Hi, all - nothing very exciting to report. I guess something exciting to me is that I have no plans this evening beyond the gym, so that means I get to watch TV and work on wedding stuff with Mike. Today is week 5, day 2 of 5K training. So far, so good.
I had a leftover faux chilidog for lunch. That was exciting, too. Maybe I shouldn't blog unless I have something exciting to report, eh?
4.30.2008
4.29.2008
I love Craigslist
For those of you who do not use Craigslist, you are missing out. Although in the past I have had one or two bad transactions (always as the seller, not the buyer), my recent Craigslist transactions have been wonderful.For instance, today I drove out to Cary with Lauren at lunch. We went on this trek to pick up a cake stand that Mike and I will be using for our wedding cake. This cake stand, at Wilton.com retails for $69.99. On Amazon.com, it is listed at $118 (why so high, I have no idea) with three used stands for $60. I searched on the Raleigh/Durham craigslist yesterday only to find the exact same Wilson stand for..................................$15. Yes FIFTEEN DOLLARS. How amazing is that? I love you, Craigslist!!!!
And our awesome wedding cake, contracted for an amazing price that is far less than our cake budget (which was already very very low), will look amazing. $5000 wedding here we come - hell, we may even be UNDER budget. WOO HOO!
4.28.2008
Our Doughman Route!!!
This is completely ripped from: http://doughman.giving.officelive.com/what.aspx
What the Racers Do
The Race Day will Start at Foster's where check in and the first eating stage will occur.
THIS IS MICHELLE'S LEG OF THE RACE - PAY NO MIND MICHELLE HASN'T RIDDEN A BIKE IN SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS NEVER RIDDEN IN A BIKE RACE!
After eating breakfast, racers will claim their bikes and proceed to the start of the ride.
Which goes down Francis Street.
After a few miles, racers will "tag" their teammate in the lower Nosh parking lot - where bikes can be collected.
The second racer proceeds up to Nosh where they will be eating a sandwich and side.
THIS IS LAUREN'S LEG OF THE RACE BECAUSE SHE IS AN AWESOME RUNNER!
Imaginary food is delicious.
After which racers will tackle the stairs up to Erwin Rd and run straight to...
We aren't sure what the beyond is yet, but the bbq sauces are good.
Waiting there will be the third racer
MIKE IS THE LUCKY CHILI DOG EATER AND POOL PADDLER!
Who will eat a non-imaginary chilidog and hush puppies
Then the racer will start running down Markham - coffee optional - towards Duke's Central Campus pool...
...Which we were assured would be open for race day. The third racer will paddle across the pool - floaties available (safety first!) - and tag the fourth racer...
MEREDITH IS RACER NUMBER FOUR AND THE CONSUMER OF CHEESE FRIES!
...who will run to Dain's Place and eat an order of bacon cheese fries and run to...
Locopops, where they will meet the rest of their team. Each team member will have to eat a special Seeds locopop before a team dash to the finish line at the...
Please take the opportunity after the finish to visit the Seeds DIG booth while you are down at the Market.
Remember, it's for the kids.
What the Racers Do
The Race Day will Start at Foster's where check in and the first eating stage will occur.
THIS IS MICHELLE'S LEG OF THE RACE - PAY NO MIND MICHELLE HASN'T RIDDEN A BIKE IN SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS NEVER RIDDEN IN A BIKE RACE!
After eating breakfast, racers will claim their bikes and proceed to the start of the ride.
Which goes down Francis Street.
After a few miles, racers will "tag" their teammate in the lower Nosh parking lot - where bikes can be collected.
The second racer proceeds up to Nosh where they will be eating a sandwich and side.
THIS IS LAUREN'S LEG OF THE RACE BECAUSE SHE IS AN AWESOME RUNNER!
Imaginary food is delicious.
After which racers will tackle the stairs up to Erwin Rd and run straight to...
We aren't sure what the beyond is yet, but the bbq sauces are good.
Waiting there will be the third racer
MIKE IS THE LUCKY CHILI DOG EATER AND POOL PADDLER!
Who will eat a non-imaginary chilidog and hush puppies
Then the racer will start running down Markham - coffee optional - towards Duke's Central Campus pool...
...Which we were assured would be open for race day. The third racer will paddle across the pool - floaties available (safety first!) - and tag the fourth racer...
MEREDITH IS RACER NUMBER FOUR AND THE CONSUMER OF CHEESE FRIES!
...who will run to Dain's Place and eat an order of bacon cheese fries and run to...
Locopops, where they will meet the rest of their team. Each team member will have to eat a special Seeds locopop before a team dash to the finish line at the...
Please take the opportunity after the finish to visit the Seeds DIG booth while you are down at the Market.
Remember, it's for the kids.
Beerfest - Yet another success
Beerfest was fantastic. Had a great time with Lauren, Tim, and Christie, as well as all of our other friends we met at the event. A beautiful day with some great beer and great company. Lovely.
4.25.2008
4.24.2008
Training Update
Moping will now be put aside. Back to regular business.
The Couch to 5K training is going well. My endurance is increasing, I am keeping a good speed, and I can already tell my body is reaping the benefits even after only 4 weeks. Here is where I am in the process (click on photo for a larger view):
The Komen Race isn't til June, but I think I have found something to keep me occupied about a month before then.....and I won't be alone. Today, I registered a team to compete in the first annual Durham Doughboy Challenge. Read all about it here: http://doughman.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx
On May 24, Lauren, Meredith, Mike and I will compete in this combination triathlon/competitive eating event!!! We will each take a leg of the race - a bike ride, a long run, a water event, and a shortened run - and we will all have our own restaurant as part of the eating challenge. This is going to be a wild ride!!!!
The Couch to 5K training is going well. My endurance is increasing, I am keeping a good speed, and I can already tell my body is reaping the benefits even after only 4 weeks. Here is where I am in the process (click on photo for a larger view):
The Komen Race isn't til June, but I think I have found something to keep me occupied about a month before then.....and I won't be alone. Today, I registered a team to compete in the first annual Durham Doughboy Challenge. Read all about it here: http://doughman.giving.officelive.com/default.aspxOn May 24, Lauren, Meredith, Mike and I will compete in this combination triathlon/competitive eating event!!! We will each take a leg of the race - a bike ride, a long run, a water event, and a shortened run - and we will all have our own restaurant as part of the eating challenge. This is going to be a wild ride!!!!
4.23.2008
Gloomy
It's the weather, and it's my mood. It started with the Masters defense last week, it subsided a bit over the weekend, and it reared it's ugly head a few days ago - only to have taken up residence in my psyche. Gloomy. Sad. Dejected. Melancholy.
I do not like being in this type of mood. I have too much to be excited about in life at the moment. Saturday is Beer Fest for goodness sake! Wedding planning seems to be going well (there is some stuff I would like to see happen soon, but for the most part, things are on track). Mike and I have a trip planned to New Orleans next month to see Matt and Kim get married. I have completed one-third of my couch to 5K training, and I am still going strong!
But damn, what a slap to the ego can do to your mood. My confidence has been bruised. It will heal I have no doubt, but last Friday's events really did a number to me. I just hope it passes soon - there is too much fun stuff coming up to be in this kind of funk.
4.21.2008
Happy Thoughts.
School - done. Now it is time to celebrate. And this week provides a couple of opportunities to do so! Wednesday is Duke's annual LDOC (Last Day of Classes). The line up this year is pretty decent - including performances by the Roots and Third Eye Blind. I've never seen the Roots live, so I am pretty pumped about that. And all of it is FREE on the campus quad. I will be heading over right after work with a box of wine in hand. It should be a lovely evening (as long as the weather holds out).
Then, Saturday is ------ RALEIGH BEERFEST! I am SO ready for this. After what happened last Friday, I plan in doing my final edits to the paper this week, submitting it to the graduate school, then celebrating like mad at Beerfest. SO. VERY. EXCITED.
Also, thanks to everyone who has been so supportive listening to me whine about what happened last Friday. I really really appreciate it. Talking about it helps me move past it - so thanks for listening.
Then, Saturday is ------ RALEIGH BEERFEST! I am SO ready for this. After what happened last Friday, I plan in doing my final edits to the paper this week, submitting it to the graduate school, then celebrating like mad at Beerfest. SO. VERY. EXCITED.
Also, thanks to everyone who has been so supportive listening to me whine about what happened last Friday. I really really appreciate it. Talking about it helps me move past it - so thanks for listening.
4.20.2008
Cleared for graduation
So, I had my MALS exit interview. At 2:30pm, while I was in the Whole Foods parking lot, having just bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate, my phone rings. "Michelle, we surely hope you are on your way. It's 2:30 now and your interview started at 2pm," said my program director. "You have got to be kidding me," I said. "I have had the exit interview on my calendar as 3pm since the day I scheduled it." Great. I checked back through e-mails yesterday and realized that yes, it was scheduled for 2pm, but for some unknown reason, I put it into my calendar as 3pm.
So, I screech into the parking lot and run in. They looked thrilled. I sat down, gave my apologies, and then the beating began. Honestly, I don't want to go into detail about the whole thing here. I still haven't processed what happened, and to be honest, I am still a bit angry and saddened by what happened in the one hour exit interview.
The end of the story is that I passed, and I was cleared for graduation. If you want to know the dirty details, feel free to ask me, but be prepared for a long winded rant on my part. And I'll probably cry.
My degree won't have an asterisk at the bottom saying "defense went badly," so it will all be fine. Thanks everyone for your support. I will do my final edits this week, drop all the books off to the library, and this paper will be put away for a long long time. Bye bye school, hello life.
So, I screech into the parking lot and run in. They looked thrilled. I sat down, gave my apologies, and then the beating began. Honestly, I don't want to go into detail about the whole thing here. I still haven't processed what happened, and to be honest, I am still a bit angry and saddened by what happened in the one hour exit interview.
The end of the story is that I passed, and I was cleared for graduation. If you want to know the dirty details, feel free to ask me, but be prepared for a long winded rant on my part. And I'll probably cry.
My degree won't have an asterisk at the bottom saying "defense went badly," so it will all be fine. Thanks everyone for your support. I will do my final edits this week, drop all the books off to the library, and this paper will be put away for a long long time. Bye bye school, hello life.
4.18.2008
MALS and me: A retrospective
Today I will complete the Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies program at
When I started the program in the fall of 2004, I was a little over a year into my marriage, struggling to find a path to adulthood. My then husband and I were in a beautiful home in North Durham (which I just googled only to find the house is on Countrywide's foreclosure list - that hurts a bit inside), he was working as an engineer for the State, and I was working as an assistant to a former
And I don’t think I found a comfortable balance – for any of it at all. When I think back to those days, all of my insides sink a bit. In my search for meaning, I behaved selfishly and lost quite a bit of control. My head was in a constant whirl. My then husband, and subsequently my marriage, was an unfortunate casualty of my need to find meaning in my life and direction in my world (the ex husband is still alive and well – he’s found his counterpart in the world and has a little one now – he escaped my craziness rather unscathed). Notice the use of the word “my, me and I” here. It was the time of “me” and I still have a lot of unresolved feelings about the pain I caused to others, specifically the ex-husband and also my Mom, during that time. Not too long after our two year wedding anniversary, my husband and I split. It was like the whole world was spinning so fast I couldn’t keep up. In less than a week’s time, I went from sleeping with my husband, two cats and my dog in a beautiful 3 bedroom house to sleeping on the couch of my best friend’s townhome. A week after that, I slept in a small one bedroom duplex, sans the dog (I still miss my Maggie dog oh so very much) and husband, crying a lot and drinking too much – trying to figure out what the hell was going on in my world.
MALS gave me the continued connection to Duke as a student, which would become very important for me. The MALS community is a great one, and I have made some of the best friends I have ever had because of this program. I met my bestest buddy, Lauren on the first day of MALS. I met several other people who were very close to me for different periods – some have gone their own ways for various reasons, and there are others I met part of the way through who have become important to both Mike and I in our lives today. MALS helped me make
As I became a more active student, I took the position of representative to Duke’s Graduate and Professional Student Council. As long as those meetings were, GPSC will always hold an important place in my heart. For if it was not for GPSC, my friend Jeremy would have not met Stefan who then in turn would not have introduced me to Mike. It’s an important part of my life puzzle. If you want to know that whole story, you can ask me in person.
MALS gave me the opportunity to study abroad, which was something I wanted to do in college, but I just didn’t have the funds. Therefore in the summer of 2006, I was lucky enough to have enough vacation time saved up and enough cash in the bank to hop on a plane to
In the midst of all this, in September of 2005, I met Mike for the first time. We developed a strong friendship, and in January of 2006, he made the first move. Oh, he was bold!! Since that time, we have been together and very, very happy.
Anyway, it will be strange for me to not have MALS in my life anymore. It has been a constant amidst all the questions and turmoil in my life over the past 3.5 years. But, I have new constants – I have the best girlfriends in the world – I am truly lucky. I am engaged to marry a wonderful man – silly, incredibly smart, sociable, and amazing. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love them some Mike Brady! I am ready to walk out of MALS and walk into the new life that is currently in production. A lot will change for Mike and me over the next year. In August, we will be married. In the fall, he will go onto the academic job market. Soon after that, if all goes to plan, Mike will have a job lined up somewhere and we will probably be plotting a move to a university that has so graciously opened its doors to Mike’s fantastic teaching abilities. And hopefully soon after that, if not while all this is happening, we will begin a family of our own.
MALS has been a roller coaster – but it’s time to get off this ride and for Mike and me to start building our own. Thank you, everyone, who has supported me through all the crazy events over the past few years. It has been one hell of a trip – but I’m already packed up and ready for the next one. Let’s go….
4.17.2008
New Toy
Oh yes. She is beautiful. Shiny, sleek and oh so cool. Thanks to a fantastic tech allowance at work, this new piece of technology is my quick access to the internet and e-mail when I am away from my desk. The unfortunate part of the story is that since the device is not technically supported by my workplace, they won't upgrade my desktop to XP - hence I can't sync my device with my Outlook. But, I can at least check my schedule and work e-mail from the web client. I must also give massive thanks to Mike for staying up a long time last night and making the wifi work. It was a tough job, but he got it done, and it is awesome!
4.16.2008
NC Early Voting Starts Tomorrow
EARLY VOTING starts THIS THURSDAY, April 17th! You can find the one-stop early voting site for your county with the following link:
http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=17
IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION:
- You can vote as long as you will be 18 by the Nov. election
- You can vote in the Democratic primary if you are registered as a Democrat *OR* Unaffiliated
- You are not allowed to vote in more than one state's primary, so if you have already voted, do not attempt to repeat.
- NOT REGISTERED?
- NEVER VOTED BEFORE?
- NOT REGISTERED AT YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS?
---> YOU CAN STILL VOTE EARLY! Just update your registration information at the one-stop early voting location.
EARLY VOTING IS FROM APRIL 17 - MAY 3
http://www.sboe.state.nc.us
IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION:
- You can vote as long as you will be 18 by the Nov. election
- You can vote in the Democratic primary if you are registered as a Democrat *OR* Unaffiliated
- You are not allowed to vote in more than one state's primary, so if you have already voted, do not attempt to repeat.
- NOT REGISTERED?
- NEVER VOTED BEFORE?
- NOT REGISTERED AT YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS?
---> YOU CAN STILL VOTE EARLY! Just update your registration information at the one-stop early voting location.
EARLY VOTING IS FROM APRIL 17 - MAY 3
4.14.2008
Some photos and a countdown
FRIDAY. Friday is the end of the road. At 3pm eastern standard time, I will sit down at a small cafe table in the GLS House and have my MALS exit interview. From what I have heard, this process goes about 30 minutes or so. So, by 4pm at the latest, I should have clearance for graduation. If not, oh geez. But let's just assume this will all go well. Let the countdown begin......
Now, in early celebration, Mike and I had an excellent time in Hickory, NC this weekend for the Hickory Hops Beer Festival. The selection of beers was absolutely fantastic - it was just as great as the BeerFest in Durham and Raleigh. Less of an international feel, but it was great to have so many local beers. One major comment for the planners though - HAVE FOOD AVAILABLE. A 6 hour beer festival lacking even ONE food vendor is a major event faux pas. There were a couple local restaurants within walking distance, but they were pretty much "sit down" in nature and not conducive to festival fare. Next year, have some food booths, folks!
To end on a high note for my review of Hickory Hops, I thought I would give my award for the #1 beer at the festival. Out of all the beers I tasted on Saturday, one was beyond awesome (and Meredith agrees with me here). The Pisgah Solstice was just wonderful. It is high gravity and Belgian style, but words just don't do this beer justice. Fantastic find. It's only available in Asheville, Black Mountain and Spindale, NC - so if you are ever in one of these three cities, have a glass of Pisgah!
Okay folks, I know you love photos. So here are some from this weekend - enjoy!!!
Davidson Boys - Andy, Taylor, Alex, Matthew and Mike in front!
Meredith and I after we got "lei'd"
Gangsta Matt and Gangsta Mike
Happy Beerfesters!
All ready for April 26 in Raleigh, baby!
Now, in early celebration, Mike and I had an excellent time in Hickory, NC this weekend for the Hickory Hops Beer Festival. The selection of beers was absolutely fantastic - it was just as great as the BeerFest in Durham and Raleigh. Less of an international feel, but it was great to have so many local beers. One major comment for the planners though - HAVE FOOD AVAILABLE. A 6 hour beer festival lacking even ONE food vendor is a major event faux pas. There were a couple local restaurants within walking distance, but they were pretty much "sit down" in nature and not conducive to festival fare. Next year, have some food booths, folks!
To end on a high note for my review of Hickory Hops, I thought I would give my award for the #1 beer at the festival. Out of all the beers I tasted on Saturday, one was beyond awesome (and Meredith agrees with me here). The Pisgah Solstice was just wonderful. It is high gravity and Belgian style, but words just don't do this beer justice. Fantastic find. It's only available in Asheville, Black Mountain and Spindale, NC - so if you are ever in one of these three cities, have a glass of Pisgah!
Okay folks, I know you love photos. So here are some from this weekend - enjoy!!!
Davidson Boys - Andy, Taylor, Alex, Matthew and Mike in front!
Meredith and I after we got "lei'd"
Gangsta Matt and Gangsta Mike
Happy Beerfesters!
All ready for April 26 in Raleigh, baby!
4.11.2008
Election time
I haven't made up my mind on who I am voting for in the Democratic primary yet. Years ago, I had a dream of Hillary running, but when I saw Obama speak at the Democratic Convention in the last election, I was amazed by his poise and grace. Now, here we are - I think the dems have an "embarrassment of riches." I would be perfectly happy with either person as our President. I am also continually excited by the fact that the two leading contenders in the Democratic party are a woman and a black man. Fantastic.
With that being said, I did contribute to Obama's campaign back in like October or November last year. I also signed up for the NCforObama listserv to keep an eye on what was going on in our state. Sometimes, I regret the latter. The bad thing (and also the great) thing about Obama's campaign is how grassroots it has been run. Individual groups work on their own to go door to door, post signs, etc. It is really getting people motivated. But the problem is, you get a lot of people in there who can also do damage. Sure, this is a problem in any political campaign, but I just want to describe my personal experience with this.
So, I get e-mails once or twice daily on the listserv that describes different meet up groups, postering, call banking, events, etc. It is great to see what people are doing. But then you get folks sending out their predictions on what the opposition's campaign will do next and how "we shouldn't stand for this" or blah blah blah. Today, this was the first sentence in one of the e-mails:
As far as I can tell, there seems to be a very high likelihood that the Clinton campaign will drop some kind of "Obama Hates America" smear between the next debate and the PA primary.
You have to be kidding me. Give Hillary some credit. You really think she would pull a swiftboat and say "Obama Hates America"? Hillary knows that Obama is real competition and has the respect and admiration of as many people in the United States as she does. If she calls him un-American or an America-hater, she ostracizes a huge chunk of the American populous. I am no political strategist, but I can pretty much guarantee that calling Obama a "hater of America" is not high on the list of strategies for the Clinton campaign.
This isn't the first e-mail I have received off the listserv I've rolled my eyes at. I think this one was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I replied back - to the whole listserv - and said that asinine comments like that do sway people in their thoughts about an Obama administration. I have no idea where my vote is going at this moment, and if I keep getting e-mails that are rash, not thought out and just silly, I step one more foot away from an Obama vote.
I am sure the people who replied back to me with a passion for patriotism and the hope for a brighter future think I am full of crap. But I felt it was necessary to at least remind people that what they send out, other people read. Their words reflect on a larger segment of society, and people need to be more responsible with their words. Even if not part of the "official" campaign, the face of those posting on these lists can and has affected a voter. If you asked me today, Hillary has my vote. That may change tomorrow, but my interaction with Obama supporters has turned me off enough that I don't see him in the light I used to anymore. And no, these people I have heard from do not stand for EVERYONE, but it's the whole butterfly effect thing. One person can affect one vote.
Just my 2 cents. ::steps off soapbox::
PS - I also know I am WAY too thin skinned for politics or even political debate. I take things to personally. So, if you flame me in my comments section, I will delete you, FYI :-)
With that being said, I did contribute to Obama's campaign back in like October or November last year. I also signed up for the NCforObama listserv to keep an eye on what was going on in our state. Sometimes, I regret the latter. The bad thing (and also the great) thing about Obama's campaign is how grassroots it has been run. Individual groups work on their own to go door to door, post signs, etc. It is really getting people motivated. But the problem is, you get a lot of people in there who can also do damage. Sure, this is a problem in any political campaign, but I just want to describe my personal experience with this.
So, I get e-mails once or twice daily on the listserv that describes different meet up groups, postering, call banking, events, etc. It is great to see what people are doing. But then you get folks sending out their predictions on what the opposition's campaign will do next and how "we shouldn't stand for this" or blah blah blah. Today, this was the first sentence in one of the e-mails:
As far as I can tell, there seems to be a very high likelihood that the Clinton campaign will drop some kind of "Obama Hates America" smear between the next debate and the PA primary.
You have to be kidding me. Give Hillary some credit. You really think she would pull a swiftboat and say "Obama Hates America"? Hillary knows that Obama is real competition and has the respect and admiration of as many people in the United States as she does. If she calls him un-American or an America-hater, she ostracizes a huge chunk of the American populous. I am no political strategist, but I can pretty much guarantee that calling Obama a "hater of America" is not high on the list of strategies for the Clinton campaign.
This isn't the first e-mail I have received off the listserv I've rolled my eyes at. I think this one was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I replied back - to the whole listserv - and said that asinine comments like that do sway people in their thoughts about an Obama administration. I have no idea where my vote is going at this moment, and if I keep getting e-mails that are rash, not thought out and just silly, I step one more foot away from an Obama vote.
I am sure the people who replied back to me with a passion for patriotism and the hope for a brighter future think I am full of crap. But I felt it was necessary to at least remind people that what they send out, other people read. Their words reflect on a larger segment of society, and people need to be more responsible with their words. Even if not part of the "official" campaign, the face of those posting on these lists can and has affected a voter. If you asked me today, Hillary has my vote. That may change tomorrow, but my interaction with Obama supporters has turned me off enough that I don't see him in the light I used to anymore. And no, these people I have heard from do not stand for EVERYONE, but it's the whole butterfly effect thing. One person can affect one vote.
Just my 2 cents. ::steps off soapbox::
PS - I also know I am WAY too thin skinned for politics or even political debate. I take things to personally. So, if you flame me in my comments section, I will delete you, FYI :-)
4.10.2008
A wedding for $5000 - you can do it
My Mom sent me a link to a great article about doing a wedding for $5K. (http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/04/09/a-fabulous-wedding-for-under-5-000.aspx) The only problem is, the article gave no REAL suggestions on how you can stick with that budget. So, here, I will take a couple minutes to hash out how my fiance and I are approaching and planning a wedding for 75-100 people on a budget of $5K (or hopefully less when all is said and done).
1) Get creative with ceremony location - your ceremony does not need to be in a church that charges $2000 or an art gallery that costs $5000. Check your city's chamber of commerce website and find out about alternative sites. If you have a university nearby, they will have a lot of venues that you can rent. Theatres, smaller art galleries and public facilities often rent for very reasonable prices. Some state parks even have event facilities to rent for low prices. Try to find a place that already includes chairs - chair rental, while normally not too expensive, adds to the bottom line when all is said and done. Try to find a place that has nice decoration built in so you don't have to concert a blank space to your dream facility. Outdoor weddings can be very low cost, but the need for a rain plan can sometimes be troublesome. Just keep that in mind.
2) Get creative with reception location. You may not need a hotel ballroom. If you MUST have the ballroom reception, unfortunately, the only tip I can give is to NOT have your wedding on a Saturday. Some places have lower rates for Thursday or Friday nights. But, that may be hard for guests. What about a favorite restaurant? You never know if you can have a reception someplace until you ask. I have heard of massive parties on the roofs of parking garages where the couple just rented tents. It's unique and different. Look at the places you frequent often and try to picture them in a different light - then ask if you can hold a reception there!
3) Menu. Do you really need to serve lobster and filet mignon? I mean, really - is the full 5 course meal actually necessary? If you HAVE to have an extravagant meal, do it for the rehearsal and just serve it to your bridal party and parents. For the reception, you don't have to have food that costs $60 a plate. Some surefire ways to save money are a) do an early wedding where you can serve brunch - brunch foods are much cheaper than dinner foods; b) same thing with lunch - have the wedding at 10am with a lunch afterwards - much cheaper; c) have to have the wedding in the evening? Serve heavy hors d'oeuvres! People can and will get full off a wide assortment of snacks - from fruit and cheese to crabcakes and bruschetta. Make the reception more about mingling and dancing and less about sitting at a table. This also takes out the need for table cards, escort cards, overpriced centerpieces and all that stuff that the wedding "industry" dictates you have. One caveat on saving money in the food category: don't cook yourself - there are plenty of places out there that can cater for a reasonable price. Scour around and ask questions. Tell them how much you will pay by the head and see what they can give you. You'll be surprised.
4) Decoration. Simple does not mean cheap. Simple is elegant. You do not need a 5 foot, 300 piece rose centerpiece on the altar of the church or on each table. A nice candle and some greenery can go a long way. Get creative - you don't need expensive centerpieces. If you are dead set on something more elaborate, look around for second hand wedding supply sales online. Benefit from the bride who paid too much for things she now needs to unload. The Knot has a message board for brides selling old wedding supplies. Craigslist is a great place to look, too. You can rent colorful table linens that are tasteful and add some spark to your venue. Does a church really need $2000 worth of flowers? Probably not. Like stated before, try and find a venue that has a nice look already so you don't need to add much to it.
5) Flowers. THE FARMER'S MARKET. Get what is in season and local. It's environmentally friendly and adds a nice touch of local flair. We found a flower grower that is selling us local, fresh flowers at $35 a bucket. AN ENTIRE BUCKET. We will put them together, and we will pay probably less for ALL of our flowers than some people pay for a bouquet alone. One grower even offered to grow exactly what I wanted!! Calla lillies, purple roses and rare orchids are not cheap and have to be shipped thousands of miles. When you think about it, aren't MOST flowers pretty? Do you have to have a special one flown in from Holland or Hawaii?
6) The Bar. If you can find a place that will allow you to bring in your own alcohol, you've hit the jackpot. Hit Trader Joe's and buy 10 cases of wine, get a keg of your favorite beer and stock up on liquor. Or better yet, encourage a friend to throw an engagement/pre-wedding party for you where the price of admission is a bottle of liquor for the couple. You may think it sounds tacky, but if you do it as a "stock the bar" party, you will be amazed at the response. If you can't bring in your own liquor, keep the bar simple. Wine, beer, maybe one or two signature drinks. The rest the guests have to pony up for. If you want a full open bar, have the full bar open for only 1-2 hours rather than the whole time. And as a good friend told me, "An open bar for the whole wedding? Even Grandma gets trashed." That's not a pretty picture. Restricting alcohol can be a good thing.
7) Doing it Yourself. Find invites you love and see if you can recreate them. Have a graphic designer friend? Have them come up with a design and then get the printed and cut at Kinkos. No need to pay $5 an invite. Get creative with this folks - the invite people just want you to think you are too uncreative to come up with your own invite. Show 'em who's boss. Save the dates? e-mail everyone. Come up with a cute electronic image and e-mail it to people for a save the date. It saves paper and cost. For those family members who don't use e-mail, call and tell them or just wait for the invites you will send out. It will be fine.
8) All the little things. Bubbles? Almonds in a bag? A tin with your face and wedding date on it? It will get thrown away. I hate to tell ya, folks, but there are very few people out there who will keep that $3 tin that had almonds in it out on their coffee table. God forbid you think butterflies or a dove release will add a nice touch - the butterflies often arrive dead, and the fact you could possibly releasing a non native insect into your environment could wreak havoc you have never thought about. You do not need escort cards or menu cards. People will know what they are getting to eat when they see the food - really, do you need to warn them ahead of time?
9) Music. iPod.
10) Cake. Ask around - do not make on on your own unless you do it professionally. To keep costs low, check with grocery stores - they normally have great cake for a minimal cost. And that baker may have an adoration for wedding cakes that normally are not displayed in the store's bakery case. Krogers not your style? Ask people you work with or vendors for rental items. They often know of bakers who work out of their homes or just on a smaller scale than the lady with the super cool website. You do not need to pay $10 a slice for a cake that will taste like crap.
11) Ask for help. You probably have a wedding party - ask them to help. If you're making things, there are probably some crafty people in your group. Enlist their creativity and get their ideas. If you ask for help, people are very often willing to give it!
Those are the things that I came up with right away. If you have suggestions, post them as a comment. If you have a question, ask it, and I will see if I have any advice. I'm not an expert, but I am on a budget and am surrounded by some pretty creative people. The main thing is - the wedding industry is a billion dollar business. A big business wants you to spend money on things you don't actually need but things they make you think you need. If you think creatively, you can have an awesome wedding that won't kill your budget. Make it yours, not the industry's prescription.
1) Get creative with ceremony location - your ceremony does not need to be in a church that charges $2000 or an art gallery that costs $5000. Check your city's chamber of commerce website and find out about alternative sites. If you have a university nearby, they will have a lot of venues that you can rent. Theatres, smaller art galleries and public facilities often rent for very reasonable prices. Some state parks even have event facilities to rent for low prices. Try to find a place that already includes chairs - chair rental, while normally not too expensive, adds to the bottom line when all is said and done. Try to find a place that has nice decoration built in so you don't have to concert a blank space to your dream facility. Outdoor weddings can be very low cost, but the need for a rain plan can sometimes be troublesome. Just keep that in mind.
2) Get creative with reception location. You may not need a hotel ballroom. If you MUST have the ballroom reception, unfortunately, the only tip I can give is to NOT have your wedding on a Saturday. Some places have lower rates for Thursday or Friday nights. But, that may be hard for guests. What about a favorite restaurant? You never know if you can have a reception someplace until you ask. I have heard of massive parties on the roofs of parking garages where the couple just rented tents. It's unique and different. Look at the places you frequent often and try to picture them in a different light - then ask if you can hold a reception there!
3) Menu. Do you really need to serve lobster and filet mignon? I mean, really - is the full 5 course meal actually necessary? If you HAVE to have an extravagant meal, do it for the rehearsal and just serve it to your bridal party and parents. For the reception, you don't have to have food that costs $60 a plate. Some surefire ways to save money are a) do an early wedding where you can serve brunch - brunch foods are much cheaper than dinner foods; b) same thing with lunch - have the wedding at 10am with a lunch afterwards - much cheaper; c) have to have the wedding in the evening? Serve heavy hors d'oeuvres! People can and will get full off a wide assortment of snacks - from fruit and cheese to crabcakes and bruschetta. Make the reception more about mingling and dancing and less about sitting at a table. This also takes out the need for table cards, escort cards, overpriced centerpieces and all that stuff that the wedding "industry" dictates you have. One caveat on saving money in the food category: don't cook yourself - there are plenty of places out there that can cater for a reasonable price. Scour around and ask questions. Tell them how much you will pay by the head and see what they can give you. You'll be surprised.
4) Decoration. Simple does not mean cheap. Simple is elegant. You do not need a 5 foot, 300 piece rose centerpiece on the altar of the church or on each table. A nice candle and some greenery can go a long way. Get creative - you don't need expensive centerpieces. If you are dead set on something more elaborate, look around for second hand wedding supply sales online. Benefit from the bride who paid too much for things she now needs to unload. The Knot has a message board for brides selling old wedding supplies. Craigslist is a great place to look, too. You can rent colorful table linens that are tasteful and add some spark to your venue. Does a church really need $2000 worth of flowers? Probably not. Like stated before, try and find a venue that has a nice look already so you don't need to add much to it.
5) Flowers. THE FARMER'S MARKET. Get what is in season and local. It's environmentally friendly and adds a nice touch of local flair. We found a flower grower that is selling us local, fresh flowers at $35 a bucket. AN ENTIRE BUCKET. We will put them together, and we will pay probably less for ALL of our flowers than some people pay for a bouquet alone. One grower even offered to grow exactly what I wanted!! Calla lillies, purple roses and rare orchids are not cheap and have to be shipped thousands of miles. When you think about it, aren't MOST flowers pretty? Do you have to have a special one flown in from Holland or Hawaii?
6) The Bar. If you can find a place that will allow you to bring in your own alcohol, you've hit the jackpot. Hit Trader Joe's and buy 10 cases of wine, get a keg of your favorite beer and stock up on liquor. Or better yet, encourage a friend to throw an engagement/pre-wedding party for you where the price of admission is a bottle of liquor for the couple. You may think it sounds tacky, but if you do it as a "stock the bar" party, you will be amazed at the response. If you can't bring in your own liquor, keep the bar simple. Wine, beer, maybe one or two signature drinks. The rest the guests have to pony up for. If you want a full open bar, have the full bar open for only 1-2 hours rather than the whole time. And as a good friend told me, "An open bar for the whole wedding? Even Grandma gets trashed." That's not a pretty picture. Restricting alcohol can be a good thing.
7) Doing it Yourself. Find invites you love and see if you can recreate them. Have a graphic designer friend? Have them come up with a design and then get the printed and cut at Kinkos. No need to pay $5 an invite. Get creative with this folks - the invite people just want you to think you are too uncreative to come up with your own invite. Show 'em who's boss. Save the dates? e-mail everyone. Come up with a cute electronic image and e-mail it to people for a save the date. It saves paper and cost. For those family members who don't use e-mail, call and tell them or just wait for the invites you will send out. It will be fine.
8) All the little things. Bubbles? Almonds in a bag? A tin with your face and wedding date on it? It will get thrown away. I hate to tell ya, folks, but there are very few people out there who will keep that $3 tin that had almonds in it out on their coffee table. God forbid you think butterflies or a dove release will add a nice touch - the butterflies often arrive dead, and the fact you could possibly releasing a non native insect into your environment could wreak havoc you have never thought about. You do not need escort cards or menu cards. People will know what they are getting to eat when they see the food - really, do you need to warn them ahead of time?
9) Music. iPod.
10) Cake. Ask around - do not make on on your own unless you do it professionally. To keep costs low, check with grocery stores - they normally have great cake for a minimal cost. And that baker may have an adoration for wedding cakes that normally are not displayed in the store's bakery case. Krogers not your style? Ask people you work with or vendors for rental items. They often know of bakers who work out of their homes or just on a smaller scale than the lady with the super cool website. You do not need to pay $10 a slice for a cake that will taste like crap.
11) Ask for help. You probably have a wedding party - ask them to help. If you're making things, there are probably some crafty people in your group. Enlist their creativity and get their ideas. If you ask for help, people are very often willing to give it!
Those are the things that I came up with right away. If you have suggestions, post them as a comment. If you have a question, ask it, and I will see if I have any advice. I'm not an expert, but I am on a budget and am surrounded by some pretty creative people. The main thing is - the wedding industry is a billion dollar business. A big business wants you to spend money on things you don't actually need but things they make you think you need. If you think creatively, you can have an awesome wedding that won't kill your budget. Make it yours, not the industry's prescription.
4.08.2008
It's ladies night, and I feel alright.....
Well, last Friday was ladies night anyway - and here are a couple photos to prove it :-)
Meredith, me, Tammy and Lauren at the East End Martini Bar, Chapel Hill
Me, Tammy and Meredith - on a break from dancing
Meredith, me, Tammy and Lauren at the East End Martini Bar, Chapel Hill
Me, Tammy and Meredith - on a break from dancing4.07.2008
Weekend Update
Can I just say how odd it feels to not have this final project hanging over my head? It is actually quite strange. Mike was in Chicago from Thursday - Saturday, so I found myself cuddled up on the couch with Buddy Saturday afternoon watching "The Lives of Others" (fantastic movie - thanks for the recommendation, Rod!), and I didn't even feel guilty about it! I got up that morning, cleaned up the house, slayed the laundry monster, hit the Farmers Market to get eggs (more on that in a moment), and hit the gym for the completion of my first week of 5K training (so far, so good!). I accomplished everything I needed to do for the day by about 1pm. How fantastic it is to have my life back!!!!
To kick off this free time, Tammy, Lauren, Meredith and I headed out to Chapel Hill Friday night to celebrate all the milestones in our lives - Tammy and Efren will soon be off to Vandy, Lauren was celebrating her new found freedom, Meredith was celebrating her new career opportunities, and I was celebrating the end of my degree program! It was a great night. We spent the whole evening at the East End Martini Bar as a torrential rain storm came through and prevented us from hopping around. But the pineapple martinis and great dance music were enough to make the night great. Add to it the company of 3 of the most beautiful and fantastic ladies from D-town, and anyone would have a great time!
I am also happy to report that Saturday mornings are back to being spent at the Farmers Market! The Durham Farmers Market officially opened up the season this past Saturday, and the place was packed - even with some rainy weather. I managed to pick up a dozen eggs (half for Mike and I, half for Meredith) and a beautiful head of buttercrunch lettuce. I didn't bring more cash, or I would have gone home with a lot more. I am excited, too, because the market will now be open on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 which will be fantastic for those mid week needs. I can just walk down there before I head home in the evening. Welcome back, market!!
This weekend was also fruitful for wedding stuff. Sunday, Meredith, Lauren and I hustled out to Burlington to hunt for bridesmaid dresses. We ended up finding a great one, which I think will work fantastic. The price is great, and the style is wonderful. Once Cookie approves it, we will put in the order!!! That should hopefully be this week.
After the bridal shop, we hit Garden Ridge Pottery in Greensboro to get table decorations - simple is the key, and I think we got some nice stuff. This whole wedding thing is really coming together - fantastic!
This weekend is off to Hickory for the beer festival, then next week is my exit interview. Week after that is Raleigh Beer Fest, so the month of April is momentous and exciting! I will hopefully have some pics of random events to share with you soon!
To kick off this free time, Tammy, Lauren, Meredith and I headed out to Chapel Hill Friday night to celebrate all the milestones in our lives - Tammy and Efren will soon be off to Vandy, Lauren was celebrating her new found freedom, Meredith was celebrating her new career opportunities, and I was celebrating the end of my degree program! It was a great night. We spent the whole evening at the East End Martini Bar as a torrential rain storm came through and prevented us from hopping around. But the pineapple martinis and great dance music were enough to make the night great. Add to it the company of 3 of the most beautiful and fantastic ladies from D-town, and anyone would have a great time!
I am also happy to report that Saturday mornings are back to being spent at the Farmers Market! The Durham Farmers Market officially opened up the season this past Saturday, and the place was packed - even with some rainy weather. I managed to pick up a dozen eggs (half for Mike and I, half for Meredith) and a beautiful head of buttercrunch lettuce. I didn't bring more cash, or I would have gone home with a lot more. I am excited, too, because the market will now be open on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 which will be fantastic for those mid week needs. I can just walk down there before I head home in the evening. Welcome back, market!!
This weekend was also fruitful for wedding stuff. Sunday, Meredith, Lauren and I hustled out to Burlington to hunt for bridesmaid dresses. We ended up finding a great one, which I think will work fantastic. The price is great, and the style is wonderful. Once Cookie approves it, we will put in the order!!! That should hopefully be this week.
After the bridal shop, we hit Garden Ridge Pottery in Greensboro to get table decorations - simple is the key, and I think we got some nice stuff. This whole wedding thing is really coming together - fantastic!
This weekend is off to Hickory for the beer festival, then next week is my exit interview. Week after that is Raleigh Beer Fest, so the month of April is momentous and exciting! I will hopefully have some pics of random events to share with you soon!
4.04.2008
Battlestar Galactica Season 4 - STARTS TONIGHT
YAY! It has been absolutely forever since we have been blessed with a new episode of Battlestar. Season Four starts tonight, and I am super psyched. But being the great fiance I am, I am going to wait until Mike returns from Chicago tomorrow to watch the episode. Our Saturday night may be spent with pizza and some cylons. Oh yeah......
4.03.2008
Oh yeah - guess what time it is????
IT IS CELEBRATION TIME. PARTY TIME. SIGH OF RELIEF TIME.
I am happy to report that less than 3 minutes ago, I sent off the final draft of my final project for my Masters. It is in the hands of my program director now. If all goes well, on April 18 at my exit interview, I will get a pat on the back and clearance for graduation.
I cannot believe this - I never thought this moment would get here. I am absolutely elated. WOO HOO!!!!
Here's to you, little piggies!!!!!!!
If you actually care to read the project, post a comment and I will e-mail it to you. It's 60 pages about the factory farming of pigs - and I will warn you ahead of time, it is not the happiest thing in the world to read. Just be forewarned!!!!
I am happy to report that less than 3 minutes ago, I sent off the final draft of my final project for my Masters. It is in the hands of my program director now. If all goes well, on April 18 at my exit interview, I will get a pat on the back and clearance for graduation.
I cannot believe this - I never thought this moment would get here. I am absolutely elated. WOO HOO!!!!
Here's to you, little piggies!!!!!!!
If you actually care to read the project, post a comment and I will e-mail it to you. It's 60 pages about the factory farming of pigs - and I will warn you ahead of time, it is not the happiest thing in the world to read. Just be forewarned!!!!
4.01.2008
Next item on the "To-Do" List - another 5K
The last time I did a 5K was over 3 years ago. I ran the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh. As mentioned some time ago in the post about the passing of Lista Yarbrough, I have been inspired to run again this year. Lista's passing really struck me - she was so young and so full of life - yet, breast cancer still took her from this world. Therefore, in June of this year, I will again be running the Race for the Cure. I will set up a team soon and start asking for donations - so beware!! Therefore, on June 14, my Dad's birthday, I will hit the pavement and hopefully make a decent showing at the race (decent showing meaning I run for 95% of the race and actually finish).
With that being said, it is time to train. Although I run a few times a week as it is, the most I normally run is about a mile and a half, two miles if I am feeling saucy. To make it the full 3.2 miles, I need to work my way up to doing so. So, starting yesterday, I am now on a "Couch to 5K" program. I made my own spreadsheet based off the recommended system at www.coolrunning.com. Even though the couch is not really my starting point, a regimented system that gives me a workout for the next 9 weeks will be very helpful in getting my endurance up where it needs to be. Yesterday's workout resulted in a full 2.5 mile workout, and whew - it kicked my butt a bit. As my loyal readers, I ask that you question me about this - ask if I am keeping up with it, etc. I really want to run this race and not make a fool out of myself (as Lauren and Meredith, both experienced runners, will probably do the race, too), so please encourage me!!
(Here's a screenshot of my running program - if you want the full spreadsheet, just let me know, and I will be happy to send it to you! You can also see a larger version of the spreadsheet by clicking on the picture above.)
With that being said, it is time to train. Although I run a few times a week as it is, the most I normally run is about a mile and a half, two miles if I am feeling saucy. To make it the full 3.2 miles, I need to work my way up to doing so. So, starting yesterday, I am now on a "Couch to 5K" program. I made my own spreadsheet based off the recommended system at www.coolrunning.com. Even though the couch is not really my starting point, a regimented system that gives me a workout for the next 9 weeks will be very helpful in getting my endurance up where it needs to be. Yesterday's workout resulted in a full 2.5 mile workout, and whew - it kicked my butt a bit. As my loyal readers, I ask that you question me about this - ask if I am keeping up with it, etc. I really want to run this race and not make a fool out of myself (as Lauren and Meredith, both experienced runners, will probably do the race, too), so please encourage me!!
(Here's a screenshot of my running program - if you want the full spreadsheet, just let me know, and I will be happy to send it to you! You can also see a larger version of the spreadsheet by clicking on the picture above.)
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