Homemade chalkboards

I just finished making three chalkboard signs for our wedding reception. I really wanted to have them to provide info and add to the cool factor (well, James and I think they're cool). I like thier casual vibe. Inspiration:

Source

Source

At first I was going to buy new ones or try to find them at a thrift store, but then I realized I could make them myself. Chalkboard paint is this awesome invention - whatever you spray it on becomes a chalkboard surface when it dries.

Supplies:

3 thrift store frames - $5 and $4 each

Gold spray paint - $6

Chalkboard spray paint - $8

Masonite wood board - free from Dad

I just took out the ugly pictures that came with the frames and spray painted them gold in the back yard. They needed 2 coats and I let them dry for a few hours.

Before

During (There are leaves on the ground because I actually did this part last Fall, and finished the rest today)

After

Dad cut me pieces of masonite board to put into the frames (thanks Dad!), and I painted those with the chalkboard paint - 2 coats and an afternoon to dry.

Before

After

Here they are! I love them and I'm so proud that I was able to make exactly what I wanted!

(Obviously these will be written out neater for the real thing.)

By the way...

my wedding dress [that I picked up last weekend] is beautiful! I love it. However, it is a little big. I'm going to have to get it altered because it's not 100% flattering on my waist currently. I won't be altering it until about July - hopefully I'll loose more weight by then :) The good news - I'm pretty sure that size fit me perfectly when I tried it on in the store a month ago. Maybe those 5 pounds I lost really did make a difference!

Thankful Thursday: Flat iron

While I am not thankful that my flat iron decided to stop working last week, I am thankful that my coworker directed me to Overstock.com to purchase my first CHI for a great price. I'm hoping that the fantastic things I've heard about this brand are true. It was supposed to arrive by February 13, but my UPS tracking number tells me that it's out for delivery right now! Yay!

Photo Friday: Graduation

Sacramento State graduation - May 2008

Mom & Dad

All my siblings

Grandpa

Rose

James

Thankful Thursday: Parent visit and wedding dress

I'm thankful that in two days, I get to drive to my parents' house and hang out with them. And try on my wedding dress :)

Booked: Officiant & Day of Coordinator

We had an extremely successful weekend of wedding appointments in Santa Cruz! We left our house at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday to be on time for our first meeting at 8:30.

First Appointment: Officiant #1

Great guy. Love him. He asked tons of questions to find out about us, our relationship and how we feel about marriage. That's exactly what we wanted and he's perfect for us!

Second Appointment: Day of Coordinator #1

Lots of people I know probably think this is an unnecessary expense (Hi Mom and Dad!) but we really think that hiring a day of coordinator will relieve tons of stress for everyone involved. I just don't want my family or any of our guests to be worried about setting up and taking down chairs, cleaning up afterwards or anything else. I want them to have fun. Plus, since our ceremony will be held at a public park there is NO staff or anyone to help set up. Someone has to do it, and I don't want it to be our loved ones! I was able to find two coordinators with extremely reasonable rates - way less than half the price of most!

The first woman we met with was perfect. Totally knows what she's doing, what we want and has a ton of knowledge and experience. Plus, she has a wholesale flower license and since we're doing our own flowers, she can get them for us for cheap! We're going to hire her.

Third Appointment: Day of Coordinator #2

The second coordinator was also great. I'm sure she would do an awesome job and we'd be thrilled with her work... we just had to choose one and the first woman seems to have more experience and understand what we want a little better.

We met coordinator #2 at our ceremony site and it was a beautiful day, so of course I had to take a picture of it.

We took a lunch break at Tony & Alba's. It seriously upset my stomach! Not recommended!

Fourth Appointment: Officiant #2

The second officiant we met with was a nice lady. She would have been a fine choice but we just didn't like her as much as our first guy.

BUT - on the side of the cafe where we met her was the most fantastic sign!

Saturday night we had dinner at the restaurant where we're having our wedding reception. It really solidified how awesome it is... Saturday nights they have live music. It was the perfect atmostphere! It's basically everything we want - unique, cool, casual, classy and fun!

Sunday we had lunch at Zelda's before our final appointment. It was pouring rain so there was really nothing else to do.

Fifth Appointment: Officiant #3

This woman was great also, and it was an extremely tough choice between #1 and #3. Both would give us a great ceremony and we'd be happy with either. Really hard! We decided on #1 because he asked SO many questions and is planning to write, together with us, a completely personal ceremony.

My wedding dress is in!

My wedding dress came 2 months early!! That's right, it was supposed to arrive in March but it's waiting for me NOW! I ordered it from a shop near my hometown, so I won't be able to see it until next weekend when I drive up to my parents' house. They picked it up for me, and I can't wait to try it on!

I'm a big cry baby

This weekend we're headed to Santa Cruz once again for some wedding appointments. We have meetings with three different officiants, and I really hope we like one... I'm beginning to fear that we're too picky!

Yesterday one of the women sent me a sample ceremony. After work I read it out loud to James to give him an idea of what it would be like.

I read the introduction, and when I got to the vows I started tearing up. Soon enough I was completely crying and couldn’t even finish. Oh geez, I'm gonna be a mess if that happens at our wedding ceremony! I also cried while wearing my wedding dress at the store!

Here are the vows that made me cry. We like them a lot but will probably tweak them at least a little. Or use something completely different.

I, [groom], take you, [bride], to be my wife,
knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend,
my faithful partner in life,
and my one true love.
I give to you my promise
to stay by your side as your husband
in sickness and in health,
in joy and in sorrow
I promise to love you without reservation,
honor and respect you,
protect you from harm,
comfort you in times of distress,
always be open and honest with you,
and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

Photo Friday: San Diego

Some pics from our trip to San Diego in August 2007.

A mission in Presidio Park

Sea World

Petting dolphins at Sea World

One of my all-time favorite pics of myself, since it captures my love of milk oh-so-well! (Sea World)

Baseball game - Giants vs. Padres. We actually planned our vacation around when the Giants would be in town! Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking home run the following game. This game, he hit none.

Thankful Thursday: Lots of stuff!

I’m thankful for…

♥ My health

♥ Our weekend trip to Santa Cruz in a few weeks

♥ Free stuff

♥ Our cozy house

♥ Not having to buy a new phone after I broke mine
(had to pay $100 for a replacement but I’m being positive here!)

♥ Fun on friends’ birthdays

♥ Wedding planning progress

Airfare = purchased!

Yesterday I bought my round trip plane ticket to Dublin! I'm leaving San Francisco on May 29 and returning June 12.

In those two weeks, we're going to bus around Ireland, fly to Venice, Italy, train to Rome, fly or ferry to Athens, Greece, ferry to the Greek islands and fly back to Dublin. More details here.

The total price was only $711! What a deal.

I can't wait to be reunited with my BFF!

Photo Friday: NYE

This is the fourth New Year I've been with James. Each year we've celebrated together I've taken a picture of our new year kiss...

2007 - Went to Old Sacramento to watch the annual fireworks.

2008 - We were apart this year because I was on the Big Island of Hawaii with my family.

2009 - Rose, James and I went to the new [and lame] ball drop downtown.

2010 - Celebrated with friends at a great party. More pics below.

Hello 2010!

Hello 2010! I've been waiting for you and I think we'll be great friends. I'm ready for all you have to offer.

I'm ready for the vacation I've always dreamed of to Ireland, Italy and Greece. I'm ready for my fiance to finally be done with college. I'm ready to marry him and move on in our life together. I'm ready to start househunting (Maybe? Well we both know I've been online househunting for a year - but let's take it a step further!). I'm ready to cross lots of goals off my list.

2010 will be a fantastic year for me. Bring it on!