Category Archives: the wedding

Project 365 6-16-2010 Wedding & Cake

Today I took away the wedding planning binder from Rene so that I could look at the costs and see just how over budget we might be.

That was an awful lot to have to go over late at night so I dulled the pain with Mississippi Mud cake.

I REALLY like Mississippi Mud cake.

Today’s picture is of the binder and cake:

Planning a wedding is a lot of work, especially when it’s your own, and there’s a weird feeling to it since it’s my second and Rene’s first.  I really want her wedding to be as magical and princess-y as possible, but I could, personally, just go for a nice easy Vegas wedding.

Although it’s possible that Rene may be thinking of that as well…

…time will tell.

For now I just need to worry about how all of the current plan is going to work.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 5-30-2010 Registration

It was the first day in a long time when I didn’t have something due or had to be somewhere – it was delightful!

Rene and I made a very leisurely day of it and got very little done.

Around 1pm Rene decided that we should probably do something so we decided that it was the perfect day to complete our wedding registry!

Rene and I made our way over to Macy’s Home to complete our registry there before heading out to Target and Crate & Barrel.

We were greeted at Macy’s by Dustin.  He was very nice and when he printed out our existing registration the first words out of his mouth were, “Oh, you definitely have more to do!  Just scan, scan, scan and when the battery dies in the scanner we’ll give you another one and you go scan some more!”  It was a very enthusiastic way to begin the process.

My favorite part of planning for both of my marriages thus far has been registering.  I love the scanner guns and walking around stores zapping whatever I have even a passing interest in!  It’s like shopping – but there’s no limit!  There’s also no fear when you register because it’s all gravy.  I never expect gifts.  The way I’ve got it figured, after the age of twelve there is no reason to expect gifts on any occasion.  If someone decides to get you one then it is even more special.  I don’t know about you but my priorities changed after twelve and suddenly I started thinking of “life gifts” as opposed to gifty gifts.  That has just gotten amplified since I’ve been a full blown adult.  When they asked me what I wanted for my 28th birthday I said, “Mortgage payments for a year and a Sirius radio subscription.”  I got the radio.  Really miss it.  Although, don’t get me wrong, that same year I got a whole bunch of Games Workshop hobby crap that made me really happy – made all the more special by the fact that I didn’t ask for it.   Weddings are the same thing, I need, like, vacuums and major appliances.  China and Waterford crystal are not high on my list, but no matter what if people get us stuff from that registry I’m going to be stoked!

Here’s the uncomfortable part of the conversation: the faux pas of shopping off registry.

Reason it is uncomfortable: You are complaining about a gift that someone really thought you’d like – and IMHO any gift should be appreciated.

Reason it shouldn’t be done: I made a registry for a reason – I know what stuff I need.  Please don’t try and figure out what I may have missed and then get it for us anyway.

Example: First marriage: We had no interest in China patterns, crystal or decorative dishes.  We made a point to not add any of that stuff to the registry – even brought it up in family conversations.  Come the day of the wedding a caring aunt got us a Waterford Crystal bowl.  It was a very nice bowl, but we had no use for it.  It sat in it’s box in storage for two years before we split when it was given to me and, family forgive me, I attempted to sell it on eBay to help pay for the divorce.  No dice.  To my knowledge it is still in storage with some of my glassware awaiting an attic or, perhaps, another wedding where it will find a more appreciative home.

My advice, and it is advice I strictly follow: If you are in the position and of the inclination to buy a gift DO NOT stray from the registry!

Today’s picture is the final print out from Macy’s:

I wanted to add a picture of us at Target and picking things out at Crate and Barrel online, but I forgot to take those.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 5-16-2010 Engagement Party Recovery!

I thought I was hard core.

I used to be hard core.

I now know for a fact that I am hard core no more.

And it isn’t even about the amount of drinking (for whatever reason I’m still very good at that) it’s the number of hours awake!  The days where I could get four hours of sleep and be bright and chipper the next day appear to be gone.  Not a huge loss, really, but it is a constant reminder that I’m definitely well out of my twenties.

I was so tired I even watched Sex and the City: The Movie:

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 5-15-2010 Engagement Party!

I love a good party and tonight was a good party!

Tonight we had our engagement party where all of the wedding party as well as the immediate families all got a chance to meet and get to know each other.  As with things that involve moms, there was food – SO MUCH FOOD!  I thought that I was going to write a long winded description about how things went down with the party and how everyone got along – and they did – but I thought that the pictures would speak better than I could so here’s a selection of photos!

This is today’s official photo for the day:

These are silhouettes that Matron of Honor Karen created from photos she found on Facebook!  Very impressive and actual size!

Here was the spread:

What isn’t pictured are the four trays of lasagna and a giant bowl of salad!  No one left hungry.

Then there’s the people:

Here are the ladies: Julie, Karen, Kerri, Rene, Brokke & Molly.  Gigi is the dog down front.  True story: When we called all the ladies to the photo Gigi walked to the group and posed.  We have several photos of her with the girls, it was adorable.  Gigi will not be in the wedding.

These are my guys: Dean, Zeke, me, Jeff, Dempsey & Scott.  And then here’s a picture of us drinking:

And here’s a picture of frivolity:

So there you go!  Now on with more wedding planning!

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 5-14-2010 Party Prep

I really don’t know what to talk about for today – it’s been a long day. 

In addition to the same daily business (SDB) Rene and I were preparing for our engagement party where all of the immediate family and bridal party will meet and cavort for the first time. 

We decorated into the early morn so I’m cutting this short.

Today’s pic is the chandelier bow:

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-23-2010 Let the Registry Begin! of Unleash The UPC Scanner!

 Today was the first trip for wedding registration!  I really like this part of the wedding planning – it’s like shopping with no limits!!! 

Tonight we took part in the “Sip & Scan” event at Macy’s Home.  They have food and drinks (not the adult kind, though, due to a new restaurant in the building.  Dammit!) and all kinds of experts to show you the different kinds of cookware, juicers, coffee makers, cosmetics, bedding, flatware…  The list goes on and on! 

Personally I’m a big fan of the kitchen stuff.  When I have a kitchen full of equipment I like to make good use of it.  As we look for the place we want to live we are getting more and more excited about having a kitchen personalized with our stuff.

The best part, for me, is using the scanner.  See something you want?  Scan it!  Won’t scan?  Scan it again!  Still won’t scan?  Manually enter the number – it’s cool, there’s a keypad!  It’s like playing lazertag with home furnishings!

Today’s picture is me with my drink and my scanner:

Rene said I looked menacing.  I think I look determined and mischievous.

On a total side-note we saw the iPad at the Apple store while we were at the mall.  No, I did not register for it.  I know people are excited about this thing, and I kind of get it.  It’s a big iPod Touch, but it’s heavier than I thought it would be and it’s $500.  I can see myself really getting into a device like the iPad, but the iPad itself just seems like a Apple fan-boy toy that will probably be really cool in a couple generations, at least in my opinion.  iPad users tell me what you think in the comments.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-18-2010

Stopped by the bookstore today among a series of other errands.  Rene had a mission: supplies for home including food, toilet paper and paper towels.  I wanted two things: Mrs. Field’s cookies and something to read.

Clearly one of us had our priorities in order.

I’ll let you discuss with your loved ones which one of us that was.

I really appreciate the simple joy that comes from a good cookie.  Since I was a kid my favorite has always been Mrs. Field’s.  I still judge every cookie I come across by Mrs. Field’s milk chocolate chip with nuts and most fall considerably short.  So my idea of the end of the evening was to sit down with something good to read and eat cookies.

We did the other errands, got the cookies (since it was the end of the day I got the last 10 milk chocolate with nuts – and they were on sale!!!!), and then we headed to the book store where I couldn’t decide on a damn thing.  Did I want a comic trade paperback?  Did I want to read “World War Z”?  Maybe even a movie biz book?  I couldn’t decide and every time I just picked something and started to walk to the register I got buyer’s remorse before I even got to check out.  With the number scripts that I should be reading and all the other stuff that just needs to get done I just couldn’t justify getting anything new.  That was frustrating.

Rene, on the other hand, was thinking with her brain and found these fun quiz books for people getting married!  We got those and took them home to take them.  I ate cookies while we did that.  We also scored very well.  I’d still like to read “World War Z,” but I need to finish Sebastian’s Rocket and three other scripts before I’ll feel comfortable doing that.

Today’s picture is of the quiz book:

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-17-2010

Every day is turning into a series of tasks that need to be completed and I’ve been spending all of today just completeing those tasks:

  • Pack/ship eBay stuff.
  • Pay bills.
  • Do laundry.
  • Review contracts.
  • Fist fight a bear…

Wait, not the bear part.

A nice little bonus for the day was getting this, today’s picture, from Rene:

Even though a majority of the wedding in now planned, it’s easy to forget just how much there is left to do!  Speaking of which I should probably do our website at theknot.com (no link yet – since it isn’t done yet!).

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-13-2010

Spent most of the day on the phone trying to tie up loose ends and get all the current business handled and solidified.  Still working on that.  I understand that when you’re talking about millions of dollars it is important to dot all the “i”s and cross all the “t”s, but, seriously, can we please get this going a little quicker?

Wedding planning, on the other hand, is off like a rocket!  We have our venue, Rene has ordered her dress, the rehearsal dinner is set up and there is so much talk about flowers, bride’s maid dresses, groom’s men ties and DJ’s that I’ve actually lost track – but I trust I will be informed when I need to know things.

Today’s picture is of Frankie yawning:

It took two attempts to get this shot, but in the end I think it was worth it.  When Frankie yawns he yawns with his whole body and he’s super cute!

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-6-2010 I Now Belong to a Gym.

I will not bore you with details of what it is like waiting on contract details and other people’s lawyers.  Suffice it to say that it is not my favorite thing.

Instead let’s talk about my new adventure – joining a gym!

I didn’t so much “join” as “got-added-to-Rene’s-account-through-the-workout buddy-program” they have at Bally’s.  It was a pretty quick process and it’s really cheap, $20/mo.  Now I can get into tip top wedding shape!  Before I used to have a gym available at all the places I lived, but since 2006 not so much.  I tried running and strength training at home – had some good results – but I hate running outside in the heat (I don’t like breathing hot air) and it’s hard to get good cardio any other way.  I’m looking forward to all the toys and stuff they have there and I can go to any Bally’s across the nation!  Apparently that isn’t how many gyms work anymore.  I get a free personal trainer session on Friday so I’m gonna’ try and get limber before he finds out just how out of shape I am.

I’m gonna’ go because my mind is distracted by looking at my inbox waiting for news. 

Almost forgot, if you’re in the market for geek toys I’m selling some on eBay.  You can click on, or look up seller lordtrygve.

Today’s picture is of my new membership card:

Should I be holding out on mentioning Bally’s name until they offer sponsorship?  Eh, maybe next time.

See you tomorrow!

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