Tuesday, October 4, 2011
It's an odd sensation being married. All those things I thought would be incredible awkward....weren't. Weird, huh? But if I were to sum up the past month (I can't believe it's been a month!), I would only have one word to describe our relationship: Laughter. I don't know how Jordan does it, but he just makes me smile and laugh all the time. And it's not just him. We make each other laugh. And I think a large part of that is that we can laugh at ourselves. (Granted, Jordan is a little better at that than I am, but I'm working on it. :)
That doesn't mean that our life has been sunshine and daisies for the past month. It's hard not being able to see my husband for more than 3-4 hours a day (though I feel like I can't complain too much because that's a heck of a lot more than I gotten to see him in the past year). Sometimes I'm cranky. Sometimes he's had a bad day and is upset. But somehow, we are pretty good of letting go of small things that don't really matter all that much.
Anyway, my husband (that still feels weird to say), Jordan, flies in the Air Force for a living. Okay, actually he's in pilot training right now. And he works for 12 hours a day (most of the time). And I don't have a job. And I don't have school (actually, I still have a few more classes I need to finish through Independent Study, but I haven't started that yet).
So what do I do all day? Well, before we moved into our new house. Nothing. It was really boring. I would read, go to the gym, and sleep. Boring.
Now that we've moved in? I unpack. I buy things. And continue to unpack. And I still read, go to the gym, and sleep. And I make food for us! (I did that before we moved too).
I will post some pictures when our house is done. :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Ten (err, 11) Wedding Do's
I never thought planning a wedding was going to be so difficult! Props to all those who have already done it :) In the few months I've been planning this wedding, I've learned a lot from the many blogs I've read, sites I've looked over, and research I've done. Here's a list of ten things that will inevitably make your wedding less expensive and more enjoyable.
1. Start as soon as you can. Whether you've got two months to plan or two years, don't wait to start planning. I've had about four months to plan my wedding. In Utah (where I've been planning my wedding), I've learned that generally people plan 4 to 6 months out, but sometimes it can be longer. When I reserved my temple date the day after we got engaged, the other large temple room was already taken. And the place we wanted our reception to be was reserved 15 minutes before we got there. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do about that one. We put off going there for several days because we thought we had time.
2. Do your homework. Really. This may seem to conflict with the last bit of advice, but before you book, you really should know what you're getting yourself into. When it came time to go to the florist consultation, I looked online to see approximate pricing of different flowers, I googled different kinds of wedding flowers, and I met with two florists.
3. Create your budget and they stay under it. My mom and his mom gave us a certain budget. Now there are some things you have less control over, like room fees or minimum spending amounts from certain vendors (though you can control who you choose to be your vendor), but there are always little things you have to pay for that you aren't thinking about when you're planning out your budget--like postage stamps, manicures, and dress alterations. Besides, the less you spend on your wedding, the more you will have after the big day.
4. Skimp and splurge carefully. Before I started planning my wedding, I knew that there were two things at the top of my priority list--the photographer and my dress. (P.S. My photographer is amazing! Check out her stuff at camillabinks.com). Even though I was willing to pay a little more for my dress, I didn't immediately run to the most expensive places. We went to a rental shop (which I would highly recommend, they really take care of you it seems) and a discount shop. Only when I didn't find anything there did we look at the regular bridal gown shops. I think there is no problem splurging on a few things. Get what is important to you (though more than anything else, I'd recommend splurging on a really good photographer, but that's another post altogether). Because I had spent a lot on those things, I designed my own invitations and printed them at as low a cost as possible; I cut down a lot on flowers and bought fake branches for my centerpieces (at half off!); we shot our photographs at places that didn't require fees. Little things like that can add up quickly if you're not careful.
5. Enter contests to win free stuff. Okay, this one probably sounds a little weird, but seriously do it. If you see a contest (they're often at bridal fairs, on Facebook pages, wedding websites, etc), enter it. The worst that can happen is that you don't win, no harm done. I entered several contests and ended up winning a free cake (which has been a huge blessing) and a free bridal photo shoot (really awesome, I'm so excited for that).
6. Don't be afraid to go the used, fake, or eBay route. You may ick at the thought of used anything, but you can find a lot of really great deals on some of the little things. We bought part of our centerpieces at Deseret Industries (kind of like Rescue Mission stores). Fake may also be the way to go. We got fake centerpieces that cost $10 less than their live counterparts, and with 12 tables, that a savings of $120. Doesn't seem like much, but those little things add up fast. I also bought my petticoat on eBay for $25 dollars (including shipping), which was $40 less than the cheapest one at the bridal store.
7. Find a good checklist. It can be really overwhelming to plan a wedding, and it's really helpful to have a checklist, especially one tailored to your needs. For LDS weddings, I've found BYU's bridal guide extremely helpful, at least with the basic LDS wedding checklist (bridalguide.byu.edu). Wedding websites (like theknot.com) also have really good and detailed checklists.
8. Research, research, research! Research your vendors; check out reviews from past clients as well as pricing information. Research ideas in the style you like; look at poses, props, DIY ideas, etc. Research deals; sometimes you get lucky with your first shot, but more often, you can find better deals by looking a little harder.
9. Get help!! Okay, this one is one of the most important. You will go crazy if you have to do everything yourself. Whether in the form of a wedding planner or a close family member (like your mom) or friend, find someone who will help you accomplish what you want to accomplish. I would not have been able to put together nearly as much of our wedding if it weren't for his mom. I'm from New York, but live in Utah. My mom is still in NY and has done a few things, but there are a lot of DIY things that she wouldn't be able to do. His mom has been so, so helpful in helping me realize many of my wedding ideas. Also, it's good to have someone there when you start to go overboard or obsessing. They'll point out that you don't really need all those things you think you do. I don't think our wedding would be half as amazing without all her help and support.
10. Make sure to include your fiance. I was surprised at how much he cared about things in our wedding! But I tried to let him be a part of the decision-making as best I could. For example, when it came to his wedding day outfit, we went to a tux shop and a suit store. I told him that I liked the tux and two of the suits he tried on, so he could choose which one he wanted. I also picked out three ties I liked and let him choose. Little things like that can really make him feel like he's a part of the big day too. Invite him to meet with the baker (if only to taste the cake flavors) or let him choose his own outfit. He decided that he thought it would be fun to wear colored Converse, and I was totally open to that idea.
11. Okay, okay. Just one more. Make it you! This is your wedding day. You don't have to get caught up in the current trends. If you want your first dance to be the polka, go for it! (okay, that's a bit of a cheat. Our first dance is going to be the polka). If you love cowboy boots and country songs, make that part of your wedding! If you hate pink, don't use it even though it's the color of the year. Just be you. It's your day after all. :)
All in all, planning a wedding is not easy nor cheap, but it is possible. And if in the end, something doesn't turn out quite right, don't fret. (I know it might be hard, but remember not to get caught up in all the little details, especially when it's at a point where you can't do anything about it).
1. Start as soon as you can. Whether you've got two months to plan or two years, don't wait to start planning. I've had about four months to plan my wedding. In Utah (where I've been planning my wedding), I've learned that generally people plan 4 to 6 months out, but sometimes it can be longer. When I reserved my temple date the day after we got engaged, the other large temple room was already taken. And the place we wanted our reception to be was reserved 15 minutes before we got there. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do about that one. We put off going there for several days because we thought we had time.
2. Do your homework. Really. This may seem to conflict with the last bit of advice, but before you book, you really should know what you're getting yourself into. When it came time to go to the florist consultation, I looked online to see approximate pricing of different flowers, I googled different kinds of wedding flowers, and I met with two florists.
3. Create your budget and they stay under it. My mom and his mom gave us a certain budget. Now there are some things you have less control over, like room fees or minimum spending amounts from certain vendors (though you can control who you choose to be your vendor), but there are always little things you have to pay for that you aren't thinking about when you're planning out your budget--like postage stamps, manicures, and dress alterations. Besides, the less you spend on your wedding, the more you will have after the big day.
4. Skimp and splurge carefully. Before I started planning my wedding, I knew that there were two things at the top of my priority list--the photographer and my dress. (P.S. My photographer is amazing! Check out her stuff at camillabinks.com). Even though I was willing to pay a little more for my dress, I didn't immediately run to the most expensive places. We went to a rental shop (which I would highly recommend, they really take care of you it seems) and a discount shop. Only when I didn't find anything there did we look at the regular bridal gown shops. I think there is no problem splurging on a few things. Get what is important to you (though more than anything else, I'd recommend splurging on a really good photographer, but that's another post altogether). Because I had spent a lot on those things, I designed my own invitations and printed them at as low a cost as possible; I cut down a lot on flowers and bought fake branches for my centerpieces (at half off!); we shot our photographs at places that didn't require fees. Little things like that can add up quickly if you're not careful.
5. Enter contests to win free stuff. Okay, this one probably sounds a little weird, but seriously do it. If you see a contest (they're often at bridal fairs, on Facebook pages, wedding websites, etc), enter it. The worst that can happen is that you don't win, no harm done. I entered several contests and ended up winning a free cake (which has been a huge blessing) and a free bridal photo shoot (really awesome, I'm so excited for that).
6. Don't be afraid to go the used, fake, or eBay route. You may ick at the thought of used anything, but you can find a lot of really great deals on some of the little things. We bought part of our centerpieces at Deseret Industries (kind of like Rescue Mission stores). Fake may also be the way to go. We got fake centerpieces that cost $10 less than their live counterparts, and with 12 tables, that a savings of $120. Doesn't seem like much, but those little things add up fast. I also bought my petticoat on eBay for $25 dollars (including shipping), which was $40 less than the cheapest one at the bridal store.
7. Find a good checklist. It can be really overwhelming to plan a wedding, and it's really helpful to have a checklist, especially one tailored to your needs. For LDS weddings, I've found BYU's bridal guide extremely helpful, at least with the basic LDS wedding checklist (bridalguide.byu.edu). Wedding websites (like theknot.com) also have really good and detailed checklists.
8. Research, research, research! Research your vendors; check out reviews from past clients as well as pricing information. Research ideas in the style you like; look at poses, props, DIY ideas, etc. Research deals; sometimes you get lucky with your first shot, but more often, you can find better deals by looking a little harder.
9. Get help!! Okay, this one is one of the most important. You will go crazy if you have to do everything yourself. Whether in the form of a wedding planner or a close family member (like your mom) or friend, find someone who will help you accomplish what you want to accomplish. I would not have been able to put together nearly as much of our wedding if it weren't for his mom. I'm from New York, but live in Utah. My mom is still in NY and has done a few things, but there are a lot of DIY things that she wouldn't be able to do. His mom has been so, so helpful in helping me realize many of my wedding ideas. Also, it's good to have someone there when you start to go overboard or obsessing. They'll point out that you don't really need all those things you think you do. I don't think our wedding would be half as amazing without all her help and support.
10. Make sure to include your fiance. I was surprised at how much he cared about things in our wedding! But I tried to let him be a part of the decision-making as best I could. For example, when it came to his wedding day outfit, we went to a tux shop and a suit store. I told him that I liked the tux and two of the suits he tried on, so he could choose which one he wanted. I also picked out three ties I liked and let him choose. Little things like that can really make him feel like he's a part of the big day too. Invite him to meet with the baker (if only to taste the cake flavors) or let him choose his own outfit. He decided that he thought it would be fun to wear colored Converse, and I was totally open to that idea.
11. Okay, okay. Just one more. Make it you! This is your wedding day. You don't have to get caught up in the current trends. If you want your first dance to be the polka, go for it! (okay, that's a bit of a cheat. Our first dance is going to be the polka). If you love cowboy boots and country songs, make that part of your wedding! If you hate pink, don't use it even though it's the color of the year. Just be you. It's your day after all. :)
All in all, planning a wedding is not easy nor cheap, but it is possible. And if in the end, something doesn't turn out quite right, don't fret. (I know it might be hard, but remember not to get caught up in all the little details, especially when it's at a point where you can't do anything about it).
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
I hay-chu Facebook!
You just consume my life in every negative way possible. I wish you would just not exist anymore.
mmkay
thanks
bye
mmkay
thanks
bye
Monday, December 13, 2010
First Day of Finals Week = Awesome
I can't find my journal, but I've had such a super awesome day today, I want to make sure it's recorded. Especially since I've been neglecting my journal the past few days (or weeks...)
Anyway, at first I thought today might not be so good since it started off not so good. I woke up later than intended (though I did have the opportunity to wake up sooner, I just couldn't--I was too tired). And when I got to campus, I realized that I had forgotten something that I really needed, so I had to walk all the way back home to pick it up. When I got back to campus, I edited my personal history (it's for my computer design class) and waited until 1:30 when I was meeting up with a friend to study for my Religion test.
When 1:30 finally did roll around, we found an empty room (fortunately) and started studying. We somehow managed to get through all 70 (or so) pages of what we needed to study before he had to leave at 3:30. I stayed an extra half hour to ensure that I had everything down before going to take the test.
When I got to the testing center (aka the Wilk, which serves as a temporary testing center during finals), I found that the line was quite long and soon heard the wait was about a half hour. Well the problem with that was that I had an internship interview in an hour. Fortunately, some lady came up to me, asked what test I was taking, and when I told her, told me to go to the line on the left. Which cut my wait time down to 10 minutes. How that happened, I have no idea (though I think it had to do with the fact I wasn't taking a Book of Mormon class/it was higher than a 100 level class).
I took my time with the test, making sure to check and recheck my answers (which fortunately I did because on my second run-through, I noticed that I had completely put the wrong answer down unintentionally). When I went to turn the test in, I told myself to expect a 70. Not because I actually thought I did that poorly, but because I always think I do better than I've actually done, so with my sights set so low, I couldn't go wrong right? Well, I was totally off base. When I saw my student ID number on the screen my first words were, "holy crap." Then, "I've never seen such a high score on these test screens!!" Some guy behind me said congrats. I got a 97%. Can you believe that? I sure can't! But I'm incredibly grateful.
After my test, I went to my interview. I think it went well. And if I don't get the job. Well, that's okay, though I'd really like it.
Then I went to work on my design portfolio again/check my email. I email the professor, asking a few questions about the portfolio, and she emailed back answering my questions and asking one of her own. Was I still interested in TAing for her? Of course I said, Yes! Plus I was texting Jordan, so that made everything just a little bit better ;)
After finishing everything I needed to on the computer, I headed home. It had been a long(ish) day. 10:30-8? Yeah it was definitely time to not be on campus anymore. So Jordan and I talked for a little bit on the way home. A few minutes before I got there, he had to help Jake with something. When I walked in the door, I saw a little square vase with flowers, and thought, "oh those are so cute! I wonder who they're for." And nosey me checked the little envelope. You can imagine my shock when I read off my own name. I quickly opened the letter and read "Still missing you like crazy! And loving you like crazy! - Jordan" Goodness, it was cutest, sweetest thing ever!! Can I just say that he's the best ever?! Cause he is! I love that boy.
Nothing else could have made my day better. But alas it did get better. Though they're just small things, they really did add to my day. I had enough time to record the song Russ & I sang on Sunday, finish the final episode of the first season of Bones, fold and start a load of laundry, and clean (most) of my room. As well we clear the sink of empty dishes. Yeah, I'd say today was a really productive and overall awesome day.
Love you Jordan :)
Anyway, at first I thought today might not be so good since it started off not so good. I woke up later than intended (though I did have the opportunity to wake up sooner, I just couldn't--I was too tired). And when I got to campus, I realized that I had forgotten something that I really needed, so I had to walk all the way back home to pick it up. When I got back to campus, I edited my personal history (it's for my computer design class) and waited until 1:30 when I was meeting up with a friend to study for my Religion test.
When 1:30 finally did roll around, we found an empty room (fortunately) and started studying. We somehow managed to get through all 70 (or so) pages of what we needed to study before he had to leave at 3:30. I stayed an extra half hour to ensure that I had everything down before going to take the test.
When I got to the testing center (aka the Wilk, which serves as a temporary testing center during finals), I found that the line was quite long and soon heard the wait was about a half hour. Well the problem with that was that I had an internship interview in an hour. Fortunately, some lady came up to me, asked what test I was taking, and when I told her, told me to go to the line on the left. Which cut my wait time down to 10 minutes. How that happened, I have no idea (though I think it had to do with the fact I wasn't taking a Book of Mormon class/it was higher than a 100 level class).
I took my time with the test, making sure to check and recheck my answers (which fortunately I did because on my second run-through, I noticed that I had completely put the wrong answer down unintentionally). When I went to turn the test in, I told myself to expect a 70. Not because I actually thought I did that poorly, but because I always think I do better than I've actually done, so with my sights set so low, I couldn't go wrong right? Well, I was totally off base. When I saw my student ID number on the screen my first words were, "holy crap." Then, "I've never seen such a high score on these test screens!!" Some guy behind me said congrats. I got a 97%. Can you believe that? I sure can't! But I'm incredibly grateful.
After my test, I went to my interview. I think it went well. And if I don't get the job. Well, that's okay, though I'd really like it.
Then I went to work on my design portfolio again/check my email. I email the professor, asking a few questions about the portfolio, and she emailed back answering my questions and asking one of her own. Was I still interested in TAing for her? Of course I said, Yes! Plus I was texting Jordan, so that made everything just a little bit better ;)
After finishing everything I needed to on the computer, I headed home. It had been a long(ish) day. 10:30-8? Yeah it was definitely time to not be on campus anymore. So Jordan and I talked for a little bit on the way home. A few minutes before I got there, he had to help Jake with something. When I walked in the door, I saw a little square vase with flowers, and thought, "oh those are so cute! I wonder who they're for." And nosey me checked the little envelope. You can imagine my shock when I read off my own name. I quickly opened the letter and read "Still missing you like crazy! And loving you like crazy! - Jordan" Goodness, it was cutest, sweetest thing ever!! Can I just say that he's the best ever?! Cause he is! I love that boy.
Nothing else could have made my day better. But alas it did get better. Though they're just small things, they really did add to my day. I had enough time to record the song Russ & I sang on Sunday, finish the final episode of the first season of Bones, fold and start a load of laundry, and clean (most) of my room. As well we clear the sink of empty dishes. Yeah, I'd say today was a really productive and overall awesome day.
Love you Jordan :)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Gratitude
These past few days have been very, um, how shall I say it. Interesting? Trying? A little bit hard, but not excessively because I've been on top of my homework. But alas, I really do not have an excuse for not keeping up on my grateful blog. :)
I'm grateful for the wonderful weather today, and I'm grateful that it's not too hot or too cold to wear my cute new sweater ;)
I'm so grateful for my mom. She's such a wonderful woman. I appreciate her financial support, but more than that, I'm glad that we've been able to become closer. She's such a strong woman and has gone through a lot and I just appreciate her.
I'm grateful that Jordan's parents invite me over to their house for dinner. It's nice going there and being around there family (even though Jordan isn't there *tear*).
And along with that, I'm grateful for Tay and his awesome guitar playing skills and his willingness to play for me!! :)
I'm grateful for being able to read. Seriously, I love love love it so much. It's so nice to have insights brought on by others. And reading the scriptures really brings inspiration in the times I need it most.
Loves! Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season :D
I'm grateful for the wonderful weather today, and I'm grateful that it's not too hot or too cold to wear my cute new sweater ;)
I'm so grateful for my mom. She's such a wonderful woman. I appreciate her financial support, but more than that, I'm glad that we've been able to become closer. She's such a strong woman and has gone through a lot and I just appreciate her.
I'm grateful that Jordan's parents invite me over to their house for dinner. It's nice going there and being around there family (even though Jordan isn't there *tear*).
And along with that, I'm grateful for Tay and his awesome guitar playing skills and his willingness to play for me!! :)
I'm grateful for being able to read. Seriously, I love love love it so much. It's so nice to have insights brought on by others. And reading the scriptures really brings inspiration in the times I need it most.
Loves! Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season :D
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
I'm Grateful For...
Today, I'm grateful for cold weather. Not because I particularly like it, but because it brings back many, many memories. And, good or bad, I enjoy being able to remember.
I'm grateful for cell phones and text messaging. Without it, I'd be even more sad about Jordan leaving. I'm so grateful that he can text and talk to me even while he's at his deployment training camp. (We didn't think we'd be able to talk)
I'm grateful that I have wonderful group members for this biology project. Tim and Aaron, few people are as devoted to a group assignment as you two are, so my very many thanks go out to you.
I'm grateful for my backpack. Despite how often I complain of how heavy it is, it has held up pretty well for the last few years and served me quite nicely. This little green goodness helps show a little bit of my hidden personality.
I'm grateful for cell phones and text messaging. Without it, I'd be even more sad about Jordan leaving. I'm so grateful that he can text and talk to me even while he's at his deployment training camp. (We didn't think we'd be able to talk)
I'm grateful that I have wonderful group members for this biology project. Tim and Aaron, few people are as devoted to a group assignment as you two are, so my very many thanks go out to you.
I'm grateful for my backpack. Despite how often I complain of how heavy it is, it has held up pretty well for the last few years and served me quite nicely. This little green goodness helps show a little bit of my hidden personality.
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