WOW. What a Crazy Busy Week.
Sorry I’ve been MIA. We had terrible storms last week and was without power for three days. Not only that, we were trying to wrap up an online course, which is difficult to do when you have no power and therefore, no internet. Plus, power was out all over the Quad Cities and the places that had power and free wireless internet were jam packed.
We spent Friday & Saturday in Iowa City taking a class and last night FINALLY wrapped up our LAST summer class!!!! I am so proud of us. It was stressful taking three classes this summer but we did it and did it well. We are now officially halfway through the MBA program – Woooo-Hoooo! 
Oh yeah, and during that time we’ve been in the process of buying a house, packing, ordering new furniture, doing some engraving orders, and trying to sell our house. P.S. For any local readers who might be interested in a starter house near Augustana College, our house is listed on QCHomeShow.com. CLICK HERE to see the listing. And FYI, we’re offering a closing allowance if we can close by September 5th!!!
So yeah, busy, busy. But, as many of you know, I know no other way. We’ve got three short weeks off from school before we start up again for the Fall. I’ve got some freebies I’d like to upload and other things to write about, but we shall see what I can get done. First priority is selling this house!! Then, we’re going shopping!!!!
Thank You Readers!
Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all the new peeps that are stopping by and especially the dedicated people that check in on a regular basis. It’s so nice to know my stuff isn’t wandering aimlessly out in cyberspace.
We’ve received a lot of hits most recently from Laurie’s awesome blog called Tip Junkie. If you haven’t been there you need to check it out. I am obsessed. It’s a wonderful resource and wealth of information, fun ideas and projects. What’s really cool is that Laurie promotes other bloggers and work at home moms. Gotta love networking ladies! Laurie included my CD Jewel Case Calendars in one of her recent posts. Once my life slows down a bit (I know, I know, yeah right, huh?!) I would like to share more DIY freebies.
In the meantime, please keep reading and posting comments and if you use one of my freebies please share photos!!
Home Sweet (New) Home
Although it may not happen until next year, but because it could possibly happen as soon as next month, Andy & I have decided get a head start on finding a new home. As such, we are going through all our things. I am told I am a pack rat and need to get rid of all excess “stuff,” including the inventory I have in stock from my old engraving store.
So…I’m having a sale!! I have a lot of very nice engraving materials & gift items in stock leftover from when I had my store. They are in brand new condition, just have been in storage since I closed up shop. What better way to get rid of “extra stuff” and help pay for our upcoming shindig?! Check back to see what else I can find.
Here’s the first item:
I have a limited number of beautiful 5×7 marble plaques that can be engraved with your favorite photo and quote. This design as shown above will feature one photo of your choice and one title/quote/saying. They make great gifts for parents, grandparents or to display in your own home…or garden! $40 each or request exact duplicates at a discount: 2 for $70, or 3 for $100. Price includes shipping & a display easel. (Sales tax will apply to Illinois residents.) Professional photos require a signed release from your photographer, no exceptions.
To order, please email me a high quality (300 dpi) scan of your photo along with how you would like the plaque personalized. I will send you a draft to approve and e-mail a bill via PayPal. Payment in full will be required prior to shipping. Other sizes and shapes are available, please contact me for details.
Thank you in advance for helping me efficiently unclutter my house & save for the wedding (& new house!)
How Exciting!!
I have been e-mailing back and forth today with Kate Harrison, author of The Green Bride website and book
I have actually been getting quite a few compliments on the calendars. (Although why doesn’t anyone leave comments on the website??? We are getting tons of hits every day but very few comments.) 
Oh well. Perhaps I can bribe…er um, I mean…encourage comments by offering some wedding freebies?? I will add things as I can find time. The more comments and encouragement I get from my readers, the more I’ll try to share with you!!
So check out the new page for Freebies and check out the post about us on Kate’s site. And for Pete’s sake (whoever Pete is) please start leaving me comments so I know the 20 hours a day I spend online are for a purpose greater than talking (typing?) to myself!!! Okay, yes I am over exaggerating a bit; I do sleep some nights so 18 hours is probably more truthful…although sometimes I dream that I’m online, but that probably doesn’t count, does it? Anyhow, I digress…
And More Fun Stuff
Do you remember making Fortunte Tellers as a kid? (Also called Cootie Catchers – why I don’t know…) I thought they might be a fun addition to the reception. But I need your help. I haven’t figured out what to put inside them! This is what I have so far:
Outside: Laura, Andy, Meckley, Wedding
Inside 1: 1 Love, 2 People, 3 Dogs, 4 Ever
Inside 2: Pink, Orange, Black, White
Fortunes:
BLANK!!! AGH!
Please comment below and help me write some fun fortunes!
I need 4-8 fortunes. Thanks!!
Speaking of the Invitations…
I realized I have not posted photos of my revised invitations and the inserts. So here ya go! Oh yeah, made by yours truly, the mastermind behind elle Z designs of course. (Gotta throw in my shameless plug; I’ve gotta pay for this wedding somehow, right?!)
Front – Gatefold Style
3D Name Banner – My Favorite Part!
Entire Set – Invitation, Directions/Info Card, RSVP Postcard
I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, 1 year is too long for me to plan a wedding. Obviously I love all our wedding ideas, crafts, etc. but after poking around online and seeing other amazing work from FABULOUSLY creative and talented brides, I have started to second guess some of my projects. I keep looking at things and finding minor details I would do differently now that I’m up to my ears in wedding ideas.
Check out these girls and you will see what I mean: Amber (who has similar colors, GORGEOUS invitations, AND PERSONALIZED BRIDAL CONVERSE SHOES that make me so insanely jealous I might have to “borrow” the idea! ) and Heather who is also extremely talented. So many fun ideas!
But, I am trying to keep myself from redoing everything. Instead, I keep adding on more and more projects. This crafty wedding may be overkill for some so…you’ve been warned!
Who else has had too much time planning that they find themselves redoing projects or adding more and more to their list?
DIY Aisle Runner – Part 2 (almost) Complete!
Aggghhhh!!! I am so excited I could just scream! I am *almost* done with our aisle runner. Here is the second part in this three phase project:
You may notice I still need to do some outlining but I am anxiously awaiting the paint to dry. It’s killing me to wait but I was starting to get a little sloppy in my rush to finish. After this is done I will attempt to line the entire 50′ of it in black ribbon.
I do believe this is the largest crafting project I have ever tackled. Well, the centerpieces took some time too, but I had two helpers. And so did the invitations. Okay, to be fair, this is the single most time consuming item. When it’s done I expect I will have at least 10 or more hours into it. I stopped counting after the first couple days of work.
What is the biggest DIY wedding project you have done?
Will You Be My Bridesmaid/MOH/Attendent/Usher??
I have been meaning to blog about this for a long time but I had to wait until everyone received their package and then I guess I kind of forgot about it. Other brides have posted on forums asking how other people asked people to be in their wedding and it reminded me that I have not shared my photos and stuff online yet.
For the girls I made a CD Jewel Case Calendar. I found photos and quotes online and did a layout in CorelDraw.
Read the rest of the entry for more photos, quotes, details & even a free template!
Eyebrow Threading
I don’t recall where I learned about eyebrow threading but when I did I was fascinated. It’s a beauty technique/art form that uses cotton thread to shape eyebrows. It originates from the Middle East and is making its way to mainstream America. People say it has a lot of advantages over waxing. I must admit I’m pretty lucky, my eyebrows have a decent shape and don’t require much grooming. However, with our wedding approaching I’m starting to pay attention to lots of little details and beauty tips for the big
day.
We had gone to the mall a month or so ago in search of a place that offers eyebrow threading but I either overlooked the kiosk or they were not there at the time. Today I was in luck. Andy & I walked around Northpark Mall and I finally found the Batool Salon kisok. Usually the people working kiosks are a bit aggressive in trying to pull in business and I try to avoid them or act like I’m on the phone so they won’t bother me. Today, I was excited to try this new (to me) technique!
I felt a little weird sitting in the middle of the mall where passerbys could watch but I just closed my eyes and tried to ignore it. The procedure didn’t take very long, maybe 10 minutes and it didn’t hurt all that bad. Obviously there is some pain or slight discomfort. (Don’t you just love the infomercials that say that when it actually hurts like hell?!) Honestly though, I don’t think I have a very high tolerance for pain and this wasn’t that bad. Not nearly as bad as waxing, though it does take longer.
If you’ve never seen it in action it’s difficult to understand. So, have a look at this special shown on NBC I found on YouTube and you will get a better idea:
I didn’t do a before photo, but here’s after:
I thought it might be fun to get a temporary Henna tattoo but Andy wasn’t really into that idea.
Are any of you other brides trying new things to get yourself prepped for the big day?
Lookin’ Good So Far!
Aside from the fact I will be marrying my Prince Charming,
this may very well be the best part about our wedding day.
I had a craving for a bit of chocolate yesterday so I ran downstairs and dug into our candy buffet supplies. Out of the 60+ pounds of candy I thought we could spare a few pieces. I poked around awhile looking at all the fun candy we had. It was still mostly boxed up so I began to organize and assemble a mock candy table. It appears I need to get some more containers because there’s quite a bit left and I ran out of room!
Putter ran down to check on me so the two of us sampled the Sour Patch Kids and Bit ‘o Honey. Then I sampled some of the chocolates. And a few more chocolate. (And took a couple pieces back upstairs with me when I left.) I really wanted to tear open the Fun Dip but I didn’t. And I couldn’t keep my hands of the giant whirly pops. I don’t even want to eat them. I just like looking at ‘em. For the first time in my life I think I felt a true sugar high…and it gave me a headache. But it sure tasted good!
For all you other brides who are having or had a candy buffet (a/k/a a “candy bar”), did you dip in your stash or were you able to contain yourself? (And if so….HOW???)
