Some of you might remember as a kid how it was a "treat" to get to go out to eat. It was like Christmas come early if I ever got to go to Bob Evans or even McDonald's! A rarity for sure, for obvious reasons, but fun and enjoyable none the less! Then I can remember becoming an adult and ... wait for it ... having my own money to ... order an appetizer!!! WOAH! Unheard of ... then came the MIND BLOWING experience of not only ordering an appetizer but DESSERT!!! Shock and awe folks. Why were these such crazy experiences? Because they're indulgences. Things we don't do often for caloric and financial reasons. But really ... sometimes being naughty can be so awesome! I want to share some of my all time favorite indulgences ... food or otherwise!
First of all ... the new Chocolate Chip Frappe from McDonald's. Holy mother. This tastes 10 x better than it sounds! It's a little pricy, $3 and change for a small, BUT it doesn't drink fast and it tastes amazing!! It's a chocolaty delicious mess of a drink. Be prepared for the calories and it does contain caffeine, however I don't get the weird buzz I usually do when drinking caffeine. Just a delicious refreshing drink!
Next is International Delights Iced Coffee. YUM!! If you're like me during warm months, I don't want to drink a hot beverage! This was a vice for me during the summer. It's about $4 for a carton (half gallon) which lasts about 5-6 large drinks. They come in 3 flavors, regular, mocha, and vanilla. Naturally vanilla is my favorite, but for $4 I love this treat! Better value than Starbucks 4 pack iced drinks! (HINT wait for it to go on sale and use an awesome coupon to make it a better value!!!)
A Turtle Sundae from Mr. Freeze (aka Sweet Retreat) Waterville, Ohio. No other place makes this Sundae like Mr. Freeze. It is hands down my favorite ice cream treat of all time! But if you don't live near Waterville, Dairy Queen offers a close substitute, the Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard. Oh mama this is good stuff! A small is all you need and it tastes fabulous!!
Cinnamon Hotcakes from Bob Evans are the diggity ... Seriously if you love breakfast and you love sweet things ... these are the BEST. The portion is big, so make sure this is the only thing you get and don't put any sugar in your coffee! I LOVE these pancakes!
Sunchips ... Done. These things are fabulous. But be careful. They look and sound healthier than regular chips, which they are a little bit, but they can still cost you in the calorie front. My favorite flavors are original, Peppercorn Ranch, French Onion and Garden Salsa. Delish.
Krispy Kreme donuts. I really don't think these need an explanation, but just in case. These are hands down the worlds best donuts. Just plain glazed hot out of the oven absolutely melt in your mouth. If you eat more than 2 you may get an atrocious stomach ache, but if you're not on a weight loss plan you'll thank yourself!
Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter popcorn is the best. Not a nightly treat though, calories are super high (in case you haven't noticed a trend here). No contest it's the best store bought microwaveable popcorn. It's really so good!
Fried Cauliflower at Whitey's Bar and Grill in Richfield, Ohio. (That's near Cleveland if you don't have a map handy) I have had other fried cauliflower but NO ONE does it like Whitey's! Plus while you're there you can burn off those calories playing a little beach volleyball on their sand volleyball court out back! It's a fun time, great atmosphere and the BEST fried cauliflower EVER!
Oh My! Chai from Tastefully Simple. This is easily one of the best drinks I've ever had. It's not expensive, SUPER easy to make and tastes fab!! I know I indulge a lot on drinks, but when you mostly consume water every day ... your indulgences tend to go the bevy way! ;) Try some when you can, you'll never go back! Um go back to whatever you were drinking before ... or whatever ...
Now for my non food indulgences - yeah you can have those too!!
Lysol Dual Action wipes. These seriously live up to the hype. I LOVE that it has a scrubber side. It works very well on stubborn things like, bathtubs, counter tops, sticky floors, blinds - yes blinds need cleaned too! Very handy to have around the house, but not super environmentally friendly, so I wouldn't try to use them for everyday cleaning.
Shopping at Target. This is an indulgence for me because when I go, I RARELY stick to my list. I end up buying that super cute clutch for $10 or that hand soap that's on sale or a new belt. They have a great selection of excellent items at very good prices. I love shopping at Target, but need to be careful if I walked in for 2 things that I don't walk out with 50! (PS if you have never been or haven't been lately, they have a DOLLAR section with really cute fun stuff for under 5 bucks!!! You GOTTA check it out!)
Hobby Lobby. If you have never been to this store you need to go! Crafts are not usually my thing, but they have a wide variety of neat "already crafted" things and DIY made easy. They're also a Christian operated store and value their customers. I asked a question about a discount once, and because no one in the store was sure of the answer, they gave me the discount! That's customer service folks!! Check them out because they have GREAT discounts and prices for Christmas!!
So remember, don't read this blog and go out and eat or do all of these things at once! Pry shouldn't even do more than one of them in a week! But indulgences are just that, indulgence. A time for us to partake on something that isn't everyday. Do something we don't normally get to ... and it feels so right!
Indulge in moderation my friends!! And leave me some feedback on the products and things you LOVE to indulge in!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Oh Baby! ... Shower
I got to go to a baby shower this past Saturday. First of all the mommy to be is adorable! And I was really excited to be invited. As some of you may know I take invitations seriously because it's an honor for me to be included in such a happy occasion! The shower was lovely of course and a great time was had by all.
The gift opening was the last part, which it usually is, and she had some great gifts! I want to tell you my top 10 list of gifts to get for expecting parents, and a couple SUPER cute and even easier ways to present them!
These gifts are in no particular order, but if you're stumped these are gifts they'll thank you for! (No seriously thank you not just like "oh yeah hey thanks for that stuff, it's cool.") In no particular order:
1. Baby wash in the pump bottle; GENIUS. At first I just thought oh whatever, I don't need it in the pump, until I went to use it. SO much handier and makes tubby time that much faster and easier. Plus, soap is a must have and a will go through item so it doesn't matter if you get duplicates.
2. Diapers - okay this one is obvious I know, but hear me out. Everyone always wants to get diapers in the newborn - size 1. I say, get them size 2 or up. Babies will spend most of their time in 2, 3 and up. They grow out of newbie diapers quick so steer clear of those and go for a bigger size that will save the parents money later!
3. Boudreaux's Butt Paste. This stuff is the DIGGITY!!! It's amazing, it will clear up diaper rash in a matter of hours not days! I had a friend who's baby is the same age as my daughter. And she had a NASTY diaper rash, I lent my friend a tube of my Butt Paste and she said it was gone the next day. She honestly couldn't believe it because nothing was working. She loved it so much she went out and bought her own!
4. Pacifier cleaning wipes. Holy Moses these things are amazing. I buy the Munchkin brand from Target, about 4 bucks for a packet of 36. They're alcohol free, no chemicals and they work on anything anywhere. Even if the parents don't use pacifiers, you can clean cups, bottles, toys anything your baby wants to drop at the exact moment you can't clean it. Just put these babies in your diaper bag and go!
5. Lansinoh anything. Even if your mom to be isn't going to nurse, she may still lactate and leak she may need nursing pads. Lansinoh brand is the BEST and it's middle of the road in terms of price. If your mommy is going to nurse the nipple cream is a LIFE saver. I had a terrible time nursing my baby early on it was so painful, this cream was recommended to me and I've never felt such awesome relief! Works like an amazing charm!!
6. Bibs. Again, this is an easy one. But when I realized I didn't have ENOUGH bibs and wanted to buy more, I was kinda shocked at how expensive they are! When you're a parent, especially one on a limited income, everything seems expensive. I never ended up buying anymore but wish I had. Bibs get used up quick and it feels like you're always having to wash them! So as many as possible are great!
7. Receiving blankets. Man o mighty these things are awesome!! You can honestly use them for anything. Swaddle blanket, burp rag, clean up spills, clean up puke, you can use them as a changing pad. They can have tummy time on them. Receiving blankets are another item you just can't have enough of!
8. Any kind of soft chewy toy. My baby loved these as a baby and I don't think I had enough. She'd get bored and I ran out of them to give her. You can buy them just about anywhere and they make a great filler item. The kind that can hang from your car seat are awesome!
9. Onsies. I kinda can't emphasize this one enough. Babies will live in onsies til they're 2. (Well a lot of babies will) I was and am always out of them. Babies, especially new ones will spit up on, puke on, drool on, snot on, poop on, and pee on their clothes almost as if it's their job. Sometimes I think it is, but you'll change clothes like nobodies business so you'll need a lot of onsies. For those who don't know, they are the shirts that snap under the crotch. They come in short and long sleeve and most parents will use them for everything from sleep wear to and extra layer under an outfit. They are an essential must have and it'll always seem as if you don't have enough! Plain white are recommended because they will match anything. Colorful ones with patterns are cute, but your baby will look like it was dressed by a crazy person if you need to layer it underneath something that doesn't match.
10. Baby proofing items. Again, everyone likes to get things for the baby right now. But we all forget that babies grow pretty quick. Most pediatricians recommend that as soon as your baby rolls over you should baby proof your house. Well if you're like our house, our baby rolled over at 6 weeks. Holy early for most babies, but we didn't even have a baby gate! So you can make the big purchase of a baby gate, or a small filler purchase like outlet covers or cabinet-keeper-closers. Yeah I made up a word for an item I don't know what it's called! We can fight about it or we can move on your choice! We just installed the last item and let me tell you ... GOD SEND! Emma was into every cabinet in the kitchen and always pulling out either potentially dangerous items or freshly washed baby eating items. Either way it's annoying and hazardous. So these will be put to great use and if the parents have them, they can just put them on and not have to worry about running out and getting some.
Those are all things I use and think are positively amazing. I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't but I stand by them all totally. Now for a few things I WISH I had and recommend. A cover for grocery carts and restaurant high chairs. What a great idea. Most babies go through a phase of gnawing on EVERYTHING. It's a combination of learning (babies learn the world by putting things in their mouth) and teething. They need to chew like a brand new puppy. So having a cover for the shopping cart would have saved me a lot of headache and gross out. On many occasions I would look back or down and there was my little princess with her precious little mouth all over that infested metal cart! BLEH. Covers are the way to go! Also, a plastic roll up place mat with suction cups. My friend, previously mentioned in this post, has one and it's just amazing. You can put anything on there and know it's clean instead of worrying about food falling onto the table you know was cleaned with some now brown but started white semi clean dishrag. It suctions to the table, has a catch that hangs off to catch falling toys, crayons or food, dishwasher safe and can just roll up to go anywhere. You always have a clean eating space for your pumpkin!
Keep in mind, any gift given to parents is going to be supremely appreciated! Every little bit helps. But these items I feel like parents NEED to have. They will all definitely get used a LOT. So save your money from buying that ridiculously cute newborn outfit they'll only wear once, maybe. Or that over priced stuffed animal and buy them something everyday usable. Let the grandparents and close aunts and uncles buy the cutsie stuff and you stick with the practical. It's easy on the wallet and they really will thank you. If nothing up there strikes you, BOOKS are always a great go to. Cardboard books are fabulous and often you can get them for less than $5. Other books, are plastic bathtime books; can go anywhere, your baby can chew on them, easy to clean, and durable. Great gift!
Now. Quickly, because this post is getting long. Here are two ways to prepare your gift that will get ALL the ladies talkin! The first is a diaper cake. I'm sure most of you have either heard of this or have seen one. Super fabulously cute and very easy to make. Buy a pack of diapers, package of rubber bands, receiving blanket, bottle, and bibs. Cut a piece of cardboard in a large circle like you see for cakes. Cover with receiving blanket covering tightly and taping into place. Roll up the diapers and secure with rubber bands. Stand them up in the cardboard forming a circle. Make sure that you have enough diapers to do at least 2 layers. The top layer stand the bottle upright and pack the rolled diapers around it. (The bottle should look like a candle) Secure your cake rounds of diapers either with a giant rubber band (to be covered by ribbon) or tightly tied ribbon. The bottom layer should extend further than the top layer. Drape bibs over top layer to resemble icing. For added bonuses you can put a package of wipes in the middle of the bottom layer when you are forming your diapers in a circle. You can also add things like pacifiers, rattles or little toys and secure them with ribbon. Finish product is useful and adorable. The idea I saw this weekend is even easier and just as practical! Buy onsies and socks in matching pairs. Fold the onsies in half then roll and stuff the socks in the middle. Bingo you have onsie cupcakes! Secure with tape or a rubber band and put them in a cute cardboard box with a plastic window. They look just like cupcakes bought from a bakery!
So now you are prepared either as a first time parent wondering what the heck you need, or as a shower guest going ... I can't afford a $245 mattress! Have no fear your gift ideas are here.
Good luck and have fun!! :)
The gift opening was the last part, which it usually is, and she had some great gifts! I want to tell you my top 10 list of gifts to get for expecting parents, and a couple SUPER cute and even easier ways to present them!
These gifts are in no particular order, but if you're stumped these are gifts they'll thank you for! (No seriously thank you not just like "oh yeah hey thanks for that stuff, it's cool.") In no particular order:
1. Baby wash in the pump bottle; GENIUS. At first I just thought oh whatever, I don't need it in the pump, until I went to use it. SO much handier and makes tubby time that much faster and easier. Plus, soap is a must have and a will go through item so it doesn't matter if you get duplicates.
2. Diapers - okay this one is obvious I know, but hear me out. Everyone always wants to get diapers in the newborn - size 1. I say, get them size 2 or up. Babies will spend most of their time in 2, 3 and up. They grow out of newbie diapers quick so steer clear of those and go for a bigger size that will save the parents money later!
3. Boudreaux's Butt Paste. This stuff is the DIGGITY!!! It's amazing, it will clear up diaper rash in a matter of hours not days! I had a friend who's baby is the same age as my daughter. And she had a NASTY diaper rash, I lent my friend a tube of my Butt Paste and she said it was gone the next day. She honestly couldn't believe it because nothing was working. She loved it so much she went out and bought her own!
4. Pacifier cleaning wipes. Holy Moses these things are amazing. I buy the Munchkin brand from Target, about 4 bucks for a packet of 36. They're alcohol free, no chemicals and they work on anything anywhere. Even if the parents don't use pacifiers, you can clean cups, bottles, toys anything your baby wants to drop at the exact moment you can't clean it. Just put these babies in your diaper bag and go!
5. Lansinoh anything. Even if your mom to be isn't going to nurse, she may still lactate and leak she may need nursing pads. Lansinoh brand is the BEST and it's middle of the road in terms of price. If your mommy is going to nurse the nipple cream is a LIFE saver. I had a terrible time nursing my baby early on it was so painful, this cream was recommended to me and I've never felt such awesome relief! Works like an amazing charm!!
6. Bibs. Again, this is an easy one. But when I realized I didn't have ENOUGH bibs and wanted to buy more, I was kinda shocked at how expensive they are! When you're a parent, especially one on a limited income, everything seems expensive. I never ended up buying anymore but wish I had. Bibs get used up quick and it feels like you're always having to wash them! So as many as possible are great!
7. Receiving blankets. Man o mighty these things are awesome!! You can honestly use them for anything. Swaddle blanket, burp rag, clean up spills, clean up puke, you can use them as a changing pad. They can have tummy time on them. Receiving blankets are another item you just can't have enough of!
8. Any kind of soft chewy toy. My baby loved these as a baby and I don't think I had enough. She'd get bored and I ran out of them to give her. You can buy them just about anywhere and they make a great filler item. The kind that can hang from your car seat are awesome!
9. Onsies. I kinda can't emphasize this one enough. Babies will live in onsies til they're 2. (Well a lot of babies will) I was and am always out of them. Babies, especially new ones will spit up on, puke on, drool on, snot on, poop on, and pee on their clothes almost as if it's their job. Sometimes I think it is, but you'll change clothes like nobodies business so you'll need a lot of onsies. For those who don't know, they are the shirts that snap under the crotch. They come in short and long sleeve and most parents will use them for everything from sleep wear to and extra layer under an outfit. They are an essential must have and it'll always seem as if you don't have enough! Plain white are recommended because they will match anything. Colorful ones with patterns are cute, but your baby will look like it was dressed by a crazy person if you need to layer it underneath something that doesn't match.
10. Baby proofing items. Again, everyone likes to get things for the baby right now. But we all forget that babies grow pretty quick. Most pediatricians recommend that as soon as your baby rolls over you should baby proof your house. Well if you're like our house, our baby rolled over at 6 weeks. Holy early for most babies, but we didn't even have a baby gate! So you can make the big purchase of a baby gate, or a small filler purchase like outlet covers or cabinet-keeper-closers. Yeah I made up a word for an item I don't know what it's called! We can fight about it or we can move on your choice! We just installed the last item and let me tell you ... GOD SEND! Emma was into every cabinet in the kitchen and always pulling out either potentially dangerous items or freshly washed baby eating items. Either way it's annoying and hazardous. So these will be put to great use and if the parents have them, they can just put them on and not have to worry about running out and getting some.
Those are all things I use and think are positively amazing. I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't but I stand by them all totally. Now for a few things I WISH I had and recommend. A cover for grocery carts and restaurant high chairs. What a great idea. Most babies go through a phase of gnawing on EVERYTHING. It's a combination of learning (babies learn the world by putting things in their mouth) and teething. They need to chew like a brand new puppy. So having a cover for the shopping cart would have saved me a lot of headache and gross out. On many occasions I would look back or down and there was my little princess with her precious little mouth all over that infested metal cart! BLEH. Covers are the way to go! Also, a plastic roll up place mat with suction cups. My friend, previously mentioned in this post, has one and it's just amazing. You can put anything on there and know it's clean instead of worrying about food falling onto the table you know was cleaned with some now brown but started white semi clean dishrag. It suctions to the table, has a catch that hangs off to catch falling toys, crayons or food, dishwasher safe and can just roll up to go anywhere. You always have a clean eating space for your pumpkin!
Keep in mind, any gift given to parents is going to be supremely appreciated! Every little bit helps. But these items I feel like parents NEED to have. They will all definitely get used a LOT. So save your money from buying that ridiculously cute newborn outfit they'll only wear once, maybe. Or that over priced stuffed animal and buy them something everyday usable. Let the grandparents and close aunts and uncles buy the cutsie stuff and you stick with the practical. It's easy on the wallet and they really will thank you. If nothing up there strikes you, BOOKS are always a great go to. Cardboard books are fabulous and often you can get them for less than $5. Other books, are plastic bathtime books; can go anywhere, your baby can chew on them, easy to clean, and durable. Great gift!
Now. Quickly, because this post is getting long. Here are two ways to prepare your gift that will get ALL the ladies talkin! The first is a diaper cake. I'm sure most of you have either heard of this or have seen one. Super fabulously cute and very easy to make. Buy a pack of diapers, package of rubber bands, receiving blanket, bottle, and bibs. Cut a piece of cardboard in a large circle like you see for cakes. Cover with receiving blanket covering tightly and taping into place. Roll up the diapers and secure with rubber bands. Stand them up in the cardboard forming a circle. Make sure that you have enough diapers to do at least 2 layers. The top layer stand the bottle upright and pack the rolled diapers around it. (The bottle should look like a candle) Secure your cake rounds of diapers either with a giant rubber band (to be covered by ribbon) or tightly tied ribbon. The bottom layer should extend further than the top layer. Drape bibs over top layer to resemble icing. For added bonuses you can put a package of wipes in the middle of the bottom layer when you are forming your diapers in a circle. You can also add things like pacifiers, rattles or little toys and secure them with ribbon. Finish product is useful and adorable. The idea I saw this weekend is even easier and just as practical! Buy onsies and socks in matching pairs. Fold the onsies in half then roll and stuff the socks in the middle. Bingo you have onsie cupcakes! Secure with tape or a rubber band and put them in a cute cardboard box with a plastic window. They look just like cupcakes bought from a bakery!
So now you are prepared either as a first time parent wondering what the heck you need, or as a shower guest going ... I can't afford a $245 mattress! Have no fear your gift ideas are here.
Good luck and have fun!! :)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Feeling Fallish
Oh man ... I love Fall! Well I love all seasons, but I get excited when a new one comes! It is such a PERFECT time to start fitness goals! Take for example, I want to lose 30 pounds, Fall is a great time for this because I start to walk farther than I am able in the summer. I have a huge Great Dane named Brutus and he is also 30 pounds overweight (even though we walk daily) and his heart just can't handle the summer heat. I've even asked other Dane owners who say the same thing about their "smaller" Danes. It's just not a good time for big dogs. It takes a lot of effort to pump blood through that big body and takes a toll on the heart. So we take short walks in the summer time so he can make it. Cooler fall weather means longer walks and more calories burned! It also means that I will be more in the mood to cook! Who wants a hot kitchen on hot summer nights?? YUCK. But again, now that the windows are open, I feel the need and want to get the crock pot out and fire up the oven.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that we don't all have to run marathons to lose weight. Walking is an EXCELLENT source of exercise. In fact, the last time I went to my primary care physician office, they had a flyer out about the awesome health benefits of walking. Kaiser Permanente is taking part in a "Every Body Walk" campaign ( www.everybodywalk.org) Here are some statistics to get you out and walking and enjoying the beauty of fall!!!
Walking 20 minutes a day will burn 7 pounds of fat per year.
Walking 45 minutes a day cuts your risk of getting a cold in HALF. AWESOME!
Walking 1 minute ... yeah I typed it right ... ONE MINUTE can extend your life by 1.5-2 minutes!
Walking 6 miles a week can cut your risk of developing Alzheimers disease in HALF.
Women who walk for 1 hour a day 5 days a week and consume 1500 calories a day can lose and keep off 25 pounds!
Walking 30 minutes a day 4 times a week can reduce the risk of Diabetes nearly 60%.
Prostate cancer patients who walk 90 minutes a week have nearly 50% lower mortality risk.
Women who walk regularly are 31% less likely to develop colon cancer (than those who exercise less than one hour per week). Looks like my rump is safe ... for now!
Walking 30 minutes a day 5 times a week can cut the risk of heart disease by HALF.
Walking triggers endorphins which promotes relaxation, prevents anxiety and depression, reduces stress, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition walking burns more calories than jogging, improves your balance, reduces risk of glaucoma and builds bone mass. Walking is especially beneficial for seniors, but I believe that building a good base now will only increase those benefits when I am older. So walking now is creating good habits to keep when I am in my 70's and up!
I love walking. It gives me time to think and clear my head. It is a great energy release for my dog. It gets my baby out of the house. I love enjoying nature and sucking in some fresh air and I always think about the benefits for my body. I have a very bad lower back and genetically I was preconditioned to have the awful knees I have. Walking is low impact which means I can easily walk for miles if I choose and still feel fine. I can't physically do that with running. If I ran a mile right now, I would be sore for at least a few days. In addition, you can add extra walking into your life anytime. You can walk on your lunch break at work, you can park far away at the grocery store or walk to the store, you can walk when you get home from work. Running I always feel has to be much more scheduled. I have to figure out when I have time and I must shower afterward. I don't have a jogging stroller right now so I can't take my daughter with me. My dog is too big to run as far as I would need. When I walk, I can include everyone and go anytime.
Long story longer. You don't need to prep for the Boston marathon to lose weight or feel better about yourself. You just need to walk baby!! Yeah! Get that walk on!
So get out there and walk your booty off ... LITERALLY! And burn those tailgate calories honey!!!
Get up get out get walkin!
**All facts and statistics provided by Kaiser Permanente visit www.kp.org for additional information**
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that we don't all have to run marathons to lose weight. Walking is an EXCELLENT source of exercise. In fact, the last time I went to my primary care physician office, they had a flyer out about the awesome health benefits of walking. Kaiser Permanente is taking part in a "Every Body Walk" campaign ( www.everybodywalk.org) Here are some statistics to get you out and walking and enjoying the beauty of fall!!!
Walking 20 minutes a day will burn 7 pounds of fat per year.
Walking 45 minutes a day cuts your risk of getting a cold in HALF. AWESOME!
Walking 1 minute ... yeah I typed it right ... ONE MINUTE can extend your life by 1.5-2 minutes!
Walking 6 miles a week can cut your risk of developing Alzheimers disease in HALF.
Women who walk for 1 hour a day 5 days a week and consume 1500 calories a day can lose and keep off 25 pounds!
Walking 30 minutes a day 4 times a week can reduce the risk of Diabetes nearly 60%.
Prostate cancer patients who walk 90 minutes a week have nearly 50% lower mortality risk.
Women who walk regularly are 31% less likely to develop colon cancer (than those who exercise less than one hour per week). Looks like my rump is safe ... for now!
Walking 30 minutes a day 5 times a week can cut the risk of heart disease by HALF.
Walking triggers endorphins which promotes relaxation, prevents anxiety and depression, reduces stress, cholesterol and blood pressure. In addition walking burns more calories than jogging, improves your balance, reduces risk of glaucoma and builds bone mass. Walking is especially beneficial for seniors, but I believe that building a good base now will only increase those benefits when I am older. So walking now is creating good habits to keep when I am in my 70's and up!
I love walking. It gives me time to think and clear my head. It is a great energy release for my dog. It gets my baby out of the house. I love enjoying nature and sucking in some fresh air and I always think about the benefits for my body. I have a very bad lower back and genetically I was preconditioned to have the awful knees I have. Walking is low impact which means I can easily walk for miles if I choose and still feel fine. I can't physically do that with running. If I ran a mile right now, I would be sore for at least a few days. In addition, you can add extra walking into your life anytime. You can walk on your lunch break at work, you can park far away at the grocery store or walk to the store, you can walk when you get home from work. Running I always feel has to be much more scheduled. I have to figure out when I have time and I must shower afterward. I don't have a jogging stroller right now so I can't take my daughter with me. My dog is too big to run as far as I would need. When I walk, I can include everyone and go anytime.
Long story longer. You don't need to prep for the Boston marathon to lose weight or feel better about yourself. You just need to walk baby!! Yeah! Get that walk on!
So get out there and walk your booty off ... LITERALLY! And burn those tailgate calories honey!!!
Get up get out get walkin!
**All facts and statistics provided by Kaiser Permanente visit www.kp.org for additional information**
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Worry worry worry
So I'm going out on a limb here and say that most people who read my blog are women, judging that based on the title of the blog and the titles of most of my entries. That being said, most women are big worriers. It's something ingrained in our DNA to worry constantly. We worry about big things, frivolous things, and everything in the middle. Me? I'm probably one of the biggest worriers you'll ever meet. I worry if I can't get a hold of my husband on the phone when I know he's supposed to be traveling somewhere. I worry if he was supposed to be home a while ago and I can't get a hold of him. I worry that my baby isn't eating enough vegetables. I worry that she isn't really speaking a whole lot at 18 months. It's a constant battle against ourselves. A lot of people say there's really nothing that can be done about it. There are a lot of sayings about worry that don't really do a whole lotta good - "Worry is like a rocking chair, you do all that work and never get anywhere." What's your point? Worry is not a switch that I can turn on and off. It's just there. But there are ways we can deal with it and possibly even help us worry a little less.
First of all, sometimes we just need to realistically sit back and reevaluate the situation. Some things that seem big are really small. But in the midst of the situation it can be hard to recognize. So when worry hits in a major way, literally take a deep breath. You know like they tell you at the doctor. Then either tell yourself literally out loud or in your head, okay stop. For some big worriers saying it out loud actually commands your brain to stop it's 500 mile an hour worst case scenario path which ultimately gives you a moment to reassess the problem. Is this really that big of a deal? So you forgot the chips to the Bar-be-Que ... I think people will survive.
After that step, gather as much information as you can about the situation. Consider the worst possible scenario and gather facts.Whether that be reanalyzing in your mind what is happening, or doing some research on the internet. My dog ate my sock will he die? By the way my dog has eaten many many a things and hasn't died yet. Consulting the great google god's can definitely bring you down a peg or two or fifty on the worryometer. Just analyze what you can and reevaluate. So yes, your dog could die if he ate something he's not supposed to, what can we do to prevent that? How likely is that to actually happen? Fact gather - NOT suspicions or hunches but actual facts about the situation.
Then figure out some action steps. If you even need any. I can't get a hold of my husband and he was supposed to be home 40 minutes ago, if he isn't home in 30 minutes and I still haven't heard from him I will either A. call authorities or B. drive his known route home. No one wants to be out screaming in the streets their spouse is dead if all he did was stop and buy you flowers on his way home! Check your facts and come up with sound solid action steps you can take to rectify the situation if possible.
This is one of my favorite go to's. But it may not suit everyone. I pray. I am a spiritual person and I literally consult my Bible if it is definitely something big, but I don't have much control over it. Take for example a problem at work. Your boss is now considering the details of your report. There's nothing you can do at that point. So I open my Bible and in almost every instance I open to something relevant. I don't think that coincidence can happen that often! If you are unfamiliar with the Bible (or even if you are familiar just not sure where to turn) here are some EXCELLENT words of advice. Phillipians 4:6-7 (That is chapter 4 verses 6-7) "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 11:28, and Matthew 6:34 one of my all time favorites "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." There are many more stories and passages about worry in the Bible, and a very comforting fact is religion or a belief in something greater than yourself. Knowing that someone has your back when you can't is incredibly comforting. I am a Christian and many times over I rely on my God to make the weak areas in my life strong. It's a big relief knowing you don't have to go through it alone!
The fact of the matter is this. We all worry, but too much worry causes things we don't like. Worry leads to excess stress which in turn gives us gray hair, weight gain, insomnia, heart problems and many many more undesirable side effects. So lets follow a few steps and keep that worry in check. No one should lead a constant life of fear of the unknown or maybe. We like you, we'd like you to be in the present with the rest of us!!
So hang in there worry warts! There is help to calm those what if days and help you lead a less stressful more productive life!
Take care and fear less!
Christie
First of all, sometimes we just need to realistically sit back and reevaluate the situation. Some things that seem big are really small. But in the midst of the situation it can be hard to recognize. So when worry hits in a major way, literally take a deep breath. You know like they tell you at the doctor. Then either tell yourself literally out loud or in your head, okay stop. For some big worriers saying it out loud actually commands your brain to stop it's 500 mile an hour worst case scenario path which ultimately gives you a moment to reassess the problem. Is this really that big of a deal? So you forgot the chips to the Bar-be-Que ... I think people will survive.
After that step, gather as much information as you can about the situation. Consider the worst possible scenario and gather facts.Whether that be reanalyzing in your mind what is happening, or doing some research on the internet. My dog ate my sock will he die? By the way my dog has eaten many many a things and hasn't died yet. Consulting the great google god's can definitely bring you down a peg or two or fifty on the worryometer. Just analyze what you can and reevaluate. So yes, your dog could die if he ate something he's not supposed to, what can we do to prevent that? How likely is that to actually happen? Fact gather - NOT suspicions or hunches but actual facts about the situation.
Then figure out some action steps. If you even need any. I can't get a hold of my husband and he was supposed to be home 40 minutes ago, if he isn't home in 30 minutes and I still haven't heard from him I will either A. call authorities or B. drive his known route home. No one wants to be out screaming in the streets their spouse is dead if all he did was stop and buy you flowers on his way home! Check your facts and come up with sound solid action steps you can take to rectify the situation if possible.
This is one of my favorite go to's. But it may not suit everyone. I pray. I am a spiritual person and I literally consult my Bible if it is definitely something big, but I don't have much control over it. Take for example a problem at work. Your boss is now considering the details of your report. There's nothing you can do at that point. So I open my Bible and in almost every instance I open to something relevant. I don't think that coincidence can happen that often! If you are unfamiliar with the Bible (or even if you are familiar just not sure where to turn) here are some EXCELLENT words of advice. Phillipians 4:6-7 (That is chapter 4 verses 6-7) "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 11:28, and Matthew 6:34 one of my all time favorites "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." There are many more stories and passages about worry in the Bible, and a very comforting fact is religion or a belief in something greater than yourself. Knowing that someone has your back when you can't is incredibly comforting. I am a Christian and many times over I rely on my God to make the weak areas in my life strong. It's a big relief knowing you don't have to go through it alone!
The fact of the matter is this. We all worry, but too much worry causes things we don't like. Worry leads to excess stress which in turn gives us gray hair, weight gain, insomnia, heart problems and many many more undesirable side effects. So lets follow a few steps and keep that worry in check. No one should lead a constant life of fear of the unknown or maybe. We like you, we'd like you to be in the present with the rest of us!!
So hang in there worry warts! There is help to calm those what if days and help you lead a less stressful more productive life!
Take care and fear less!
Christie
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9/11 ... then, now and future
There is not much to say today. I must admit I have been teary eyed at random parts of the day when I hear different stories or see something on TV. When most people think we went to war because of oil I can't let myself think that. I can't think that so many lives have been lost for nothing. The people who died at the hands of terrorists in what must be the most terrifying last moments anyone could ever encounter. The heroism from the people on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, giving up their lives to save many many others, the police, fire and EMS working and some losing to save those who couldn't help themselves. Today is a day of tragic remembrance. Tragic but important. To know that our military, my brothers included, were and are fighting for something greater. Fighting to end tyranny, fighting to end violence, fighting still for those who lost on 9/11.
I was in high school when the attacks happened. My oldest brother already in the military, and I got home from school my mom in tears as she recalled to me a phone call she got from my brother on his base.
"Mom, I'm fine, that's all I can say. We are on lock down. Gotta go Bye." We were in panic mode, will he be sent somewhere? Will we go to war? Will his base be attacked? After he got home and we could talk to him freely, he said he was ready to go. He WANTED to be sent. He wanted to fight for this country my family was brought up to love so much. His base launched the first F16 fighter planes in the air after the attacks happened. To know our little base had the ability to rally so quickly and know my brother was a vital part of that process makes me one of the most PROUD sisters in the history of siblings. It still gives me goosebumps to think about. He's not a super excitable person, but he was almost shaking with anger that someone could do this to our country. To hurt so many people in the name of terror and destruction. He said let me go I want to go get them!! As much as we didn't want to send him, it makes me proud to the point of tears to know how brave he was that day.
As this war progressed, my other middle brother went into the Air Force as well, and eventually both served in Iraq, once together ... talk about counting the days! I know their wives were worried, obviously, and this may sound harsh, but there is no terror like thinking your only 2 siblings could be taken from you at any moment. They were stationed on the most bombed base in Iraq and bombed every day, many many many times a day. Praise God that He had His angels around them. Strapped to the nines with their Heavenly battle armor to protect my brothers. They did lose a pilot on that tour, and it makes me sad to think that because they are in the National Guard part of the military, some don't consider their service real. Let me just tell you, that weather you are in the Coast Guard, National Guard, Retired, Active Duty, whatever ... YOU SERVED YOUR COUNTRY. Period. My oldest brother had to have an emergency appendectomy while serving. He woke up to find his nurse in full battle gear UNDER his bed telling him don't move we are being bombed. Looking over and seeing POW's handcuffed to their beds ... if that isn't service, I'm not sure what is.
My oldest brother is out of the military, and my middle brother still continues to serve. Honestly, proud to the point of explosion, doesn't even come close to how I feel about them. They are my Hero's, not to mention my father a long time Fireman and paramedic. He has locally saved many lives and still serves my hometown. If given the chance, he would have been there 11 years ago running into those buildings along with the NYFD and doing everything in his power to save as many lives as possible. His service and ability to work so well under pressure still amazes me.
It's amazing to me how far the ripples go and how many people were and still are affected by this major catastrophe. Which is why it is VITAL for our Country to survive and strive, that we STAND UNITED. "A house dived amongst itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln 1858 "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Matt 15:25.
Don't let this day be solely remembered for the bad. Remember all that did good. The hero's who were willing to put their lives second to save a stranger. To memorialize this day and those who have gone, do something for someone else. Love those around you with all you have. The only way to truly erase hate, terror, anger and evil is to fill this world with love and compassion. I know I will never live to see a day when there aren't dozens of news reports about murder, and terrorist acts, and hate, but I strive to set this world on that course, so that my grandchildren, great grandchildren, or great great grandchildren can watch news reports of love, humility, caring.
Take a moment to remember, a tear in silence, grieve in our hearts, because loss is painful. But put a flag out, smile and help someone to their car in honor of those who so bravely served and helped so many 11 years ago today. It's a small thing, but oh so important. If we do not remember the good, then terror wins.
I want to personally thank from the depths of my heart and soul all the past and present, Firemen, Police Officers, and Military Personnel of this country. Your service has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated, you are all Hero's - Thank You.
I love you all.
God Bless you and God Bless The USA,
Christie
* Please feel free to comment on this post if you have a story of 9/11 you want remembered, or how you have been affected. If you have someone you love in service of this country please let me know and I will Pray for them. God Bless *
I was in high school when the attacks happened. My oldest brother already in the military, and I got home from school my mom in tears as she recalled to me a phone call she got from my brother on his base.
"Mom, I'm fine, that's all I can say. We are on lock down. Gotta go Bye." We were in panic mode, will he be sent somewhere? Will we go to war? Will his base be attacked? After he got home and we could talk to him freely, he said he was ready to go. He WANTED to be sent. He wanted to fight for this country my family was brought up to love so much. His base launched the first F16 fighter planes in the air after the attacks happened. To know our little base had the ability to rally so quickly and know my brother was a vital part of that process makes me one of the most PROUD sisters in the history of siblings. It still gives me goosebumps to think about. He's not a super excitable person, but he was almost shaking with anger that someone could do this to our country. To hurt so many people in the name of terror and destruction. He said let me go I want to go get them!! As much as we didn't want to send him, it makes me proud to the point of tears to know how brave he was that day.
As this war progressed, my other middle brother went into the Air Force as well, and eventually both served in Iraq, once together ... talk about counting the days! I know their wives were worried, obviously, and this may sound harsh, but there is no terror like thinking your only 2 siblings could be taken from you at any moment. They were stationed on the most bombed base in Iraq and bombed every day, many many many times a day. Praise God that He had His angels around them. Strapped to the nines with their Heavenly battle armor to protect my brothers. They did lose a pilot on that tour, and it makes me sad to think that because they are in the National Guard part of the military, some don't consider their service real. Let me just tell you, that weather you are in the Coast Guard, National Guard, Retired, Active Duty, whatever ... YOU SERVED YOUR COUNTRY. Period. My oldest brother had to have an emergency appendectomy while serving. He woke up to find his nurse in full battle gear UNDER his bed telling him don't move we are being bombed. Looking over and seeing POW's handcuffed to their beds ... if that isn't service, I'm not sure what is.
My oldest brother is out of the military, and my middle brother still continues to serve. Honestly, proud to the point of explosion, doesn't even come close to how I feel about them. They are my Hero's, not to mention my father a long time Fireman and paramedic. He has locally saved many lives and still serves my hometown. If given the chance, he would have been there 11 years ago running into those buildings along with the NYFD and doing everything in his power to save as many lives as possible. His service and ability to work so well under pressure still amazes me.
It's amazing to me how far the ripples go and how many people were and still are affected by this major catastrophe. Which is why it is VITAL for our Country to survive and strive, that we STAND UNITED. "A house dived amongst itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln 1858 "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Matt 15:25.
Don't let this day be solely remembered for the bad. Remember all that did good. The hero's who were willing to put their lives second to save a stranger. To memorialize this day and those who have gone, do something for someone else. Love those around you with all you have. The only way to truly erase hate, terror, anger and evil is to fill this world with love and compassion. I know I will never live to see a day when there aren't dozens of news reports about murder, and terrorist acts, and hate, but I strive to set this world on that course, so that my grandchildren, great grandchildren, or great great grandchildren can watch news reports of love, humility, caring.
Take a moment to remember, a tear in silence, grieve in our hearts, because loss is painful. But put a flag out, smile and help someone to their car in honor of those who so bravely served and helped so many 11 years ago today. It's a small thing, but oh so important. If we do not remember the good, then terror wins.
I want to personally thank from the depths of my heart and soul all the past and present, Firemen, Police Officers, and Military Personnel of this country. Your service has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated, you are all Hero's - Thank You.
I love you all.
God Bless you and God Bless The USA,
Christie
* Please feel free to comment on this post if you have a story of 9/11 you want remembered, or how you have been affected. If you have someone you love in service of this country please let me know and I will Pray for them. God Bless *
Friday, September 7, 2012
First Comes Love Then Comes Marriage!
First of all I want to apologize for how late this is. If any of my followers were looking forward to something to read this week, my tech incapable abilities stalled this post. Long story I'm quite sure I'll share another time!
Last weekend, I had the privilege and honor to be invited to my friends wedding. I consider us to be good friends, we lived together for 2 years in college, but weddings are reserved for the most intimate of family and friends. So any time I am considered that part of someone's life it's quite humbling for me. The wedding was of course gorgeous! She went with charcoal and tangerine ... LOVELY! The bride was beautiful, the wedding was excellent and we all had a great time! But as some of you know, and some of you don't, wedding planning is ... well it should be an Olympic sport. Much like day after Thanksgiving shopping, with hopefully less face punching. I planned my wedding 5 years ago, but still remember the frustrations and the moments I chalk in the win column. So here are some of the major issues to consider and hopefully avoid when wedding planning!
First things first, get the groom to be on board! Most fellas know that women (or most women besides me) plan their weddings their whole life. So this is more about her than it is him. So just allow him the opportunity to give feedback when able but try your best to get him on board with your ideas. Then establish a budget. It's easier to spend less when you know what you're working with. If you shop blind you're more likely to spend more money. First identify an end number, a round estimate that you are able to afford for the total cost of the wedding (and honeymoon if you take one). Then break it down into categories, if you go over in one area, you can make up for it in another. Also, know what your parents are willing to contribute. We had help from a few different family members, which helped a lot. It helps knowing that ahead of time.
Next is picking the date. This can be interchangeable with the budget step. Just as long as you and your fiancee (feels nice to say that doesn't it?!!) do both of these together. In most cases it is cheaper to have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday. As these are not ideal days to get married. I got married on a Friday and the way I went into it was, if they want to be there they will. People will take off work for weddings if they want to. And the people who love and value you the most will do that. My husbands cousin is a farmer and we got married Memorial day weekend, a big time for farmers, but he still came to the out of town wedding and took time away from the farm. It's what you do for people you care about.
Next is the venue. The woman whose wedding I went to this past weekend got married outside at a Golf Course and the reception was inside, awesome! It's nice for your guests, especially for those that have to travel. I got married in a church, which was free and had my reception at another location. Keep cost in mind, if it is cheaper to have your wedding in a free location then pay for the reception area do that. If you have a nice place in mind to do it all at a good price do that! Either way, your guests will make it work. Either way, be sure to include directions for your guests to take the guess work out of it.
Then the DRESS. The moment so many women wait for! Now I wasn't a good bride. I LOVE my dress, still, but I didn't come out saying, yep this is the one for sure! I had to decide between 2 dresses. Both were beautiful and I looked great in both of them, what tipped me over the edge was if I bought at David's Bridal my bridesmaids got a discount on their dresses. I was a bit unique in that I had to pick a national chain for my dresses because I had a bridesmaid in California, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. So it wasn't necessarily the deciding factor, but it helped. I paid less than $500 for my dress, and there are many more dresses you can find for much cheaper. Wait til bridal stores have sales, or just head straight for the sale rack. It also helps if you tell the woman assisting you what your price range is. If you find a dress that works all the way around, but there is one feature that you don't like, remember you can most likely have it fixed or removed in alterations. So don't let that keep you from a great dress at a great price! In addition, if you feel your dress is lacking, add to it! Sashes are gorgeous or a big statement necklace and earrings, all making you drop dead gorgeous but keeping your budget in check.
Oh flowers! This can be so hard for some. I was lucky. My sister in laws Aunt did them for me at wholesale prices. She was kind enough to walk me through what flowers she could get and a whole list of prices. We were able to make some basic cuts and keep our massive flowers under $800. It was a May wedding so we used ferns and potted hydrangea's on the alter. They were cheap and they looked full and beautiful. The ferns matched my colors beautifully, I was actually shocked at how well it worked out. Also, I definitely wanted some roses in my bouquets because they are my favorite flowers, but a solid rose bouquet is really expensive, even at wholesale prices. So we worked with a few different flowers, including hydrangeas and ranunculus. These flowers are much cheaper and are bigger so they are beautiful fillers for larger round bouquets. Other flowers to consider when trying to fill your bouquet but not empty your wallet, gerber daisy's, Iris's, Lily's, black eyed susans, lilacs, tulips, dahlias, calla lilly's, gardenia, or peony. Don't see anything you like here? Google search it!! Don't take your florists word for everything, do a little bit of research and you'll come out ahead in the end. Be sure to pick flowers that are in season too. If you really want to save extra money, ask around and see if any friends you have can get flowers at wholesale prices and either do the bouquets yourself, or have a close family member or friend do it for you. I think you'll be surprised at how many people can flower arrange! Leave a comment if you would like more information on flower arranging made easy! We had 8 bouquets, 16 boutonnieres, 4 potted plants, 4 corsages, and I'm sure some others that I'm forgetting for under $800 ... it can be done! PS My flowers were PERFECT!
Two more areas - even though there are about a thousand more details! The caterer and the photographer. My caterer was a long time friend of my family. He actually went to school with my mom, and I feel the BEST caterer in Toledo. He has a bakery as well and got his start selling pastries to my grandpa out of the back of a truck at the Sun Oil plant in Oregon, Ohio. He is FANTASTIC! If you're in Toledo it's Michael's catering. ( http://www.michaelsoftoledo.com/catering.htm ) Ask for Sue. She is literally the best. She will guide you every step of the way. They have been in business a long time and know their stuff! (Christie Meyer sent you!) Just a fabulous company to work with. And that's what you want to look for with any company you use. Will they take care of everything? Set up? Service? Refills? What happens to the left over food? Will they attend to your dessert table? Michael's wife did my cake too. I didn't even get to meet with her, but with my description she made the cake that was in my head perfectly - maybe even better! Ask your caterer if they do cakes as well, and see if you can get a discount by ordering both through their company. It may not always happen, but definitely worth a shot.
Lastly, the photog. The only thing that will last from your wedding is the pictures, everything else will either get eaten, get thrown away or put away, your pictures will be your best memory of the best day of your life! When choosing a photographer you should be a little more loose with your money. Make this one of your bigger budgetary items. Good photographers are hard to find and if and when you do find one, you may have to pay a little for it. Things to look for. First of all, you'll want 2 shooters. We had one for our wedding and I regret it because some of the pictures I had said I wanted I didn't get because he was too overwhelmed. TWO SHOOTERS!! Can't emphasize that enough! My husbands first wedding he shot was only 14 people total ... not in the wedding party total. Every person there including bride and groom totaled 14. And we both shot! So don't think your wedding is too small, it's not! Even if the second shooter isn't taking pictures, they can do important things like fixing your hair, tracking down people, etc. Second, make sure that you will have FULL rights to all your pictures. I know someone who went to order their pictures a few months after the wedding to find the photographer went out of business and took the pictures with them. They had the samples, but not all the pictures - what a nightmare! Get what you pay for! Get all your pics! Also, don't get too caught up on the filler. Most photographers offer some sort of trickety item to offer you, like a coffee table book, a mug, etc. These really don't add much value because they don't cost the photographer very much. So just make sure of the basics, 2 shooters, camera quality (how nice do the pictures look, are they gritty or pixellated?), how long do they shoot, do they include engagement pictures, full rights and any references? Take the advice of friends, if they give you photographers to look into, actually look at them! Go to their studio or call them and set up a meeting. If they are high tech enough for your wedding, they will be able to show you their portfolio in a Starbucks. Make sure that when you choose your photographer, you meet with them and go over all the nitty gritty details and give them a written list of the pictures you want. It may seem repetitive or not necessary, but like my photographer was in over his head and got overwhelmed and forgot to take formal pictures with my grandparents. (There are only 3 living grandparents between my husband and I ... I wasn't happy!) PS my husband's website is: http://dontblinkphoto.net/ or my cousin Ben Derkin http://derksworks.com/#/special/splash/columbus-ohio-modern-artistic-wedding-photography/
Now ... I know there is a lot missing. There is a LOT to wedding planning. But here's what I say to that. Use coupons and get things on sale. Rely on your friends to help you where you can. And scour the web for sites offering bulk items cheap. Keep it as simple as you can, and utilize every resource! Ask lots of questions, and remember, you should get to have some fun when you plan your wedding! It's your day, remember that and don't be afraid to politely tell people so. Be decisive and know that it's your day, get what you want.
If you're getting married Congrats! What a happy time! Best of luck to you and God's blessings on you and your upcoming event!
As always ... have fun lady!!!!
Last weekend, I had the privilege and honor to be invited to my friends wedding. I consider us to be good friends, we lived together for 2 years in college, but weddings are reserved for the most intimate of family and friends. So any time I am considered that part of someone's life it's quite humbling for me. The wedding was of course gorgeous! She went with charcoal and tangerine ... LOVELY! The bride was beautiful, the wedding was excellent and we all had a great time! But as some of you know, and some of you don't, wedding planning is ... well it should be an Olympic sport. Much like day after Thanksgiving shopping, with hopefully less face punching. I planned my wedding 5 years ago, but still remember the frustrations and the moments I chalk in the win column. So here are some of the major issues to consider and hopefully avoid when wedding planning!
First things first, get the groom to be on board! Most fellas know that women (or most women besides me) plan their weddings their whole life. So this is more about her than it is him. So just allow him the opportunity to give feedback when able but try your best to get him on board with your ideas. Then establish a budget. It's easier to spend less when you know what you're working with. If you shop blind you're more likely to spend more money. First identify an end number, a round estimate that you are able to afford for the total cost of the wedding (and honeymoon if you take one). Then break it down into categories, if you go over in one area, you can make up for it in another. Also, know what your parents are willing to contribute. We had help from a few different family members, which helped a lot. It helps knowing that ahead of time.
Next is picking the date. This can be interchangeable with the budget step. Just as long as you and your fiancee (feels nice to say that doesn't it?!!) do both of these together. In most cases it is cheaper to have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday. As these are not ideal days to get married. I got married on a Friday and the way I went into it was, if they want to be there they will. People will take off work for weddings if they want to. And the people who love and value you the most will do that. My husbands cousin is a farmer and we got married Memorial day weekend, a big time for farmers, but he still came to the out of town wedding and took time away from the farm. It's what you do for people you care about.
Next is the venue. The woman whose wedding I went to this past weekend got married outside at a Golf Course and the reception was inside, awesome! It's nice for your guests, especially for those that have to travel. I got married in a church, which was free and had my reception at another location. Keep cost in mind, if it is cheaper to have your wedding in a free location then pay for the reception area do that. If you have a nice place in mind to do it all at a good price do that! Either way, your guests will make it work. Either way, be sure to include directions for your guests to take the guess work out of it.
Then the DRESS. The moment so many women wait for! Now I wasn't a good bride. I LOVE my dress, still, but I didn't come out saying, yep this is the one for sure! I had to decide between 2 dresses. Both were beautiful and I looked great in both of them, what tipped me over the edge was if I bought at David's Bridal my bridesmaids got a discount on their dresses. I was a bit unique in that I had to pick a national chain for my dresses because I had a bridesmaid in California, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. So it wasn't necessarily the deciding factor, but it helped. I paid less than $500 for my dress, and there are many more dresses you can find for much cheaper. Wait til bridal stores have sales, or just head straight for the sale rack. It also helps if you tell the woman assisting you what your price range is. If you find a dress that works all the way around, but there is one feature that you don't like, remember you can most likely have it fixed or removed in alterations. So don't let that keep you from a great dress at a great price! In addition, if you feel your dress is lacking, add to it! Sashes are gorgeous or a big statement necklace and earrings, all making you drop dead gorgeous but keeping your budget in check.
Oh flowers! This can be so hard for some. I was lucky. My sister in laws Aunt did them for me at wholesale prices. She was kind enough to walk me through what flowers she could get and a whole list of prices. We were able to make some basic cuts and keep our massive flowers under $800. It was a May wedding so we used ferns and potted hydrangea's on the alter. They were cheap and they looked full and beautiful. The ferns matched my colors beautifully, I was actually shocked at how well it worked out. Also, I definitely wanted some roses in my bouquets because they are my favorite flowers, but a solid rose bouquet is really expensive, even at wholesale prices. So we worked with a few different flowers, including hydrangeas and ranunculus. These flowers are much cheaper and are bigger so they are beautiful fillers for larger round bouquets. Other flowers to consider when trying to fill your bouquet but not empty your wallet, gerber daisy's, Iris's, Lily's, black eyed susans, lilacs, tulips, dahlias, calla lilly's, gardenia, or peony. Don't see anything you like here? Google search it!! Don't take your florists word for everything, do a little bit of research and you'll come out ahead in the end. Be sure to pick flowers that are in season too. If you really want to save extra money, ask around and see if any friends you have can get flowers at wholesale prices and either do the bouquets yourself, or have a close family member or friend do it for you. I think you'll be surprised at how many people can flower arrange! Leave a comment if you would like more information on flower arranging made easy! We had 8 bouquets, 16 boutonnieres, 4 potted plants, 4 corsages, and I'm sure some others that I'm forgetting for under $800 ... it can be done! PS My flowers were PERFECT!
Two more areas - even though there are about a thousand more details! The caterer and the photographer. My caterer was a long time friend of my family. He actually went to school with my mom, and I feel the BEST caterer in Toledo. He has a bakery as well and got his start selling pastries to my grandpa out of the back of a truck at the Sun Oil plant in Oregon, Ohio. He is FANTASTIC! If you're in Toledo it's Michael's catering. ( http://www.michaelsoftoledo.com/catering.htm ) Ask for Sue. She is literally the best. She will guide you every step of the way. They have been in business a long time and know their stuff! (Christie Meyer sent you!) Just a fabulous company to work with. And that's what you want to look for with any company you use. Will they take care of everything? Set up? Service? Refills? What happens to the left over food? Will they attend to your dessert table? Michael's wife did my cake too. I didn't even get to meet with her, but with my description she made the cake that was in my head perfectly - maybe even better! Ask your caterer if they do cakes as well, and see if you can get a discount by ordering both through their company. It may not always happen, but definitely worth a shot.
Lastly, the photog. The only thing that will last from your wedding is the pictures, everything else will either get eaten, get thrown away or put away, your pictures will be your best memory of the best day of your life! When choosing a photographer you should be a little more loose with your money. Make this one of your bigger budgetary items. Good photographers are hard to find and if and when you do find one, you may have to pay a little for it. Things to look for. First of all, you'll want 2 shooters. We had one for our wedding and I regret it because some of the pictures I had said I wanted I didn't get because he was too overwhelmed. TWO SHOOTERS!! Can't emphasize that enough! My husbands first wedding he shot was only 14 people total ... not in the wedding party total. Every person there including bride and groom totaled 14. And we both shot! So don't think your wedding is too small, it's not! Even if the second shooter isn't taking pictures, they can do important things like fixing your hair, tracking down people, etc. Second, make sure that you will have FULL rights to all your pictures. I know someone who went to order their pictures a few months after the wedding to find the photographer went out of business and took the pictures with them. They had the samples, but not all the pictures - what a nightmare! Get what you pay for! Get all your pics! Also, don't get too caught up on the filler. Most photographers offer some sort of trickety item to offer you, like a coffee table book, a mug, etc. These really don't add much value because they don't cost the photographer very much. So just make sure of the basics, 2 shooters, camera quality (how nice do the pictures look, are they gritty or pixellated?), how long do they shoot, do they include engagement pictures, full rights and any references? Take the advice of friends, if they give you photographers to look into, actually look at them! Go to their studio or call them and set up a meeting. If they are high tech enough for your wedding, they will be able to show you their portfolio in a Starbucks. Make sure that when you choose your photographer, you meet with them and go over all the nitty gritty details and give them a written list of the pictures you want. It may seem repetitive or not necessary, but like my photographer was in over his head and got overwhelmed and forgot to take formal pictures with my grandparents. (There are only 3 living grandparents between my husband and I ... I wasn't happy!) PS my husband's website is: http://dontblinkphoto.net/ or my cousin Ben Derkin http://derksworks.com/#/special/splash/columbus-ohio-modern-artistic-wedding-photography/
Now ... I know there is a lot missing. There is a LOT to wedding planning. But here's what I say to that. Use coupons and get things on sale. Rely on your friends to help you where you can. And scour the web for sites offering bulk items cheap. Keep it as simple as you can, and utilize every resource! Ask lots of questions, and remember, you should get to have some fun when you plan your wedding! It's your day, remember that and don't be afraid to politely tell people so. Be decisive and know that it's your day, get what you want.
If you're getting married Congrats! What a happy time! Best of luck to you and God's blessings on you and your upcoming event!
As always ... have fun lady!!!!
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