The Weekend..

This weekend was one of few where I actually didn't have to work.  This gave me the opportunity to walk in a charity walk called Walk for those Who Can't which is sponsored by Carolina Canines.  Carolina Canines rescues dogs from local shelters, has prisoners train these dogs to be service dogs and then they GIVE them away to those with disabilities.  One of the specific "groups" they target is in Camp Lejune where they give service dogs to wounded soldiers.  These service dogs take up to 3 years to train and are  valued at almost $40,000!!!  This organization is absolutely wonderful! All the dogs are kept in foster homes and trained by volunteers.. I  was so glad that I have the opprotunity to participate in this charity event... The walk was so much fun as well I took my "kids" on the walk and Oliver didn't make it the whole 2.5 miles but Parker did pretty good.. but once we got home they slept the whole rest of the day!!! While the kids and I walked Zach was surfing the monstrous waves that we got over the weekend.

He Really enjoyed being able to have so waves like you see in all the surf magazines.  He surfed these fabulous waves practically the whole weekend so Although I had the weekend off We still did not see each other anymore than if I had worked the whole weekend!! 

surfing big waves

i am so tired after my long weekend of surfing. we have had head high waves for over 3 days now. here is a pic enjoy....

The Food War continues..

Just when I think i've found a way of getting healthier foods into our home.. I hit a road block..

Today I am home from school early and make Zach and I lunch.. I decide to go Mexican and make a vegetarian tortilla pie with black beans, corn, salsa and cheese.. SOunds yummy right!?! Zach walks in and goes.. There's a lot of bean on that.. Do you not like beans I say? NO! So continue to persue the issue? Do you not like black beans.. what about this bean and i go through a list.. and its a flat out I DON'T LIKE BEANS issue!  So Now i Have to eliminate all green vegetables and beans!! Which makes a healthy fresh diet seemingly impossible!! 

Someone tell me there's hope out there. that my adult baby will learn to like good food!! 

Living w/ a Gown up baby..

I like most moms have to introduce "new" foods to my "grown up baby" very slowly.. One at a time.. In my effort to make our home more eco friendly and the things we put in our bellies better for us I find myself relating very much to the moms around me with babies(real babies).

When we moved to our new apartment (ALMOST A YEAR AGO) I forced recycling upon our home which at first was meet with much resentment but now is more of habit and no so much work.  Now I am working on food. 

 Last week I filled our home with lots of fresh foods and have been trying to weed out some of the packaged foods that zach and I tend to lean on.  The one thing I noticed.. I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO ATE THE FOOD!! 

 So now THIS week I have made a menu that I VOW to follow and prepare food everyday this week.. WITH fresh veggies, home cooked food, and only a few meals with packaged foods.. As with this introduction today zach says "What's for dinner" I say "Didn't you look at the menu?" of course you can guess the next response..... So I say we are having pork chops and you know the first thing he asks for.. MAc and cheese!?!? Mac and cheese OVER my home made mash potatoes with homemade gravy and salad!?!?! 

So We'll see how this goes.. MY other food introduction.. shh.. A meatless meal!! I have always been debating between vegetarian and carnivore but found it challenging to give up chicken.. so i have decided at lease once a week we will have a meatless meal.. THis week: bean chili.. I'll update you on how THAT goes.. considering.. that fresh veggies hasn't been a hit!! 

Time for a Wedding update!

It's been so long since I posted i had to go back and review my own blog!! Last week was spring break from school for me so it was a week long wedding work  week! My mom came up to visit with me so that we could get as much done on the wedding as possible considering the upcoming months will be packed full of events (other than my wedding) that it would be very challenging for us to squeeze it in.

  So to fill you in on the progress.. We now have less than 3 months until the wedding!!

• We have now received all of our bridesmaids gowns and all but one have been picked up and all of them fit just as they were order to fit (one will need to be altered but we knew that from the beginning) My wedding dress is scheduled to arrive by the middle of next month and once that arrives we will decide on a veil and or headpiece.  My wedding shoes have been order and will arrive about the same time as my dress.  My bridesmaids shoes are in the process of being purchased(as they will double as gifts).  Our flower girl's dress is order and not sure when it will arrive but when it does the whole top will need to be remade so lets hope it gets here soon! One of the ring bearers has a tux and the other one still has to be purchased.   All hair appointments have been scheduled.  Our groom now has a tux and 2 of the 4 groomsman have been fitted! 
  
• We have a confirmed HONEYMOON! Which I was beginning to think would never come through! We will be going to Masunutten VA thank you Uncle Bill and Aunt Linda for you help w/ that!!  
  
• We have our reception decor: candles, votive, and the necessities ( table cloths, napkins, forks, plates, & cups).  Our flowers have been order and mostly paid for thus covering centerpieces, boutonnieres, corsages, and bouquets. We have gotten lots of volunteer chefs to help prepare our pot luck food so I believe food is taken care of (this is the one item i personally have not been handling) Items for the reception that are still lacking are: guestbook, music, greeters, toasts, cake cutting knife, toasting glass (bride and groom) 
  
• As for the cake, I am still planning on making it.  I am half way through my 2nd Wilton cake decorating course and am now learning about fondant which is what I want to use with the cakes.  While mom was here we made a few to practice and were very please with the results to Cake is till a go! 
• We have a photographer confirmed and I believe a videographer (Zach's working on this so I'm not sure if its confirmed) 
• For the ceremony we now have, benches, arch, vases(for decor) and flowers to run the aisle, we have an officiant, and we are lacking supplies for a sand ceremony and the vows to be said.  My mom is working on putting together the programs which will be handed out at the ceremony.  We are still lacking transportation for the bride and her mother from the dressing location to the ceremony as well as transportation for those who are not able to walk to and from the reception to the ceremony.  
• Invitations are almost finished! Each one was made by hand with the help of my groom, mom, and a bridesmaid!
• Our wedding website is up and running with the most up to date information as well as rsvp online! which i love! 

At this point I think that we have everything mostly done for the wedding.  I am still projecting on finishing the invitations to be mailed out by the end of the month, practicing on the cake, finding music. My mom and Zach are working on many of the other task that I have mention as still missing... 

But considering this is my first wedding that I will be attending and planning and my mom's first wedding to be planned WE would love any advice you may have on things we may be forgetting or not thinking about... Or just advice in general!!! 

Sorry for the long winded post but as much as I wanted to update you all it also has helped me map out my to do list!!