So one thing I decided early on in my wedding planning process was to have cupcakes. 1st and foremost to keep costs down, initially we expected to invite about 400 or so people. Well with getting kicked out of our 1st reception venue, that many people was not an option. (which to be completely honest, I was thrilled about, I didn't want 350 people there)

Just some of my inspiration.....

I digress - so we invited about 325 to the wedding/reception and about 275 showed up. As I stated early cost was a consideration, but all the bakeries in my area charged a minimum for a basic cake at $2.25 - $2.75 per piece price so for 300 people at 2.25 that $675 for a freaking cake and Brent and I don't really even like cake that much.

My 2nd reason for the cupcakes was to be a little different. Granted, cupcakes can be seen on blog after blog, but where I am from, believe it or not, it was a radical concept. We still had a small 3 tier cake to cut, but everyone had cupcakes at their place settings.

I ordered 300 cupcakes half chocolate with yellow icing and half lemon cake with green icing (theme of reception lemon/lime aka yellow/green). We picked up the cupcakes the day before the wedding and bought them to the reception venue. I had purchased 300 small plastic candy bags from Hobby Lobby. I had also already made tags (yellow, green, peach in color) stamped with a "With Love" stamp in silver and put small ribbons through each of them. These tags were to tie each bag closed. Also to add another little interest, we bought candy lemon and lime slices. We had a lemon slice to the green iced cupcakes and lime to the yellow. They were adorable.





And my lovely, wonderful bridesmaids spent half of a day putting them all together. After they were done we put the yellow cupcakes on the yellow runners and green on the green runners.






* images of set up day and night before wedding

So I got into a little fender bender on my way to work this morning. I suppose I didn't stop fast enough, or maybe its my cute black patent leather espadrilles that did me in. Either way, I hit the car in front of me. No damage to my Liberty but a dent into the woman's KIA. Luckily no tickets were filed. The state trooper was very nice. You see I still have an Indiana license, no name change yet and I also didn't have my newest insurance card. I had one that had expired. (Jan 08) The other woman had expired tags (May 08) and no up to date insurance card either.

So we both got away without too much hassle, except the fact that Brent doesn't know yet. My cell is totally dead and I forgot my charger at the house and he's at another base today getting qualified to manage PT tests. I called him and left him a message. Hope my insurance doesn't go up too much. It just went out because we got married.

Please let my DVD with all my pictures be at my house when I get home from work. I want and need them. So as some know, I am from a SMALL town in Southern Illinois, and obviously for my wedding good vendors were hard to find. Photography was important to me, however my #1 choice was taken even 10 months before my wedding, I was crushed. I took a look at a lot of photographers in the area, none of them I fell in love with. But I decided upon one that was good in price, had taken pictures at my church, and came recommended to me by friends that had used her at their weddings.

Well, while very nice, she is a "traditional" photographer. When I sat down to meet with her again for our final consultation before the wedding I gave her a packet of over 200 images that I had collected, I gave them to her 4 per page and full color. She was shocked that I had put so much effort into it, well she shouldn't have been, sister knew what she wanted.

My photographer said that this was the type of photography she prefers to do, but "people around these parts" don't want it. Well, I DO and PLEASE give it to me.
Needless to say I was worried. Overall, I think she did an OK job. Some things I wish she would have gotten more pictures of. I let her know that I've put a TON of work into all the DETAILS of the wedding and please focus on those. She did, but not as much as I would have liked.

I also question some of the angles she chose for pictures but hey, what can you do now. I hope to be able to post some pics soon.

So Brent is leaving for IFF next month. He is to report there on 8/11. He was suppose to go to Randolph AFB in TX. He has arranged a place to live where he can take Charlie and everything is set. Well that is until about an hour ago. They are changing his station for IFF, apparently there is a issue with being at a base for 6 months, even if its not a full continual 6 months and not "moving" there. So now he's going to Columbus, MS. Which is a lot closer, but problem is he doesn't have a place to stay yet that would allow his dog. He was going to stay at a "Pit" house in TX, and we don't even know if they offer those in Columbus.

Please dear god, let him find a place to stay were he can take his dog. I love Charlie, but I rather Brent have him then me take care of them both.

I read this news yesterday on CNN and then watched the footage as well. It appears that a 2 month old baby was apparently mauled by 1 or possibly 2 dogs in the home. Yes, that is shocking enough, but what's really scary is one dog was a full grown female pug and the other a 6 to 8 week old lab puppy.

Unfortunately after I read this, I thought about it all day long and then when I got home I had a long talk with Milo (pug) and Charlie (bulldog). I know I sound crazy, but it really freaked me out.


http://www.kctv5.com/news/17024519/detail.html?rss=kan&psp=news

That's what everyone is saying to me. But yes I totally did do a boudoir shoot for my hubby. Not for a wedding gift, but for his birthday which was about a month after the wedding. Needless to say, he was shocked especially because this is totally out of my character. He couldn't figure out when I had even had time to do it. Well with a hubby out of town on cross country flights, a girl can find the time.

Surprisingly enough, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Granted I was freaked out, I've never done anything like this before. But I'm really pleased with the results. These are a few of them, nothing too risky.

Here's another looker. I'm in love with metallics right now, this would be a perfect addition to my purse collection. Last but not least, this cutie. Granted I know the hubby will say I have a white and wicker purse that looks somewhat similar to this - she's white and woven and from Coach that I have had for about 2 years. I love her, and still get compliments, so maybe this isn't the winner.

So this past weekend, nothing too exciting occurred. Friday went to see Dark Knight, it was awesome (post later) and then came home to hang with my hubby. Saturday, did yard work, cleaned, played on my new laptop, and went to the O Club Pool. Saturday night we went to originally get Greek but found out that the restaurant we love is no longer there and replaced by some type of Mexican and Country Food Place, I'm not sure what that is. So we went down the street to a Mexican restaurant, which is also under new mgt, the food was ok. But granted I said I wanted Greek or Chinese, so Mexican wasn't really doing it for me. Well Brent & I split what has become our usual Fajitas Texans (shrimp, chicken, and steak). When they went and bought some beer and watched a movie at home - my choice. So I picked a total girlie movie off of On-Demand - P.S. I love you. I had wanted to see this movie for a while but Brent wouldn't go see it with me and everything we go rent a movie he vetoes my choice. So, I watched it, and Brent did too sort of while playing with his lap top. I loved it, it was so sweet and so sad at the same time. Brent never understands how I can cry so much and want to keep watching something that is obviously making me upset. Oh well, he doesn't get it.
Sunday - I went grocery shopping in the AM then we cleaned a little more and watched the Breakfast Club which Brent had never watched the whole way through. WHAT??? I couldn't believe it either, and I totally annoyed Brent because I literally know every word to that movie, since that is my #2 movie - behind Pretty in Pink another Hughes classic. I put a pot roast in the cooker and we had people over for dinner and some Wii Fit action.

Main issue yesterday was Charlie. He was sick and throwing up all day. We took him to Em Vet around 8:00 last night, they gave him some shots for fluid and sent him home. Brent slept on the couch with him all night. I woke up at 4am to check on them, all 3 of them were on the couch, my boys I felt so bad for Charlie. This morning he looked so sad and tired. Brent's taking him to the vet today, he has held down some water which is a good sign.

The Dark Knight opened last night at midnight, let the chaos begin. I'm so excited to see this movie. I loved the Batman Begins and I love Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. I've very excited, if you couldn't tell. I think we're going to try see if on Saturday or Sunday early shows, I checked the 2 theaters near our house have 11:00, 12:00, 1:00 shows. I think that would be our best bet, and we'll save a couple of dollars along the way.

I hope to give you a stellar review. I'm going in with "sky-high" hopes and so far from the reviews it appears I won't be disappointed.

So Brent and I went out to dinner with some friends last night to TUDO its a Vietnamese restaurant. Brent & I had never ate Vietnamese food so we were a little nervous but willing to go outside our comfort zone and I try. And, I'm happy to say it was pretty good.

We ordered spring rolls that had pork and shrimp in them and I wonderful peanut sauce to drizzle on top. For dinner, I order a chicken dish that tasted somewhat like bbq chicken on top of a bed of noodles and what tasted sort of like pickled carrots and sprouts. Brent ordered what seriously looked like "Happy Family" from our Chinese restaurant. It has shrimp, chicken, pork, and a lot of veggies. He didn't like it to much, he'll order something different next time.

Overall it was good. Good food and good conversation = good times.

Why is Katie "Kate" Holmes such a weirdo now? I used to love her. But over the last couple of years I've questioned some of her decisions. One decision would be this hairdo and make up. Is she trying to Revlon cover model from 1978. Well if she is, its working girl.

*Photo from Perezhilton.com. ** I love me some Perez.

PROJECT RUNWAY IS BACK.... Yeah I can hardly contain myself. Season 5 started last night...

OK - I loved the grocery challenge in Season 1 and I LOVE Austin Scarlett so needless to say I was happy. I wished I could afford a Kenneth Poole dress for my wedding, he is FAB.
Anyway - the season looks to be ok. Here is a look I liked and some I thought WTF.

This is my favorite, I loved it. But she didn't win.


This is the winner, I liked it. I like the treatments she put on the vaccuum cleaner bags.


This I absolutely hate and I can't stand the designer either. Which seriously leads me to believe that the producers do have a say in who gets kicked off each week. First off, WTF is it, its stupid and weird and the designer (sorry don't know names yet) it a freak. So that's why I think he's still there, good TV perhaps. Anyway I have a couple of things to say about him.
1. Stop tanning you look weird.
2. Stop trying to start your own catch phrases, its pathetic and sad.
3. Does he have a coke problem or something, why does he keep sniffing like that and touching his nose. Did anyone else notice that. It was weird, and they kept showing it which leads me to believe something is up or at least they are trying to make it seem that way.

Last but not least, I am NOT HAPPY that Project Runway is going to Lifetime next season. I think its a bad idea and people are too greedy for their own good. They're going to have new producers and a new channel, not happy about that at all. I love BRAVO and other than Lifetime movies, I never watch that channel.

Still alittle weird to call him my husband. I have a husband... crazy thought but one I'm getting used to.

So Brent got home late last night and I was so happy to see him. He'd only been gone since Monday, but it felt like forever.
Good news, we hadn't been able to find a Wii Fit anywhere and low and behold he found one at a mall in New Mexico or El Paso, I'm not sure.
Before we went to bed last we watched his video from the centrifuge. I'll be honest it was a little scary/freaky. Its amazing what your face looks like when you're feeling 8Gs on it for 20 seconds. But none the less, I'm, as always, very proud of Brent. I know I would definitely not have been able to do that. I would have totally passed out at 3 or 4 Gs. Ir I would have thrown up all over the place.

Needless to say, I'm just happy to have him home and don't want to think about him leaving again on August 11th.

So Brent and I are the exact same age (I'm a month & 6 days older) but I graduated college a year before him (in 2002). We both went to Illinois universities - me Eastern IL and him Northern IL. And because of this, we both have an undying love from techno music. Yes its true, I love me some techno music every once and a while, and so do all of our college friends. Techno music takes us back in time to the frat raves, late nights, and the dance party usa we'd have at our apts at 3 am. So needless to say when the DJ busted out some techno from the college years, people started to get their groove on. But what really got the party jumping was the best $3 I ever spent at the Dollar Tree, 15pk of glow sticks. I busted those babies out and it was pure chaos, you thought a rave was actually going down on the dance floor. It was awesome.

This guy is experience 1G.

Now 9Gs. Can you see a difference. Looks fun, huh? No probably not.


* pic is not of Brent.

Brent landed last night in El Paso and drove to New Mexico. I spoke to him about 10:30 Central time and they hadn't made it to base yet. They got stopped on the interstate looking for aliens, illegal ones that is. The police stopped them, asked if they were Americans and then let them pass through.
So Brent will be doing the centrifuge today, hopefully all goes well. They are going to spin him around and around so he'll feel the weight of 7 to 8 Gs. To this point I think he has only felt 4, so it should be pretty tough on him. I pray he doesn't throw up.
He has to do this test/training before going to IFF where he'll begin flying, I believe the T-38. He'll be there for 6 weeks, and I'll miss him terribly.
Good Luck sweetie. I'll be praying for you today.

To go to New Mexico and he'll back on Wednesday. I miss him already...

So me and the "boys" (meaning the 2 dogs) have the house to ourselves until Wednesday night. They'll be going crazy when I get home from work, Brent is usually home at least 30 minutes before me and feeds/lets them out, so they'll be ready when I finally get home. And they will totally miss him. Charlie will be running around the house to make sure Brent's not hiding somewhere. Its really cute, but kinda sad b/c he's not going to find him...

So if you know me, you know I love movies. Love movies....

But since we were pre-occupied for the past couple of weeks, getting married and going on a honeymoon, then Brent going on a cross country, well needless to say I haven't been able to see all the movies I've wanted to see... which thankfully haven't been too many.

Therefore I have 2 brief movie reviews for you.


1. The Happening - Brent and I saw 2 weekends ago

First of all I love M. Knight, I love his work and I think he's an excellent story teller. I know everyone loves the Sixth Sense, that's a given and people we're 50/50 on the Village and so of his more recent movies.

Well I went into the movie theater with some high expectations, and when that happens, I'm generally let down. And this unfortunately was no different. The concept is good, I'll give him that. It was gorey in some points, which I could do without, but in certain times the blood was necessary to depict the events taking place. But I was waiting for the "twist" that he's known for. Problem is, I totally guessed the "twist" 30 minutes into the movie and kept waiting for something else "cool" to happen. And it didn't HAPPEN.



But the moral of the movie is..... we're destroying the planet people, clean up your act, or your house plant is going to make you kill yourself.


2. WANTED - OK I wanted to see this movie so badly. I had heard nothing bad wonderful things. I again went it with HIGH expectations - and this time I wasn't let down. I freaking loved, loved, loved it. First off, I love Angie and in my eyes she does no wrong. She did look a little skinny in the movie and she's still smoking hot.

The action scenes where incredible and things you have never seen before in any other action movie.



I'll admit I'm a girl that loves guy movies - action, horror, gang, murder, I love I can't help it.



So the excitement is beginning for BATMAN - The DARK KNIGHT I can't wait. It's suppose to be awesome and from the previews it looks it so far. 6 days till opening.... I think I'm going to talk Brent into going ahead and buying tickets.


One good thing about living in P'cola vs. Indy, you can get movie tickets. In Indy everything sells out WAY in advance.