My Wedding Report

I’m another one of those brides in the club. I’m hoping to lose some weight before the wedding. It’s not that I’m overweight, but I could lose a few pounds and lead a healthier lifestyle. Specifically I’m hoping to lose 15 pounds before our September 2009 wedding. This seems doable right? Well I’m trying to figure out the plan to do it and wanted some input.

My biggest challenge is when to work out and finding time. I have sort of a crazy schedule. I have 2.5 jobs (.5=1 afternoon a week) that add up to full time, plus I’m a full-time student at night for graduate school. Mondays and Tuesday my schedule goes from 8:00am-7:30pm with no breaks. Wednesdays and Thursdays I go from 8:00am-10:30pm. Fridays are my early day because I get done at 4:00pm and usually collapse in exhaustion.

I’ve been terrible about getting to the gym, running etc. I used to have a 2-hour break in the day that I could go, but that no longer exists. I’ve slid into a horrible habit of virtually never working out and as I run from place to place my eating habits are terrible. Right now I don’t even have time to veer off track in my day and drive to a nearby gym.

Despite all this I’ve decided that I need to make time and get my butt in gear. Nothing is going to happen if I keep complaining. I just need to find a routine that is doable and not overwhelming.

Here is my work-out plan:

• Monday/Wednesday mornings meet a coworker at 7:00am to do 45 minute walk/jog
• Friday afternoons also do a 45 minute walk/jog
• 2 days a week do the “30 Day Shred” DVD (either Sat, Sun, Tues)

Photo Source

Anyone else tried Jillian’s 30 day shred? I’ve heard really good things about it so hopefully it is as awesome as the reviews say. I’m not a big fan of running and I think this is a good cardio alternative.

Do you think this plan will be effective? I’m not sure when else I can fit in a work-out without going completely crazy.

Mark and I also have Wii Fit. I may try doing this 1 day a week in a addition or swapping out with the 30 day shred.

Photo Source

Food wise, I’m trying to stick to healthier/low calorie meal choices. I’ve been having lots of whole wheat toast, non-fat yogurt and salads with vinaigrette dressing. I’m so tempted by other things, but I’m trying to be careful. When I give in to my love of pasta, I’m trying portion control. I’ve also downloaded an Iphone application that counts calories and keeps record of what you are eating. I think this helps me to keep myself accountable as I watch my calories increase from all the snacks I try to sneak.

Part of me feels silly even worrying about weight and that I’m being self-centered. However, I think that I will feel better about myself if I get back to a weight that I was at 2 years ago. I know that Mark thinks I’m beautiful no matter what, but he is supportive of whatever I need to do to be happier and healthier.

What are your weight loss secrets?  Who else is in the club?  Are you debating membership?

As I look at different design ideas from websites like Frolic, Decor8 or The City Sage I get more and more excited for not just the wedding, but registering and being able to decorate our first home. I’ve always lived with roommates, my family or like currently, renting one room out of house to save some money. While these have all been fun experiences, I look forward to making a place our own.

One of the first steps to decorating and furnishing a home is of course the registry. I wanted to get your advice on where you all have registered and what your experiences have been. Also, what things you consider your must-haves. This will hopefully avoid Mark and I walking into the store going crazy with the scanner guns (he has already asked if he can be in charge of the scan gun…scary).

Here is where we are thinking thus far:

I think Bed, Bath and Beyond has a variety of more affordable price ranges. Your guests can use those great 20% off coupons that constantly come in the mail, and we can register for basic items here.

I’ve heard good things about the Macy’s registry and also their discounts they offer after the wedding to complete your registry.

My cousin registered at Crate and Barrel and loved it. I know just buying gifts for her showers and wedding etc. were affordable and we could buy more complete sets. (Remember her wedding?)

I just love Pottery Barn. Their craft rooms are my envy in every catalog.

I had originally been thinking about Target, but I’ve heard some really negative stories about their return policies. Any thoughts?

And last but not least we will probably be registering here. Yes, I know I can feel people shaking their heads. However, here is my reasoning (after his pleading), we can register for appliances. Also, Mark can use tools to make us furniture, cabinets etc. in the future because he likes doing that stuff. Has anyone else done this?

In terms of what to register for, I’d love to get your recommendations on items, brands etc. We don’t want to register for China, because I don’t think we’d use it. Also, my mom has a set of China that I will probably receive one day. We have a great set of knives and microwave. But from there we are hoping to upgrade from hand-me-downs and cheap dishes from college days. For those of you newlyweds, what items have you used the most that you originally questioned registering for?

What I do know is that we are registering for a Kitchen Aid…with the pasta and ice cream attachment! I’m already so excited!

There are so many color options! This isn’t even close to them all. We are thinking maybe a silver stainless steel one. Although the other colors are so tempting!

So what do you think? Tell me about your registry experiences!! How many is too many? What items were not a necessity, but were just too wonderful to resist?

Sometimes I come across a blog post that causes me to get so excited, I have to show Mark. I came across this post from Amelia Lyon Photography on WeddingbeePRO. So after I confirmed with Mark that he also thinks these pictures are unbelievable, I decided I needed to post here in case you missed them. These images are absolutely breathtaking…I can’t share them all so be sure to go check this post and see the rest.

The last picture is my favorite!!

Alright I’m shutting down for the night, I just had to share those amazing pictures with you!!

While wedding planning and all the fun details that go along with it are so fun and exciting, we can’t forget about what brought us to this point. A relationship. Whether you are nearly engaged, engaged or married then it’s probably a safe assumption that your relationship has had ups and downs. From the first date and every day after there is so much learning, growth and emotion that occurs.

I’m training (and about to graduate) for my degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and have been working as a counselor with teenagers for the last year. Obviously my training and learning has had a lot to do with relationships. I wanted to jump on my therapist soap box and share a little bit more about my and Mr. Ducky’s relationship and a book that helped us to grow.

During the first year of our relationship, I read Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, “The Five Love Languages for Singles.” I had heard a lot about the book and finally decided to read it. It made so much sense and not only helped me with other friendships in my life, but my developing relationship with Mr. Ducky. After reading it, I also had Mr. Ducky read the book (he skimmed and listened to my explanation).

The book is based on the idea that we all have different love languages that we give and receive. We need to receive our primary love language to feel loved and without it may feel neglected or discouraged. Here is a quick summary of the five languages.

• Words of Affirmation: Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Verbal appreciation speaks powerfully to persons whose primary Love Language is “Words of Affirmation.” Simple statements, such as, “You look great in that suit,” or “You must be the best baker in the world! I love your oatmeal cookies,” are sometimes all a person needs to hear to feel loved… Aside from verbal compliments, another way to communicate through “Words of Affirmation” is to offer encouragement.”
• Quality Time: Quality time is more than mere proximity. It’s about focusing all your energy on your mate…A husband watching sports while talking to his wife is NOT quality time. Unless all of your attention is focused on your mate, even an intimate dinner for two can come and go without a minute of quality time being shared. Quality conversation is very important in a healthy relationship. Quality activities are a very important part of quality time…”
• Receiving Gifts: “Some mates respond well to visual symbols of love. If you speak this love language, you are more likely to treasure any gift as an expression of love and devotion…These gifts need not to come every day, or even every week. They don’t even need to cost a lot of money. Free, frequent, expensive, or rare, if your mate relates to the language of receiving gifts, any visible sign of your love will leave them feeling happy and secure in your relationship.”
• Acts of Service: “Sometimes simple chores around the house can be an undeniable expression of love. Even simple things like laundry and taking out the trash require some form of planning, time, effort, and energy…Very often, both pairs in a couple will speak to the Acts of Service Language. However, it is very important to understand what acts of service your mate most appreciates. Even though couples are helping each other around the house, couples will still fight because the are unknowingly communicating with each other in two different dialects.”
• Physical Touch: “Many mates feel the most loved when they receive physical contact from their partner. For a mate who speaks this love language loudly, physical touch can make or break the relationship.” Physical touch doesn’t have to be sexual. It can also just be touching when you talk or giving hugs. (Think how important physical touch is for a young baby developmentally)

Photos from a post on EAD by photographer Angie Schoenherr

Sometimes you can better tell what your love language is by what you give. Do you often write your friends a quick email of encouragement? Do you feel so much more connected with someone after you sit down and have lunch? Do you try to go out of your way to help out a friend in need or to make their day easier?

My primary love language is quality time. I need to be able to connect with people, talk to them and be able to hear about how their life is going. (Probably why I am becoming a therapist) Mr. Ducky’s primary love language is Acts of Service. He loves to be able give to others and help a friend whenever possible. I know he greatly appreciates and remembers when someone does something for him.

How is this applied to our relationship? It gives us a greater understanding of each other and our needs. If a period of time goes by and I don’t get to spend much quality time with Mr. Ducky because of all the craziness of our schedules I start to feel distant. He has learned how important it is that we make time in our schedule to do things together and be able to touch base. Mr. Ducky does so many wonderful things for me like fixing all my technology, making me dinners and doing other “acts of service.” Don’t get me wrong, I love when he does these things and I appreciate them so much. But above and beyond I feel the most loved and connected when we can go spend the afternoon together. Sometimes something as simple as watching him go surfing and grabbing lunch after can make all the difference in the day for me.

I know relationships need a little bit of all five languages and one cannot be ignored. It is a balance. But I do think that sometimes if you are feeling distant from your significant other, it could be because you aren’t receiving your primary love language. They may be loving you with a different language that you can see after you take a step back to observe.

If you get a chance, read one of the books (there are some adapted to relationships, singles etc.) and see if you can relate to any of it. You can also check out the website for a quick test of what your language is. This book isn’t necessarily “the truth” and solution of all relationships, but it definitely has important points that have helped give me a better understanding of people. By learning the love languages of the people around me, I can better invest in our friendship by not just speaking my own quality time. The book goes into a much more detailed explanation that above and talks about how you can learn to “speak” the different languages.

What’s your primary love language? Can you relate to ever not getting enough of it?

How sweet are all those engagement pictures? Here are a few more…

On my to-do list for the weekend is updating my blog list page and vendors’ blog page. If you want some blog love and would like to be added to the list, simply comment on this post with the web address of your blog. I would love to add you and be able to keep up with your blog!

Also I know there are a few of you that read this blog and I read yours, but for whatever reason I can’t comment on your blogs! I’m not officially a Wordpress or Blogger blog so I can’t post if your blog doesn’t allow for just filling out the name and URL. (Or maybe I can and I just don’t know how?!!) In particular there is @Zoliepup, @Kiana, @GossipStyleWed etc. If you know of a way that I can comment on your blogs please let me know, because I’d love to be able to reply back to all the comments you leave me!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Look at this gorgeous wedding and couple that was featured on The Bride’s Cafe. Doesn’t she pull off the powder blue dress beautifully? I love the contrast with the deep red florals.

I’ve told you about my philosophy of picking vendors, my amazing coordinator and why I need to ask for help. What I’ve haven’t share with you yet is who my fabulous photographer is. I guess I should probably tell you how I met him.

I actually knew about Mike’s photography well before Mr. Ducky and I were engaged. Several mutual friends and acquaintances in the few years have gotten married and used his photography. Due to the social networking of Facebook and seeing tagged pictures of my friends, I got linked to his website and was completely amazed. The photography I found on his site caught my attention and I was instantly impressed.

Last summer I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my best friends. The day of the wedding I was able to meet Mike and his beautiful wife, Rachel. Mike and Rachel got there early in the morning as we were getting ready and were taking pictures all day and all night long. I can’t say enough about this couple other than they are a blessing and an inspiration to be around. They just became part of the group as we laughed, snacked and prepared the bride for her big moment. Mike and Rachel’s love for one another is present in their work and I think that it makes the end result better. I felt like I was able to get to know them both and that they were people who I would want to spend time with. They were exactly the people that I wanted on our team.

I’m beyond excited that I get to have Mike as my photographer and feel so blessed that we will get to know he and Rachel more in the coming months. Mr. Ducky and I are getting our engagement photos done soon and I’m already anxiously anticipating a fun day of photography, getting to know Mike and Rachel and getting a step closer to our wedding.

Now for small peak at the incredible photography.

And for the most crazy thing that Mike does…he literally throws his camera in the air to get this picture. What!?!

I can’t even come close to fitting all the amazing images on here. So please go check out the Mike Larson website and blog to see more!

I didn’t get a chance to post yesterday as I was busy at work and caught up in all the happening of Inauguration day. It was so amazing to watch a piece of history and feel the joy and excitement across the nation and entire world. There is so much to hope for in the future and I think yesterday’s celebrations felt that.

Here are some pictures from the day…

Source

What a beautiful couple the Obamas make! Didn’t that first dance remind you of the first dance at the wedding with her gorgeous white dress!?! The pictures say it all…

Don’t you think there are going to be lots of wedding dresses inspired by this gorgeous dress from designer Jason Vu? Or lots of dances to Etta James’ “At Last,” although I’m not sure how you beat Beyonce singing it in person…

And a photo of the Bidens…

If you haven’t had a chance to browse the pictures from yesterday, you should try to take some time to do so. Some of the images I have seen are truly photography at its best. A lot of them are on flash slideshows so I can’t show them on here, but they are really amazing to see.

All photos from MSNBC unless noted otherwise

Remember when I posted pictures of my ring awhile back? Well I also submitted pictures to Weddingbee and sure enough one of the shots was posted. They chose one of the pictures on the bamboo plant.

Check out Weddingbee: Ring Shots Part VI…I’m MMWedding

Have you tried doing your own ring shots yet? Please share if you have!

Do you ever get really excited when you see pictures with your wedding colors or a similar vision to what you are trying to pull off? Well I’m always looking for someone to use colors similar to ours, because I don’t see the combination very often. In fact lately, I’ve been getting nervous if it is even a good idea or if my vision is too complicated or far off. For our color palette I’ve wanted French Blue and Deep Raspberry Pink/Burgundy with Navy and Gray accents.

And then I saw this picture of the “Classic” tablescape yesterday on WeddingbeePRO and got excited when sure enough there was the french blue that I have been talking about paired with a burgundy color.

THEN…I got even more excited when I was catching up with posts on Elizabeth Anne Designs and saw a post from Amanda with these pictures!! It’s the french blue I’ve been hoping to use paired with a burgundy. Our burgundy might have a slightly more pink undertone, but basically that is it! I was so excited that I had to come and share the pictures with you.

Thanks Amanda for the amazing pictures and design!

All pictures from Elizabeth Anne Designs

Using these colors we are going for a simple, rustic look with whimsical details.

Do you ever have this happen? Do you have any inspiration pictures that you could pass on to me?

It is so important to be able to step back and ask for help when we need it. It is what will keep us sane in life and from going on overload. (This is my inner therapist talking, it is a whole different ballgame taking my own advice) This same concept of asking for help applies to wedding planning. Since I already shared with you about my amazing coordinator, I want to fill you in on why I thought it was so important to find someone to help with that day.

I love event planning. I’ve been doing it for years and Mark has as well. Before deciding to become a therapist I thought seriously about wedding planning. I couldn’t wait to plan my own wedding if for no other reason than I would get to plan a major event and all its details. However, I knew that I without question wanted a day of coordinator.

Why is this? Experience. Two years ago Mark and I helped plan our best friends’ wedding. It was a backyard wedding in Malibu and it was beautiful! The wedding reflected them as couple with Beatles ceremony music, Sprinkles cupcakes, DIY centerpieces and floral and trivia during dinner. I was a bridesmaid and the stand-in wedding planner and I don’t think I sat down once that day. I didn’t get a chance to soak in all our hard work or catch up with out of town friends. Even if something wasn’t going on I was anticipating the next moment I would be needed or a vendor was coming to ask me one question or another. Now this was totally okay. They were on a $10,000 budget and I loved being able to give that gift to my friend. However, I learned that you can’t do it all as the bride and if one of your guests does it they won’t be able to truly relax and enjoy the celebration.

I’ve heard similar experiences from friends and stress falling onto mother of the bride, bridesmaid or some willing friend. No matter how organized and on top of it you are, the day will be hectic and things will need to be taken care of.

I’m also a perfectionist (hey I admit it) and have a hard time just trusting someone random to take care of all the details and things I care about. I’m this way for group projects in school, planning events and probably even more so for my wedding. I knew that in order to FULLY let go of the control and trust another person to handle all the details I would need a professional that I trusted. Thus I found Courtney from Joyful Weddings and Events. If for some reason I couldn’t plan any part of my wedding I would without question have picked Courtney to do it for me. I trust her taste, abilities and talent, which means I will gladly hand the details over for the wedding when the time comes.

I ended up choosing the month-of package with Courtney after meeting with her. Courtney helps me create the time line for the wedding, contacts all my vendors for arrival time and last minute details, does a final walk-though with me at the site, gives vendor referrals and I can email or call her with any questions along the way. What a relief!

Do you absolutely have to hire a day of coordinator or planner etc? No. I know that it can be way out of budget for people and I think its a personal choice. You have to look at yourself and the people around you and evaluate what is best. For me personally, I knew that I would be much more relaxed and happier being able to hand the details off or I would not let go and worry all day. My mom is the same way and I didn’t want that to happen for the wedding. For me and our budget, finding someone to help was a major priority and I was willing to sacrifice other things.

If you are on a budget and there isn’t money, I absolutely believe that there are people who are more than willing to step up to the plate. As with all things there are so many untapped resources in your immediate network, you just have to ask. Just make sure you are as organized as possible and that duties are clearly assigned. (In the wedding that I was in this was not the case; plus some unexpected events such as the groom forgetting the rings led to more chaos…)

All Photos from The Knot

What about you? What was your thought process in whether or not to hire a day-of coordinator or even full wedding planner? Do you have a hard time asking for help and giving up control like me?

P.S. I think I need to devote a full recap to the wedding in Malibu. Just imagine lost rings, loose dogs, Sprinkles cupcakes, candlelight and Europe’s The Final Countdown playing in the background.