Wednesday Weddings: Invites (a closer look)

Hux in my wedding box a few weeks ago. There's no room in it for him now!

Since our invitations went out last week, and I've already started getting RSVP cards in the mail, I thought I'd share a closer look at our invitations! They're from Wedding Paper Divas.

I found these online and thought they were perfect, as I knew I wanted to include mason jars and striped straws at the wedding. I originally wanted to customize the invite so one straw could be green, the other the raspberry color (of the heart), but the image is all together so they couldn't make that happen. I tried a couple different color variations after that, but I really like the simple raspberry heart I decided on. 

Once my Sarah and Kyle mason jar stamp arrived in the mail (stamped on the back of the envelopes), I got a little stamp crazy, and picked up a couple more at Michaels. I stamped a simple Thank You on the RSVP card envelope, just a little thanks the guests would see when sealing up the RSVP. 

For the RSVP card, I changed it last minute right before finalizing the order. I wanted to make it more clear exactly who would be attending, so I made sure to separate their name, their guest's name, and if they were attending or not. 

Since we're already married, I wanted it to be clear that we weren't ignoring that and pretending everything is the same as with  a typical wedding. I think I made it pretty clear with our save the dates (which say: "Kyle and Sarah McPherson are already married. Now it's time to celebrate!"), though they didn't go out to everyone (mostly people that would have to travel). I had to tweak the wording a bit, and had to come up with how our names should be presented. Typically you'd see first and last name of the couple, but as we already share the same last name, it'd look pretty weird to see "Sarah McPherson and Kyle McPherson..." So I came up with using our first and middle names, which makes it both a bit formal and avoids the odd repetition. 

I'm particularly proud of my simple solution to sharing registry information. At Home Depot they have these perfectly sized rounded square color samples, and my brain just put it together to glue a little slip of info to one and include it with each invitation. That way, it's not just a slip of paper that would easily get lost. And using paint samples is very "me," you know! ;)

Hello April

What's happening this month?

Two months until the wedding! My dress arrived back at home in PA, so I'll have to figure out a time to go up for a fitting. I can't wait to see it! Other wedding things: skyping with our photographer Jana to discuss plans, finding accessories, getting the guys in the loop, planning the day and the week leading up to Friday, planning hair & makeup, figuring out more logistics for the ceremony! Probably some other stuff, too. Two months!

Kyle and I started dating in April 2008; this year the 16th marks four years together! and 4-5 years of friendship before that. It's not a huge deal, especially now that we have a marriage anniversary to celebrate, but I like to make note of it every year. :) 

Easter. I have honestly been asking if it is Easter yet for the last three weeks, as I have no idea when it actually is and some kids down the street were definitely hunting for eggs in their front yard so they confused me. I guess it shows how big a deal Easter is for me...Time to ask Kyle a bunch of questions about Jesus and not really get it.

Bones is back! Today actually. Do I watch Bones or The Voice? Tricky...

Filling out papers for my first field internship starting this fall at Baylor! The first year is more generalist practice, and second is specific to what area of social work you want to go into. I'm likely heading towards physical/mental health, particularly with kids and/or military families. 

My big sister (sewer) is 25 tomorrow! A whole quarter century. She lives in Doha, Qatar, but I'll see her in June for wedding times! 

I'm going to make these, baked oatmeal.

Blog things: participating in a mug swap and a favorite things swap, and find me sometime this month at About Fais and Knowing Ketrin! 

New photo a day challenge! Follow along on twitter or instagram @mrssmcp, if you like. I didn't take a picture for yesterday, so I was behind but caught up today (oops). I'll post the last pictures from March soon.

my first photo from April!

image via Studio DIY

The End of March

I can't believe it is April now! Time flies...

blueberry muffins

McQueen silk scarf husband ordered for me (for motorcycling, eventually)

cute

Finnish inspired meal

sending out wedding invites! It takes 4 stamps to get to Australia & Europe.

Hux sleeping

shoes!

D by the window

finished The Hunger Games

H somehow found his way into the blanket

El Chico!

cute little extras and Thank You note from a wedding order

gin & tonic; maybe my new drink

Home Depot wall o' screws

kittens outside

lunch in the backyard

for the wedding! :)

workout ready

snail on a tree

putting up the hammock

I hope you had a great week!

Hammock Weekend

The Weekend.

Kyle only had to go in to work briefly on Friday afternoon (and in civilian clothes), so I went along and we went to lunch at El Chico and to see The Hunger Games! :) I hadn't planned on seeing the movie for a while, after the hype died down and it would be less busy, but I wanted to take advantage of the timing- a 2pm show on a weekday, when kids would be in school and the theater was bound to be relatively empty. My plan worked! 

Some wedding things- finally getting Kyle measured and looking at some outfit options for him, and the arrival of some more little details! I found out my dress has also arrived back in PA, so I'll have to plan a trip back up for a fitting! Invitations have been arriving at their destinations, and it makes me really happy to hear that people got them and think they're nice.

We played outside with the kittens and Kyle put up his hammock. 

Kyle got all the parts for fixing his motorcycle, and fixed it! And I started to reread The Hunger Games while cooking in the heat and getting a couple shades darker outside. Because even though I just finished the series, I'm not ready for it to be over.

Kyle is out visiting an Army buddy, and I just finished a workout. 

pre-workout, obv.

Tomorrow is: laundry, groceries, taxes. Maybe more time in the sun. Filling out papers. Dreaming of wedding times ahead! Getting mug swap things ready to send off! OH and watching the Pens game!

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm linking up with one of my new blogging friends I've found, Sar at Life of Love. She's a PhD student at Baylor!

{First} The Hunger Games. It has to be the Hunger Games. Books 2 and 3 arrived yesterday late afternoon, and I finished book 2 this morning. Cryptic Spoiler Alert: I totally guessed at the end of book 1 that she would return. /End Alert. But anyway. Last night I was telling Kyle all about the books as he was trying to fall asleep, and somehow I managed to eventually fall asleep without getting up to read through the night! Oh these books. Oh Peeta. On to number 3.

{Second} I now have a Bear ID and Baylor email address! And an adviser and papers to fill out to find me my first field internship. Exciting stuff! I also have to either take a biology class before classes start, or teach myself from the textbook and pass a test, as I'm required to have a bio credit before starting school. I'm ok with it, because I like biology, and I have little else to do. As for when school starts: I have two orientations August 7th and 8th, then there's a pre-class Intro to Social Work class from August 9-15th, and then classes and internships begin the 20th! 

{Third} I realized I am a bit bitter about the motorcycle, because when it comes down to it, the motorcycle is the reason I'm stuck at home all day as Kyle needs the car for work (first it was that Kyle didn't know how to ride the bike, then he had to get used to riding it before taking it all the way to work, then there is bad weather so he takes the car, then he has a minor crash on the bike and can't ride it. How this is a practical and reliable form of transportation I do not know.). I try to appreciate having lots of free time, but it goes against my nature, and is especially wearing after a few months of not leaving the house at all during the week. Before I moved down to TX I had two jobs and often worked for 10-12 hours a day, so the complete opposite doesn't sit so well with me. I'm glad and grateful that Kyle supports us, getting up by 4am everyday and working until 5pm, but my contribution of making dinner and keeping the house clean doesn't feel like enough. Perhaps I should start some in-home business? Sarah Makes Things with Paint Samples? Perhaps take up extreme couponing? Teach the cats to do tricks?

{Fourth} The wedding is in just about two months. A bunch of "what if"s are creeping into my head. What if it looks bad? What if things don't happen in time? What if nobody comes? What if it sucks? What if I look bad in all the pictures? At least ours is on a Friday, so there won't be an event during the week before ours, giving us lots of time to set things up. In typical Sarah fashion, I will try to advance-plan away any potential problems that may arise. Invitations went out Monday, so I'm excited to start getting rsvp cards back in the mail!

{Fifth} Peanut butter multi-grain cheerios. They're so good!

via

{Sixth} My new Vibrams arrived on Wednesday (hooray!). I ordered them in the same size as my old pair, which always fit well with a little room even, but this pair mostly fit well, except my big toes were poking into the fabric too much for comfort (boo). So I ordered a size up and will return the others. I briefly tested out their grip though, and they work wonderfully! I can't wait to start using them, especially since I've had to stop using weights as it was giving me intense neck/head pain, and I'm focusing on more cardio instead.  

{Seventh} It is almost April. Sisters birthday, new photo a day challenge, 4 years together with Kyle, 2 months to wedding, Bones returns, new Mraz cd.

{Eighth} There are Merimekko (Finnish design) converse! Hooray Finland!

Gotta go read! Toodles!

Wednesday Wedding: My Shoes

Last Wednesday was a major breakthrough in wedding planning. Yes, I found my shoes! As you may or may not know, I have an aversion to wearing super high heeled shoes (that, from what I gather, many brides must not have because then how does anyone ever get married), so I've been looking for months for pretty, glamorous shoes that I love that aren't higher than maybe 2 inches (tops) and will go with my dress, our colors, etc. This is not easy to do! I've had several "eh, maybe"s, but none to make me say "yes. I must have these." I think the top runner previously was this pair in fuchsia. But last week, I found the perfect pair, Imani from Kate Spade. Well, at first I thought they were amazing and perfect, but wasn't sure if I should go for a half flip-flop sandal. But then I remembered it will be June (and I'd probably switch to flip flops after the ceremony anyways), and it's my wedding, and they are so, so pretty and perfect. I mean, look, (faux) pearls! You know how I feel about pearls. And the gold. And bling. They will be so comfortable! And hidden under my dress, anyway...

I was going to put up some pictures from the shop online, but they arrived quicker than I thought! And the packaging was pretty, so I took pictures of that too.

These are definitely my shoes. Look for them peeking out from under my dress on June 15th. :)

Other good news, I got the invitations sent out on Monday! Good thing I ordered extra stamps- it takes 4 to get to Australia/Europe, and 3 to Canada!

Also, the lovely Joelle at Something Charming wrote a post with ideas for vow renewals, in response to my question! Thanks, Joelle!