2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,400 times in 2010. That’s about 8 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 32 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 320 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 232mb. That’s about 6 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was June 23rd with 113 views. The most popular post that day was Boxed In.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were forums.theknot.com, lurvyu.blogspot.com, brideonbudget.blogspot.com, wedding.ebonito.com, and bbyckes.weebly.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for wedding hair, orange tulips, petal cone doilies, finger wave hairstyle, and yay flags.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Boxed In June 2010
1 comment

2

Up and Away June 2010
2 comments

3

To-Dos June 2010

4

What you Should Know May 2010

5

Programmatic June 2010

Boxed In

I’ll be honest.  Before posting on The Knot, I had no idea what a card box was or really why it was needed until all the horror stories about guests or strangers making off with envelopes left on the gift table or cards being misplaced.  So, I decided that I would create a card box.  I have seen the really garish or extravagant card boxes or the bird cages or even the horrible, but I just wanted to keep my card box simple, bow-free and not garish.  

Here are my inspirations for my card boxes: 

I took the wired ribbon inspiration from this photo. I pulled my inspiration for clean lines and satin-y fabric from this photo.

I pulled my inspiration for clean lines and satin-y fabric from this photo.

I found a lot of card boxes online, but I was unwilling to pay for them.  So, here is my finished card box.

Side view. Front aerial view.

   How-To?

 Supplies

Paper mache nesting boxes, I purchased mine from Joann’s

Fabric or scrapbooking paper

Ribbon or other embellishments
Scissors

Cutting utensil for carving out the holes in the boxes

Iron (if using fabric)
Tacky glue

The Haps

1.  Decide how you would like your card box to look.  Do you want a streamlined look?  Or do you want something a little more cock-eyed?  Round, square, rectangle?  After purchasing your boxes, pinpoint your overall vision of your card box.

2. Cut holes in your boxes.  The last layer WILL NOT have a hole in the box.  Your top layer will have a hole large enough for the envelope or card to fit into.  Once you have your top slot, you must cut a hole in the bottom top box, leaving enough room where the edges of the top of the box and the bottom of the boxes can be glued to the next box.

Tops and bottoms cut out. You can see the largest box (bottom), does not have a hole in the bottom.Backside of a lid.

3. After all your boxes have been cut begin covering your boxes with whatever your chosen material.  This is where your glue comes in.  I would recommend you using a sponge or other tool that will help you evenly spread out the glue on the box.  Wrap the boxes like you would a present.  Crease corners, pull paper and fabric taught, so there is no bunching. 

4. Once you have the boxes and their tops covered, glue the boxes together. 

Boxes glued together after fabric has been glued on.

5. Add your embellishment.  Ribbon, flowers, letters, etc. 

Added embellishment

 6.  You now have your finished product.  

Front arial view.

Please feel free to contact me if you have specific questions about this how-to.  I’m always happy to help! 

“Yay” Flags How-to

My hopes for a sparkler entrance were dashed by daylight savings time.  Here in Georgia it doesn’t get dark until about 9pm.  Our entrance into the ceremony will happen around 8:15 or so, so it’s not the ideal time for sparklers.  I was stumped trying to find something to “replace” it with.  So, I found inspiration for my “yay” flags 

Just googled "yay" flags. Inspiration photo.

Here is how my flags came out: 

My "Yay" Flags!

How-To? 

Supplies
Tacky craft glue
Bamboo skewers
Wire cutters or strong scissors (used to cut off the pointy end of the skewer)
Avery perforated badges, product code 5932
About 1.5 hours of time for about 90 – 100 flags 

The Haps 

I printed the flags using Avery name badge inserts, product #5392.  I used their templates on their website, suing the Avery Design & Print Online.  With this program you can customize every aspect of the flag.  

 

Long bamboo skewers

The badges are perforated, so, I simply removed the excess, used bamboo skewers (cut off the pointy tops) and glued the flags onto the skewers.  Probably just a little under an 1/8 in. was folder over the stick.

I used differnt words like, “Hooray!” “Yippee! “Hip-Hip!”  and chose about 5 different background colors that would compliment our wedding color scheme.   Printing was a cinch too.

I think this is a fun way to enter our reception.  Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the how-to!

Double Tap

You can never go wrong. Follow the Rules.

If you have seen Zombieland, no further explanation is necessary.  If not, let me run down the rules for you.  There are roughly 33 rules for Survival, not all of them are applicable to wedding planning, however, some most definitely are.

1. Cardio
This definitely applies when planning a wedding.  You want to fit into that dress don’t you?

2. Double Tap
You think it’s dead, one more makes it 100% sure.  It’s like issues you have with your sister, mother, future mother-in-law, etc.  You think they’re dead and buried, but no, they have a tendency to come back – like zombies.

Try to avoid this.

3.  Beware of Bathrooms
This seriously applies.  Beware of bathroom floors in your wedding dress.  Have you decided who is going to hold up your wedding dress when you got to squat? 

4.  Wear seatbelts
This is self-explanatory.  Safety is the utmost concern.

7. Travel Light
When you’re running from zombies, you don’t really want to spend a lot of time and energy carrying a bunch of items, same with weddings.  What do you really need?  Lipstick? Complexion blotters?  What else?  No one needs the kitchen sink on their wedding day.

Hopefully you and your fiance aren't as creepy, but yeah, a little like this.

8.  Get a kickass Partner
Your fiance should count. 

17. (Don’t) Be a Hero
You already are. 

32.  Enjoy the little things
The day is here and there’s nothing else left to do and not a whole lot more that can be done.  Just sit back and enjoy the little things about your day.

I’m all out of sorts.  I feel like I’m in Zombieland, only because I feel like the walking dead.  I find it hard to concentrate, I have difficulty falling asleep and I feel like I keep going over the same things over and over again.  I have made lots of progress, but with 11 days, it seems like I’m still treading water.   So, this post is a double-tap.  I’m making sure those line items that I’ve crossed off, do not resurrect themselves.

11 days and counting.

Programmatic

The idea behind my programs was to take different prints which tied-in to our color scheme, but didn’t want anything too matchy-matchy.  I found this inspiration from The Knot in their picture file.

Crafty DIY program idea.

I finally finished my programs and I think they turned out well.

Finished product.

 

Before assembly and supplies

Program stacks.

I used 12×12 scrapbook paper, which is available at almost any store now, Target, Wal-Mart, Michael’s, AC Moore, etc.  I actually bought the paper I used from Amazon.com – turned out to be the cheapest place, however, when Michael’s is having a sale or issues a 40%  – 50% off coupon, I suggest you definitely take advantage.  I also bought some mouse tail cord from Hobby Lobby, taking advantage of their $2.95 shipping, and used some large labels from Avery to design the cover.

The program itself was fairly easy to make.  I just used Microsoft Publisher and was able to format all the pages.

12 days and counting.

Sole Searching

Late last night I just couldn’t help myself.  After getting some wedding-related things done, I set about attempting to decorate the soles of my shoes.  I think the idea is really cute and have been researching (basically googling) ideas.  I have seen all the “I Do’s”, but I’m not interested in doing something along those lines.  I do like the bride and grooms initials on the bottom of the soles too.  I  thought it would be nice to incorporate the peach that is on our logo onto my soles, coupled with a monogram.

Here is the inspiration for the bottom of the soles:

Rhinestoned Initials

My soles are still a work in progress, but here’s a sneak peek:

Side by side.I think they turned out really cute.

I think they turned out really cute.

I was so happy when I showed this picture to one of my friends and she immediately knew it was peach.  I knew I was on the right track after that.  On the left sole, I will adhere a monogram using our wedding colors, navy blue, orange and clear or white rhinestones to set the whole thing off.  Just glad it worked (or is working) out.

Totally Hair Raising

I have not been lucky in the wedding hair department.  It has been one fiasco after another.  Evidenced here.  Nothing related to my hair has been simple or without tension.  Until today that is. 

I was seriously thinking about just calling off the whole glamour look and going for just basic.  Luckily, I found a stylist was will be able to pull off the look.   I totally have confidence in her ability and I’m happy.  FINALLY! 

When my mom got up from getting her hair styled, I teared up.  No, seriously.  Here was here inspiration:

Jennifer Hudson's award do.

Mom’s hair turned out like this:  

Loose braid in the back. Gorgeous.

Bangalicious.

 

My hair inspiration photos have progressed to these similar styles:

I love the wave on this hairstyle.

A very classic and regal look. Very sculptered.

Off the neck with a slight sweep.

Planning on wearing a birdcage veil.

 

Here are some VERY, VERY prelim pics of my wedding day hair:

Back side sweep. I'm thinking of wearing a flower in my hair. The wave is not evident here.

Excuse the no make-up.

 

I left the salon feeling really pretty and thinking I could finally breathe.  I just hope it all works out.  This is one thing that I am happy to cross off the list of things to do.  Last thing?  My hair appointment on the day of was scheduled at 8am.  Luckily, now, it’s been pushed back to 10a.  Ahhhh, a  few more zzzzz’s.

Peachy Keen

My rehearsal dinner will be a contradiction.   Italian dinner and southernesque dessert?  

We have decided to have our rehearsal dinner at a local Italian restaurant.  We are expecting roughly about 25 people, so we wanted to take advantage of the family platter options, in an effort to keep expenses down.  Fiance’s father has graciously decided to host the dinner and we’re definitely looking forward to communing and dining with everyone.   For dessert, we thought we were going to have peach cobbler, you know, keeping in time with our whole “southern” feel and with our logo.  But, it’s expensive, so we decided to compromise with a variation of peach cobbler – peach cobbler cupcakes.  

Yummy food!

I figure everyone loves a cupcake.  I didn’t want to create the cupcake from scratch, so I went out and bought some Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix, Del Monte Orchard Select peaches and walnuts and set about to make my concoction.  I chopped up the peaches and the walnuts, included them in the spice cake batter, prepared per box instruction and added the additional ingredients and popped them in the oven.    I found a recipe for a white chocolate cream cheese frosting and it is incredible.  It is the perfect addition to the cupcakes! 

Whip it good!

Spiced peach cobbler cupcakes.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients for Frosting
2 ounces white chocolate
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream 

In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in white chocolate, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and orange extract. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Mix in heavy cream.  I also added a little bit of brown sugar to the mix for added flavor. 

Finished product.

I’m going to get some of my coworkers to critique the cupcakes and I will still have a little time to tweak the recipe before I make them in about 2 weeks.  I ate one this morning and they actually came out yummy! 

15 days and counting.

Kiddin’ Around

In my continuing efforts to cross things off my to-do list, I finally was able to start (and finish) our kids’ bags.  The items which were placed in the bag consisted of: 

1 – Jumbo sunglasses
1 – bubbles
2 – Glow wand bracelets
1 – Tic-tac-toe board
Mardi Gras beads (not detachable, so no chance for wayward beads) – orange, blue and white 

Contents of the bags

We’ll have about 14 children at the wedding 15 and under.  That was my cut-off for the bags.  Along with wanting the children to be entertained, I thought these items would make for great photo opportunities as well. 

A little something like this.

I created name tags for the bags in PowerPoint, but really I could have made them in Word, using WordArt.  I affixed the name tag with a large decorative brad I purchased at Michael’s – luckily they were on clearance.  As with many other aspects of the wedding, the brads are not matchy-matchy – which I think plays well. 

Name tags with bradsBags all in a row.

Bags all in a row.

I bought the bags from Box and Wrap, the bags are a matte shopping bag, size 16 x 6 x 12-3/8″.  You can buy them in packs of 5, 25 or in a case of 250.  This is nice because a lot of companies that sell bags, do not allow their potential customers to purchase small quantities.  I purchased the items to put in the bags from Century Novelty.  The items were really well-priced.  I was happy with the customer service and also the products.  Everything else was purchased at Dollar Tree, meaning the tissue paper.  I folded down the tops of the bags to give them a uniformed look.  I really think the bags will be a hit with the kids (and the adults).

Just to be on the cautious side, I think I will have the ushers give the bags to the parents with instructions not to allow the children to have the bags until after we exit the ceremony. 

This was really an easy peasy DIY project. 

16 days and counting.

Floral Arrangement

Yesterday, I met with my florist, Darryl Wiseman Flowers to get a glance of the centerpieces for our guest tables.  I was so thrilled to get an idea of how the centerpieces will look.  View of mock centerpiece:

1st View

2nd view

3rd view.

Each table will have a different centerpiece, composed of the same color flower.  The centerpieces will be composed of orange Asiatic lillies, orange peonies, orange roses and fire mango calla lillies.   Richard, has worked with my vision to keep the centerpieces simple, but elegant, fun, but formal.  I really think these will make the tables pop!Various buds that will be used for centerpieces, bouquets and bouts.

Orange gerbera daisies.

Orange tulips.

Orange roses.

Orange Asiatic lillies.

 What our florist is providing us:1 – Bride’s bouquet – a composition of mini calla lillies wrapped with navy French ribbon
2 – Bridesmaids bouquets – each will carry a unique bouquet – all of one particular flower
1 – Jr. Bridesmaids bouquet – orange gerbera daisies
2 – Mother’s bouquets – mini fire mango calla lillies and ivory ribbon
1 – Step-mother bouquet – petite orange spray roses and an ivory ribbon
1 – Groom’s bout – fire mango calla lillies tied with a nav blue french ribbon
1 – Groomsmen bouquet – each of their flowers will correspond to a brides
1 – Jr. Groomsmen & Ring bearer bout – mini orange gerbera daisies
2 – Fathers’ bouts – fire calla lillies

They are also providing flower petals for the aisle, guest table centerpieces, cake topper, sweetheart table decor, and petals for th petal toss.  I think the flowers will be the perfect addition to our ceremony and reception.  Can’t wait!

17 days and counting.