I'm back!

Yes, I've been MIA. My internet was turned off on the Friday before Jake got home, I guess it was the 19th. I've moved out of the apartment and am now staying with my parents, so I'll have access to the computer again. Hopefully, if I'm not overwhelmed with wedding projects, I'll finally have a chance to put some updates on here!

As for me, I don't think it has quite hit me yet that my wedding is in 4 days!

Everyone asks me if I'm nervous. Yes, I'm nervous about standing in front of a hundred people, but no, I'm not nervous about the marriage. I wish I could just jump to 2:00 on Saturday, have a great time, then move on. The wedding planning is starting to get old.

Shred Level 3

I HATE Level 2 of the Shred. I was going to do each level for about 15 days, but I hate level 2 so much, that I moved on the Level 3 today. It is so much better! Still hard, but it doesn't make me sick. I did almost all of the exercises with the modifications because my leg has been aching lately. I broke my fibula in a cheerleading stunt gone wrong while I was in college, and it hurts after I do a lot of high impact moves. So I do the modified versions for less impact, but I figure at least I'm still moving!

From my experience, it seems like Level 1 really worked my thighs, Level 2 really worked my biceps, and Level 3 really worked my abs. I like the extra ab workout, but I miss how firm my legs would be at the end of doing Level 1. I'm considering doing Level 1 first thing each morning, then doing Level 3 in the afternoons. It sounds a little crazy, but Level 1 should be a breeze for me now, I just want that extra leg work so my thighs won't be so jiggly. Too much information?

'Tie' the Knot

I ordered the ties for the groomsmen and ushers. The groomsmen will be wearing dark gray suits and light blue shirts with navy paisley ties:

The ushers will be wearing khaki pants and light blue shirts with yellow paisley ties:

Sweet Treat

I decided on the cake a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure I never actually made a post about it. Here it is!

Lots of Random Checks!

I got quite a few random wedding checks done this week!

- Ordered the port-a-potties: 1 regular and 1 handicapped for $225
- Finished a mockup of the program cover and bought all of the cardstock needed: <$30
- Dropped off program monogram and cardstock at my printer to be printed and cut: should be done on Monday
- Bought sparklers for favors: <$25
- Bought fireworks for reception: $101, but I bought them at the fireworks stand where I used to work, so the owner threw in a bunch of extras, so I probably ended up with $200 worth of stuff!
- Reserved kegs for the reception: a 1/2 barrel of Bud Light, and a 1/4 keg of Coors Light for Jake!
- Bought all supplies needed for photo guest book: <$20

Memory Frame

I wanted some way to honor Jake's dad at the wedding. I saw this in a magazine and thought it would be perfect to use as my inspiration to DIY.


I found a nice wooden frame at Micheal's already with a mat for two 4x6 openings. It was $29.99, a little more than I wanted to spend, but I figured we could display this in our home after the wedding, so I decided it was worth it, but when I went to the checkout, it turns out it was on sale for $16.99! I know the color is off, but I had to turn of the flash so the glass wouldn't have a glare.
A little closer.The right side says :
In Loving Memory

'his military rank'
'his full name'
Retired US Air Force

Those we LOVE are never far,
they are with us always
in our HEARTS.

I'm thinking I might display this by the guest book at the ceremony and reception.

No excuses for getting lost now!

I made some big, bold signs for the reception. Now no one will have an excuse for getting lost!

I used white foam core board from Walmart, and blue cardstock cut with a cricut cutting machine. It belongs to my mom's friend, and I'm just borrowing it before the wedding, but I SO want one!

Right on the highway, I'll put the biggest sign. This one is about 2'x3' Big enough that no one should miss it!
Then, once they get off the highway, there are a couple of forks in the road, so I have these smaller signs to put at both of those spots. Each one will be about 1'x2' As you can see I have room to make one more, so I guess I'll put one at the bottom of the driveway also.

Don't rest your head on this pillow!

Mom and I made the ring bearer pillow today. As she says, we make a good team. I come up with the ideas, and she makes them.

Here was my original inspiration, taken from Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine. Just a plain pillow with a handkerchief wrapped around so that all 4 corners meet in the middle of the top.
We started out with a lace hanky and some navy blue silk fabric (yes it has a weird "sea creature" print, but once the lace covers it, it looks fine)
Mama doing her thing. I'll admit, all I did was iron the hanky.And the final product. I love the contrast of the navy and white!

BLAH!

The Shred Level 2 makes me sick. Literally. I just finished day 4 of Level 2, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Maybe that's how people lose so much weight doing the DVD. Blah.

Weight Loss Day 17

I just finished my third day of Level 2. It is still very hard, but not as hard as it was on Monday! The strength in Level 2 is a lot harder on my arms. There's one part in the DVD when Jillian says, "your arms should be burning" and I yell at the TV, "THEY ARE!"

I don't feel like my midsection is getting any smaller (but I guess that can be blamed on my poor diet) but my legs are so much stronger! I'm excited I'm wearing a knee length dress for the reception, so I can show off my buff calves! My arms feel strong, but I don't think they are getting any smaller. I just have to keep telling myself, I'm not even halfway through. I have 23 more workouts before the wedding day, and those can make a lot of difference!

Still no soda, and I've cut down on the iced tea also (honestly, I ran out and just haven't made anymore yet!) I've been drinking about 3 bottles of water each day and a big glass of milk with dinner. I know I still should drink more water, but I just drink when I'm thirsty. I've been having healthy snacks, like carrots and sherbet (instead of ice cream), but my meals are not the most healthy. I like pizza.

I weigh and measure again on Saturday, so maybe I'll have a few salads between now and then.

Ceremony Music

I have finalized the ceremony music with my pianist! I wanted to keep everything very classic, so the guests would really get that "wedding feel" and I think the music really sets the mood.

Entrance of the bridal party: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach

Entrance of the bride: Canon in D - Pachelbel

Recessional (same my parents had at their wedding): Ode to Joy - Beethoven

Prelude and Postlude: other classical music selections

My countdown says I have 26 days until the wedding, and Jake will be home 2 weeks from today!

Shred Level 2

So, I can no longer say that I haven't skipped any days. But I honestly don't feel too bad about it.

I've been away from home since Friday, I stayed with my parents Friday night, and I had forgotten my Shred DVD, so that night I did Level 1 workout from memory. I did have a few breaks when I was trying to remember what came next, but since I didn't have a timer, I probably actually did a little more than I would have with the DVD.

Saturday, I spent the whole day helping Shannon (one of my bridemaids) and her fiance, Luke, paint their new house. We worked all day, and didn't get back to her apartment until after 10. I figured I had done a workout using the roller and painting trim with my arms up above my head all day, so I decided it would be ok to skip one day. My arms were definitly sore when I woke up on Sunday, so I still got an arm workout!

Sunday, I spent the day painting again, but did do Level 1 when I got home, well, after I watched the Season 3 Premier of ARMY WIVES of course!

Today, I finally tried Level 2. Oh My Goodness! I thought Level 1 was hard...Level 2 is so much more hard! I'll admit, I took a lot of breaks, but I stuck with her recommendation and never rested for more than 5 seconds. Level 1 seems like a breeze now. I had finally gotten to a point where Level 1 seemed so easy that I didn't feel like I was getting anything out of it, and I really wondered how I was going to continue to lose weight, but now I see, the level of intensity is up, so I hope to notice the weight loss again!

Bouquets

My mom and I met with the "florist" on Wednesday. She is not technically a florist, but she is one of my mom's friends, and actually was one of my mom's students in her floral design class years ago. My original thought was that my mom would do the flowers, but we decided she probably doesn't need that stress on the week of her daughters wedding, so Tamylia agreed to do them for us! More free labor!

This is the picture I gave her, for my bouquet as well as the bridesmaids' bouquets. I just don't want the red berry looking stuff. I like the color and size of the sunflowers, and I like the amount of greenery.

I also gave her a photo of a daisy wreath. I had cut it from the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and can't find it online, but the website did have a photo of the wreath from farther, not as close up. But you get the idea. I want two daisy wreaths for the church doors. The first thing that greets the guests!

Still going strong! And getting stronger!

I spent a good portion of the day at my parent's farm, helping my mom plant tomatoes and peppers (she planted 20 different types of tomatoes, but I won't be here to enjoy the fruits of that labor!) and LOTS of sunflowers that will hopefully have nice full blooms by the time we have the reception there. She started the sunflowers in her greenhouse, so hopefully that got them enough of a "head start" to be pretty in early July this year instead of August like they were last year.

On a completely non wedding related note, my parents finally broke ground on their house today! I even set up a farm blog for my mom to show the progress on the house and farm!

Because of being out in the sun all day and bending up and down, up and down, up and down to bury plants, I was SO tempted to not do the "30 Day Shred" DVD tonight. But I DID IT! My endurance was pretty good. The only thing that bothered me was a blister that I formed on my foot from wearing garden clogs all day.

So, today was day 12 for the Shred, and I STILL haven't skipped any days. I am so proud and actually surprised about my persistence with this! Tomorrow, I will be switching to Level 2. I'm pretty scared about that. But, I have to bump up the intensity if I want to continue losing weight and inches!

I'm so tired, and I think I'm going to sleep really well tonight!

New Suits

The suits at Men's Warehouse ended up being WAY more expensive than we expected. We kind of rushed into picking a suit because I wanted to get it done while Jake was home in March. Luckily, Travis found a similar suit at JCPenny and was able to get a great deal while it was on sale.

So, here is the updated suit:


Stafford® Performance Gray Stripe 3 Button Coat & Pleated Pant

They each got the full suit, as well as a light blue shirt for less than $200!

FYI: 32 days until the wedding and 20 days until Jake and my sister are home!

Shred Update

I'm still going strong with the 30 Day Shred! I still haven't skipped any days. When I work out today after lunch, that will be day 10!

I wasn't planning to weigh until day 30, but that just seems like overkill, so I weighed today, and I'll plan to weight again at day 20, then day 30. I'm pretty happy with the results! With the weight loss, I was really hoping for a big number, but realistically, the amount I lost is great! The inches I lost though, seem AMAZING! I was so excited when I measured my waist!

Here are the stats:
Before ---> Now
arm: 12 in ---> 11.5 in
thigh: 22 in ---> 21.5 in
bust: 35 in ---> 35 in
waist: 30 in ---> 28 in!!!!!
tummy: 37 in ---> 35 in
hips: 36 in ---> 36 in

weight: 150.5 lbs ---> 147.5 lbs

3 lbs and 5 total inches lost!

The difference in the waist is amazing! I would have thought that would have been one of the hardest spots to lose. Let's hope my tummy keeps shrinking!

I'm unsure about my arm and thigh. It's hard to know if I measured at the same spot I did the last time I measured. I tried to hit about halfway for both, but who knows if it's accurate.

I have not mixed in the extra cardio yet, so if I can just get myself to the gym, that should help speed up the weight loss too.