Days 17 and 18: The Budget and the Bachelorette
PIN IT!
So for those who don’t know me very well, the person to the right of me is my very best friend. We have been partners in crime for 19 years. Yes, 19 whole years she has been by my side. Through thick and thin, trials and tribulations, this girl has stood by me, no matter what predicament I found myself in. [I was quite the trouble maker in my youth]. She has been there for me through every heartbreak, every move, every fight and every cry, and through all of this, never gave up on me, or our friendship. I know friends like her come once in a lifetime, and I will cherish her friendship until my lifetime is over. With that being said, this weekend is a big one for her. It’s her bachelorette party! We’ve been planning for over 3 months and it’s finally here! I’m so happy I get to spend this weekend with her as she celebrates “her last single girls weekend” and I know she’ll be doing the same for me when my party rolls around in less than a year! So I will be out-of-pocket this weekend and won’t have any new posts until Monday, but don’t worry, they will be great and I’ll be sure to post some fantastic photos from the weekend.
Besides prepping for the madness that is sure to ensue this weekend, I have also been completing a major mini-lution. One which involves my wedding budget [which is a word I’ve become all too familiar with lately!]
Speaking of my wedding, I will soon be adding a wedding blog to this blog as a new category, so all of my friends, family and followers can keep up with my wedding planning adventures and get a first hand look at what it’s like to plan a wedding in Charleston. Should be a mix of comedy and tragedy, but none-the-less, will be interesting. I plan on “unleashing” on Monday 🙂
Days 17 and 18: Talking out a budget for the wedding
The cost of the wedding cake…
…the gown…
…the venue…
…the flowers…
…the food and…
..the beverages…
Add up very quickly and if you aren’t careful, you will find yourself completely broke and needing to sell your house to the wedding planner as collateral.
So establishing a budget BEFORE you start swiping the card is a definite MUST in wedding planning. As much as I want a perfect, fairy tale wedding in Charleston in a $25,000 dress, I think I’d like to have somewhere to live and put my rice cookers and bread makers after the whole shi-bang is over with a little bit more. My mother and father have not formally talked it over with his mother and father, but Elliot and I have talked about it in a bit more detail. [Which is why this mini-lution is a 2 day thing!] Granted the whole budget is not finalized until our parents have agreed, it’s very important that Elliot and I have an idea to how much we think should be spent out of their pockets and how much we are going to be spending out of ours. Both him and I are going to be saving heavily until March 26th so we can help ease the pain of how much we think this wedding will cost. I am aiming to contribute up to $3,500 and he is most likely going to be contributing a lot more. [Darn student loans!] We also have spoken, in-depth, with a few of the venues who have also given us proposals estimating costs. Although one of them is very steep, we are working with them to see if we can reduce that cost at all. So we have talked about it, which is not easy for him and I, since financially we are on opposite sides of the spectrum [oil and water!] and it hasn’t been the smoothest of all our conversations, but we’re getting there. We at least were able to agree on a ball park figure and our contributions, so we are making headway. As soon as we talk to the parental units we will have a more etched in stone outline for how much we need to save and how much they can spend. Money is an awkward, tough subject for many, so if you are in the same boat as I, approach the subject with high sensitivity and make sure to listen before you interject. Especially since we are in a recession, try your best to listen to what they say before you voice your concerns.
Another great piece of advice I read regarding a budget is to map it out. Whether it be on Excel, Power Point, Word, a pencil and pad or even a post-it, you need to have a visual of your budget. [This is something to consider even before you talk to the parents, as it gives them some real numbers to look at versus just estimates]. I’ve already began an Excel document that Elliot and I will finalize before we talk to our parents, and will adjust as our parents give us their realistic budget. For a few examples on how to set this up, see the photos below. Outlining a budget is never as easy as it should be and it really needs to involve both the bride and the groom. Even if you two are polar opposites [hello, my fiance and I] it’s a definite must and can avert serious arguments that might arise later due to money.
I know this process is not going to be easy, all I can hope for is that we don’t end up at each other’s throats!
I love…weekends with the girls!
Days 13, 14, 15 and 16: Wedding Crazed [but loving every minute of it]
AH! Just looking at the headline of this blog makes me blush and giggle at the same time. Elliot is no longer my romantic, nerdy, goofy, simply adorable boyfriend, he’s not my romantic, nerdy, goofy simply adorable fiance. Wow! I still can not believe I’m engaged. I look down on my left finger and see my ring [although it’s still only my temporary one, for now!] staring back at me, it all becomes so real again. I’m engaged, to the LOVE of my life. I’m so happy I can barely stand it.
Well, you may be curious as to where Day 13 went. Well, Day 13 was the day Elliot proposed, so I didn’t do anything but cry and jump up and down and enjoy my engagement. So I’m sorry readers, but some days warrant no behavior and no plans. Some days provide such extraordinary circumstances that all you can is enjoy every second of what is happening and live in the moment. So friends, that is what I did! I enjoyed every second of my proposal, every second of my romantic fondue dinner, enjoyed every second of the metro ride home and every second…of what followed. But maybe that is a mini-lution. To enjoy not having control over everything one day and just live in a moment someone else has created for me. It’s not something I’m good at, not controlling absolutely everything. So I guess I did do something new, and I can’t believe it coincided with one of the biggest days of my life!
Day 14: Cook dinner for my fiance
As I have mentioned in my other post, I am not domestically blessed. Even though I can now successfully sew a button on a jacket, I’m still quite the disaster in the kitchen. Well to thank my incredible fiance for everything he did on the 13th, I wanted to make him a nice, romantic dinner on Valentine’s day, just to show that I appreciate and love him. Well, thanks to my grandmother who gave us a Betty Crocker “everything plus the kitchen sink” cookbook, finding a recipe that looked good and didn’t require weird ingredients like goats milk or white truffle oil, was really easy! I decided on a zesty roasted chicken with red potatoes and asparagus. Although it looked nothing like the photo [I don’t think they ever do] it turned out really tasty! The only problem was that the potatoes took much longer to cook. [Recipe is below]. I, of course, made it more healthy by using non fat mayo. [What kind of nutritionist would I be?] Elliot was very pleased and shocked. “Baby, you didn’t burn it!” but he did make a few jokes. “I’m planning on getting violently ill though after this…” I know he actually enjoyed it. So touche to me, I made my future hubby a dinner that didn’t taste like a foot and was kind of fun to prepare 🙂 I’m just steps away from becoming the next June Cleaver, really!
Zesty Chicken and Red Potatoes
| 6 | boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 3/4 lb) |
| 1/2 | teaspoon salt |
| 1/3 | cup mayonnaise or salad dressing |
| 3 | tablespoons Dijon mustard |
| 1 | tablespoon vegetable oil |
| 1/2 | teaspoon pepper |
| 2 | cloves garlic, finely chopped |
| 1 | lb small red potatoes, each cut into 6 wedges |
Bake in a pre-heated over [350 degrees] for 35- 40 min.
I love….planning a wedding in Charleston!!
Day 15: Share my blog with the world
What many people don’t know about me, is that I’m very private when it comes to my writing. I’ve always been a writer. From the day I could pick up a pen I was writing elaborate stories and silly poems. As I’ve grown, so has my writing style and abilities, as well as my level of sharing when it came to what I wrote about. As a child, I would always jump to be the center attention and was always the first person to stand up to read their homework, poem or short story aloud. However, as I grew and experienced more of life [both good and bad] my writing took a darker and more personal turn, and I no longer felt comfortable sharing that much of my heart and soul with those around me. In my first years of college, my writing become more a serious of darker, soul baring poems that not even those closest to me were privy to see. Even though I’m not writing as much as I used to, I still harbor that fear of rejection or judgment that may come once someone reads my writing. It scares me to be that vulnerable, and my writing is a piece of my heart. Just like it’s hard to put my heart on my sleeve in relationships, it’s just as heart to do the same with my writing. With that being said, it took EVERYTHING in me to finally announce my blog on Twitter and Facebook. I have had my blog since November, so it has taken a few months to muster up the courage, but I’ve finally done it. I think it’s time for me to share my passions with the world and hopefully help others discover and share their passions to. Nutrition and writing are my life and this blog represents that. So thank you all for being so supportive with my blog release, and please, don’t hesitate to share your comments with me. I’m very excited to see where this blog goes and to gain all of the new readers and relationships!
I love…my hair color, which is a perfect mix of sand and sun.
Day 16: Establish a “wedding dress workout”
All photos above courtesy of www.nzgirl.co.nz
Photo courtesy of www.inspirethebride.com
One of my greatest fears is that I will not be at my goal weight for my wedding. Of all days to need to look your best, your wedding day is at the top of the list. All of your family and friends will be there, your future husband will be saying I do to your body and not to mention thousands of professional photographs will be taken, which are not the world’s most forgiving camera angles. So if there’s never been more of a push to lose 20 pounds and get my goal body than now! I only have a year, folks, which will pass by much quicker than I think I’m ready for! In order to get “wedding dress ready” I obviously need to first establish what type of dress I’m going to be wearing so I know what areas I need to focus on the most. Although I’m just newly engaged, I have been dress shopping for a bit longer [cough, a year, cough, cough] so I have a slight idea to what kind of shape and style I want on my big day. Pictured below are a few examples of dresses I’m really in love with, just to give you an idea of what I’m going to need to improve [and just to be the giddy new bride to be and show off!]
Priscilla of Boston
Priscilla of Boston
Priscilla of Boston
Maggie Sottero
Maggie Sottero Destination
Those are not all of the one’s I’ve fallen for, obviously, but they all share a similar theme [besides the last one, which is just gorgeous]: tight on the top and strapless. AH! I’m not a strapless kind of girl. I don’t think I own a strapless dress or tube top, for good reasons. I used to be a swimmer, which means I have a strong upper body. It also means that I slightly resemble a linebacker in anything without straps or sleeves. I love football and linebackers play a very important role on a football field, they however, do not play a similar role down the aisle on my wedding day.
Although I can’t do much about the width of my shoulders, I can definitely do something about the toning in my arms and chest! Since most of those gowns are also very fitted down to the waist, I also need to really focus on my abs, making them as flat and toned as possible. So after doing a bit of research, I found some great moves that I can do on top of my normal cardio-weight training routine, plus I can do them from the comfort of my own home!
To get the toned triceps, biceps, and pectorals that I really need to look hot in my strapless gowns, I need to do these routines 3-4x a week. [These workouts are all courtesy of www.theknot.com]
Bicep Curls
1. Standing with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, pull your tummy in and tuck your pelvis under. Hold a heavier pair of dumbbells down at your sides with your palms facing front.
2. Keeping your elbows at your sides, slowly curl the dumbbells toward your shoulders. Reverse direction and lower the dumbbells into starting position — avoid locking your elbows. Do 10 repetitions per set. Slow and steady wins the race here — you’ll get a bigger benefit from the exercise if you use concentrated, controlled movements. If you feel like you’re whipping the weights around to get them up, your dumbbells are too heavy. Downgrade to a smaller weight so you can move more comfortably.
Both photos courtesy of www.cosmogirl.com
Dumbbell Fly
1. Lie down with your knees bent and your feet firmly planted shoulder-width apart. Stretch out your arms on the floor so your body makes a T. Grasp a dumbbell in each outstretched hand, keeping your elbows slightly bent. Keep your palms facing up towards the ceiling.
2. Slowly raise the weights upward in a rounded arc (as if you were hugging a tree!), gently touching the dumbbells together at the top above your body. Hold for a few seconds, then slowly lower the weights back to their starting positions. Do 10 repetitions per set.
Photo courtesy of www.womansday.com
Tricep Dips
1. Sit normally on a sturdy, nonwheeled chair. Place your hands on the front edge of the seat (fingertips facing front) and your feet on the floor, hip-width apart and a little bit ahead of you. Slowly slide your bottom off the seat of the chair, keeping your hands where there are.
2. Keeping your arms close to your body, bend your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the floor, allowing your rear end to descend past the edge of the chair. Using your arms to lift you, reverse direction and push yourself back up to the point at which your arms are straight. Work up to 15 dips per set.
Photo courtesy of www.brides.com
Tricep-dip on ball
Works triceps and shoulders
(A) Sit on a sturdy chair or bench, hands on edge of the chair. Extend legs and rest calves on ball.
(B) Bend elbows to slowly lower your body about 6 to 8 inches (if you go too far, you’ll place undue stress on your shoulders), with elbows pointed back and butt close to edge of chair. Slowly return to start, squeezing your triceps at the top of the move. Do one to two sets of
8 to 10 reps, working up to three sets of 12 reps.
Photo courtesy of www.brides.com
Two-way shoulder raise
Works front and middle deltoids (shoulders)
(A) Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, legs straight but not locked. Holding a set of dumbbells, arms to your sides with palms facing in and abs contracted, lift your arms up and out to shoulder height.
(B) Lower your arms, then lift them forward and up to shoulder height, turning your palms up, elbows slightly bent. Lower, turn your palms in, and repeat, from (A). Perform one to two sets of 10 to 12 reps, working up to three sets of 10 to 12 reps. When the 12th rep becomes easy, increase the weight by 2 or 3 pounds.
Photo courtesy of www.brides.com
Stationary inchworm
Works deltoids, chest, triceps and abdominals
(A) Stand with feet together, legs straight; don’t lock knees. Place hands on ground in front of feet.
(B) Slowly walk hands forward.
(C) Continue forward until you’re in a plank position. Slowly walk hands back to starting position (hands on ground in front of feet). Perform one set of 6 to 8 reps, working up
to one set of 12. For a more advanced move, add a push-up when you’re in the plank position.
Photo courtesy of www.brides.com
Works triceps, shoulders, glutes and abdominals
(A) Sit on a mat, with knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Place your hands on the ground with your fingers pointing toward your butt and your wrists aligned with your shoulders. Lift your butt off the ground so you’re in a bridge position, trying to keep knees, hips and shoulders in line.
(B) Bend your elbows and lower your hips as you lift your left leg, foot flexed, to a 45-degree angle from the floor.
(C) Straighten your arms, and lower your left leg back to hip height. Repeat steps (B) and (C) for half your reps, then switch legs. Perform one to two sets of 10 to 12 reps, working up to three sets
of 8 to 12 reps.
Photo courtesy of www.brides.com
Works shoulders, obliques and lower abdominals
(A) Sit on the ball and walk your feet forward, rolling the ball
so that it’s beneath your middle back. Keeping your feet flat
on the ground, hold a light dumbbell (3 pounds for beginner, 5 pounds for more advanced) vertically with your arms straight out in front of you about 45 degrees above your hips.
(B) With abs contracted, crunch up, twisting your torso to your left, then to your right, before lowering back down to starting position. Do one set of 8 to 12 reps, working up to two to three sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Although these will tone the areas I need toned for my dress, exercising is only half of the battle. I also need to completely re-do my diet so that, at the end of the day, I’m burning more than I’m taking in, so that I can both lose the weight I want and tone my flabby muscle. So stay tuned in the next couple weeks as I am diligently working on my wedding dress nutrition plan to go with my exercise regime.
I love…that my amazing aunt got us a BEAUTIFUL villa in Tuscany for our trip in June!
A guide to healthy eating at a Chinese food place. There really is a God!
Now one of my favorite splurges can be more of a common occurance, thanks to this guide on how to eat healthly at a Chinese restaurant! And folks, let’s be realistic here, just one eggroll won’t kill you either. 5 might, but 1? No.
So enjoy! I know I’m really excited about this!
Claire
Tags:eating healthy at a chinese restaurant, eggroll, healthy chinese, ordering light
Brown bag your lunch to save money…and calories!
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/best-brown-bag-lunches/
I bring my lunch EVERYDAY, and although it’s not as exciting as going out to eat, it saves me tons of money and also helps me keep my calories in tow. [A container of ranch dressing to go on your salad can have as much as 650 calories!!]
I'm ENGAGED!!
I’m engaged, I’m engaged, I just can’t say it enough! My boyfriend is so amazing and had the whole day planned for over 3 months! [Read his story for the entire proposal].
My fiance is amazing and had my ring custom designed, so I don’t have it yet, but it’s gorgeous! [See below!]
