No Words Wednesday-some pics from Bridal Show

photo booth fun

brooch bouquet- i've decided i'm making one for my wedding

Cupcakes- yum

All my free fun swag

Music on my mind today

Good morning my beautiful bloggers. If you are in the Dallas area today you know that we are having the most craziest weather. Serious thunderstorms and lightning and to add to the mix some snow and sleet. My drive to work was not fun at all and i cant help but clinch my hands so tight around the steering wheel that they're sore. Anywho, i wanted to give y'all a heads up that i'm in process of creating a link up party for Tuesdays and my cousin Lauren from Crazy Life of LT is joining me with this idea. It's going to be called Tunes on Tuesday or maybe something else catchy. Anyway's, its where we will post with songs that are in our head, our favorites, best dancing ones, anything regarding music.
So until i get it all official with the link and everything , i wanted to let you guys know about 2 songs that i enjoy listening to right now. These are pretty hard rock and make me drive fast when i'm in my truck. I really do love all kinds of music!

The first one is I miss the misery by Halestorm. They are a band out of Pennsylvania and the lead singer is Lzzy Hale. I love the screech at the beginning of the song.

The next band is even more heavy rock and it's Five Finger Death Punch. They actually did a cover on a old song Bad Company that is frickin awesome!! You should look that one up or maybe i'll post it another day.
Their newer song right now is Coming Down. I like it alot. The video is a live version at a concert so a little different than what we hear on the radio.

Happy Tuesday Y'all! Rock On

Just Go For The Cake...

I attended a Bridal Wedding Show yesterday in Ft Worth, TX and I really did have so much fun. This was my first Bridal show and i had no idea what to expect.  It was a neat situation because my friend Kimi met me there and also her daughter Kati and Kati’s best friend Emily. Emily is also getting married so 2 sets of best friends to check out the wedding stuff made it special.  Remember in my last post that I had to make a decision by last Friday on my venue’s for them to hold my date so I made my decision and gave them my deposit. I am officially committed to a venue and wedding date! WOOHOO!! That alone relieved some stress and now the fun planning can begin.

Once I got to the exhibition building where the show was being held, in the main hall they had a table set up to print out address labels with your phone number, address and wedding date on stickers. They were selling them 4.00$ for 30 or 6$ for 60 so I got 60 printed out. This was a BRILLIANT idea y’all!! There were over 100 vendors who were almost all doing a giveaway if you signed up. With the label you didn’t have to fill out all the forms, just slap a sticker on it and DONE!

Since I already had a venue locked down, I was interested in cakes, invitations, dresses, and tuxedos for Todd. I have never tried so many cake samples in my lifetime and I loved every second of it! I kinda got a sugar headaches and have to step away towards the end. One of the most fun parts of the day was the 5 photo booths that was there. This is one of the newest ideas now that are all the rage. It’s like the ones you’ve seen at malls and roller rinks and now you can rent them for your weddings. The benefit is that your guests actually go home with pics in hand instantly. I thought they were crazy expensive and will not be renting one for my wedding but I still signed up to win a rental (free is good and wouldn’t turn it down). 

I also came up with a bag so heavy from all the pamphlets and brochures and free swag. I got a bride stress ball, a big fake diamond ring key chain, some nail polish, lipgloss, a jar with candy, a manicure set, some spiced pecans, bottle of water, a tiny stuffed teddy bear, a votive magnolia candle, lots of candy and my fave- a wedding planner booklet.  I didn’t stay for the wedding gown fashion show because we needed to leave and eat real food to replace all the cake. I did make an appointment at David’s Bridal for an extra 50$ off coupon  towards dress if we booked yesterday for day before March.  I did come home with business card of a really cool place to print my invitations so I’m very happy about that. I got a few coupons for Todd’s suit or tuxedo and i walked away with some ideas for decorating.

I really want to go to another Bridal Show if there is one in DFW metroplex.  If anything to get free swag and eat some of the best cakes around!!!

All in All my weekend was a great one and I’m getting excited more and more about my wedding planning.

I have some fun photos to share but Blogger is acting weird. Have any of you had problems lately with adding photos? What's your work around if so?

Happy Monday Y’all!!!

My Wedding Planning- Not off to a good start

Ok I was wrong- very wrong! I stated boldly that I was NOT going to be THAT blogger that was consumed with my wedding and just post on that.  I also did warn you that I would be asking for advice because I have no idea what to do in many aspects of planning my wedding. So I want to retract my statement and say that I may be THAT person after all. I could possibly post more than I thought about wedding thoughts and ideas.

Right now I am stressed to the max because I truly am blindsided on how much weddings are. I have my name on 2 locations for my date and I have until tomorrow to make my decision. The catering is what is KILLING me! Both locations have their own caterers that we have to use and both are very expensive. In fact it’s the catering that will make or break the deals. We’re talking 6000$ on the food, waiters, plates, etc that is involved in the catering.  Yikes! Then I can barely think of the cost of alcohol because that is another couple of Grand. My friends like to party and some family members will need to partake in a few spirits themselves so not having a bar is out of the question. I'm waiting as i write this for a reply from one of the caterers.

You see I am in a bit of a dilemma. My little mom lives in Montana very far away and there are no direct flights that even exist from Dallas into Montana. Some airlines don’t even fly to Montana after September 30 because of the snow. Mom and her husband may even drive and we have to make sure all the highways are open for safe travel so that rules out Fall or early Winter months.  I could do a fantastic outdoor wedding but only in the fall here in Texas. SOOOO, i have no choice but to have an indoor wedding where there is air-conditioning AND wheelchair access for my Dad. Now that we’re talking indoor venues, cue the sound of dollars shuffling like a deck of cards. Cha ching Cha ching too for added sound effects.

Next true concern is that with the chairs (3$ a piece to rent thank you very much), the food ,  and such, I cant afford to pay for all the dozens of kids that belong to my friends and family. I know this is a very very very touchy situation and I get that. However , it will be an evening wedding and we’re talking close to 50$ a head (big head or small head). I still need a dress, a wedding ring for my honey, a honeymoon and so many other expenses that those few thousands of dollars would be needed. I’ve already spoke to my best friend and a cousin and they both understood but I’m afraid others might be upset. I have to look on the web to get suggestions of nice protocol on how to word this on my invites.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know that I love and adore children and the boys of one of my closest friends even call me Aunt Holli and spoil them rotten. We wont even go into how much I love my nieces and cousins kids. It’s something that I have to do in order to have a ceremony/reception that will be halfway decent and memorable for me.

Have any of you had or attended a wedding with no children?  

I’m excited that I’m going to my first Bridal Show this weekend in Ft Worth. My girlfriend is meeting me there Sunday morning and we have free passes to get in.  I don’t know what to expect and what all goes on at one of these so I’m looking forward to it.   I also have an “idea” of what style I want my dress to look like.  I have a weekend coming up with my besties to spend the day trying on dresses. EEEKK. Cant wait!

These are my thoughts for this Thursday.   Thanks for listening. Xoxo

Some songs that I'm connecting with

I'm sure you can tell  by now with all my posts about concerts i attended and listening to bands at bars that MUSIC moves me! I cant live without it! I love all types too. I listen to Pop and Hard Rock and Country throughout the day.  There are a few songs lately that i really connect to the lyrics which makes me like the song more. Have you ever loved the sound and music to a song and when you learn the words you're like WTF i'm not singing that?! The opposite can happen to where i'm not so crazy about the music but when i hear some of the lines i'm like hmm i can possibly like the song more.
One song i wanted to share some lines with is Carry On by Fun.
Not all the lyrics are my fave but i really like this part:

Cause we are
We are shining stars
We are invincible
We are who we are
On our darkest day
When we're miles away
So we'll come
We will find our way home

If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone
Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground
Carry on

The second song that i turn up on the radio right now is Madness by Muse.  I really like most all songs by Muse and they're coming to Dallas very soon. I'm on very tight budget to pay for my wedding so i'm not sure if i'll be going.  Anyway here is the song that you can groove in your chair to while listening with me.

Happy Tuesday Y'all!!!

I did it! I jumped on the ol "word" bandwagon

So after i climbed out of my holiday fog and returned to my blog ( i just rhymed) i began reading post after post on several blog's about their word for the year. Its supposed to be that word that will reflect your upcoming year resolution with positive changes.  At first i had no desire to come up with a word but then after reading more blogs and mentioning their word- i do have to admit i felt compelled to this as well.
Are you ready for it? My word is not very complex but truly one of my favorites that i'm always drawn to. My word is "JOY". That simple!
 Here is the Merriam-Webster's definition of Joy:: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight

b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss 3

: a source or cause of delight .

I already know that i will have loads of Joy in 2013. My goal is to also BRING Joy to others. My pastor spoke one time about Joy Givers and Joy Suckers. Let's face it we all know those people who are seriouls Joy Suckers. Whatever you say that person will give its negative spin on it. I dont ever want to be a Joy Sucker! I'm pretty lucky that i wake up almost everyday in a pretty good mood. I hope to remind myself daily that we're all going through something and just a smile, a compliment, a hug could bring Joy to so many.

Tomorrow (Monday)  i am part of a wonderful giveaway at Jennifer's blog Busy Being Jennifer.  We're talking about Target gift cards peeps. Who doesnt love Target?

Well, my weekend has totally flown by but it was a good one. Happy Sunday Y'all!! Muah!

Yawn Stretch Oh Hello There

Well Happy New Year folks!!! I feel like a bear waking up from hibernation. I missed you all and hope your holidays were awesome. Do you even bother with New Year’s Resolutions? I used to come up with a list and of course never completed most of it every year. This year I am not making any resolutions. That’s right- ZERO!  As most of y’all know by now, I got engaged on 12-12-12. I have a wedding to plan for which is kinda stressful enough without setting any more goals that I may or may not achieve. And by the way, I really don’t want to be one of THOSE bloggers who become obsessed with their wedding and don’t blog about any thing else. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just not me.  I may be reaching out and asking your thoughts on some things here and there regarding the wedding but I hope not too much. Remember I’ve NEVER been married before.

I will say that I have already become a little overwhelmed by just trying to set the date. I cant decide on a venue which is holding up the decision on the date.  I am in a little shock too how EVERYONE has the nerve to tell me the what and how and where to have the wedding. I have suggested a tentative date and my family members said “ oh no you don’t want to do then” its too hot. Guess what people, I live in Frickin Texas where it’s a few degrees less than Hell most days. I wore shorts and flip flops last month in December so I’m kinda out of options for a “cool” month.  Oh well. I WILL find a place and I WILL set a date and it WILL be Wonderful!

Moving on, did you go to any parties , throw your own parties, or anything special for New Years? My Fiance (giggle- that takes some getting used to) and I went to a party of some close friends of ours and we had so much fun. They are very much into wines and they hired a Sommelier for the evening. They paired up wines by regions and had snacks that compliment the wines. I am so excited that I found a few more wines that were incredible and cant wait to go buy. I also made an appetizer while there and it was a huge hit! Even the lady sommelier said she would be using my dish for future wine tastings. I cant take the credit for the recipe because a friend in Northern California made it for me one night when I was working in Cali.  I don’t know if there is a name for it either so I just call it  “ Pear Crostini’s”.

Here’s the funny thing- I don’t even like pears. I love the smell but I think it’s the gritty texture part that gets to me.  Anyhoo…. Here’s the what and how:

3 large pears of any kind

Sprinkles of sage ( or chopped cardamom)

Stick of butter

A container of Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese crumbles ( the gorgonzola is awesome but I had to use blue cheese the other night).

A skinny loaf of French or sour dough bread.

Put half of the stick of butter in a skillet and add your pears that have been chopped up very small. Add the sage but very small so that it doesn’t overtake.  Let it sauté to get very soft (almost mushy). While the pear is cooking, slice your bread to several small round pieces. Melt the other half of butter and use a brush to butter the small breads. Heat oven to 350 and toast them for about 15 minutes. Once pears are done, grab small spoon and add the mixture to all the crostinis.  Then put cheese crumbles on top of the pears and put back in oven until the cheese melts (10 minutes).

For the record, they were paired up with the Merlots and it was heavenly!

Me making my crostinis (the gal on left was the sommelier)

I do hope to blog much more and stay less in my funks. If I haven’t said lately, thank you for all of you who follow my blog and you’re sweet support this past year.