I'm Back

and in full invitation mode. No more business trips on the calendar and I'm crossing my fingers that no more will come up. I'm so over traveling. We are a little over 8 weeks away from the big day!!!!!! I can't believe I waited until the last minute to do my invitations!!!! I don't think it will be a big deal but we will see. Today - I'm printing paper all day and then off to Kinkos for the big cut. I have to decide on how to close the pocketfold. Should I have the simple monogram square, a simple bellyband, or the bellyband with the monogram square. All are cute but I can't decide.

My invite supplies.....

Back to the future

I see tons of work in my future. I'm back from my business trip and the invitations are a pain!!! I can't seem to get the measurements correct. I'm converting the file to a PDF to have them printed and for some reason they are the wrong size when printed. So tonight back to the drawing board...literally! Tomorrow they will be perfect<-----That's me wishing

My goal was to print this weekend. What was I thinking?! I have 3 events to attend. I want to take my son to the movies and have the family over on Saturday. Then there is Memorial Day. Again what was I thinking?! If I can get the dimension perfect by Friday I could print a few and have the moms and my aunt in a wedding sweat shop on Saturday!!!!! I have other things to do as well.

• flower girl baskets - I have them but they are plain wicker baskets. I want to jazz them up. I will take a pic
• bridesmaids gifts - So far I have a bag, lotion, and a wristlet. I want more but I can't think of anything. I will take a pic of the things I have.
• groomsmen gifts - Nothing so far. This seems so hard. Our guys aren't cuff links boys so why waste the money. I also don't want to present them with a bottle of Grey Goose (although they would love that). I don't know. My honey isn't helping so for now on the back burner.
• jewelry - I want a haute bride bracelet but not with that price tag. I'm making my own. I have already purchased my broach. Take a pic
• flower girl gifts - I have a bag for them and that's it. I need to keep my eyes open for more toys. Take a pic
• shoes - Don't even get me started!!!!!
• must take photos - I need to compile this list for my photog
• lingerie shower - my maids are throwing a shower for me. My honor maid knows I'm SUPA picking, hence I can't find shoes, so I'm involved in the planning, decor, invites, etc. I have to come up with that design.
• Cake topper - I'm emailing crafty eddy right now.
• Monogram - I'm waiting on that right now. I'm using Jessica. Her work is great and I know she will come up with something fantastic. I made a monogram myself but it sucked. I will post my monogram vs her monogram.
• I still need a DJ!!!!
• AND take a pic of all the wedding things I have so far for my picture less blog

The list could go on....My main concern is the wedding invitations then shower invitations. The other things can wait. Maybe not the DJ....DANG IT!

Busy weekend

I made a mock up of the invitations and reserved signs this weekend. They turned out really well. I'm pleased. I need to work on the sizes and after that I'm ready to print. Next weekend will be spent cutting, assembling, and stuffing. Well in between my other activities a lingerie shower Friday, baby shower Saturday, and a wedding on Sunday. This weekend we also picked the tux for the guys at the Men's Warehouse. My honey picked the suit below but no pink...he is going all black. Productive weekend.

Society Bakery

Ladies we have a bakery! After many tastings, weighing all of my options and increasing my weight because of eating so much cake...I have made a decision. I went with Society Bakery!!! The cakes are delish. The price was right. What else could I ask for. Seriously, we are 75 days away and this decision was 'driving me'. They were voted Top 10 cupcakes in America by the Ellen Degeneres Show. One thing off my list. Check them out!

Its going to get there regardless

Why must labels be a source of wedding controversy? Seriously...whether its calligraphy, labels, or chicken scratch the post office will deliver it. Furthermore, (I hate when people use that word, LOL) if someone receives your invitation and thinks OMG they have labels on their invitations, they are petty. All this to say....I'm using labels!!!! Report me to the etiquette gods, whatev! I know I'm breaking some fantasy rules that someone long ago came up with. I'm sorry! AND no inner envelope! Shock and Awe! I did think about the DIY calligraphy that's big right now but I don't have the time. I'm pooped. I have a deadline to meet. So labels will have to do. I just need to be creative. I'm off to search the INTERNETS for creative labels.

Help from Mother Africa

Last night some friends I met in school (University of Oklahoma, Boomer Sooner!!!!) came to visit. They were on the way to Norman from Houston for a graduation and needed a layover spot. My friends are great. A young married couple from Africa (Cape Town and Zimbabwe) that now live in Houston. They helped me through grad school, have given the best advice, and are really genuine folks. I love them!!! They have the sweetest little girl named Rori, I call her Cupcake. Needless to say I HAD to buy her some cute things for her visit. They found out yesterday they are expecting a boy!!!! It was good catching up with them. The visit wasn't long enough but we will definitely do it again very soon.

In other related wedding news....So the invitation fiasco is here and the illustrator clock is clicking. While my friends are at the house, I'm on the computer screwing with Illustrator or maybe its the other way around, I lose track. My friend Bridgette, is an artist. She has worked with graphic programs. She shows me a few things and before you know it I'm moving objects, changing colors, and making swirls. Can you believe it!!!! I'm thrilled! I made a rough initial design this morning. I was pleased with it but it needs some work. I will have a final mock up this weekend and ready for printing next week (when I return from yet another business trip).

We Love You Bridgette and Thabani

The paper race

So...I get home from my business trip to find my invitations supplies!!!!! YAY!!! Kinda...I still have no design. I really need Photoshop or Illustrator. Then a light bulb went off. You know the Oprah AHA moment. Download the 30 day trial of Illustrator, DUH! So that's exactly what I did last night. I have exactly 30 days to complete all paper items. Invitations, programs, table names, place cards, water bottle labels, and any other random paper idea I can come up with. The countdown begins. I'm not sure if Illustrator is hard to use so there will be a learning curve. I'm excited though!

Paper scares me

I thought the DIY route on my invitations would be greatness. Being that I'm 3 weeks from the mail date and I don't have anything completed makes me nervous. I'm on yet another business trip so I can't really complete much from my hotel room. The paper was delivered to my house today and the pocketfolds are coming tomorrow. I'm not going home until Thursday. I goal is to have a design complete by the time I get home. I should be ready to print this weekend. Pray for me!

I made a design today after hours of looking for inspiration. I gave up. I did a plain design....I didn't like it. Too plain. My sugar says not to worry because people just throw them away. But what does he know. I can't help stressing about it. They have to be perfect!!! I know some folks won't even notice the details: the embossing, the stardream paper, the monogram, the belly band, etc. But they have to be perfect. Why didn't I start sooner? URGH! Luckily my sugar is going to hang with the fellas this weekend so I can drink daiquiris and make invitations. I'm sure I will have nightmares about paper. Can I complete 160 invitations over 3 weeks with 3 business trips mingled in? I guess we will find out soon.....

The cake saga continues

I have one more cake tasting tomorrow. I just can't seem to stop tasting cakes. This is the last one, I've said that before. Mainly because I'm sick of looking and my mom told me to make a decision. I guess she is over the cake tasting appointments. At any rate, one more tasting and a decision. Cakes bring me to the cake stands. Are they necessary? Pretty, yes! Unique, yes! Necessary, unsure... I could rent a stand from my baker (when I pick one) or I could purchase a stand or even make a stand. But since my list of DIY projects is getting longer, I will opt to not make a stand. Here are some gorgeous cakes that are not on the standard silver stand.

The Cake Girls

The Knot

www.pinkcakebox.com

Sundace Photography

Meg Crosby

www.oncewed.com

I LOVE the stand with the LED lights.....maybe just 1 more DIY project.

Invitations

My invitations have to go out soon and very soon (approx 3 weeks). Today I ordered my supplies. YIKES! I'm doing pocketfolds. I ordered the pocketfolds from Cards & Pockets and the paper from Anchor Paper (Tom @ Anchor is truly helpful). I'm still trying to decide if I should emboss them. That is so time consuming and I'm so anal. If I stamp it wrong its screwed. I see many errors in my future with the embossing. Hopefully my paper is being shipped tomorrow. So that gives me the weekend to come up with a design. I'm so behind. I hear pocketfolds eat tons of glue dots and belly bands are the biggest time sink ever. So the next 3 weekends will be dedicated the invitations. When I come up with a design, I will post it.

My blog spirit

Where did it go. It has been a week since my last post and I can't find a thing to blog about. Mind you The Moms wedding is less than 3 months away (88 days to be exact) and I have tons left to do. I have not selected a baker, invitations, DJ, lighting, wedding night hotel, jewelry, shoes...the list could go on. What is wrong with me? Is this normal? The invitations have to go out in 3-4 weeks!!! Oh the agony! Of course they will be DIY and I think I can complete any project in 2 hours, LOL! I'm delusional...I realize this. It doesn't help that I travel for my job. I was out of town for 3 days last week and I will be traveling every week until the end of the month. Where will I find the time? Or energy? I have so many distractions. I have 2 baby showers and 2 weddings to attend in the month of May! My house has not been decorated yet. One of my furbabies is eating my house, literally. URGH! Its Monday. There is still hope. I suppose. I would like to have some pics to post today but I got nothing. I'm drained. Maybe I need some vitamins. Or a drink. Or both. Can you drink with vitamins or is that just antibiotics? See how easily distracted I am. Its not like I haven't been doing anything. I'm been searching for things. Hotels, invitations, string quartets, shoes....the shoes are driving me bananas. I could post about that huh. Tomorrow. I made the toss bouquet for a wedding I'm attending this weekend. And the weight loss = not happening.

1 success - I did purchase the material for the flower girl dresses this weekend and some bridesmaids gifts!!!

I'm off to browse the web. I'm not really worried. I come through in the clutch. I'm like Kobe. I'm down by 2 points and 10 seconds left on the clock. No worries....I'm only shooting from behind the 3 point line.