4 months and counting!!

Today the wedding is officially four months away! I can’t believe how fast time has flown by! I got so much done the first two months of being engaged that I haven’t done that much recently, only little things here and there, but now I have to kick it into high gear!

Here is what is done:
Booked Venue for ceremony and reception
Booked Photographer
Bought dress
Picked out menu
Booked Florist
Booked DJ, Jazz band, and string trio
Bought undergarments
Bought and embellished cake topper
Picked out Bridesmaids’ dresses
Picked out flowers
Bought fancy address stamp
Made save the dates
Sent out save the dates
Bought groomsmen’s, Danny’s and dad’s ties
Bought toasting flutes
Bought cake server set
Bought bridesmaids shoes
Got fancy boxes for card box
Booked Videographer
Picked out invitations
Got candy buffet jars, scopes, tongs and bags
Designed/Bought Bridesmaids flip-flops
Had bridesmaids main gift made
Pick out table linens
Bought supplies for place cards
Bought parasols for all the ladies, green for guests, pink for bridesmaids and ivory for me
Book hair and makeup
Bought supplies for one of the favors
Bought chair sashes
Registered
Picked out and ordered wedding rings
Bought favor boxes
Designed wedding jewelry (earrings, necklace and pendant) with jeweler
Blocked hotel rooms for guests

This is what I have left to do:
Pick up jewelry
Order Invitations
Engagement photo session (January 12th)
Ask someone to be Officiant
Tasting of menu and signature drink
Book honeymoon
Buy labels for favors and candy buffet
Make candle favors
Put together favors with boxes
Make place cards and holders
Buy wine and labels for wine favors
Make song list
Get crinoline from friend as something borrowed
Dress fitting
Buy shoes
Order Bridesmaids dresses
Buy unity candle
Make bride and groom seat signs
Make programs
Make menus
Buy more bubbles if needed
Order cake and groom’s cake
Send out invitations
Make card box
Buy candy for candy buffet
Make program/bubble holder
Buy Groomsmen’s gift
Decide on hair
Buy Dan’s gift

Still a lot to do! And I am sure I am missing some things too!

Registry: China, flatware, and stemware

So with only 4 months left Danny and I finally registried and decided on china patterns, flatware, and stemware. I was glad he actually had an opinion and joined me in selecting, helps me not second guess myself. There are so many nice choices out there it was hard to narrow it down, I found 4 I liked and Dan vetoed two of them, then we agreed on one. Since we already have everyday and fine china, both very light, we decided to register for some with a little more color.

Here is the stuff we have now.

Vintage in Ivory
Royal Doulton Naples Platinum

And for especially girly events, like tea parties and showers, and for Christmas I inherited these...
Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles

Lenox Christmas

The New Ones

Pfaltzgraff Villa de Luna

Lenox Vintage Jewel

And as an engagement present we already got 3 sets of the Villa de Luna and all the cute matching stuff...a napkin holder, canister set, salt and pepper shakers, trivets, cookie jar, cream and sugar, butter dish, pasta jar and my favorite the parmesan cheese server, so cute, I love when china has a ton of matching stuff!

We also got our everyday flatware as an engagement gift(they discontinued the one I already had) so we are all set for Thanksgiving!

Lenox Esquire Everyday Flatware

Gorham Ribbon Edge Frost Fine Flatware

Lenox Firelight Platinum Crystal

What we already had
Wallace that was discontinued

Pier 1 clearance special, cheap but they worked for now

Cant wait to have a nice dinner party with all our new stuff!

Our First Thanksgiving

Dan and I are hosting our first Thanksgiving this year and we are so excited! Since its our first attempt we decided to make it a small one, my mom and dad, my sister, her husband and their three girls, and my grandmother will be the guests. We got a Turkey roasting electric oven to keep the oven empty for everything else, brand new Lenox flatware from our registry and a beautiful harvest table runner to go on the second table since we will be having one for the food and one for the guests. The menu is set and all the shopping is complete.

The Menu:
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Stuffing
Corn Pudding
Squash Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Onions Au Gratin
Crescent Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie
Peanut Butter Pie

We also took this opportunity to stock our bar, which is the perfect time since all the gift sets are out for the liquors! Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, Gin, Tequila, white wine, red wine, 4 kinds of beer and all the mixers, plus what we need to make the pumpkin pie martini again. And couldn't forget the eggnog!

Hope it all goes well, as does everyone's Thanksgiving!

The Engagement Party

The Henwoods threw us an amazing engagement party November 7th for the entire wedding party. It was so nice, they did such a great job and we had such a wonderful time...as did everyone! All the groomsmen and bridesmaids and their significant others made it and everyone got to meet each other. I thought that would be nice so the rehearsal wasn't the first time. Great food, great drinks and great friends! Cant beat that! Thank you so much for such a great party Amy! It was so sweet and the attention to detail was amazing, the mini chicken cordon bleus, petite quiches and the yummy Cabernet were just perfect, you guys know me so well! And thank you to Carrie for making the gorgeous wedding cookies! What a wonderful party that we will never forget!

Dan and I enjoying the party.

The hostesses my bridesmaids, Carrie and Amy

Everyone having a good time

All the bridesmaids

All the groomsmen with Danny and my brother-in-law

My girls Tara and Carrie and I having some fun

Pumpkin Pie Martini

We had a cocktail party for my friend Tara's birthday on Friday and I made this fabulous drink for it! It was such a hit I will be making them again when we host Thanksgiving for the first time this year! It was such a festive orange color and really tasted just like pumpkin pie! Yummy!!

Pumpkin Pie Martini
Mix 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka, 1 oz. pumpkin liqueur, ½ oz. Bailey's Irish Cream, a splash butterscotch Schnapps and ice. Shake, then pour. For added "pie" effect, rim the glass with fresh lemon juice and crushed graham crackers.

I found pumpkin spice liqueur at ABC liquors and it was perfect for this recipe! Next time I will not put so much vodka in, they were a little strong, not that anyone complained!

Reception Linens

Having such bright colors for the wedding, I wanted the tablescapes to be very vibrant against the dark wood of the room, so I had been looking for some ideas, and its starting to come together I think...

Here is the dark wood room, but I am having them bring in round tables...


I liked some of these tablescapes...



Here is the table cloth we picked out from the hotels linen book...


and I loved this idea with the wood chairs...


so I bought these chair sashes on ebay, hope they tie nicely...

Ah Trees!

I came into work this morning to a nice surprise, my office planted a gorgeous new tree on the south entrance where I come in everyday. It’s such a nice change, I just love it, what a difference new trees and plants make to an empty yard! It has such pretty fall colors which is rare in Florida since we don’t really get a fall in the way others do. What a nice way to welcome fall, my favorite season! I will have to see what the plaque says when I leave, I didn't notice it until I saw the picture I took.

Place cards project

I came across these adorable place cards on one of the wedding blogs that I love and saved it in hopes that I would be able to create something like it for my reception. Last week I started on the project, purchasing this cardstock and these brads to go along with my green and pink paisley wedding theme. I hope it turns out!!

Tiffany's Baby Shower

My good friend Tiffany is having her first baby in December, a little girl. All of us are super excited and since I am in the same building at work with Tiffany, I decided to throw her a work shower in addition to her regular baby shower. Her nursery is going to be decorated in all ladybugs, so I figured a ladybug themed shower was perfect! Here are some pictures from my phone, I took pictures with my camera also, but have yet to download them.

The ladybug invitation

This is the executive conference room I had to transform into a ladybug girlie baby shower !

These were the centerpieces and favors, they came out pretty cute I thought and everyone liked that they got to take one home!

The favor tag



This was one of my gifts to Tiffany, its a rocker for the baby, it plays four different learning songs. When I saw this little ladybug I couldnt resist!


My other present, the diaper cake, I have to do a diaper cake for every shower, I just love them!


And here is the ladybug cake I made complete with cake balls antennas and feet.

The shower was a big success, I think it turned out so cute! However I did underestimate how hard it is to do a shower away from home, I made a lot of trips and had to get creative with the food since I wouldnt have an oven to use. I was shocked at how much ladybug stuff is out there, this clothesline was so fun to make with all the outfits that are out there, just a couple from the clothesline...

Fall Wardrobe Basics

For some reason I have been all about getting my wardrobe ready for Fall this year, so much more so than I have ever done in the past. I have just fallen in love with all the purples, greens and browns that are out there, so I decided this weekend I would go shopping for some Fall basics. I found so many tops I loved at Ann Taylor Loft, and right now they are having a huge sweater sale and a coupon promotion so its hard to pass up! I got way too much purple, most likely because I fell in love with this Badgley Mischka purple bag from Nordstrom's about a month ago and decided to order it on Saturday since they were having free shipping...But I figured I can finally wear those purple flats I got this Spring. Gap was having a great sale also, the light brown sweater was only $19.99! Throw in some clearance taupe pants from Banana Republic and grey ones from Express and I think I am all set for work basics! Not sure if the new blush shoes and green purse are fall colors, but I will try to work them in somehow! Yay Fall my favorite season, just a week and a day away!

Engagement Party

One of my bridesmaids, Amy, is throwing us an engagement party and its going to be a Tiffany blue theme!

I love these invitations...

and I thought these cupcake toppers would be so cute to use with box shaped blue cupcakes...
and yesterday I got this dress at Nordstroms...

Labor Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful labor day weekend! We had a very eventful one, all last week I was sick with a cold so I was getting over that most of the weekend. I was sick starting Monday night and stayed home Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday I came back to work and my boss told me to go back home. Then Friday was a vacation day and then the three day weekend so I haven't worked in a week! Wow! We painted the house a nice earthy color called Arid Plains, planted lots of new plants, had Dan's fantasy football annual party at our house on Saturday and then I attended Tiffany's Baby shower on Sunday, Monday was relax and laundry day going out to lunch and dinner then shopping for Carrie's birthday present and making cupcakes for her birthday lunch today. Busy Busy!

Some pictures of what we accomplished this weekend...

House Before

House After

New fish pot that saved us from the no plants can survive where the rain water drains off the roof.

What a horrible week!

Last Thursday I got an early morning phone call that my grandfather had passed away, he was 89, had not been doing well for a while now, and we had been "preparing" for this, but no matter what you do it is still hard. Yes he lived a long happy life, was right here close to all my family and he is now with my grandmother who died when I was 7, but even when people tell you those things it really doesnt help, at least for right now. I think the hardest thing was seeing my dad so upset, I have never seen him so upset. I think as men get older they get more emotional, or maybe it was that he hid it well when I was little, but it just killed my sister and I. My grandpa was always there for us and will be missed very much. I just love this picture of him when he was young, he had won a cutest iceman contest, iceman, ahh the olden days!