I-Ten-Itis

After 1 hitchhiker, 1 man walking on the side of I-10, and us playing the Alphabet game until I reached the letter M and giving up we have reached Texas.

We started off the morning with our trusty driver....



And this is the view I had for the entire 860 miles...(The dog was stored somewhere back there)


Before leaving my job yesterday for the last day, a Fernandina Beach Pirate gave me some pirate hats just in case we were to be taken over by the Pirates of I-10. We haven't had to use them yet, but we decided to try them on....



The doggy felt left out so we let her borrow my mother's hat.


This is how I felt before we started the trip...


This is what I look like now...

No matter how many times we stopped or where we drove we saw this. They must have been following us...Where they pirates?


Waiting for our Pizza to be delivered to the hotel....already been an hour. May have to put that pirate hat on and head over to the Pizza Hut to get our treasure. I am that hungry and I just may do it.

More to come tomorrow....

Blogging Across America

Good morning everyone!

The time has come and I am moving across the country. Did you know that across the country really means ONE HECK OF A DRIVE?

2,000 miles to go and a sleepy butt to add. We have not yet left, and I writing this from my parent's house in Florida. Sunny, humid Florida. I am trading in the sand and surf for sand and cacti shaped like people. Really, you know you have looked at a cactus before and said to yourself that it looked like a person. Admit it.

I will miss Florida but most of all I will miss the people. My friends and people I have adopted as family.

So with all that said I am off. My mother, my dog and I are ready for our adventure. Lets hope we all get along so no one has been left behind at a rest stop.

Fun In The Sun Expo...Stop By

Have you been stuck in the rainy dreary weather like me for the past 5 days?

It is time to break out and get some fresh air.

St. Mary's, GA is hosting the
Fun In The Sun Expo
Saturday, May 23rd from 9am to 9pm
Howard Gilman Memorial Park


Stop by my Glitzy Gallery Jewelry booth and mention that you saw my blog and receive 10% off your entire purchase!

Some new pieces will be added to this year's collection that are sure to be show stoppers. Stop by and take a look.


Can't wait to see you there!

Beach Walking and the Folks That Look Down

I walked on the beach today...



I was talking to my husband the other night and decided it was time to get off my butt and start getting some exercise. My goal is to walk 5 miles in a week. That is a big accomplishment for me if I can keep up with it. Last week started and I managed to make my 5 miles by the skin of my teeth. By the way, my husband runs 50 miles a week minimum. Show off.

This morning I managed to roll out of bed and was on the beach walking by 7:20am. Unfortunately I have decided in order to reach my walking goal I need to leave Chloe, the dog, home. She is terrified of the beach and it just slows me down. I don't need the furball to keep me from my goal. Momma needs her butt to stop jiggling...so sorry pup you are staying home.

As I was saying, I reached the beach and decided I would walk until I couldn't walk anymore...forgetting I still have to walk back. As I walked on I noticed that fellow beach walkers were not to friendly today. It took a good mile until I even got someone to say good morning back to me. Did I smell or something?

So I trudged on seeing that most beach goers weren't even paying attention to the beautiful waves crashing in from the ocean...they were looking down at their feet trying to find sea shells. What a horrible way to spend your vacation at the beach. Someone may ask, "What did you see at the beach?" And their only response, "my feet". I then took it upon myself to save these unfortunate people from their doomed vacations and started tromping through the beds of sea shells. Mean I know, but someone has to do it.


Then as if it was someone from above's way of saying it was okay to be looking down, I happened to glance at a piece of sea glass. A big piece that has been nicely tumbled by the ocean and was placed on the beach just for me.

My attempt to stay looking at the ocean for the next 3 miles was sometimes thwarted by the need to find more sea glass. I had the gentle reminder of my treasure every time I walked a step and the piece of glass gently poked me in the chest. Where else was I supposed to store my treasure? The sports bra was the best idea at the time. Along with my key and cell phone. I was packing it full. This chest has to be good for something right? How about storage?

But honestly back to the walking part. I have generally been able to make it about 2.5 miles and today I made it 4.5 with the help of my husband who called while I was walking back. As we talked for about 30 minutes I walked past my beach exit. After realizing the sand was a bit deeper and didn't look familiar I had to double back adding more steps. Talk about an over achiever here. 4.5 miles in one day. Now I can take the rest of the week off right?

Tell me about the most interesting thing you ever found at the beach.

Northeast Florida Wedding Tips & Tricks

I got married. Yippee. It's over now and I have all this information just floating around. Surely someone can use it. I sure could have during my planning process. Would have saved me a bunch of time.

Some of these tips may also help you even if you are not from the Northeast Florida area. I am all about saving money.

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION


Location #1:
Heritage House Wedding Chapel
Kingsland, GA
They provide small indoor chapel or outdoor garden weddings for affordable prices. Decent place for the quick wedding but honestly it is on the corner of the block in a small residential neighborhood. I wouldn't recommend more than 50 people. They also do walk-ins...in case you are interested.http://www.marriageinformation.com/

Location #2:
Howard Gilman Memorial Park
St. Marys, GA
Absolutely beautiful! On the water with a white gazebo, white pergolas with picnic tables and also a stage area with stairs and the water as your background. All this surrounds a public park with a beautiful fountain. Super pretty and affordable. $300 ($200 refundable)
http://www.kingsbay.net/park/

Location #3:
North Hampton Lofton Creek Outpost
Fernandina Beach, FL
Set on the marsh with lovely decks all over. Includes a kitchen, bathroom and small screened in room. Newly built so it doesn't have that rundown look. You have to be a member of the neighborhood or find someone who is. Costs $125 ($100 refundable)


WEDDING DRESS:

The reason I put location before the dress is because if you have a very formal wedding spot you don't want to show up in a not so formal gown and the other way around.

Personally I got my dress at a David's Bridal clearance sale. Marked down to a third of the original price. And I didn't even have to put a stain on it. (I would NEVER do that lol) It was a little big but a wonderful friend of the family altered it for me. Otherwise David's Bridal was going to charge me $300 to alter it and would take 6 weeks. Rip off.

There are quite a few China based dress makers on eBay with excellent feedback. The average price of a custom made dress was around $175 including shipping. Took about 14 days to complete. This is a great option, however if you are on a time crunch or cannot find a seamstress local, I would not suggest going this route. Be prepared to make alterations once you get the dress just in case.

You have your location and now your dress...well and the groom


RENTALS (TABLES, CHAIRS, LINENS, ETC.)


I called, emailed and checked out every rental place I could imagine for tables, chairs and linens. Either they cost way more than if I wanted to buy the items or they didn't deliver. What bride wants to set up 100 chairs the day of her wedding or make her family do it? Not me.
Drum roll please....
Camden Party Rentals, in Kingsland, GA, took the show. Wonderful staff who is caring and kind. Their prices are super affordable. They also deliver and pickup anytime you need them to. She doesn't have a website but her number is (912) 576-6858

LET THEM EAT CAKE:

I will NOT suggest or name my cake lady, as I was very disappointed the leaning cake she provided us with. I was then disappointed in her unprofessionalism. Oh yeah and did I mention she put wagon wheels on the cake...not flowers. Shew that rant is over. Learn from my mistake.

• Go with someone you trust, word of mouth isn't always the best.
• You don't have to spend a ton of money on a cake that is to big for your party.
  
• Depending on the way the cake is cut, you can get 75 pieces from a layer.
  
• Try your local supermarket. They generally need a 14 day advance notice. Get the cake blank, just frosted, and decorate yourself with fresh flowers.
• Get a cake serving set (knife and server) that you can use in everyday use. Avoid the bows and pearls on the handle. It makes it a disposable wedding favor.

FLOWERS


Supermarket Supermarket Supermarket
Better yet if you have a Publix near you go there. Flowers are $10 for 3 good size bouquets. We ended up purchasing about 12 bouquets of White Mums (the big ones), Carnations, Mini Carnations and for a few bucks extra 2 bouquets of white roses. With all the flowers and supplies to make 8 boutonnieres, 3 small bouquets and 1 large bridal bouquet was about $60. Get your bridal party together with the moms and grandmas, drink some wine, have some laughs and make your arrangements no more than 2 nights before. Place in water in the refrigerator.

CENTERPIECES and DECORATIONS


Think candles. Not flowers. It gets to expensive when you start adding flowers.
Tall, skinny glass candle holders with glass rocks in the bottom and a candle can be done for around $3. Get your supplies from the Dollar Trees wholesale supplier online.
Spend a few more bucks and get floating candles from ROSS department store. I had to dig but I found a 16 pack for $2. Tea candles are on sale at MICHAELS Craft store for $100 for $2.
Forget the toulle. It is a pain in the butt and a waste of money.

We purchased a ton of battery operated paper lanterns in white at the Dollar Tree. They make for good mood lighting...make sure you get good batteries.

We bought white twinkle Christmas lights right after Christmas. Got them for about a $1 per box. Use clear zipties. You can get a bag of them for $1.50 at Walmart.

TUX RENTAL


We used Men's Warehouse. I do NOT recommend them. To begin with they ordered the wrong size tux for my husband. Twice. He didn't get the correct one until the day of the wedding. The store manager also proceeded to inform my then soon to be husband that if the bride was not wearing white this was her second marriage or she was unpure. My husband looked down and saw he had on an ivory vest...not white. How could she say that to him? About me? My dress was Ivory and this is my first and only marriage and pure? what the heck who says that about someone?....Rant over. Brides you are so allowed to have a rant here and there. If you let it fester then you may just blow at the wedding. Who wants pieces of the bride everywhere?

So for tuxes, I have no idea. We had a bad experience.


HAIR


Again, go to someone you trust. I have a stylist that I absolutely adore. She has done my hair for the past 2 years and I totally trust her.

Don't just think that trendy salons can do your formal hairdo. Places like the Hair Cuttery or Supercuts also do them and at half the price. Go in for a pre run through a few weeks ahead of time. Bring your camera. Take photos. This will give you something to look at and also help your stylist remember what she did to your hair. They see a lot of heads, so help her to remember. I paid a total of $70 for both appointments. Not bad at all!

FAVORS


For about 30¢ a piece we made our favors. So easy and affordable.
Glass Magnets with loving sayings...
Love • Cherish • Laugh • Kiss

1. Get Photo Paper, Modgepodge, E600, small round magnets, and small glass rocks. All available online or at Michaels Craft Store or Walmart
   
2. Using your at home printer, print out words in fun fonts (nothing to scrolly) about half the size of the glass rock. Have fun, play with different background colors. We used turquoise since it was our wedding color.
3. Cute out the text. Put a glass rock/marble over one of the words flat side down to gauge the size to cut it.
4. Put a thin layer of Modgepodge on the text size of the words you just cut out.
5. Lie glass marble flat side down over the Modgepodged word. Press firmly to get air bubbles out. Allow to dry.
6. Put E600 on the back of the magnet and affix magnet to the back of the now glass marble and paper sandwich. Press firmly. Allow to dry. Use in well ventilated area. Super stink.
7. The Dollar Tree has toulle circles. Get some of those and some ribbon in your wedding color.
   
8. Put one magnet in the center of the tulle circle and gather at top. Tie with ribbon into a bow.
9. There are your favors.

MISCELLANEOUS THINGS

• Have a drink that is dyed your wedding color. Like Turquoise lemonaide.
• We were not able to do the unity candle ceremony since the wind was so gusty. Prepare for that. Maybe try the sand ceremony.
• Suprise your husband by having the DJ play your man's favorite football teams fight song when you walk down the isle as husband and wife. (Make sure they play the correct one, unlike our DJ)
• Dangle beads and jewels from your bouquets to make it unique.
• Get a photo frame matting for your guests to sign. Kits are available at Michaels craft store.
• Can't find the perfect cake topper? Do a monogram. I found mine on eBay for $7 and it is flat and pretty. We can keep it in our scrapbook.
  
• Keep away from serving meat at your wedding to keep costs down. Try pastas.
• Trade services for your services you need. For example, if you do web design offer to trade for the photography.
• Don't forget about your wedding bands. Try www.infinitytungsten.com for the groom's ring. They run specials and we got his for $90. My band came from Sams Club. Cost $300 and is full of diamonds. Took 5 weeks to get it. Plan on having some time to wait.
• Propaine patio heaters are wonderful if you are having an outdoor wedding and need some extra heat.

All in all, I hope this helps you frantic and not so frantic brides in planning your wedding. I hope to save you the headaches I got from not having this information. It is your day. Everyone will tell you that...along with their opinion of what YOUR day should be. Be strong, stand tall. Don't be rude, but remember not to let anyone tell you what you want. Be reasonable and flexible all at the same time. But don't let people walk on you. And the best thing of all, at the end of the day you will be married to the most wonderful man in the world. So have some fun and get some great pictures to remember it.

Oh Moving...What a Joy!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack...
First off I would like to apologize for it being so long since my last post. So much has been going on including a wedding and now moving to a new place.


The wedding...
WONDERFUL! and beautiful. It did teach me a bit about myself and my need to learn to go with the flow a bit better. My new husband has taught me that and I thank him. After all the planning including me drawing out the floor plans, color schemes and centerpieces for the most perfect location ever (anal I know, thank you mother)...the weather man gets in his report. The forecast calls for rain, rain and more rain mixed with huge winds. Our northern friend Georgia was getting flooding and the storm was heading our way...for that Saturday, the day of the wedding.


What is a girl to do? Move the wedding the day before to a new location. With a tiny mention of the cost being 20 times what our original location cost (no kidding) and this location needing 12 people working 3 hours each and a truckload of cleaning supplies and a pressure washer, a best man forgetting the ring, a leaning cake and everything going wrong that could possibly go wrong...the wedding turned out beautiful. My old and new family and a slew of our friends banded together and got everything pulled together in time. And in the end of it all the most important thing about that night was me getting to marry the man of my dreams. All that bad stuff just melted away and we had a wonderful night together. I also got spanked with a saber, had a chicken pulled out from under my dress and danced in a conga line. Doesn't that happen at everyone else's weddings? And did I mention...not a drop of rain came from the sky. It was a beautiful night.

Fast forward a few weeks and our lease is up and it is time to move. The new place is absolutely awesome. It is so much better than the old one since it doesn't have the huge stairs to go up to get to it. That will be wonderful when it comes to walking the dog. I hope my legs look as wonderful at this place as they did at the old one. It is a great rental, close to the beach and newly remodeled. I am so excited. And then...I turn around from this computer and I see the boxes stacked to the ceiling.

I ask myself why the heck do I put myself through this. Moving sucks. The place rocks, but the process of moving downright sucks. I wouldn't have been able to do it all without the help of my family and friends again. I am so lucky to have these people in my life.

Rewind a day and you would find me unpacking some of the boxes last night and me being the smart person I am, decide that it would be fun to camp out in the new place, even though I don't have a bed yet. Floor? Ha, the floor can't bother me. I am made of steel and I have my favorite pillow. A quilt and my pillow should be juuuust fiiiine.

I am stupid. I am stupid. I am stupid. Let me repeat...I am stupid. Who sleeps on the floor voluntarily anymore...well except my husband but he is unique and says it helps his back. I still love him though. I have learned my lesson and won't be doing that again. 2am called for me remembering I had a new airbed in the closet and a battery operated pump. So in the weeee hours of the morning I attempted to open all this packaging, figure out which way the batteries go in the pump and to inflate this mattress. Let me fill you in that I was to tired to get up and turn on the light, so I used my cell phone as my flashlight. Smart cookie here. Right? Don't answer that. Realizing that the pump was sucking air out of the mattress instead of inflating it, I gave up and went back to the floor. Stupid pump, stupid pump, stupid pump.

So give me a few days and a bed to sleep in and I have a feeling after the boxes are gone I will have a renewed sense of myself and my creative juices will be flowing again. It has killed me not being able to pick up my beading supplies since Christmas. I am hoping to do a show with my beading buddy Heather in May and I cannot wait!

So hang tight. I will be back soon and giving you more things to laugh at with me.

Have a great weekend everyone. I am off to find out why my TV remote is hiding with my pajamas. That's what you get when everyone helps you pack. (I am still super thankful)

Tell me your moving funnies.

Free JEWELRY for Bridal/Wedding Help

Calling all readers who can help with this wedding.

As you read the posts below you will find out that I am on a budget. A severe budget with only 6 or so weeks left to plan this wedding. Read below posts to be brought up to date on the reason for this short planning time frame.

I am a magician...I will pull a rabbit out of my hat...well more likely I WILL plan a wedding in 8 weeks and it will turn out nice. Or so I am hoping. There may be screaming, tears and blood but it will get done. And I will NOT turn into a bridezilla. I hate those women. Wow I sound like a bridezilla...honest I'm nice.

So back to how YOU can get FREE jewelry. I own a business called Glitzy Gallery (if you haven't figured that out yet). I create handmade jewelry at very affordable prices. Well your price is free. That is...if you can help me out.

I am in need of certain things for this wedding and ideas also to keep this budget down but still have an elegant wedding and reception. I am willing to purchase everything I can from online if that helps in giving tips.

Most everything has been delegated but there are a few things that I am still in need of...

• Lose fresh flowers that are all white or ivory so I can make my bouquet and all the other bouquets and boutonnieres (1 bridal, 3 boutonnieres, 3 bridesmaid bouquets).
  
• Disposable wedding cameras. Minimum of 5 preferably 10.
• Wedding bubbles for 100. (not champaign green bottles)
  
• Wedding favors for 100.
• Photographer (I just need the pictures taken but also have the CD at the end. No prints. I am a graphic designer after all...anyone in for a bit of airbrushing?)
  
• DJ (I know about the ipod CD thing but don't have anyone to man it).
  

Colors for wedding: Pool (David's Bridal version of Tiffany Blue or Turquoise), Black and White
Setting: Sunset wedding outdoors on decking overlooking marsh with white twinkle lights and candles everywhere. Reception semi formal outdoor with same as wedding decor but round tables placed on different decks for seating with candle centerpieces.
Date: I will snap the neck of the next person who asks. Can you tell that is a touchy subject? Honestly the military still hasn't released any information yet so fingers crossed we get something soon. We are figuring on early March.
Guests: 100 from all over
Location: Northeastern Florida

So back to what I need from you. I need information or physical goods/services for this wedding. If you offer goods/services I will trade you for gift certificates to www.GlitzyGallery.com good for Graphic Design or Jewelry.


As for information on how to keep this wedding affordable or a tip that points me in the right direction for the above mentioned items/services will get you an entry into a gift certificate for my shop. Valentine's Day is coming soon so this is the perfect time to have that extra gift certificate waiting.

There is no deadline. Well maybe there is...the week before the wedding. So I will let you know. There is at least 6 weeks so get those ideas in. You can also email me your ideas/photos/links to GlitzyGallery@yahoo.com or Keli@GlitzyGallery.com

Thank you everyone for your support and ideas. I really appreciate it.

Got The Dress...Now What?

Saturday was spent with my mother, my future mother-in-law and my maid of honor. What troopers!

First stop was to a beautiful park on the water. I can't believe it only costs $200 to rent the gazebo and the other park areas all night. There is even a huge beautiful water fountain. My only concern is if we do get this spot that we have to worry about the weather and the wind coming off the water. They don't allow tents with stakes. Maybe duct tape?

Onto a more fun thing...the DRESS! Arrived at David's Bridal to find a million brides and a bunch of stressed out but still nice and accommodating Bridal Consultants. Being the anal, over organized person that I am (got that from my mom...hi mom) I provided my consultant with a list of product codes for dresses that I had looked up the night before. Go me! I ended up getting the total opposite of what I was looking for. Still much more beautiful than ever expected. Not to mention marked down from $800 to now $290. Woohoo go me. Still way more than I would have ever wanted to spend, but my troop and some strange lady in the shop all agreed I should by it. It took a lunch break and two electric lemonades from Chili's to calm the nerves and get the dress.

My mother helped me try on the dresses and to say the least I couldn't do it without her. We were laughing so hard. I walked out with the first one on and didn't know I had to put a slip on. Prior to this experience I didn't know they made them that floofy. So trudging back into the dressing room my mother, the good sport she is, managed to get the oversized, stuffed slip on under my already poofy dress. Next we needed to put my shoes on again and somehow the little nylon sockies you wear...um my dress ate one. We couldn't find it anywhere. After getting a replacement we found it clinging to my dress. Thankgoodness we found the sockie before the wedding.

About 5 dresses later, I think...I kinda lost count after all the sweating, tugging and laughing, I found my perfect dress. I will leave it at that since my fiance may read this. He has already quizzed me and his mother on the dress and all we have to say is, "The dress sure is beautiful for being purple." Hehehe.

The dress being as beautiful as it is, was one of a kind dress so I didn't have much options for sizing. It is my size, however a bit big in the bodice. Now the search for a seamstress is on. With the economy being as poor as it is, most of my options have closed now. Anyone live in North Florida who can sew a dress for an affordable price? Hey, it's worth asking, you never know.

I got a great veil and the slip online on eBay for a 10th of what they would have cost at David's Bridal. The veil they wanted to sell me was more then the dress. Can you believe that?

I would post links to photos, but again my fiance is nosey. He is in Army training right now so I have the entire house to myself to spread out wedding things. Woohoo.

After dragging my hurt feet and my tired group of women around, they agreed so kindly to go to Garden Ridge with me. (Craft, home warehouse store) We found tons of pillar candles for 75% off being Christmas candles, but hey they are white, you can't tell they are Christmas. Then all the bridal stuff was 50% off. So we got the aisle runner, invites, tulle and so much more for next to nothing. Now to figure out what to do with it all.

I will be needing some assistance dear readers on my table centerpieces. My attempt at gluing those glass pebbles to the sides of white pillar candles looked great until I stepped back and realized it looked like it belonged at a little kids birthday party with bubbles. Urg! So readers, please send me ideas or post links on some good table centerpieces involving pillar candles, turquoise and black.

Now onto something I found today. It brought a tear to my eye. OK, an uncontrollable sobbing. I am a military bride and although I have already got my dress I was in search of bridesmaid dresses for affordable prices. There was a link to bridesacrossamerica.com Please take a look at their site and donate what you can. This program gives dresses to brides engaged to an active military person who has been deployed or is going to be deployed. This is a GREAT program. It is already hard enough planning a wedding between training and deployment dates, so having a wedding dress provided is a wonderful thing!

The search for a tiara is now on....who knew weddings involved so many little things.

The Colors Have Been Chosen...That's about it!

Thanks to the deployment it has been next to impossible to do anything related to this wedding.

I am a planner. I love to be organized. And until I have the dates we can have our wedding I can barely do anything. I pity the next person who innocently asks "When is the date?" I may just have to bite their heads off. So sorry in advance.

No really, I can actually get everything ready and pray that our location is not booked when the dates do come around. I will definitely be saving ALL receipts for any purchases.

A new friend of mine has offered to loan me her beautiful wedding dress. I may just take her up on that. After looking at a few of her online photos I think it super funny to have her posed in the backyard in her wedding dress holding an axe. I thought I was the only one with that type of humor. Oh yeah, they also have her holding a chain saw, just in case the axe doesn't work fast or efficiently enough. And then another one with her kissing a large plastic frog. I guess you do have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince.

We have decided on our color to be Turquoise with the normal white and black. Being the creative person I am, I can't wait to get my hands on some white pillar candles and turquoise glass rocks. Craft time at the Murray house. Oh how I miss using a glue gun. This may be my calling.

Oh and to all of you who are considering renting your chairs and tables for an event for 100, well well get ready to pay an arm and a leg. $900 for 100 chairs and 13 round tables. Can't I buy them for that?

I have been doing a bit of my planning around one of my coworkers who has a great sense of humor like myself. By the time I received the quote for the chairs, rental location, cake and caterer I had come to the best conclusion of all....and she calls me tacky. Everyone brings their own chairs, lawn chairs acceptable. Especially the ones with the fold out foot rest. The old time ones that you have to ratchet back and forth to get them to the desired level. Then each guest/family would bring a covered dish for the reception. One problem is most of the guests are coming from out of town. I see that happening one of two ways....way one, food is cold and not to a temperature that would allow people to stay alive after eating or ....way two, I see a lot of supermarket stickers on prepackaged foods. Either way I guess it works with me. And for the cake...a tower of chocolate cake donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Hey this all works for me just fine. Do you think it is tacky?

Due to the quickness of this ceremony and the need to be ready at a moment notice...Saturday will be spent checking out some locations and then darting south to David's Bridal to check out some wedding dresses. And after that, a trip to the local craft store to check out pricing for centerpiece and wedding favor items. Any ideas for affordable wedding favors for 100 guests?

Anyone have a wedding checklist that isn't harder to figure out than a Rubik cube? I would sure appreciate the help.

I hope I haven't bored you as much as my dog. Because at the moment she is snoring. Yes snoring like a fat man with his mouth open. She has no manners.

I'm Getting Married!

This Christmas goes down in history as the best one ever. Not only did I get a Wii Fit I got a Fiance. They are so close, I don't know which one is better. Not really, the Fiance is soooo much better.

My boyfriend, now fiance, decided to show up a day earlier then expected. And on that early day he proposed. So we are now getting married! So excited!!

To add to the wonderful holiday season we went on a cruise to the Bahamas over Christmas. The weather was perfect. Although the stores were all closed in the Bahamas for Christmas, we enjoyed the beach anyways. My fiance enjoyed the bottomless rum drinks more. And we both love our Ship on a Stick trophy we won for the scavenger hunt against the 9 year olds. lol.

After 5 days of being on the cruise boat I am feeling a bit of the rocking motion still. Wonder how long it will take for me to feel like I am off the boat. Also wondering why restaurants are expecting me to pay for my food now. Don't they know that food is free for you when you cruise? Or does that stop when you hit land?

With my fiance being in the military we are planning a wedding in about a month and a half. The last day of our trip was spent making lists and smoothing out the details before my fiance had to go back up to base.

So far we have decided on an outdoor wedding and our colors are Turquoise, Black and white. This wedding is definitely on a budget and short timeline. Two things that generally don't go together.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this process easier and more affordable please comment links and tips. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!