I've decided....

I've decided that starting next year I'm going to make a photo book or scrap book every year. Starting at our wedding and then it will be our anniversary tradition - a new photo book every anniversary. I love it!

I'm working on one right now just to play around. I get a free book with my coupon so I might as well. I'll use whatever photos we have right now. I am getting a guest book of just Engagement photos, then we will have a wedding photo book. Then in October of 2010 we will make our 1 year anniversary book.

I'm sooo excited with my idea! I love it. Erin likes the idea too. I figured when we have kids, I will have scrap books for them. I really want to get into it. But everything cost $$ and that's not possible right now. I set a goal though...kids = scrap booking. :o)

Erin did apply for a good job in IN. I hope he gets a phone call, interview, something! I know I still need to find a job, but this one would be great for him! I already looked at apartments in that area. Although, depending on where I work, we may end up in a different area. I just looked based on the job location he applied to. (I know, I'm getting my hopes up...but ah well!)

We are looking at the 3 bedroom apts/town homes. 

Apartment 1 -- Firefox (they will paint for you!)

Apartment 2 -- Bradford Run

Rehearsal Idea

So I have some great wedding ideas in the shower. Today I had a great one for the rehearsal! Now, this process of deciding on what to do for the rehearsal dinner has been the worst decision making process of the whole wedding! We want one thing, mom-in-law wants another, we aren't paying, she is....UGH! After a long talk with Erin's sibling we know that we just need to be forceful in what we want. 

My idea and what I currently want:

I'm thinking we will do some sort of cocktail hour before the rehearsal. It would be at Latitude 41 or Bar 41 located in The Renaissance hotel where some of us are staying. It would be just our wedding party and parents. People who want to drink can buy a drink, we will have hors d'oeuvres set out to eat, and we can all just relax! Then the mom-in-law can do what she wants with her family after the rehearsal.

Personally I think it's a great idea! :o)

wedding update

I'm currently stressing over Wedding Stuff, that I really don't need to be stressing over. :o) Why? I don't know! Although, in the back of my head I keep saying...you don't need to be worrying about anything. Still, though, I am. :oP

Lets see....

Ceremony Site/Reception Site - done - Confluence Park

Reception Food/dessert - done - Chicken Picatta, salad, veggies, bread, 

Rehearsal Dinner - don't even ask....although I came up with a great idea today!

Cake - not getting a big one...just a small one for us to have the traditional cake cutting, instead we will probably have a dessert table. 

Photographer - almost...

Florist - done - Bloomtastic

Officiant - done - Family friend of Erin's

Make-up/Hair - done - Destination Wedding Stylists

Dress - done - Davids Bridal (although if I had the money I would have gone elsewhere!)

Tux - done - Mens Warehouse/Tux

Wedding Party - done - our best, best, best friends & family. 

Party outfits - done - they know where to go and we will all look sharp! 

Hotel for us - done - The Renaissance

Hotel for guests - done

Website - done - found a great website that offered it for free! Why pay $$ when it's only going to be up for 6 months. (www.mywedding.com)

Registries - done - Target and Macys

Bridal Shower - almost planned - will be in IN in September

Save the Dates - done and mailed 

Invitations - done - Jen made, will order and mail out in August.

Programs - 1/2 way done - I have my fun tree extras, Jen will design the rest and then I will print and assemble in September.

Seating cards - 1/2 done - template made, must buy card stock and print when I know who is attending (and I always said I wouldn't have a seating chart...hmmmm mom won that one)

Favors - 1/2 done - again, templates made, must buy card stock and print and then make a million cookies in October.  

Guestbook - done - Jen made I know must order it. :o) (I stole the idea from her guest book that she made...what are friends for?!)

Attendant gifts - ideas are flowing...just need to pick and order. :oP

Goodness! Is there anything else?!?! Did you see an reoccurring name?!?! JEN! I don't know what I would be doing without her!! She is keeping me sane. Good thing she already did the wedding thing. :o) And looking at my list....the things that aren't done, can't even be done for a few more months. *sigh* I'm such a spaz sometimes. :oP

By the way, we had our tasting today, the food was absolutely AMAZING! 

pictures

Jen said she is mailing me my pictures today! 

YAY!! 

When I get them I'm going to use my coupon for Shutterfly and get a free photo book and calendar and 4x6 prints. Hey, I have to use the coupon if it means FREE! :o)

parents....

So there's a lot going on and it's made me think about how my relationship with my parents has changed. My mom bought me this pillow a long time ago and it says....

A Daughter

is just a little girl 

who grows up

to be a Friend

I think this is soooo true for moms and daughters. Right now I feel like I need to be my mom's friend. I want to be a rock for her. I wish I were in TX so I could at least give her a hug, maybe cook and clean to help her out. 

With my dad...I'm always going to be his little girl. Sure I've grown up, I'm getting married, I'm going to have my own kids, but I'm still his little girl. We might have more grown up conversations, but I don't need to be a rock for him. I still need him to hug me and be my protector.

Again, when picking out a Mother's Day card, we got my mom and Erin's mom 'from us' cards. Made me realize we are an 'us' now. I've always wanted to do that. But with my dad, I started looking for a card for him and I can't even think about getting a 'from us' card. He is my dad and I can't share yet. :o) 

Well that's my seriousness for the day. I'll try to update tomorrow after our tasting! I can't wait, but there's a lot going on tomorrow, so who knows.

Also, I've lost some weight this week and can fit into one of my smaller jeans, with ease. :oP I've been really working on counting my calories and sticking to it! 

And if anyone saw my picture on Twitter this morning...Lexi is officially scared of me today because I yelled at her big time! But I taped up the broken blinds for now. Ugh, it's just one of those days today and was one before 9:30! So, Erin said he will take me to the mall tonight. I love our mall dates in the middle of the week. :o)

Dinner

While at Jens I wrote down a few recipes from a book that she had. I have only made one dish out of the three I copied down. I made it less than a week ago and we loved it! Erin even asked for it again tonight! I figured I'd post the recipe. It was really easy to make.

Creamy Ranch Chicken

6 slices of bacon

4 Chicken halfs

2 tbsp of flour

2 tbsp of ranch mix

1 1/4 cup milk

3 cups med noodles

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Cook the noodles according to package.

Cut bacon into strips, cook them, remove from pan. When draining the grease, save 2 tbsp. You will use it to cook the chicken. 

Now cook the chicken in the bacon pan, using the bacon grease.

When the chicken is cooked stir in milk, flour, and ranch mix. 

When the mixture is thick and bubbly add the bacon and parmesan cheese. 

Serve! 

I cooked over med heat, but I have steel pans and they get really hot! I didn't want to burn anything. I also only used 2 cups noodles since I was using less chicken and bacon...it still made a lot. 

Try it! You'll like it!

Also, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but I may be able to post our photographer soon! I emailed my parents and just waiting for a yes. I'm excited. Plus, it will be another reason to thank Jen! She told me about pictage.

Monday Morning

So, I don't even have a job to go to and I don't like Monday mornings. It's always harder for me to get up and get motivated. But, I'm up and my first morning stop is, as always the computer. :o) I've checked my e-mail, applied to a few jobs, checked some accounts, now I'm blogging. (I am really just trying to put off going downstairs to do laundry.) :oP

Well, my laptop for now is out of commission. :o/ It's infected and I don't even know how! I did some research on google chrome...after all of this, not before...and I guess there has been some security issues with it. Ah well, live and learn. I should be more upset, but I'm not. I almost got rid of it once this year. Now I just need to get it fixed....that will take awhile, since I'm not headed to TX anytime soon. Hey, I have to take advantage of having a computer dad, which, by the way has a job! At least some people are hiring! :o) But, I'm now back to just desktop use and using Safari.

Anyways, I've been looking at what to do for a program for our wedding. I have a few things picked out that I deffinatly want to use. They both have trees, which I think is cute, they tie in together, and we are getting married outside so it works. First there is the kissing tree, from this blog.

I think it's sooo cute! I have one with my name first and Erin's name first. Then half the programs will be one name and then the other. You get it. :o) Next is a Martha Stewart Weddings idea.

 

It takes your b-day month and tells you what tree you would be. I think it's cute. :o)

I can't wait to start printing them. I don't even have the rest of the program done yet. Ah well. 

Lastly...I love when I get to check out NEW books from the library. I've had to cut down on spending $$ on new books, so I've been checking them out at the library. Well, I got started on the Sisterhood Series of books by Fern Michael's, there are now 12 books in the series. Well, number 12 is new and I just got it on Saturday! The pages are still crisp. I looks like it's never been read! I'm afraid to open it too wide, because I want the next person on the wait list to get it it in the condition I did. Don't get me wrong, I love old books too. Look at my bookshelf one day...I go to half price books to find the classics that have the fades pages and that old book smell. 

Well, enough time wasting for me. It's June! YAY!