zappos) but why spend $60 on shoes you do not see, and will not wear again?! I'd rather spend that money on somehting that WILL be seen!!

Less than 5 months to go!

this past weekend we hosted a party for the bike races that happen in our town. Alex was here from Philly for his 30th birthday. He and I went to Oak Park Friday night to check out 19thCC and restaurant, and he met my caterer. I wanted him to get a good feeling for the venue to help with decor. FH & I had a counseling session last night, soon we will start discussing the ceremony, length, music (no clue!!), vision of wedding, etc... That's the fun part!

My "knot" 5 months to go email said to start talking about groomsmen's outfits and groom's outfit and order... we still do not have a full wedding party!