Here comes the Brides....

I'm sitting at the Boat Club right now watching my bride and her bridesmaids for todays wedding running around like busy bees, setting the place up! It's another busy weekend for me today! I have 2 weddings today (in different locations in St. Paul) and a corporate event at the State Fair, and I'm trying to be at all 3. Times like this I wish I could clone myself...how do you be in 3 places at once? If someone has figured out that secret, please let me know.

This weekend and next are my most high maintenance weddings on the summer, so cross your fingers it all goes well!

I woke my sister up bright and early this morning to help me take Tuck to the vet, then we decided it would be a nice Saturday morning treat to head to Bruggers and Caribou and pick up some yummy breakfast! Then headed over to a dog park my sister knew of and let Tuck run around, off the leash, for a while. It was fun, there were a lot of dogs there, so he got his exercise! Just in time for me to leave, good way to tire him out so Nic doesn't have to watch him too closely!

I did get a bit embarresed at the pet store today, I had to pick up some more food and a few more items so I had Nic walking him around in the store and he decided to poop right in aisle 2.....which he never does, he's potty trained! So Nic ran away with him while I was stuck trying to find something to clean it up with. Never a dull moment!

I hope you all have a great Saturday! I'm headed on a little drive tomorrow to pick up my grandma, cousin and her boy and bring them back to my parents house tomorrow to fly out with them on Tuesday, so I'm meeting them half way, then I was hoping to maybe squeeze in time to go to the fair...maybe they'll want to head out there...otherwise, there is a million things on my to-do list, I keep pushing off, maybe I should get on that!

"Everything I'm not made me everything I am."-anonymous

Favorite Things...

My friend Robyn had a post on her blog the other day about a few of her favorite things, so I decided to copy that and jot down some of random favorites of mine....why,well really no reason, just because.

favorite mid-day snack: White Cheddar Cheeze-It's with Cream Cheese...Yummy!

Favorite splurge: Shoes...or chocolate, depends on my mood

favorite way to spend a Sunday: Being Completely lazy sitting on my porch with a cup of coffe and a great book!

favorite moment of the day: When I get home from work and let Tucker out of his kennel and he's so excited to see me (even though he goes a little psychotic for a minute or two). He's always happy no matter how long I leave him for.

favorite daily ritual: Getting up in the morning and making a pot of coffee, may sound weird but it's actually very blissful and relaxing and a perfect start to the day.

favorite part of my house: Hmmm...that's hard, I love it all! I'd have to say it's nice having a fireplace in my living room though, on those cold Minnesota nights, to curl up with a blanket next to the fire...amazing. favorite friend: They are all my favorite, every single one of them :)

Abbey-You are an amazingly strong person. I love your ability to create anything on a whim, it's a quality I admire and wish I could have, you have such a creative eye. You've been my biggest supporter in all that I've done and I wouldn't be the person I am today with out you, I love you :) I'm so thankful for our random talks/crazy adventures and life time friendship!

Monica-I always know you are around whenever I need a friend. Your such a kind hearted person that is willing to take the high road in any situation. I'm a better person for knowing you.

Amy-I wish you lived closer :( You always know how to put a smile on my face with some funny/random/rediculously crazy story. Talk about being strong, you're one of the people I most admire for the situations you've already had to over come in your life. Now, move home ;)

Meghan-You're crazy personality and laugh are contageous and when you enter any room people automatically gravitate to you. Your crazy, shambled, beautiful life is what makes being with you always an adventure. Thank you for being you.

Robyn-You are an amazing girl that has an amazing heart. You are always so willing to help others in any way that you can. I admire your willingness to better your life in any way you can and to better the lives of the people around you. You make my life a little less crazy in a job that screams constant craziness :)

Natalie-You're one of the strongest people I know, and I admire you for every challenge you've stared in the face and fought. You're an inspiration to me!

And that's just the short list, to all my other friends, don't think I forgot you, you are all wonderful and I'm blessed to have everyone of you in my life, my battery is just about to die and I need to get this post finished before it does. 5 min and counting my little icon is telling me!

favorire movie star (to look at): Robert Pattinson (Edward from Twilight)

favorite beverage: Non-Alcoholic, in all honesty-Water, Alcoholic-Red or White Wine or Bud Light with Lime

Now you know a few more random things about me :) Aren't you lucky!

The Diary of a Wedding Planner

I can't tell you how many strange/interesting/quirky/and hilarious stories that I could tell from all the weddings I've done and my co-workers have done. So I've decided each week to treat this as my wedding planning diary, and "jot" down some of these "events".

About a year ago, my co-worker had a meeting with a bride and groom and booked them at one of our venues. So, just like any other wedding, you work closely with this couple through out the year, doing tastings to compile the perfect menu, planning meetings to determine every single detail of their special day, and multiple frantic phone calls from the bride worried that this won't be delivered on time, or that won't look good with that color, etc. So anyways, about a month before this couple's wedding was about to occur, the bride called my co-worker and told her there was a slight change of plans. She love love loved the venue, the menu they'd chosen, and everything they had planned but they needed to change some of the details to reflect some new guests and a new head count. The reason...she was getting married to a different man!!!! Yes, the original couple and broken up, she'd reunited with one of her ex boyfriends and they were now engaged to be married! I about died from laughter, I really thought this stuff only happened in movies. Nope! I guess she wanted to keep everything the same, just change out the groom and half of the guests list. I'd have to say this is one of my best stories.....I have a feeling that marriage may be doomed, that or that "new" groom is a very tolerant man to get married to a woman that was already getting married with this exact wedding to another man....tolerant or stupid!

Saturday

So far it's been one busy week! I had a wedding last night at the Boat Club, minus a few tiny struggles, it went off great! I loved the couple, they were just both so sweet and relaxed, even when the bride's bouquet had been frozen the night before and they had to start over from scratch! She was even there helping set our tables..haha, I told her that we could handle it and to just relax! I think sometimes keeping busy, keeps their nerves away.

Today, I have 2 weddings I'm working for my co-worker, Natalie, as she'll be working mine in a couple weeks when I head out to Colorado. Apprently today's is a bridezilla (great!), however, Natalie is taking my huge bridezilla's (refer to much earlier post about this one), so it's safe to say it's an even trade!

It's beautiful out this morning, I love being able to just do nothing in the morning with a cup of coffee in hand, sitting on the porch in the summer time. Nothing quite like it! I think I'm heading off to have brunch with Abbey in the morning, and if it's nice head out to my favorite summer spot, White Bear Lake! Only a few more weekends until the boat gets stored away for the Winter :( Where did the summer go??

I took Monday off, since I'm working all weekend, so I'll be able to get a lot of errands done. My new roommate is moving in today so I'm off to meet her and get her the keys! Have a great weekend everyone :)

"A stumble may prevent a fall." ~English Proverb

Poor no More!!

I have some good news, I found a roommate!! She's moving in on Saturday and she seems like a really nice girl! She found my ad on Facebook and contacted me on Saturday and wanted to move up here as soon as possible (she's from IL, then moved to CA, then went to school in AZ, and has a cabin she lives at in WI each summer, so she's there now). She got a job as an Event Coordinator (so funny how things work out) in Blaine, MN! She has a little puppy as well, a puggle, so that will be fun! Tucker will have a friend!

Speaking of Tucker....the dreaded day occured for him on Saturday, he got neutered. So be's been cone Tucky this week. I've had him staying at my parents this week and coming to their house at night because I didn't want him hurting himself with the incisions.

I got some sad news when I got to work on Monday, my good friend Robyn's dog, who was Tucker's friend, ran out of the front door on Saturday and got him by a car and died. She was a sweet little puppy and they had fun together. I felt so bad for her, it just broke my heart, even when they're only with you for a short time they become such a part of your family. I know Dixi's running around in the clouds playing with all the other pups in puppy heaven :)

Weekend was good, relaxed for the most part, I actually had NO weddings! On Saturday Natalie and I met at the Mall of America to go to the Time Traveler's Wife, such a good movie! I had read the book and knew what happened, but it didn't stop the tears, it was so good! And it really followed the book, which doesnt' happen in a lot of movies that derive from a book. Then we went to the restaurant CRAVE at the mall and had some sushi, wine and a sushi dessert...it was so yummy! Unfortunately we've had some volitile weather lately and I drove home in the pouring rain! I barely could see the road!

Went out on the Boat Friday, which is always a good time! Got a little sun even though it wasn't the nicest of days. Then yesterday I'm driving to St. Paul to give a tour of the Boat Club and I'm looking all around and the Highway is covered in tree branched, trees are down along the side, there were big patio umbrellas and signs blown over and I called my mom to see if there was bad storms and she tells me no, not that she's heard. About at this time, a tornado is going through downtown Minneapolis, and I looked to the left and all I could see were hazy low twirling clouds. I get to the Boat Club and the tornado sirens go off for about an hour. Never a dull moment! This is the second time I've been in the car when a tornado has come by me....alrighty mother nature, I think that's been enough, you can stop sending tornados by me! Hmm..maybe it's a sign, should I be a storm chaser??

Have a good week everyone! It will be a busy one for me, I've got a corporate event tonight, wedding tomorrow and 2 weddings on Saturday, I think I'll be needing to take a day off next week!

"You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself." -Harvey Firestone

Yummy :)

Abbey came over tonight after work and on a spontaneous whim, we decided to go have dinner at the Melting Pot. Normally we wouldn't do this because it's pretty pricey and it's a lot of food, but we had a coupon for free dessert. That place is AMAZING, I love fondue! It was a great time to to chat about what we've been up to lately!

Last weekend was great, my wedding on Saturday was awesome! Besides the scalding heat, it turned out perfect. The bride and groom had a wonderful time and even posted a great review for Mintahoe on the website weddingwire.com So I was happy :)

I got to hang out with my aunt and uncle this weekend, so I was really excited to hang out at my parents house. I'm getting excited to go to Colorado in a few weeks for my cousins wedding! I love Colorado, I think that may be one of the only places that I would live besides here. The only obstacle is I'm flying by myself out there...may have to heavily drug myself! haha.

This week is going by so fast...and I actually have the WHOLE weekend off :) I don't know what I'll do with myself. Tucky is getting "fixed" on Saturday...poor little guy, but it will be nice that it's done. I'm not sure how I'll handle a 5 month old puppy running around with a cone on his head for a week...should be interesting...but then again, when is there a day that goes by that something interesting doesn't happen in my life!

Match

Well after much nudging from a few friends, you know who you are, I've joined match again. My haitus from men has ended, for now. We'll see how this time around goes. I figured what can it hurt, I took a few months off and maybe it was the breather I needed. However this time, hopefully there won't be anymore hand shake wielding, boob talking, blow me off, kind of guys. I'll try to screen them a little better, plus I'll have Abbey take a look before I actually go on the date, she did the screening once before, and even though that one didn't work out, I have faith she'll figure it out again. I mean she does know me better than anyone, she made the whole profile for me the first time around with out me knowing and it was dead on. And try playing loaded questions with her, she guesses me correct everytime! So anyways, you may want to follow this one closely, I have a feeling there might be a few good stories that come out of it, cuz we all know, in my my life, things don't tend to happen in a normal, sane way...there tends to be some crazy bumps along the way...especially in my love life. Lord have mercy! haha :)

Have a good Thursday everyone, almost the weekend! I took tomorrow off, so I'm excited!

Bachlorette Party

Here are a few pictures from Alicia's bachlorette party I forgot to post :)

New

So I had been teetering with the idea for a while of starting my own company. In the moment that I have some spare time, I've decided to just do it. So I've created my own Wedding Consulting company called Bella Amore Events. Right now it's very small and who knows if it will ever get off the ground, but it's very gratifying to just try to do it. Being as busy as I am in my current job, this will just be a little extra on the side. My favorite part about what I do is being able to see these wonderful love stories come to life and to help their dreams of the perfect wedding come to be. So here I am unvailing my website here. Check it out and let me know what you think. And if you know of anyone needing a little help with their wedding, you know where to send them :)

I do have to give a million thanks to my best friend, Abbey, the technological genius, that created my website for me. She's a tremendous friend and a talented photographer who has built her business all on her shoulders. With a little push from her, Bella Amore Events was able to become a reality, instead of a little thought in my head. I love you girl! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My friend and I are trying to venture into creating wedding planning classes for community education classes around the cities. Sort of a "how to" guide on how to plan a wedding the way you want, with out having to hire a wedding planner. So I'm hoping that can be another branch of this company. Who knows...we'll see where this goes, it may go up and it may go down, but hopfully I'll have fun doing it!

Check it out:
Bella Amore Events

Whew!

What an exhasting week it's been! Where did the summer go? One minute there is snow on the ground and then next your nearing the end of summer! Man life sure flies. It seemed like when I was younger time moved so slowly and I was just dying to grow up and experience the world, and now I'm thinking I should have enjoyed being a kid, because I wish I could just go back to those care free days. I want to just be able to stop time, even just for a few moments and be able to savor the moment. I think my head starts going in so many directions that I forget to actually relax and take in every part of my life. I really try to do that because before I know it I'll be sitting on a porch somewhere, gray hair covering my head, trying deperately to remember what it was like to be 23, 24, 25. So that is my new goal, to just stop and really take in what's happening around me!

Last week was great! Alicia's bachlorette party went off without a hitch. Natalie came over after work and we spent quite a while trying to get ready. I know every girl knows what I'm talking about, you try on at least 3 different outfits, and find something wrong with every single one, remarking on how when you bought it, it didn't fit this tight, and then eventually going back and deciding to wear the very first outfit you tried on. Being a girl is quiet stressful and time consuming I tell ya! Anyways, we went to Cafe Zeno in uptown for a few drinks and appetizers. Unfortunately, work awaited in the morning so we didn't stay the whole night.

Then Friday I met up with Abbey and Monica and we headed to Grand Avenue for some much needed Drinks and Girl Talk....it was just the right way to begin the weekend.

Saturday was kind of a whirlwind. I had a wedding at the Boat Club...well really more so of a commitment ceremony/reception. It was two women, and let me tell you, that one had been quite a ride, from the begninning when I booked them to the very end. I do believe now the reason that we women marry men, is because most of them really don't care too much on the details of the wedding, they do what they are told, put in their input when told, and really just show up. Two women.....have ALOT of opinions. haha, needless to say it went well but I was glad to have it over. It was also my friend Alicia's wedding that day in Rochester, MN (about an hour and a half drive south from the cities). So trying to time my day out right, I got into my nice wedding attire, threw in some flip flops and worked my event in that....confused a few people.

e as to why I was so dressed up, but it worked. Then trying to still make it to Alicia's dinner, I jetted over to Plymouth to pick my friend and co-worker, Robyn up who was at her 2 weddings, and we drove off into the sunset.....almost. We drove through the corn fields and oil refineries to finally make it to the wedding reception. It was in this gorgeous barn...two words you don't quiet see go together, but it was. The night was magical...minus there being no indoor bathrooms. Let me tell you, it's hard to go to the bathroom in a port a potty with high heels on!

Sunday I made it home, exhausted, to pick up Tucker from my parents and visit with my Grandma who is in town for the week. My sister and I got into car cleaning mode and cleaned all the 4 cars that were there. Mine was in dire need because one of the wedding goers the night before decided my nice clean little silver saturn needed a little hood ornament...of vomit. Great suprise to wake up to!

Now it's off to another busy week...does life ever slow down? Tomorrow my friend Robyn and I are meeting for dinner with the pups and taking them for a walk, I'm really excited! Then Thursday I'm meeting a friend for happy hour and friday...no plans yet! My aunt and uncle are coming in from CO so I'm hoping to see them, and of course trying to get out to the boat at some point in between my weekend weddings! Gotta love busy season!

I hope everyone has a great week! I have two quotes today...why? Just because.

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." --Agatha Christie

"All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance." -Bruce Barton