Friday night Mr. Right and I went to dinner and just hung out. I was exhausted, so I slept in till noon that next morning. My mother and I had a communication failure regarding the wedding we were attending on Saturday. I thought she told me that we had to leave the house around 6 to make it time. In actuality, the wedding started at 4:44, so we needed to leave at 4 o’clock. I only had 2 hours to do things around the house before starting to get ready. Normally I’m not that big of a diva – it only takes me an hour to get ready, but there were special circumstances involved.
I pushed myself a little too much, and by 4:05 my mom and grandparents were growing impatient with me. I finally dug a pair of pants out of the dirty clothes hamper and headed out the door. Mr. Right was asked to drive, but had 3 backseat drivers to help him along. Knowing that we’re running late, he tries to take the curvy road as quickly as possible. All the while my grandfather is shouting directions in his ear, my grandmother is pointing out house after house and telling him names of people that he doesn’t know use to live there, and my mom is complaining that she’s about to get car sick.
We finally make it to the wedding on time and the backdrop is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car so I have no photos to share. The wedding itself was on rolling farmland with the mountains in the background. They had several unique touches to the ceremony. As guests arrived, we were direct to an archway to have a photograph taken. Then each guest signed one of the pages in the book, and the family planned on going back and adding the photograph to the book.
The bride arrived by horse drawn carriage. A sad moment in the wedding came when the bride and groom released birds to honor the memory of their loved ones that have passed away – including her brother who died less than a year ago.
As the ceremony closed out, we headed back to our cars and off to the reception site. Good food and good company (family that we rarely have the opportunity to see) made for a nice meal. The bride and groom started the party with their first dance, the father/daughter dance (the father of the bride couldn’t dance, so he sat in a chair while the bride danced with her husband. Then came the dollar dance – I was proud of my mother for having the nerve to get up in front of everyone and dance with the groom!
As the toasts began, the fun came to a screeching halt. One of the guests was having a seizure. Apparently they were nothing new to him, but of course we all stopped the festivities to try and help out in any way possible – which for most of us meant just staying out of the way. Once he was taken care of, the speeches started again, but the old farts I had come with were ready to head home.
It was a gorgeous wedding – but just like any other wedding it had its highs and lows. The lows made me a little anxious for my big day. I worry that my day might not run as smoothly as I have it all planned out in my head.
October 20, 2008
Pocket change
I feel poor. Quite odd given the fact that I’m wearing a Moda trench coat, Express slacks, and pumps from a major department store. Not to mention the 46 diamonds adorning my neck and left hand.
Why do I feel like I’m destitute? Because I just carried a Dollar Tree plastic bag full of rolled coins to deposit into my savings account. Take a moment to grasp the ridiculousness of that statement:
1. I have money
2. I am fortunate enough to put it in a savings account, instead of using it to meet my monthly bills
I also need to mention that I wasn’t just depositing the $22.50 in coins. My mother had given me the remainder of the money for my wedding – so I was depositing a few thousand. And I felt poor.
I honestly believe that the same rational behind my thinking is behind the financial mess this country is in. We don’t want to acknowledge that we use (or need) pocket change to purchase things. Better to swipe your plastic card at each transaction, than to fool with change or even cash in the form of bills.
People see what we have, not who we are. And if we are judged by our things, we need to be sure that we have the best. As my pastor said this weekend – we spend money that we don’t have to buy things we don’t need, to impress people that we don’t even like.
I have recognized over and over during the wedding planning how blessed I really am.
• Fiancé that loves me
• Parents that love me
• Parents that can afford to pay the tab
• Being showered with generous gifts
• One of which is our honeymoon lodging paid in full
• Beautiful first home.
So why is it that I let the world get to me? Is Christ (and His blessings) not enough for me? Am I that greedy to want more – when I know that there are plenty of people that would love just ONE of my many blessings?
Why do I feel like I’m destitute? Because I just carried a Dollar Tree plastic bag full of rolled coins to deposit into my savings account. Take a moment to grasp the ridiculousness of that statement:
1. I have money
2. I am fortunate enough to put it in a savings account, instead of using it to meet my monthly bills
I also need to mention that I wasn’t just depositing the $22.50 in coins. My mother had given me the remainder of the money for my wedding – so I was depositing a few thousand. And I felt poor.
I honestly believe that the same rational behind my thinking is behind the financial mess this country is in. We don’t want to acknowledge that we use (or need) pocket change to purchase things. Better to swipe your plastic card at each transaction, than to fool with change or even cash in the form of bills.
People see what we have, not who we are. And if we are judged by our things, we need to be sure that we have the best. As my pastor said this weekend – we spend money that we don’t have to buy things we don’t need, to impress people that we don’t even like.
I have recognized over and over during the wedding planning how blessed I really am.
• Fiancé that loves me
• Parents that love me
• Parents that can afford to pay the tab
• Being showered with generous gifts
• One of which is our honeymoon lodging paid in full
• Beautiful first home.
So why is it that I let the world get to me? Is Christ (and His blessings) not enough for me? Am I that greedy to want more – when I know that there are plenty of people that would love just ONE of my many blessings?
The final nail in the coffin...
Yesterday former Secretary of State Colin Powell came out in support of Barack Obama for President. If members of your own party don't support him, how does Sen. McCain expect to win the White House?
Not that I blame Powell for not being wowed by McCain, I'm not his biggest fan myself. But some of the things Obama positions on important issues (Like the Born Alive Protection Act) could never allow me to cast my vote for him either.
That's why I've decided to vote 3rd party this year. Now I'm not saying that I think Chuck Baldwin has a chance. But I do feel its my duty as an American citizen to vote. And the idea of choosing between the lesser of two evils doesn't sit well with me. So while on paper its a vote for Pastor Baldwin, in reality its my way of saying America has better than the two candidates we're being asked to choose from.
I am not an uninformed voter, as a lack of voting this November would suggest. I am a voter that is so informed, she couldn't in good conscious request that either of the major party candidates be put into office.
Not that I blame Powell for not being wowed by McCain, I'm not his biggest fan myself. But some of the things Obama positions on important issues (Like the Born Alive Protection Act) could never allow me to cast my vote for him either.
That's why I've decided to vote 3rd party this year. Now I'm not saying that I think Chuck Baldwin has a chance. But I do feel its my duty as an American citizen to vote. And the idea of choosing between the lesser of two evils doesn't sit well with me. So while on paper its a vote for Pastor Baldwin, in reality its my way of saying America has better than the two candidates we're being asked to choose from.
I am not an uninformed voter, as a lack of voting this November would suggest. I am a voter that is so informed, she couldn't in good conscious request that either of the major party candidates be put into office.
October 17, 2008
RSVP Headcount
RSVPs to our wedding were due in on Monday and as of right now we have 100 people saying they will attend. Quite a low number, considering I sent out 200 invitations. Right now we only have about 30 people yet to respond, but I'm certain that most of them will be in the "regretfully decline" catagory (we're starting the phone calls next week).
Our reception site will seat 150, so I'm going to put up an invitation at my work. I felt bad that they were throwing me a shower even though most of them weren't on the guest list. That will absolve me of guilt and keep anyone from being offended. A guy in my office did the same thing, and no one from this building (of about 50 people) went to his wedding this past weekend.
I'm really looking forward to the wedding. Not just the marriage - I've been looking forward to that for a while now. But I get excited to think of the special time I'll have with my friends and family. Like prom - only way better.
I've got a surprise in store for my father, and my mother agrees that it will be the highlight of his year. :)
At this point I still have a couple of areas of uncertainty, but I'm thankful that they aren't overwhelming me.
*the musicians (if everything falls thru i can get a battery powered cd player)
*the best man (if he can't come, the groom's dad can step in)
*alcohol @ the reception (i have some people that expect it to be there and others that will be offended if it is)
Our reception site will seat 150, so I'm going to put up an invitation at my work. I felt bad that they were throwing me a shower even though most of them weren't on the guest list. That will absolve me of guilt and keep anyone from being offended. A guy in my office did the same thing, and no one from this building (of about 50 people) went to his wedding this past weekend.
I'm really looking forward to the wedding. Not just the marriage - I've been looking forward to that for a while now. But I get excited to think of the special time I'll have with my friends and family. Like prom - only way better.
I've got a surprise in store for my father, and my mother agrees that it will be the highlight of his year. :)
At this point I still have a couple of areas of uncertainty, but I'm thankful that they aren't overwhelming me.
*the musicians (if everything falls thru i can get a battery powered cd player)
*the best man (if he can't come, the groom's dad can step in)
*alcohol @ the reception (i have some people that expect it to be there and others that will be offended if it is)
October 16, 2008
Things I Love Thursday: David Sunflower Seeds
Last Monday, Mr. Right decided that he was going to quit dipping (for those of you Yankees - "dip" is somewhere between chewing tobacco and snuff, think Skoal). Since then he's had to vary his routine so he doesn't miss it as much as he otherwise would.
For the first week, he stayed in the house completely. He's a real estate agent and since he didn't have any clients wanting to look at property, he was able to completely work from home. The theory being if he doesn't pass a gas station, he's not tempted to go in and buy a can.
My suggestion was sunflower seeds. That way he gets to have the feeling of something in his mouth (instead of that big wad of tobacco) and also gets to spit with none of the harmful side effects. Its even a hobby I'll join in with. There's nothing sexier than a smart, strong woman who'll share a spit cup with her man! ;)
Okay now that I've grosses out all 1 and 1/2 of my readers - I'll get to the point. Its working! Not perfectly, but good enough. Today he's working on his 11th day as a tobacco free man!! And I couldn't be more proud.
Things I love:
my man - tobacco + sunflower seeds = one happy woman!
Thank you David, if you're out there somewhere. For more great products check out Things I Love Thursday's.
October 15, 2008
Blog Action Day: Poverty
Go visit Jenn over at Frugal Upstate - today she and the other walmart bloggy moms are participating in this fundraiser to help combat poverty. She is donating $0.10 per every visitor to her site so go check it out! With donations doubled by Walmart, your click will help benefit Project Peanut Butter.
Works for Me Wednesday: Coupons
My Kroger doubles coupons up to $0.50. This isn't a service they advertise, but a friend of mine noticed she was getting "bonus coupons" at the bottom of her receipt and asked about it. I've tried to pay better attention to item prices and coupons (since $0.50 are now worth $1).
Mr. Right and I need toilet paper for the new house. While its not officially my house yet, I still "go" while I'm there and so I put it on my grocery list. I had an ecoupon for charmin as well as a $0.25 coupon, so I wanted to see how that would stack up. Turns out I was better off using a traditional coupon for a cottonelle 4 pack. Charmin would have saved me $0.75 off a couple of dollars. The cottonelle was $0.99. My $0.50 doubled (well almost) to $0.49 and I got the rolls for free (after tax).
I also worked a good ecoupon deal that a friend tipped me off about. I got an esaver coupon for $5 off a fabreeze noticeable started kit, as well as a paper coupon for $5. Kroger allows you to use both coupons, so I got the $6.99 kit free and then the additional $3.01 taken off the remainder of my grocery bill.
Paying attention to coupons and working good deals works for me. Check out Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in my Dryer.
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