The Horrors of dresses

We have already established someplace I think that Chris is a very lucky man for marrying me. However wedding dresses are not very lucky because I have to fit into them and my stupid boobs get in the way. My advice for dress shopping.  Find one that you like and then find someone who can recreate it for you.  You won't have to deal with alterations or that it came in with a major issue that now has to be fixed because someone didn't read instructions! Yes I'm on the verge of tears right now because with buying the dress it was supposed to be less stressful than making it but I'm still feeling the stress of it. And yes alterations are expensive. 

Invitations

I am able to mark another check off of my list of things to do for the wedding.  I honestly believe it is a rather big check because it means that the invitations are now off to the printer and I just need to wait for them to come back to my doorstep so I can start planning a stuffing envelope party. Sounds exciting I know. 
It seems like a big check to me since I've been able to make my own invitations.  Yes it is one of those money saving ideas but I also have Microsoft Publisher for my home computer so it makes creating a publication so much easier. I don't think they turned out bad and when I look at the final draft before okaying for the printing of them I kind of feel like they look just as good as any professional job. But I suppose those receiving the invitations will be the final judge of if they look like a homemade job or if they look like some publishing company did them. 
Oh, I'm also going to be making the Thank You cards myself too with the same type of program and printing company.  Shoot if you can beat 500 invites for under $71 let me know. ;)


Thank you for reading
~Mary

It's a Keeper!

We decided we are going to take the apartment!!!!
The more we think about it the more we see ourselves in it.  We know it will only be for a short time, it had better be for a short time ;).  Yes it is small but my parents said we can keep whatever doesn't fit at their house in my old room. Also when I get a full-time job, see bringing in the positive vibes, we can save and pay off debt and keep our costs down. Then the sooner we pay off enough of my student loan debt then we could possibly get a condo or something and be able to bring Jasper with us then and from there move onto a house. 
I've only had like 4 panic attacks too with the whole thing of moving out, I know I'm slow but what do you expect from a Star Wars fan in their parents basement? Other than a crap load of shoes. 


Thank you for reading
~Mary

Just Looking

We checked out our first apartment today.  It isn't too bad of a place, super tiny but my parents said we can store some of our stuff here at the house since it is a super small place.  We are still keeping our options open but it is in a nice neighborhood, we won't feel like we are poor since everyone else is too. ;) Pretty much the size is the only con on the list.  We get free Wi-Fi, water is included in the rent and gas and power are usually like $70 a month year round, but we are pretty much budgeting the full $100.  It has a small stack able washer dryer combo.
This is really hard, trying to find a place that sings to you and will keep you in your budget.  It does keep me farther from work than what I would have liked but it's freeway driving so that's not all that bad. Okay that's another con on the list, it's closer to Chris' work but farther from mine.  Course I work on the other side of the valley so unless we lived outside of our price range would it make me closer to work. But we are still looking.

Thank you for reading
~Mary

Engagement Pictures.....Check

Well we finally got the engagement pictures taken.  They were so much fun, yet so tiring. We went to the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake.  Very pretty location, if you have the chance I would check it out.  One of mine and Chris' good friends  is our photographer so she knew how we would be and no we didn't do super posey pictures because one I hate those kinds, we did pose for some and we took direction well but we didn't do some of the lame engagement ones, like when the couple looks at the ring, so dumb.  I'm sorry if you had that picture but that's really not my style so we kind of goofed off. And then there was the butterfly who decided to attack Chris. Too bad there wasn't a video camera rolling, that would have been hilarious to see over and over again.  No I'm not laughing at Chris' expense, it was really funny, possible AFV funny. 

Anyway, I need to get back to getting addresses for wedding guests. 


Thank you for reading
~Mary

Apartment Hunting

I never knew how hard it would be to find apartments that you like, in your price range and that aren't too far from work that it's pointless to move there since all of your money is eaten up in gas. 
We also have to find a place that can take Jasper my dog. My parents keep reminding me that I'll be taking him with me when I leave but I secretly think they will ask me to keep him with them since a dog that big shouldn't be in an apartment. I also think they are kind of attached to him too. It makes them feel safer knowing that something will bark and growl at people when they come to the door. 


So here is my question. What are some do's and don'ts of apartment shopping and deciding on what to get?


No I've never lived on my own, I'm that quintessential geek living in my parents basement. 


Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing your advise. 
~Mary

Moving along!

We are finally moving forward with the wedding! I have the engagement photos scheduled.  I know a little late but really I work amazingly well under pressure. :D I'm glutton for punishment for that I know.


Chris and I did start the wedding registry tonight, we have one location done. We had to stop after an hour and a half because we were both exhausted and we will hopefully be able to pick up again on Saturday. It really is alot of fun scanning items, even though I'm told I'm holding back on picking out items.  But I have my own pots and pans set along with my own knife set so there are 2 huge purchases that don't have to be made by others. I think my most expensive item, which I doubt I will get is a Kitchenaid stand mixer in red.  It is a wishful thinking on that, maybe someone will love me enough to get me one but I won't hold my breath for it.  Oh crap I didn't ask for a mixing bowl, I need to do that I know. I knew I needed to make a list of items I wanted before going out. but we have another store to attend to so we will see. 


As for the engagement photo's current fiasco see my other blog. 


Thank you for reading
~Mary

What my kids will say

No, you did not read that wrong, I did mention my and kids in the same sentence! 
Now you can faint. :) 


This past week with being all domestic and stuff I realized I kind of like making things by hand and/or scratch. They taste so much better and you appreciate it more since you were the one who spent the time making the whole thing. While at work I had this weird though. "It would be so cool if when my kids came home from playing at someone else's house or sleeping over and they tell me "Mom! Did you know you can buy (some baked good that you wouldn't think of making, like marshmallows) at the store!" I know I'm weird that way.  Yes I do make my own marshmallows, I can't stand the store bought stuff and the homemade is really to die for. I will have to do a tutorial on that sometime closer to the holidays. 
I feel much more accomplished now that I can boil chicken, I have fears of touching uncooked meat so putting chicken into a pot and cooking it, I want a gold star for it too. It is the little things that you can do that can shoot you to the moon when you do them well. Chris' mom Carol said that I am now the official soup maker for the family because of the soup that I made. Yeah it kind of made my night. 


Thank you for reading
~Mary