Domestic Diva: Practicing my Duties as Wife

I always had this idea of taking care of my husband by preparing him a home-cooked meal when he arrives home from work. But with a full time job of my own, picking up/feeding the baby, AND getting ready for work the next morning, who has time to cook every night???? If you're reading this and you do, send me some tips because  I bow in awe of you!

Well, now I am trying to at least prepare dinner at least three weeknights a week. And the ony way I knw how to achieve that is through the slow cooker and the microwave.

I tried  Martha Stewart's slow cooker pot roast and this is how it turned out:

I modified the recipe a bit to fit our tastes. The biggest difference is that I wanted potatoes, but I did not want them so soft they would fall apart. I placed the potatoes and carrots into the slow cooker about five hours into the ten hour cooking. And I basted the meat and veggies with beef broth every few hours. 

T and I went to see the new Twilight movie, and when we got home, Sunday dinner was ready! Yum! 

$avings $unday

$avings $undays series developed because I am trying to get in the habit of checking out the popular flash sale sites (LivingSocial, Groupon, etc.) for deals that would save us money on our wedding. Hopefully there is a deal here to save everyone $$$!


Custom photo book: LivingSocial has a 20 page hardcover custom photo book for $10 (regular $40). This could be great after the wedding to create your wedding album OR you could make the cover with your engagement photos' and leave the other pages mostly blank to have a custom guest book.

Honeymoon idea: Groupon Getaways has a three or four night all-inclusive resort package for Cancun, Mexico for $561 or $627 respectively. The prices go up depending on how close to peak season you choose to go, but they are all about half off the regular prices. This deals includes all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, daily activities, golf course greens fees, and gratuities. All you would have to add is the flight over there. Check the fine print, though; you don't want to end up somewhere you haven't researched. :-)

We definitely need a DOC!

Before throwing myself head first into this wedding planning stuff, I had no idea what any of these wedding related acronyms meant: OOT, FI, MOH, STD*. Well, the last one has another meaning outside of wedding vocab... not something I want associated with the happiest day of my life.

Anyway, I will be back later to recap a wedding from this weekend where T was a GM (haha, there's another one! GM= Groomsman). But the moral of the story from this weekend: We WILL hire a DOC: Day of Coordinator. For the un-wedding-initiated, a DOC would be the person on the day of the wedding that makes contact with all the vendors, answers any questions, and handles any problems that could arise on the big day. S/he also keeps everyone on time and moves the day along. This person would supervise all the decorating set up and breakdown so everything goes perfectly without the Bride or Groom having to do it themselves.

There is no question in my mind about it now, and it will be worth every last penny I give him/her. If T and I weren't so organized already, I would consider hiring a full wedding coordinator, but I think we have started early enough to get through until about a week before. Then we will happily hand EVERYTHING over to this amazing person, and we will relax and enjoy our day.

Stay tuned to find out what brought us to the decision to hire a DOC. In the meantime, check out a few shots from the wedding on Saturday!




Left: T and the Groom!  Right: T, the Best Man, and another Groomsman

Hopefully you will see these faces (and suits) again in our wedding party.

*OOT= Out of Town guests, FI= Future Intended (fiance/fiancee), MOH (Maid of Honor), STD (Save the Date)

Joining the Movement: Black Women "DO" Workout

I have mentioned a few times before (Weight Loss Wake up Call and Shedding for the Wedding) that I am trying for a more healthy lifestyle. Well, it hasn't been easy, folks... but why total lifestyle change is?

You know what routine gets me every time? If T is eating fast food for the convenience or the price, I tend to eat it as well. Who has time to cook something when we are stopping by [insert fast food joint here] for the $3.99 special? And then I don't even enjoy the food, because I feel so guilty for eating it.

So it has been a roller coaster ride, but I am not off the healthy food bandwagon just yet! I just know I need to take it slow and fix one bad habit at a time.

 

Last night, while watching X-Factor, T and I decided to revisit the workout regimen we attempted earlier in the year. (Check out the abs on that woman!) But instead of doing all of the excercises at once, we split them up during the course of the show. Everytime a commercial came on, we did five of each, until we reached our goal. It felt good, and since I did not have to give up my mindless TV time, it worked. Can we keep this up everyday? I think so, but let's take it one step at a time ;-)



I have also enlisted the help of some of the ladies of Black Women "DO" Workout on Facebook. Their encouragement and advice has reminded me to take it day by day, and get in the habit of eating right/ working out. So that's the plan.

Today's workout move? 5 Burpees every time a commercial comes on during X Factor!

$avings $unday

Just dropping in for a quick hello and to share some deals with all you lovely brides and grooms. I am trying to get in the habit of checking out the popular flash sale sites (LivingSocial, Groupon, etc.) for deals that would save us money on our wedding. It's one of the advantages to being two years away from the big day. The biggest sale I am looking for is a PHOTOBOOTH. Here are some of the ones I saw today:

Photo printing: If any of you are going for the DVD of images and rights to reprint from your photographer, LivingSocial is showing a deal from Picaboo for photo prints, enlargements, books, canvas prints, etc. For $35, you get $100 worth of these fun photo options. Check it out here.

Invitations: If you are looking for invite inspiration, LivingSocial also has a deal from Invitation Consultants for online invite designs and printing. For $19, you get $45 towards your invites, and that voucher can be used towards the cost of shipping as well. Check this one out here.


Of course, as I find more interesting deals, I will post about it to spread the wealth.

Have any of you tried a flash sale to save a few bucks on anything?

Finally! A BB Cream in my skin tone!

Let's start with the fact that I LOOOVVVEEE makeup. Love it! But I am way to lazy in the morning to apply a new face everyday. So I only get to experiment with my makeup collection on special occasions. I look forward to parties, formals, and balls mostly for the chance to play with makeup and hair.

But recently, I have had this urge to expand my daily makeup routine. I figure it is time to upgrade from the quick swipe of lip gloss in the car on the way to work. So I decided to start with some all-in-one products to save time and ease me into a routine. I started with Avon Tint n' Go for Cheeks and Lips in Berry as a nice way to bring some quick color to my face. I love the color on my lips, but I have to be careful with the cream on my cheeks because if I do not let it sink into my skin, it will wipe right off when I try to blend it. That means I have to walk around for two or three minutes looking like a clown before I can make it natural.




Next, I went in search of a light, everyday product that would mask some of my blemishes. I have a few acne scars and dark marks that I want to minimize on a daily basis, but I cannot spend the time and energy to put on a full face of foundation. That's when I started seeing the commercials for BB creams in the drugstore cosmetics department. I looked at a few different ones, but they did not come in a color for my skin tone. I ended up buying one anyway, thinking the color was not that far off. Boy was I wrong! I looked like a ghost when I took my picture. But then I found Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Deep, and I was pleasantly surprised that it blended with my skin beautifully. I have combination skin, and this cream really evened my skin out, giving moisture to my dry areas and reducing shine in my oily areas.  

 

I have a long way to go before I am comfortable and satisfied with my daily routine. But I think these products are a good start. Here is my look for today after a (very) quick application:

I still need a little eyeliner or mascara (or both), but I like looking natural during the day, espcially since our office is so casual. I'll keep you updated on anything else I try, and if you have suggestions, please let me know! What is your "staple" cosmetic product for every day?

Note: All photos are personal. I have not been compensated by Maybelline or Avon for these reviews.

 

Say Yes to the Dress!

I'm so excited! And I can't wait to share! But first...

I came on here to cry and vent about letting my dream dress slip through my fingers... but now I don't have to cry, because I bought it!

Wooohooo! *Happy Dance* Running Man*

Okay, now that I have calmed down, let me explain:

I have been drooling over the Two-in-One style gowns for awhile now. I fell in love with the idea of being a two dress bride, but I knew I would not have the budget for it, so I thought the next best thing would be a convertible dress. Of course the designers who make these types of dresses are all waaaaayyy out of my price range. So I contemplated going to one of the overseas dress websites to have them try to create the design that resembled what I was envisioning.

And then comes David's Bridal. They have a beautiful Two-in-One Taffeta Ball Gown that converts from a full skirt to a strapless sheath, with beautiful beaded embroidery on the sweetheart bodice. It was love at first sight! I saved the images to my phone, my computer, and my iPad so I could look at it over and over. But I had no intention on buying it until we were a LOT closer to the date. It didn't stop me from drooling over the computer screen at it every few days, though.

Fast forward to this morning. I was doing my usual web surfing of all things wedding related, when I came to the David's Bridal sale. And guess what dress was on sale for $99?!?! I went WILD! But then, I looked closer.... and my size was not available. And just as fast as I got excited, my face slumped in dissapointment. And so I came to you to begin my "sad face" post.

But guess, what? I went back to the website this afternoon to get the pictures for this post, and what should happen?! My size was available!!!!! AND I found a coupon code for FREE SHIPPING! I whipped my card out faster than I could say soft white!

Okay, enough talking, I know you want to see the dress! I will post pics of the actual dress as SOON as it arrives (between next Wednesday and the following Monday).Until then, here are the photos from the David's Bridal website:

 

Grand Total: $104.94

Family Vacation

Hey, I haven't abandoned my blog or my wedding planning, I promise. But some other life changes have come up and I am trying to get a handle on them.


The transition to the new position has not been easy; it is very demanding, with reports due in the wee hours of the morning (and we all know I am NOT a morning person). But the opportunity to work directly with the client has been so rewarding! And now you know why I have been going to bed at 7-8pm (at the same time as the baby!)
But he good news is T, TJ, and I are going on our first Family Vacation! We are headed to New Orleans in the morning, and I am super excited. Plus T has never been to New Orleans, and he is trying to play cool, but we all know he is internally bouncing off the walls.
T and I have been talking about getting a po-boy as SOON as we get off the plane. We tried to make one at home, but it just wasn't the same.

Shrimp po boy image from one of my fav food blogs When the Dinner Bell Rings

So we have both been searching restaurants online to find the best po-boy in town, and T found a spot called Tiger's Creole Cuisines on Basin Street. Thier description of an oyster po-boy made my mouth water: "Golden fried oysters on warm french bread dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and pickle. Served with french fries." SOLD!

Now there is just a plane ride standing between me and some delicious Cajun food! I will take pics and report back. See ya in NOLA!

Working Late While Watching Four Weddings

I have a new position at work which calls for more face time with the government client. Yaaay! for promotion, but Boo! for working late at night.

Lucky for me there was a Four Weddings marathon on TLC leading to TWO HOURS of new episodes. Can you say HEAVEN?!

Image via Zap2it TV Listings

If you remember, it was Four Weddings that inspired my Friday is "Bride"day series. I can't get enough of seeing how different women from around the country interpret the tradition and ritual of a wedding. And it doesn't hurt that I take pleasure in rating them in comparison to my imaginary perfect wedding day. 

I am getting pretty good at knowing what the other brides are going to like and dislike about the weddings. And guess what?! I guessed all the winners correctly! 

Okay, enough talking... its back to work for me :-(.

Do you have a favorite show/song/movie that gets you through late-night work? 

Friday is "Bride"day: Shedding for the Wedding

Welcome to the Friday is "Bride"day series in which I will introduce the latest DIY tip, wedding day idea, or major wedding decision I am facing in my quest for the perfect big day!

I mentioned earlier that T and I had a Weight Loss Wake Up Call that launched our efforts to take back control over our health. Lately, we have been calling it "shedding for the wedding" so that we have a tangible goal to work toward. The idea is that by the wedding day, these lifestyle changes will be such a routine, we won't even think about it when we make healthy choices.




Here is our current workout plan: 10 push ups, 20 sit ups, 25 squats, 20 lunges, 80 jumping jacks. T and I have decided to adopt this challenge three times a week (though I think the originator meant three times a day, whew!) We will do just the jumping jacks on the off days. And hopefully we will be able to increase the plan to five or six times a week.

I realize I sometimes need to hold myself accountable to other people in order to get the motivation to change. So here is my "before" picture:




I will come back in three months with my progress pic. Hopefully it will also be accompanied by some good news in the workout/healthy eating plan.

Have you made a pact to change something in your life for the better? Any advice on how to stay on track?

The power is out...

The good news: we've moved into the new place! TJ has his own room, T and I have a large comfy bed, and soon we will have cable and Internet hooked up.

The bad news: there have been two storms in the last two weeks that have knocked the power out both weekends.

But all is well, we haven't completely moved out of the old place, so we have somewhere with air conditioning for the night.

Here are a few of my decorating projects so far:

Check out our fany set up on the bed! Enjoy it now, because I HATE to make up the bed every morning.

We have a beautiful new bed! It is queen size, and I have been waiting to use this complete bedding set for almost a year but I haven't had the chance to use it until now. The set came with a turquoise sheet set, shams, comforter, bedskirt, and three decorative pillows.

Our dining room after we set it up to look like a model home.

I attempted "Martha Stewart" living in the dining room by setting the table. Normally I do not like "set" tables unless we're about to eat, but i figured I would display our setting for a few days. Believe it or not, everything in the dining room is a hand me down from family or friends. We put it all together and it looks like we bought it to go together. We have a wine rack in the corner which is my favorite since I love to serve wine when guests are visiting.

We are still working on the living room; we just bought matching coffee table, entertainment center, end tables, and bookcases. We are actually using the bookcases to make a DIY entertainment wall because the cost of those big entertainment units is crazy!!! I will share when we have it all set up.

I am enjoying this joint project with T. And we have not had any problems with combining our styles into one living space.

And most importantly, I think the little man likes it!

TJ and my Mom posing in front of the huge windows in the new place.

Did anyone else move in with their FI before the wedding? Have any nesting (or relationship) tips to share?

{All photos personal}

Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part II

So here are the final cake pops! If you missed the prep section, here is Part I.

How did I make these beautiful babies? Here are the steps I used, and I hope they are helpful for you too.

*Confession: it took two attempts to get these results, so I have added in some tips, based on how the first set of pops came out.*

 

1. Crumble the cake into small pieces. I used angel food cake from Harris Teeter, but you can bake your own cake or use any cake you like. My advice would be to get a heavier cake; the angel food cake was delicious, but it was very light, making the cake balls almost too light for the heavy chocolate coating.

 

2. Mix your frosting in with the crumbled cake and stir until the mix is even. I used the whipped frosting the first time and it was delicious, but together with the angel food cake, it was way too light. In the second attempt, I used buttercream icing, and that worked perfectly!

 

 

3. Cover the mix with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge for a few hours. T, T.J. and I went out shopping for a bit :-)

 

4. Cover a plate with aluminum foil; roll the cake/frosting mix in your hands to make cute little balls (a little smaller than a golf ball) and place them on the foil. When you have rolled all the mix, stick the plate into the fridge for about 20 minutes.

 

 

5. While the balls are in the fridge, uncover the chocolate and put it on a microwave plate. Microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until you get a smooth texture.

 

6. Take the balls out the fridge. Dip the end of a cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, and then insert the stick into the ball. When all the balls are done, stick it in the fridge (have you noticed a pattern?).

 

 

7. Now for the dipping! After about 15 minutes in the fridge, take the pops out and dip them into the melted chocolate. After dipping, let the excess chocolate drip back into the pot. Put the stick into the styrofoam so it stands up. Repeat for all the pops.

 

 

 

8. I think you know the next step: stick them in the fridge!

 

That's it! The chocolate will harden in about 15 minutes and the treats will be ready to serve. Yum!

I took these cake pops as a treat for my class reunion. They were a hit!

 

We're Moving In Together!!!

I am so excited, and I can't keep it a secret anymore: T and I are moving in together! I'm sure you're all saying, "Wait, Steph, don't you have a post from February titled Living Together Before Marriage?" Why, yes.... Yes I do. It's true, T, T.J. and I do live together, but I moved into T's apartment after months of "spending the night" because I was over here more often than I was home. But my official address is still somewhere else; that's where all my mail goes, and that's where a lot of my stuff still sits. But now, T and I are going to sign a lease TOGETHER! This is the first thing we have officially done under both our names (well, except making a baby) so I am excited. And I will admit, doing things like this when we are not married is a little more challenging. There are laws and privileges that married couples have access to that we do not. But if I simply wanted to get married in order to make my life easier, I would have gotten married when we watched the double line appear on the test. I am still adamant about marriage being on our own schedule, not because we want to "make life easier". Sorry, I don't know when that soapbox appeared *back to your corner, soapbox!* Anyway, get ready for a bunch of nesting posts in the near future! First stop, Ikea tomorrow with Mom and baby boy to window shop for furniture. And many pics to come.

Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part I



Tia Mowry's cake pop display at her baby shower
{Photo from EntertainmentRundown.com}



I started watching reruns of the show Tia & Tamera on the Style network while I was pregnant, and I could relate to everything Tia Mowry was going through as it happened. In one of the episodes, she and her sister head to a bakery to sample desserts for Tia's baby shower. And what do they show over and over and over? Cake pops! To a swollen, tired, pregnant Steph, that episode was like porn. I watched it three times that day (oh, the joys of On Demand). And when T came home from work, what do you think I begged him to find me?

So, off he went to secure his preggo girlfriend some cake pops, and when he came home with five different flavors, I couldn't do anything but hug him and cry. I fell in love instantly after that, and ever since then, I have been waiting for a reason to either buy some more, or make them myself.

Yesterday, I decided I couldn't wait any longer; I went to my best friend Google to find some DIY recipes. And after reading through instructions and watching YouTube tutorials, I figured I would try my hand at a basic cake pop. I'll tell you right now, I didn't make it to decorating; those tutorials could last ALL DAY and could get really difficult. This will just be a basic chocolate covered vanilla cake on a stick.

My main goal was to streamline the instructions as best I could. With a baby who now enjoys reaching, grabbing, and putting things in his mouth, I had to work fast and keep the steps SUPER simple (hence, the title).

What I used:

• Cake! Like I said, this is the easy, easy version, so of course I bought a cake. My local grocery store has an amazing bakery, so I just picked up one of their delicious pound cakes.
• Frosting. I chose Betty Crocker Whipped Vanilla frosting for $1.89 at Target. I am just a big fan of whipped cream frosting, but I am sure any frosting (chocolate, buttercream, cream cheese) will work perfectly as well.


• Chocolate. I found Baker's Dipping Chocolate at Target for $1.94. It comes in a microwave safe container, so you don't have to put the wafers in a separate bowl. Five points for eliminating a dish to wash!
• Sticks. I found Bella cake pop sticks at Target as well. They were the most expensive item at $3.99(except the cake of course), but because they are so long, I was able to cut them in half and get 60 sticks instead of 30.
• Sandwich bags. Instead of buying treat bags, I just used regular sandwich bags from the dollar store ($1 for 100 bags) and cut the zipper off the top.
• Ribbon. I already have TONS of ribbon around the house, but you can get some from the dollar store ($1 for a spool).

How did they turn out? Stay tuned for Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part II to read the steps I did and see the results.

{Photos in this post are personal, unless otherwise noted.}

Long Hair, Don't Care

I know, not the most original title, but I was excited about this kindle book that I just downloaded, and I wanted to share it with you: Hair Care Rehab: The Ultimate Hair Repair and Conditioning Manual. This book couldn't have come at a better time for me. On Wednesday, I chemically straightened my hair for the first time in 4 years. It has been a fun time being natural, but with the baby and our busy schedule, I just couldn't keep up with the crazy regimen my natural hair needs to stay presentable.





The pic on the left was my natural hair, styled in a twistout. I loved that style, but it only lasted for one or two days before turning into a tangled, frizzy afro. The worst part was detangling after it frizzed up; even when I kept it moisturized, the tight curls would still find a way to knot by day two. The pic on the right is from yesterday, and so far I am LOVING my new hair. I know I will be back to detangling when the new growth starts to get thick, but that little detangle is nothing compared to trying to rake my comb through my ENTIRE length.

Okay, back to the book! Now that I have chemically processed my hair, I need to treat my hair to some SERIOUS love and care. I just want to make sure my hair does not get dry or weak from the processing. Plus, I have to have long, healthy hair for the wedding! One of my major goals is to use my own hair for the wedding (no tracks, no weaves, no extensions). I want to style my hair in the polular and traditional bridal updos that are plastered through all the wedding magazines. Yep, I'm the hopeless romantic! So when I stumbled upon this guide to Hair Care Rehab, I hit download immediately. Some of the book's tips I remember from my previous relaxed days, like moisturinzing and sealing with oil. But the book reminded me that I HAVE to remember to take care of my ends, since they are the oldest, and they are always rubbing on clothing when my hair is down. So I guess that means I have to go back to my protective styling. I will probably start next week with that because I am still enjoying wearing my new hair down to show off the length. *Insert me singing "I whip my hair back and forth..."*

As I read more and try some of the conditioning techniques, I will share some of the tips I have learned. And I will keep you updated on my growth. Do you have any tips and tricks to keep your hair long, strong, and beautiful before the strain of wedding day styling?

{All photos in this post are personal}

Friday is "Bride"day: Shhh... don't tell...

Welcome to the Friday is "Bride"day series in which I will introduce the latest DIY tip, wedding day idea, or major wedding decision I am facing in my quest for the perfect big day!

I am going to tell you a big secret. Well... more like make a confession. But it's a secret confesssion, so please don't tell. I'm trusting you...

I admit it....I have a wedding obsession. A big one.
Wait.... why are you rolling your eyes??? What do you mean, "Everyone already knows that?!?!"

Yeah, I guess you're right. I suppose the biggest giveaway is that I am writing a wedding planning blog and I haven't even gotten a ring yet.

Which brings me to secret confession Number Two: I have been stalking the ring posts on wedding forums. And I recently became obsessed with moissanite.

One of my favorite engagement rings from Moissanite & Co. {Photo courtesy of MoissaniteCo.com}

What is moissanite, you ask? Well, according to the Moissanite & Co website, "moissanite's unique gemstone composition and crystalline structure give it significantly greater luster, brilliance and more than two times the fire of a diamond." And it is ethically produced! I kind of want a ring that I can be proud of, not one that got to my hand by the conflict and pain of others. (Don't worry, I have no intention of spouting quotes from the movie Blood Diamond.) Mostly, I can't see forcing T to pay the exorbitant prices for a ring I may be hesitant or scared to wear in public because of the implications of its origin.

So, back to moissanite. And my latest obsessions. After I found Moissanite & Co during my google lurking, I have been pricing every different setting and stone combo I can find. And of course, because my mother and I are certain we used to be old rich women in a previous life, I stumbled upon the Tiffany inspired solitaire settings. *Insert dreamy eyed, princess themed, heavy sigh here*

The top image is straight from the Tiffany & Co. website. And if you clicked the link (I know you did!) and saw the price, I hope you didn't fall on the floor like I did.  Yes, $11,000 for the one carat solitaire. Ummm....I don't think you heard me: I said ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! Maybe I had a VERY different idea about the cost of engagement rings. Or maybe I understand why I have never been tempted to look at Tiffany jewelry. Finding linens in "Tiffany blue" is about as far as I go. Now, the bottom image is courtesy of the Moissanite & Co. website. I love, love, LOVE this one because it looks both solid and beautifully delicate at the same time. When I read the part of the description that mentioned this was a "Tiffany inspired setting," I wanted to compare. And in my eyes, there is NO comparison: the moissanite wins, hands down. Plus, Moissanite & Co has an upgrade called Amora that enhances the brightness and color of the stone. Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking: get to the bottom line, Steph. A one carat round moissanite stone in the Tiffany inspired setting with the Amora upgrade comes to a whopping $920. Yep, that's less than 10% of the Tiffany ring.

See? Even in my materialistic moments like today, I can have my spoiled princess wishes while still being frugal. *Insert another dreamy sigh* Don't worry, I will be sure to share all the juicy, amazing details and photos when and if the day comes that this ring (or ANY) appears on my obsessed, greedy hand. Until then, I am going to go do something constructive and a little less superficial/materialistic.

Happy Memorial Day!

I love holidays like this: Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, etc. (and not just because it is an excuse for a three day weekend). I love that we, as Americans, acknowledge that this is a made-up holiday that corresponds to no specific religion or culture. This is a day to remember all those who have given up their lives to keep us safe. Regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political party, we can agree to celebrate the lives of those true heroes to our country. Its a beautiful thing.

Don't worry, I'm not going to bust into the chorus of "I'm Proud to be an American" while shedding a single tear. I just like to think about the significance of a nation-wide holiday that brings us all together. EVERY day should be set aside to remember that we are all connected, and we should respect each other for that universal connection, regardless of our many lifestyle differences.

*Stepping off soapbox* So how did you celebrate Memorial Day? Did you go to family/friend's house for good food and laughs, like we did? Or do you have a family member/friend that you honored for their dedicated service and sacrifice?

Thank you, to all those members of the US Armed Services who gave the ultimate gift so that I may have the freedom to live my life as I choose.

Friday is "Bride"day: Venue Rental and Catering

Welcome to the Friday is "Bride"day series in which I will introduce the latest DIY tip, wedding day idea, or major wedding decision I am facing in my quest for the perfect big day!

I mentioned in an earlier post that if we found a reasonable caterer, we could justify the price of the GWU venue. The base rental fee is $3000 for 8 hours, and the University requires the renter to get the room insured, which they estimate at $300. Hopefully, our renter insurance or my mother's homeowner's insurance will allow us to insure the room. And the University requires their police to be on duty; they will pay for four hours, but the renter is responsible for the other four at $40.04 per hour. That brings the grand total for the venue to $3460.16.



Yes, we are paying for this beautiful view of the city! {photo from elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



The venue only provides tables and chairs. That means I would need EVERYTHING: linens, china, glassware, bar, servers, food, wedding cake, and outdoor chairs for the ceremony on the terrace. On the bright side, the venue has a full kitchen, so I am sure any caterer would be happy about that. The venue says they can hold 104 guests comfortably, which is perfect for our ideal guest list (which we will discuss in another post).



I am trying to turn the space from a conference room (left) to a WEDDING RECEPTION (right).
{photos from http://www.gwu.edu/~capstone/symposium/2006/FB.htm and elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



So, what should I look for in a catering company? Is it cheaper to buy/rent the linens separately? Or should I pay for the convenience of not having to worry about it, and let one full service catering company handle everything?

Weight Loss Wake Up Call

A few nights ago, T and I were watching a special on the multi-million dollar "weight loss" industry, and we started talking about the different pills, fad diets, and workout equipment we wasted money on. I admitted to trying the Green Tea Fat Burner pills, SlimQuik pills, and the Master Cleanse. While all of them promised amazing, lasting results, I did not have any success with any of them. Sure, the pills suppresed my appetite and made it easier to reduce my calories. But we all know what happens when you stop taking the pills: my appetite returned, stronger than ever, and I gained back the weight I lost.

Now, the Master Cleanse was interesting. This cleanse is also referred to as the "Lemonade Diet" or the cayenne pepper diet that Beyonce allegedly used to drop the weight for Dream Girls. I tried it with some coworkers, and we struggled through ten days of just drinking a concoction of water, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Sure, I lost weight (almost 15 pounds), but the point of the cleanse is to transition to a vegetarian/vegan/raw foods lifestyle, and I had no desire to do any of that. So of course I gained all the weight back.

T admitted to trying Hydroxycut pills, with the same results that I had with the diet pills. The package inidcated that he should drink at least 14-16 glasses of water when taking the pills. With his job, he cannot chug water and run to the bathroom every 10 minutes. So, of course, he threw away the whole bottle.

After trying all these "quick fixes", T and I decided to try the real route to long term weight management: lifestyle change! We like to call it "diet and exercise", but it won't be long lasting if you diet and exercise until you reach the desired weight, and then let it all go afterward. So we are making a pledge to make better food choices and increase our activity together. Sounds corny, right? But that's our challenge,and we're sticking to it!

Breakfast of Champions! Strawberries, pineapples, and blueberries are sweet enough to replace syrup on my waffles. {personal photo}

I'm Back!

Hey everyone!!!
I am sorry for the delay in posting, but I am back in action in the blogger world!

Here's what's been going on since my last post:



1.) T and I have found a venue on the campus of George Washington University that has an AMAZING view of the Washington Monument and downtown DC. We are both such fans of the city, and we really wanted a beautiful view for our wedding, but we could not get past the crazy prices that downtown venues wanted for a wedding and reception. But I think we may just be able to squeeze this view in our budget... if we find the right caterer.





The View of the Monument from the City View Room at GWU {Photos from GWU Admissions Blog and elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



2.) T.J. is almost 17 pounds!!! Can you believe that my little preemie is such a big boy now?? He is wearing 9 to 12 month clothes and he is only 5 months! He is also sitting up more, squirming around, and trying to crawl. It's only a matter of time before I have to start putting up the baby gates so he won't wander into the kitchen.

 

Happy Family at the Park {personal photo}

3.) T and I completed two 5K walks for charity. The Continentals Care 5K for Education and the March of Dimes March for Babies were both a great success! I met my goal to jog/run the first 5K in less than 45 minutes. The second 5K was for recovery, and we took a leisurely pace on that one. Plus, we pushed the stroller, so we didn't want to go too fast.

TJ and me walking around Nationals Stadium to HOME PLATE {personal photo}

T and TJ on the boardwalk of Yards Park about halfway through the walk {personal photo}

T and I had so much fun in these last two that we are planning to register for a third 5K in June and a fourth in October. We do not want to take things too quickly and burn ourselves out, but we have caught the fitness bug. Hopefully we can keep up the momentum and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. Check out our Weight Loss Wake Up Call to see our challenge to change our lives for the better. And if you have any suggestions or advice to help, please let us know!