...Aaannd Breathe...

We did it! I'm now a Mrs., subject to all rights and titles contained therein!

The whole day went spectacularly, from start to finish.  The weather was beautiful, there were no disasters, and all the guests got along splendidly!

Many thanks to everyone who helped make the day possible, and a shout-out to my husband's cousin who helped out with some of the last minute details, very late at night.  

Our outdoor ceremony went wonderfully, with our friends and family gathered around as we took our vows.  I can't wait to see the photos from the photographer, she's posted only 4, and boy, are they a tease!

Our venue was wonderful, adjusting the schedule to allow for our late arrival, and putting up all my decorations, etc.  

The cake was so gorgeous, I didn't want to cut it, but we did!

Our week in Vermont was fantastic, with beautiful weather, service, and foliage/scenery!

A few photos:

(I'm not grimacing, we were looking right into the sun!)

Final Update before the big day!!!

I think I've got everything under control!!!  Only a few things left (Mostly delivering decorations and cleaning my house so it'll be nice when we get home) Saturday's the big day, and since I was laying awake in bed running through my mental to-do list, I thought I'd get up and do some computer-ing in the wee hours of the morning!

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules.
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes (Got his shirt, need pants still)(Getting pants today!)
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants") (Got them picked out, just need to give out the info!)
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!) (DONE!!!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today.  (DONE!)
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?) (In progress.  Got the order coming along nicely, as well as logistics)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.(working on it!) (Had a run-through last night, it's beautiful!)
• Meet with photographer. (Thursday?) (Email conferenced!)
• Do up our favors (Maybe tonight?) Thanks Alison!
  
• Start writing thank-you notes for gifts already received (All caught up with what's already come!)
• Pack for honeymoon (got my list going, will do this next weekend after laundry day!) (Done, except for overnight essentials, that will be done in the morning)
• Call those who haven't RSVPed (ahem!) (Thank you everyone who is coming!)
• Write out place cards (Delegated to Mom, who has beautiful writing!)
• Make out seating chart (started, it's going to be harder than I thought...) (Just need MIL's approval!)
• Finish up our dinner playlist for the iPod (the band starts after dinner) (Playlist is done, just need to consolidate it into one music program, and charge up/sync the iPod)
• Confirm what balances are due where and get checks for them
• Gather all the wedding stuff in one place (Work in progress!)
• Call flower people
• Touch base again with officiant (meeting with him today!)
• Figure out table number holder for centerpiece. (I'm a flippin' genius!)
• Get to ceremony location with groom, best man, and bridesmaid to discuss decorations (Going today, in the rain)
• Figure out our transportation the day of (we're not doing limos...) (Think we got this one figured out!)
• Make mani/pedi appointment
• Get a haircut and appropriate waxing (Monday)
• Pick up Flowers for ceremony (Done!)
• Refill EZ Pass. 
• Write numbers on place cards
• Drop off all decorations
• Clean Kitchen and bathroom
• I most importantly need to remember to HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I have:

• picked up a sweater for over my gown if it's cold

• a "something blue" from the unmentionables dept.
• an outfit for the rehearsal dinner
• been working on my tan (with the help of a small bottle, cause it just hasn't been sunny around here!)
• Gotten and given bridesmaid's gifts (Thank you guys, you are all awesome!!!!!)
• Canned 2 batches of tomatoes from my garden (one red and one green, so they won't go to waste!) Also made a batch of pickles with cukes from the garden...
• Done every stitch of laundry in the house

6 days!!!

We're getting down to the wire!!!  I'm off from work now through the 28th, so this week should be very productive.  We've made a lot of progress in the last week:

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules.
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes (Got his shirt, need pants still)(Getting pants today!)
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants") (Got them picked out, just need to give out the info!)
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!) (DONE!!!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today.  (DONE!)
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?) (In progress.  Got the order coming along nicely, as well as logistics)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.(working on it!) (Had a run-through last night, it's beautiful!)
• Meet with photographer. (Thursday?) (Email conferenced!)
• Do up our favors (Maybe tonight?) Thanks Alison!
  
• Start writing thank-you notes for gifts already received (All caught up with what's already come!)
• Pack for honeymoon (got my list going, will do this next weekend after laundry day!)
• Call those who haven't RSVPed (ahem!) (Thank you everyone who is coming!)
• Write out place cards (Delegated to Mom, who has beautiful writing!)
• Make out seating chart (started, it's going to be harder than I thought...) (Just need MIL's approval!)
• Finish up our dinner playlist for the iPod (the band starts after dinner) (Playlist is done, just need to consolidate it into one music program, and charge up/sync the iPod)
• Confirm what balances are due where and get checks for them
• Gather all the wedding stuff in one place (Work in progress!)
• Call flower people
• Touch base again with officiant (meeting with him today!)
• Figure out table number holder for centerpiece. (I'm a flippin' genius!)
• Get to ceremony location with groom, best man, and bridesmaid to discuss decorations (Going today, in the rain)
• Figure out our transportation the day of (we're not doing limos...) (Think we got this one figured out!)
• Make mani/pedi appointment
• Get a haircut and appropriate waxing (Monday)
• Pick up Flowers for ceremony (Done!)
• Refill EZ Pass.

Also, I have:

• picked up a sweater for over my gown if it's cold

• a "something blue" from the unmentionables dept.
• an outfit for the rehearsal dinner
• been working on my tan (with the help of a small bottle, cause it just hasn't been sunny around here!)
• Gotten and given bridesmaid's gifts (Thank you guys, you are all awesome!!!!!)

Probably won't be updating around here for a bit, likely after the honeymoon!!!  (PS: Pray for good, warm-ish (73 degree) weather for upstate NY from about noon til about 5:30pm on Saturday, September 18.  So far, the weather forecast looks good, but you never know!!)

12 Days!

12 days to go!  Here's our list from my last post, edited to reflect what we've accomplished.  Also, at the end is the additions to the to-do list.  Again, I'm still canning like a fool, I have nearly 90 jars in the basement and a few more to fill before the wedding!

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules.
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes (Got his shirt, need pants still)
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants") (Got them picked out, just need to give out the info!)
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!) (DONE!!!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today.  (DONE!)
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?) (In progress.  Got the order coming along nicely, as well as logistics)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.(working on it!)
• Meet with photographer. (Thursday?)
• Do up our favors (Maybe tonight?) Thanks Alison!
  
• Start writing thank-you notes for gifts already received
• Pack for honeymoon (got my list going, will do this next weekend after laundry day!)
• Call those who haven't RSVPed (ahem!)
• Write out place cards
• Make out seating chart (started, it's going to be harder than I thought...)
• Finish up our dinner playlist for the iPod (the band starts after dinner)
• Confirm what balances are due where and get checks for them
• Gather all the wedding stuff in one place
• Call flower people
• Touch base again with officiant
• Figure out table number holder for centerpiece.
• Get to ceremony location with groom, best man, and bridesmaid to discuss decorations
• Figure out our transportation the day of (we're not doing limos...) 

I don't think that's too bad a list, do you?

3 weeks!

Closing in on the 3 week mark!

Here's what we still need to do...

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules. (we're going tomorrow night!)
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes (Got his shirt, need pants still)
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants") (Got them picked out, just need to give out the info!)
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!) (DONE!!!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today. (Nope... :-/ )
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?) (In progress.  Got the order coming along nicely, as well as logistics)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.
• Meet with photographer.
• Do up our favors (Maybe tonight?)
• Start writing thank-you notes for gifts already received

We're getting closer every hour, but is seems as though my list is growing, not shrinking!  We're chipping away at it though, and I'm confident that everything will fall into place.

In other news, I've done some more canning this week, and plan on doing another big batch of salsa this weekend (we eat a TON of salsa!)

One Month to go!

In just one short month, my wonderful fiance and I will be tying the knot!  I'm so excited to share this special day with him, and the rest of our lives together.  Things are coming together: table centers, my dress is being altered, his vest/tie ordered.  Still some things we need to do, though:

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules.
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants")
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today.
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.
• Meet with photographer.

There's another list, but this seems to me to be the most pressing of items.  Everything else is just icing on the cake :)

I've also been canning like a fool.  From the last update, I canned:

8 pints salsa

4 pints tomato sauce

3 half-pints and 1 pint peach salsa

And I plan on canning something this evening to give as gifts (**Shhh....some of the recipients read this blog!!)

As life gets a bit more hectic, I hope to stop in here more frequently to share, and maybe sort out my thoughts and make lists, all in the guise of keeping in touch, but really, keep myself organized.  

29 days!

A Quick Update

Just wanted to toss out a quick update!  39 days until our wedding! My dress is being altered, invitations are out, hotel room and honeymoon booked.  We're just settling all the little things before we tie the knot!

I've been canning like a fool, even though our weekends are super busy, I try to get one thing put up each weekend.  I've also been experimenting with some vinegars and flavored liquors.  

List of things I have canned, pickled, frozen, dried:

Strawberry Jam (5 jars)

Blueberry Jam (5 jars)

Zucchini & Corn Salsa (2 jars)

Chicken Stock (4 quart jars) (Used my new pressure canner!)

Crushed Tomatoes (5 jars

Whole peeled Tomatoes (1 jar)

Dill Pickles (6 jars)

Strawberry vinegar (2 bottles)

Blackberry Vinegar (3 quart jars)

Raspberry vinegar (1 bottle)

Refrigerator pickles (I think I've made about 6 quarts, but we keep eating them!)

Zucchini/Yellow squash refrigerator pickles (3 1/2 quarts)

Cranberry Honey Mustard (1 quart)

Frozen Blueberries (5 quarts)

Frozen Strawberries (3 quarts)

Frozen chicken Stock (3 quarts)

Dried tomatoes (1 batch cherry tomatoes, 1 batch roma tomatoes)

Dried strawberries (Handful, but they got moldy ):   )

Strawberry Vodka (1 jar)
Cherry Amaretto (1 jar)

Blueberry Vodka (1 big jar)

Blackberry Rum (1 jar)

Raspberry Vodka (1 big jar)

In addition to all that, I morphed leftover black beans and rice into 15 vegetarian burgers for the freezer!

I'm coming along in my plans to be more self sufficient this winter, I keep buying jars and filling them!  I plan on at least 2 batches of salsa (Hopefully with tomatoes from our garden, there's plenty there, I just hope they ripen all together!) and maybe another batch of crushed tomatoes or tomato puree.  

As soon as this humidity dies down, I want to dry some herbs too.  

Also, in the fall (after our wedding!) I want to use the pressure canner to put up some convenience foods: Soups, chili, beans, etc. 

How are your winter canning/preserving coming along?