1 month to go!

Christmas: 10 days

Wedding: 1 month

This week has been an interesting one already. For starters, my boss quit, after 3 months of maternity leave. I'll be interested to see how things develop over the next few months at work. The only guarantee is that it will be busy. I have a lot to do in the next 3 weeks to prep for Christmas 2010 sales meetings to be able to leave for the wedding confident that things won't fall apart. I guess it's a strange blessing in disguise that I won't be traveling home for the holiday and will have the opportunity to get a lot of work done while most people take year-end vacation days.

We had an adventure last week applying for our marriage license. We thought we were screwed at one point because the town clerk's office we went to on Tuesday was closed for the special election for the MA Senate seat. Luckily the next town over was not closed - that was after standing in the town selectman's office bawling my eyes out thinking we were screwed. I had taken my last 2 vacation days and Sean's limited days off to travel for this marriage license. The next time we'll both be up is 2 days before the wedding. But we were successful in the end, and that's all that matters.

We had a whole weekend of partying and socializing, and I am looking forward to a peaceful next 10 days.

Just checking in!

I created a badge for World Aids Day 2009 for anyone who'd like to add it to their sidebar, Facebook page, Twitter, etc. Share the message, Respect & Protect!

Life has been bustling along, so I apologize for the sparseness of posts. We had an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving, I had a very nice visit at home with family and friends, and holiday happenings are starting up as of tonight. I am looking forward to this month. We're in a good place with the wedding planning, just waiting for the rest of the RSVPs to come in, and then it's just finalizing and paying up! So I am looking forward to Advent celebrations at church, our Tacky Sweater Christmas Party, watching lots of corny Christmas specials with a mug of hot cocoa, and spending Christmas for the first time away from my family. Since Sean has to work we will both stay down here and have the holiday together. As much as it makes me a bit sad to not be going home and waking up Christmas morning at my parents house, we're moving into a new phase of our life together and he is my family now. It's important to start our own traditions together now!

We got rained out of getting our Christmas tree last night, so we'll be getting it next week instead. I can't wait to have that beautiful glowing, divine smelling thing hanging out in the corner of my living room. It makes the house seem so warm in the coldest of cold months.

I wish you all a blessed December. Stay warm, stay cheerful, and keep in mind those who go without many of life's necessities, those who are ill, those seeking jobs...It's a tough time for many. Let's not take our blessings for granted.

Clay and Water

Last night I realized that I have something going on every weekend until the wedding. On top of that, working 40 hours a week, other commitments through church, babysitting and trying to do some of my own work in the evenings, life seems to be going in fast forward. It's so important to me to not take days for granted. It's easy to wish away the week in anticipation of the weekend.

Life doesn't stop though. It doesn't even pause. It's up to me to catch my breath and allow myself to change and move with what goes on around me. I have a lot of changes happening in my life and while it seems overwhelming, natural progression can be a beautiful thing. I feel like the people who fight change and always want things to stay the same are the ones who end up disappointed.

There's a song that I always turn to when I start feeling like life is going through a bit of a loop-dee-loop. It's called "Clay and Water" by Margaret Becker...

I'm back!

I had a whole post written about recent wedding accomplishments, and couldn't bring myself to post, because frankly, it's not all that exciting unless you are me or my mother. So here's a fun video that Sean sent me yesterday morning to bring some cheer to my week:

Creative Endeavors

I recently began some freelance design work, a very enjoyable collaboration with a new friend, "Miss Rosy". She came to me with the idea for a couple wedding-related blogs, as she's a newlywed (she had a gorgeous Martha's Vineyard wedding last October) and has valuable tips for the bride-to-be and young newlywed. She has begun featuring Boston area weddings at Rosy Love, as well as the project she has enlisted my creative work for, The Rosy Report.

The Rosy Report takes more of a "dish" angle, with fun pop colors and a whole lotta attitude. I have been having a lot of fun contributing to various posts with my illustration, as it has given me a chance to work a creative outlet that I don't normally get to explore in my day to day work. And given the frequency of blog posts, it has given me a challenge to really make the time for myself to illustrate, as well as build my personal portfolio.

I encourage you to take a look. Even if "wedding dish" isn't your thing, it's fun to see what creative things Boston brides are doing (check out this Halloween wedding - I saw some pro-pictures from this past wedding, this girl worked her BUTT off and it was a beautiful wedding!).

Chicken Soup for the Kickass Soul

Tonight I was on my own for dinner, and wanted to try to use some leftovers to create something tasty. Fortunately, I had half a leftover baked chicken breast and some veggies. I didn't expect any other than a hearty chicken soup, but this stuff has a bit of a punch to it, and I am going to toot my own horn here...this might be the best chicken soup I've ever tasted. It didn't even occur to me to take a picture until I was halfway done eating - oops! Hopefully I can recreate it!

This recipe is for one serving, multiply as needed! Also, I apologize for my poor measurement specifications. I don't usually whip out the spoons and cups unless I'm baking. I also don't include nutrition facts because you can usually tell if something's going to be on the leaner or meaner side of things.

Kickass Chicken Soup

3 tbsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
3 ribs of celery, chopped
2 large carrot, chopped
1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms
1/2 chicken breast (pre-cooked), cut into small pieces
2 cups of gluten free, low fat chicken broth
sea salt and pepper to taste (I use about 5 twists to the grinder on each)
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 dashes of sage
1 dash of cumin
2 dashes of ground paprika
1 dash of ground cayenne pepper

Directions: In a deep frying pan, melt butter over low heat. Add onion, celery, carrots and mushroom, season with salt and pepper, and saute until soft. Add chicken broth, chicken and other herbs and spices. Stir and then let simmer over medium heat for 35-40 minutes. Serve hot.

The little touch of cayenne gives this soup a kick like none other you've tasted, I promise. It's so good for a cold night, it's chock full of vegetables and protein, and it really tastes flavorful and satisfying. I am a soup person at heart (nothing makes me happier than a big bowl of clam chowder, any day of the year), so I was very surprised by the crazy delicious flavors making their way from my bowl to my mouth. I wish I had made more than one serving so I could bring more for lunch tomorrow!

This could easily be made as a crock pot stew, add a little rice to bulk it up, and you'll have a great, hearty fall meal to serve your family. Or to, you know, horde to yourself. I don't judge.

Toasted Rosemary Focaccia Bread with Bruchetta

I am currently working my way through Bethenny Frankel's book, Naturally Thin, and among many of the tips she has, one of the greatest so far is choosing quality over quantity. In other words, why would you subject yourself to 2 or 3 cups of unsatisfying coffee made with skim milk and artificial sweetener when you can sip and really enjoy one cup of coffee with a dash of whole milk and a teaspoon of real sugar? Many of her points have been hitting home as I read and think about my own dietary choices that I know I frequently make (or give in to). So I am finding ways to enjoy my food, become a pickier eater, and in turn choose quality over quantity.

Today I made a very simple afternoon snack that was filling, satisfied my taste buds and satiated my desire for something crunchy and delicious. I have realized recently that I am more of a salty/savory person than a sweets person, so it's important for me to find healthy and delicious ways to satisfy those cravings without breaking out a bag of chips with salsa.


Toasted Rosemary Focaccia Bread with Bruchetta

1/5 loaf of Trader Joe's Rosemary Focaccia, cut in half

Olive oil (I use EVOO spray)

2 heaping teaspoons of Trader Joe's Bruchetta

You can use a toaster oven, or I use my conventional oven (preheated to 350) so as to not cross contaminate Sean's gluten-free toaster.

Lightly spray a coating of olive oil onto slices of bread. Place on a baking sheet and toast in oven for about 10 minutes until crunchy. Spoon bruchetta onto pieces of bread and enjoy warm!

Dinner Option: Top it off with a couple fresh basil leaves and shredded mozzarella. You'll have two healthy slices of pizza that won't leave you hungry or unsatisfied!


The bread is so crunchy and the combination of flavors between the bread and bruchetta is absolutely delicious! Much more satisfying than mindlessly munching on corn chips all afternoon, and it will keep me full until dinnertime. Also, with something higher quality like this, I don't want to spoil the flavor, so I enjoy with a nice tall glass of ice water, instead of the beer I typically drink with chips.

Enjoy!

I Broke Down

No, not in a fun, to hell with it splurge on that $100 pair of shoes way. I hit my limit and bubbled over. And poor Sean had to witness it.

I've been so good. I have not to my knowledge gone bridezilla on anyone. I have made what I consider to be sound chocies when it comes to planning various elements of the day. I even had my times of glory (see previous entry re: invitations). But I broke. And you know what it was over?

Envelopes.

No, not the idea of my dress fitting next week. Not the struggle to save with the holidays and many social opportunities approaching. Not because my job has been busy and I haven't been getting enough sleep. Envelopes.

See, I had come to accept that my handwriting just won't cut it for addressing envelopes (calligraphy was never in my budget and is an unnecessary expense, really), and that I had seen many other girls mention that they printed theirs at home on the printer. Piece of cake! Well, not for me apparently. I was ready to go home and run an envelope smoothly through the printer and have it come out gloriously printed in my favorite Edwardian Script font.

Except, it didn't fit. Word wouldn't let me custom size the document, and the 9 or 10 times I ran the test envelope through the printer, I got error messages and nothing but a mangled envelope.

I didn't rant or rave. I just broke. I was defeated. Sean tried his best to help me figure it out, and it became clear we would not solve this issue in one night. I broke out the calligraphy sharpies and started practicing writing with them, which only got me more depressed.

So Sean, the magnificent man he is, hit play on iTunes, swept me up in his arms, and slow danced me around the office. We probably looked like a couple of fools, trying to waltz, giggling over our clumsiness. And he successfully saved me from a night of misery and reminded me just why we're doing all of this. Because he is my better half. He lightens my load and makes my heart dance.

Envelopes be damned, I won't be defeated again!

I am a creative genius.

Yesterday, I had one of those experiences where everything in your mind comes together and you realize that in that moment in time, you are a creative genius. Some people experience it directing or choreographing a show, when all of a sudden, it just works. Or you're a cook and you've been missing that little taste that makes your dish perfect. You add it, taste it, and you know you've got a winner.

That happened to me yesterday. Standing in the aisle of AC Moore, looking at beautiful swatches of scrapbooking paper, I found the element to tie it all together. I am a creative genius.

For the past couple months I have been trying to figure out how to package my invitations within the envelope in a way that I imagine people pulling them out and gasping at the sweet beauty. "But Shannon," you say, "it's just paper." Yes, it is paper, but it's so much more! It's literally the first impression that the wedding guests will have of the kind of day it will be. It sets the tone, the formality, and gives a glimpse into the couple's romance, if done well enough.

Words that I have used to describe the feel for our wedding have been rustic winter romance. I never considered incorporating blue and silver and snowflakes into my decor (not that there's anything wrong with those things), because that's not the feeling I want accompanying our day. When I picture our day, I picture our families and friends coming together, cozying up on the dance floor while a soft snow falls outside. Cheerful chatter and laughter while cocktails or cocoa are sipped by the roaring fireplace at the tavern. The flicker of light from the hurricane globes, accented by the evergreen wreaths speckled with pepperberries. Everything I picture is warm and joyful. Blue and silver don't do that for me.

So yesterday, I became a true dork/creative genius, because I found the perfect paper to work into my invitations to pull all the elements together. The color, the season, the design...I can't wait to share pictures. I hope my vision comes to life as I imagine it! I am still in the process of cutting and assembling. It will probably take this whole week to finish, as I am cutting each by hand. It is tiring, but when I think about my grandmother, or a friend I haven't seen in forever, opening that envelope and sliding out the bundle of paper, I can't help but smile.

It just works.

Dress Up!

Sean messaged me at lunchtime to tell me I got a "poofy package" in the mail, to which I cried out "MY CRINOLINE!"

Yes, I get that excited over layers of itchy tulle.

I ran in the door when I got home, shimmied out of my skirt and pulled the hot mess of poof up over my black stockings.It fits! Not bad for a $25 e-bay purchase, if I do say so myself. I told myself I wasn't going to spend any more than that on something I was only going to wear for one day... I actually started thinking maybe I'd have a little girl someday who would play dress up in "mommy's wedding clothes". Or a little boy, I grew up doing theater and know that boys like to play dress up just as much as any girl.

There are so many things that I'm doing for our wedding that help reality settle in more and more, but I must say, it's the trying on of pieces of the ensemble that have made me the most giddy. What girl doesn't dream of having that one day where you get to wear the dream dress, the shoes, the jewelry... It's starting to feel magical!

So here's a little bit of me being a tool in my tulle. And yes, I know it's wrinkly beyond imagination. It's still awesome.

Paper, Paper Everywhere!

I swear one of these nights I will dream of a land made entirely of paper, where I slide down rainbows of paper while origami butterflies, birds and flowers twitter about. I swear...

I am elbow deep in printing wedding invitations right now. I wish I could post some pictures or scan them, but I don't want to spoil it for the readers who will be receiving them in the mail (keep an eye out, they're mailing November 9th!) and I don't need any wedding crashers (although if you went through the trouble to crash my wedding, maybe I'd give you some cake and a handshake). I am actually very pleased with the print quality of my handy dandy HP Officejet. So pleased with the color match quality that upon visiting our venue last week and picking out linens, I held up my mock- up invitation to the napkins I picked and was immediately convinced that I need to make menu cards.

*facepalm*

Menu cards in addition to the invites, Mass programs, directions sheets, escort cards, table numbers... Luckily, I love doing this sort of thing, and it will make the day so much more ours than just a cookie cutter wedding. Even if no one else notices, I'll look around and know the work that went into all this paper and be proud of myself.

And then I'll eat cake.

Shiver Me Timbers!

This morning on the drive to work, I was listening to my favorite classic rock station down here (there aren't many to choose from) out of NYC, and in the weather report they said possible flurries today and tomorrow. Nothing will accumulate. There isn't even a guarantee of flurries, but it will be cold and we'll be getting some effects of the nor'easters that have been making their way across the country.

Most people will curse the high heavens for this, lamenting over a short, cold and wet summer. Call me crazy. Call me an overexcited winter bride. There is something about the first truly frigid day of the year that warms my soul. I love being from New England and experiencing different seasons. I love breaking out all my sweaters and scarves and boots and rocking my thick stockings with a cute wool skirt. I love drinking hot cocoa or a cinnamon latte and seeing my breath dance in the frosty air.

I love using a snowfall as an excuse to take my time driving back roads to work and enjoying the winter wonderland that Mother Nature lays before me. Little crystals of ice make an average tree look gorgeous, like something you see in a 5th Avenue department store window display.

I don't even mind a cold, fall rain, because it means snuggling up under a blanket on the couch, drinking tea and watching the latest Netflix on a Saturday afternoon. The laundry and dishes can wait. The bed can stay unmade. Just let me enjoy this...

It Was 7 Years Ago

7 years ago, it became pretty clear that I'd found the man of my dreams. Of course, we were just starting our freshman year of college, so one couldn't be too certain, but I definitely hoped.

Now looking back, I don't know how I ever got so lucky. We've been through a lot. We've had incredibly rough times, and incredibly joyful times. And I am sure that the best is yet to come. I am slightly saddened that this dating anniversary may not be as meaningful once we're married. But my hope is that we'll continue to celebrate this weekend every year as the time when we fell in love (for the first time and again after a tough break up period).

I won't gross you all out with a sappy list of things I love about him, because he already knows I love everything. Every damn thing. The good and the bad, for better or for worse. You're stuck with me, m'love. You're my best friend and my partner in crime. Here's to 7 x 70 more years together.

Southwest Chicken & Rice - Crock Pot

1 package of chicken tenderloins
1 container of fresh salsa (I use Trader Joe's Mild Fresh Salsa)
1 small onion
a handful of mini button mushrooms
1 cup of brown rice
1/2 cup of corn
1 red bell pepper
Salt & Pepper to taste

Roughly chop onion, and cut button mushrooms into 1/4 pieces. Combine chicken (season with salt & pepper to taste), onion, mushrooms and entire container of salsa into crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours.

Prepare rice. Chop red bell pepper into small pieces. Spray a sautee pan with olive oil and cook pepper and corn. Combine with rice and mix.

Serve chicken with salsa, onions and mushrooms over the rice/pepper/corn mixture. Enjoy with a margarita.

Gluten Free

:)

Wedding Update

With 101 days to go, everything seems to be picking up speed this month. I have a busy 3 months ahead of me because starting next week, I have no choice but to get things done in a certain order and time frame in order to save my sanity.

Sean and I are heading up to Boston on Monday, which is our 7 year anniversary! The plan is to squish as many little visits into 2 days as possible. We also have two major appointments to make on Tuesday. We'll be picking out and buying our wedding bands, and then we have our tasting and "details" meeting at the reception venue with our mothers. I can't wait to taste the dishes we've picked out. They sound incredibly tasty in the description. I won't list them here, since some readers are guests and I don't want to spoil all details.

With picking out our menu, I need to finalize the invitations next week, print them, and cut them out so we can mail them by the first week of November. We then have a meeting with our priest at the end of the month, after which I can finalize the mass programs and get those printed. The first week of November I have my hair and makeup trial, and I need to find a seamstress and schedule a fitting for that afternoon so I can see everything together. Which means I need to find my undergarments that I'll be wearing with the dress...

And the weekend after that I get to party it up with my favorite ladies!

I think what keeps me sane is at the end of the day, when Sean and I are just hanging out, eating dinner, snuggling on the couch, I'm just so excited to be his wife, and for him to be my husband. It has felt like such a long time coming, I can't wait to begin this part of our life together.

Cheers!