Do Life Tour - Minneapolis

Last week I blogged about the Minneapolis stop of the Do Life Tour.  Below is a few pictures Katie emailed me from the night.

Katie with Ben Davis

Lilly and I

Katie's daughter Lilly and I were hanging out.  Katie says before this picture was taken she was smiling, but I think Lee (Katie's husband) probably said or did something she didn't like.

Me and Ben Davis

First day of school excitement picture

All in all, it 'twas a good time!

Wedding Stuff Update

I received my bridal shower invitation in the mail yesterday.  I'm really looking forward to it next weekend.  Like whoa, time is flying.  The wedding is nine weeks away.  Whoa. 

The RSVPs have been flowing in.  One of my favorite parts of the day is getting the mail to see how many RSVPs and who they're from.  I got the RSVP mom, thanks for mailing it even though I know you are coming. :)  I like the little notes that have been written on them.  Charlie was allowed to color on the RSVP before sending it back.  It is now hanging out our fridge since it is Charlie artwork. 

On Tuesday we got Sean's grandma and grandpa's RSVP.  Their name was on it, but they forgot to mark accept or decline.  Of course, we know they are going to be there.  I thought it was cute. 

Some things on my wedding to do list:

• Pew decorations
• Work on DJ music sheet for the reception - sent back by the end of June
• Figure out candles for the reception tables (pretty much done, I just need to buy the candles)
• Wedding programs - can't be done until right before the wedding
• Decide on ceremony music - a task for this weekend
• Finish making card box - requires power tools so I'll need my dad's help on this

I know there is more on my list, but my mind is blanking right now. 

What's new with you?  Are you going to be working on any special projects this weekend?

I know what I'm doing tonight...

So, this happened.

It looks like I'm going to Minneapolis tonight do a little jogging (soft j) and walking with the Ben Does Life Tour.  I think Katie should come with too.

I want to run again.

I want to run again.

I want to get up early in the morning before work and run.  I want to run in the quiet while the neighborhood is waking up.  I want to run and see people bringing their dogs out for their morning walk and potty break.  I want to run and only hear my footsteps on the sidewalk and the wolves from Como Zoo howling.  I want to run again.

I'm going to start running again.

To-do list update.

Last night I posted about things I needed to complete last night.  Let's see how we did, shall we?

• Treats for Sean to bring to work, check!
• Finish designing RSVP and map for wedding invitations, check!
• Bonus, I got them printed.  Over lunch I'm headed to the post office to get postcard stamps and then invitations can be mailed out this week.  Woo!
• Finish up baby gift... not check.  That is the only thing on my agenda tonight though.  Sean will be mailing it off tomorrow morning.
• Miscellaneous wedding projects... not check.  The card box will be completed this week.  Also, I want to get the vases used as table centerpieces spray painted the correct color.
• Cages for tomato plants are done.  Also over lunch I'm going to head to the garden quick (time permitting) and drop off the last of the cages and do a little watering. 

Side note.  I planted my tomato and jalapeno plants on Saturday afternoon.  Then, Saturday evening we got some crazy wind and sideways rain.  For a while, the rain was really coming down hard.  Luckily, only one tomato plant was damaged.  It was a roma plant, so I'm not too worried.

What's going on with you?

Things going on right now.

Things I'm working on all at once right now:

• Making treats for Sean to bring to work tomorrow.
• Finishing up designing RSVP and map for the wedding invitations so they can be mailed out this week.
• Finishing up baby gift for Rebecca, Sean's sister.  Baby Gutwin will be here shortly!
• Working on miscellaneous wedding projects.
• Finish making cages for my tomato plants -- only 12 more to go!

That's what I'm trying to complete tonight.  Do you think I can do it?

Aw, crap.

I just did a little math of when I need to send out wedding invitations and when the RSVP deadline should be.  If I make the RSVP deadline one month (four weeks) before the wedding and "they" say to send out wedding invitations eight weeks before the RSVP deadline.  The date I would need to send out the invitations is tomorrow.

Cue the swearing and freaking out in my head.

We're getting married 12 weeks from tomorrow.  TWELVE WEEKS.

We have a lot to do.  First though, I need to design the RSVP and map to be printed.  I need to do this stat.

Cue the freaking out some more.

My Bike Ride to Work

I timed myself going to work this morning.  I shaved off two minutes since the first and last time I timed myself.  Yeah!

Friday Favorites and Real Talk

Can we please talk about the fact that I have come down with a cold since coming home from Columbia, Maryland, for work?  I forsee this weekend to be a lot laying around on the couch intermixed with working on my garden.  Other favorite things, plants in my garden!

Things that have sprouted in my garden:

• Peas
• Sunflowers (I had more sprouted when I went there last week, I think a bunny had a snack)
• Carrots
• Onions (my dad gave me some of the onions he got from Travis)
• Daisies
• Marigolds
• Gladiola (only one so far)
• Spinach
• Lettuce

And I still have plenty of room to plant my 20 tomato plants and eight jalapeno plants.  I think 20 tomato plants might be too much.  Hopefully I can give some away to Katie when she gets home from her two week trip in Europe.

Friday Favorites.

• I've been working on wedding projects again.  A necessary thing.
• Gardening!

Honestly, I can't think of anything else.  I've got wedding and gardening brain.  Leaving for Maryland for work on Sunday.  I have to start packing and such. 

What are you up to?  Big plans for the weekend?

Thursday Funny.

Your welcome for this gem.

May 1st Thoughts.

Happy May Day!  I can't believe it is already May.  Where has the time gone? 

So, a topic I haven't been blogging about and trying not to think about.  My weight.  I weighed in this morning.  I'm down .4 pound(s?).  I suspect I'm down more than that since I haven't weighed in since April 4, 2012.  I was in a funk.  I was angry about gaining 1.7 pounds.  I'm past that now.  I'm refocused.

What refocused me, you ask?  Well, I was reading an issue of Allure.  I can't remember if it was April or March's issue.  I tried finding the article online, but alas, could not.  Anyway, the article was about weight loss and the discipline it takes.  It was one woman's account of how she lost weight through thinking of a diet as a discipline.  It wasn't about motivation or self control.  It was about discipline.  And when I think about the food I'm going to eat during the day, I think about the discipline of weight loss.  The article really shed some light.  I'm going to keep trying to find it.  It was a good one. 

Instead of finding motivation (or waiting for it) I've found this works for me.  Over the past week, I've noticed I'm not snacking unnecessarily (very much).  I'm not eating out of boredom.  I'm getting my eating habits under control. 

For most of April, I wasn't paying attention to what I was eating.  I wasn't logging my food into LoseIt.  I wasn't being successful at all.  Right now though, I'm happy with my plan. 

I've been exercising.  I'm working on the Couch to 5K plan again.  I went for a "run" last night.  By "run" I mean run for specific time, walk for specific time.  On Sunday, Sean and I did some garden work at the community garden.  I'm signed up for the mowing work group, so I did a bit of mowing.  The non-self propelled push mower definitely worked my arm and shoulder muscles.  Also, shoveling dirt is a full body workout.  Over the weekend I did some Jillian Michael's Extreme Shed & Shred.  So, I've been trying to be active. 

Now, it is time to buckle down.  I've got a wedding in 101 days to prepare for.

Homemade Laundry Detergent.

Tonight, I made homemade laundry detergent.  I found a recipe on Pinterest a few months ago and have been waiting for our detergent to run out.  I found the recipe here. 

First, a bar of soap is grated.

I used a bar of Lever 2000, but any bar of soap can be used.

Next, the grated soap is added to the pan.  Side note, this pan is not large enough to hold the two gallons of liquid, hence a bucket later on.

Looks like cheese, but alas it is not.

A gallon of water is added to the soap.  I used hot water because I read on another website that hot water dissolves the soap a lot better.

Heated to dissolve the soap.

Once the soap is dissolved, one cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soap and one cup of Borax is added to the pot.  This is then heated to a boil.

Boiling.

I noticed it bubbled and foamed on top as it was boiling.  This was then poured into a bucket with one gallon of cold water.  I need to search Goodwill or some other thrift store for a large stock pot that will hold at least two gallons.

Stir hot and cold together.

This mixture is then put into containers.  I was going to leave it in the bucket overnight, but then I thought it would be easier to put into containers now instead of later when it has congealed. 

I need to save gallon containers...

When washing, a half of a cup is used per load.  Researching online, it says this will not create very many suds when using in the washing machine.  I read suds actually don't help clothes get clean and are there for looks.  Sean says the true test of the detergent will be on his cycling and work clothes.  I'll keep everyone posted as to how well this works.  Mom and Becky, you two are getting some of this. 

Buying the box of Washing Soda and Borax and two bars of soap cost me less than $9.  That is A LOT cheaper than it would cost me to buy two gallons of laundry detergent.  The savings alone is just incredible.

Friday Favorites.

I'm going to start something new on Fridays.  I'm going to list a few of my favorite things from the past week.  The list may or may not include photos of everything.

• I found this amazing daily deal website last night.  YipIt is a service that combines all daily deal in your area in one website instead of having to go to Groupon, Living Social, Plum District, etc., to find deals you are interested in.  It's pretty amazing.
• I'm in the mood to bake.  These especially.
• My peas have sprouted in my garden.  Yay!

So, I'm blanking on other things I've liked this week.  How was your week?  Happy Friday!

Kitty.

Last night, as I was getting ready to clean up the table after Sean and I ate dinner, a little kitty head popped up.  I'm not sure how long Boots was sitting on the chair, but apparently she wanted some dinner too.

Kitty ready for dinner.

Whenever we eat at the table Boots always needs to know what is going on.  A few weeks ago we were having pancakes for dinner and as Sean was buttering a pancake a little kitty paw is reaching up trying to get in on the action.  It was adorable.

Ruh-roh.

I haven't posted in a week.  Ahh!

Really, there's nothing new to report.  It's been cold and rainy.  I've been working on my garden.  I've been feeling lazy.

Sean and I finished pre-marriage stuff for the church we're getting married in.  We're good to go, almost.

What else... Oh!  Wedding cake flavors have been decided.  I'll keep you in suspense.

How is it going to be May NEXT WEEK?!  This is just ridiculous.  2012 is flying by far too quickly.

That's about it.  I can't think of anything else new.

How about you?  What's new with you?

I forgot to mention...

I have a garden plot!  I'll be working there tomorrow and/or Wednesday night.  My plot is in an area of all new plots so I have to turn the dirt and mulch over a bit more than an established plot.  I also need to haul over some compost to my plot. 

Once all of the prep is done, I can begin planting.  That is a good thing.  I need to get shallots out of my apartment.  Boots and shallots do not mix.  She was a sick kitty last Wednesday, which worried Sean and myself a lot.  I also need to figure out some sort of fencing for my peas.  Dad, got any thoughts or anything I can borrow?  Should I buy a roll of steel fencing from Menards and create my own fencing?  If I did that, I could then create my own cages for the tomato plants. 

Hmmm, thoughts? 

Lemon tree!

Lemon tree!  Look how grown up you're getting.  You look bushier than you when you first came home with me and also on this day.

Lemon Tree is a lady.

 "Can we please talk about that lemon growing there?"  That's what you're asking, I know.  Let's take a closer look.

Lemon!

I'm pretty sure I talked about naming the Lemon Tree once upon a time.  Her name is Lemon Tree.  Original, I know.  Those who know me well may be thinking, "Kali, Lemon Tree is a she?  But you name everything a boy."  My reply is that Lemon Tree is a lady, therefore, she is a she.

Enough tree talk.  Time to throw something together for dinner.  Have a nice Thursday!

Can we please?

Can we please talk about how amazing this is?

From Practical Ryan Gosling

 The blog includes pictures of Ryan Gosling with the "Hey girl, ..." quotes.  All wedding related at Practical Ryan Gosling.  And, if I daresay, sometimes quite humorous.

Five favorite things.

I was inspired by last week's Joy the Baker Podcast to blog about my five favorite things right now. 

My little kitty, Boots. She makes me smile every single day.

Boots, my kitten who actually isn't a kitten.  This morning after my alarm went off she was extra affectionate.  She was cuddly and laying on my chest.  Luckily, she only weighs eight pounds so I could still breathe.

Lenny.

My bike, Leonard.  Lenny is my trusty biking companion.  On Saturday I'm planning on going for a pretty long bike ride.  I should bring my camera with and see if I find anything pretty and unexpected.

Family circa 1988 - thanks for the picture from your Facebook Dad.

My family.  I tried looking for a picture of us currently all grown up, but I can't find a picture with everyone in it.  Definitely need to get one soon.

Zyrtec, my life saver.

Spring time in Minnesota.  Itchy, watery eyes.  Itchy, bumpy rash arms.  Allergies.  Zyrtec is saving me right now.

Quote from Pride and Prejudice.

This is my favorite quote from Pride and Prejudice.  I watched the movie last Saturday.  Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book.  This quote gives me goosebumps every time I watch the movie.

A change in pace.

I haven't blogged in almost a week.  I'm sorry.  I've been busy-ish.

So, in lieu of last week's downer of a post, I think I'm going to go back to weighing myself of the 1st and 15th of the month.  I know, I started Weigh in Wednesdays because I felt like I didn't keep myself accountable enough.  I'm still in a funk from last Wednesday.  I don't like that funk mentality, so I want to go back to the lifestyle changes roots. 

That means, weigh day will be on the 1st and 15th of every month.  What do you think of me switching back to different weigh days?  Do you think it is a good idea?  Also, I've been toying with the idea of posting my weight.  Just toying, not decided yet.  Thoughts?

Weigh in Wednesday

No beating around the bush today.

April 4, 2012: +1.7 pounds, -36 pounds total

I have a problem.  I have a food addiction.  I love sweets.  I can be trusted around anything with sugar in it.  I need a sugar intervention.  I love to bake, which in turn, makes me want to eat everything I bake.  Basically, that means no baking.  I think I need a sugar detox.  Or to only eat savory foods, no sweets.  I need help with my eating.  I need to be better at tracking things in Lose It.  I need to quit making excuses for myself. 

This weight loss thing is hard.  I knew that.  I lost the motivation I had in the beginning.  I'm at the weight I was during college.  My clothes are fitting again.  In turn, that makes me feel comfortable.  But.  I'm still incredibly unhappy with the way I look.  So unhappy. 

Like I said, I have a food addiction.  I eat because I'm bored.  I'm bored because I have a sad social life.  I eat to numb the pain of feeling like I have no friends.  I've been this way my whole life.  I've eaten to numb the pain of something else going on.  That has to be the most real and vulnerable thing I've said here.  This is real life.

Reasons why I eat to fill the void of:

• feeling like I've lost all of my close friends.
• pushing away the friends that were once close to me.
• feeling like a failure when it comes to my career -- I know what I want to do with my life, but I can't do that without years of experience and no one will give me the experience I need.  Feeling like a failure.

This feeling is a double edge sword.  I still have thoughts of this below.

Reasons why I want to be as healthy as possible:

• To feel good about myself and be happy with myself.
• When Sean and I are ready to have a baby a few years from now, I want my body to be in tip top shape.
• To be happy.  I know reaching my goal weight will not make instant happiness, but the journey of getting there and working my ass of (literally) is what will make me happy.

It's kind of a sad state around these parts.  Never fear, I'm still the happy, optimistic person I usually am, but a weight gain makes these kinds of thoughts run through my head.  I don't want to sugar coat things.  This little bloggy blog is me and sometimes I'm sad and down on myself.

I'll be back to my bubbly self in the next blog post. 

Wedding shoes.

My wedding day apparel.  Dress, check.  Veil, check.  Shoes, no bueno.  I love shoes and I'm disappointed I haven't found anything I love yet.  I am sticking to flats since Sean and I are the same height, I don't want to be towering above him and feeling all awkward.

Here's some shoes I've been lusting after, but something has always been a bit off and I haven't 100% decided yet.

Cece Suede Ballet Flats from J.Crew

Ah, I love these.  They're perfect!  Too bad they're $128 for a small ballet flat.  Sad.  To rich for my blood.

White Glitter TOMS

Of course my list needs to include TOMS.  This is the first of many TOMS I like. 

Silver Crochet TOMS

They look gray to me instead of silver.  I think it would work, but I'm not totally sold.  And I think if I'm going to have colored shoes, I want yellow not gray.

Pewter Glitter TOMS

Okay, ignore the comment I just said about wanting yellow instead of gray.  I was perusing the TOMS website some more and I came across these.  Sweet Jesus, I am smitten.  As of right now, these are my front runner.  I can get behind something this glittery. 

Movember TOMS

I've decided I want to wear TOMS for the wedding.  Not only are they incredibly comfortable, I already own a pair that I love.  Originally, Becky had gotten the Movember TOMS for me for Christmas, but I have huge feet.  I went to exchange them at Nordstrom's and they didn't have my correct size.  I got the burlap TOMS instead (which I love just as much).  And!  There's a mustache on the side of this shoe.  I have a strange obsession with mustaches.  I think a mustache finger tattoo would be a fantastic thing. 

Yellow Palmetto TOMS

My favorites are the Pewter Glitter, Movember, and Yellow Palmetto.  What do you think?

Friday.

Highlight of my day so far.

We look like young little babies.

Being able to fit into and wear that shirt.  This picture was taken on Sean's graduation day from St. Thomas, four years ago.  This picture is bittersweet.  The next day, he moved to the east coast and our across the country long distance relationship began.  Thankfully, I see him every day now and we're getting married. 

I'm going to visit Travis, Becky, and Charlie in Winona.  What are you doing this weekend?

Weigh in Wednesday.

March 28, 2012: -.3 pounds, -37.7 pounds total

Story time.  On Monday night I weighed myself and I was over four pounds heavier than today's weight.  I'm happy I've lost a little bit of weight since the last weigh in Wednesday.  I've been eating really well the past few days.  Let's keep this train a-chugging along.

Happy Wednesday!

Optimism.

Optimism is a funny thing.  One second, it's there, and the next second I'm complaining about something else.  Me being cold, me not wanting to go to work, me not wanting to bike against the wind every direction I need to go, blah, blah, blah.

Enough is enough.  I've decided to try to be optimistic in most crappy situations.  Examples:

• People are annoying, but it is probably me that is annoyed and the situation, not the person.
• I want to slap people, but again that is me and the situation, not the person's fault.
• At work, the school next door is playing their band music super loud.  Eh, it could be worse.
• The people living above my apartment sound like they're coming through the floor.  Eh, it could be worse.
• It's cold outside.  No, actually it's not.  We've been spoiled this winter and spring.  This is above-average and abnormal. 

Attempting to be optimistic.  What have you been complaining about that you could look on the bright side of things?

Turning a new leaf.

I decided yesterday on my bike ride into work I am turning a new leaf with this weight loss lifestyle change.  The past few months of crappy eating and gaining and losing the same few pounds is behind me.  I'm starting fresh, as of yesterday.

With the weather getting nicer and the grass getting greener, I'm finding it is easier to exercise.  I am able to ride my bike to work and to other places, such as the library.  I'm finding myself wanting to be active more because the sun doesn't set quite so early and the temperature unseasonably warmer than it has been.  Now, if only the rain would hold off...

What are you most excited about with spring on it's way?

Sunken Garden at the Conservatory.

On Saturday morning, Christa and I walked over to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.  Inside the Sunken Garden of the Conservatory, spring flowers were in full bloom.  It looked gorgeous and smelled even better than it looked. 

Hibiscus flowers.

The flower was huge!

View upon entering the garden. Ignore the random people.

Look at those hydrangeas!

I don't know what the pink flower was called, but it has so many layers.

My favorite flower.  If they were white, I would have been smitten.

I don't know what these pretty things are called.

More beautiful tulips.

They were huge, much like most of the flowers in the sunken garden.

Bleeding hearts.

  What did you do over the weekend?

Wine, crafts, and snacks.

I had an eventful Friday night. 

Christa and Katie came over to my apartment on Friday to help with some wedding crafts.  Specifically, they helped with centerpieces.

Katie with a pin stuck in through her finger. This was the worst of the pin sticks for her.

In addition to working on centerpiece flowers, we drank some wine and ate some snacks.

I feel like we got a lot accomplished.  Basically, most of the hydrangea poms for the gray vases are completed.  Side note.  What is the proper spelling of the color gray? 

From web design site, Sitepoint, found in Google search

Should it be gray or grey?  I've seen it both ways.  GreyorGray.com says "gray" is how it is spelt in America (uses US English) and "grey" is how it is spelled in England (uses UK English), but both are correct. 

Now, this portion of the centerpieces will be complete once all of the vases are spray painted to the proper gray.  That is a project for Sean and my father to do next time we are in Sleepy Eye.  And I need to get more yellow paper to punch out hydrangea flowers to finish the flowers for the gray vases.

Exhausted.

Tomorrow night Christa and Katie are coming over for wine and wedding crafts.  Becky, I'll bring more crafts along with next weekend!

Good things to happen this week:

• I have a garden plot
• Sean is employed

I prepped food for tomorrow night and have cleaned the apartment.  I'm exhausted.  I think an early bed time is in order this evening.

Good night world.

Weigh in Wednesday... Whoopsie.

I completely forgot it was Wednesday until I got to work.  That means I forgot to weigh in pre-shower and pre-breakfast, but post-bathroom usage.

Lame.

Perfect topper

Sean and I have a cake topper for our wedding cake and it's perfect. 

Barbie and Ken Wedding Day keepsake ornaments

I found the idea for the Barbie figurines from Weddingbee, a wedding blog that I love.  One of the bloggers had posted her idea about the Barbie ornaments in the beginning of March.  Once I saw her post, I immediately knew that this needed to be our cake topper as well.

As my family can attest to, I was a Barbie freak.  I loved everything Barbie and still played with them long after my friends stopped.  My dad built me an amazing Barbie house when I was five.  Once I have room for it, I will move it into my home and set up the original furniture and everything.  Boots will probably hide in it. 

Off to Ebay I went and I found the set right away.  I need to take the screws out of the tops of the bride and groom's head, but that is a minor detail. 

Apparently the hook things (very technical term) can be removed

They will also be doing double duty.  They will hang on our Christmas tree as ornaments - their original purpose - as well. 

Do you think I should paint the bow tie and cumberbun gray or yellow?

Aren't they perfect?

Great news!

I received some excellent news via email this morning.  The subject of the message said, "Congratulations You Have a Plot." 

I have a garden plot in a community garden!

(Insert excited squeals here.)

Once I find out how the size of the plot, I can decide what to plant.  For sure, tomatoes and peppers.  Who's excited?!

What should I grow?

So....

...this happened.  To see more info or to follow me on Daily Mile, click here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know, I'm a day early.  I didn't want to forget.  Sean and I may be going to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Saint Paul tomorrow.  I need to find some green to wear that isn't a Minnesota Wild shirt...

Happy Friday!

Weigh in Wednesday

Today is Wednesday.  You know what that means.

March 14, 2012: +.9 pounds, -37.4 pounds total

Yes, I gain a little under one pound.  I blame it on the fact that I am eating like a horse this week out of the month.  I wonder how much weight a person would lose if they took a good poop?  Too much information?  Okay, sorry about that.  I'm awkward.

Anyway, I'm not upset about this.  I'm becoming a biking fool in the gorgeous spring weather, so I know I'll be on the losing side of things from here on out.  The sun is shining and I've got a smile on my face.

Be prepared for exciting things, people!

Did you weigh in today?  How did it go?

First Bike Ride of 2012

My route from Daily Mile

My bike and I went for a spin yesterday, a 3.47 mile spin.  Sean was there, too, on his own bike of course.

Sean finished giving Lenny a spring tune up when we got home from Sleepy Eye yesterday.  It was so gorgeous and the paths and roads were dry, so I was practically begging to go. 
While biking, muscles that are used to propel the bike forward were burning.  My quads definitely didn't hurt as much as they did when I first got the bike last fall, but they were being worked yesterday.  It's raining today, but as soon as the roads are dry you better believe I will be biking to work.  Hopefully tomorrow, but definitely Wednesday.  Woo!
How did you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend?

Last Night's Run

Last night's run was a major mental battle for me.  Maybe it was partly physical, I don't know, but I know it was a struggle mentally. 

As I was running on the treadmill wanting to die, things like this would flash through my mind:

Found on Pinterest, couldn't find the original posting of it.

And this:

Also on Pinterest, uploaded by user so no link.

And lastly this:

From Pinterest, originally from here.

During the run I wanted to give up so incredibly badly.  Today I'm glad I didn't give up.  Today I am happy I stuck it out.  I think I'm most proud of completing that run.

Ran.

I ran.  A very slow mile.  But I did it.

Weigh in Wednesday

Weigh in Wednesday!

March 7, 2012: -1.6 pounds, -38.3 pounds total

Woo!

Centerpieces and Pew Decorations

I have figured it out.  It being the reception table centerpieces and pew decorations at the church.

Tutorial found at Pizzazzerie

I have two different sized Martha Stewart hydrangea punches that I've been using to punch flowers out of two types of paper in different shades of yellow. 

Imagine this in yellow

I've made two different sized pomanders to go on a wire stem that will sit in the vases we picked up from IKEA.  So far, I'm really digging how it looks, but each pomander is tedious.  I've found that if the two hydrangea flowers that are layered together for each blossom are glued together first before pinning into the Styrofoam ball works a lot better.  Also, instead of using corsage pins like pictured above, on the smaller pomanders for the centerpieces I used quilting pins because they're yellow.  I think if I use quilting pins for the large pomanders, it may look kind of goofy.  The head of the quilting pin is going to be too small I think.  Maybe I'll find some yellow corsage pins online that have a larger plastic head.

If anyone needs to get their craft fix, how does gluing and pinning flowers to a Styrofoam ball sound?  That reminds me... I need to pick up some more yellow paper and pins for the pomanders from Michael's.  Good thing I've got a stash full of Michael's coupons!

Photographer booked!

I forgot to mention a photographer has been booked for the wedding!  A couple weekends ago when Sean and I were visiting my parents we met with two photographers.

Both photographers had really nice work and we would have been happy with either.  Ultimately, it came down to price, at least in my mind.  I called her last week and Mary Woitas, from Sleepy Eye, is booked as our photographer.  She offers exactly what are looking for: no prints to buy and images on a disc.  Also, as an added bonus we're getting two photographers.

I'm so happy and relieved that is done!  I feel like a weight has been lifted. 

Oh!  Save the dates were mailed out last week too.  I'm crossing things off my wedding to-do list left and right.

Getting comfortable and not caring.

I've been wanting to write this post for a while now.  While I have lost 36.7 pounds since beginning this lifestyle change on July 28, 2011, it is nowhere near my goal weight of 160 pounds. 

I know the reason why I haven't been losing more weight.  I'm getting comfortable at my weight right now.  I'm at the weight I was in college and my clothes that were too small are fitting again.  It feels great to be able to wear jeans I haven't worn in over a year.  I thought I was being silly when last spring I moved a bunch of clothes that were too small. 

On Saturday, while doing laundry I needed a pair of jeans to wear out of the apartment.  The only jeans I had are way too big.  I could pull them down with them buttoned and zipped.  I slid a belt on and kept those suckers on. 

I'm proud of how far I've come, but I am not happy with my weight right now.  I have a beautiful wedding dress to slim down one size to fit into.  I had a dream last night I recieved a phone call from the bridal shop letting me know my dress was in and I needed to come in for my first fitting.  I woke up terrified and immediately checked my phone to see if that was indeed true.  Thankfully, it is not.  But.  I still need to lose more weight to fit into that gorgeous white dress.  I really can't wait to wear it.  My mom will agree, it's pretty damn awesome.

I know what it takes to lose weight.  I just need to do it.  It's a motivation issue.  I wish I could slap the picture of my wedding dress all over to keep reminding me that if I don't work on the weight loss, it is not going to fit.  Every morning in my half sleep daze of turning my alarms on my cell phone off, I look at the pictures my mom took of me in the dress.  Every.  Single.  Morning.  I can't have pictures of my wedding dress laying around my apartment though, so not posting it everywhere.  I definitely do not want Sean to see it. 

Any motivation tips?

P.S.  Sean we're working out tonight.  I might be running...

Happy Thursday!

I'm jacked up on coffee.  Today is a good day.  Watch this video.  It's my all-time favorite song.  It's hard to be in a bad mood when I hear this song.