it's beginning to feel a lot like fall here.

(Jimmy + I)

(Me + My Mom)

(Jimmy + My Mom)

After my alteration appt with david's bridal - I wanted to take some pictures so I got a few of my fiance with my mom, then had Jimmy take some of my mom and I, and my mom take some of Jimmy and I.

Yes, it was a family affair LOL

Truthfully, my mother loves Jimmy and they get along well and they actually have a lot in common, such as the things that i hate which Jimmy absolutely LOVES- my mom seems to love just as much!! Mostly this applies to food, socialization adventure/liking to try "new" things + and fun!!! Hahahha.

After the assorted picture taking, we then all three headed over to Michael's arts and crafts which was next door.

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Michael's Arts & Crafts store after Alteration Appt:

Below are a few things we got at michael's. Jimmy actually saw some canvas on sale, so he got two one for me and one for him. I guess he was thinking in the future maybe we might want to try our hand at painting. Neither of us are really artistic in that sense or way altho I think both of us liked to draw/doodle growing up and weren't bad at sketching, but also not artistic like good enough to be an artist or creative inspiration or anything LOL

I found it interesting that he all of a sudden saw something he wanted to pursue as a hobby via Michael's in arts and crafts. especially after the last few trips there he'd rolled his eyes or sounded irritated when I was excited over all the art stuff wanting to buy it!! I wonder what came over him.

Jimmy wasn't feeling very well today and was sick earlier this week with a cold with muscle ache/fever for several days enough to even take off work midweek. I think he is run down just like I have been. It is probably from planning a wedding which has been highly stressful and since it's getting closer and closer to the date- there is more and more to do, stress is heightened and at times it is just tiresome for both of us!

So anyway, here's a few things I got that made me happy:

This pretty fall butterfly clip on decoration. I don't know where I'd put this or if I could use it in my reception hall but just thought it was so pretty and it was cheap so I wanted it for Fall.

....And, here is a "Far East" rubber stamp set I got. It includes pieces that stamp below designs and it includes the black ink. I just thought it would be cool to have and try. It is my first real rubber stamp set and they have so many amazing ones that I was overwhelmed with which one to pick! My next picks would have been the celtic cross styles and the retro looking fashion/european women ones- kind of vargas/nouveau art like style.

After Michael's- Jimmy and I decided to go with my parents where they go to dinner every Saturday. We were all hungry and had a long drive back so felt we might as well!

Below picture of us was taken at Longhorn Steakhouse :)

(Me + My Fiance at Longhorn)

During dinner, my mom told us the cutest story regarding my niece Alexcia. She told us that last week my niece came home from school sick from something she ate at school [apparently it was food poisoning as a few other kids at school contracted the same illness]...anyway while my mom was taking care of her-- she asked for the nemo cold compress I'd gotten for her birthday recently to put on her tummy to make her feel better, but when my mom got it and put it on her tummy, alexcia moaned that nemo wasn't big enough to help her tummy ache...Awww!!!! It just made me envision the tiny nemo on Alexcia's tummy and her saying that with her big saucer like eyes...poor baby!!!!

Luckily, she is better now, but I didn't get the chance to see her this past weekend but since the Tampa team of baseball won this division thingie [don't know anything about sports or care], my fiance will be going to the big game this coming saturday and I will probably just be dropped off to visit my family and niece while he does this, so I suppose I will get to visit her then.

Unless I get sick again. If I do, I will just stay home. I am still worn out from being sick in the past two days and I think I am runned down from all of this. I hope to catch up sometime tomorrow but for now must say goodnite. I spent much of tonite trying to recuperate and regain energy from last nite's illness :/

It's really beginning to feel like Fall here and that seems strange to say when it comes to FL, since it's not known to cool off til late October or early November. I like the feel of Fall though and the crisp air, the breeze. I know it's nothing like the places where snow falls as I've lived in those climates before and I don't soon forget. But I revel in that 'feeling' and find that I always become so nostalgic during the last few months before the year comes to a close. Perhaps it is because I am deep. Or maybe it is because I was born in November and so it just feels like home to me - natural.

I always travel towards darkness even when seeking light. It seems so much a part of me (like nature) that I gravitate toward darkness yet long for light - in so many aspects of my life. Sometimes, I am a total walking contradiction, even to myself!

Bridal Gown Alterations [with pictures]

pix before and during alterations at david's bridal, first fitting.

My measurements were- 31-26-37 I don't know what it all means other than that I have a petite chest and big hips apparently according to these numbers. I'm not sure what the numbers mean but I wish I did and I think I'm going to research that so I can find out.

Alterations were a bit tiring seeing that within minutes my feet were killing me and the lady kept reprimanding me for not holding my head high enough and standing straight. It was not that relaxing + a bit stressful. I couldn't wait til it was done and was relieved when about 40 mins later the hems being pinned, bust and waist pinned were finally finished where I could take the dress off and leave.

Unforunately I accidentally moved my arm too fast and one of the HUGE straight pins brushed against my skin causing a deep cut against my inner arm near my wrist. I had no idea it bled or that I'd been cut. I thought I just poked myself with the pin, not cut myself. Hours later, before bed is when I discovered the nasty dark red cut that looked like a smudge of sharpie red marker. It scared me. I put peroxide and neosporin, then put a bandaid on it immediately.

Here were some pix my mom and the alteration lady took for me. A few of these are prior to alterations so it looks a bit big because it wasn't taken in yet and a then a few were taken after I was all pinned up:

These were before the alterations began so nothing was pinned up yet. Also, the corset wasn't tied up yet so it looks a bit big without it being fully tied up.

I had my mom take a few snapshots before everything got pinned and taken in and in case I wasn't able to get any pix before turning the dress into alterations so I could see how the dress fit now and share with those I wanted to with.

I felt my arms and shoulders looked noticeably thinner than when I first tried on, bought the dress which I photographed the day of purchase back in May. I have lost some weight in the past month and it may be tied to that. I think it was more obvious in person though than in the actual photographs here. I don't know.

Closeup picture of top half, sideways:

Full length front shot.



My face sure does look red. I can't determine whether it is the lighting or if it is because I was feeling hot and nervous while standing there waiting to be altered OR if my skin really looks like that. Whatever the case it worries me because when I looked in the mirror during this time, I felt my complexion and color were noticeable as I got sort of a farmer's tan when I went to the beach back in July due to wearing a surfer style sleeveless top rather than bikini and was hoping it would fade before my wedding as I refuse to wear tanning spray or go to any tanning salon. I HATE being tan and the look of fake tans on people in general. I think it's ugly and will not do it, so I just have to cross my fingers that by the end of Nov., in person and in photo, that my skin is going to look even in tone and color otherwise I am in big trouble. I definitely don't want to look like I have splotchy skin color or orange-reddish tones on my wedding day. I really don't know what can be done to make sure this doesn't happen. So all I can do is HOPE and pray!

Frontal view



Below, picture is a crop from above picture-

There were mirrors all around so in the original picture it captured another angle and view by way of capturing the reflection in the mirror in the photo which I thought was really cool. I like seeing other perspectives.

Then, I had the lady doing the alterations take a few pix which appear below. She seemed reluctant about it and almost seemed like I wouldn't get any pix from her but I assertively asked and so I got my pix. I felt like she may've been annoyed at doing it so she didnt make the best effort but oh well, better than nothing. And it's irritating that the girl behind me appears in the picture. She didnt have any appt for david's bridal or even for alterations. Another saleslady dumped her onto the alteration lady wanting her opinion as the girl couldn't decide between two bridal gowns and it sounded like to me, the saleslady felt that the alterations lady's opinion would result in her getting a big sale from this woman. I think it worked but felt it should have been done AFTER my appt afterall Id made my appt weeks ago and had it reserved. Annoying!

The below picture shows how the dress looks after she hemmed up the front [which looked really nice and changes the whole look of the dress since it was way too long and I am so petite] You may notice that on each side of my bust. She had pulled in the sides somewhat with pins. This is when i ended up cutting my arm during the appt as I accidentally moved my arm and it got caught on a large pin. I didn't know I cut myself til hrs later.]

I had to have the side of my bust pulled in for a more flattering figure fitting top otherwise it looked like I had a sloppy figure with no breasts. I was wearing a strapless push up padded body slip along with silicone adhesive bra underneath to push up and enhance breasts. I hardly notice a difference and now think maybe I should have bought a size bigger, a B cup instead and I am seriously thinking I will either take a trip to Macy's or Victoria's Secret to buy a B cup silicone adhesive bra as I am now anxious my breasts are going to look funny since I'm not very full chested or curvy with this strapless dress. I never wear strapless anything cos obviously I don't have the breasts or the body for it.

I want to look perfect on my wedding day so I guess I have to spend an extra thirty bucks buying another silicone adhesive bra set since I am unable to return the one I just bought from David's Bridal which is an A cup. They have a strict policy where you cannot return or exchange anything once you purchase from them. It's one thing I really hate about them among several other things and think if I ever had to shop for wedding stuff again that I may not ever want to work with them again. I noticed that after you buy your dress, people are less friendly to help or give you great customer service and even when trying my dress for alterations, no one raved about how beautiful my dress looked on me yet that is all they did the day I was trying it on and thinking of buying it. Instead the alteration lady raved about the other girl's dress who had not yet bought a wedding dress and was considering buying that day. I found that curious and funny. It shows me that you only get compliments and flattery when you are considering buying from them, but once you buy, all that goes out the window. I don't think its coincidence and I think that is very bad customer service. It turns me off to ever want to shop with them again!

Anyway here I am below, with the bust pulled in with pins-




This will have to be sewn and taken in. Again my face and arms look red and I worry that it is from a past summer tan and won't fade in time for my wedding :/


View of back of gown:



I wanted to get a full view of the back, so here it is :) I really love the look of the corset tied up and the way the rest of the shape of the gown shows off my figure and curve :)



After Note:

I have a second appt, on November 5th at 7.30pm to be re-fit into gown, to make sure the new alterations fit my body well and to also have my bustle for my train built into my wedding dress. This is done so that when you go to the reception you can walk, move and dance without tripping on the train. This cost 225 dollars and I'm not sure if that included the train or not- that may have just been taking the bust, and waist in as well as having to hem the dress because I'm too short and petite. I felt like my body looked a little thinner, less fatty, bloated since the day I bought the dress in May and felt it was slightly noticeable but maybe im imagining that. It isn't drastic so I guess you might not really notice.
PS
To show you the difference between when I first tried on the dress back in May of this year and photographed it AND pix from this past wkend in October--I will share the pix from back in May. I feel I look way heavier in these pix and there is a noticeable weight loss although it may be harder to tell because in this set of pix I was wearing the veil with tiara over the dress and in the pix from alteration I am not wearing either of of those.











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Below are some of the things we ordered last month as party favors for our November Wedding, it arrived at my parents house this past weekend!

[we also finished addressing all our invitations earlier in the week and mailed them out on this past wednesday, by the way. we have had four replies since last week already from close family/friends who have already sent their reply saying they will be there!]

Party Favors we got:




#1 wedding beverage/ bar napkins in the color of lilac with silver writing, personalized with our names and wedding date along with symbol we both chose- the butterfly. since its my favorite and is already a semi-theme in the wedding and ties very well to orchids and a number of other styles ive chosen for my wedding thus far.






#2 disposable butterfly cameras for each main guest table.









#3 matches with symbol [chinese for love] and our names, wedding date on item [blk/silver]

ps We think we are going to order this pretty, unique and cool party favor as the wow factor for our wedding reception as a gift to our guest attending :)

It is a silver or pewter butterfly bookmark [i love it and ties in with our wedding theme]

Fund it on a website called http://www.favorsbyserendipity.com/

Here is the link to what we plan to get!

http://www.favorsbyserendipity.com/themed_product_pages/p-slg-6401-fc.html

minori + brainstorming wedding accessory ideas!

written last week, friday morning prior to florist appt on august 1st:

This month I have to look for shoes so I can finalize the color and style and I am thinking of looking at more stores for a bridal style necklace and earring set. I may try to look at the mall today while we're out there if we have time and Jimmy feels like it.


I'm not sure that I want to stick with the necklaces I showed previously- a few entries prior to this- and its important I decide what Im going with so that all the accessories such as shoes and all the colors can match.


As much as the gold is pretty, I kind of prefer a silver with crystal style stone or rhinestone variety because in my everyday life, I never wear gold and haven't since I was maybe 16 yrs old. Ive always preferred silver, white gold or platinum in general.


Last month, I saw some very cute bridal style jewelry at etsy.com which is a place people make their own jewelry and sell them- Im sure most do it as a hobby and there are some really pretty and vintage styles but Im hesitant on going with that only because you cant see how it looks on you before you buy it and I don't know how good the material is, I wouldn't want the necklace to break.


These were some necklace styles I found on etsy that I thought really pretty and unique [not all of them would fit my wedding though. but are definitely styles Id like to wear in real life]



[i love the below one but more for my everyday style, not for the wedding. i just thought its really unique and this designer seems to use asian and japanese design a lot which is something i really love]


minori

Minori in Japanese means village of beautiful fields.

Lovely, vintage necklace handmade with vintage brass bird charms, rare and hard to find 18x13mm flower glass cab from Japan set on vintage brass pendant setting suspended from a strand of rare vintage brass chain and clasp 7" in length. I've got the last few of these flower cabs. This is why this item is now on Limited Editions.

SALE 30 PERCENT OFF - lilies vintage necklace

Description:
Lovely, vintage necklace handmade of orange lucite flower beads embellished with vermeil beads wire wrapped in antique brass fancy ball head pins suspended from a strand of soft and feminine vintage brass chain 17" in length accented with a vintage brass bird charm. Absolutely, gorgeous. Looks fab with anything! Original design and handmade by Portobello listed on 05/27/08

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the above jeweler is named Portobello, and u should see her other designs they are so cute. so i'll leave you with her store link. there are many amazing designers on this website. it makes me wish i could learn to make unique crafty jewelry and sell mine, too. it looks like a lot of fun. etsy is a really up and coming website featuring artsy and creative people who make things esp jewelry- its grown very popular :)


here's that girl's store link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5210893


These are the ones off Davids Bridal's Website that I love most- these are the styles I originally wanted with my wedding gown but its hard to find a store that carries a lot of these where you can actually go in, try it on without having to ask to look behind a case or being pressured to buy, or watched like a hawk by sales ladies.

They look well-constructed [for inexpensive fashion jewelry] I know it is not fine jewelry and not meant to be perfect but I do not want something that will fall apart on my wedding day - I want to avoid shoddy jewelry or flimsy pieces that are fragile.

I am thinking if we have time we might stop by david's bridal in the area and look at these so I could maybe buy my necklace so I could work on planning the rest of the colors of my access. and so on.

If I went with one of these necklaces then Jenni and shannon wouldn't have to remove the clip on your dress cos it would match. Just another reason why I am leaning more towards this direction!

For now, here are the designs I like Most to give u an idea:

(end)

swarovski crystal/gold tiara + jewelry set.

below is the tiara i will be wearing with my gown [there is a veil- not pictured] which i got when i got my formal bridal dress at david's bridal.

today i got a matching necklace and earring set by same designer with swarovski crystal and similar gold frost metal design with rhinestone/pearl- a very subtle design but the sort of necklace style i was really searching for. the necklace and earring came in a set for 75.

i tried using macro to capture the photographic details of jewelry esp the crystal/rhinestone as that setting allows u to get clear accurate pix, without blurriness and the color looks exactly how it looks in person. most came out really good.

i am including pix of these just to share what my accessories look like - ive also matched my shoes to these accessories color. i felt the style of necklace with rhinestone makes everyone able to be more flexible in access they wear as its not as limited as the other necklace i considered wearing.

also, the girls can now wear the rhinestone clip in the bridesmaid dresses as it will accent my style and match perfectly now. i was so happy and excited to get this out of the way.

i was also fortunate to find a pair of shoes in the ideal subtle gold formal heal style with nice design and comfy material, flattering to my foot. i have flat feet, never wear heels, and have trouble finding heels or dressy shoes due to narrow petite small feet. i coincidentally found one i liked in my size 5 and a half and ironically it was way marked down so i got them for 21 dollars- they were originally 55 so im very happy and it also will be helpful to know all my main access colors when choosing decor. its nice that its finally set in stone and i can move further forward!


anyway, lots going on and its been a whirlwind. i'm sure ive left something out but if i remember anything else important, i will write again.

tiara:

shoes:

(they were hard to photograph so hopefully u get the idea. the lighting made it look too yellow, i tried to fix best as possible)

The more I think about it, I am considering having my hair dyed in a professional salon that uses a good designer brand of dye that specializes in vibrant shades of red. I know that Matrix and Redken in the past had a good line of dye and many shades of red.

Jimmy asked around at work as some of his coworkers have salons they go to in tampa. Their pricing is about how much I paid ten yrs ago and is reasonable, about 50 dollars for cut and color and I could maybe look into those places [or somewhere in a mall- or dept store] and get my hair trimmed and dyed closer to the wedding, like one or two weeks prior- but don't know if its cheaper than going to one salon for all my hair needs [cut, color and updo] or doing it separately from the updo salon.

PS

it is sorta blurry but this is the unity candle we chose and bought at david's bridal today.

back after a week of vacation- catching up!!

We were on vacation last week and in and out of town so much that I wasn't online in any capacity during the week and weekend which is why I have not updated until today.

I hope to catch up shortly as I get resettled back into life and our normal everyday routine. I plan to share pix from our recent trip/outings in Sarasota and on Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach- but need to upload still and have been so exhausted since our tiny trip. It was fun and good for us as a whole.

I will write of this another time and share the photos soon! also over the weekend, i met up with Jenni, who will be my matron of honor in my wedding. We have chosen the bridesmaid dress and had an appt at david's bridal she will be getting the version of dress in Victorian Lilac but for now here is a pic of how it will look off the website online.



Style 8567
Shown in Victorian Lilac

Jenni ordered the above dress for my wedding at the store. it cost 155.00 and she got a 20 discount since i had bought my wedding gown there. our other bridesmaid Shannon [wife of jimmy's brother] called me after that afternoon and i shared with her the dress choice and style number. she plans to get hers this week and send jenni and i an email when that occurs and of her current hairstyle since she cut it recently to below her shoulders and we need to start considering hairstyles for the wedding.

I know I will do an updo and jenni is considering the same but both of us have long hair, longer than shannon's so it may depend on her style- what jenni can do since they sorta have to match!

We also spent some time looking at michael's arts and crafts. jimmy and i later went back there alone together and got some ideas for saving money on wedding party favors decorations etc. will talk more on that when i have more available time to write, later!

I also had two dr appts in the span of the past week. With so much running around and being on vacation, I've hardly had the time to write.

I have also been absorbed by this latest court tv case which has live trial coverage for six hrs daily and started a wk ago and is nearly done. its even more fascinating since its near the area ive shopped in, and where my friend Jenni lives- Citrus Park, outside of Tampa or at the outskirts of Tampa.

The crime actually occurred in logan gate park which ive never seen personally but the court trying it is in tampa and the boy charged with murder near us. he is 21 or 22 now but was 19 when crime was committed. his name is Joshua Rosa- accused of killing 13 yr old Stephen Tomlinson whom he was friends/neighbors with and his youth church minister leader of this Pentecostal church called zion. A lot of the clues seem to paint him to be guilty, like having white church gloves in his pocket with blood on it, a flashlight seen running from the park, and nailclippers in his pocket to name a few. Plus his keys were found b/t victim's legs.

The victim died of strangulation and contusions to neck, also his shorts were pulled all the way down to his ankle. The defense of Joshua Rosa is that he had found the body and was trying to help. I think it's way beyond coicidence and sure is super suspicious. Both Jimmy and I think he is guilty and he has been watching the trial with me.

You can find out more on that case at www.cnn.com/crime

The verdict may be released any day now-- maybe even today. I am behind and must catch up on my dvd - r recordings of today's live trial. I just haven't had time as I am trying to get back into the swing of things and spent most of today readjusting back to my routine prior to vacation and also catching up here.

Btw, somewhat off topic but prompted by so much media and hype online about summer blockbusters....

My fiance really wants to see the dark knight and like most is intrigued by Heath's role. I could care less. I know it's not hip, but the overhype of it all, turns me off and I have little interest because of that.

Second, I just don't get Christian Bale as an actor and find him boring!! We rented the first Batman film last month since I had never seen it but my fiance had and loved it..I was hoping I might like it. But truthfully, I did not. I was bored to death and couldnt wait for it to end. lol. I know its not popular but im generally not a fan of superheroe type movies esp ones of this caliber or of the mainstream! It's just not my cup of tea!

I have suggested he ask his best friend to go with him the coming weekend or so and they talked and said they'd like to do that as his bestfriend Tony's wife has no interest in seeing that movie either so I guess I am not the only woman haha!

Jimmy returned to work today as his vacation came to an end yesterday. I have to cut out for now but will continue updating tomorrow and work on uploading all our new pix from our trip in sarasota recently and from recent house hunting this weekend.

More soon, I promise!!! :D

chosen wedding invite + proof for order.

We've decided on an invitation by the way for our wedding and did a sample wording of the design/style we are going with to see how it would look. it is the final decision on that and we will probably order it in the upcoming month or two. we love the lavender/lilac color which matches the bridesmaid gowns and the simplistic classic elegant ivory quality paper with cherry blossom imprints for design/decoration. it kind of went with the feel i was trying to create for our wedding. the ambiance.