WFT: justin bieber's sweatshirt

is it hot in here? because i might have Bieber Fever!

technically it was my favorite thing starting Tuesday but that is not how i play this game!  it has been a great week and i shout it out on wednesday!  besides signing the contract to officially release our wedding date, i had a wonderful day at work, and i received a gift from a dear family friend who works directly with the biebers.  apparently our little teeny bopper pop star has to purge his closet every once and a while too.  it is nice to be indirectly 'related' to the bieber's personal organizer!  this particular sweatshirt was chosen from a dozen hand-me-down hoodies on their way to the goodwill.  a few reasons i selected this purple d'eglingue hoodie! i mean it is purple.  represents peace and guitars… and most significantly, it did NOT have the tags on it (unlike several other donations) which means beebs may have actually worn it.  so go ahead and make fun of the 30 year old in the teenager's sweatshirt… i just have 3 words to leave you with: baby baby baby...

save the date!

a not quite $20 date night

we did have friday night success for a change… 

we just decided to spend $20 at a time in pieces :)

wine tasting: $20

beef brisket nachos, 2 beers: $18.75

(we won't even 'count' the dank grilled cheese you may see in the picture)

cute blue beachy dress: $21.38 (photo not shown)

"soonly wed" couple seen below!

it has been pretty much the most perfect day.  we spent the day in "soonly wed" bliss shopping, napping, enjoying the weather, tasting (food and wine), and we even got a glimpse of "Open Season 3" at the central park cinema at seaside.  hooray for perfect days :)

a watercolor wedding

we think we have a winner!

and it was both of our's first pick

these pictures and the descriptions are mostly for our moms until we are able to bring them down to see for themselves!

this is a panoramic image of the inside of the baithouse for our reception and dancing

you can see the bar as you enter with the tables and dance area to the right...

you can walk out of the back of the restaurant to the pool deck...

here is a view from the back side and screened in porch...

across from the pool is the boathouse (plan b)...

here is my favorite part… this bridge!

walking across the bridge to the ceremony on the western lake green to say 'i do'!
i get goose bumps thinking about it

and we are also excited about the surprise grand exit after the party!

so far…
groom: CHECK
dress: CHECK
ceremony/reception site: CHECK
date: {to be revealed in a future post so stay tuned!}

WFT: the wedding book

i read this cover to cover (when i should have been studying for a diabetes exam…)

having not made many decisions for my big day (yet), this big book has helped me feel like the wedding planning process is not as difficult as some have made out to be.  bb and i have had a wonderful day #1 at the beach as we start to make this thing happen.  (pictures to come tomorrow).  the weather has been perfect and we wish we could just bottle this day up and pour it out when we need it (next March 10th or 24th!)    stay tuned as the planning continues!  and i recommend this book to anyone getting ready to make their little girl dreams come true!

WFT: MacBook Pro

i have converted!  

today i received my newest favorite thing...

exciting yet so overwhelming at the same time.  thanks to my slightly more mature friend who realized 6 months after purchasing the 13" computer she really needed a bigger screen!  this definitely tops all hand-me-downs.  i don't even know where to start... do up upload my old files to this computer? blog more? read the book "converting to apple for dummies"?  luckily i am marrying a computer genius so he can learn me all i need to know :)

$19.41

$20 date night v2.0 SUCCESS :)

Sun-dried tomato and goat cheese ravioli along side pan seared chicken with sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce, salad/lite peppercorn ranch dressing, with a Blue Fin 2009 California Pint Noir ($4.49). And Trader Joe's guilt free brownies for dessert.  I was even able to swing by the Blockbuster kiosk and picked up It's Kind of a Funny Story.  (we heart zach galifianakis and are seriously looking forward to SNL Saturday night).  As long as I return it tomorrow and don't have to pay another dollar we are in luck!

This weekend's things to do list:

return movie to Publix

pick up dry cleaning

run 5 miles

convince bridal shop they are going to have to come up with a solution to solve "situation wedding dress is too small"

use my Ulta rewards and cupoun

bread, milk, eggs, etc...

wednesday's favorite things

for a limited time only...  

they are delicious and go well with another favorite thing...

(Wednesday's $3.99 Meal Deal 6" turkey sub)

i am not sure if this is the real recipe but i am certainly going to try and see how it turns out!

Raspberry Cookie

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt plus an extra 1/8 tsp
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup lightly salted macadamia nuts, barely chopped
4-5 ounces white chocolate, cut into chunks
1/2 cup (more or less) fresh raspberries , washed and dried

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cream butter and both sugars with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs, vanilla and cream, then beat in baking soda, salt and cornstarch. Add flour and stir just until blended. Stir in nuts and white chocolate. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto a parchment lined baking sheets.
3. Carefully slice raspberries into halves or quarters – this will vary, depending on how much raspberry you want in your cookies and how large your raspberries are. Gently press pieces of raspberry in cookie dough rounds
4. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool

wednesday's favorite things

if i was oprah... what would i give away?  

today's guest will all receive...

simple, affordable, unnoticeable: Hem Tape!

 

saved me $45 worth of alterations for that bridesmaids dress that is (you have all heard it)  "this one you can wear again..." oh wait... no you can't!  there is no such thing as a bridesmaids dress you can "wear again" unless it is a black cocktail dress you pull from your own closet (props sarah!)!!  i am aware of this rule and promise not to spread lies to my girls when i assign the dress!  my thoughts are "i like it, its my favorite color (not yours), it will match my dress, look good in pictures, and then make wonderful place-mats or fancy napkins!"  i bet jana or patty could even make a purse or "green" shopping bag out of it if asked!  that would be pretty cool!  but no... you probably won't ever want wear it again!  so just use $1.89 hem tape to stitch that sucker up!!  friday i will be showcasing a lovely plum ensemble that is the brides favorite color, will match her dress, look good in pictures....

$20 date night

problem: Friday night fail date
replacement: $20 date night

Week #1: 2/25/2011

Who's $20? Blake

Total spent: $18.99 (chicken quesadilla's from scratch followed by DVR catch up session)

I was able to get a work out in before dinner and didn't even have to put on mascara after my shower!  

AMAZING service!  He cooked, I cleaned and was asleep on the couch by 10:20!  I had jelly beans for dessert and didn't feel one bit ashamed for going back to get some extra watermelon Jelly Bellies!!  We have leftover chips and salsa for snacking and I used the leftover corn for my omelette's this week!

This week will be on hold since I am in a wedding!  I'd call it $20 Date Night but getting my hair done alone will break rule #1 (can not spend over twenty bucks on food and entertainment for said 'date') I will have my first go at it later!