I need a favor...a wedding favor

Help Me! I am stuck! I am close to breaking the budget and I don't even know why!!

On Saturday I had my consultation with a florist for our centerpieces. We came up with something awesome, not overly pricey but still look's amazing. However, I did double the original amount I wanted to spend on them. The amount I wanted to spend wasn't really a realistic amount for what I wanted. So I have forgiven myself. But I am dipping into the favor budget. Now I am left trying to find something for favors that isn't tacky, but unique. Being caught up with this task, a question donned on me, Do favors really matter? Do people expect them?

First I wanted to do a Candy Buffet

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This can range anywhere from $150 up. The place I called said if it is a favor, I should spend between $350-$500. To me that is a little steep, though I do love this idea.

Then I came up with this: Whirly Pop Favors

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For 150-180 of these, it will range between $250 - $350.

With lots of research online, I also came across charity favors where you donate money in your guests name to a local charity. And to be honest, I do like this idea. I have never really cared about favors at weddings in the past. Though I would remember unique ones, such as a candy buffet or if I got a whirly pop. But at most I have gotten little bags of mints. The most unique I got was black scrapbooked bag with personalized m&m's in it. I loved those.

I keep coming back to the question, how important are wedding favors? And what do guests really expect? Would you feel disappointed if you found out that money was donated in your name instead of getting mints or candy?

I am not trying to be cheap, but I want to spend money on thing's I feel that matter.

Help!!!!!!

Confessions

How is everyone's weekend so far? Mine has been great!

This morning the fiance made me breakfast!!! He has made me scrambled eggs in the past(once) with not much success and french toast. But somehow made over easy eggs PERFECT. I think there is a conspiracy here.

Free Range Vita Eggs, Turkey Bacon, Roasted Rosemary Hash Browns and Whole Wheat Bread with Organic Kicking Horse Coffee. DELISH!

Last night I went to see the last Harry Potter movie. I LOVE Harry Potter. In fact though I knew the ending......I still teared up. Yeah I am that much of a nerd. Since I am already admitting to some of most admirable traits, here is some more confessions. 

Eye Brows: What is the big deal about this confession you say? We all have eye brows? Well I don't, well sorta. Being a natural redhead, my eye brows can go two different ways. 1. They will be red or redish brown. 2 They will be a transparent blonde! Guess which one I have?

Growing up, I always hated my red hair, in fact as an adult I coloured my hair in all ranges of colours from reddish purple with blond highlights to black. I had black hair for several years!(and it cost a pretty penny to have it changed). The real trend was I always went dark, why? Because I could dye my eye brows darker to match and POOF I'd have eye brows.  Just a few years ago, I finally went back to my natural hair colour. But then I realized.....eye brows? what am I gonna do? Well I go a light brown, unfortunately....sometimes the women at my spa don't realize how easy my brows will take the colour and how easy my skin will absorb the colour and for a few days after.......I kinda look like Burt or Ernie.

Reality TV: This is a bad one, and one I shouldn't tell people so openly...but I really really REALLY have a problem. It's like my crack. My fiance says it rots my brain. I watch pretty much any reality show there is. Even if I don't really like them. I use them for background noise when I design or cook. It's almost like a safety blanket. How horrible is that? I can't even list all the shows I watch because I'd be here forever. It's just plain horrible.

Corn on the Cob: After my previous confession this one is the least harmless and the most delicious. When corn on the cob comes into season, I eat it almost every day. It is my one true love. In fact I am now craving some!

Walk-In Closet: This is actually quite embarrassing, and not in the way the reality TV shows are. It's that it has gotten WAY out of hand and needs professional help. I have gone through some pretty drastic body changes in the past 5 years. And haven't gotten rid of any of the clothes that I have had to purchase through these changes. And that's not the worst part, it just is everywhere! My fiance has half the closet, I the other. And I can't find anything.

My goal this weekend is to make 3 piles. Keep, Donate and Toss whatever is too worn to donate. Please wish me luck!!

Well I am off to the florists about some centerpieces and then the gym later!!

BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!! Check out what came in the mail!!

My silk flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't show you guys the whole thing because I have extended family that read this blog and want to surprise them the day of. But just know I really want to. So this is a tease....

Question: What is your confession? Anything has horrible as a jam packed closet or the love of trash tv?

Wakeboarding and Blog Changes

Last Friday I took a day off for vacation, A group of us went to this new facility in Manitoba for wakeboarding. Adrenaline Adventures is purely awesome! We watched the first round of competing and I was just wowed!  We then went to the beach portion and tossed the ball. Good friends and a great time!

Photo taken by the lovely A C Green

Photo taken by the lovely A C Green

Photo taken by the lovely A C Green

Photo taken by the lovely A C Green

We then followed it up with a great dinner at Fresh Cafe. I devoured a bison burger and yam fries. I was starving from all the sun that day!

Over the next few days I will be updating the blog, I have added a new comment program(which has over lapped any current comments, kinda sucks, but now I can properly  reply to all your comments). I will also be creating a better About Page. Also adding a Link page so that they aren't on the far right. Things be changing :)

Tomorrow I am going with my soon-to-be sister-in-law to a florists to talk about centerpieces. I know I had planned to create my own, however I am feeling a little stressed out with all the DIY projects I had planned.

Question: Did you end up canceling any DIY projects that you had planned for your wedding? If so why?

I am back and here to stay!

Invites are out, wedding planning is becoming less distracting and now it's time to just sit back and see all of it come together. I think my majority of stress was my invites. Designing wedding invites is my job, and with that being the case, the pressure of them having to be perfect weighed down on me. I also kept trying to do all of them by myself. Now, one thing I can recommend is if you are doing a lot of DIY items for your wedding, don't take it on all by yourself. Reach out to your lovely ladies and family for help. I did, and boy am I happy that I did.

I really want to show you the invites, but due to the mail strike they are only just being received by my guests. Once I know most of the guests have gotten them, I'll post photos. They turned out better then I imagined. My fiance loves them, and for a guy that makes me really happy.

Last Friday us Canadians celebrated Canada Day, and it was a blast! I wanted to start this day off with a new challenge....poached eggs! With much research, I found some great blogs and videos on how to cook the perfect poached eggs.

I made Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict!

You can find the recipe here along with the instructional video on how to cook poached eggs. I love love the Food Wishes Blog. Seriously amazing.

 Look at those eggs! I love vita eggs sooo much, the yolk is just beyond amazing.

These turned out great, and I will be making these again for sure.

Today I received my blog giveaway prize that I got from the lovely Lindsey at A Running Tale. My fiance was so excited about the maple syrup, that he opened my parcel and used it before even telling me it arrived! Thank you soooo much Lindsey!!! I can't wait to make recipes from Vegan on the cheap cookbook. Looks AWESOME!

Now off to watch some Battlestar Galatica with a glass of wine. No work for me tomorrow(I took a vacation day) and have plenty of things I want to wake up bright and early to do!!

Damask Dream

When I first got engaged I knew right away that our wedding would focus around this beautiful bold pattern. It was exactly what I want. The pattern will be black and white. I will accent it all with red roses.I won't go crazy with the pattern, just enough, but not too much

Here is my wedding inspiration board.

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Shoes Shoes Shoes

Today has been a very long day. I worked all day, went to the gym and did my back workout with some cardio. Came home, designed a Thank You Card for a client and then a Wedding Invitation for another client. Somehow between all that I managed to make myself a quick dinner.
 

 Grilled herb chicken, baked garlic/paprika sweet potatoes, steamed kale and roasted red pepper.

 I also managed to try another wine from the festival!

 This one was sooo great! I love it!

Look at all the colours!

I have been researching shoes I wanted for my wedding forever! I was pretty much looking for shoes before I even looked at dresses. I 'heart' shoes! And the best part about them being my 'wedding' shoes is that I can spend a load of money and my fiance will be okay with it *bonus*.

I have gone back and forth about the height of the shoe, my fiance is 6'3 and I am 5'4.5(that half inch is very important)...that's almost a foot difference. Jennifer has tried to convince me to be more "sensible" with my shoe choice. but let's be honest, nothing about me is sensible, so height it is!

Colour....well the colours of our wedding is a black and white damask pattern. My bouquets are red roses. I could do a red shoe, or a Christian Louboutin black peep-toe shoe. But I'd have to order the Louboutin's online as Winnipeg is too small of a city to have a store carry them. And that makes me nervous as I need to road test them.

With much deliberation, I have picked my shoe. And they are beyond perfect!

 Can you tell I have been wearing them all ready?

Looooove them!!

It's Wrinkled

Happy Good Friday Everyone!!

I hope for those of you that are off today that you are having a wonderful day!!

Earlier this week I got a phone call from my Bridal Dress Salon...and guess what?

MY DRESS IS HERE!!

I couldn't believe it's here already! When I ordered it at the end of January they told me it would be 6-8mths, which btw totally freaked me out as my wedding was in 8 mths!! So the fact it is here now is fantastic.

Last night, with my soon to be mother-in-law, baba(my fiance's grandma), Georgette(soon to be sister-in-law) and her crew(Georgette's two adorable daughters and amazingly cute little boy) we all went to try on my new dress. My first reaction after it was on was.........

It's wrinkled

My dress has pleating across the top, so when the pleating is going into every direction then it's supposed to...yeah.

Plus since I have been working out lot's, I have lost the chest that I have allllllways had. Even when I was 110lbs. But I suppose now that I am working out and burning fat....they have left me. I will need to have these bra cups with padding sewn into my dress, as well as the straps will be shortened and taken in.

The bottom of my dress has pick ups, but because of the wrinkles.....it was just bunches of fabric.
I know I love my dress and I know how it look's on me. But the excitement quickly left when I saw it. I also know that when the alterations are done and it's steamed. It will be just as it looks in my head.

Now let's talk about this

   Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

        This recipe is from allrecipes.com

I stacked the pancakes with cut strawberries, kiwis and blackberries.

Poured pure maple syrup on top

 Yummmy. These photos make me want to make it again tomorrow.

Yep, making it again tomorrow!

Have a great long weekend!

Six months from today...where I am at!

Six months from today I will be waking up probably tired, nervous and excited. I will be almost ready to walk down an aisle that will most likely feel like it never ends towards the most amazing person! Yep if you haven't guessed it is the six month mark to my WEDDING!!!

So where am I at? Emotionally I am not too nervous. I feel comfortable with how much I have done thus far. I know we have a bunch more to go....but I am content with that.

I used a similar list like Heather @ Hangry Pants. She is getting married a day before me! So check her out!

To Do:

• Set Date
• Find Venu
• Church
• Photographer
• Engagement Photos
• Baptized
• Caterer
• Cake/Cupcakes
• Guest List (this should be done, and it almost is)
• My dress
• My shoes
• My veil(it will look like this, but best friend is making it for me, have to order fabric)
• My jewelry
• Tuxes
• Bridesmaid dress(they will be black with a ivory sash)
• Flower Girls dresses
• Invitations(DIY, they are designed, just working on mock-up)
• Music for Ceremony
• Music for Reception
• Transportation for day of
• Centerpieces(DIY and in mid process of deciding....help me pick!)
• Runners for tables
• Wedding Bands
• Bridal Party/Groomsmen Presents
• Wedding Programs(DIY)
• Hair appointment
• Make up appointments
• Hair trial
• Dress Fittings
• Hotel booked for the night of the wedding
• Table Seating chart (DIY)
• Table Cards(DIY)
• Menu
• Menu Cards(DIY) 
• Decide if the venue will provide alcohol or us
• Candy Buffet(Possible DIY)
• Wedding Rehearsal
• Honeymoon (the big debate)

I know it look's like I have a lot left. But most I already know what I want or where I am getting it. SO it isn't too bad. How do you feel I am doing?

Did my leg workout today! Most of these are all 3 sets of 12 reps

• Squats on smith machine
• Squats, jump, squat and kick....some ridiculous exercise Kim made up JK (Love you Kim)
• Push backs on a leg press....I know right?
• Hamstring curl on machine
• Calf raises on machine(this will be to failure)

At the end of that my legs are pretty mush mush, for cardio I will only walk on a incline of 6 with a speed of 3.5 on the treadmill.

What better way to finish my workout then with a GREEN MONSTER! I have talked about these before. Today's was like last time, minus the blueberries. These things are like a meal. SO good!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...*drool*

Also I am super excited and proud to say that my trainer Kim placed 2nd in the short bikini category at MABBA's this year!!!!!!!

Wedding Social..........Say What?

Being a Manitoban we have Wedding Socials…now I am sure anyone who isn’t from Manitoba is like what is that? What it is, is an event or giant party that the engaged couple throws at usually a local community centre hall, has a hired DJ, sells cheap alcohol and has a silent auction. We sell tickets, which are usually $10 and any money we make from the night helps toward the wedding. I am not sure what the history or why it’s only people from Manitoba that to do this. But we do!

These are usually held about 6months before the wedding. That’s not saying that they won’t be held before or later then that. That just seems to be average.

Now planning a Wedding Social is a lot of work. And honestly is just another stress before the wedding. (As if we needed anymore) But being a good Manitoban we will be having one. Our date is set for April 16th. And its coming fast! I am currently in the stage of organizing all the silent auction prizes. Back in the day we would find lots of local business that would donate. Now however, it requires the generous donations of friends and family. We also may purchase some extra add-ons to the prizes ourselves.

Being the graphic designer I am. I designed our tickets and will also create a banner for the social. My fiancé and myself are large nerds and I wanted to bring that into our wedding somehow. I decided the social would be the place as its less formal and it’s okay if our relatives don’t understand it.

Check out my fun 8-bit ticket design. The banner will have the same theme. I think I will even add font on each side that will say “Player 1 press start, Player 2 press start”.

Yeah I am super nerdy!!!

Engagement Photos!

After we were engaged I wanted to first book my venue for the reception and then find a photographer. Now designing birth announcements, family photo/holiday cards I have had a good introduction into local photographers.  I always really enjoyed working with client's photos from one photographer. And always joked that she would be "my" wedding photographer.

Note to any couples out there looking for wedding photographers, if you feel the photographer isn't really "into" doing your wedding, then say no, walk away and don't look back. They may look good on the internet, but if something doesn't feel right when you meet them, Scrap em! Trust me, best advice ever.

I contacted the photographer, she emailed me back quickly, seemed so happy to do my wedding and we met in the upcoming week. We both loved her just as much as we loved her work. I can't stress how happy I am with this decision. Jennifer Lee has been AMAZING! Her work speaks for herself!

I have red *orange* hair, so I was wanting to take photos in the fall. Well living in Winnipeg, we can NEVER predict the weather, even more so in later days of October. It can go from leaves just turning orange/yellow to snow being on the ground and never leaving for MONTHS!  So with fingers and toes crossed we booked our engagement photo date. Due to gross wet and cold weather we had to rebook. Finally when the date came, IT WAS PERFECT!

Those of you out there debating the whole "engagement photo" idea. Here is my advice, do it! I wouldn't have if it didn't come in our wedding package. But I am soo glad we did. It gives you a GREAT feel for how your photographer will be on your wedding day. It's just one less thing not to worry about. It's "practice" as Jennifer Lee told us in our first meeting.

Here is a few of our engagement photos!