It's c-c-c-cold outside!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! Mine was so busy I didn't even have time to blog while I was off, I did get a ton of stuff done for the wedding though! Including my first dress fitting! Yay!

It is so cold outside, Florida in 30's, yay! I just love it!!! I love this kind of weather, even though everyone says its a novelty for me since I have lived in sunny Florida my whole life. I love the cold so much I have been trying to convince Dan for a few months to move up north, I just cant handle the Florida heat, and would love real seasons. Its nice, I have been able to use all my winter coats all week, its almost like dress-up to me since I never get to pull those out unless I go on vacation. I just got a new one from Victoria's Secret on sale for $59, couldn't handle the snow like my ski or Lands' End jacket but its pretty and looks nice for work.

I hope it warms up next week, we have our engagement photo session on Tuesday...outside. Speaking of, I am totally freaking out, I have no idea what we should wear!! Ahhhhh!! Better come up with something fast!

Stay warm out there!!

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...