Decorative Mason Jars

Besides all the craziness of wedding planning, I have also decided to tackle many house projects. We will be having people over at our house the day of the wedding and the day after...so I definitely needed to start decorating and changing things up from when we bought the house 2 years ago. My blog will not only be our personal memories and wedding planning...it will start to become a blog about projects that I take on. I have posted in the past about projects I have done...but nothing like what I have been up too lately. Let the fun begin :)

A fellow knottie bride and blog friend had made some super cute decorative mason jars for her wedding & home and I decided I had to have them also. I followed the tutorial she posted on her blog, Love Is...

The only thing I didn't do was wrap them in some burlap. I may in the future, but for right now...they are perfect the way they are in my home!

These seriously took no more than 10 minutes to make.

The super cute table runner was a wedding shower gift from my Grandma. She handmade it and I LOVE IT. For anyone that doesn't know...I am obsessed with Halloween. By far my favorite holiday...if it's considered one.

They are so cute and really go with the theme of my kitchen/dining area. Thank you Andrea for posting your tutorial.

Crunch Time!!!

I went from all of this...

to the countdown being 1...only 1 month until the big day!!!

I have moments of feeling like I am ahead of the game and am content...then I have moments of panic and sheer anxiety. It's weird that I yo-yo like that...but I just keep telling myself everything will work out and be ok.

Since my 2 month post if feel like I have accomplished many things. The checklist is dwindling and I love it :)

- All the men have been measured for their tuxedos.
- 75% done decorating the cupcake stand. Just need to add ribbon.
- I had my hair trail this last Saturday and she did it exactly like the picture. Loved it and can't wait for it to look perfect on the wedding day.
- I spray painted our entry foyer light from gold to a bronzed brown. Looks so much better.
- We bought a new kitchen table. We have the table assembled, now we just need to assemble all the chairs.
- We did buy some furniture for the entry way and I am in the process of painting and distressing it. I will hopefully have a post very soon on that process.
- We finished the final steps of deck staining. I touched up some spots and Tate painted the post tops and glued them on.

Wow...I am proud we got everything done on our list except finishing the cupcake stand.

Some major things I would like to get done in the next week are:
- Put together all 6 chairs for new dining room table.
- Add ribbon or decorate paper to cupcake stand.
- Start printing and assembling programs.
- Finish first piece of distressed furniture I did.
- Meet with priest and finalize ceremony details.
- Pick up chair covers for reception.
- Send out rehearsal dinner invites.
- Send out thank you cards from the shower my Aunt's just had for me :)

It's definitely crunch time...for work and wedding!!!  Let the craziness begin :)

Mr. and Mrs. Fordham

On 9.10.11, my best friend became a wife and I had the honor of being her maid of honor. I felt so special and I feel so blessed to have her as my very best friend.

She got married in Rochester at the May.o Stone.Wood Barns. 2 words to describe it are, beautiful and vintage. It is such a gorgeous place to get married. You will see in the pictures below.

The day couldn't have been better in terms of weather. She got married outside under a very large oak tree.

Once again, Amanda's aunt was in attendance and shot some gorgeous pictures. Amanda did hire a photographer to shoot her wedding, but it was nice to see pictures the next day on FB from what her aunt shot. These pictures I am going to post are courtesy of Shelby Leigh Photography.

Here are the barns all decorated for Amanda's big day...

The lanterns she had down the walkway from where you parked your cars to wear you go for the ceremony and the reception & the jars with the flowers were on the sides of the aisle
 
























The centerpieces

Now let's get to the good photos of the actual day and the important people in my life that became husband and wife!!!

Chris waiting with Rylee for his bride

Kissing his bride
























Officially husband and wife :)

It's like the royal couple!!!
























So perfect for each other

















First dance and favorite photo!

















Dancing with her Dad...so precious!!!
























Let the party begin!!!!

















My dance off with Amanda's little bonus brother, Cody! So much fun...love this photo.

















It truly was a great and magical day. I am so happy for my best friend that she found the man of her dreams and now they are officially husband and wife. I can't wait for all the memories we get to make together. Love them so much and wish them nothing but a lifetime of happiness and laughter!!!

xoxo,

The GREAT MN get together!!

The MN state fair is something that is always talked about when summer is nearing an end.  I personally never went to the state fair growing up. I am sure because it would have been a long haul for my parents with four children and it is super packed there.

Tate and I went a couple years ago, but didn't really think anything of it.  We had fun and checked out some things...but we really didn't get what the excitement was. This year we decided we should go with some veteran state fair goers and experience it their way.  Our good friends, Mike and Natalie both grew up in the Twin Cities area, so they have been going to the state fair for many years.  Mike was so excited...it was all he could talk about since the beginning of August. So off we went on labor day weekend, to spend an afternoon at the fair.

Natalie and I enjoying the fair
























We decided to be like little kids and go on some rides.

Some things that we learned were (from Nat & Mike and from our own experience):
- Eat whatever you want.  Don't worry about calorie intake, grease or fat content...just eat it.
- To be able to try many different things...share food.
- Get ready to spend a boat load of money.  To park, get in, rides and food (+ beer_...you will spend a good $100.
- Go with friends.  It makes the experience more enjoyable...especially friends that know where to go and what to do.
- Don't go into the birthing center before you eat...because you will no longer have an appetite after seeing what goes on in there.

I finally got to try 'Swe.et Mar.tha' cookies....soooo yummy!!!!
























We spent a lot of time @ the Leinie Lodge.  We all love our Leinie beer :)  We met Jake Leinenkugel, who currently runs the business and brewery.  It was really cool to talk with him and have a beer with him.



















We had a really great time and will probably go again.  I am not sure if we will go every year...but I definitely think it something to experience.  If anything...it's great people watching :)

Bachelorette Party Fun!!!!

Amanda and I had our joint bachelorette party this weekend and it was so much fun!!! We were so blessed to have all our closet family and friends in attendance for a day in the sun on the St. Croix River and then a fun dinner and night of celebration.

We had a great photographer to capture all the memories.  Amanda's aunt has her own photography business...so props to Shelby Leigh Photography for the great photos!!!!

Celebrating a very special day with my bestie...
























Love my friends and sister that attended!!!

Perfect weather :)

















We got pulled over because some of the girls were sitting on the back of the boat...they were super nice and we only received a warning!!

















The whole gang...we are so blessed!!!

















The on to a night of fun with everyone...here we are with my momma :)
























We are very grateful and appreciative of all the gifts we received...

















It was so much fun and I am glad everything went smoothly and the weather was BEAUTIFUL!!!  I wouldn't want to have spent my bach party any other way.  Thank you Amanda for sharing your special day with me...BESTIES FOR LIFE :)

XOXO!!

2 months...

It is less than 2 months until Tate and I become husband and wife :)  I am so excited for this day to FINALLY arrive.  I am feeling more and more ready. Wedding items that we have finished that were on the 3 month post are:

- Invitations have been sent!!!  Can't wait to start getting the RSVP's in the mail!!!
- Flower girl dress is ordered and I already received it...I love it
- Readings and songs have been finalized...but we need the priest to approve them and we don't meet with him until Sept 25th, fingers crossed that they are ok.

flower girl dress that lil' miss Rylee Jane is going to look so adorable in!!!


















Non wedding items that we finished are:

- bought and but on all kitchen cabinet handles
- bought and have only about 4 door hinges to put on
- stained the deck

What still needs to be done for wedding and non wedding are:

- programs all ready so that once the priest approves...print and assembly is all that is needed.
- get all the men to tux place to get measured
- decorate cupcake stand
- hair trial
- spray paint entry foyer light
- buy new kitchen table
- buy furniture for entry way
- Re-stain the post tops for the deck and glue them on

I am sure there is more that I can't think of right now.  It's get so close...I just want to be able to relax and have everything done a good 2 weeks before the wedding!!!  We will see :)

Rylee Jane turns 1

Our Godchild has turned 1 and I can't believe how fast the year went!!!

We had a wonderful time this past weekend in my hometown for a few celebrations.  I attended my bestie's wedding shower (only a couple weeks away from the big day) and then a big celebration for Rylee turning 1.

a very happy baby...

too cute for words...

























Birthday fun!

2 of my favorite loves...

























Gift opening

Cake...& she is lovin' it!!!

























Cute lil' family :)