Wordless Wednesday: Thanks, God

Keeping it simple today.

These 11 words say everything I am thinking.

Weekly Wedding Update: The Wedding Registry

I am stressed out over something that shouldn't stress anyone out. Go figure.

What is it?

I can't decide what FiestaWare colors to register for. (Lame, I know.)

But in my defense, why would anyone give anyone all these options!?

And this isn't even all of them!

I have debated and debated and the end results is that I just can't decide. And we all know Mark hates making decisions, so he is currently no help.


So, any savvy decorators out there have any suggestions? Should I do Turquoise & Scarlett? Or Paprika & Marigold? Or maybe throw in some Shamrock?

I am currently open to every option, so leave me a comment and help me out. And please, don't look at my registry...it currently screams "this girl doesn't know what she is doing when it comes to FiestaWare." Hopefully, I can somehow fix that soon?

Weekly Wedding Update: A Real Big List

The list is growing instead of shrinking I think.

Here is the thing. I love my fiance with all of my heart, but when it comes to planning a wedding some days he drives me impossibly nuts. Now, I try not to get too mad because I know we have different personalities, but still, I just want this darn list to shrink not grow. But unlike me, he doesn't smile every time he checks something off our list. He doesn't finish one list to make another list just to accomplish more. You see, for Mark one thing a day is a lot and he never can quite decide on what he wants to do (He is a "P"). For me, one thing a day is failure (I am a "J").

So the list making continues...

Here is the dauntingly big list that leaves me tossing and turning at night. Feel free to take any jobs off my hands.

1. Design, print and send invitations.
2. Decide on "fun facts" for napkins.
3. Finalize wedding music, determine a processional song and get complete list to singer & pianist.
4. Figure out table linens & napkins.
5. Design programs.
6. Design cards for tables.
7. Write a short blurb about each attendant for program.
8. Confirm with readers, dessert bar attendees & guest book person.
9. Decide on what we are doing for a guest book.
10. Meet with our couple from our parish.
11. Order wine.
12. Order alchohol.
13. Finalize meal for reception.
14. Finalize meal for rehearsal dinner.
15. Decide on what do do for bachelorette party.
16. Find purple heels.
17. Find lace TOMS.
18. Find a hairdresser.
19. Get a MAC makeover & purchase makeup.
20. Order groomsmen gifts.
21. Order/make bridesmaid gifts.
22. Get MOB, MOG & so on gifts.
23. Double check on registry items.
24. Buy or make a veil.
25. Lose 5 lbs.
26. Order Mrs. & Mr. signs
27. Get shrug in case it is cold.
28. Order wedding handbag on September 3.
29. Get wedding garter.

Now that you read it are you freaking out too? 

But seriously, if you have any ideas on any of those items above, I WOULD LOVE SUGGESTIONS. All of your comments have been so helpful so far, especially the wedding music tips, I loved them!

And am I forgetting something? (Except breathing, relaxing & spending time with Mark, family & friends?) Thanks so much for being a support system for me!

Much Love,

The Stressed Bride-To-Be

Connecting Farm To Fork

I was going to blog today, but I found someone who said it so much better than I could.

Before yesterday, I had never heard of Amy on the Prairie, but I am sure glad I did and you can bet I am a new follower.

Amy is a MN-grown city girl that is so eerily connected to values of rural America, that you would of thought she grew up on a farm. However, she promises us she didn't and even admits, she had a ten year stint as a vegetarian.

Which is why it's even more impressive that she gets modern food production and our need to feed a hungry world so perfectly.

 Our family of four is on a budget and I buy food we can afford.  Most of the food we buy is a product of conventional agriculture. That means, our produce was grown with the aid of fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified (GMO) seeds to increase yields. And, our meat is typically from larger farms where animals are raised in large facilities with the aid of technology and interventions like antibiotics.  I feel comfortable eating this food and serving this food to my family. -- Amy On The Prairie

Here's what I I like about Amy's Farm to Fork: I Think Our Food Supply is Safe blog: I support eating local. I buy from the kid next door who grows fresh veggies. I have never cooked beef that wasn't my own and I try to eat fresh, healthy food whenever possible.

But I am a 20-some college graduate who, while I am getting a steady paycheck, has bills and loans to pay off and I can't afford to buy organic, local food every time I get groceries. And folks, I probably am better off than 70% of the world right now...so if I can't do it, how do you expect everyone else to too.

I applaud Amy for confronting a hot, trendy topic in food production right now; her points are extremely important for all of us to understand. These stats from Alltech help hit it home:

925 million people go to bed hungry each night and we add 219,000 extra mouths to the globe each day

How can we afford to overlook the millions of people that are starving when we have the technology and the ability to feed them?

I think it's a question we all must answer before stepping up on to our soapbox.