Flea Markets and Garage Sales

I enjoy both. There are a few things that I observed this weekend though.

First, I've never thought about selling mouthwash or half a bottle of shampoo at a garage sale. If I'm tired of a shampoo before it's gone I usually combine it with other shampoo(s) that I'm tired of and that full bottle then becomes emergency (or guest) shampoo. Who buys used shampoo anyway? Suave (or is it V05?) costs somewhere in the $1 range at Walmart, doesn't it?
Second, there are always some grumpy vendors. Troy was looking at a post hole digger, probably because when he saw it, he was reminded that he needs to use one to plant a bird feeder my brother made for me. The old man selling it yelled over to him that it's his last one and $20 would take it. Troy jokingly yelled back over that it sounded too much like work to him and moved on. The old man then yelled back that he doesn't know what's wrong with "you young people" never wanting to do any work...and when we was young he worked all he could, and if he couldn't work he'd just as soon be dead...etc Hmm. Didn't set well with Troy...not at all. Thankfully he bit his tongue and just shot him a "shut the eff up" look while saying he was joking. As most of you know, Troy doesn't do physical work (well, none that he gets paid to do--he does plenty of it otherwise) but he isn't lazy and the old man trying to tell him off was just so ridiculous. Needless to say, we didn't buy the post hole digger...or anything from him for that matter.
Third, you can't look at something without the seller jumping up and telling you the history of the item, how much it cost them and how much of a loss they're willing to take to sell it to you. Sorry ma'am, we don't need a tractor...and I was just looking at the shampoo while wondering why you were trying to sell it.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

This is the theme of the party that we're planning for the first weekend in July. Does it sound fun or what? Of course it does. We found a few hard to pass up items tonight--like surfboard and flipflop shaped plates and parrot decorations. So cheesey, but also really fun.
Troy's snoring in front of Friends so I'm guessing it's time to go to bed.

Summer Reading

Troy and I have never been much on reading for pleasure but we decided to participate in some summer reading. I have to admit, I'm enjoying it a lot more than I imagined I would. It's so relaxing to sit outside in the shade with a good book, or even just a so-so book. I don't know if I'll become bored with it when the newness of it wears off, but right now I'm loving it.

Getting Hitched?

I see a lot of crazy "Bridezilla" articles popping up everywhere these days. And while I won't say that I didn't have my moments when planning my wedding, I will say that it was fairly stress-free, I thoroughly enjoyed it and we managed to have a pretty perfect combination of fun and elegance. It's been four years since my wedding day (already?!?) and we actually still hear comments about how fun our wedding was and have had several requests for suggestions.
So here are some suggestions for anyone who may need them:

First give yourself plenty of time. We had a year to plan. This gives you the option to shop around and find the most suitable venue, caterer, florist, etc. without just having to settle for whatever is available (you know, what everyone else passed on.) Next, search out a wedding related online community (I recommend the wedding side of ourlittleuniverse.com), as this was a fabulous place for ideas, tips and opinions. I really did find this to be an invaluable resource.

There are a few things you'll want to give a lot of attention, like the photographer. Don't let your cousin's boyfriend's dad take pictures because he's got a pretty nice camera. Hire a great photographer who will truly document your wedding day. You want someone who will be able to give you memories, not yearbook style photos. The shots of your grandparents cutting a rug on the dance floor, the flower girl stealing a bite of frosting from the cake, and the look on the groom's face as he sees you walking down the aisle are the really great ones that will bring you right back to that moment.
The menu/food and bar are also huge. While you may think that the majority of your guests are there to "share in the love of your day" the reality of it is, they're at your wedding because they feel obligated to be there and the best they're hoping for is a good meal and some free drinks. make sure the food is above their expectations and there is plenty of it. Have a dessert table/bar. Have plenty of Hors d'oeuvres and have them easily accessible as soon as they arrive at the reception. We had them in the center of each table. Do not have a cash bar. Open bar is where it's at---even if all you're offering is beer and wine. If you want mixed drinks and can't afford a full bar pick a couple of favorites to feature, or have a private stash in a cooler behind your table for the wedding party.
If you're going for a fun wedding reception, pick a great band or DJ that plays a variety of music that will suit all tastes. Make sure it's someone you trust to not be lame, and hire them for the night--not by the hour. This way, you decide when the party's over--not the DJ. Make sure that he has an idea of how you want things to go. Our DJ kept track of us throughout the night to make sure things were going as planned and he had a form to let him know when we wanted specific things done (first dance, cake cutting, etc.). We told him then of any special requests, like ony taking music requests from the wedding party. This way your great-aunt Martha doesn't freak out when your DJ obliges your step-cousin's request for death metal.
Completely Elegant wedding? Don't be disappointed when your sitting in your bridal suite an hour after the food is served and the cake is cut. Sure, it's great for pictures but your guests will soon get bored with the string quartet and Champagne. If you want an elegant/ short reception ( you know, so you can move on to better things) go this route and maybe ,just to keep it interesting, go for a morning wedding and Champagne brunch reception. That way your guests won't have wasted their entire da....I mean, you'll get on with your honeymoon that much quicker.
Shoes. Get comfortable ones. The novelty of kicking them off as the night progresses will wear off about the time you're walking barefoot on the floor of a public bathroom.


The next list is what you shouldn't stress too much about: Favors. People honestly don't give a rip. Don't waste money on miniature picture frames, they will undoubtedly end up in either the trash or their next garage sale. They don't want a cd of love songs any more than they want to keep the plastic "glass slipper" or champagne flute you filled with mints. Seriously though, go with an edible favor. If you're going for inexpensive do mints, Hershey Kisses, mini candy bars with personalized wrappers, cookies, etc. packaged pretty. If you're willing to spend more, do miniature bottles of wine or champagne or regular-sized bottles of wine (one per couple) with a note of thanks or a personalized label.
Wedding night lingerie. Unless you plan on being in your room early, save it for the honeymoon and just opt for a pretty bra/undies set under your dress. Chances are at least one of you will be too tired, drunk or both to do much more than shimmy out of your wedding clothes before your head hits the pillow.
Perfection. It's just not going to happen. Something is going to go wrong. However, at the end of it all the purpose of the day was accomplished: You're married. It doesn't matter if you've dated for a few months or lived together for several years, marriage creates a whole new bond that is like nothing else--and no matter what goes wrong, at the end of the day you've got that bond. Now it's your job to hang on to it.