Blog Blackout

I know I've been MIA in the blogging world for 2 months! That's craziness....how are all my old friends and co-workers supposed to keep up-to-date on my life without my blog. Well have no fear wedding season is here. And boy, will I have lots to blog about. I'm in 3 weddings this summer and last weekend was the start of a long wedding season to come. My dear friend Angie had her bridal shower last weekend or I should say I hosted it! That's right the hostess with the mostest...c'est moi!

During my 2-month blogging hiatus Jillie graduated from intermediate dog class and is now a dogcamp regular boss. She was also attacked by a bitchy Shiba Inu at the park. Jillie is sort of a wimp or princess, as I like to think. Basically she's not guard dog hence my desire for a second canine companion with guard dog qualities. I'm voting for a doberman. Better than Brinks, because it will kill a burglar.

We Are Famous!!

Well no not really, my blog isn't that popular...yet. However, our cake did make it on Dee's website! We also just found out our wedding pictures will be put into a local Southwest Michigan magazine to advertise our florist. And who says I have bad taste.

Thank You Gilt Groupe

It's been awhile since I've trolled the wonderful sample site that is Gilt Groupe. Lord knows I don't need to be on there anyways. The only sale I can never pass up if the Cole Haan shoe sale, which was today!

Now, this summer I am in 3 weddings!! (Don't worry I'm not that popular, it just so happens nearly all my girlfriends are getting married this summer.) Now I was hoping I can wear silver shoes for at least 2 out of 3. Hence the need for shoes and these Cole Haan's are perfect! Plus, so comfy because they have the Nike Air technology, great for standing all day!! Double bonus I had a $25 Gilt Groupe credit (Thanks Jess!).

Dress in a box

While I was basking in the glory of sun, fun, and being done with wedding planning. My madre was at home and took my most-expensive dress ever bought to the cleaners. Do you know how much they charge to clean a wedding dress? Well this cleaner charged $190 and 3 weeks (really?!) Doesn't that seem like a waste of money? To clean a dress that'll be in a box until I try to force it onto my oldest daughter?

Overall, I feel like a wedding dress is a huge waste of money, yes it's pretty, and traditional, but think about it, what's the hourly rate of that dress? I'm betting $100+/hour saying you put it on around 1 PM and are done with it around 1 AM. The thing is never worn again. Maybe I should put mine on Ebay, I could see some potential takers out there...okay maybe, not. I need a good sales pitch "Gently worn bridal gown...."

I'm Back

More posts to come as I have returned from my blogging hiatus!

I'm back from the Caribbean pale as usual (except for the hidden sunburn on my back)! Some of my favorite comments upon returning home:

"Didn't you go to the Caribbean....I thought you would have more color"
"Was it cloudy there?"
"You didn't get tan at all?!"

Dear friends....I am albino....we albinos DO NOT tan....again DO NOT tan. If I were to wear absolutely not sunscreen and sit outside all day I would only come home crying and burnt. My burns do not turn into tans....this is a cycle of life for a burn: pain, pain, dry, itch, peel, new skin under the peeled off skin is again albino. Also, I generally hide in lots of sunscreen and sun hats. For those of you who aren't aware pale skin, reddish/blond hair, and many a burn in my younger years....puts me at high risk for skin cancer. So no I did not come home with a beautiful Caribbean tan. Wrong girl folks.

And yes the weather was beautiful and it was hot, hot, hot all week. We visited: St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia (my favorite island), Antigua (the hottest island), and St. Kitts.

Dress Shop Drama

In St.Joe/Stevensville there are 2 wedding shops: Alexa Claire Boutique and Wedding Belles. Due my fear of high-pressure sales I opted for Alexa Claire. God, was that the WORST choice ever. I should have known right off the bat to walk away when I walk in after specifically requested Bill Levkoff dresses, and I'm told they don't sell them anymore. After mentioning the only reason I chose this shop was because they sold them, they brought the dresses out. The girls get sized & I think we are all set. A few weeks later the order is soon to be set and 3 of my girls are given dress sizes 4-7 sizes above there normal size. Yes, 4-7 sizes larger no lie, a 16 became a 28. How that happens - I have no idea. A key point here is the fact that my sister ordered her dress another shop and her size was her regular dress size.

After finally instructing the shop to specifically order the sizes the girls & I agreed on, I think we are all set. Flash forward to today....one of my girls picks up her dress and it is the completely wrong size. She was ordered a size that wasn't even put down for her in the system, the same size I instructed them to order. My girl picks up the dress that is at least 7 sizes larger than what she wears. Obviously, I am slightly annoyed after having several bumps in the road, they still can't get the order right. I call the shop and ask them to makeup for their mistake, and they let me know that it should all be fine with a good seamstress. Now, yes it will be fine because we have a great seamstress, but your dress shop is still incompetent, and should makeup for your large error. But she refuses to makeup for their error. Well thank the Lord we have social media, because I want everyone to know never to order from their shop in Kalamazoo or Saint Joe, unless you are a bride looking for additional stress. How can a business now be willing to makeup for their mistake? Even after someone calls and asks them to makeup for their mistake, a 10% discount can go a long way these days.

September is coming

A month I have been counting down to since April 2008 is finally going to arrive at midnight. The weekend begins the final countdown to wedding time. The bridal shower and bachelorette party all in one weekend. Good thing it's an extended weekend, I'll need a nap after all this. One great thing about this weekend....My beloved WMU Broncos are taking on the U of M Wolverines.

Also, what are the odds the person that edited the above video was high.

Dancing queen

Last night was my triumphant return to the dance floor. New steps & a new day. Last night we learned the inside turn, to add onto the outside turn and the basic step. Eventually it's supposed to all come together into lots of turns and movements - that I'm not sure I can keep up with. My dancing partner wasn't quite Fred Astaire last night and had difficultly mastering the different turns. However, ever the champion I survived and mastered both the inside & outside turn. The tables have turned in our dance lessons and there is a new master of the dance floor. The cougar was caged last night, as her young prodigy wasn't able to master his steps. For the fear of jinxing my new found dancing skills, I will shy away from gloating about my turning abilities. Ryan still has me schooled on his ability to keep with the beat, I like to think I'm in my own dancing world and the music just can't keep up. :)

mirror, mirror on the wall

My wedding is 32 days and counting. Soon I'll be a whole new person....well, at least on paper. Obviously with 32 days left most of my details are finalized....so what am I still working on? Hair styles, and clearly I'm going for the updo-style with floral accents. To easily compare my top choices I pulled together a nice photo of them all. The current front runner is the top-middle option, although I also like the top-right (bottom-right is the same hair style from the front).

Quick ways to reduce your self-esteem

If you are looking for fast & easy ways to ruin your self-esteem sign up for private dance lessons as a beginner. Last night, was the second dance lesson for the fiancé and I….key point here – I was dreading going. After the first lesson and paying to get yelled at by the female instructor, I knew round 2 wouldn’t be much better. The first half hour of the last night’s lesson involved me being instructed to practice ball, heel, ball, heel on the ballet bar. Hearing “Marisa…ball, heel, ball, heel makes me feel like a dog….almost as if it’s “fetch Marisa…ball…now heel.” I just can’t keep up.

Now, let me point out that I am NOT a dancer – I don’t know my foot from my arm – and the instructor has no qualms about calling me out here. The fiancé is no help here, as he is evidently the next Fred Astaire – where this comes from – I don’t know….supposedly it was due to his many years in high school band. If only I would have kept up with that damn clarinet. How does a band geek equate to the next 'Dancing with the Stars' guru anyways? Something tells me that the instructor has a thing for younger men and teaching private lessons is her personal cougar hunting ground – I’ve seen her winking at Ryan while yelling ball, heel, ball, heel at me. Maybe she is trying to distract me with ball & heel while stealing away my fiancé. The end of the lesson finally comes around and while Ryan gets 2 thumbs up & a round of applause, I get a “keep practicing”. Remind me again why I’m paying to get yelled by a broad trying to steal my boo. Next Tuesday is dance lesson number 3, guess I bet get my dancing shoes on in the meantime.