A Much Needed Face Lift

I've been trying to hold out until we were completely finished, but alas, I'm impatient.

Remember when I redid our kitchen counter tops while Rob was away on business without consulting him? Well, he was skeptical at first, as I would have been as well. But then, it started to grow on him. And then, he did just started doing this

That's right. The sneaky sneaks who painted our house before we moved in painted over the existing laminate backsplash. Which explains why we couldn't figure out what material that part of the wall was. It too was the same repulsive shade of yellow as the counters. 

So once we had ruined our walls, we had no choice but to continue. So we went to Lowes and picked out some mosaic tile backsplash. It took multiple trips to Lowes to get it all figured out. We hoped the 12" tile sheet would fit perfect, but it was a smidge too big. But cutting off a row of tiles left too much space. So we had to get creative. We ended up buying a second type of tile and mixing them together into a pattern that perfectly the space. Way to go us. 

Ignore the fact that we did not do our dishes first. We know. But that's the end result. Two rows of the big tiles, two rows of the little tiles and on the sides where there isn't the top part of the counters, five rows of the big ones and two rows of small tiles. Came out really great, much better than anticipated and it was honestly quite easy. 

And now that we were on a roll, we went ahead and painted. And got rid of our make shift, rickety floor cabinet and replaced it with an awesome new hutch. Thennnn we went ahead and added two new upper cabinets over the stove. 

What we're still waiting on, and caused my hesitation to brag, is a beautiful slab of real butcher block. That white cart will replace the black one next to the fridge and a new lower cabinet with our pretty, pretty butcher block will go next to the stove. But apparently it takes like three weeks to ship. And, in case you don't remember what our kitchen looked like before...

Sooo, yeah, a much needed face lift.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled program; the wedding. I wrote our ceremony. Just need to make one or two small changes then send it off to Daniel. My bridal shower is on Saturday and I'm so excited. And my first dress fitting is on the 17th. Then all the big stuff is finally, totally done. Just details, head counts, seating chart, final vendor meetings and talks, and then, wedding time!

Only 58 days left. Less then two months. Wowza. 

Wedding Brain

I feel like at this point in the game I should have more to say. I mean, time is ticking and things are happening. But it's not big ticket items anymore, like booking vendors. It's small things, tedious things, that creep up before you even realize they're there. 

Speaking of vendors, I've spoken to all of them but the baker and florist at this point. But we still have some time. But final talks have begun and it's exciting to nail down final, specific details with them. 

I've spent money. No, that's not meant to be a joke about how stupidly expensive weddings are. I paid the remaining balance for our DJ and lighting, bought a cake topper, bought a cute monogrammed shirt to get ready in that I'm now second guessing. Buying multiples of frivolous details has been a non stop problem for me. But at least if I'm going to be super fickle it's over earrings and shirts, not vendors or other more expensive and difficult things to orchestrate. 

My bridal shower is one week from Saturday. I'm a little sad at the amount of "no" rsvp's Emily has been getting. But I also know how amazing she is and that no matter what it will be wonderful, fun, an spectacular. And I get to spend time with friends and family, so it's still a win. I also have my make up trial that weekend too. So if I like the results I can call and cancel the other girl. 

We've had a steady stream of rsvp's for the wedding and the rehearsal dinner coming back to us since we sent them out. And yes, in case anyone is confused, the rehearsal dinner rsvp card is included in the invitation. Everyone's invited. It's more of a welcome BBQ, so don't be so confused about it, you were all supposed to get one!

Rob has started to seriously book our honeymoon. We are now up to plane tickets, our hotel in San Francisco, a Giants/Toronto and Yankees/Mariners game, and we're looking into Seattle hotels now too. So that's very exciting.

It feels so close and yet still so far away at the same time. I just can't wrap my brain around the dwindling time that's left. I know more stuff has been done since I last updated, but at this point I can never remember when I did what and what stuff I've already mentioned. It all just feels like a blur, moving really fast but also like the days are dragging their feet counting down. I don't know. 

Whew. Okay. Only 2 months and 4 days left to go. Considering we started at 533 days, we're now down to a measly 65 left. Eek! 

Final Knot Tying

Time is a tickin'!

We are getting really down to the wire now and it feels like there's a lot to do but at the same time nothing to do. 

We finally crossed buying wedding rings off our list. That is a huge relief as it's been such a difficult process for us. We decided on a card box and now just have to buy the material to "make" it. I also just ordered a cake topper and a cutesy shirt for getting ready in. Because how cute I look is clearly what's important. 

I'm starting to contact vendors for final meetings as well. I just snagged us a date and time the first week in May to meet with our DJ and finalize all our music. I've been in contact with our coordinator about what she needs from us and what questions I have for her. I'll be stopping by the florist on my way home from work today hopefully to just solidify a few things with her. And I fired off an email to our photographer so as soon as I hear back from her that should be everyone except our baker. 

Our invitations went our before I left for Las Vegas the first week of the month. We've gotten a ton of responses back already! Over 50 yes's and only 4 no's so far. I'm so excited to check the mail everyday and I really hope I don't have to track people down after the rsvp date. But that's not until May 1st, so no worries there. One I get at least half back I plan to start labeling place cards and hopefully we can sit down and start doing our seating chart together. 

I'm going to have to give Rob a big kiss at some point because he's been wonderful in all the planning. Involved and opinionated, but letting me run with a lot of it. That said, almost all the decisions have been joint up to this point, so I'm happy to say I can't wait for our wedding. 

The next big thing on the docket is probably the ceremony. I asked Daniel about it not too long ago, but we don't have anything for that planned yet other than a reading and writing our own vows. Sooooo, I might start to worry soon if we don't get a jump on that. But otherwise it looks like all the big stuff is really taken care of.

We've also started to book honeymoon stuff too. We're hoping in another week or so to really book most of the stuff for that. Since we're doing a Pacific Coast Road Trip, a lot of individual things need booking, unlike if we did the traditional route of a cruise or an all inclusive place. But that's just not our style and I'm super excited for what we have planned so far on this front. 

My bridesmaids dresses are all seemingly in at this point. I went and tried my dress on with Emily and Annie when they picked their up and tried them on. They came out wonderful and I'm excited about how they look. And I scheduled my first dress fitting for April 17th while we were there. My mom ordered a dress and both dads have been fitted for a tux at this point. All the groomsmen need to be fitted by this Sunday, so hopefully that happens. They've been a little lax about going and getting it done. Sharon is working on our centerpieces, flowers, and other decorations she's doing for us. Things are just coming along. I'm really happy to say we had no major disagreements, no major hurdles, arguments, nothing. Our wedding planning has gone about as smoothly and without a hiccup as I think it's possible for wedding planning to go. So I'm pretty pleased. 

Ahhhh, I can't wait! Only 74 days left to go! That's 2 months, 1 week, and 6 days. 

EnCOUNTERing Wedding Checks

Getting things done! That's how I feel right now at least.

I finished addressing, stamping and stuffing invitations and I am putting them in the mail TOMORROW. Soooo exciting! 

One of Rob's co-workers daughters is a professional make up artist and he gave me her contact information. She seems amazing! It'll end up being the same cost as the girl I have booked form Canandaigua, but she can do airbrushing and fake eyelashes, both of which I wanted. I scheduled a trial with for April 6th first thing in the morning. That's the day of my shower so I figure I can go all done up and all my girls and my mom and Rob's mom can see it and decide if they want their make up done too so I can give her a head count. 

The bridesmaids dresses are in! They came in last week, so tomorrow I'm going to Syracuse in the afternoon. My mom is going to look for a dress for herself and hopefully Emily and Annie will meet us there so I can see the dresses. I'm also going to try my dress on with all the various jewelry pieces I bought a make me final decision there. So I' pretty excited to try my dress on again, find something for my mom, and see my girls in their dresses. 

Then Thursday I fly to Las Vegas. Rob is there for a conference now and I'm meeting him there. While we're there we're going to look at rings and hopefully buy them. Then, when we get back I'm going to make all our final vendor meetings. Which means we'll have to finalize all our music selections, a must have photo list, and all our details we still need to work out. 

Annnnd, on the non wedding front, I resurfaced our kitchen counters. And they came out pretty well. It's a surprise for Rob for when he gets home next week (unless he reads this, but I don't think he does. But if so, no surprise for him, haha)

Some before and afters. I use Rust Oleum Countertop Coating paint. It's specifically made for resurfacing laminate countertops. I won't put things on it or use it probably until Tuesday since it has to cure for a few days, but it's supposed to be a wonder resurfacer and last for years. So here's to hoping he likes it. It also makes the blue floors more subdued since they aren't as blindingly obvious against the dark gray. 

Anywho. 90 days left. That's it! That's 2 months, 4 weeks, and 1 day!

Double Digit Countdown, Commence

Once again, it's been awhile since I posted last. That seems to have become my typical opener, but I haven't been very good at keeping up. We've been in a bit of a lull lately, believe it or not, considering how little time is left!

A lot of what has been happening but a lot of it is "out of my control" type of stuff. Sharon started working on our bridesmaids and groomsmen's flowers and they are looking wonderful.

Rob and I are both happy with how those are coming along. Myself, Rob, and our parents are getting real flowers. Sharon is also going to decorate the arch for us, aside from two real floral arrangements, and made us decorations for our aisle chairs.

So those will line the aisle, so it should be a pretty affair. Sharon is also going to do our centerpieces too, so those are next on her docket. Everything is getting done and making it feel more and more real. 

Rob, Andy, and I went to Men's Warehouse today too and picked out the tuxes. He and Andy got measured and the deposits for everything in regards to tux rentals is placed. I'm going to be making final jewelry selections next week, so hopefully I can convince myself to stop buying jewelry finally. On Wednesday my mom and I are going to New York Bride and Groom so she can hopefully pick a dress and I can try mine on with all my jewelry and finally decide and stop wasting money. Also, Rob's cousin's daughters who are our flower girls, their dresses are figured out by the looks of it too. So that's great!

We're currently trying to figure out ring bearer, ceremony, wedding rings (still), final meetings with vendors... I don't know. I have a lengthy list, but at the same time it's not too long. More checks and then open, gaping blanks next to most things. So that's good. 

My goal is to have nothing to do the week of except get my nails done and relax. And as of right now, we are on the mark to make that a reality. As much as it felt like sometimes we had so much to do and sometimes so little, it's all come together perfectly so far. I can't believe it. 

Bridal shower invitations went out. Actual invitations are going out in one week. I plan to have them in the mail the first week in March. Hopefully we'll come home from our mini vacation to Las Vegas to a mailbox full of "yes" RSVP's.   

Finally, only 96 days left. Yup, 96. Double Digits. We started at 531 days total and now we're down to 96 days. That's 3 months and 1 week to go. 

Tireless Details

So it's been a while since my last post. I've been pretty busy with life lately. 

I just spent a week in DC on a conference trip for work as well as being gone the weekend before and after. I got back late Sunday and had an 11 hour work day yesterday. Needless to say, I am pooped and very much so looking forward to a three day weekend.

On the wedding front, things are progressing, but not too much at the same time. Rob and his guys were supposed to go together to get fitted Saturday on their way back from their boys weekend in Potsdam, but they were a few minutes late to the store and couldn't get fitted. So when that gets done is up in the air now. 

We changed directions on centerpieces, again, and I have now committed by buying materials to make them. I need to purchase some more tiger lilies, but it looks like we have the idea nailed down by now. And speaking of centerpieces, I need to email our coordinator about votive candles. I don't remember if they provide them or not. 

My mom ordered us a bunch of stuff too. Favor bags, tulle, and some other decorations type things. We plan to order the favors soon too. And another thing I need my momma's help with will be steaming all the creases and wrinkles out of the linens then rerolling them so they won't crease back up. I also bought different jewelry. I found stuff I liked better for less money so I'm hoping I can maybe sell the jewelry on the Knot classifieds or something. 

Invitations are the next project. We hand delivered a few so far, like to our parents and a few of our attendants. I'm going to make putting together, stuffing and addressing invitations my project for next week so I can have them in the mail during the first week in March. 

But otherwise I think that's about it. Once we hit the three month mark I'll start making final meeting with all our vendors which will be really exciting.

Anyways, as of today there are only 109 days left. Getting dangerously close to the double digit count down now. That's three months, 2 weeks and 6 days left. 

An Invitation to a Shiny New Kitchen

I have house and wedding updates today!

House first I guess. As you may or may not know, our house was built in 1931 and the same couple lived there for 60 of it's 81 years of life. They grew old and passed on there which is evident by the lack of updating over the decades. So this week Rob and I decided we should start tackling some stuff in the house to make it more "presentable" for when people come in June for the wedding. Last night we started off simple by buying and beginning to add new hardware to the cabinets. It already makes a huge difference. 

That was all last nights efforts. Today I went home for lunch to find Rob on the floor installing the last two handles. Pictures from that will come when I get home from work. 

**Here it is!

Our net step is the floor. Hopefully we can go right over the existing vinyl with new roll on. Church's sells fiber glass roll similar to vinyl that floats, so we might go that direction. We're still deciding if putting it in ourselves is doable or if we need to bring in my parents floor guy who works for cheap under the table. Our main concern is the radiator feet, the huge plug bolted to the floor for the stove and the hole we run our lovely extension cord through for the fridge. Cause we're classy folk like that. But no, sometimes you have to make the best out of whatcha got. 

As for the wedding... our invitations showed up in the mail on Saturday! They came out wonderful and holding them makes it feel insanely real that we're getting married soon. 

Aren't they pretty! Tonight I might work on divvying them up and assembling them as well as stamping our return address onto all the various envelops. Addressing them will be for when I get back from DC in two weeks. 

Anyhoo, I think that's about it. Everything I've ordered as late, like my accessories, my garter set, the rock candy, it's all showed up. We still have A TON left to do and I'm starting to stress a bit about how much of it is left compared to the time left. But I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. 

We're down to only 124 days left. That's 4 months and 4 days to go!