In September/October I am hosting my sister's wedding shower. In case one day she learns I have a blog, I am keeping this limited to something she (hopefully) won't get upset about.
D (sister, not hubby) has seven (yes SEVEN) bachelorettes plus me as matron of honor. Now two of her girls are out of town so they are understandably not going to be involved in the shower/bachelorette party. We will leave the bachelorette party discussion for another day.
Today ... I need advice on the shower.
Knowing that D's friends are young and mostly students, I realized we would have a low budget. In order to plan for this, I realized we'd have to start planning early. I contacted each girl (privately, so no peer pressure/embarrassment) to ask how much they could contribute to the shower. Now I hate asking people for money. Really. Our executive director never has to fear that I am aiming for her job because I could never do it. I am the worst fundraiser to possibly ever exist. But I had to ask. So I did. Minus the two out of town girls, of the five girls who responded, only one cannot right now contribute anything. I told her it would be between us. I would front her portion (truth: my parents are paying my portion as they did when my sister co-hosted with some of my mom's friends my shower) and asked that she pay me back if/when she was able. With six girls that leaves us a budget of $50/girl or $300 total.
Background: D's fiance is M. M's parents had a very messy divorce. I mean very messy! I had even suggested doing two separate showers but D nixed that. One shower it is.
So because of that, there are four people who get to invite people to the shower: my mom, D, M's mom and M's dad. That's four guest lists. Four reasonably sized guest lists. Except, just like when you buy 100 $1 items, it adds up quickly. So today I got the final guest list. I may have miscounted so within 3 people plus minus the total right now .... 105. Yes, you see that correctly. One hundred and five people are invited to the shower. Now some of these people are not expected to come, and some live at the same address so the invitation/attendance list will be a bit smaller.
But still ...we're probably looking at at least 80 women.
Now my sister had declared that having my shower at her future MIL's house was sooooooo much work so wouldn't it just be easier to have the shower at a restaurant. And keeps pushing for this. For 80 some people ... not happening. I've already asked my cousin who has a really large house if we could have the shower there and graciously, she's said yes.
But D doesn't know ... and probably won't be too happy about it. Oh well ... only way we can even think to have the shower.
But now I have to actually HAVE a shower ... for around 80 people ... for $300.
Tips? Guidance? Help?
Thanks!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
A Pier 1 Spruce Up!
This post brought to you by Pier 1. All opinions are 100% mine.
D and I have a really nice sized porch. Last year we moved into the apartment April 30th (cannot believe it’s almost been a year of living here!) and never got around to decorating the porch. When we moved in a neighbor was moving out and gave us some large plants and pots. D did a good job maintaining/watering them…until he left for 2 weeks and left me in charge. Whoops. Death all around.
But now March 20th has passed and spring has sprung. The snow (from last week!) is gone. So it is time to focus on that outdoor space. D and I would love to be able to sit outside just enjoying our time together. Since we also love having friends over and would love to be able to entertain outside our entertaining/spring must haves are chairs and a table or cart to store items on! I’ve begun my search online for options to make entertaining outside enjoyable and started looking at Peir 1’s website.
We live in the second floor of a three floor apartment building. My one complaint about our balcony is that we don’t get enough sun. Since we don’t get sun, I don’t need an umbrella. But looking at their website, I’ve fallen in love with this pagoda umbrella.
Think I can maybe talk my parents into buying it for their yard?? I can’t help it. The colors and style are amazing. Talk about sprucing up a space!
And as you may recall from a prior post, I do not like bugs. Now entertaining outside, this is something I have to take into consideration. I want something that will keep the bugs away, but I also want it to look attractive and not cost a fortune! Lucky me I found these citronella glass filled yard stakes.
Now I don’t have a yard but we could use a flower pot (like this garden urn planter). A little soil, insert a yard stake and we’re good to go. For me the best part, since we’re constantly watching our pocketbook, is that the stakes are only $6 a piece. I looked twice to make sure I saw the price correct.
The walls surrounding our porch are brick. So naturally I’d like some color. How about these great chairs for only $99 a piece.
Since a lot of Pier 1’s stuff is indoor and outdoor, when we have company in the cooler months, we could easily bring these chairs inside to use! And I love that they come in four different colors. Definitely helps to offset the red brick.
And in order to entertain, we’d need something to hold all the yummy food I cook! The outdoor serving cart looks like it’d fit the bill perfectly.
And when it is just D and me enjoying a quiet night outside? Their papasan chairs have recently been updates. I think this double papasan chair would be great! It would help us since our space is limited. But they have great individual papasan chairs as well … and according to the website lots of the cushions are currently on clearance!
Take a look at Pier 1 and tell me what is your favorite outdoor must have? If you have a store near you, check out Pier 1 Tweetups for the opportunity to meet other Pier 1 shoppers!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Blog That Saved Me Money!
Allow me to explain.
About 10 days ago, D was taking out the recycling and stumbled upon $71. We decided to be honest and post a sign. About five days later, no one had claimed the money.
D and I don't do "big nights out" and when we do go out, we try to be budget conscious. So we decided to treat this money as "free" and splurge on a night out: movie and dinner!
Now even though we had free money, we still went to Restaurant.com to print out a coupon! (Ok, seriously ... I really should be getting paid for promoting them lol!) Just as we got into the car, D rereads the coupon and sees that you can't go to that restaurant (with the coupon) twice in a month. We had recently used the coupon at the same restaurant, but couldn't remember the date.
Now there were a few options as we had to leave to make the movie on time. First, one of us could have gotten off our lazy tushes and gone into the house, logged onto restaurant.com and tried to figure out when we last used it. This was time consuming, we had a movie to catch, and neither of us wanted to go back into the house for a fishing expedition since I'm not even sure that info is available! Since neither of us has internet on our phones, it isn't like we could look this up from the car on our phones.
Option 2, hold onto the coupon for another use and go to a different restaurant paying full price.
Or option 3, I could remember I had written a post about our last date night, D could realize he had his I-pod touch with wireless access and we could find the post I wrote. The post that was dated March 6th. Just over a month ago! We were cleared to use the coupon! See ... having my blog and writing about my life has paid off! ;)
Too bad when we got to the theater the movie had sold out. Instead, we decided to really treat ourselves and have a really nice meal. We each had a drink (me a pomegranate cocktail, him a beer) and split an appetizer. We were sad to see they had changed the menu. There were a lot fewer items that I would eat. We'll go back but it will definitely be more than a month!
So we then came home and watched an Israeli movie D had rented (he returned The Shining faster than I thought so he got two Netflix movies in a row ... now I get two in a row!).
All in all I had an absolutely fabulous date night with my hubby.
About 10 days ago, D was taking out the recycling and stumbled upon $71. We decided to be honest and post a sign. About five days later, no one had claimed the money.
D and I don't do "big nights out" and when we do go out, we try to be budget conscious. So we decided to treat this money as "free" and splurge on a night out: movie and dinner!
Now even though we had free money, we still went to Restaurant.com to print out a coupon! (Ok, seriously ... I really should be getting paid for promoting them lol!) Just as we got into the car, D rereads the coupon and sees that you can't go to that restaurant (with the coupon) twice in a month. We had recently used the coupon at the same restaurant, but couldn't remember the date.
Now there were a few options as we had to leave to make the movie on time. First, one of us could have gotten off our lazy tushes and gone into the house, logged onto restaurant.com and tried to figure out when we last used it. This was time consuming, we had a movie to catch, and neither of us wanted to go back into the house for a fishing expedition since I'm not even sure that info is available! Since neither of us has internet on our phones, it isn't like we could look this up from the car on our phones.
Option 2, hold onto the coupon for another use and go to a different restaurant paying full price.
Or option 3, I could remember I had written a post about our last date night, D could realize he had his I-pod touch with wireless access and we could find the post I wrote. The post that was dated March 6th. Just over a month ago! We were cleared to use the coupon! See ... having my blog and writing about my life has paid off! ;)
Too bad when we got to the theater the movie had sold out. Instead, we decided to really treat ourselves and have a really nice meal. We each had a drink (me a pomegranate cocktail, him a beer) and split an appetizer. We were sad to see they had changed the menu. There were a lot fewer items that I would eat. We'll go back but it will definitely be more than a month!
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| Not current but I look about the same ... but with shorter hair :( |
All in all I had an absolutely fabulous date night with my hubby.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
My Parent's Favoritism
Now most people think of favoritism as parents favoring one of their children over another. That type of favoritism is for another post.
This favoritism is different. My parents ... favor my husband. Truly. It is remarkable.
Now I love D. Truly, madly, deeply. I love him. But we both acknowledge there are some things about him (e.g. his living in another state while we were dating) that would not thrill my parents. Yet there has NEVER been an anti-D comment.
Not only that, they prefer him to me. Ok well that might be an exaggeration. But allow me to make my case!
D and I registered at three places for our wedding. One was a funky Jewish art store in town. Although I registered us for a number of items, D really wanted this pink kitchen clock with this mad/angry face on it made out of recycled parts. Since he hadn't registered for anything in that store and I didn't mind the clock I figured what the heck. No one was going to get it for us. Except my parents did. As an engagement gift.
When D and I were registering at Bed, Bath and Beyond, we fell in love with the monkey bathroom set. My parents thought I didn't like it. They thought I registered for it as a joke. They thought it was really D who wanted it and I was just appeasing him but planned to change it. So naturally they bought it for me. As a shower gift.
Until recently, D did not eat any meat (including poultry). A few weeks/months ago I encouraged/forced/bribed/lovingly-and-not-so-secretly-hoped-for D to start eating meat. Well...poultry. That was raised cage-free.
But it's a start!
When I was in high school I gave up beef but still ate chicken. You'd have thought I suddenly went vegan in a house of carnivores as much as my parents reacted. And they'd often get frustrated when I wouldn't eat what they'd cooked.
When D and I started dating I was living at home. Meaning when D would come to stay for a weekend, he'd be staying at my parent's house. And you better believe they ALWAYS had fish for him. Always.
And now that he will eat free-range chicken? They're stockpiling it. My dad got so excited the other day believe he'd found free-range kosher chicken for me to use to make real chicken soup for Passover (it was actually turkey).
He even bought D two drumsticks the other day thinking organic = free-range.
Now do you believe my parents favor D over me? I know I could have it worse. I love that my parents love my hubby.
But still wish they favored me more ;)
This favoritism is different. My parents ... favor my husband. Truly. It is remarkable.
Now I love D. Truly, madly, deeply. I love him. But we both acknowledge there are some things about him (e.g. his living in another state while we were dating) that would not thrill my parents. Yet there has NEVER been an anti-D comment.
Not only that, they prefer him to me. Ok well that might be an exaggeration. But allow me to make my case!
D and I registered at three places for our wedding. One was a funky Jewish art store in town. Although I registered us for a number of items, D really wanted this pink kitchen clock with this mad/angry face on it made out of recycled parts. Since he hadn't registered for anything in that store and I didn't mind the clock I figured what the heck. No one was going to get it for us. Except my parents did. As an engagement gift.
When D and I were registering at Bed, Bath and Beyond, we fell in love with the monkey bathroom set. My parents thought I didn't like it. They thought I registered for it as a joke. They thought it was really D who wanted it and I was just appeasing him but planned to change it. So naturally they bought it for me. As a shower gift.
Until recently, D did not eat any meat (including poultry). A few weeks/months ago I encouraged/forced/bribed/lovingly-and-not-so-secretly-hoped-for D to start eating meat. Well...poultry. That was raised cage-free.
But it's a start!
When I was in high school I gave up beef but still ate chicken. You'd have thought I suddenly went vegan in a house of carnivores as much as my parents reacted. And they'd often get frustrated when I wouldn't eat what they'd cooked.
When D and I started dating I was living at home. Meaning when D would come to stay for a weekend, he'd be staying at my parent's house. And you better believe they ALWAYS had fish for him. Always.
And now that he will eat free-range chicken? They're stockpiling it. My dad got so excited the other day believe he'd found free-range kosher chicken for me to use to make real chicken soup for Passover (it was actually turkey).
He even bought D two drumsticks the other day thinking organic = free-range.
Now do you believe my parents favor D over me? I know I could have it worse. I love that my parents love my hubby.
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| http://www.freeimages.co.uk |
But still wish they favored me more ;)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Technologically Impaired?
I have a flip phone. I don't own a Blackberry or I-Phone. I don't have an I-pod or I-pad. I can't handle a server. And although I rocked VERY basic html in college, I can't write code.
But I love blogging. And I want to have a pretty blog. Now eventually I am going to pay someone to design a really pretty looking blog. But until the time I can figure out what on earth I want my blog to look like, I have to rely on the internet. And blogging tutorials.
Today I saw a blog post about numbering your comments. Now as someone who is SOON (I hope) going to be hosting her very own giveaway, numbered comments are important! It could potentially be difficult to count out which person wins my item (not because I can't count, I am actually quite good at math! but because I am likely to mess up).
This was by far the EASIEST tutorial I have seen in a while. I'd recommend heading over here to check out Design It Chic's amazing tutorial. There are others as well. I bet if you want to know how to do it, you can find the instructions there!
I'm so excited about my numbered comments. It's the little things folks! Now just waiting on my item to arrive so I can host the giveaway :)
 |
| http://www.freeimages.co.uk |
Today I saw a blog post about numbering your comments. Now as someone who is SOON (I hope) going to be hosting her very own giveaway, numbered comments are important! It could potentially be difficult to count out which person wins my item (not because I can't count, I am actually quite good at math! but because I am likely to mess up).
This was by far the EASIEST tutorial I have seen in a while. I'd recommend heading over here to check out Design It Chic's amazing tutorial. There are others as well. I bet if you want to know how to do it, you can find the instructions there!
I'm so excited about my numbered comments. It's the little things folks! Now just waiting on my item to arrive so I can host the giveaway :)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Never Saved a Wedding Before
I have done lots of things in my life. I've fallen in love, gotten married, traveled to China, pulled a bully off my brother before he could drown, accidentally slapped someone in a haunted house (will explain in another post I'm sure), graduated from high school/college/grad school, etc. Suffice it to say, I've done a lot in my 20-some years.
But Saturday was a first.
D and I to a wedding for my friend L. She married P. The location was GORGEOUS. It was a lovely country club right around the corner from our house. The bridesmaids looked lovely. The parents were beaming. The bride was glowing. (The groom was nervous ... kept looking out into the crowd!)
The wedding ceremony was unique for a Jewish wedding. (Very brief, not completely accurate/illustrative explanation of Judaism: there are three main branches. I say main because there are others but let's just focus on the three main ones: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. The Orthodox are the most observant followed by the Conservative and then the Reform. Make sense? No? If not, and you want to know more you can email me or go here!)
Ok now that we have that taken care of...L's wedding was Reform. There are certain traditions that usually happen at a Jewish wedding. For instance, usually both the groom and the bride are escorted down the aisle by their respective parents. The bride usually walks around the groom 7 times before the ceremony begins. Both the bride and the groom drink from the same wedding cup. And probably most well known, the guy smashes the glass at the end. (There are some traditions I didn't mention). Some of these they did and others they didn't. But the strangest thing was they asked each other to say "I Do." Now in all the Jewish weddings I've attended (both Reform, Conservative and Orthodox) I've never seen a Jewish wedding have the couple say I Do. An experience for sure!
Then it was cocktail hour (I'll spare you the details in case you haven't eaten but it was delicious!).
And then time for the reception and time for L and P's first dance. It was obvious they had taken professional lessons and had a routine all planned out. There was just one problem...L kept tripping over her dress.
At one point I actually heard her say to P, just step on it. At that point, what are you going to do?
Now after the first dance there is what's called the Horah or Hava Nagilah (we all dance around in a circle, you can do-see-do...though we don't call it that...with the bride/groom and they get lifted up in a chair). During this dance I danced with L and she started apologizing saying "I'm so sorry, I didn't know." I told her not to apologize, it didn't matter, she was married and worst case scenario, the dress rips.
As she kept dancing, the bustle kept getting looser and looser. When she started walking around to the tables she had started crying. My heart was breaking for her. No matter how in love and how happy you are, that day is incredibly stressful. When she got to me, I asked her what was wrong and after first insisting nothing (through the tears) she then admitted she was upset about the dress and because the wedding planner hadn't helped. Apparently the wedding planner told L she didn't bustle dresses AND that they had to go-go-go.
I'm sorry, but it's the bride. It isn't starting without her! I told L we could find some safety pins and just pin it up. The formal pictures were over. This was about functionality. She agreed and 10 minutes later we'd hunted down some pins. She motioned toward me and I followed her into the next room.
I had her stand on the stage about 2 feet above me so I could get an easier angle. And then I just started pinning. I could have smacked the wedding planner who kept acting like SHE was fixing the day. Whatever.
I should also mention I was not a bridesmaid. One of the bridesmaids came in and kept commenting that I'd missed my calling. However, I took this as a sarcastic comment. And was rightfully annoyed. This same bridesmaid also commented she wish she'd have thought of having L stand on the stage.
Not my fault I have better ideas!
I am a pusher. And a royal buttin-ski. I know this about myself. I've accepted it. It is who I am. It's not my fault that the bridesmaids didn't step up or didn't come up with the solution.
And you better believe if I had been a bridesmaid I would have put that wedding planner in her place.
I got L's dress up and it never touched the ground again. She never tripped and danced the night away.
I'd say I saved her wedding. Agree?
But Saturday was a first.
D and I to a wedding for my friend L. She married P. The location was GORGEOUS. It was a lovely country club right around the corner from our house. The bridesmaids looked lovely. The parents were beaming. The bride was glowing. (The groom was nervous ... kept looking out into the crowd!)
The wedding ceremony was unique for a Jewish wedding. (Very brief, not completely accurate/illustrative explanation of Judaism: there are three main branches. I say main because there are others but let's just focus on the three main ones: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. The Orthodox are the most observant followed by the Conservative and then the Reform. Make sense? No? If not, and you want to know more you can email me or go here!)
Ok now that we have that taken care of...L's wedding was Reform. There are certain traditions that usually happen at a Jewish wedding. For instance, usually both the groom and the bride are escorted down the aisle by their respective parents. The bride usually walks around the groom 7 times before the ceremony begins. Both the bride and the groom drink from the same wedding cup. And probably most well known, the guy smashes the glass at the end. (There are some traditions I didn't mention). Some of these they did and others they didn't. But the strangest thing was they asked each other to say "I Do." Now in all the Jewish weddings I've attended (both Reform, Conservative and Orthodox) I've never seen a Jewish wedding have the couple say I Do. An experience for sure!
Then it was cocktail hour (I'll spare you the details in case you haven't eaten but it was delicious!).
And then time for the reception and time for L and P's first dance. It was obvious they had taken professional lessons and had a routine all planned out. There was just one problem...L kept tripping over her dress.
At one point I actually heard her say to P, just step on it. At that point, what are you going to do?
Now after the first dance there is what's called the Horah or Hava Nagilah (we all dance around in a circle, you can do-see-do...though we don't call it that...with the bride/groom and they get lifted up in a chair). During this dance I danced with L and she started apologizing saying "I'm so sorry, I didn't know." I told her not to apologize, it didn't matter, she was married and worst case scenario, the dress rips.
As she kept dancing, the bustle kept getting looser and looser. When she started walking around to the tables she had started crying. My heart was breaking for her. No matter how in love and how happy you are, that day is incredibly stressful. When she got to me, I asked her what was wrong and after first insisting nothing (through the tears) she then admitted she was upset about the dress and because the wedding planner hadn't helped. Apparently the wedding planner told L she didn't bustle dresses AND that they had to go-go-go.
I'm sorry, but it's the bride. It isn't starting without her! I told L we could find some safety pins and just pin it up. The formal pictures were over. This was about functionality. She agreed and 10 minutes later we'd hunted down some pins. She motioned toward me and I followed her into the next room.
I had her stand on the stage about 2 feet above me so I could get an easier angle. And then I just started pinning. I could have smacked the wedding planner who kept acting like SHE was fixing the day. Whatever.
I should also mention I was not a bridesmaid. One of the bridesmaids came in and kept commenting that I'd missed my calling. However, I took this as a sarcastic comment. And was rightfully annoyed. This same bridesmaid also commented she wish she'd have thought of having L stand on the stage.
I am a pusher. And a royal buttin-ski. I know this about myself. I've accepted it. It is who I am. It's not my fault that the bridesmaids didn't step up or didn't come up with the solution.
And you better believe if I had been a bridesmaid I would have put that wedding planner in her place.
I got L's dress up and it never touched the ground again. She never tripped and danced the night away.
I'd say I saved her wedding. Agree?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Ultimate Blog Party Post
Hi and welcome from Ultimate Blog Party! I'm Sara, a professional and newlywed.
During my day-to-day job I don't have too much opportunity for creativity! I saw other people's blogs and thought, well why not me!
My blog is about my life as a professional, newlywed and eventually-at-some-time-in-the-not-too-distant-future-mommy-to-be (clear enough?).
Read on to learn more about how
D and I met,
Fell in love,
Got engaged,
And eventually got married (and danced the night away).
May marks our one year anniversary. My blog is about my life as a newlywed. I write about my first year of marriage, work, family, life and whatever is going on at that moment. Although eventually I'll transition to a mommy blog, right now I am enjoying writing about my life.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to leave a comment so I can visit your blog! I also try to follow you back if you follow my blog. ;) In the next few weeks I'll be hosting my very FIRST giveaway so please check back soon!
During my day-to-day job I don't have too much opportunity for creativity! I saw other people's blogs and thought, well why not me!
My blog is about my life as a professional, newlywed and eventually-at-some-time-in-the-not-too-distant-future-mommy-to-be (clear enough?).
Read on to learn more about how
Fell in love,
Got engaged,And eventually got married (and danced the night away).
May marks our one year anniversary. My blog is about my life as a newlywed. I write about my first year of marriage, work, family, life and whatever is going on at that moment. Although eventually I'll transition to a mommy blog, right now I am enjoying writing about my life.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to leave a comment so I can visit your blog! I also try to follow you back if you follow my blog. ;) In the next few weeks I'll be hosting my very FIRST giveaway so please check back soon!
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