Josh has a walnut allergy.
A set of vows to look over, that I really like, instead of the traditional vows.
"With this ring,
I give you my promise that from this day forward,
you shall not walk alone.
May my heart be your shelter
And my arms be your home.
May God (Spirit) bless you always.
May we talk together through all things.
May you feel deeply loved, for indeed you are.
May you always see your innocence in my eyes.
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give.
I promise I shall always do my best.
I feel so honored to call you my husband/wife
I feel so pleased to call you mine.
May we feel this joy forever.
I thank God (Spirit).
I thank you and I love you."
-- Written by Marianne Williamson, modified by Annemarie Juhlian, Wedding Celebrant
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
blah blah blah blah
Hmmm... what has been going on since those invitations have been mailed? Not alot and yet at the same time, alot. I've been working, trying to squeeze in time at the gym even if it is just twenty minutes on some sort of cardiovascular machine before skipping off to the next thing. This past wednesday I went to White Cliffs to visit with Anne Marie and talk about our centerpieces and napkins and tablecloths. We are still doing the 9 inch vases with the candy inside and tied with a shimmery ribbon. The vase will be placed on a mirror in the center of the table, a beaded pearl jewel thing wrapped around the base and two square glass votive candles placed on two opposite corners. The tealights are to by a dark blue, to keep with the blue theme (which I have to pick up), but I can't really seem to find dark blue tealights anywhere...at least not at Michael's or Pier 1, the only two places I have looked.
So after, Krystal, Erin and I went to Blackstone Valley PLaza (yes, I know, I'm still there even on my day off), got some coldstone icecream, went to Michael's to get more vases and a few other things...when I had paid etc I got a flyer in my bag that said this upcoming week would be a weeklong sale of buy one get one, and on sunday from 1-7 pm there is a coupon for 20% off the entire order, including sale items but excluding clearance. Well, nothing I bought was on clearance... so today after work I returned all I had bought except the ribbon (because it was only 50 cents anyways) and got a refund back onto the debit card I used.... and sunday after church I will log on to michael's website and see if I can re-purchase all my items, getting at least half of them free... or at least getting 20% off! That would be way better than what I spent on it on wednesday!
I need to ask Krystal how long if would take to etch a phrase onto some wine glasses... haven't talked to her yet. I thought of calling her today but then I remembered she was still at work and wouldn't be able to answer her phone. FOr me, it feels really wierd to be at home finishing up a school project, doing wedding things and blogging on a friday night. I'm usually working friday nights...most times until eleven or twelve, or at least past five. I was out, went to the auburn mall for a bridesmaid purchase, went to the gym and came back all before five o'clock. Crazy!
Weddingness....I'm pretty relaxed about it all. Alot more chill right now. It seems to be some time away still.... I think when February actually hits that things will go by much faster, especially since the last weekend in January my mom is hosting a bridal shower for me and then that next weekend I will be in New Jersey for Kelly's wedding. Time certainly will fly then! Thinking of it now, there is something like fifty days left until that big day, but really, that's only something like six weekends left until the weekend of the wedding.
Most things are done. So far thirty two people have responded with a positive yes I am coming to the website which is nice to see so far. The sheet music for Josh and Johnie is being ordered this weekend and will be mailed out the beginning of this next week. My dress is all set and fitted (has been for a while) and is sitting up in Grammie's closet. I still need to get used to wearing my shoes....I've only worn them twice I think. Almost all of my Bridesmaids gifts are done. I only need to assemble and wrap them, along with writing a nice note of thanks etc for each of them. I only have two small items left to get for my sister Erin, and then I will have all completed!
The etching on the glasses will be for our parents... I have two sets of photo coasters right now in which I will put some sort of saying, maybe the shakespeare quote we have on our invitations or a thank you for being our parents type thing. I would like to order a third set from the website where I purchased the first two, but I will have to pay something like 9.00 for shipping, and I think it is pretty ridiculous to pay that much when the one set of coasters barely costs $2. I've looked at michael's and walmart, but the coasters they have are not quite what I am looking for. Michael's has smaller wedding ones to be used as favors etc, and they also have a larger strack but you have to buy them in the wooden casing and it comes four in a package...for $10. I just can't seem to win I guess.
Anyways, I suppose such a long post is enough of a break I will get before doing a couple more items on that bird book project. I am determined to officially finish it this weekend (not a hard thing to do, I just need to sit down and do it...but I have little motivation for it), as well as finish the backs of the snowflakes in the cellar and possibly apply for a couple of jobs found on USAjobs this week (most have closing dates of January 10th...gulp!)
Anyways, until later.
So after, Krystal, Erin and I went to Blackstone Valley PLaza (yes, I know, I'm still there even on my day off), got some coldstone icecream, went to Michael's to get more vases and a few other things...when I had paid etc I got a flyer in my bag that said this upcoming week would be a weeklong sale of buy one get one, and on sunday from 1-7 pm there is a coupon for 20% off the entire order, including sale items but excluding clearance. Well, nothing I bought was on clearance... so today after work I returned all I had bought except the ribbon (because it was only 50 cents anyways) and got a refund back onto the debit card I used.... and sunday after church I will log on to michael's website and see if I can re-purchase all my items, getting at least half of them free... or at least getting 20% off! That would be way better than what I spent on it on wednesday!
I need to ask Krystal how long if would take to etch a phrase onto some wine glasses... haven't talked to her yet. I thought of calling her today but then I remembered she was still at work and wouldn't be able to answer her phone. FOr me, it feels really wierd to be at home finishing up a school project, doing wedding things and blogging on a friday night. I'm usually working friday nights...most times until eleven or twelve, or at least past five. I was out, went to the auburn mall for a bridesmaid purchase, went to the gym and came back all before five o'clock. Crazy!
Weddingness....I'm pretty relaxed about it all. Alot more chill right now. It seems to be some time away still.... I think when February actually hits that things will go by much faster, especially since the last weekend in January my mom is hosting a bridal shower for me and then that next weekend I will be in New Jersey for Kelly's wedding. Time certainly will fly then! Thinking of it now, there is something like fifty days left until that big day, but really, that's only something like six weekends left until the weekend of the wedding.
Most things are done. So far thirty two people have responded with a positive yes I am coming to the website which is nice to see so far. The sheet music for Josh and Johnie is being ordered this weekend and will be mailed out the beginning of this next week. My dress is all set and fitted (has been for a while) and is sitting up in Grammie's closet. I still need to get used to wearing my shoes....I've only worn them twice I think. Almost all of my Bridesmaids gifts are done. I only need to assemble and wrap them, along with writing a nice note of thanks etc for each of them. I only have two small items left to get for my sister Erin, and then I will have all completed!
The etching on the glasses will be for our parents... I have two sets of photo coasters right now in which I will put some sort of saying, maybe the shakespeare quote we have on our invitations or a thank you for being our parents type thing. I would like to order a third set from the website where I purchased the first two, but I will have to pay something like 9.00 for shipping, and I think it is pretty ridiculous to pay that much when the one set of coasters barely costs $2. I've looked at michael's and walmart, but the coasters they have are not quite what I am looking for. Michael's has smaller wedding ones to be used as favors etc, and they also have a larger strack but you have to buy them in the wooden casing and it comes four in a package...for $10. I just can't seem to win I guess.
Anyways, I suppose such a long post is enough of a break I will get before doing a couple more items on that bird book project. I am determined to officially finish it this weekend (not a hard thing to do, I just need to sit down and do it...but I have little motivation for it), as well as finish the backs of the snowflakes in the cellar and possibly apply for a couple of jobs found on USAjobs this week (most have closing dates of January 10th...gulp!)
Anyways, until later.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wedding Workshop at the Loftus House today!
Thanks to Mom and Erin for helping me finish the invitations (well, almost. They just need to be sealed and the wax stamp put onto the back of them...then mailed out tomorrow!). We spent most of the aftrernoon at the kitchen table working on the vellum envelopes and ribbons and stuffing the whole package into the mailing envelopes. They look so goood! So beautiful!
Oh and it is snowing out right now. Between tonight and tomorrow we are supposed to get 8 inches or so. I have to work tomorrow (ugh if it is crazy slippery with ice and snow)...but the invitations will be mailed tomorrow!
The table of craftiness..
 |
| The stack of invitations to be ribboned and tied. |
Erin is being a wonderful help on the invitations!
The ingredients to a wonderful invitation!
 |
| The wonderful vellum envelopes! |
Putting the last invitation in its envelope.
I then went down cellar and used silver spray paint to put two coats on the backs of the snowflakes which will be out seating cards/party favor for the reception. That stuff is so toxic! I still smell like it and its been about two hours later.
 |
| Two coats of silver spray paint on the backs of the snowflakes. |
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thoughts on Christmas Day
All in all, Christmas was great. Blueberry pancakes for breakfast that Bridget made. Practical, simple gifts that I will actually use and not just give away six months down the road or have sit in my closet or under the bed until the dust bunnies eat away at it. I can now get rid on some of my heel-holed hiking socks because I have gotten a few new pair. Mom will be taking me out to Petersham to buy an alpaca wool and fleece hat on tuesday, my one day off this week. I have a small new coffee/spice grinder to add to my fascination of grinding my own coffee beans. And a new Tanzanian peaberry coffee to try. Christmas is not complete without a new book, some chocolate, some toiletry items in the stocking, a new DVD (Eat, Pray Love!) under the tiny upstairs tree, four new teas from the wilds of Alaska to try and some wedding scaprbooking items from Bridget to get me going on creating an album to last a lifetime. Dinner at the Gauthier's was excellent and even though it didn't seem like I had alot on my plate to eat, I walked away very full and about to burst. The conversation Grammie, Aunt Sue and I had after dinner was full of laughter which was great to be a part of.
Dinner at home was fried dough. I know! Fried Dough! Thanks to my mom. It was delicious! I may just have another piece before bed! I also got to skype with Andrew for over two hours this morning as we opened each other's gifts over Skype (as did mom, erin and bridget). It was so much fun even though I called him wicked early to wake him up because I couldn't wait for him to open his gifts from us!
Yet despite all the wonderful times had by all, I know of a few families that are hurting this Christmas. My college friend Jen wrote a personal message to a selet few individuals asking for prayer this Christmas day because her grandmother had to go into the hospital a few days ago and the doctors called today to tell the family she is dying. So everyone packed up and drove down to the hospital to be with her today. It is a blessing that it has happened during a time when the family is all together and can all say their goodbyes, but this sad memory will linger on for Christmases to come for her family.
My own family is hurting in some way or another. Sam not being in the house for Christmas, or even living here. Erin, who lives away at school for most of the year, is trying to deal with everything that has happened since before thanksgiving while she was away as well as trying to find her role in the new family dynamic this all has created. Sam is hurting - he is grieving as he comes to terms with what has happened, what is continuing even now and what could possibly happen in the near future. Mom is hurting because her relationship with Sam has pretty much been severed...especially since he is blaming her for everything. She loves him just as she always has and always will, but she is torn apart this Christmas. My dad is also in some stage of grieving. He has Sam living up at grammie's house with him and Grammie and wants to help everyone find a solution to issues and on everything that has happened in the last couple months but can't please everyone.
Andrew and I aren't necessarily hurting in our relationship, but I know he misses me. I miss him to, but I think it affects him more. Sometimes he is really depressed when he thinks about how far apart we are. But the countdown to the wedding is giving him new hope and something fun to do while he looks forward to the time when I will be back in his arms...and married to him! I know he is giddy with excitement.
And I am sure there are others who are living with ghosts of the past this Christmas season.... Bryan Brogan is inAfghanistan right now. Others from specner had come home injured and are recovering. one of Bryan's friends in his unit recently died while out walking one night.
I guess i just hope that even though everyone has something to hurt about and something painful to remember or get through, that at least there is some good which can come out of it all. Some sort of blessing in disguise. We've had a very relaxing, happy and peaceful Christmas...on both sides of the family and in both places it was celebrated. Andrew experienced somewhat of a first very real Christmas...with presents under the tree and being woken up too early to be coherent...even though I am a long distance away. And the whole Economopoulos family and beyond is gathered around a loved one to offer encouragement to the passing grandmother. What would have happened if this had been a week later? Would someone have been beside her when she went to live with Jesus?
Dinner at home was fried dough. I know! Fried Dough! Thanks to my mom. It was delicious! I may just have another piece before bed! I also got to skype with Andrew for over two hours this morning as we opened each other's gifts over Skype (as did mom, erin and bridget). It was so much fun even though I called him wicked early to wake him up because I couldn't wait for him to open his gifts from us!
Yet despite all the wonderful times had by all, I know of a few families that are hurting this Christmas. My college friend Jen wrote a personal message to a selet few individuals asking for prayer this Christmas day because her grandmother had to go into the hospital a few days ago and the doctors called today to tell the family she is dying. So everyone packed up and drove down to the hospital to be with her today. It is a blessing that it has happened during a time when the family is all together and can all say their goodbyes, but this sad memory will linger on for Christmases to come for her family.
My own family is hurting in some way or another. Sam not being in the house for Christmas, or even living here. Erin, who lives away at school for most of the year, is trying to deal with everything that has happened since before thanksgiving while she was away as well as trying to find her role in the new family dynamic this all has created. Sam is hurting - he is grieving as he comes to terms with what has happened, what is continuing even now and what could possibly happen in the near future. Mom is hurting because her relationship with Sam has pretty much been severed...especially since he is blaming her for everything. She loves him just as she always has and always will, but she is torn apart this Christmas. My dad is also in some stage of grieving. He has Sam living up at grammie's house with him and Grammie and wants to help everyone find a solution to issues and on everything that has happened in the last couple months but can't please everyone.
Andrew and I aren't necessarily hurting in our relationship, but I know he misses me. I miss him to, but I think it affects him more. Sometimes he is really depressed when he thinks about how far apart we are. But the countdown to the wedding is giving him new hope and something fun to do while he looks forward to the time when I will be back in his arms...and married to him! I know he is giddy with excitement.
And I am sure there are others who are living with ghosts of the past this Christmas season.... Bryan Brogan is inAfghanistan right now. Others from specner had come home injured and are recovering. one of Bryan's friends in his unit recently died while out walking one night.
I guess i just hope that even though everyone has something to hurt about and something painful to remember or get through, that at least there is some good which can come out of it all. Some sort of blessing in disguise. We've had a very relaxing, happy and peaceful Christmas...on both sides of the family and in both places it was celebrated. Andrew experienced somewhat of a first very real Christmas...with presents under the tree and being woken up too early to be coherent...even though I am a long distance away. And the whole Economopoulos family and beyond is gathered around a loved one to offer encouragement to the passing grandmother. What would have happened if this had been a week later? Would someone have been beside her when she went to live with Jesus?
Friday, December 24, 2010
Revelation song and Christmas Eve with Dad
For the past few weeks in church, we have been singing a song called Revelation Song. Every time I sing it, the words are so powerful it brings tears to my eyes. Not just any tears. Tears stream down my cheeks as I am in full worship of my savior. This song has impacted me in the deepest parts of my heart and is really doing a number of good things on parts of my soul that need refinishing. Here are the words:
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
So, the invitations (for the most part) are folded and the RSVP's are printed and ready to be cut. The vellum envelopes...not so much. I was going to work on them today but I got to bed around 1 am last night after driving home from work and bridget called me this morning at 7 am because mom's car can't park, go in reverse or take the key out of the ignition. So I tumbled out of bed to go to Parson's and pick up mom and get gas and bring her to work. After I got home again, guess where I went? Yup, straight back to bed! I slept until 10:30 am before getting up again and making an omlette for breakfast/lunch.
Since I lost some time and it is offically now in the afternoon, I need to work on my bird book project since I may be going to CT tomorrow to visit my grandparents and drop off that project...so it needs to be done!
Vellum envelopes, you will have to wait.
Schedule for today:
bird book for three hours
Pick up Mom from school/Parson's Auto
Get ready for work
4 pm drive to work
work 5-11 in the kids department (ugh!)
If I am home and in bed before twelve and mom doesn't need my car tomorrow, I will be headed down to the wonderful state of CT!!!
Tootles!
Since I lost some time and it is offically now in the afternoon, I need to work on my bird book project since I may be going to CT tomorrow to visit my grandparents and drop off that project...so it needs to be done!
Vellum envelopes, you will have to wait.
Schedule for today:
bird book for three hours
Pick up Mom from school/Parson's Auto
Get ready for work
4 pm drive to work
work 5-11 in the kids department (ugh!)
If I am home and in bed before twelve and mom doesn't need my car tomorrow, I will be headed down to the wonderful state of CT!!!
Tootles!
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