MargaRITA

How would to like to go to a rehearsal dinner at an awesome Mexican restaurant? Yea, I thought you would too! Cause I would. And its in our budget so that makes me want to dance. Which I did, after a "monster margarita" and listening to the mariachi band for a while. I mean check out this marg! And they band played the marcarena. Yup. Can't wait!

Driving Dreams

I drive a lot. To and from work takes about 45minutes. And then there's driving clients all about the metro area, sometimes they chat, sometimes they sleep. When they are silent or when I'm alone I have the best driving dream sessions.

No, I'm not really sleeping, just daydreaming. Or I'm working out thoughts and plans and hopes but mostly dreams.

Wedding dreams.
House dreams.
Baby dreams.
Professional dreams.

I'm at the threshold of a really exciting time in my life and there's really nothing better than imagining different ways that it may play out.

What are you dreaming of lately?

Traditions

As I have been on this wedding planning journey there have been many traditions that I have turned my nose up to and thus have decided not to incorporate into our wedding day. People may or may not agree with me on this but here's a prime example of why I am choosing not to blindly follow tradition.

The Garter Toss

I personally find it a bit creepy that the groom gets to out his (oftentimes) head up the brides skirt in public. Not for me, I would be a blushing bride, no doubt about it.

My parents may have done a garter toss, I'm not really sure. But my mom did get her garter back if she did have it taken and thrown to a male guest of theirs. And that's where you find out about a family tradition.

It may have just started with my mom and grandma, I'd have to ask of goes back further. In any case, ky mom wore her mothers garter as well as a new one of her own.

And now on November 10, 2012, I will wear both my mom's garter and my own that my sister is personally making for me.

And that's a tradition I can keep going with my hopefully future daughters that undoubtedly will find my dress out of style or that it doesn't fit them. But a garter is hidden and personal and a little bit of HERstory that can be shared through the generations.

Relearning

I'm relearning how to eat. No, it is not a diet. Yes, I hope to loose weight. But even more than learning how to eat I'm learning to listen. To question my reason for what I'm consuming. I'm eating to fuel my body NOT to satisfy bored, anxiety, or sadness that my mind wants me to. It's not easy to admit that I'm an emotional eater. Not easy to accept it. But it is what it is. I care about me. I need to care about my physical AND mental well being. That's what I'm learning to do.
Get the book Women Food and God by Geneen Roth. Read it with an open mind. Personally mine copy is rife with notes in the margins. I'm learning. Even if I forget to ask ky body before I start to eat that bad food, if I catch myself in the middle, maybe next time I'll catch myself in the beginning. Learnings a process and I'm taking the baby steps.
PS thank you Jess of Makeunder My Life for recommending this book!

Indecision

Lately I have gone back and forth and back and forth again on how I want to decorate our wedding. Our package at our reception hall includes basic, non-floral centerpieces. I'm all for candle light but originally thought I needed flowers. I also thought I needed floor length linens. I'm not over them completely, but they won't make me happier that day so I don't need them.

The bigger issue is all the inspiration online is RECTANGULAR tables not ROUND tables. Well at least the pretty modern blogerific tablescapes. Martha has some pretty ones. Mainly I want our reception to be unique and I'm a bit regretful disappointed in doing a regular ol' banquet hall and not some unique venue. HELP.

Our ceremony is unique. A theater. Also difficult to conceptualize decorations.

Also wishing my mom was here to go to JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby with to play around with ideas....

I'm indecisive about decor and I don't like it.

I did decide to enter project phase beginning with painting my Ikea frames aka table numbers as well as a dumpster-dived mirror that will be our seating chart. I just asked Vince if I should steer towards charcoal grey instead of mustard as planned. More indecision...perhaps tomorrow I'll feel more sure.

Engagement Pictures

Yesterday afternoon Vince's brother Trevor and his wife Michelle came over to visit us. I had asked Michelle to take our engagement pictures as well as design our save the dates. We ventured over to the Old Winery here in Farmington which has all kinds of gorgeous doors and windows and ivy loveliness to use as backdrops.

Here a couple of my fave shots:

Thanks Michelle!! Can't wait to see the final Save the Date's!!

Off Weekend

I actually have three whole days off this weekend. By that I mean I had today off and tomorrow and Monday but work Sunday.

Today was a frustrating day for wedding planning. Good vendors are soooo key to this process. One was sick, fine, but you asked me to call or text if something came up, can't you do the same? One just pissed me off royally continues to frustrate me but I'm choosing to grin and bear it this time; next time, beware, I won't be friendly. On top of that I've had a tender stomach and head ache all day. I restrained my bridezilla, but danngg I get why there is a show about it!

BUT my friend Heather of Heather Behrens Design saved my day when she sent me a sneak peak of the work she's doing on my invitations and I seriously COULD NOT BE HAPPIER with the way things are looking. She's a super talented graphic designer who does fair priced work and will truly work with your budget to get you what you want. Check out her work if you need invites or any type of publication as she has done it all! I can't wait to see more of my stationary from her!

And tomorrow we are heading to Saugatuk, MI to lay on the beach of Lake Michigan with friends, play some games, read some magazines, eat some grilled food, and have a few wedding dresses. My goal is to only talk wedding if someone asks me about it, and to then keep it brief. Hear that Kelly and Lia? Keep me OFF wedding brain. I need the break!

Oh and Monday it's a Todero family BBQ in Grand Rapids! Fun weekend! Let's hope my sunblock works :)