As I have continued along in my wedding planning, certain ideas or thoughts on how I was going to do something have had to change. I know this is typical, and as much as I claimed that NONE of my ideas would change, I must sheepishly own up to the fac that I was wrong. Yes, indeed, I have had to change a few plans.
With that being said, I have begun scouring the internet in search of "budget-friendly" (a.k.a. cheap) solutions to certain situations. In one of these searches, I discovered something most unusual. I discovered that you can purchase your wedding reception centerpieces from Oriental Trading Company. Yes, I am completely serious.
For those unfamiliar with the world of the OTC, this company specializes in uber-cheap crafts, kid toys, party favors, workroom supplies, etc. The key word in that sentence is uber-cheap. Also, I don't think you noticed anywhere in my description the word "wedding". Oriental Trading Company is not known for its elegant wedding franchise. In fact, they are known for their VBS supplies. I generally order hundreds of dollars of stuff from them each summer for various kids activities. So, to find out that I could purchase all the centerpieces I wanted and get free shipping on orders of $75 or more actually concerned me. Am I wrong? Does this concern anyone else?
After looking at their selection (yes, I looked at it because they are cheap), I decided that OTC was not the way for me to go. So, I will continue my search online, and I will no doubt stumble across additional pieces of information that utterly confuse me. Maybe if I search long and hard enough, I will also discover that Lowe's hardware store sells bridal shoes.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
World's GREATEST Discovery
So, I took a break from "all things wedding" yesterday on my day off to have lunch with a friend. It was in the process of picking up my lunch that I discovered the B.E.S.T. T.H.I.N.G. E.V.E.R. (and no, I don't think I am overstating anything). You can buy a large ice water with extra ice from Sonic for $0.30!
To say that I was overjoyed in making that revelation is an understatement. I have a love affair with Sonic ice, and I have been trying to drink way more water lately, and this combines the best of both things.
And...(and this is the cheapskate in me)...if I stop every day of the week and get one, that is only $2.10 (woohoo). Which is less than $10 a week (even bigger woohoo).
I hope this announcement has brightened your week as much as it has mine.
To say that I was overjoyed in making that revelation is an understatement. I have a love affair with Sonic ice, and I have been trying to drink way more water lately, and this combines the best of both things.
And...(and this is the cheapskate in me)...if I stop every day of the week and get one, that is only $2.10 (woohoo). Which is less than $10 a week (even bigger woohoo).
I hope this announcement has brightened your week as much as it has mine.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The 10 Most Overused Wedding Songs
I laid in bed this morning for a good two hours before my alarm went off just going over various wedding-related items in my head. What should I do about this? Who can I tell about that? If it has to do with weddings, I am thinking about it.
Add on top of that all of the work-related items that I still must be concentrating diligently on, and you end up with a bride sitting in a Denny's on a Tuesday night with tears in her eyes. It really is a sad sight to behold.
However, I am M.U.C.H. calmer now. Nobody worry. I am not making any guarantees, but I seemed to have located the "good sense God gave me." (That's my shout-out to East Texas colloquialisms.)
Anyway, I went to eat lunch today with my friend Roxanne, and we started talking about wedding music. What started out as a serious conversation about songs to choose became a laugh-fest over the most overused songs in weddings. So, I thought I would share with you our list.
I have been to and in many a wedding that have pulled more than one selection off this list, and so I am fairly certain that I will offend numerous people with my ascertions. Therefore, I would like to offer a preface. These are the songs that I and I alone (well, Roxanne too) deem overused, and our opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of those around us.
Also, I am super-tempted to just make a compilation CD of all of the overplayed wedding music to use as pre-music for the wedding just because I think I would find it funny. I'll let you know what I decide.
Here is the list...
10. Evergreen by Barbara Streisand - A wedding is just not a wedding without "Babs" as part of it.
9. The Rose by Bette Midler - The same thing can be said for Bette. Whether it is The Rose or Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette has provided us with numerous wedding options.
8. Sunrise, Sunset from "Fiddler on the Roof" - The one has always struck me as odd, but it still prevails as a popular unity candlelighting song. Usually when I hear it, I have to work very hard to not purposely burst my eardrums in response.
7. One Hand, One Heart from "West Side Story" - Also an unusual choice because it is about two people who get married and then one of them dies. Not terribly joyful in my opinion.
6. Glory of Love by Peter Cetera - The title says it all, and if it didn't, the "easy listening" quality of the song makes it quite versatile.
5. I Can't Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley - It's Elvis...what more can I say. Generations of teenage girls marveled at his swiveling hips.
4. Come What May from "Moulin Rouge" - Really...people choose some of their wedding music from the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge? I think that disturbs me more than the song itself.
3. Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion - Celine falls into the same category as Bette and Babs. Her signature "chest thump" (ala My Heart Will Go On from Titanic) makes her an appropriately dramatic "love songstress".
2. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach - This one is for all my music friends out there (and for those that rely on pre-packaged wedding music CD's). I daresay Bach did not forsee the great popularity this piece would achieve. If he had, he would have demanded greater royalties.
1. Forever by Chris Brown - Okay, I am actually a fan of this song, but ever since the YouTube video hit the internet, this is "the song" to use, and so that is why it is included in the list. And no, it will not be a part of my wedding. If you have seen me dance, you will understand why.
Add on top of that all of the work-related items that I still must be concentrating diligently on, and you end up with a bride sitting in a Denny's on a Tuesday night with tears in her eyes. It really is a sad sight to behold.
However, I am M.U.C.H. calmer now. Nobody worry. I am not making any guarantees, but I seemed to have located the "good sense God gave me." (That's my shout-out to East Texas colloquialisms.)
Anyway, I went to eat lunch today with my friend Roxanne, and we started talking about wedding music. What started out as a serious conversation about songs to choose became a laugh-fest over the most overused songs in weddings. So, I thought I would share with you our list.
I have been to and in many a wedding that have pulled more than one selection off this list, and so I am fairly certain that I will offend numerous people with my ascertions. Therefore, I would like to offer a preface. These are the songs that I and I alone (well, Roxanne too) deem overused, and our opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of those around us.
Also, I am super-tempted to just make a compilation CD of all of the overplayed wedding music to use as pre-music for the wedding just because I think I would find it funny. I'll let you know what I decide.
Here is the list...
10. Evergreen by Barbara Streisand - A wedding is just not a wedding without "Babs" as part of it.
9. The Rose by Bette Midler - The same thing can be said for Bette. Whether it is The Rose or Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette has provided us with numerous wedding options.
8. Sunrise, Sunset from "Fiddler on the Roof" - The one has always struck me as odd, but it still prevails as a popular unity candlelighting song. Usually when I hear it, I have to work very hard to not purposely burst my eardrums in response.
7. One Hand, One Heart from "West Side Story" - Also an unusual choice because it is about two people who get married and then one of them dies. Not terribly joyful in my opinion.
6. Glory of Love by Peter Cetera - The title says it all, and if it didn't, the "easy listening" quality of the song makes it quite versatile.
5. I Can't Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley - It's Elvis...what more can I say. Generations of teenage girls marveled at his swiveling hips.
4. Come What May from "Moulin Rouge" - Really...people choose some of their wedding music from the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge? I think that disturbs me more than the song itself.
3. Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion - Celine falls into the same category as Bette and Babs. Her signature "chest thump" (ala My Heart Will Go On from Titanic) makes her an appropriately dramatic "love songstress".
2. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach - This one is for all my music friends out there (and for those that rely on pre-packaged wedding music CD's). I daresay Bach did not forsee the great popularity this piece would achieve. If he had, he would have demanded greater royalties.
1. Forever by Chris Brown - Okay, I am actually a fan of this song, but ever since the YouTube video hit the internet, this is "the song" to use, and so that is why it is included in the list. And no, it will not be a part of my wedding. If you have seen me dance, you will understand why.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
She Can Stand on a Cup
So, for those who have missed the recent excitement, yes, it is true, I am getting married. As all of you married folk out there know, there is M.U.C.H. to be done when it comes to planning a wedding. And while I know you guys aren't interested in all the details, after yesterday's outing of taking care of the wedding registry, I have discovered that there is a fount of material for blog posts. So, I will try to find a happy balance between droning on about wedding items and sharing the absurdity that happens our way.
As I said, the fiance and I headed out to do our Wedding Registry yesterday because there were a few little, old ladies at church that were somewhat forceful in making sure we knew the importance of getting that done IMMEDIATELY. So, rather than argue and risk being taken down by a denture-wearing, cane-toting granny, we obliged.
In one of the stores we went to (a department store) to pick out our china and other fancy items that we hope to use, the wedding consultant took great pride in demonstrating the versatility of our china. She whacked it on a table to demonstrate that if you felt so inclined, you could throw the china at the fiance and it wouldn't break. As tempting as that feature was, I really subscribe to the notion of NOT using violence when it comes to relationships (sorry, Chris Brown).
As if that was not enough of a selling point, she then grabbed one of the teacups, placed it on the floor, and stood on it. Now, I am sure that there is some sort of party trick associated with this, and if I were to try it, it would crumble and crush and disintegrate into miniscule pieces. However, she wanted us to know that if we ever needed to reach a dish (like say your fine china) on the top row of a kitchen cabinet, we too could grab a 4-inch teacup and use it as a step ladder.
As odd as a couple of these actions were to me, she really was a wonderful sales person to work with, because as soon as I saw the WORLD'S UGLIEST FLATWARE and asked if I could take a picture of it (of course, who wouldn't do that), she lifted the cover on the case so that I could get a better picture.
Below you see said flatware. Yes, it is "fish" flatware. The spoons have a little notch to represent the "fish mouth" (which probably makes eating soup a little tricky) and all the pieces have a dorsal fin on them. I am quite disturbed that anyone might pay $65 a setting for sterling silver flatware shaped like a fish.
As I said, the fiance and I headed out to do our Wedding Registry yesterday because there were a few little, old ladies at church that were somewhat forceful in making sure we knew the importance of getting that done IMMEDIATELY. So, rather than argue and risk being taken down by a denture-wearing, cane-toting granny, we obliged.
In one of the stores we went to (a department store) to pick out our china and other fancy items that we hope to use, the wedding consultant took great pride in demonstrating the versatility of our china. She whacked it on a table to demonstrate that if you felt so inclined, you could throw the china at the fiance and it wouldn't break. As tempting as that feature was, I really subscribe to the notion of NOT using violence when it comes to relationships (sorry, Chris Brown).
As if that was not enough of a selling point, she then grabbed one of the teacups, placed it on the floor, and stood on it. Now, I am sure that there is some sort of party trick associated with this, and if I were to try it, it would crumble and crush and disintegrate into miniscule pieces. However, she wanted us to know that if we ever needed to reach a dish (like say your fine china) on the top row of a kitchen cabinet, we too could grab a 4-inch teacup and use it as a step ladder.
As odd as a couple of these actions were to me, she really was a wonderful sales person to work with, because as soon as I saw the WORLD'S UGLIEST FLATWARE and asked if I could take a picture of it (of course, who wouldn't do that), she lifted the cover on the case so that I could get a better picture.
Below you see said flatware. Yes, it is "fish" flatware. The spoons have a little notch to represent the "fish mouth" (which probably makes eating soup a little tricky) and all the pieces have a dorsal fin on them. I am quite disturbed that anyone might pay $65 a setting for sterling silver flatware shaped like a fish.
The "item of note" for the day is when we were registering at the "other" store (think more economical store), the fiance and I were getting a little silly, and so there might possibly be a "wild card" item on the registry that we put on there just to see if anyone would notice and find it as funny as we did. No, it is not something crude. Yes, it is something that is obviously a joke. And yes, if someone figures it out, I will tell you what it is.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Three Things
So, I have been a little lazy with blog posting as of late. As I mentioned in my previous post, part of that is due to lack of "postable" ideas. I am still in a little bit of a "blump" (i.e. blog slump). However, three things have struck me recently that I thought I would share with you.
Number 1: I saw a man on a unicycle yesterday waiting for the crosswalk light to change colors. First off, he seemed to be struggling to stay upright. I think he was a new unicycler. My guess is that he was trying out the unicycle to see how the ladies would like his sweet new ride. If I see him again, I will take a picture.
Number 2: It is Tuesday which means it is my "Walmart circular pricematching" day. I used to do this on a regular basis on Tuesday evenings, but have recently gotten lazy. For those that don't know (and I tell EVERYONE this because it makes me so happy, so there are probably not many of you who are "out of the loop"), Walmart price-matches. What that means is you can bring in ALL OF YOUR CIRCULARS from ANY GROCERY STORE and if an item is on sale in those circulars, Walmart matches the price. It is a way to get some good prices without having to run around to lots of grocery stores.
Number 3: At this point, I can't remember what the third item was. Oh well, it probably wasn't that interesting. So, you actually only get two thoughts from me today. My guess, though, is after I make a trip to Walmart tonight, there will be PLENTY to blog about and my blump will be gone.
Number 1: I saw a man on a unicycle yesterday waiting for the crosswalk light to change colors. First off, he seemed to be struggling to stay upright. I think he was a new unicycler. My guess is that he was trying out the unicycle to see how the ladies would like his sweet new ride. If I see him again, I will take a picture.
Number 2: It is Tuesday which means it is my "Walmart circular pricematching" day. I used to do this on a regular basis on Tuesday evenings, but have recently gotten lazy. For those that don't know (and I tell EVERYONE this because it makes me so happy, so there are probably not many of you who are "out of the loop"), Walmart price-matches. What that means is you can bring in ALL OF YOUR CIRCULARS from ANY GROCERY STORE and if an item is on sale in those circulars, Walmart matches the price. It is a way to get some good prices without having to run around to lots of grocery stores.
Number 3: At this point, I can't remember what the third item was. Oh well, it probably wasn't that interesting. So, you actually only get two thoughts from me today. My guess, though, is after I make a trip to Walmart tonight, there will be PLENTY to blog about and my blump will be gone.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Not a Clue
Seriously, folks, I have not a clue as to what to write. The whole "12 Days of Christmas" thing totally did me in. My brain has not been able to generate another quality thought or anecdote since then. Hopefully, something will strike me soon.
(*PAUSE*)
Speak of the devil. I just had to take a momentary pause in my blog-whining to take a sip of soda during which I began coughing which caused a spewing of said carbonated beverage onto my computer screen.
Okay, so there is your anecdote for today. If nothing more interesting begins to happen, that is what you have to look forward to for the coming year of blog posts.
(*PAUSE*)
Speak of the devil. I just had to take a momentary pause in my blog-whining to take a sip of soda during which I began coughing which caused a spewing of said carbonated beverage onto my computer screen.
Okay, so there is your anecdote for today. If nothing more interesting begins to happen, that is what you have to look forward to for the coming year of blog posts.
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