Happy Halloween

Have a safe and happy halloween.

Work does come out at home..

I was going through my four year old daughters backpack tonight to look at her art. I save some and some gets recycled (sorry there is just three and four pages a day I can't keep everything). Well they did an art projoct on a light blue peice of paper. She had white paint on one side then folded it in half. Now it looks like one of those ink blot test. So the teacher asks what it is and she tells her its a wedding dress. Yep I can see it. Well kind of. I don't imagine every child would see a wedding dress in the white paint, but my poor child gets to see and hear wedding stuff all day long since I work from home. Well I am saving it. I think its great. I am worried what will happen when she does get married in years from now. She will have been hearing weddings all her life she will either want a grand affair or run away and elope to avoid all her mother does. I love her which ever she wants.

Aileen and Emit 10/11/08 Photo's

The wonderful and talented Jennifer Nichols has given us some highlights from this wedding on her blog.

I will share some here but you can check her blog out as well here.

Family Traditions and Stress

"Its the most wonderful time of the year..." The words of a popular holiday song. Well there are times that I am not so sure about the holiday's being the most wonderful time of the year. I was reminded of all the great family traditions when we participated in our first tradition of the fall/winter season this weekend.

We went to the pumpkin patch with the kids and picked out our pumpkins. In the past I have taken pictures there with them but forgot this year. They had a great time. It's not a fancy patch its one run as a fundraiser for a church in Buda.

Now once that is over we are on a fast track to the holidays. Every year I do everything I can to make sure everyone knows what is going on and no ones feelings get hurt. Now that you are engaged or recently married you are going to have to face this as well.

Please don't get me wrong family is great, but its better to manage every ones expectations before all the stress sets in. My family and my IL's are all in the area so they all think we should get around to see all of them for the holidays. I think we have it all worked out now and it does not bring me stress any longer, but I remember the first couple of years of marriage it was a great source of stress.

With all that said I also thank its important to create your own family traditions. We have quite a few. One is the pumpkin patch every year with the kids. Another is going to look at the flowers in the spring in the hill country. We have traditions on when we decorate or house for Christmas and what goes where and who does what. That is the time that everyone gets a new ornament to add to the tree. Take some time now before its all on top of you and make sure everyone knows that you have plans for the holidays and what they are. I wish I could avoid two thanksgiving day meals but so for that has not happened.

(This photo was taken the first year we took the kids to the pumpkin patch)

Hobby Lobby adds

Prices good until Nov. 1st.

Scrapbooking Paper 50% off packages and individual pages.

Frames - 50% off most frames in stock

Candles and Holders- 50% off

Woven Baskets - 50% off

Floral Stems - 50% off

Dried Natural floral 50% off

Swags and Garlands - 50% off

Ribbon by the yard - 30% off

Have a great day

Quote for you for today

"When asked what a person truly needs to survive, most people list air, water, and food, while forgetting that rest is also vitally important to our bodies, minds, and spirits." Margaret Feinberg (Resting in Him)

Michaels Crafts Deals

This week their blowout is on Halloween items Wilton candy melts are under $2.00 a bag.

happy haunting

Hobby Lobby Sale

Okay things for your weddings that might be on sale at Hobby Lobby. These prices are good through October 25th.

Fall Decorations - 50% - Cornucopias, Fall Bushes and Swags, Realistic and Decorative Pumpkins and gourds, and tableware and fall candle holders.

Frames - 50% - Most of their frames are on sale.

Ribbon on the Roll - 50% - Christmas and Floral department ribbon on the roll is on sale.

Floral - 50% - Flowering and Greenery bushes, swags, garlands, wreaths, and arrangements. Marbles, Gems, and river stones.

Oh and just in case you want or need any Halloween crafts and decor its 40% off.

Happy Crafting.

Ways to have a stress free wedding day

Here are some tips on having a stress free day for your wedding. I have read so many articles on this topic and so these ideas are some from various articles from over the years and not new to me. I don't know who to attribute the facts to so if you know where they came from please let me know and I will give credit. Also some of these are things that I have learned over the years.

One

Get rest. The week before your wedding you need to get your rest. Use your friends, family, and wedding professionals to help you get things done so you can rest. You have been planning now let others help so you can enjoy it. Cut out r minimize alcoholic beverages. While we think they take the edge off and help us sleep, this is not true. They actually interrupt our natural sleeping pattern. By avoiding this the day before you might sleep better. If you are a nervous type person you might want to contact a health professional about a sleep aide for that night before (might also be good for any long flights on your honeymoon). A rested bride is a happy bride. We all know that when we are not rested we are more irritable and fussy. This on your wedding day may mean you taking out frustrations on your friends and family.

Two

Eat. Seven out of Ten brides do not eat breakfast on their wedding day. We have heard it all our lives that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Its true. You do not have to have a big heavy breakfast but some juice fruit and a whole grain muffin or such. Just get something in your stomach. Also avoid crash dieting. Think now if you are not the size you want to be and plan a lifestyle change. Small meals over the course of the day. Do not start a new exercises routine in the weeks before your wedding. Stick with what you know. Also remember your fiance fell in love with you as you are so don't worry you will be beautiful. Also avoid new foods the week before you wedding in case of an allergic reaction. If you have never had soft shell crab you can wait until after your wedding day to try it. Also dairy causing bloating so avoid this the week before your wedding if you can.

Three

Have cell phone numbers for the day of your wedding. make sure your coordinator has these as well. Every vendor should be able to be reached on the day of your wedding and not just their office number. Some offices are closed on Saturday's you need a cell phone number. Make sure your coordinator has contacted all your vendors before the wedding day and that they all have the schedule of events for the day.

Four

Labels and List As you pack up boxes for your big day make sure that things go together. Don't put the programs for the church in a box with candy for the reception. Everything should be for the same location. Similar items in the box are best. Label the box clearly. Include a list in the top if each box that inventories what is in there. Also make a list as you go for what you will need for your wardrobe, the church, the reception, etc. Then you can check it off as you pack it. It helps make sure cuff links and garters make it to the site you are getting ready at.

Five

Spa. if you have time the morning of your wedding go get a spa treatment a facial o back rub. Do not get a facial that you have never received before you would hat to have an allergic reaction to one of the items in the facial and be red and splotchy on your wedding day.

Six

If you are one of my brides you have it made anyway, I am here for you so you can call me for anything. I am here to make your day Stress Free. Son't hesitate to ask for anything.

Meet Nery.

As promised here is another introduction to my wonderful staff. I could not do this so well with out such wonderful help. Nery Lauderdale is my sister in law. So while I question her taste in men (sorry little brother-haha), she is an amazing woman. Nery was born and raised in Monterrey Mexico. In Mexico she taught children, and played guitar with them and at her church. She is very close to her family. She is a mom to a beautiful two year old and just a beautiful person and looks for ways to help out and serve. Just a quick example the catering staff at our last event did not get the chance to eat. So they were heading to eat. The popcorn machine was set up and the caterer was going to just box up a bunch of it and set it out on a table. Nery jumped in and said she would stay and serve it so it could stay warm under the lights and the caterers could go eat. I could go on and on where she has done things like this. I also love that she and I think alike. We are often heading in the same direction to take care of things or move things around. She wants your wedding to be all you desired it to be and she is there to do what it takes. She is also fluent in Spanish and English so she is great with guest that prefer to speak Spanish she can understand them instantly (my Spanish is limited so its great to know she is there when I can't interpret). I value Nery's hard work and creativity. I am so luck to have her on my team.

Aileen and Emit 10/11/08

What a fun couple. Aileen and Emit worked hard to incorporate elements from both of their heritages into their big day and I think they did a great job. This wedding we worked the reception only. I was told the ceremony at st. Theresa's was wonderful. I will add a few photo's here and more once Jennifer and CJ get me there photo's (they have the good ones). I need to get with Aileen and get the name of the wonderful Mariachis that came for the cocktail hour.

Vendors that helped make this day all it could be.

The Nichols Photography- Jennifer and CJ are such a fun couple and great photographers. I caught Jennifer sitting on the dance floor at on point talking to a group of kids and taking pictures at the same time.

Michelle's Patisserie- The cakes were beautiful and tasted great. There was a little miscommunication about the cake toppers but Michelle drove all the way back to bring them to us just in time. Thanks Michelle.

Byrne Rock- I have been looking forward to working with Byrne. He has a great reputation and so I was sure we would have a great time. The dance floor was packed.

Austin UT Alumni Club- What a beautiful room lots of natural light, but the best part was the staff. Everyone was so helpful and accommodating. They were sure to make sure all the guest had a wonderful experience. I hope to work there again soon.

Here are the cake toppers that we ended up waiting on. The bridal topper was used on Aileens mothers wedding cake and Aileens sister used it on her cake as well.

The grooms topper was something Aileen made as a surprise for the groom. I still have not heard the penguin story.

Fun Confrence Day

Yesterday the kids were out of school for parent teacher conferences. We planned them for early in the morning so that we could get them done and do something fun. Isaiah's conference was great. He has things to work on, but he is also doing really well in some things. Not bad for a kid that we were told had Fetal Alch. Syndrome (that was later re-diagnosed and he does not show FAS symptoms). Christina's conference was not as good. I really did not like the way the teacher talked to us. She had very little positive to say. I looked on the six week goals and the assessment page to realize my child is doing very well in her school activities. The teacher could only tell me about the deals she tries to make with them, and that she rolled her eyes at them, or that she does not like to sit on the rug at group time. Okay she is four in a half day pre-school program. How bad can it be. I thought that those wee skills they were teaching in pre-school. But I put that aside. We then went to Austin Allen dropped us off at Dick Nichols Park to play while he went to take a test for school and then meet back up for us. Here are some photo's from the park.

Cool Website

Okay for all of my wonderful DIY Brides I have found a great website. It has lots of inspiration in the new color trends. Weddings are no longer black and white and pink and pastel. They are bold and blue and orange. I love the new color trends I think it allows you to make your wedding truly meaningful to you. So if you are looking for inspiration check them out at my personal artist. They really show off ways to use color.

http://www.mypersonalartist.com/weddingcolors2.html

Is this the best job ever?

It's funny we have had revival at our church this week. What that means is some extra time with the people we see once or twice a week. We have had a meal everynight with the revival so again a chance to talk to people that normally you don't have time to talk to. So they usual questions come up- How old are your kids? Where do they go to school? What part of town are you from? Have you ever heard this speaker before? What do you do for a living?

That last one is where I proudly say I plan and coordinate weddings and other events. Four times in the past two days I have had people ask me if I ever need help with it. They said it sounds like so much fun and they have always wanted to work on weddings. I let them know that I have a pretty reliable and amazing staff right now, but its nice to know who is interested in helping if its ever needed.

Weddings seem to just draw out the romantic in everyone. These people think that its amazing to help someone on their big day and that it has to be so much fun. If I sat down with them and told them honestly all that goes into it I wonder how many would still think its the best job ever. For me personally it is. I have done this long enough that there is nothing that can be thrown my way that I can't deal with. Years of theatrical productions have prepared me to think on my feet, as well as years of customer service experience have taught me how to deal with all sorts of people. My feelings are not hurt easily and I don't mind telling a vendor what they need to be doing when they are not doing what they have been paid to do.

If they knew about the times I have plunged toilets, picked up dog poop so no one would walk it in, carried out bags of trash that were leaking booze, broken most of my nails putting together decorations, bleed (needles and corsage ins do not belong in the ends of fingers), and the shear pain in your legs and feet after an often 12 hour day on them (no matter how great and comfortable your shoes are) I think then they might not see it so much as fun.

Don't get me wrong I will do all those things over again. I do think I have the best job in the world, but I am aware of the stress and less than glamorous moments it takes to have a glamorous and elegant and fun perfect day. I love it all.

(photo from Alexis and Tim's Wedding taken by Jennifer Nichols)

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's birthday was Wednesday. I don't think she would be happy if I posted her age. We decided the weekend before that we should give her a little party. So I put in a call to Dawn and the Cake Pan to see if she could do anything for me last minute. She made me a great two tiered pink and white cake. It was perfect and my mom loved it. It was added to a table decorated by flowers that my dad got her and her boss got her. Also my sister bought a large balloon arrangement. We surrounded it by gifts. My sister had to work but the rest of us siblings were there, as well as our kids and spouses, and my grandmother and grandfather (my mom's parents). We had a simple dinner and cake. Nothing fancy but she had a great time. Said it was perfect and she was not expecting anything. I don't know if this was really a surprise party but we didn't let her now we were planning anything for her. I was a bad event planner in he fact that I didn't get the camera out at all. (Dawn if you have a copy of the cake would you please send it to me to post here). My mom is not the biggest fan of getting her picture taken for some reason. She is beautiful. Here she is with Teresa at her graduation.