New Look

I'm in the process of coming up with a new look for the blog, so if you check back and things look funky, I'm messing with colors.  I wish I knew html better and I could just edit that, maybe I'll have to brush up on my html.  Hmm.

Papabubble

I was just catching up on some Martha and I watched with amazement as Martha pulled shiny ribbons of sugar and rolled it into lollipops.  She was learning from Chris Grassi and Fiona Ryan the owners of Papabubble in NYC.  I think this candy could make great wedding favors or even gifts for your bridal party!  Below are stills from the Martha show, check out the full video here.

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Just a tiny rant

I know I mentioned before that my wedding dress does not fit and initially I assumed it was just me too fat to fit in it, but now I'm wondering.  I was talking to my friend Erin today about the whole thing and it got me thinking.  According to the seamstress the dress is 4 inches too small, which is a lot!  I should start by giving a little background to where we are now.  I originally tried the sample dress on months and months ago at a bridal salon, my mom was looking for a reason to take a day off and even though my wedding was more than a year away I offered to go look at dresses.  A few months later, I went to a different bridal salon to see what they had to offer.  Every dress I tried on I compared to the dress I tried on at the other store and I mentioned it to the consultant, she left the room and came back with a brochure with the dress in it.  They don't sell that designer but she offered to order it for me.  So, she took my measurements (and my mom's money) but she didn't have a size chart so she said she'd call me the next day with the size (this is the detail I had forgotten!) so she called me the next day with the news that based on my measurements I was a size 8 in the chest and hips and between a 10-12 in the stomach (fun news) and she ordered a size 10 saying that there was only an inch difference between sizes.  When I tried my dress on last Monday my consultant put it over my head and pulled it down, the chest part was sticking way out and it didn't zip up the last bit, it could have but we didn't try because we didn't want to rip it.  So, I'm like okay, I know I gained weight, it's winter and I'm not so motivated and an inch isn't so bad.  THEN, the seamstress comes in and says, "It's like this" and pulls my dress down so now the chest isn't sticking out (and pretty much fits) and I say, "It's like an inch too small."  And she says, "Try 4."  How is it possible that the dress is 4 inches too small??  I gained like 5 lbs. at the most not 20!  I never got a chance to check the size (to be honest, I didn't even think to) so now I'm wondering if they ordered the wrong size (I'm normally a size 6)  I know dresses are sized higher but not 4 sizes higher, right?  Today I was also wondering if maybe they went with a different designer's size chart since when I left the store they didn't have a size chart.  The thing is, at this point, I'm kinda stuck with the dress, I can't prove anything.  At first I was fine with losing the weight but every time I say it's 4 inches too small people react like I'm trying to lose 5o lbs. in 2 weeks!  Which is starting to make me doubt the possibility of me losing the weight and fitting in my dress!  I have 6 months before the dress needs to be altered and I was thinking I need to lose like 15 lbs., I already lost 2 just from counting my calories last week.  Is 15 not doable?  I'm going to try the dress on again next month to see if I'm any closer to fitting into it.  Ugh.

I love these little terrariums

These little terrariums are adorable!  I found them on Elizabeth Anne Designs blog they are from Jessica and Dustin's wedding, be sure to check out the rest of the photos!

My fiance and I recently made a terrarium for his dad as a Christmas gift, he loved it!  I got the idea for that when I considered doing terrarium's as our centerpieces, I've since nixed the idea due to the work I'd end doing, but it's still a great idea if you have the time or know someone who will do it for you!

My Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has never been too big a deal with me and my fiance, but we usually try to do something nice.  This year he worked during the day and I spent the day being a basketcase because I barely slept the night before due to my back pain.  I was even yelling at my dog. which rarely happens because he's so darn cute!  But I did manage to get it semi together and make dinner.  I made Filet Mignon, zucchini, portobello mushrooms, artichokes, and scallions marinated in balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a cauliflower mash.  I got the recipe from Men's Health magazine.  It was really good and really good for you!  We do need to get a grill pan though.  So after dinner we had these for dessert:

I had the cake batter delux and he had the sweet cream and they were yummy, but I have to say I think Cold stone could have done better!  They should have mixed the cake and ice cream together and then put it in the chocolate cupcake wrapper.  Especially since Cold stone's whole thing is about mixing things into ice cream!  Oh well, these are new and only for a limited time so maybe next time they come out with them they'll be better!

Despite my ice cream cupcake dessert, I managed to lose 2 lbs. last week!  Woo hoo!

Valentine's Day ended up being great, good food and time with my fiance and the card he gave me made me cry (in a good way)!  ha.

I hope everyone had a great day!

I love you more than _______

I saw these on Oh Joy!  Isn't it the cutest!  I might have to order one!  I'm also a fan of the V-neck tee.  A few months ago I decided V neck tees should be my T-shirt neckline of choice and I'm not kidding, I own about ten of them now.  Some from Pacsun (yes, I feel old when I go in that store) and some from Gap.  I sometimes even wear them to work with dress pants, which might be less than business casual, but so far, no one's said anything, so I'm gonna keep going with it!  Yeah, I definitely got off topic there.  Oh well.  Now you all know I'm weird.

Wishpot

Yesterday I was listening to the podcast about wedding bloggers and I learned about Wishpot!  It might be the key to registering at various places.  I haven't looked into it too deeply, but hopefully I'll have have time today.  I've been concerned about registering at too many places, maybe this will help!  Has anyone else used this?

It doesn't fit!!!

Just checking in, I don't really have time to post too much right now, but I just wanted to say I tried my dress on and IT DOES NOT FIT!  It's about 4 inches too small and the way the beading is there's no way to let it out without it looking like crap, so I'd say it's time get motivated and lose some fat and inches!  Luckily, I still have about 6 months before I need to start alterations.  Okay, I'm off to bed now.  I'll post more tomorrow.

Wasted Week

I started the week out strong, ready to follow my plan.  I woke up early Monday morning with back pain but I ignored it and rode my bike anyway.  By the time I went to bed Monday night (after a long day of working out, work, and helping my mom shop for her dress for my wedding) my back was getting worse.  When I woke up Tuesday morning (early enough to spin) I could not even lift myself out of bed my back hurt so bad, I took 2 Advil and spilled my Vitamin water down my t-shirt because I couldn't bend my head back far enough.  I went to work only to leave at 12 to go get some muscle relaxers from my aunt.  I thought one of these would cure me (I'd never taken one before) well all they did was make me tired and I swear every time I woke up my back was worse!  I didn't even bother getting out of bed Wednesday and Wednesday night I even slept with Bradley's back massager thing from his car, it did not help!  I went to work today because I'm pretty sure I'm out of sick days (plus I was already taking off tomorrow to go to the Poconos) and work was hellish, but oddly, I think I'm feeling better!  Maybe my mom was right about working it out instead of staying still?  It still hurts, but not as much.  I was supposed to go snow tubing Saturday, but I think that's out.  Instead, I'll shop at the outlet stores and hopefully go see "He's Just Not That Into You."  Sounds like a good weekend to me!  Besides, last year the snow tubing attendant guy dropped my tube rope at the top of the hill and watched straight faced as I started to slide down the hill the wrong way, until I tipped my tube over and fell out for fear of hitting a person or another wooden stake on the way down.  Maybe it's better if I stay away from snow tubing.

As for wedding related stuff.  My veil material came in the mail, now I need to figure out how to make my veil!  I need to find reasonably priced hair accessories to attach it to.

p.s.  I'll be back on the plan next week, especially after I try on my dress Monday night!

My latest attempt, a final solution?

I read Michelle's latest entry on her blog My Wedding Report about getting in shape for her wedding and it's gotten me thinking.  I've already been telling myself that I need to lose weight for my wedding, but I haven't been successful, in fact, truth be told, I've been GAINING weight!  Which is just beyond ridiculous!  My friend told me she thinks it's because I'm building muscle from all the spinning I'm doing, but I have my doubts.  So, after reading Michelle's post I started to think that maybe I need to start looking at getting in shape for my wedding as training for an event?  I need to take it that seriously, otherwise, October is going to get here and I'm going to be disappointed.  Not only will I feel bad on my wedding day, but the honeymoon won't be as fun either if I'm embarrassed to be seen in a bikini.  I was just telling Bradley today (as we were registering at our 3rd and hopefully final place) that we could probably get away with using the luggage I already own because we're going somewhere warm so we'll need less clothes.  I want to only pack bikinis, little dresses, shorts and tanks!  I don't want to deal with trying to hide my body on my honeymoon!  It's not that I'm extremely overweight by any means, I'm just not tiny like I used to be and I want tiny back!  Maybe I just need to face facts, I'm not going to get tiny back unless I start getting super strict about my workouts and eating (which, sadly, means no more free Chick-fil-a breakfast on Tuesdays).  I need to force myself to workout for at least an hour, six days a week which I've yet to be able to do.  I only get one wedding day as far as I'm concerned and I want to look amazing for it!  (Plus, my fiance is getting in better shape so I really can't be a fat bride!)   Oh, and did I mention my fiance told me he didn't see why I can't spin before work AND after?  Yeah, so I think he's trying to tell me something!

Here's the plan:

Spinning @ 6 am M-F for 45 minutes

Spinning after work Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3o minutes

Lifting after work Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

Spinning on Saturday mornings for an hour

Stretching/Yoga for 2o minutes before bed every night (I'm REALLY not flexible so I need to start small with this)   

If I can touch my toes by my wedding day, it might be a miracle, that's how not flexible I am.

Oh, and I almost forgot ABS, I need to firm as I'm losing weight, so abs every night with stretching/yoga!

As for the eating part of this plan, well food is my downfall, it's my first love, let's be honest!  But, I'll cut out the eating out and eat more chicken, salad and veggies and go back to no soda (I had stopped drinking soda for a few years, but lately I've been drinking it again).  I wish I had a nutritionist and a trainer, but without those, this plan will have to do.  Unless, anyone else has any ideas?