DIY Bride

I put a lot of thought into my wedding. I wanted it to be about me and Evan, not just the things that are usually at a wedding. I wanted it to be really fun! I thought about every detail, favors, guestbook, music (during ceremony, dinner, and reception!), etc. My florist, Russ at Changing Seasons, brought a lot of my visions of the perfect wedding to life. As soon as he met me and I told him my colors and the things I wanted, he immediately showed me all the things I wanted! I probably drove him a little crazy because I changed my mind just a few times and about halfway through I almost changed everything! He did not only the flowers, but also some gifts, tables, chairs, linens.. and he's a wedding coordinator. He also knew a girl that could design my invitations and she was amazing. She ended up doing so many things for the wedding! kimtotty.com
With all of these creative juices flowing and my addiction to the internet I found so many things that would fit perfect and put my own spin on the things I found.
This is a blog of the things I made, and a few things I had help with from family and friends.

Save the Dates were the first DIY project!

They took some time to get it right, but they were pretty inexpensive and once I got the hang of it I did them pretty quickly. While I was searching for save the dates I found the idea HERE

The moo cards are so fun! I got more mini moo cards for our invitations with engagement pics and on the back it had the date time and address for the wedding!

MOO MiniCards

I made hangers for the bridesmaids and hostess' also.

They are selling on Etsy for 16-40 bucks!

I bought a five pack of hangers at Target for less than $6 and the floral wire is like $3

 The most expensive things were the flowers (which were hair clips!), but Hobby Lobby has so many sales, and a daily 40% coupon, you could probably get them for pretty cheap. 

Kim Totty designed and printed the labels for me. My bridesmaids, hostess, mom and Patti helped put these together. got the idea here: DIY Apple Cider Favors

I got caramel apple cider in bulk from: McStevens Wholesale

My grandma gave me the cake cutting set, I just added ribbon and a stick on pearl to make it more special! Toasting flute sets were like 50 bucks in all the catalogs! I got a set of 4 from K-mart for $10 and just added the ribbon and pearl!

I added ribbon and pearls to the unity candle set. Which I bought at Hobby Lobby, just separate candles. The sets, again, are a lot more expensive! The florist provided the beautiful flower arrangement and table (: but that wasn't so cheap.

I made the guest book letters with the same paper I used for the guest book cards.

I decorated the quilted mason jars with ribbon, and I bought thin point sharpies in our colors.

I added orange and pink ribbon to the baskets that had sticker labels made by Kim Totty. The baskets had programs, guest book cards, favors and cards. I found cheap baskets online and hot glued the ribbon, they looked so nice!

I wanted a lined paper, and my friend Ashleigh had me browse through the dollar section at Joanne's and I found a notepad that was an off white color with pink lines! Perfect! I put the little piece of lined paper on pink, black, or khaki colored paper and added a pink, black or orange ribbon with organdy swirls! My mom made bows for the centerpieces with a lot of the ribbon I had. I don't have a very good picture of it though :(

ALL PICTURES EXCEPT THE SAVE THE DATES ARE BY Allison Wonderland Photographie

I had so much fun planning the wedding and it turned out so perfect! More blogs to come about the wedding/best day of my life!

A Very Pinterest Christmas!

Right after Thanksgiving I got very upset when I realized there was not much of a budget for Christmas gifts. I called my mom crying, and of course she told me it was okay if I couldn't get her a gift. She doesn't really need anything! And that Christmas isn't all about the gifts it's about the family being together.. this was right around the same time that I got SUPER addicted to pinterest! I was finding so many things I liked and realized I could easily make a lot of those things for gifts!
As I got started and things were turning out cute I got very excited for Christmas! More excited than I have been in a long time. The past few years it just didn't feel like Christmas to me. It always come so quick with the time going by fast. And when you're an adult it just doesn't seem to have the magic it did as a kid!
Along with getting excited about Christmas... I was trying to just enjoy all of the events and not wish for another day. I'm trying to live in the moment, that's the only way I feel like I can slow the time. It seems like people are always ready for the week to be over... ready for vacation... ready for the holidays to be over... ready for the new year & the diets! I am lucky and have almost 2 weeks off at this time of year so I am not ready for it to be over, I'm just living in each moment and trying to make the most of my time!

coasters for white elephant exchange

wrapping paper, mod podge & ceramic tiles (16 cents at home depot!)

rolled felt flower wreath to go in my mom's coca cola kitchen

this is one of my favorites!

wood plaque at hobby lobby, paint, mod podge

this was for my mom... she loves games and scrabble!

we already had a nice 5x7 frame and I got a pretty scrapbook paper and hot glued the letters

I tried to eat healthy over the holidays and I got back in the habit of exercising... it will most certainly be easier when everyone else is really into it next week! I still indulged! I started my days healthy with a green monster smoothie! I was scared when I first tried this, but it's so good and so good for you!

 one banana, 1/2 cup each frozen peaches & mangos, 1-2 handfuls of baby spinach

you can use any fruit you like, but I would be sure to put the banana in it!

I have tried it with other frozen fruit as well, but I love this combo the best!

The holidays have been busy but very very nice! I loved giving the gifts I made and I didn't really worry about what I was getting. I of course got a lot of very nice gifts though!
Everything on this blog was found on pinterest or inspired by it!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I'm blogging now!

I have been wanting to blog for some time now... I like reading blogs, finding crafts and recipes, etc. I tried setting a blog up a couple times but I didn't know what I was doing. And I finally got a super cute background to go with it!
I'm sure people that know me will be hoping for blogs about sweets and goodies that I am known for LOVING and bringing to parties and family get togethers. But the holidays are over and I really have trouble with self control when it comes to sweets. I have struggled with indulging in sweets my whole life and I relate it to addiction! I want to have a healthy lifestyle and get in a good habit of that. Sweets will be few and far between for me!
I will probably be posting about some of the healthy recipes I have found on my journey to be a health nut. I am also getting ready to train for a half marathon that will be in April... it probably seems crazy but running makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something! You can always get better at it (or any type of fitness)!
I've also gotten into crafts since I got on pinterest! It really helped me out this Christmas!