August 27, 2012

The final 30 days!!

I can't believe my 999 days is coming to an end!

I started this as a New Years resolution January 1st, 2010. A countdown to September 27, 2012 giving me 999 days to complete 99 goals. (The List). 

There have been some wonderful memories created by crossing things off this list. Here's a few of my favorites:

1. Inspire someone to create a 99 in 999 list of their own (count is up to 8 people!)
6. Complete a sprint triathlon (I've done three!!)
8. Adopt a doberman
15. Go white water rafting
19. Watch all 6 seasons of Lost (6/6) 
50. Publish a book (my cookbook raised $1,200 for LLS!)
51. Make the Dean's/President's list each semester of grad school (8/8)
90. Learn American Sign Language
95. Participate in the Cooper River Bridge Run (three times with Stephen!)

I didn't realize it until now...but these 8 goals have actually changed my life in HUGE ways!
It felt so awesome each time someone sent me a message saying they had been inspired and were in the process of creating a 99 list of their own. It's been especially exciting watching those of you who have kept up with it and update more than I do (*ahem* I'm talking to you Esther and Katie)!

Adopting a doberman was one of the best things I've ever done. Mika is the best dog!! Seriously, she is. She has so much personality, so quirky, and she's so well behaved. She learns boundaries really quickly and knows where she can and can't go within minutes of being in a new place, where alot of dogs would start running and just keep running! She has never..not even once..chewed on anything but her toys. I'm willing to bet, this time next year, she'll be able to be a "free range dobie" and walk without a leash to the park. (Not that we would..but she could do it!) She is so so smart and learns very quickly - but that's something I knew about dobermans and one of the main reasons I've always wanted one. Besides the fact that they are great guard dogs. I'm convinced our house would've been broken into by now had she not been here with us. Every day is better when she's around :-) 

Speaking of things being better when someone's around...alot of these goals would not have been crossed off without Stephen. He's been my partner in all of this (and we got our start by watching all those seasons of Lost together)! He's participated in 10k's, 5k's, and triathlons with me. Things I'd never once done before he came into my life. He took me to Colorado, brought me hiking, white water rafting, canoeing, introduced me to a new sport (disc golf - of which I can say I'm not too terrible at). He helped me create my cookbook, which helped me raise $1,200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He motivates me, pushes me, and encourages me. He's amazing.

And that's why..after the 999 days is over in September and we get back from our honeymoon in December and the dust from holidays settles, our New Years resolution for 2013 will be to start another 99 list as a couple!! But because there were many things I didn't get to on my "bucketlist" because I am master of procrastination, shortening the amount of days we have to complete it sounded like a good idea. So instead of having almost 1,000 days to countdown, we're cutting that number in half. 500 days. That's it.



So here's where you come in! We've already started our list of 99 goals / things we'd like to do as a couple...but we need your help! 

Give us your suggestions -- we're all ears :-)


August 23, 2012

The final 100 days

We are down to the final 100 day countdown til I am Mrs. Feetham!!

Wedding planning has been SO. MUCH. FUN! Each part of it has made me say, "I should've gone into the wedding planning business" or  "I wish I worked at a bridal store so I could help other girls find their dress!" or "I wish I were a graphic designer." Of course in reality, I wouldn't want to do any of those things for a living... but it certainly is fun doing them on the side!

I know I haven't updated on my wedding plans much, mostly because I still want the element of surprise on our wedding day.  I don't want to spill too many details or post too many pictures, but I WILL offer my checklist (snagged from Megan at Fried Green Pickles)...and give an idea of just how much thought we've put into our big day and how many things we've already checked off the to-do list:


Set a date
Book venue
Book Rehearsal Dinner venue
Book photographer
Reserve hotel room block
Book musicians (ceremony & reception)
Ask bridal party to be in the wedding
Book caterer
Create wedding website - www.wix.com/thefeethams/ourwedding
Register
Book florist
Shop for wedding dress
Book officiant
Wedding shoes!!!
Take engagement pictures
Design / Print / Send out save-the-dates
Select & order bridesmaid dresses
Select & order grooms(men) tuxes
Design layout for reception
Find veil
Book cake baker
Hire day-of-coordinator
Find or purchase cake knife and server
Find or purchase toasting glasses for bride & groom
Order guest book
Design / Order / Print invitations
Find a calligrapher or send envelopes to Auntie Mimi!
Engagement announcement in Post & Courier and Goose Creek Gazette
Find MOB & MOG dress
Choose wedding jewelry
Find a garter - thanks Morgan!!
Book makeup artist
Book hair stylist
Bridal portraits / Hair & Makeup trial run - scheduled for October 12
1st dress fitting - August 9
2nd (and hopefully final) dress fitting - September 27
Make junior bridesmaid kissing ball
Lingerie shower - August 17
Make map flowers for cake
Find the perfect cake topper
Design & Construct indoor centerpieces
Design & Construct outdoor centerpieces
Choose flowers at Charleston Flower Market for BM,toss bouquet, & outdoor centerpieces
Flower girl dresses
Flower girl baskets
Ring bearer suit
Monogram shower - September 22
Design & Construct cork installation (? may or may not do)
Order Bridesmaid gifts
Order Groomsmen gifts
Buy flower vases for the cake table
Mail invitations - first of October
Buy rehearsal dinner dress
Suit for Stephen at rehearsal dinner
Bachelorette party!! - October 13
Purchase Stephen's wedding band
My wedding band!
Couple's shower - tentative in November
Create wedding day timeline
Decide on Signature cocktails
DIY aisle markers
DIY Groomsmen bouts with excess BM dress material
Design & Print Wedding programs
Get marriage license
Final music selections to DJ & ceremony musicians
Book honeymoon!!
Book wedding day transportation
Final vendor payments (venue, caterer, photographer, DJ, officiant, D-o-C, and ceremony musicians)
Getaway dress?
Book wedding night hotel room
Order thank you notes
Wedding announcement in Post & Courier and Goose Creek Gazette
Walk down the aisle & say I do!




whew. Can we get married already?!?

August 10, 2012

Wedding updates!

1. Bridesmaids dresses came in!!!

I am so excited about these dresses (almost as excited about my own dress. ...Ok not quite. But excitement level is through the roof)!  I have always loved the look of silk chiffon BM dresses. And when I hear silk chiffon, 2 designers pop into my head. 


I did some online scouring trying to find a company that could sell these designers at a lower price than the local bridal boutiques.  I found one, Toast Bridal, that didn't sound sketchy, didn't ship from China, and carried my beloved Bari Jay dresses for more than $50 less than local bridal stores. 
The reviews were hit and miss, but many of the bad reviews came from those who'd shopped in store. I decided to have some faith, take the risk, and order all 5 dresses together (1. so they would all be cut from the same dye lot and 2. so we would only have to pay 1 shipping price)
So glad I went with Toast Bridal. The dresses are PERFECT!! And shipped 3 weeks before I expected.
No girl is the same shape (duh), and some styles look better on particular bodies, so each of my girls are in a different dress that accentuates their best features and compliments each gal so beautifully! My bridesmaids are all already so pretty ;-)
Y'all. I am going to have the best dressed bridal party. Ever.


2. Bouts & Flowers

Very ready to tackle my next DIY project. The groomsmen bouts. 

When thinking of the guys' flowers, I thought about how much I love the wedding color (google bari jay misty blue and you'll see what I mean) and knew I wanted to closely match this color with the boutonnieres. Then I thought...if I want to match the bridesmaids dresses, USE the bridesmaids dresses!

The extra material cut from the bottom of each of the bridesmaid dress will be cut and used to make fabric flowers for the groomsmen's bouts...kinda like this:
But with a few little added details like a "stem" and leaves,
(made with patterened scrapbook paper accenting the misty blue color)
And a little lace accents as well as french netting. 

If I have any leftover material, mom and I will make shoe clips for my "something blue" - if not, I guess it'll be my garter!

Other flower plans: I have a florist to make my own bouquet as well as the mothers and grandmothers corsages. The plan is to get flowers from Charleston Flower Market and DIY the bridesmaids bouquets when everyone is together the day (or day before that) before the wedding. The junior bridesmaid flower will be a kissing ball: 
Currently in the process of making one with crepe paper flowers...almost done!



3. Formal Invites
Design is complete!! As big as my love affair with cotton paper and letterpress invites with custom calligraphy are, I just can't justify spending over $400 on invitations. After months of designing, edits, and proofing, we've finalized the design and the paper/envelopes/pocketfolds/cardstock is all ordered and it's ready to go to the printers!

If only I could learn how to write with some sort of consistancy :-(
I've tried. I have to fold. 
Calligraphy is just something I can not do. 

Know anyone who doesn't write like a 10 year old? And won't mind addressing a few envelopes for me??Send them my way!


4. 1st Dress Fitting
Last but not least, I had my first dress fitting!!
I have gone through a roller coaster of emotion the past 36 hours.
Anxious, excited, nervous. Now very nervous.

So much has to be done to the dress, and the seamstress (bless her) traveled all the way from Yemassee to do a house call and come to mom's house yesterday for the 1st fitting. I'd not met her before but she was highly recommended, she is charging about half the price (hello!!) as the average seamstress for alterations, and she didn't charge for travel. Seems too good to be true, right? It broke my heart to watch her leave my house with my dress, and September 22nd CAN NOT come soon enough. I can't wait to see my dress again...and have it *hopefully* fit perfectly so it won't need to leave again before my Bridal portraits in October. Cross your fingers (and your toes, people)!!