Feeling Pretty Random

 

Happy Friday everyone! I am particularly happy to see the end of this week come. Work is nuts. Like uber crazy! Between work and wedding stuff my mind is in a constant state of spinning. You know those pictures of people with objects spinning above their head? That’s me!

Regardless, I am SO pumped and excited (and between you and me a little lot nervous) for this weekend! This weekend is mine and Ryan’s stag!

I have to be honest. Being at the “bride” end of this process has been hard. I’ve come to realize that I’m not one who loves to be the centre of attention. I MUCH prefer being the organizing type. Helping with preparations, food and etc. When I tell Jilly this she just keeps telling me “too bad”! Ha ha So I can’t change it and I’m working really hard on getting over my control freak ways.

Have I mentioned before that I LOVE my phone? I mean LOOOOOVE it! I was so hesitant when switching from my blackberry to iPhone. For someone who uses their phone ALOT, especially for work, it was terrifying. My phone was my customer contact source, my researcher, my reminder and my math whiz.

I am SOO happy that I made the switch. Iphone is really the way to go! It is way more efficient and user friendly! I even “girlified” my phone by getting myself a fancy case!

Speaking of iphone, the best part? The Apps!! One of my new favorites? Couch to 5K app!

It’s a set program that you follow for 9 weeks and by the end you are able to run 5K. The first day was hard but it has gotten easier and easier as the days go on. The best part? While they are giving you run/walk instructions the background music is your own right from itunes! It’s awsome!

The app is so encouraging that I am actually thinking about signing up for….a 10K in the fall! I’ll let you know how that goes! :-)

This weekend I have a very short but important things to do:

1. Get my hair did!

2. STAG BABY! WOO

3. MUST have Mae’s!

It’s that time of year again when our love and cherished McCann’s chips is open again for the season. I have been craving a chicken finger platter for months now! Come hell or high water I am getting some Mae’s!

What’s the plan for your weekend?

Happy Friday!

xo

Wedding Wednesday – Thank You’s

 

Happy Wednesday everyone. This has been a week I have been anticipating for months. This weekend is our stag!

A lot of people have been asking me lately if I am excited for the upcoming stag and then the same question follows again about the wedding.

Most of the time I answer “yes, I am excited” because I am. Don’t get me wrong there is an inner excitement but I have found the closer and closer I get to the wedding date the more my nerves take over the excitement.

I think it is that I am spending every day thinking about wedding things that it has gotten to the point where I just want the day to be here! I want to get married and be married.

One of the most fun wedding events to date was my bridal shower. I got so many beautiful items. I was so overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. After the shower, I was actually really looking forward to writing thank you cards!

Writing my thank you’s

I wanted my thank you cards to have a personal touch. Thought it would kind of reflect the way the wedding will be. DIY!

When I saw this tutorial on Pinterest I thought that I could recreate it for my thank you notes!

First thing I tried to do was find the tall cabbage that they use in the tutorial. Not happening! We just have pretty little round cabbages in most grocery stores and trust me, they don’t work for this tutorial.

But I did purchase a head of romaine lettuce thinking it looked pretty similar.

First, cut the end off of the head of lettuce with the straight edge knife. Keep the leaves for a Caesar salad. Here’s what you will be left with:

You can keep this star looking thing like that or take a few of the outer leaves off to make it fit better onto your card.

Dip into paint or ink.

Apply to pre-purchased (thank you Michaels) plain cards.

P.S – These cards are great! They come with envelopes too!

What does the end of a romaine lettuce, dipped in paint come out as? A rose like flower.

After doing about all of your cards allow the paint to dry completely.

Then take a ‘Thank You’ stamp and ink pad to add to the front.

Voila! Personalized, thank you cards ready to be written and send to all the wonderful people that were there at my shower.

Happy Wednesday!

xo

Fabulous Easter Weekend!

 

Happy Tuesday everyone! Isn’t it always so hard to get back to reality after having a long weekend? It’s a struggle to get back on schedule, start eating right and getting things cleaned up.

This long weekend in particular is the last one before our “busy season” at work. Although it has been extremely busy because of the nice weather it really means crazy time come after Easter.

To celebrate the beginning of the long weekend I went and picked up my BRAND NEW CAR!

I was so excited to drive it home! As sad as it was saying goodbye to my very first car, the jeep! I am VERY happy with the choice I made!

Ryan and I with the Ford Edge.

Our first picture in the new car!

That evening I picked up Jilly and headed back to Ladysmith to meet Rebekka and Josh (and Josh’s parents) for supper! It was a great meal and visit and then an extended visit at the home of Sue and Brent (Josh’s parents place).

Unlike most, Ryan and I were up before the sun on Friday morning to work. He went on the truck and I headed to the city for some deliveries. As much as it sucked working it was still super fun because I got to drive my new car! I kept getting stopped and being asked about my new wheels! It was fun!

Friday night I made homemade buns for the next day and painted my nails. I tried the whole, one glitter nail thingie, but I have to say, wasn’t a fan! I just don’t get it!

Saturday morning I was up and finished some meal preparations and then off to my Mom and Dad’s for Easter lunch!

A couple cute Easter bunnies!

After supper, Faith had an Easter egg hunt! Which is super fun because now she get’s what to do! Hunt, find and get chocolate!

Sunday morning it was off to church for a special Easter Sunday service. I wore a nice Easter yellow and showed up to church wearing pretty much the same sweater as Mom! Geesh!

Little Tanner looked SO adorable in his little Easter outfit as well.

The Sunday school kids did a FABULOUS job singing for the congregation as well!

After church Ryan and I headed home to change, finish up some desserts and then headed to his parents for supper! We had a fun visiting with his parents, the kids, Melissa and Kyle.

It was a delicious meal and a great visit. After supper I joined Caleb outside and watched him do tricks on the trampoline.

Ryan and Aleisha joined us outside and we all played Volleyball. Me and Caleb vs. Ryan and Aleisha.

The cheaters winners.

Monday was a day of relaxing. I made a quick trip to the city and spent the rest of the night vegging out! After a busy weekend it was nice to just relax.

How was your Easter weekend?

xo

Wishing You and Yours A Very “Hoppy” Easter!

 

Just stopping by quickly to wish you and yours a very

HOPPY EASTER!

xoxo

Wedding Wednesday – Not All Things Go Right

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

38 friggin’ Days!

The days are getting so small now! The countdown is truly on. It really is hard to go a day without any wedding related things getting done. I feel very productive though! Work is in full swing, we’ve started our summer meal plan and wedding items are getting checked off my to-do list.

I have to say, for the most part, wedding plans have gone relatively smoothly. There has been a few stressers and problems but not things that I haven’t been able to deal with. (Knock on wood!)

There has been one particular item that has caused stress, my sister in laws dress.

My sister in law, Holly, had a birthday in November. For her birthday, I had someone watch her kids for her while she and I went shopping for a dress for the wedding and lunch.

It was a fun morning/early afternoon visiting and shopping till we dropped! We even found the perfect dress for her! Most importantly, she loved it!

I paid for the dress and we were expecting it to arrive by the end of February. By the middle of February I still hadn’t heard from the bridal salon about Holly’s dress so I decided to take it upon myself and start calling.

Day 1 – No answer

Day 2- No answer

Day 3- Still no answer.

Now, I am really nervous so by day 4 I decide to take it a step further and call the municipal hall to make sure the business name and phone number is still listed.

Me – Hi there, I’m looking to see if “ABC bridal salon’s” phone number and address is still listed in your business directory?

Municipal worker – No, I’m sorry “ABC bridal salon” went bankrupt and closed their doors a month ago.

OH NO!  So, not only is there no more business but the dress has been paid in FULL with no way to get it.

I was very mad and as someone who is not very patient I was DESPERATLY trying to find out who the owner was who took my money knowing she was closing! I wanted to give her a piece of my mind.

My mother thankfully calmed me down and I began the search for Holly’s dress at another salon (all the while not letting Holly know about the issue!).

Thankfully, another salon over 1 hour away carries the same designer. I called them and they informed me that I am the THIRD bride to call about this issue with “ABC salon”. Apparently, “ABC salon” has known they were shutting their doors for over a year. One woman called being a bride herself, who was 1 month away from her wedding with out a dress!

The new (and wonderful) salon informed me that Holly’s dress could be ordered and here before the wedding! We are expecting it to arrive any day.

I still get a little worked up, thinking about the women who let me give her my money for a dress she knew I was never going to receive.

However, when I have a moment of anger I just stop and think that all that matters is my wonderful sister-in-law will have a beautiful dress that she loves for the wedding!

Happy Wednesday!

xo

Weekend At The Arena

 

Happy Monday everyone! Welcome to April!! Every day, week and month that passes, I get more and more excited!! The month of April is going to be a busy one with lots of up coming wedding related activities!

Every year, a group of Ryan’s friends, including Ryan himself, organize The Flying Elbows hockey tournament. This year, 26 teams registered in hopes to win, have a good time and raise money for the D.I.F.D (Do it for Daron) fund.

 

(Click picture for more D.I.F.D information)

All of the guys work SO hard at this tournament. Most, stay over night in trailers so that they don’t have to drive home!

Pretty such the whole community comes out to support the cause and various teams. This year was no different!

After work on Friday, I headed up to the arena to meet a friend, Sue, to do our part for the tournament by selling “Beer For A Year” raffle tickets.

It was a successful night. I got to watch Ryan and his team, Chainsaws From Hell play and got lots of visiting in while selling the raffle tickets!

Saturday morning I purposely got up early so that I could head to the city. I arrived at Bayshore Shopping Mall for the doors opening at 9 AM.

I shopped till I dropped picking up a wedding gift for Ryan, new bathing suit for the honeymoon, wedding gifts for the Dad’s, Easter stuff and a fun stop at Jabob to check out their spring fashions.

Left with:

And a few more items too! :-)

On the hours drive home I decided to go a different way then usual. The Quyon ferry opened this weekend and I wanted to make my first pass on it of the season!

After a quick nap it was back up to the hockey arena for supper and to watch the rivalry game of Chainsaws vs. Elbows!

Unfortunately, the Chainsaws lost but I had fun sitting with friends and family in the stands! Later, up above the arena at the bar, Sue and I got selling more tickets and then I ended the evening by sitting at chatting with Sara and Jill!

Sunday morning I was so looking forward to church! Not only was it Palm Sunday….

Stacy and Tanner with their palm branch!

As well, friends of Nancy’s (student minister) from Orleans came to join in the service and sing! What beautiful voices they all had. It was wonderful having the church filled with such an amazing sound!

After the service, we all headed to the basement for a potluck! Yum!

As you can see, it has been a super busy weekend but it has been a lot of fun!

How was your weekend?

xo

Car Troubles

 

Happy Friday! As I am sure it is the case with everyone, I am so happy to see this day come! It’s going to be a busy weekend ahead and the last one until April.

April is a big month in my mind! It was the month that I looked and thought, “going to be REALLY real that the wedding is around the corner is April”.

April is the month of many events. Shower, bachelorette and stag not to mention the endless meetings with vendors as well! It’s going to be an exciting time.

It’s all a little overwhelming at times. Endless thought’s and emotions are running through my head. When I need a moment, I take a drive.

Funny though, my best thinking I do is in my car. Life is so busy that I’m not able to take a moment to think. When I’m in the car? Sure, I’m listening to the radio but for the most part it’s just me and my thoughts.

My car has been on endless adventures! Especially fun road tours to and from Guelph, my old University town.

My car was a place of refuge when Tucker and I were moving home from British Columbia.

My little red jeep has been loaded to the rafters as I’ve gone for work and delivered product to clients.

My car has been good to Ryan and I. Taking us to and from airports, camping trips, road tours. Endless portraits in the front seats.

More recently, my car has been a therapist. It’s seen my tears and smiles. It’s the place where I do my best thinking. I sit and reflect while I’m driving on the open road.

So, as you can see, I really love my car. Unfortunately, it’s mileage and age is starting to show and it isn’t as reliable as it once was. Almost daily, for the last month, a new problem has developed. It is literally falling apart. It’s time for a new vehicle.

I’m been doing some looking around for the last two weeks and I’ve decided between these two vehicles.

1. Ford Edge

2. Chevrolet Equinox

I have to say I do have a small preference between the two but you tell me. Which one do you prefer? Are you a ford or a Chevy person?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

xo