Deep breath...

This is me:

What am I doing, you ask?  Beating the crap out of my computer.  Long story short- I had to restart my Pharm exam over halfway through because of my POS computer.  Not a happy camper right now, but I am taking my deep breaths and trying not to have a full blown breakdown right now.  I just want someone to tell me what the hell I was thinking when I thought I could take all this on this year.  ?? Anyone?  No?  Yeah- I don't know either...

In other news, March is full of appointments and checking with vendors to finalize, so it will hopefully pull everything together.  We meet with the DJ next week, ceremony musician and the priest the 2nd week of March, I have my second dress fitting, my first makeup trial, and I still have to schedule something with the florist, cake baker, and Giovanni's for our food tasting.  But projects are coming along- The table runners are here:

I'm still obsessed with these runners~ they are much heavier fabric and better quality than the previous ones and I think they look nicer.  I have to figure out what I'm doing with the square glass cubes- I have around 35 of them or so, so not enough for 3 on each table like this has....These were the original hydrangea vases, and I'm still doing those for the head table but I'm not sure what to do with the tables that will have the candy.  Or should I just take them away and only have the candy and candles on these tables??  And ideas are appreciated~ I am having a hard time picturing what will work..

My candy collection is growing (and hopefully I can keep away so my waist doesn't grow along with it!):

So far we have oreos, purple chocolates, grape licorice, airheads that were supposed to be white packaged but are tinted blue, purple laffy taffy, riesen candies, truffles, kisses, m&ms, life saver mints, pop rocks, purple peeps and blow pops.  Still need more but definetly coming along.  Here is one idea I had for the candy containers:

And here are the cards I am working on to label the candy jars:
 

What do you think?  The stamp/embossing is the same as on the cake letters  =)  

Another project almost done are the bathroom baskets.  These are pretty much just an extra thing for me to worry about, certainly not necessary and definitely are just an extra added touch.  But its those little things that I love and that I notice, so I really wanted to do these.   "what are bathroom baskets" you might be asking?  Well let me explain by a picture: 

  

Basically there is one basket in each the mens and the women's restroom and they are filled with a bunch of "might possibly need at some point if I have an emergency" junk.  I love stuff like this and I am partially famous for my overpacking just in case style.  So there is everything from bandaids and mouthwash to spray deodorant and tylenol.  I'm not even going to list everything as it would be a long list and I still have some items to get!  But check out the boxes:
Oh yeah- love it =)  And the napkins with the P in front will be in there too.  I still have to make signs for these but they  are close to complete.  

Sean helped me finish the candy bags (for leftover candy so people can take some home.  I bought purple and black bags and printed some thank you labels and here we go:  

 

The label says "thank you", our names and the date.  Simple and kinda cheap but I think it will work ok for the purpose.  I did buy a border stamp if I feel the need to jazz up the bags a little, but we'll see...

Another project in progress are the sleeves for the photo booth pictures- I'm printing out the wording on scrapbook paper with a damask design in either purple or black and then we'll slide that into the plastic sleeves I bought (bookmark sleeves to be exact) and then some ribbon at the top and that should be done.  Here is what we have so far:

You can see the purple printed paper in the back and all the sleeves are tucked in the basket for now.  Only a few in the back have the ribbon attached~ that will be a process having to cut all that ribbon and tie them onto these~ anyone up for fun ribbon projects? =)

And I did finish the memory poem I wanted to have at the ceremony and reception~ I can't remember if I showed you the frame I bought for it:

Not really a good pic, but you get the idea.  I found this baby at Hobby Lobby for only $6.  The poem is just a standard "in loving memory" specific to a wedding day, so I thought it would work fine.  I don't feel it's about the message, for me it's more the symbolism that those we have lost are still there with us for the wedding.  

I guess that's all for now~ hopefully I will have some "finished" stamps to put on projects soon!

well...

I am out next weekend because it is MOVING WEEKEND!!! So excited. Painting Friday, then boxes moved Saturday, and furniture Sunday. Anywho I just got on here 2 days ago and poof all of a sudden 3 new posts! haha. I think Candice may need an intervention with the internet and buying stuff. I dono how many more projects can be fit in and finished! Poor Sean haha. The letters look good, and the candy idea is nice for those w/o a cake center piece. V-day candy on clearance most places check those out first before custom M&M's or something those are about 10 bucks per 6oz bag or something ridiculous like that. I'll keep my eyes peeled for candy wrappers of the correct colors. Dove had some purple heart choloclates I know so those would be good to have. I'm good on future weekends for the most part, just let me know!!



Addition: I found www.candywarehouse.com you can pick purple candy or black and it gives you options and -lb bags that they come in. hope it helps...

help?

Anyone up for another project night?? I have next weekend off and lots to do, so anyone up for stamping, taping, or general labor, please apply for date/times....=)

Never ending projects...

I've been trying to fit in time to work on more projects, but my free time is basically non existent this week with school and an exam next week.  I have a bad feeling this will be pretty consistent until my finals week in May!  I'm not sure what I got myself into this spring, but its definetly not fun!  What is fun though are finished projects!  Check out my "i do" letters for the cake table:

The close up one shows the pattern a little better.  My original idea was to paint them, but they were already white, so it turned out much easier to just work with that!  The "i" is the only one I couldn't replace, so the stamp/embossing didn't work as well on that one.  You get the idea though~ I love them and I think they turned out pretty good =)  A cheap table decoration for some $2 wooden letters!

Another "project" or really a purchase of the week were these super cute purses I got for myself and Katelyn.  I told Katie I am using Katelyn as my substitute daughter as these were "mommy and me" purses but they work awesome for bride/flower girl I think~

Sorry I forgot to flip the picture...

Aren't they so perfect?  And Katelyn's is all tiny and cute- I love it =)

Another box that came in the mail this week (lots of packages coming recently...) were these photo storage boxes I bought to use instead of baskets for things like the bathroom baskets and possibly for some other things at the reception.  Here is one without the lid on-

I also was working on a mockup of the table linens- here is the beginning set up:

This has a splash of purple from the runner.  And actually, I found new table squares (Baby- if you actually read this- I'm sorry and don't be mad they were really inexpensive and totally worth it!)  so these squares will be replaced with this:

(source)

The reason for the square change?  Check this out:

Check out that table runner....Yep its the same print, and check out that AWESOME purple liner on the sides!!!  Totally fell in love with these and bought them from a bride whose mom made them for her so they are one of a kind.  Did I tell you how much I LOVE these?!?  So yes I had to get table squares to match them.  The inspiration for why I was looking at runners in the first place? :

I love the look of a damask swag instead of tulle.  I'm learning I'm not a big tulle person (except for poof under my dress apparently!)  and this just looks so unique.  And with the purple trim- ooh la la I LOVE it =)  It is fun to get excited about this stuff- way more fun than schoolwork which is part of the problem!

And last but certainly not least, I had some great news to share and am SUPER excited about this..I came across an ad on a wedding board (which I am completely addicted to by the way!) for a day of coordinator.  I haven't really thought much about one because it just wasn't in the budget and I thought only people with super lavious affairs got a helper besides family...Not so, as this day of coordinator (hereby referred to as DOC) is starting up and is offering free services to a few lucky brides. 

Well guess who gets to be one those lucky brides?!?  Little ol me thats who =)  And all I have to do is pay for travel fees and give a testimonial and pics and things after the wedding.  Her name is Sam and she actually lives in Chicago (so much closer to Niki and Sara if anything comes up where you guys can help...!)  We met up last weekend to talk and kindof get the ball rolling~ now I don't know how I ever thought I could do this without a DOC!!  Seriously though, Sam is awesome and will be there to help set up all my crazy projects and basically keep me sane, which is priceless.  Between a bottle of wine and her, I will be all set to go the day of! =) 

Needless to say, this will be SO helpful for the wedding and I'm already starting a log of sorts to be able to give the best testimonial ever!!  I figure I won't remember this far away by the wedding, and its only fair for all the work she will be doing and helping me with!  I gave her the link to the blog too so she can get an idea of what the heck I'm doing.  And no this is not for her benefit- I've been talking to Sean about how awesome this is for days~ =)

OK- I really have to go work on something for school; I guess thats enough wedding distraction for tonight...

Candy, candy, candy, candy....

I love candy...most everyone is well aware of that right?  And I entertained the idea of a candy buffet but quickly lost the idea as we had already agreed on a chocolate fountain (YUM!).  But get this- I was tossing around ideas for centerpieces; for the tables that will not have cake on them, of course.  As I realized that the hydrangeas would most likely be dwarfed unless I did a bigger arrangement which was going to cost closer to $20 per table.  Not a big deal, but as our budget has gone completely out of control, I wanted something with more purpose than sitting there and looking pretty.  Thats what I'm fot that day, right? =)

So, to make a long story short, I decided (and Sean agreed!) to do candy centerpieces.  I'm still working out details, but I went to Marshalls and TJ maxx and cleaned up~ they had a TON of huge glass containers starting at like $4.  How awesome is that?  So here is my new collection~

Think I got enough??  I didn't take pics of the sample ones I made up, but I bought a few bags of the kisses that come in the dark purple foil and filled one of these bad boys up~ it looked awesome if I do say so myself!  So if anyone comes across any candy (with either itself or the wrapper) in purple, black, or white, please let me know or pick up a few pounds of it....=)  Now I get to collect the candy part, which will be even more fun (although more expensive!)   My thought is to have a sign somewhere with all the tables that have candy and what they have and then each jar will have some kind of sign as to what it is.  Hopefully, this will serve as out snack throughout the night too so I don't have to worry about getting a late night snack sort of thing...I do feel kindof bad for all the parents that will have to deal with kids on a sugar crash, but such is life =)

More post coming later, just wanted to get started before I leave for work!

progress!

I felt like we did get a lot done, seeing it listed makes it seem more accomplished! Much more to finish...notice how a break was taken from flowers? haha tackling those again next time but kudos to heather for the progress she made on them at home!! we are almost there isn't it a great feeling? I was at a shower today and found games that will be fun haha i know you love games candice! jennie you were missed! see you next time!

Why is it that for everything I check off my list I add about 5 more??

I'm supposed to be listening to my online lectures right now, but get this: the one section where they tell us to focus on the narrated powerpoint is the one part (3 lectures total) that doesn't open!  Its almost like it was on purpose just to make us sweat.  There are about 20 people freaking out on the class discussion board about it and all the instructor is saying is it must be our own computer because she can open the file just fine ~ that's right folks; I guess when you have a doctorate everyone is wrong and you are right cause thats the only reason I can come up with...

Anyways~ since I can't seem to get that to work and I'm not motivated enough to do any actual textbook reading right now, here I am with another update!  Heather, Nina, and Caurie were all over last night to help with projects, and between the wedding brains and the baby brains we were quite the group!  We did get a lot done though, and here are some updated pics:
Kids coloring books are done:

Also, I found these goodies at the dollar store to put in the kids bags:  Yes these are glow sticks, hearts (or stars/butterfly) for girls and swords for boys, all purple glow fun~  =)


Also, I found some black/silver damask lunch size bags that I think everything will fit in so I don't have to worry about sewing kids bags; hope they work out!  And I got some clear cello bags for treats for the kids (of course not just clear, they have the black damask type print on them as well) =)  I have boxes of 8 crayons and labels with a cute wedding print and our names to put on those and then the kids bags are good until closer then we can get the cameras and snacks and what not. 




We also finished the tape on the votives, so here is the finished product:

I think they turned out pretty awesome and so much cheaper than buying "damask candles" at like $2 a pop.  These ended up being somewhere around 75cents each.  And I can completely sell these after~ yes I'm completely a dork but if I can recoup any of these costs, all the better~ and the more I can save the more money towards the bar bill...

Another package I rec'd this week (almost an every other day thing, these packages!) :

For pictures on the wedding day that we can use for thank you cards!

Totally love this- premade and cheap since it was just used by a bride for her wedding this winter.  Much easier than tackling another DIY project!!

Another project checked off the list was my "i do" letters in blue on the bottom of my wedding shoes~ Caurie was awesome enough to tackle this one:

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this =)  Makes for a cute picture, don't you think?? 

We also got some ribbon cut (purple of course!) to wrap around the cube vases on the tables~ that project will probably have to wait to get finished as its not nearly as fun as bedazzling things...Which Heather helped with, and now all the invites are dazzling with bling (or at least just a touch!)  I have to decide whether I want to add a little sparkle to the monogram seal or just leave it be; it may end up being decided for me if I don't have time!! 

In other news, I got my jewelry in the mail and I LOVE it~ kinda ordered it blind from an etsy seller (pookafan) she is totally awesome and made everything just the way I wanted it and was completely affordable!  I already emailed her to get a matching necklace too, so I don't have pics of that, but here is the bracelet (my Fav piece!):

And the earrings:

I don't know if the pics do these justice, but they are incredible and look like I should have paid WAY more than I did!  =)  I also got Katelyn a set: 
This was kinda hard to get a good pic for some reason, but she has the ivory pearls just like mine but then purple crystals throughout.  Its a bracelet/necklace set and she is working on stud earrings for me (all hers are dangly right now and I was a little scared to give a 5 yo dangly earrings!)






Katie- make sure you hide this from Katelyn if shes looking!  Also this next part too; as this is so cute I can't help but show it:

Once again, no justice served by my horrible photography skills, but you get the idea!

It also has her initials at the top and the same decor on the other side.  Then I have some pieces of jewelry to "fill" it with =)  Hope she likes it!!!

This post is long enough already so I'll save the best news for next time, but I'll just say that I had a meeting today and am so excited that I finally feel I have someone in charge for the wedding day besides me!  A weight has been lifted and I don't have to worry~ YAY =)