Wedding Courses

Time for another round of wedding voting! We need to figure out what we are serving for dinner at the wedding; therefore, please help Chris and I pick out the best dinner option that will please all of our guests, young and old.

Dinners include: One (1) entrée, One (1) salad, Two (2) sides, Bread/rolls 

Additional side items add $1.50 per person.Additional entrée (of equal or lesser value) add $3 per person. 

Entrée Items $12/person 

Beef

Beef Tips in Mushroom Gravy Meatloaf

Chicken

Apricot Ginger | Asian Sesame | Herb Seasoned | Lemon Pepper

Pork

Pork Tenderloin

Molasses Glazed | Mustard Herb Crusted | Oven Roasted w/ Red Onion Marmalade

Pasta

Five Layer Lasagna

Chicken Milano Penne

Roasted Vegetable Penne Alfredo 

Chicken Tetrazzini 

Salads (Choice of One)

Cranberry, Walnut & Feta Salad 

Fresh Garden Salad

Italian Salad

Parmesan Caesar Salad 

Pear, Walnut & Feta Salad 

Side Items(Choice of Two)

Baked Potato

Barbeque Baked Beans 

Bowtie Alfredo Pasta 

Butter & Herb Steamed Baby Carrots

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes 

Coleslaw

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes 

Potato Salad 

Rice Pilaf

Roasted Butternut Squash 

Roasted Corn and Red Peppers 

Rosemary Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Sautéed Green Beans

Spanish Rice

Steamed Broccoli

Steamed Rice (White or Brown) 

Dessert Items [+$1/person]

Apple Spice Cake
 Chocolate Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Mint Walnut Brownie
Vanilla Coconut Cake

Fruit Cobbler
Fruit Crisp
Frosted Lemon Cake Bread Pudding

Alright, so these are our options. What are your thoughts?? We'd like to keep it around $12 a head, if possible.

 **sorry for the fact that this post has no pictures**

Taking Your Relationship For Granted

As many of you know, Chris and I have been doing the LDR (long distance relationship) thing for the past two years--actually the majority of our relationship.

So...what am I looking forward to doing with my fiancé when I move back to the same town with him this weekend? I'm glad you asked! Here's a list of things that all of you "same towners" can do/should do, that Chris and I will finally be able to do for the first time in two years.

1. Datelivery. I've been wanting to do this for a while and haven't been able to without my date. Basically, Datelivery sends you a package in the mail, for a flat rate, that gives you an entire date night in a box. The themes are different every time.

2. Farmer's market trips. I've been going solo all summer. Chris would never admit it, but he LOVES the farmer's market, like LOVES. Getting to go together might seem trivial to you, but it's so exciting for me.

3. Cooking in the Cottage. Alright, cooking classes make for a great date night AND they help improve my cooking skills (which Chris is extremely appreciative of). 

4. Pre-Marital Counseling. This might not apply to many of you, but this is something I am very much looking forward to. Chris is a little weary of the idea of "counseling"; however, I think this will provide more insight into our relationship that we might not have observed otherwise. 

5. Jate Nights. What is a "Jate Night?" This is what Chris and I call our junk food and wine Friday nights. We enjoy getting cheese cubes, potato chips, french onion dip, popsicles, wine/beer, and the tv show marathon of the month. You really can't do this with anyone other than your best friend and be content.

These are just five, of many, things that I can't wait to actually be able to do with Chris. Don't take your relationship for granted. Get out and do some things with your significant other...some people can't spend all that time with theirs because of the distance. There...I'm off of my soap box. :)

What date ideas do you have for us? This will be the first time in two years we are in the same town, so please, please, please we will take any advice you have!

Don't forget to enter to win a $100 gift card of your choice.

Linking up with Just Because.

Pack That Crap Up

What do you do when you're a girl without a boy...to help you pack?

I've devised a list of tips here that I found personally useful during my packing experience this weekend.

1. This may or may not be the one and only time it is considered mildly appropriate to wear a fanny pack. The fanny pack will be carrying the packing tape, box cutter, and gum. Again, I want to re-emphasize that this is the ONLY time that it is alright to wear a fanny pack IN PRIVATE, unless your name is Big Deal Richard. <--BDR can wear his fanny pack all around Branson and no one will give him crap. (Love you Dad)

2. Reward yourself. I call my reward system the "bridal packing reward system". Why? Because for every box I packed, I was allowed to eat one popsicle. "Packing" on that weight before the wedding. Holla. Wait...that's not what you're suppose to do?!

3. Following up #3, reward yourself with ALL of the leftover wine/champagne/alcohol in the fridge. Who else is going to drink it. Packing partyyyyy!

4. Call EVERY man in your life and constantly nag them for 15 minutes about why they are not there to help you with this. At least daddy-o is flying in to drive the U-haul down. Guilt trip=success. Just kidding, he commented "I'm actually surprised they even let you rent the U-haul with your driving record." Sad, but true. 

5. Try to sell all the useless crap you have kept for no apparent reason what-so-ever. Why do I need a papasan chair? I mean, it was cool in 1986, but now it's just a pain to move from place to place and a nice little chew toy for the kitties.

6. Pack away each and every one of your 16 mac and cheese's with your wine box. All of your valuables should definitely be stored together, and with caution. 

7. Label every box "fragile-break and you die". Just so no one can mistake your intentions.

8. Show no shame. Try to sell all of your left over food to your friends before taking it to the homeless shelter. Okay, okay I'm just kidding...but not really.

Alright, that's all I've got for today. More advice to come this week, I'm sure. 

What packing tips do you have for me? 

Don't forget to enter to win $350 cash and a $100 gift card of your choice.

Bedroom Madness

 Alright, so I'd just like to start this post by apologizing to all of you that have commented this week. I have been a horrible blogger friend and have not been able to respond to all of you like I'd like to. This week, and next, contain lots of busy-ness and packing/moving. With that being said, I want you to know that I do read each and every post and when I ask for your advice (wedding-related and this post) I actually take it into consideration. :) So, THANK YOU for being awesome readers and helping me out!

So, without further ado...I, again, need your advice and this time it's regarding decor. Since I'm moving in with a friend, I will be putting most of my stuff into storage. The only furniture/decor I will be using is in my bedroom. I'd like to make it "my oasis" since it will be my space. Ya feel me?

I've found all of the above pictures on Pinterest, here, and would like to base my new bed ensemble on these. Below, I've found several options. I'd like your honest opinions on which one you like, if you don't mind. :) Thanks a mil!

Kohl's $169.99
Price includes all but two square, red pillows.

Bed Bath and Beyond $99.99
Price includes comforter, shams, pillows, etc.

Pottery Barn $99
Side note: price is just for the duvet cover.

Pottery Barn $59
Side note: the pillows can be monogrammed. The price is just the duvet cover.

Pottery Barn $59
Price includes duvet cover.

Check out my new job and giveaway here. Don't forget to enter to win $350 cash!

Linking up with Just Because.

Wedding Weekend Update

Yet again, I'm needing your help. I know, I've been needy in this whole wedding process, but I'd really like some non-bias advice on this entire thing.

So, I've posted pictures of potential wedding dresses, and as you can see, I decided to go with the one above! Loved the pockets and the price was unbeatable. With this dress in mind, we went bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend. 

After trying on several, I think I've decided on the dress pictured first. The help I am needing is deciding which color should I go with. The suits will be grey and the two swatches I need to choose from are shown above. 

Left side is Cantaloupe and the right side is Rose Petal. The Pinterest images are similar to the theme I'd like to go with. The rose petal might match a little better but the cantaloupe is more of a summer color.

Alright, now that you have a picture of the theme, which color do you think I should go with??? Cantaloupe or Rose Petal?

Don't forget to enter to win a custom blog design and $350 cash! Stay tuned for a HUGE announcement and giveaway tomorrow!

Linking up for I Love Bloglovin', Monday Mingling, The GFC Collective, and Weekend Shenanigans. 

Wedding Favor Advice

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely, Ms. Debbie, who asked if I ever allowed guest writers to post on my blog. After considering her offer for a guest post and the topic she wanted to write about, I was game.

Today, she's offering a little piece of wedding advice for all of you engaged gals- myself included. Check it out below. 

Don't forget to enter to win a custom blog design and $350 cash!

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How to decide on your wedding favors

One of the most fun parts of planning a wedding is picking out the favors! While I am researching ideas for my wedding, I want what I pick to not only reflect who we are as a couple, but I want it to be something my guests will really enjoy! Here are some points I am keeping in mind while deciding on my wedding favors.

First, I am thinking about the favors I have received while attending weddings of family and friends. What did I think of the favor and what (if anything) did I hear from other guests about the favor? One wedding I attended gave what was similar to a Christmas ornament with the couple’s names and their wedding date. It was cute, but this was a summer wedding and Christmas was the furthest thing from my mind. Also, as a friend, but not a close friend, why would I want a Christmas ornament like this? Like I said, it was cute, but would not have been my choice. So I am looking at favors that can have both a “neat” factor reaction from my guests, but could be something that will actually be useful.

Our wedding will be during the summer and we are heading to Florida for some beach time as our honeymoon. So one item I am considering is this starfish wine bottle stopper as a wedding favor from Wedding Paper Divas. To me, this is something that shares our honeymoon plans with our guests. Plus, it is something, I hope, our guests will use long after our wedding day is behind us.

All our friends and our family know that my fiancée and I enjoy the outdoors. So another favor I am considering is this tree saplingfrom the Arbor Day Foundation. Our guests can bring this sapling home and plant it with their family. Hopefully, it will take and they will have something that will truly last a lifetime! Plus, it will help support the efforts of the Arbor Day Foundation and work to preserve nature.

The final favor I am considering is something that will, just like the Arbor Day Foundation, help support those non-profits we donate to whenever possible. So we are thinking about picking one or two organizations and taking the money we would’ve spend on favors and make a donation to those organizations. Right now, my fiancé and I are thinking of donating to a local animal rescue or our local food bank . Then, we will put a personalized note at each guest’s seat to let them know what we did. Hopefully, if we decide to go with this option, our guests will appreciate the thought!

What wedding favors have you thought of? Which wedding favors, if any, did you go with?

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hello my friends! Long time, no talk. Sorry I've been MIA for the last three days but I believe I've left you in capable hands...and with a giveaway. Vacation was a blast and I will be sure to fill you in on everything later (when I actually have pictures to share). 

Anywho, my lease on my apartment is coming up soon and I've been considering setting up an office in the spare room I hope to have. With that in mind, I'm totally open to your suggestions on decor and votes on which set up you like the most.

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Which one is your favorite? Do you have any decor suggestions for me??? Have you redone your office lately--if so, please leave a link to the pictures in a comment, I'd love to see what you did!

Don't forget to enter to win a teeth whitening kit and Shabby Apple gift card.

Linking up with Just Because.

Be the Buyer-Online Shopping

Alright guys, I need your help! I'm trying to do a little research and I need your honest opinions!

In exchange for your help, I will randomly draw a name (from the comments) and will mail them a little surprise. I know, I'm dead serious on this whole help thing. And what's even better, all you have to do is comment below telling me:

(1) Would you purchase it, regardless of the price point-because you like it, yes or no?

(2) If you would purchase it and feel that the price is too high, what is the max you spend on it?

$45

$33

$52

$26

$42

$50

$28

$22

$24

$26

$28

$25

$32

Thanks again for all of your help! Can't wait to announce the winner of the little surprise! Winner will be announced Saturday morning, so make sure to get your comments in today! Also, to give you a little more incentive, if you refer a friend(s) and they list your name in their comment, if their name is drawn I will send you BOTH a surprise! Let's do this thanggg y'all!

Don't forget to enter to win some of this fabulous jewelry here and also, there's a nail polish giveaway going on here--AFTER you comment for this giveaway!