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!!

The most amazing breakfast ever

So I have been MIA for a bit. And I feel bad. But don’t worry, this will end soon…….(the invites are almost done..sneak peak to follow soon) I do plan to write every other day, I love writing my blog and I take soo many photos I want to share…..I am backed logged in photos and I am almost positive none of these will make it on here. Sucks being as busy as I am.

BUT I needed to talk about this.

This past Saturday I went out for breakfast with my fiancé at a restaurant called Fresh Café, it is owned and operated by three Winnipeg sisters. According to their site,  their goal is “To provide those seeking fresh, local, all-natural, organic breakfast and lunches with a convenient, vibrant daytime eatery that promotes a continuous, healthy lifestyle.” and they do exactly that.

They have a great selection in breakfast, lunch and juice/smoothies.

We both started with bold Kicking Horse Coffee. I added just a tiny bit of raw sugar.

I ordered the ‘two vita eggs with meat’ the meat was turkey sausage(no filler or preservatives). Have you tried turkey sausage before? I hadn't till then, and let me just say……..IT’S AMAZING!!

That in the bottom right hand corner is homemade blueberry jam. Best jam I have ever had

YUMMY!! I am obsessed to say the least.

My fiancé had the special Salmon cakes with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce top with a side salad. I was so distracted by my amazing breakfast that I forgot to take photos..I suck.

Question for you guys, does anyone else notice that vita eggs(free run) yolk colour is just much more bold? They taste like happy chickens! I can’t get over how awesome they are. My fiancé and I have been switching all our meat to free range…..this is a whole other blog. I promise to talk about this soon.

My next blog will post some photos of this AMAZING shower my bestest friend and maid of honour Jennifer threw me last Sunday. But if you can’t wait…please go and see her blog about it.

Between Periods

I have been a bad BAD blogger. Where I have been? Everywhere. Soo many things happening. Life is so jam packed now that this is what happens on a night such as tonight.

Today was Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Vancouver VS Boston. I am a HUGE Canucks fan!!!

My Day

I went to work, worked out, grocery shopped, made dinner.

Period one: While period is happening, I am working on a clients invitations.

Between periods: I vacuum, sweep and feed Tia.

Period Two: I continue working on invites.

Between periods: I put a facial mask on and make spiced carrot muffins.

Period Three: Still working on invites and take out muffins. But it was all worth it...why BECAUSE THE CANUCKS WON GAME ONE IN THE LAST 19 SECONDS OF THIRD PERIOD. LOVE IT!

SEESH boy am I just tired writing this.

What else have I been doing? Here is some hints.

 What's this?

 Lot's of bubble wrap?

 If you haven't guessed!!!!! My stock for my wedding invitations are in. But first must get my clients done!

 What is this you ask? Well this my friends is my NEW KitchenAid Mixer! A gift from my soon to be Mother in-law and Sister in-law!! THANK YOU!!

AND THIS? Well this was just amazing! I made this for my fiances special dinner on Saturday. Lemon-Blueberry Crumble Cake!!

Probably one of the most exciting things this week however have been this!

WINNIPEG HAS A NHL HOCKEY TEAM AGAIN!

I can't believe it still!!! May they be called whatever, all that matters is the NHL is back! I can't wait to be at games with my dad like we used to when I was younger and to create new memories with my fiance and younger brother. In my family this is an emotional moment. May seem silly to you non-hockey fans. But for me, and for us, it is EVERYTHING.

Bling, Pearl and Elegance

Sorry I have been MIA for a few days. I have soo much to tell you. But really no time. I promise soon.

This is probably bad, but since I got engaged I spend a lot of time researching wedding EVERYTHING at work. So what am I doing today.....jewelry.

I will be wearing pearls everything. I think a bride in pearls is classic! I am also loving handmade things. Something I won't see everywhere.

Here are some ideas.

Necklace

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Earnings

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What do you think?