Window Shopping part 2

I wrote about our Macy's registering shenanigans already, so here I want to talk about our Amazon.com registry.

First of all, it is incredibly tempting to add anything and everything.  I have the "Add to Amazon Wish List" button on my browser, and click it far more often than I ought.  I also went super crazy when I first set the registry up, adding pretty much everything from Anthropologie.

I loooove the texture on this duvet cover, even though it costs about $250.  Image via Anthropologie

And I definitely need this $88 basket to use as a hamper in our tiny bathroom where it probably won't fit...  Image via Anthropologie

And I have found things from other websites that I absolutely need as well.

Yes, I need an owl cookie jar for about $40.  Image via West Elm

But other than these things that I can't bear to take off the registry (no matter how much Dino protests!), there are a few things I really want that Macy's doesn't have the exact version of what I'm looking for.  For instance, I want to piece together the knives we actually need and would use, rather than buying a set since we already have a couple of good quality knives.  Macy's didn't have a single regular old sharpening steel, something I think we'll definitely need! 

A Wustof Sharpening Steel.  Image via Amazon

And I wasn't finding a wooden turner/spoon thingy, one that I want to use for browning meat and stuff.

Something exactly like this!  Image via Amazon

Mostly, though, the Amazon registry is just bits and pieces that I find when I browse online for stuff.  Or random things that don't necessarily fit into the Housewares category.  

I love my Swiffer Sweeper Vac, since we have all hardwood floors, so I registered for some replacement filters.  Random, but I will need them!  Image via Amazon

We're definitely still working on both registries, but this one seems to be shifting and evolving more than the other at this point!  I'm trying to keep lots of lower price options as much as I can, just so we don't look greedy, but we do have some bigger ticket items as well.  More than anything, though, it's been fun to just look at things we could have even though we definitely don't need them!  We both had basically enough stuff for a kitchen, so when we moved in together, we had tons of things.  It was a lot of work to pare down our house to the basics, so we don't want to have to add much more stuff.  And some things are upgrades of what we currently have.

No matter what, though, I 100% believe that having our family and friends attend our wedding and celebrate with us is the most important thing.  Stuff is nice, but you can't beat the love from your nearest and dearest.  And I am so looking forward to celebrating with them!!

Window Shopping!

Right before Christmas, we went to the store to pick out all the things we thought we might want.  Not for Christmas, though, for our registry!  I started an Amazon.com wedding registry awhile ago, but we wanted to add in a real, brick and mortar store just for extra options, and because I like to be able to see things in person and touch them.  (I have a tendency to touch everything when I am in a store; I can't be the only one, right?  But I run my hands over all the clothes and blankets I walk by, so actually feeling the items we were asking for was pretty important).  So we decided to register at Macy's as well.

The Bon Marche!  Now known as Macy's.  Image via Wikimedia

Personally, Macy's is the perfect level of fanciness and accessibility to me.  It isn't crazy expensive, but it still has nice things.  Plus the fact that it bought out The Bon Marche always makes me nostalgic (I can still sing the Bon Marche jingle in my head...).

Anyway, we decided to go to Macy's on a Sunday morning (okay, it was probably like 11 am, but that is still morning, right?), trying to avoid the crowds.  And it worked!  It was actually pretty calm in the housewares section, and we were the only ones setting up a registry as far as I could tell.  They gave us a rundown on the discounts and deals and all that jazz involved with their registry, gave us a ton of information, and then gave us some chocolates and little water bottles.  A+ in my book.  Then we took the gun and went on a treasure hunt.

I wish I had taken pictures, but really it wasn't all that thrilling of a scene.  We made some good decisions, like that we didn't want to get FiestaWare, even though I'd been talking about it for forever, and that we liked the "Architect Series" KitchenAid mixer the best.  The latter decision was thanks to the KitchenAid representative in the store; it was great to ask her questions, even though she did push some extra gadgets that we definitely don't need!  But we liked her thought that the color is fairly neutral, so no matter how we decorate or if we change our minds about other accessories, this bigger appliance will always match.  Very smart!

The Architect Series Stand Mixer by Kitchenaid.  Image from Macys.com

We did get a little tired after making so many decisions, so after adding probably 30 things, we decided it was time to stop.  Then I managed to cut my thumb so it bled quite a bit on the box the chocolates were in, but that is not really related to our registry, just a note of my clumsiness.

Since the big registry outing, we've done a bunch of editing and adding to our registry.  I thought I liked one kind of plates (which they didn't have at the store we registered at), but we made a trip to a different Macy's and decided they weren't at all what we wanted (this is why it is important to touch everything!).  Then we found plates we like, but there are a few versions so it took awhile to make that decision.

Noritake Colorwave Dinnerware in Graphite.  We eventually decided on the "Rim" set on the left.  Images via Macys.com

Now we have about 63 items on the Macy's registry, which they say is way fewer than we should have for our estimated 175 guests, but so many are kind of expensive!  Although we did already receive the Le Cruset dutch oven I've been coveting for Christmas, so who knows, we probably will run out pretty quickly. Overall, though, these are things that we want and that we can actually fit in our fairly small home.

A note on fine china: do people register for it anymore?  I mean, it is pretty, but we don't exactly have room to store it.  In addition, both of our parents have china, as do my grandparents, so I have a feeling someday we'll have china too.

The Amazon registry is a whole different beast in and of itself.  One which will be discussed in the next blog post!

Too Many Options!

While most of the decisions relating to wedding planning have presented more options than I really needed (especially photographers - there are SO MANY and most of them appear to be very talented!  So glad we made that decision easily!), there has been one aspect in particular that seems to top them all.  Once we started searching for options, it's like we fell down the rabbit hole and through a never-ending series of web pages...

The honeymoon.

Ahhhh, paradise, somewhere to leave all the wedding stresses behind...  via WorldForTravel.com

Yes, a honeymoon on a beach in a tropical paradise.  Sounds lovely, and I can't wait until we are there.  But the planning is not as relaxing as the imagining.

We decided early on that we would love to go somewhere tropical.  I'd prefer not to go to Mexico since I've been to several popular areas there already.  We'll be going to Hawaii a few months after the honeymoon (rough life, eh?), and we were there about a month ago, so we're leaning away from that.  And I don't really want to spend much time travelling if possible.  So we're likely looking at somewhere in the Caribbean.  Also it would be nice to go somewhere we haven't been, and somewhere that was all inclusive.

Caribbean Map, via WorldAtlas.com

But do you see how many islands there are in the Caribbean?!?  I don't particularly want to go on a cruise, although cruises are lovely, simply because I feel obligated to actually DO things, like get off the boat and explore on a cruise.  We have also been on a cruise to the south Caribbean together, and Dino has gone on another Caribbean cruise before, but that really doesn't limit the options of "places we haven't been" much.

Other limiting factors for us include kids (it would be awesome to go to an adults only resort!), easy and quick flights to the island, have the resort right on the beach, have the option to get a couples massage at some point, and Dino also kind of has an image of staying in a hut over the water (though this significantly limits the options while upping the price typically, unless we want to travel for a long time to get to Bali or somewhere awesome like that... but that would be too much travel and too costly of travel for me...).

Cost is also another factor.  It would be amazing to go to a super high class resort and spend a week being pampered and not caring about a thing, but those places cost a lot.  So that helps narrow down the search as well.  But now our amazing generous parents have struck again!  His wonderful parents have offered to help with the cost of the honeymoon, which expands our search once again.

I'm leaving this decision mostly in Dino's hands, simply because it is easier for me that way!  Plus I think he loves researching and imagining us on a beach somewhere, so more power to him.  I'm not sure which resorts are the front-runners in his mind right now, but I do know I liked several of the Couples and Sandals resorts the best!  I'll let you know when we've come to a decision!

What were the limiting factors in your honeymoon search?  Did it feel like there were so many options without a good way to narrow it down for you too?

Food truck drama!

Awhile ago, I posted about food trucks potentially providing the food and dessert for our rehearsal dinner.  My wonderful, amazing FMIL took my whim and ran with it, contacting several different trucks.  The two I was really hoping for were Minimus Maximus (pulled pork sandwiches) and Molly Moon's (ice cream).  Well, apparently the winter isn't exactly prime food truck time, so they've been shut down for a bit and she only recently heard back from one of them.

Molly Moon's Ice Cream Truck, with a bride and groom in front!  Via Molly Moon's Blog

Well, my hopes and dreams have been dashed.  Molly Moon's won't be driving their food truck out to private parties next year!  What?!?!  They are saying no to a guaranteed dollar amount?!  I understand, they probably don't want to lose out on the public's money and attending other events, but I am extremely disappointed!  A few years ago I had the truck come out to a property to treat the tenants there, and it was a GREAT experience, they were wonderful.  I was hoping maybe we'd be able to have a similar great time, feeding our rehearsal dinner guests the best ice cream ever (that would be the Honey Lavender).

But, alas, it appears it was not meant to be.

Last I heard, my FMIL was planning to use a space in the same venue we'll be at the next day for the wedding, and we'll try to maybe still get a food truck out and bring in some Molly Moon's ice cream, but I'm not sure it's worth it anymore.

How sad is it to have your hopes dashed like this?  Okay, yeah, it isn't the end of the world.  But surely someone knows how frustrating it can be to have your heart set on an idea (which, of course, you think is genius), and it just won't work out no matter what!

3 Weddings in 3 Weeks

I can't believe how many weddings we'll be attending right before ours!  My lovely friend got engaged a little bit after us, and last I heard she was planning on having her wedding two weeks before ours - awesome!  It'll involve a mini-road trip, and will be a very nice break from the crazy last minute planning.

Then, my cousin got engaged over the holidays, which is so great!  I'm really happy for him.  They decided to get married this summer as well...  8 days before we do!  I know a lot of brides would be a little worried about getting their thunder stolen or whatever, but I'm really not concerned.  Really, I'm glad it is so close, because they decided to get married close to us, which is convenient for us.  Even better, I'm hoping our family members will be able to stay a week up here and attend both of our weddings!  I especially would love if our grandparents could make it - my grandma was saying it would be really hard for her to travel this far, but if TWO grandkids are getting married within such a short time, well, maybe the trip will be even MORE worthwhile!

I have only two concerns with all these weddings happening around ours - 1) I don't want to be stressed out with last minute plans and not getting everything done in time.  I'm worried I will leave a lot of stuff to the last minute, and with all of these celebrations it will take away time to work and get projects finished.  But, it might also help provide a good distraction, keep me focused on the real reason for the wedding, and make me get my butt in gear before the wedding!  and 2) I really really hope my family is still able to attend my wedding.  My cousin and I have aunts and uncles in Sacramento, Chicago, Seattle, and Eugene.  Most of them will have to travel, and not everyone can take off a whole week, or make two trips.  I guess I'm worried they will pick him over me!  Silly, I know.  (Plus I have a secret weapon - my mom!  I know everyone will want to see her, since she couldn't make it to the last family wedding, so I'm hoping that'll give me an edge!  Yes, I am ridiculous.)  In the end, I will be grateful for everyone that can make it, and try to be understanding if they can't.

Last summer I only went to 1 wedding, and next summer I've already got 3 scheduled (in 3 weeks!).  So awesome that we'll get to celebrate so much love!

PROGRESS!!!

Man, it feels so good to get things done!

This week, well really just today, I am sending in our Catering contract, our DJ contract, and calling to buy my dress!  And yesterday I got the ball rolling on discounted hotel rates for our guests!  WOWZA.  That is three big things, and one nagging little thing, all of which feels GREAT to have done!

I am especially excited about the dress.  All that struggle, me insisting I needed to try on this last dress, and it has paid off.  That dress I was dying to try on was, indeed, THE ONE.  I have pictures, but am hesitant to post them on the internet (partly because Dino might find them, and partly because the dress shop is actually a no-photo shop, but she let me take a couple to show my mom who couldn't be there).  But after trying on probably 50+ dresses, this one is absolutely perfect.  I thought the mirrors were warped at the shop, to make you look skinnier (and therefore buy a dress!), but looking at the pictures, I think the dress is actually why I looked so good!  I seriously lost about 10-15 lbs in that dress, it is incredibly flattering.  It has everything I wanted, too!  Sweetheart neckline, tulle, lace, sparkle, perfect waistline, corset back...  The only alterations I'll need is cups put in, some stuff on the bodice tacked down, and hemming (which is really just cutting, since the tulle is just plain and raw at the bottom.)  Le sigh.  It is fabulous.  Such a weight off my shoulders.  I was a little worried that I didn't cry or tear up at all when I put it on, but it just felt right and seems like my dress.

I am also so psyched about our DJ, who we met last weekend.  They are the cutest couple, only do one wedding a weekend, and only had our date available for all of August, so we really lucked out!  Plus they just seem to be awesome, and know what they're doing.  I'm so excited to have them leading the party at our wedding.

And finally, our caterer was another stroke of luck.  I got a quote months ago, and then let it sit for awhile.  Then I sent an email, asking if it was too late, and we barely snuck in.  They said there were other couples asking about our date, so we had to make a decision quickly, but since we had been to a tasting and everything, it was easy to say yes.  The food was delicious, and their quote wasn't too crazy high (but they all seem like a lot of money!), so I am super happy with our decision!  Yum.

This is going to be quite an awesome wedding!

Losing weight!

You might have gathered from the last post that I am hoping to feel better about myself in pictures for the wedding.  One way I might accomplish this is to lose some weight!

When I met Dino, almost 4 years ago, I was at my thinnest.  I'm not shy, so I will tell you my weight then...  155.  Not exactly teensy tiny, not even really skinny, but I felt good, clothes fit pretty well, and I was happy with that.  I was working out a couple times a week, and was trying to make good food decisions.  Living at home helped, since my dad was preparing my dinners (he's a fabulous cook!).  Plus I was commuting 2+ hours a day to and from work, and walking from train station to bus to work and all that, so that helped keep me from eating as much.

 

On a cruise about 6 months after we met.  No one will ever see a picture of my belly again!  (Personal Photo)

Shortly thereafter, I moved out on my own.  I started walking roughly a mile each way to work, but I also had more time to sit at home on my behind and eat crap.  A gym was put in our office building a few months after I moved, so I started going there to work out after work about three times a week.  Not terrible, but I was making worse food choices.  Also, simply just having a steady relationship where we went out to eat and had eating as the central activity for dates doesn't help.  I didn't start gaining much until after we'd been together a year, at which point I had pneumonia after a bout with swine flu (yes!  Fun!), which left me with a little asthma for a bit, and little motivation.

On our next cruise, about a year later.  My belly looks a bit bigger :(  (Personal Photo)

Then I quit my job and moved in with Dino.  I started working out almost every day, doing the 30 Day Shred, but had terrible results because I used that as a justification to eat terribly.  Awful habits were formed, and suddenly I was getting bigger and bigger without knowing how to stop it!  

At my good friend's wedding as a bridesmaid about 6 months after moving in with Dino.  I was so glad the dress that I had bought about 6 months prior still fit!  (Personal Photo)

Us in Hawaii just days before getting engaged.  I feel like I look like a hippo in this picture!  So not the look I'm going for.  (Personal Photo)

Since then, I've been around the same weight.  I've tried to get in to running after getting engaged (and was starting to enjoy it!), but was stopped last spring when my foot suddenly started to hurt.  I'd apparently developed arthritis in my toe.  Talk about a good excuse to stop exercising.  Now whenever I am on my feet for any period of time, my toe ends up swollen and painful the next day or two.  

So now I'm a little stumped.  I think I would like to start going to the gym again, as I really saw results for awhile there.  But most importantly I need to start eating healthier and less.  I really want to make a positive change in my life and health.  My love of sweets and arthritis foot, however, make the challenge more difficult than it ever has been before.  I need some suggestions for exercising that doesn't put me on my feet for too long and some good recipes to turn to!

On Self Image

Like a lot of girls, I've always had a fairly screwed up self-image.  When I was younger, I started thinking I was fat, and it set me up for a lifetime of thinking I was fat.  Now I look back at those pictures and wonder where I got that idea from, because I was normal, not fat at all!  But my main issue is thinking I look better than I really do!

Something about the mirror makes me think I look significantly better than any photo ever portrays me.  It's really weird.  I get dressed, do my makeup, and think "Yes!  I look nice today!"  Then I'll see a photo of me from that same day, and wonder how I let myself look so terrible.  It drives me crazy, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

Anyway, this relates to weddings, I swear.  Yesterday we had our engagement photos done!  It was so much fun.  I picked out a dress I had that I hadn't worn, but thought it was flattering and cute.  I also had put together a cute sweater and jeans outfit, that I really liked.  Dino spent ages picking out his outfits as well.  Taking the photos was a little awkward, but still fun!  It was weird being such the center of attention, and I felt incredibly unprepared somehow.  But when we finished up I thought "Yes!  These pictures will be awesome!"  I was feeling good and loving life.  And our amazing, uber-talented photographer would take these photos and make them blog-worthy and the most beautiful pictures of us that we've ever seen!

Then she posted a preview photo last night.

The engagement preview photo.  Photo by the incredibly talented and fun Jenny GG

The photo looks awesome - except for me.  My dress is rumpled, my eyes are squinty, and my face is so round and chubby.  Even my hair, which felt so soft and fluffy, looks greasy and gross.  When did that happen?!?!  Dino looks fantastic, as boys do, the colors in the photo are AMAZING and really pop, and the composition is incredibly nice.  It would be amazing if I didn't look so weird!

Most people would see that photo and just see me, I know.  It's hard to see myself from the outside world's perspective.  I think on a day to day basis I have a really positive self-image.  But maybe it is too positive?  I mean, I'm not super happy with my weight or skin or whatever, but I have learned to accept I am who I am and 99% of the time feel comfortable and happy in my skin.  I'm now a little worried all of the engagement photos will make me cringe, and that the wedding photos will turn out similarly.  That on what should be the happiest day of my life, I'll worry about how I look all day.  And that looking back on that day I'll always judge myself harshly and not be able to see past the chubby face and squinty eyes.  I really want to love and treasure our photos!

I think as I see more photos of myself it will help me realize what I really look like and maybe get used to it, but for some reason it seems shocking that the image I have in my head is not what I really look like.  I want to say I absolutely love our photographer and the gorgeous photos she takes, though.  Most people probably feel weird about seeing themselves in photos, but I am really glad we chose a photographer who makes us feel comfortable and can create such stunning images.  I think I'll maybe never do a boudoir shoot, though - too much opportunity for hating how I look!

Dresses!!!

This whole dress issue was really starting to get on my nerves, but I'm almost ready to make a decision!  

A few weeks ago I tried on the Argelia by St. Patrick.  It was gorgeous, but there were several things I wanted to change...  So that night I looked at St. Patrick's website and saw the Argel, which seemed perfect!  The consultant at the bridal salon said they didn't have it to try on, but she also thought it was too low of a waist for me, after we found what length I liked.  I looked at it from every angle I could online, and compared it to the pictures of the Argelia, and really think it was pretty similar.  BUT I had to find it to try on before I could be sure.

The Argel by St. Patrick

Cut to me calling every bridal shop in the Pacific Northwest that carries St. Patrick.  Only to find none of them have that specific dress.  One shop, however, suggested I look at the Atelier Diagonal dresses, and sure enough, they have a dress that is so similar to Argel but even better!  It is called the Faldar.  The woman at this shop said she was going to be placing an order for Atelier Diagional samples soon, so if I let her know if I liked any, she could order it.  I still wanted to find the Argel, though, so I waited and kept calling places, moving to the next closest state.  Alas, no one had it, so I decided to give this shop a call back.

The Faldar by Atelier Diagonal

Well, as luck would have it, the shop had already placed their order for the samples, and the Faldar was not one of them.  However, they do a borrowing program, so she checked to see if the Faldar was available through that!  But no, it wasn't.  Then she looked at the price of the Faldar, and it was pretty awesome.  She offered to switch one of her sample dresses to the Faldar for the borrowing program price, and she would make up the difference in cost for switching.  On top of that, she checked to see if any samples would be available, and wouldn't you know, the only dress she would be able to get as a sample is my size.  Weird!  And if I end up buying the dress, she will apply my borrow price to the cost.  

I couldn't believe it!  I finally get to try on this mysterious dress!  It isn't the Argel, but it looks even better in pictures and is less expensive!  Worst case, I can always fall back on the Argelia and have the various alterations made.  But hooray!!!

Me in the Argelia by St. Patrick.  We mimicked making it a sweetheart neckline and getting rid of the trim on the top, but I would also replace the belt.  My #1 concern is that by removing the trim and making it a sweetheart, it ends up awfully low cut, and the consultant said I would just hold it up higher when getting tied in, but then the waistline would be different, and not in a good way.

So there we go.  Getting much closer!  I can't wait to try on the Faldar!