Monday, September 26, 2011

Rose are red...

Hi Everyone. So here we are.  It's the wedding week. Insert shock..denial..shock...excitement...denial...shock..and sometimes all at once.  We are so excited to wake up Wednesday morning to jump on a plane and fly into Fort Lauderdale to start our journey.   


Things I know...things may not go as planned nor have they thus far..but I do know I am marrying my best friend and that's all that matters.  Engagement and weddings are stressful and not at all what they seem to be in a little girl's eyes.  There are budget fights, angry mothers, so many dresses, buyer's remorse, realizing your friends have lives, RSVP's...oh the RSVP's, the planning, the vendors who never answer calls or emails, all of the fun, but at the end of the day it's one day.  It's one day where I will go from a girlfriend to a wife to begin our own little family while adding to two families we've grown to appreciate more than ever after this year.  He and I will be family now and forever.  THAT I love..and am super duper excited about! 


I am so excited about the wedding and I know at the end of the day (actually the beginning of Saturday am) all of the little things won't matter...the fights will disappear...the problems will disappear...the only thing that will matter is him and I. 


It's funny at least once an hour, someone will tell me "don't worry" or "why aren't you excited?"  I can list those things here, but I am not going to.  I am going to leave them all behind me from this point forward.  Dear Troubles, I will see you in a week from tomorrow.  So effe off.  I am punching out. 


Just a few things that I would like to send a positive thought out to before I go and leave you too... 


Dear Flower peeps, please, please no red roses in my bouquet.  I am not sure where you got that info...


Dear Veil lady, you got one more day lady...


Dear Bank, gimmie my money back.  For those of you who don't know, my credit card number got stolen and a thief helped himself to our wedding money.


To my family and friends...save the drama for your mama! Notice I said my. :) Seriously, I am looking forward to having you all close in a loving positive manner.  As my friend, Nina, says I am a changed woman with my honey...so please get to know the new me...  That's all I ask. You DO all mean the world to me or you wouldn't be at the wedding. SO, let's share the good times. 


And to most of all to my blog lovers and followers...I thank you for reading and following me along the journey in my engagement.  It may not have been the smoothest...but it allows me to cherish the good days, the good friends and most of all the love of my life and the day my dreams will come true next Saturday...rain or shine...red or white roses...cake or no cake...it is my dream wedding thanks to all of you and most of all my Jimmy.  Thank you for your love and support.  I will always hold it close.  You all have been my therapy and that friend at the end of the line through this.  Just knowing you read when I post...it's just so touching to me.  I can't thank you enough for being my friend.  




Ta Ta for now...see you on the other side!


BTW...no rain on the forecast:)



Friday, September 23, 2011

Isn't it ironic

Hi All. I cannot believe next week this time, I will be waking up on my wedding day! No...really I can't believe it. Really, isn't it June and I am still 24?  I was telling a friend last night that I think with all of the excitement my psyche has only processed certain things at a time or, as my friend Michelle, would say I would explode with excitement from overload! Funny, last night I was going through the first dance in my head as I lied down to sleep(something I have done since I was 12), and it dawned on me that would be after the ceremony where we. got. married. Oh em gee. So apparently, it's starting to set in a little bit at a time...and it's exciting to me finally!:) 


So, as any Florida hurricane season bride-to-be would do, I have begun obsessing paying attention to the weather. The good news is Fla weather is ever changing.  I always said I would love to be a South Fla weather man.  You wake up.  Shake your head.  Put on a pin stripe suit and several rings.  Go spray tan.  Put on makeup and hair like you are going to prom.  Then stand in front of a blue screen and say," partly cloudy, 60% chance of afternoon rain."  Until there is a hurricane, your job is pretty much the same year round...it just is. 


So what's the forecast you ask... here it is...mom, sit down and read.







What's that saying all you kids are saying now-a-days? Oh ya..FML.   Mom-that means for my love.


Ugh...rain...so what shall we do.  Well, the reception is under a tent but yes it does kind of ruin the whole sunset wedding on the beach if it's raining cats and dogs carrying lightning bolts.  So what do we do? We pray. Kids..I need your prayers to Mother Nature and well...whatever you pray to ..your higher up. I am going to stay in faith and worse case scenario bring your umbrellas...and tissues for me. 




On the other hand, some say rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck (that person had an inside wedding I am certain of).  Let's turn to the wiki gods and ask them...


"Rain on your wedding day means the atmosphere was sufficiently unstable to support enough rising air and consequently, precipitation. 
What else could it mean?
Your wedding day was someone
else's funeral, another person's graduation, another person's car accident, and just another day for another 60 million people who experienced rain that day.

== Cultural Meaning == In some cultures rain is good luck, and can represent cleansing or stronger unity in the marriage.It comes from several cultures mainly from the Hindu with the idea that a wet knot is harder to untie. Since marriage is often referred to as tying the knot. Rain was also a symbol of fertility to agricultural societies, since rain restored and maintained the wellness of crops. Crops were peoples main source of stability and income so it was thought to guarantee a long happy marriage!


Read more: 
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_rain_on_your_wedding_day_good_or_bad_luck#ixzz1Yn20WM7v


It also can make for some unique pictures...



And of course it could be worse...




No matter what happens...in the words of my favorite two 80's funny men..."Game on"

See you guys soon! And besides only the best love scene in the world was made during the rain...remember the scene from the Notebook.  Somehow I don't think it would have been romantic with the sun shining in the background. Hmmm. Oh and if you didn't get my Alanis Morisette throw back, here's a refresher course! 
Chow lovies!




Friday, September 16, 2011

Crisis evaded once again

Last weekend, I woke up Sunday morning as usual.  I walked Daisy May and came back to start my coffee.  I sat on the couch turned the tv on as usual and checked my email only to be stunned by a bride-to-be's worst nightmare weeks before her wedding.  Yes, I lost a diamond out of my ring.  Why is this such a crisis, you ask.  A. umm the obvious, diamonds are not cheap and we are not rich.  B. jewelers are usually too busy to turn over a sizing job within a week let alone a detailed repair.  Ugh...







So Monday morning, Jimmy and I began our errands.  We had to go to the DMV to make sure he would have proper ID when needed at the courthouse for our marriage license (that would have been a bummer).  Then off to the jeweler...well...I won't go into the detail but let's just say it started off very rocky and I almost had words with a certain female counter person.  BUT then a jeweler who actually showed some compassion came to our rescue.  He told us we were actually missing 3 diamonds from my ring and being my ring is so unique it may not be ready in time.  See my diamond has these little prongs that run along the sides and front which hold the delicate diamonds into place (guh-reat ring for someone who's middle name is grace).  He said he would make some calls and see what he can do.  Sadly we left without my ring... :( and I went the rest of the day/week without a diamond on my hand (which actually caused a commotion with people who see me everyday..."are you ok"..."is everything ok"...it took me a minute to figure out what they were referring to).


Well, we got the call the jeweler had fixed my ring and actually donated the diamonds!!! I would just be responsible for the work costs (which wasn't cheap...but wasn't the price of three diamonds).  I am proud to say, I have my ring and it is more beautiful than ever!!! I forgot how much it sparklers brand new!  So what did we learn ladies and gentlemen...when bartending your way through nursing school leave your ring around your neck or at home (might make more tips...j/k)!








Wheeew...that was a close one!


For those of you that do not know our story of my ring, here is our actual review of our jeweler...


"We originally went to Michael Fina to purchase my engagement ring. We felt pressured to buy a ring I wasn't 100% in love with. The salesperson actually said I was expecting too much out of the experience meaning I was expecting to fall in love at first sight and feel the earth move while fireworks went off. Being the romantic I am, that bummed me out to say the least. So we opted to "think" about it and do more research. Walking down the block away we stumbled into Raffi to just look. We met John who explained diamond buying to us in the fullest detail. He let us compare diamonds side by side to see the advantages of the cuts and clarity. This also allowed us to find what mattered the most to us. But that's not what I loved about the experience. I have looked at a lot of rings and a lot of jewelry shops, but when I glanced down and saw "my ring" I knew it was the one and I did indeed have that moment I was looking for. From that point on, we built the main centerpiece. I am in love with my ring, and I have been ever since that day. Not a day goes by I don't admire it or appreciate Raffi Jewelry for my ring. They will see us again very soon in the future for our next (and all) jewelry purchases."


Happy weekend!! 2 more weeks!!!!



Saturday, September 10, 2011

We have some finals for hair and makeup


With the veil decision coming to a halt in a few short days, I have some decisions on hair and makeup! Here are my top favorite hair ideas...











This is a makeup and hair finalist...

Hair and veil...

Makeup...

Hair and makeup...

20 days and counting!!




Thursday, September 8, 2011

That pretty much sums it up:)

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Our Engagement in a nutshell

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All the shades of white

White is a tricky little sucker.  As most of you know I have thrifted, ebayed, weddingbeed , and become an internet expert shopper through this wedding.  I would like to think I have saved us at least some serious cash.  One of the many things, I have sacrificed that I have also dreamt about is my veil.  James is sighing and saying...here we go again.  But for the rest of you, let me tell you about my veil.


In December, I began my search for my veil. What's a bride without a veil? AND I found one for under $50. Woohoo. It came in the mail and all seemed well.  It was short and sweet to the point.  The color was a little off white which indeed so is my dress.  





Let's go back a bit...while trying on dresses, I was determined to be a white-white bride. I think it just looks better on me.  If I could have had my dress in white-white I would have, but it just wasn't in the cards and that's ok. If you see from the post before, my second pick was a white-white dress and I loved it for that reason.  I know...I know I am a redhead and ivory is better suited.  I get it.  Damn you freckles...


Ok...veil...so it has been hanging and well living in my closet ever since.  I keep saying one day I will try on my dress with it to see if it matches.  Well..I am sure it's been out of fear and dread that day just came today.  One because it's in the middle of the day and I wanted to see it in daylight and two it's the only time I feel ready to try my dress on again (it fits by the way--woohoo).  The bad news..well...the veil is white-white...and the dress is off white.  Ugh.  Can you see me in twenty years shaking my wedding picture at him saying you wouldn't let me buy a veil!?!?  Ummm...well... we can. So where does this leave me? Without a veil...sigh.  And I know it's a beach wedding and I don't need one, but I also don't want to lose track of the little girl who put the pillow case on her head to play "bride."  And when else will I ever wear a veil? I mean really?


So the question is ...to veil...or not to veil...that's the question. And I hear you...veils can be cheap go buy another one..well I think every penny from now until then are accounted for and the extra (if any) well that will just put us closer to our goal we are trying to meet to pay for everything! Is it a sad story-no not at all...I am still getting married to my best friend and having my dream wedding-veil or not. What is sad? THAT there are so many freaking shades of white!?!?! 


Hope you guys are having a splendid September! I'll be Mrs. Tobin in 23 days!! 

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The one...and a month to go





Because some posts need soundtracks...HIT PLAY...seriously...hit it...


So....1 month from right this second I will be walking down the aisle !!  What have  I decided to write about today...MY DRESS and finding the one!


So when we are little girls some play bride.  I. did.  My Barbie got married more than Liza, and I would dream about weddings and family any chance I could get. To say the least I was on the hunt for my husband as soon as I discovered boys ( 6 years of age).  To say I searched and hunted is an understatement.  Everyone says when you meet that person you just know.  I didn't, but I did know I met a friend for life.  After being friends and talking through the nights, I started to have "how did he know that" moments.  He would say things and descibe his perfect relationship as I had in previous conversations with people from my past...but wait he would say it word for word.  I remember the first time he did it, and I am not going to lie my world shifted for the first time in my life. Then I was freaked out..and the questions followed..."could it be"..."could he be"...."what if I screw it up"..."what if he screws it up"...and then he would say "my words" again. And I knew he was the one. 


Wedding dress...I think a wedding dress should not only represent you as a person but the battle you went through to find that "one."  It should also be something that your "one" finds attractive.  He hates lace...I love lace.  Sigh.  My first love was a lace sweetheart cut gown by Priscilla of Boston. I knew it was out of my price range and it had that "lace" issue. I then thought of our neighborhood designer Angelo Lamburd, but he too was out of my budget. So the shopping started...I found a Jenny Packham gown I loved but the "girls" didn't fit.  Here are a few pictures of those days of trying on dresses.
Jenny Packham...damn those girls...






Maggie ...and my first runner up

My second runner up

And then we went to Priscila of Boston one morning with my good pal Al


Amy Michaelson...and a $100 down payment lost...



And then the search was on to find the 3K dress for  less...

And I did...


It was still a little big, so I had it altered to a snug fit and changed it to be unique.  You'll have to wait to see that;).  


Today with one month to go until our big day I was sad to see "Priscilla of Boston" is closing their doors for good.  As a Melissa Sweet/Priscilla of Boston bride it saddens my heart.  They were so amazing to me,and it saddens me a "Wal-mart" of the wedding industry "David's Bridal has now taken them over.  I was lucky to have bought my dress from someone who had personally worked under Melissa Sweet in NYC and later relocated to Ca.  The cards lined up for me and my dress just like they did for me and my "one."  


Who is Priscilla of the Priscilla of Boston? "Priscilla of Boston started after Priscilla Kidder graduated from the New England School of Design. She opened her shop on Newbury Street and quickly rose to become an internationally recognized expert.
“She really changed the way that people look at the wedding industry,’’ said Salwa Khoory, co-owner of L’Elite on Newbury Street. “She was Vera Wang before there was Vera Wang. The closest comparison I could make now is Oscar de la Renta. That’s how respected her work was.’’

Kidder cemented her reputation when she designed the 1956 wedding of Grace Kelly to Monaco‘s Prince Rainier. She went on to design dresses for presidential daughters Luci Baines Johnson, and Julie and Tricia Nixon. She died in 2003 at 86."-Boston.com


So I will always be proud to say I am a Priscilla of Boston/Melissa Sweet bride.