Filling in the Blanks

It's been a long time since I posted.  So very much has happened that I can't go back and recap everything.  I'll just hit the highlights.  I'm hoping in the new year to blog more.

The most important change has been my last name!  J and I got married on December 8th.  The ceremony was absolutely beautiful.  Not everything went perfect (I lost his ring before the ceremony, there was a mix up with the groom's vest, and the pastor didn't say the vows I gave him) but despite those little setbacks, I had a wonderful day.  It was an amazing feeling to become J's wife and for him to become my husband.  It also meant the world to me that almost all the important people in my life were there for me.  I was missing one important person, and am still sad that he wasn't there, but it was still a beautiful day.  All the little details seemed to fall into place and it was wonderful.

I appreciated so much everything everyone did to make it a wonderful day.  My mom and sister being there for me and being with me through the day meant so much.  I was glad my dad was there too.  

I think I learned a few things about this whole wedding business.  Not that I can go back and redo it, but maybe I can pass along a few pieces of advice to the next bride.  

Don't try to do everything yourself.  That's pretty much what I did.  I didn't delegate all the projects I had or trust pretty much anyone to help me take care of the little details.  It was overwhelming at times to think of everything I had to do.  I didn't know how to ask for help or tell anyone how to help me.  The episode with losing the ring could have been avoided had I given it to my maid of honor to keep up with like you're supposed to.  I had so many things going on in my head that I missed that one little but very important thing.

I did have my mom handling all my apparel and my bridesmaids apparel, so that was a huge relief.  She sewed all of our dresses and they turned out amazing.  She is one amazing and talented lady. 

We had a lot of fun on our Honeymoon.  It was the first time J and I have taken a vacation together, just us.  I loved spending one on one time with my new husband and not worrying about other stuff. I just finished making a Shutterfly book with all the photos I took on the honeymoon.  I am so very excited to get our wedding photos back too!  I have seen 4 of them that the photographer has posted on her blog.  So far, this one is my favorite.  

J is working today (Christmas Eve) and tomorrow.   My family won't be in the state until Wednesday, so I'll go see them this weekend.  It is a weird feeling to be alone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I have never had to do that before.  Last Christmas was weird enough because I didn't see my family Christmas Day.  This is worse, not being with anyone.  I don't love that with J's job he has to work holidays sometimes.    Not just part of the day, but 12 hours.  I know it's an important job, but I miss him at times.  I know that it's not the actual day that makes the time with family special, it's just gathering and spending time together.  But I will still miss my family tomorrow.  Can't wait to see them this weekend. 

Merry Christmas everyone.  Cherish those new memories made and special times spend with those close to you, no matter what day it is.

  

Flash to the Past

Lately I have become fascinated with 1950s fashion.  I actually am fascinated with the whole era.  Besides loving the fashion, I love the fact that women were women. REAL women.  They were strong, classy, and beautiful.  I want to be like that.

How gorgeous is that? 

You can't get classier or more beautiful than Grace Kelly in my mind.  I love, love, love pearls.  They wore them with everything.  I have a three strand pearl necklace from my grandmother that I adore.  Though they're not real, I think they came from that era.  I need to find the perfect outfit to wear them with. 

Especially with my job now, where I wear khakis and a t-shirt and work with lots of people younger than me, I feel like I look very young.  I don't want to look older than I am, looking my age would be great.  Maybe if I can incorporate some of the 1950s style in my wardrobe, I can look a bit older. 

I found an article on the internet today that describes why I like the 1950s so much. http://modernretrowoman.com/2011/06/07/seven-reasons-i-love-being-a-1950s-style-woman/  

Working on my Photography

I decided to do something with some of the pictures I've taken that I like. So I put together an online photography portfolio.  You can find it here. Check it out. Feedback is much appreciated.

Wedding Update

So where am I in the wedding process?

Wedding venue: Check.  Chapel of Memories at State reserved and payed for.

Reception venue: Check.  Ballroom in the Union reserved.

Catering: Check. Talked with MSU Catering. Will submit order in the fall.

Dress: Check.  Picked out fabric for my dress (only took 2 hours... haha).  I love what we've come up with. Too bad I can't post pictures here (not that future hubby reads my blog, but just in case).  My mom also made a mock up of the patter to see if it worked with my shape (which will hopefully be a smaller shape come December).  It will look great.  So the actual construction of the dress is the next step.

Undergarments for dress: I've got those picked out. Just have to order.

Shoes: I found fabulous maroon shoes. So excited!

Jewelry: Still in the works.

Bridesmaid dresses: Next on the list.

Job!

I am finally employed again after almost three months and many job applications.  It isn't the job I thought I was going to get.  I had interviewed with one company three different times.  I kept calling to see if the position had been filled, and it hadn't, so my hopes kept high.  It seemed like a perfect job for me- entry level, great pay and benefits, and something I could really see myself doing.  But it had been almost two months since my first interview.  Then another offer came along.  It wasn't ideal, and it payed less, but it was more than I was making at the time (nothing).  So I called the first company one last time and explained my situation.  They basically said they weren't able to hire anyone right now.  So I accepted the other offer.  I'm just so glad to be employed again.  I'll work hard at this and hopefully it will be a good experience.

Cheaper than Therapy

I tried at the beginning of the year to start blogging about crafts, recipes, and photography so that maybe my blog would get noticed.  There's a company that shows your blogs to other companies so that maybe they would want you to publish a review of one of their products.  Well, I tried that for a while, but I decided that's not what my blog is for.  It's awesome that other people make money on blogging.  Not many, but some.  My blog is more like therapy.  I don't have many regular followers, but I don't really blog for other people.  I do it for me.  There's just something about venting to a computer screen.  I hope in expressing what I'm feeling or describing what's going on in my life, if someone reads it, it will help them too.  Or at least be entertaining.  But it's really my cheap therapy.

That being said, I haven't been blogging as much as I used to.  I'm not sure exactly why.  It's not for lack of free time.  As of yesterday, I had been unemployed for over 2 months.  I had plenty of free time.  It's not that everything in my life is hunky dory.  I've still got my share of difficulties.  Whatever the reason, I decided it's time to blog again.

Bit by Bit

I've started making more progress on the wedding planning.  I picked up and dusted off that wedding planning binder that I bought and cracked it open.  I actually started writing in it this time.  All I need to secure the reservation at the chapel is to mail in the paperwork.  Ceremony site: done!

I have pretty much decided that we're going to use the student union ballroom for the reception.  It's just across the street and we can really make it look great without going overboard.  It's affordable too!  The only thing I worried about was that MSU dining had to be the caterer.  I don't have many references for them, but it does make another decision very easy!  So I think I'm ok with that.  So I've just got to call them Monday and book it.

Next on the list:  Photographer, Bakery, Florist.