Climbing out of the valley

So as of my last post, I was feeling pretty crummy. My amazing Puma has been so supportive: prayer, encouragement, listening ear and willing shoulder to cry on, constant support, even silence when necessary and harsh truth when called for. I honestly don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing man.

Updates!

The Tiger roommate and I created my bodyform the other week. Oh. My. Gravy. That was hilarious. One old shirt, two rolls of duct tape, and a wire hanger later. She rocks.

Mock vest is done and adjusted to fit Puma perfectly. The final vest has been cut and is being pieces together. I am so flipping excited, the colors are amazing.

Trying to get meeting dates scheduled with the coordinator.

Decision made about apartment and paperwork started.

Bridal shower went off smoothly. I'll get more in to that later.

Thanks for checking in.

~Lion

And the depression kicks in

So, just over three months out and the depression kicks in. We finished all the invitations and dropped them off at the Post Office Sunday night. I totally did not consider that the invitation was too large or was over an ounce. The lot got sent back, some of them with postage due stamps. That was the straw that broke my back.

I had already been battling feeling down from the time we started our guest list. My idea of the perfect wedding? Only close friends and family that we see and encounter in our daily lives. Well, that didn't last long. The list doubled in size as we added on people who we were asked to. Extended family, people I have never heard of before, once-was-friends and aquaintances who heard it through the grapevine and informed us how much they were looking forward to invitations... I fight crying over that fact every few days. I try to let it go and be reassured that even though I will be uncomfortable, my guests will be having a blast playing catch-up and hitting on their barly-known dates. Some days I want to say forget it all and do one of two things- give the ring back (that only lasts for a second) or elope. Unfortunately both of those options are out. My mother would never forgive me and neither will my future MIL.

Then the bridal party. Sigh. We tried to be lax in dress code, giving a fee rules and lettinf them find what was comfortable. Now it's just getting costumey with one of the maids wanting fairesque makeup. I'm doing my best to be polite and diplomatic, but inside I am screaming. To top that off? One of the maids was selected basically for family politic reasons.

Also, we are three months out and I still havent gotten any solid answers from the church other than the date being confirmed.

And then! I keep getting the push from other people on how I should be doing things. How to decorate, what to do with the cake, etc.

But yeah, the envelopes today and as I was trying to ask for clarification but was repeatedly being talked over finally broke me. Today was supposed to be a day off of work loaded with fun DIY projects. I'm curled up in bed having a pity party instead. Anybody needs me just look for the buried, sobbing mess clutching her stuffed lion.

~Lion

Invitations!

So, today was a really good day.

This morning Puma and I worked tech for the church service. We personally love it.  It will be the last time we will get to work on the team together at the same time. At the end of the month, Puma will be stepping down from his paid position as Video and Audio tech for the church.  I am just a volunteer.  We may work together again as volunteers, but the likely-hood is less now.

After church was noms, and working on the documents for our invitations.  Then...to the print shop!

It took an hour or two to have all the pages printed up, and then using their paper cutters (which were so amazing) to trim everything down.  Everything nice and smooth, even, no fluffies or areas to sand.

Combined it was 20 pages color printed for the maps with three on each page, 30 for the invite with two on each page, reply cards were four a page for a total of 15 pages (and the machine was being weird, we had to get an employee...more on that later), and then 8 pages for the SteamPunk description, with eight on each page.  A total of 73 pages printed on cardstock. We bought a package of cardstock from Wal-Mart for about six bucks, and the printing color and black & white took $17.10.  With all the other bits and pieces to put on (scrapbook paper, gears and buttons, ribbons, stamps) we're looking at spending no more than $100 on the invitations. That's below budget!

Now before you go all bug-eyed, let me say we are creating 60 invites, and in the cost I am including postage for sending them out -and- prestamping the envelops for the reply cards. Double postage. So...we're doing pretty awesome.

Leave us some comments and words of encouragement. The more we know people are reading, the more we shall post.  With pictures even.

~Lion

Hiatus Update

So, for anyone who may be checking in here (if there is anyone), you have noticed we have not updated in two months.  We apologize for that.  The Lion maintains the blog, and work had gotten crazy. And now currently Lion is without a job, so prep and job hunting  are my current goals since I no longer have to prep for a classroom.

We have completed the garters, the teal flowers, and our SendOffs.  So cute! And the molds came in for the gears, etc. So excited!

I love Etsy

Another thing we are doing ourselves is the cake.  Well, cupcakes. One thing we agreed on was we wanted details on the cupcakes. Gears, pearls, antique buttons, clock work, dragonflies, etc. Not exactly the type of thing one can free form. 

Behold, Etsy.

I searched and searched, unhappy with the selection, until I came across MoldMuse. Beautiful detail. Just the right size for chocolate molds. I just ordered eight different food safe molds, just under $50.

Okay, say it with me now: YAIY!

But seriously, check out this beautiful gear. Is it not gorgeous? 

I cannot wait until these molds come in. Look forward to a new post when they do ^_^

Weekend Work

We are now in our longest and biggest project: the satin and chiffon flowers. The lighter teal blue is all cut and singed, now just forming the flowers. While I am forming the flowers, my Puma is working on sizing, cutting, and burning the edges of the dark blue fabric.  We also have ivory and a champagne blush to go. Look forward to so pic heavy posts coming up of these. I am very proud of the flowers. They are so pretty!

:-/

I am beginning to see why some women go Bridezilla.