yum.....

You HAVE to check out this recipe:

http://kaylasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/2010/09/loaded-baked-potato-soup.html

How easy is this recipe for loaded backed potato soup!!! I'm thinking it would be REALLY good in a crock pot while tailgating for football games!!!

Wedding Arch

Today, I visited my florist for the wedding. We are renting an arch from her, and I really wanted to see it up and to figure out how I was going to decorate it. To my surprise, the arch was bigger than I expected! It's a wopping 6 feet across, and 9 feet tall (at the point). wow!!

How to decorate it...... First, we thought maybe we can hang an old window from it.. Wasn't loving that idea. Then the florist suggested a chandelier. LOVE IT! A while back, I thought of using a chandelier, but didn't think it would work because I assumed the arch wouldn't be tall enough. Then she pulled out this beauty:

I came up with the idea of adding the old, used candles. Each one is at different heights.. and I love that!

The arch will be decorated with grape vine and some greenery.
Glad to have that off the wedding list!

Head Table Decorations

Do you remember this post about the head table decoration that I was going to make?? Well yesterday, I made it!

Here are a few pictures that show how I made it.

I found the pattern from http://www.weddingchicks.com/freebies/custom-goodies/. They have lots of designs that they will make custom for you! I made the design poster size on Microsoft Publisher and printed it out on several pieces of paper. Then I laid the papers out and taped them together.

Next, I started cutting out the design. I have seen a few tutorials on how to make a head table monogram, but everyone used white material, so it was easy to lay the fabric over the design and trace. Burlap isn't a material that can be seen through.... so I had to come up with a different plan!

As I started cutting out the design, it got very flimsy. I stopped half way through to keep part of it sturdy.

I then used tape to hold down the patter and traced around it with a black pen.

After the design was traced out, I went back with black craft paint and a small paint brush and filled in the design. This took a while....!

Here's the final product!

I took the burlap to the sewing machine and sewed the edges to have a cleaner look. Here's what it looks like hanging from a table (sorry - this is a bad picture that was taken with the camera phone).

I love the final product! It will look so good!!

Wedding and more wedding......

Wedding invites are out and each day, we get a few RSVP's in the mail. So far, 50 have said yes!



This past weekend, Mike and I went down south to visit his parents. Mike's mom, sister, and I got several wedding things done! One included making this cute yellow banner that will hang in the back ground of the reception building.


(Ignore the wrinkles - it's been sitting in a bag!)

The next step is to add letters to each 'flag'. There are a total of 2 banners. They will read "Congratulations" "Ashley & Mike".

If you look in the background of the picture above, you can see the road signs that I made earlier this year. Because the location of the wedding is way out of town, down a long, curvy road, I felt it was necessary to have directional signs.

Also in the background, you can see how my 'craft room' is being flooded with wedding decorations!

Half of the wedding favors were completed. (I tried to upload a picture.... It didn't work)

We also visited Pottery Barn - love that store! I have been looking for a metal wire bird cage to put cards in at the wedding. Here's the closest thing I could find.

It's made for a very large candle - I plan on lining it with burlap (which will match the runners on the table). The only part that will be 'open' will be the top. Cards will easily slide in!

Lastly, I plan on painting a monogram on a piece of burlap which will sit on the head table. Below is a large print out of what the image will look like. The 'C' in the middle will be painted black as well as the design.



Lots of things to still do!!! and only 1 month, 16 days left... Oh my!!

Friday morning, bright and early, Mike and I went to the oral surgeon. It was time for my wisdom teeth to be removed. Not Fun.

Friday, I was pretty out of it. I slept most of the day - who am I kidding. I slept most of the weekend! Mostly because the pain medicine didn't sit well with me. Because it makes me want to vomit, I've stopped taking it!

Today was my first day back at work. Pain... pain.... Can't wait for this to be over!

On other news, the wedding invitations are out, and actually, I've received a few RSVP's back!

In regards to work - I'm done. I'm tired of my job, and mostly tired of the complaints and problems that constantly need to be fixed. After the wedding is over, I'm going to search for a new job. That scares me. We'll see what happens.

I want to open up my own shop - start small - online. I was going to try to google shopping cart, but it appears a bit more difficult than I originally thought. I'm now leaning towards my Etsy shop. I opened one a while back, but really didn't do anything with it. It's currently sitting there...... empty.

The question now is what to sell??? I'm all over the place - wedding stuff, nick knacks, etc. Once the wedding is over, I should have more time to dedicate to me!

I know it's been a while since my last post - with work being so crazy, the time just hasn't been there!!

Things to report:

We have officially hit the 2 month mark till the wedding (as of yesterday)! Where did the time go??!?!! I'm so glad that I started several projects a while ago. If I hadn't, I'm sure the stress level of planning a wedding would be much greater!!

All the Boutonnieres were done! Then my dog ate one.

The wedding invitations are done and will be mailed out tomorrow!

The DJ has been hired! We just have to meet sometime this month (which is almost over!) to nail down certain songs.... which we haven't chosen yet!

The catering menu is complete! Which the mix of southern food with sea food, I was drooling at our 'meeting' with the catering team.

The wedding favors (which ended up being chosen on a whim) have been purchased, and will be put together really soon!

My wedding dress is currently getting altered. I forgot that my dress had a small train. Having a train was something I didn't want.... but I have one now, and have to live with it! Next month, I go back for the fitting.

Non-wedding related: My wisdom teeth are getting removed this Friday. I know I will be in total agony this weekend, but I'm most excited about sleeping ALL day Friday, and hopefully Saturday. I need some time to do nothing!

That's all to report for now. Be back soon!

Wedding and more wedding.......

This past weekend, I took advantage of my slow weekend to get a few projects done.

One of which was the boutonnieres for all the men. They have burlap 'leaves' in the back with a few feathers, a loop of ribbon, and a fishing lure. The picture doesn't do them justice!

I also made the bridesmaid gifts! I can't post a picture seeing how they see this blog!

List of things to still do:

Finalize the catering menu (Already on the books!)
Get shoes dyed
Get dress altered
Pick music
etc...
etc..
etc.

Much more to do!!