Love Ya Award

I've nearly forgotten to mention that Brittney of The Perfect Pair gave me the Love Ya Award!

Thanks so much, Brittney! I am touched! I look forward to seeing your wedding details.

Wedding Band Dilemma

After three months of searching for a wedding band, I thought I was going to have to have one custom made to fit. My ring sits directly on my finger and takes up quite a bit of area. Also, there are diamonds along the base that you wouldn't want to obstruct. (Please excuse the camera phone quality of this pic and my hand contortions.)

Finally, I had an aha moment and emailed the lady that J bought the ring from. She emailed me back today with the band that she has made to fit the ring style that I have. It's interesting how the "wrap-around" part is actually not around the top, but it makes sense considering how high the ring actually sits. So... I'm going to show J this weekend and see what he thinks. Considering the band is actually made to go with the ring it's kind of a no-brainer, but it would be nice to see it on with my ring.

Wedding Clutch

This clutch is definitely a possibility for wedding day attire! (found via Delight by Design)
What do you think?

Fabulous Shoe Friday

Would it be too much if I wore these for the wedding?

I have to say... they are fabulous!

If these were a half-size bigger, then I would totally buy them for the wedding.


Wishful thinking this Friday. :)

Bridal Jewelry

I was practically jumping up and down when my Gilt Groupe boxes arrived in the mail on Tuesday. I was overjoyed... YAY, my bridal jewelry is here! I so wanted to love everything.

Just a reminder... here they are again.


They are okay, but I wasn't doing cartwheels of joy when I opened them. Total letdown. Did any of you watch the awards last Sunday and see Angelina? The earrings are that big. (By the way, I am awful at not checking dimensions before clicking buy.)


Good thing they're clip-ons! I am actually wishing I could wear the exact ones she is (but more mini-me sized!) because I'm drooling over the color, which just happens to match the bridesmaids. Hmmm... to be continued...

Death and Taxes

In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes. -- Benjamin Franklin

This past week, I dealt with nearly both. I finally got around to visiting my accountant last Thursday. I had been putting it off for no real reason at all. My accountant is super quick on the turn-around. He also likes to enter everything while you're there and give you a tentative idea of what you either owe or are getting back. Last year, I got a hefty return from 2007. Earlier in 2008, I had decided to cash out my 401k because I wasn't technically employed and needed to have the mortgage covered for a few months. BIG MISTAKE. Listen now... do not do it. Beg, borrow, or steal before you cash it out. My federal taxes were withheld, but state was not. AND, the amount was added to income, and another 10% in penalty taxes were due. I knew the penalties, but I thought I would at least break even based on the past year's return. So... I waited patiently while my accountant worked his magic. He turned the screen toward me, and I nearly had a heart attack. It said I owed $3306. My first thought was that we'd have to call off the wedding. Our budget was so small to begin with, and there was no way I could come up with that money in two months unless I got my deposits back. My second thought was basically, "How am I going to tell J?" Then, he said, "Something doesn't seem right" and promptly realized that he left a 5 off of the front of my contribution, as in five THOUSAND! So, I didn't owe at all. I'm actually getting money back. Whew! I thought I was going to pass out right there in his office!

Then, on Saturday, I decided to take a little shopping trip. The nearest shopping center is about 90 miles away-- and it's an outlet. I picked up a few things that I will show you later. Unfortunately, I stayed a little late, and it was dark by the time I started the drive home. I hate driving at night. I have horrible night vision. I was within 20 miles of my house, when I realized that I suddenly didn't see the headlights coming toward me that were just there. My first thought was that there must be a hill up ahead. There was no hill. I'm not sure when I realized what was happening, but I was suddenly slamming on my brakes. I stopped literally 5 feet from slamming into the side of a tanker truck that was blocking the entire road. I'm not sure what made the trucker decide to back onto the road from a side street, but there were cars coming from both directions! I was this close to being decapitated. I had shaky leg syndrome the rest of the way home. Thankfully, I was being looked out for that night.

Another Milestone

Today marks exactly 5 months until the wedding!

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Apparently my chili-cheese dog Sunday afternoon didn't help my Monday weigh-in! :) I should have known! I'm so close to my lifetime goal that I can taste it, yet I continue to sabotage myself. The goal this week is to add more exercise. I have definitely been slacking in that department. One day a week of skiing isn't getting the job done. Enough griping... here's this week's recipe:

Hungry Girl's Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Ingredients:
1 tray Green Giant Just for One! Broccoli & Cheese Sauce
1/2 cup light (plain) soymilk
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese, chopped into pieces
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
To prepare Broccoli & Cheese Sauce, pull film back slightly to vent. Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Pull film back all the way (but do not remove), and stir in cheese wedge pieces. Place film b ack over the tray, and microwave for an additional 45 seconds. Mix well, and allow to cool slightly. Place broccoli/cheese mixture in a blender with soymilk. Blend at medium speed until desired consistency is reached (blend very briefly if you like broccoli pieces in your soup -- blend longer for fully pureed soup). Transfer soup to your favorite microwave-safe bowl (or your second-favorite one, if your fave isn't clean). Heat soup in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Then slurp it up! MAKES 1 SERVING

Serving Size: 1 cup (entire recipe)
Calories: 125
Fat: 5.75g
Sodium: 796mg
Carbs: 11.5g
Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 4.5g
Protein: 7g

POINTS® value 3

I haven't tried this one yet, but I am dying to. Enjoy!

Wedding Wednesday

J doesn't have opinions about too many wedding-related aspects, but occasionally he'll pipe up. He definitely had an opinion about boutonnieres! He wanted simple. very. simple. Here are just a few bouts that I've found that might pass muster. (First one found via The Knot; last two via Martha Stewart Weddings) The key is finding something that I can actually make myself!

I think this first one is my favorite.

To Friend or Not to Friend

Over a year ago, I decided to delete my MySpace account. I came to the realization that I wasn't really on it enough to use it, AND I wasn't really into my "friends". I had accepted "friendships" with people that I had no plan to speak to in real life. I had only gotten on MySpace because my younger brothers were on it, and it seemed like that was the only real way to communicate with them. (Apparently, they both adored their cell minutes more than they adored their sister! Sob.) It seemed as though everybody I didn't even know wanted to be my "friend". I was over it.

Months later, I decided to join Facebook. I liked that you didn't have to set up a fun background to make yourself look cool. And-- I planned to not extend or accept friend requests unless I truly wanted to be in touch with someone. Now, nearly a year later, I am torn with how to respond to unwanted friend requests. For instance, this morning, I got a friend request from someone that was a very good guy friend throughout high school and then distantly when I was in college. He has visited me in Colorado several times since I moved. THEN-- he did the unthinkable. He invited himself for a visit just over a year ago and acted like a complete and utter fool-- Valentine's weekend, no less. He invited a friend from high school that I literally had not seen since graduation, and then decided to treat J like a jerk and profess his undying love for me in front of everyone. He was angry when I didn't reciprocate. He stayed another 2 days when I made it clear I wasn't thrilled with his presence. I have spoken to him once since he left my house during that trip. He has tried calling, sent weird Hallmark cards, and then sent random texts on my birthday and Christmas. I've virtually written him off. (Although, I did still send his parents a Christmas card because they obviously didn't know their son had acted like a weirdo.) Now, he has decided to open a Facebook account and wants to be my friend. I haven't told him J and I are getting married, and I have no desire to even have a conversation with him because of his bizarre behavior. We come from a small town, so I hate to not accept his "friendship". Plus, I hardly interact with several of the people that I've reconnected with... but I just hate to bring him into my life at all.

So... how do you handle unwanted "friendships"? *Update-- my mom says to go ahead befriend him, even if it's just for show.*

J's Suit... Dun, Dun, Dun

We ordered J a suit last week in hopes that it would be amazing, and then the groomsmen could order it as well. I'm sure you can tell by now that it didn't work out. As of right now, I have yet to hear back from the company we bought it from in regards to my return request. After looking through the website Saturday night, I realized they have three different return policies in different places on their site. I am praying that they are willing to work with me on the return. Otherwise, it's a wasted expense, and I just might cry. So frustrating. J asked me why I looked so down once he took the suit off. All I could say was, "I want just one thing to work out, and then I can move on to something else!" I feel like every line item on my to-do list has some issue, and I can't move forward.

I spent the rest of the evening scouring the internet. Once I found a decent khaki tux rental, J offered to go by the local shop to see if they would be able to order it. Fingers crossed!

The tux option:

Real wedding with the tux:



Did you have the groomsmen rent tuxes or buy suits?

Award Time

I'm a little late in recognizing this, but Jane of In the Waiting Line gave me a blog award. Thank you so much, Jane! I don't always feel like I'm showing all of you my "best face", so this award means a lot to me. I am very appreciative!

Like all awards, it comes with a set of rules, but these rules are easy to follow:

1) put the logo on your blog or post

2) nominate at least 10 blogs with show GREAT ATTITUDE &/or GRATITUDE!

3) be sure to link your nominees within your post

4) let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5) share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

So in no particular order, I nod the following bloggers:

{With the Pixie Grin}
We Met in a Bar
In This Instance
Blue-Eyed Bride
Make Mine a Mojito
Tying the Knot
Southern Daze
Budget Savvy Bride
A Babe in the Making
Simple Yet Classic

These lovely ladies have the best attitudes. I love reading their blog posts. If you haven't checked them out, do so now!

Fabulous Shoe Friday

Somehow, I managed to lose my favorite pair of boots back in November. I'm not sure if I left them at the gym, but they were suddenly gone. They were a pale khaki suede wedge boot, and I lurved them. I have been searching high and low for a replacement and have come up empty time and again. On Saturday, I decided to do a little strolling around downtown and stumbled upon a boot sale. I picked up these beauties (Blowfish brand) at just under $50.

They are fun, and if the style goes out, then I can always wear them under jeans. I found them online in 3 other colors and almost want to get them all! (Delia*s has them listed for $89.50, so I got a deal!) The best feature-- a rubberized sole, so I won't bust my butt in the Steamboat snow. Score.

These are by the same company and can be found at Victoria's Secret. How fun would they be for summer? They're canvas!

I love their heels and flats, too-- found at DSW.
I love the price point that Blowfish has, too. Have you found any new brands that make you (and your wallet) smile?

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Weigh in this week went well--surprisingly so. I had hoped that I had maintained and not gained after our trip to Aspen. Instead, I lost 1.8 pounds! I am within 1.4 lbs of my lifetime goal for Weight Watchers (which means if I keep up the good work and stay within 2 lbs of that goal for 6 weeks after I hit it, then I no longer have to pay!) I was within 0.2 before and then gained, so I'm extra determined to hit that goal now to begin the six week period. I need to get back into the exercising mindset that I was in before winter hit. I actually think that getting out and skiing a bit last week helped me lose, so I've asked Jen to go skiing with me again this weekend. Every little bit helps, and it's so much easier to exercise when you have a friend with you! (This is when J would tell that skiing is fun not exercise, but when you're usually skiing alone like me, you can get bored.)

As promised, here's this week's recipe:

Cobb Salad

POINTS® Value: 6 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 0 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

	8 cup(s) romaine lettuce, chopped
	1/2 pound(s) deli-sliced turkey, cut into thin strips
	1/4 pound(s) low-fat Swiss cheese, cut into thin strips
	1 large tomato(es), diced
	8 slice(s) cooked crisp turkey bacon, crumbled
	2 large egg(s), hard-boiled, diced
	1/2 cup(s) fat-free blue cheese dressing

Instructions

• Arrange lettuce in 4 salad bowls. Evenly divide turkey, cheese, tomato, bacon and egg among bowls.
  
  
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of dressing over each salad just before serving. Yields 1 salad per serving.

Just Right...

This wedding I found via Coco+Kelley is "just right". I am so excited I went with the kelly green despite what the naysayers might have said! I love when I see a beautiful wedding that gives me proof that I'm right! LOVE IT! (The bride's hair even looks like mine, so if I squint I can even imagine it's July.)


Yay! I can't wait until July. :)

Wedding Wednesday: Shower Dress

Now that a shower date has been set, I'm obsessed with finding an amazing dress to wear. While I would lurve to own this dress, I don't know if my bank account (or J) could forgive me.
As you can tell from this post (this one, this one too, another, and one last one), I adore ruffles... especially on dresses. I don't know when I became such a feminine dress lover, but I am addicted.

I saw this post about an amazing dress for an absolute steal and immediately clicked over to Chadwicks to check it out. They just happened to have it in a great color- bright green, of course- so I logged on through Ebates, used an Ebates coupon for 10% off, and scored the dress for $44.99 in a matter of minutes! (I've decided Ebates is my new best friend, by the way.) I'll let you know how it pans out.

Wedding Wednesday: Jewelry

Amy Lynn-- this post is for you. Every girl needs a good kick in the pants every once in a while! You made me realize that I didn't really have a planning lull-- I was actually just putting off things I could easily get out of the way early. Your comment gave me the kick start to finally decide on wedding jewelry!

I had an idea of what jewelry I wanted to wear on my wedding day. I bought some gorgeous earrings (that I still have yet to take a picture of). I also bought this necklace from Gilt Groupe. And then-- I hated the necklace. It didn't work at all. And then-- I started to wonder if the earrings would be too heavy for such a long day and if I wanted something more "classic".

So, I got off my butt and started looking. I actually noticed these earrings the first time they were on sale at Gilt Groupe (and even put them in my "cart" to never hit the checkout). When the costume jewelry sale came up last week, they were still there... so I got them.


Then, yesterday, I saw these beauties and thought they'd go perfectly with my new earrings. The great thing-- I would definitely wear the pieces again.

Now, as far as a necklace goes, I'm actually thinking the simpler the better. I am thinking of putting a bug in J's inbox ear to get me one of these necklaces as a wedding gift. I think it would be fun to wear something with my new initials and have it actually come from him. (Plus, they're offering 50% off if you use the code snippetlove when you checkout until Feb. 24! Found via Snippet & Ink)
I usually go big and bold for jewelry, but I'm thinking my wedding day may be an exception. I'm afraid I'll regret bold choices in 30 years. What do you think?

Mini-Break

Hello, ladies! I have to take a bit of a breather from blogging this week. Don't worry-- Weight Watchers Wednesday and Fabulous Shoe Friday will still go on. I just have some important personal decisions that I need to focus on right now. I hate to be vague, but I'll explain more later. I promise! I hope you have a fabulous week!

Everybody's Working For the Weekend...

Have a wonderful weekend (and Valentine's Day)! I'll see you next week.

Bold & Noble