Happy Saturday!!!

What an exciting day ahead for me today!! I am leaving bright and early to head up North to pick up my 13-year-old daughter from her dads! It's just about a two hour drive one way; he's supposed to meet me half way however the excuse this time is "I'm having car trouble and don't think I want to chance it." Ahem...uh... WHATEVER. On the way home, we're going to stop in Sacramento and meet my 19-year-old (soon to be 20 in about 3 weeks..yikes!) for lunch!! She just got done with Finals and she had worked very hard this semester!!!  I'm hoping to catch my 22-year-old son as well, have him join us and make it one big happy family lunch!!!!  So all in all it's going to be a WONDERFUL day!

I hope you all have an amazing Saturday...and if you're out shopping for some last minute Christmas gifts, please be safe out there!

Again, don't forget about my wonderful GiveAway that ends on Tuesday!!! It's great to have if you're a seasoned baker, or just like to bake in general! The Dip prize is an awesome gift as well!!! For more detailed information, please be sure to check it out here: http://shellilynn.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/all-things-wedding-related-issue-1-cakes/  and good luck!

Reflections on the past year...good...and bad....

Can you believe we're 1 week away from Christmas 2009?!? I don't know about you guys, but hasn't this past year absolutely flown by?!? I can honestly say that it was a very eventful year! There were a lot of AMAZING events that took place (like my engagement ~ yipee) as well as some very disheartening events (like Brian's daughter uninviting him from her wedding - long story which I will share with my readers very soon!)

Let me share with you some of the 'Highlights' of our year 2009!!



March was my very first trip to Minnesota! Brian's best friend of 35+ years was celebrating his 50th birthday! These guys haven't been apart from each other's lives the entire time they've known each other!!! Jerry had no idea that we were flying in THAT MORNING, nor did he even know there was a party in the works!!! It was very, very emotional when they saw each other again!!! (Brian had moved from Minnesota to California 10 months prior to this B-day Bash ~ He had lived in Minnesota his entire life) I am so very happy that we got to be a part of Jerry's special day!!!!

But before that trip, Brian's daughter, Jackie came for a quick visit with some college friends. We got to show them around Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, as well as across the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was a great time!!! I'll have to admit, going to Minnesota was very nerve-wracking for me because number 1) I was going to not only be meeting his family, I was going to be meeting his grown, adult children! And number 2) It was going to be COOOOLLLLLDDDDD!!! However, I was so excited to see the Mall of America more than ANYTHING!

I couldn't believe there was a ROLLER COASTER in the middle of the mall! There was a ferris wheel, a log ride, a whole amusement park for kiddo's there! Not to mention the three or was it four levels?!? A gazillion stores, several Victoria Secrets, tons of restaurants and lot and lots to see! If you ever want to go there, I'd suggest you plan on spending an entire 8 hours just to be able to see and do everything there is to do! Trust me on this one!!! And if you have little ones, the Nickelodeon Park is very awesome!!!



I was so very honored to be with Brian when he met 3 of this Grandchildren for the very first time! It was so amazing!!! A year ago this past May, Brian re-connected from his daughter whom he hadn't seen for just about 20 years! Shortly after re-connecting with her, he was transferred from Minnesota to California, so they only had one opportunity to 'meet' for the first time before having to leave for California.

I just adore these three little boys! They are so adorable!!!



In April, a very good friend of ours got married and I was privileged and honored to have made her wedding cake! It was a 4 tiered square French Vanilla cake filled with fresh Strawberries! This is one of the few weddings where I was able to set up the cake and then enjoy the wedding ceremony along with the dinner and reception! It was a very fun, enjoyable evening!








In May, we ventured on our second trip to Minnesota. This time for one of Brian's daughter's graduation from University of Minnesota ~ Mankato. This is the same daughter who came and visited us in March. I'd have to be honest and say it was a very weird situation for me. I informally "met" the ex-wife. I had a lot of mixed emotions going into this trip, but very apprehensive!! All four of Brian's children from his 21 year marriage was there (all whom I met on our previous trip) and they were very cordial to me. However, I still felt oh....kinda out of place. Nonetheless, I enjoyed myself!



That same day was my 41st birthday as well. Brian's brother and wife took us to a very well-known, upscale restaurant in that area called the Hubble House. It was phenomenal!!! They have had very famous people come through their establishment and they had autographs from each and every one of them....all the way back in the day! As far back as Ulysses S. Grant! Seriously! I throughly enjoyed this birthday celebration!!!! Knowing Mother's Day was the day after my birthday and having to be away from home and my kid's kinda got me feeling a little depressed, but the dinner was very uplifting!!!



In early June, a big group of friends gathered at a local Mexican restaurant for Happy Hour. This particular establishment is famous for their $1.50 Margaritas on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Through the ever popular new Facebook craze, I re-connected with a ton of high school friends. One of these was my friend Victor. We went to Junior High School together and the last time we saw each other was the last day of my 7th grade year! That was 25+ years ago. He is such a great guy and came all the way out to join us this particular night!!! :) (Yes, I did have a crush on him back then!!)



Our final trip to Minnesota for the year was in late June. Originally, one of the reasons for this trip is because Brian's eldest daughter's wedding was on the Saturday the 20th. However, things changed and Brian was no longer invited to the wedding. (I was still invited should I have chosen to go...which I didn't). Not only was the wedding the reason for the trip, but also, Sunday the 21st was Father's Day and Monday the 22nd was Brian's birthday!!! We were there spending it with family and tons of great friends!!! As you can see in the picture, I got to see the Minnesota Twins play one of their last games in the Dome!!! Woo Hoo!! The most memorable moment of this trip was on Father's Day when Brian proposed to me in front of more than 10 of his family members!!!! Of course, I said "YES"!!!



In August, Brian's brother rode his Harley from Minnesota all the way out here to California! Yes, he did!!! It took him three days to get here ~ and that's pushing it, and three TWO days to get back! He was one riding fool!!! Anyhow, we spend an amazing 5 days doing the total tourist thing! We visited Santa Cruz, Yosemite, Sausalito, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc. In this picture, we were at a restaurant in Capitola. This is a BEAUTIFUL restaurant! The have a "hillavator" in which you have to ride down in to the restaurant!! The restaurant is several split levels and has both indoor/outdoor seating.



In early September, I had the opporunity to see Julianne Hough and Billy Ray Cyrus perform in "Country in the Park" in at Gibson Ranch in Sacramento! Some very good friends of ours had VIP tickets so we had back stage passes along with Meet & Greet passes! Woo Hoo! We had free lunch and all you can drink drinks! Beer, soda, water, you name it! I had a wonderful time, but I have to say it was quite a disappointment meeting Billy Ray. He was not friendly, personable or anything! We were told prior to him making his appearance back stage that he would only do one autograph and one photo, however his guy had to take the picture. Whatever works I suppose! Meeting Julianne Hough was amazing. She is a very down to earth gal and was very nice to all the fans!!!



I almost forgot to mention our AMAZING Engagement picture session with the AMAZING Jaye Reilly! She is a very phenomenal photographer and a wonderful person! I couldn't be more pleased with how our pictures turned out! I am so very, very excited that we were able to have Jaye join us on our Wedding Cruise and she will be shooting all of our wedding related activities, along with the ceremony which will take place on the Beach on Catalina Island! http://www.jayereillyphotography.com/



In October, we went to the San Francisco Giant's last home game of 2009! Brian can actually say that he went to a Giant's home game!!We were lucky because the weather wasn't too cold, and in the same token it wasn't too hot either.

What's so special about this you ask?!? Well, when I was walking back to our seats after visiting the lady's room, what do I find?!? Brian down on his knees with a my ring!!! Yipee! I didn't know he had actually bought the ring yet. We picked it out and everything but we never ordered it....or so I thought!!!



My sweet dear 88-year-old Grandma Sally came for her annual visit from Hawaii! We were lucky enough to get together with her this time on 3 different occasions! And it's always so much fun getting together with all my ohana (that's family in Hawaiian)!! We get to see relatives we haven't seen in a long time, sometimes even meeting for the first time. We get to eat some awesome Filipino and/or Hawaiian dishes that I would never get unless Grandma was here! :)

Can't wait for her visit again next year!



Brian and I had a number of invitations for Thanksgiving this year ~ inlcuding one from my son and his girlfriend. Unfortunately, since Brian works in retail, he had to be at work the next morning, Black Friday, at 3 a.m., so naturally, we couldn't make the drive to Sacramento which is about an hour and a half North of us and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with them. We did however, have a late lunch/early dinner with some very wonderful and dear friends of ours; Grandpa & Liz!



The 4th of December brings so many people's birthdays that I know. Seriously....I think I know 5 people personally who was born on the 4th of December! Last year I was honored to make some very good friend ours daughter's 1st birthday. It was a Castle Cake (which you can see here: http://cakes4fun.wordpress.com ) I was privileged enough to do her cake again this year. I absolutely loved the theme and I had complete fun creating this cake!!! It was a French Vanilla cake with Strawberry filling, iced completely in Pink Buttercream icing and decorated with Marshmallow Fondant polka dots and stripes! So much fun!!! Little Elise loved it as well!

So, you've just read though just a glimpse of our 2009. I have some photos of my children and I at different get togethers throughout the year as well. My grown, adult children along with my 13-year-old always seems to think that when I ask for photos of the three of them together, they have to pose silly. It's hard enough to get the three of them together at one time due to everyone's school and work schedules not to mention the distance, but really...do they have to always be goofy?!? I will dedicate a special post just for my children, staring my children. :)

Thanks for reading!!! Happy Friday everyone!!!

P.S. Don't forget about my GIVE AWAY!!!

Yay for Date Day!!

Thursdays are generally Brian and I's date day. We usually start the day off by having late breakfast/early lunch at Panera Bread where he has his usual bagels and I have a salad/sandwich combo. :) We run fun errands throughout the early afternoon then spend some quiet time at home before meeting up with friends for "Happy Hour". Who can pass up $1.50 Margaritas??? You would think one could consume an awful lot of Margaritas huh?!? Well, let me tell you.... it must be the age thing because I'd be lucky to finish just ONE Margarita alone! For me, they are VERY strong. We've gotten to know the bartender/bar manager really well and he jokes with me every.single.time. that I'm such a lush! Ha! We have a bet going on that before the year 2009 ends, I'll work my way up to TWO margaritas! He's of the mind that I won't do it. And darn it, I've been trying SOOO SUPER HARD to get past that 1st one. Lol! Especially now that my SuperBowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers are no longer in the running for a repeat this year, you'd think I'd consume at least 5 Margaritas and drown my sorrows. Nope. Can't do it. Trust me, it's not for lack of trying either!!!

With it being Christmas season and all, I think today we're going to mix it up a bit!! We've got Christmas Shopping to tackle!! AND.... you'd never guess what else!!! I am getting my hair cut!!! GET OUT! Why such a big deal you ask?!? Well, simple. Brian's 'motto' : "On the beach, barefoot in the sand with a flower in your hair" Here's the best, most recent picture where you can see the length of my hair....mind you, these Engagement Pics were taken back in early September so it's grown about another inch or so since then ~ I have long, straight hair!!

This is the inspirational photo that best represents how I would like to have my hair done for the ceremony:

And this is how I am getting my hair cut today, however, I am going to ask her to leave the length as it is now, just add some layers to it.

So yes. I'm thoroughly excited for our date day today!!! I'll be sure to post a photo of the new "do". :)

Have an awesome Thursday and be safe!!!!

All Things Wedding Related Guide ~ Issue #1 ~ CAKES

Welcome to my début issue of "All Things Wedding Related Guide" I hope you enjoy the information. Please be sure to read the contents of the issue thoroughly as I will be having a GiveAway at the end of each issue.

Since this is my début issue, I will be offering not one, but two GiveAways!!!

It's only fitting that I kick off my new Blog Feature with the Topic: "All things CAKE related"!! Being a Cake Decorator myself is a very rewarding experience! I feel very much at ease when being creative in this sense. I enjoy re-creating what the Bride has envisioned and asked for; it brings great joy when they see it for the first time!!!

For several years now, brides to be have been tossing out the idea of having a traditional wedding cake and opting for the new rage ~ CUPCAKES ~ However, said rage has slowly but surely been fading out.

Here is a list of some recurring themes that was provided by Bakery Crafts, as identified as the "Trends" this year:

•Opulence •Black & White •Color •Silhouettes •Destination •Eco-Friendly •Lace

Opulence ~ Sophisticated simplicity will begin to give way to ornate extravagance.

The word itself sounds “rich”. The French imperial style connotes brocade fabrics, beaded gowns, powdered wigs, and an abundance of precious stones like emeralds, rubies, and, of course, diamonds.

The opulent wedding trend incorporates all of the above except the powdered wigs! Look for extravagant floral centerpieces along with gilded place settings, seven course meals, and dessert displays.

The opulent wedding cake will mimic the accents of a 17th Century royal gown with scrolls, embroidery-like textures and lots of pearls.

Black & White ~ Add a splash of color and elegance abounds!

There’s a certain level of elegance to which no other color combination compares. Perfect for both formal events and more casual gatherings, black and white themes are sophisticated and elegant.

From bridesmaids’ dresses to invitations, floral arrangements and cake decorations, black and white is, and will continue to be, among the hottest trends. Black and White is a perfect canvas for accent colors to explode. Pair this classic duo with one of today's fashion colors like soft pink, “Tiffany Blue”, Chartreuse or true red to create your unique theme.

Color ~ Couples will embrace the use of bold color schemes as they step out of their traditional way of doing things.

Strong, saturated colors say,”Here I am. Look at me!” Use tropical colors to add a “Destination Flair” to the event by focusing on greenish blues and lemon yellows. Continue the color scheme throughout the affair with coördinated or blending colors for the bridesmaids, party favors, floral arrangements, and invitation design.

Watch for pumpkin orange color schemes coming back in vogue along with statement-making shades of pink and sparkling finishes such as pearlescence. 2009 will be about making a personalized statement with your choice. Opt for confidence with a “bounty of color” wedding cake!

Silhouettes ~ Silhouettes can reflect the theme, location or season of the wedding.

Getting its start from the engraved wedding invitation, the Silhouette trend now includes home decor and wedding cake architecture. Carved silhouettes are as hot as they can be. Brides are marrying black and white cake with these classic, romantic elements.

Using a silhouette personalizes the wedding cake to the couple's taste. Choose a topper that accents the personalization. Silhouettes add flair to any style wedding. Look for lace and vintage influences to compliment this contemporary element.

Destinations ~ Destination weddings continue to be a huge hit with Echo Boomers. *(My favorite)*

The Destination Wedding is a growing trend, and its popularity is predicted to increase in 2009. Just 10 years ago, the term 'destination wedding' was virtually unknown. Baby Boomers began exploring non-traditional ways of doing things. It makes sense that their children (Echo Boomers) would continue the exploration by having unconventional ceremonies - the Destination Wedding.

Some bridal retailers say as many as 30% of their weddings are now Destination Weddings. A Destination Wedding is defined as 200 or more miles away from where the bride and groom live (including non-US locations) and having at least 80% of guests requiring overnight accommodations.

For many couples, this is a second wedding. They have had the elaborate affair and are opting for a fuss-free wedding.

Eco-Friendly ~ Going green is a hot trend in almost every area of life and is spilling over into the wedding scene as well.

Couples embracing the green wedding trend are doing what they can to help the environment by hosting a ‘green celebration’. Today, “green” refers to more than a color; it denotes a philosophy. Having an Eco-friendly Wedding is both environmentally conscious and an expression of one’s personal lifestyle.

Brides are trying to make their wedding more environmentally thoughtful by choosing organic fabrics, pesticide-free flowers for cake accessories and centerpieces, along with invitations made from recycled paper. Menus, including the wedding cake, feature locally grown and organic foods, while caterers are asked to use biodegradable place settings and donate leftover food to a homeless shelter. Cake designs are inspired by nature and natural elements which are depicted in color palette and design choices.

Lace ~ Traditional views have been replaced by artistic designs that redefine the way we look at lace.

With opulent weddings being all the rage for 2009, what says opulent romance better than intricate hand-embroidered details? Brides are choosing dresses with more lace, tulle, and other embellishments. This trend extends to other areas of the wedding such as floral arrangements, invitations, place settings, and, of course, cakes.

This trend is pulled right from the fashion runways. The use of lace is part of the vintage and feminine styles displayed in dresses as cap sleeves, antique lace, satin ribbons ruffles, and tea-length gowns. Echo intricate accents of your gown into the wedding cake by incorporating appliqués and embroidery looks.

Use lace to add glamour and sophistication to any wedding theme.

There are various other "Top Trends" for the year and these opinions vary from regions world-wide.

Here are some other inspirational photos of what others chose as their "vision":

Sometimes the only thing that matters to some Brides to be is the appearance of the cake. I am truly AMAZED that they wouldn't even consider the taste factor! To me, that's the most important aspect of any wedding cake. Yes, the way the cake is decorated is an important aspect, however in my opinion, every Bride should always keep the taste of the cake their number one priority when choosing their wedding cake!

In my Cakes 4 Fun business, I've had many unique cake flavor / filling combination requests in the past, however the most popular combination is generally the White cake with Fresh Strawberries.

Recently, an acquaintance of mine began making her very own Dip's. She has several "Sweet" flavors, including Chocolate Malt, Butterscotch Sprinkle, and Lemonade. She also has awesome other flavors, including Taco, Garlic, Onion, Loaded Tater and Bacon. All of these make WONDERFUL dips!!!! I experimented one day using the Chocolate Malt flavored dip ~ made a Chocolate flavored filling and paired it with a Milk Chocolate flavored cake and the result was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. !!!! I've done the same with the Butterscotch Sprinkle dip, paired with regular Yellow cake and it was good as well!! Please browse through her Website and check out all the different Dips she has to offer, along with a ton of tips as to how you can use these dips in different ways in your recipes!! http://www.devildips.weebly.com

Finally, on a more personal note, most of you know that I am engaged and will be getting married in early Spring of the coming year. (April to be exact) A number of people and/or clients always ask me "Are you going to be making your own wedding cake?" I always have the same answer. "Absolutely not!" However, boy does the nit picky perfectionist in me come out and I know in the back of my mind that "Yes, I'll probably make my cakes myself!!" I think I would be LESS STRESSED if I did because I'd be way too critical of the end result!! I'd like to share with you guys what I'm leaning towards as far as my wedding is concerned! Keep in mind that we're having a Destination Wedding (going on a cruise and getting married on the beach in one of our ports we stop at); and we're having not one, but two AHR's (at home receptions) upon our return....one in California and one in Minnesota! So, I'm going for EASY versus OVER THE TOP GEORGOUS.

Mini Cupcakes in a Martini Glass! Classic for me!!! :)

THE “GIVEAWAY”

GiveAway #1) Cupcakes 'N More® 24 Count Mini Dessert Stand

GiveAway #2) A Gift Basket containing a variety of Devilishly Delicious Dips!!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS for the Gift Basket of Devilishly Delicious Dips GiveAway!!!

HOW YOU CAN WIN IT!

Mandatory Entries:

** Become a Follower of this WordPress Blog by Subscribing through E-Mail utilizing the “Email Subscription” button on the right hand SideBar ~ This is worth three (3) entries. Leave three separate comments on this post indicating that you’ve subscribed to this Blog. Be sure to include your email address so I may verify your subscription.

** Visit the following Blog: http://cakes4fun.wordpress.com ~ Browse the “Photos” page, come back to this post and leave a comment as to which photo you liked the best ~ This is worth two (2) entries.

** Visit the following website: http://www.devildips.weebly.com ~ Browse the website, come back to this post and leave a comment telling me which flavors you'd like to try ~ This is worth two (2) entries.

** Leave a comment telling me what are the 7 Wedding Cake Trends that was discussed in this Issue ~ This is worth two (2) entries.

Extra Entries:

** Post about this GiveAway on your Blog, being sure to leave your Blog URL when you leave your comment that you’ve Blogged this ~ This is worth one (1) entry per day.

** Share one DIY Wedding Related Project that you did or are going to do for your wedding that you’re most proud of ~ This is worth one (1) entry.

** Since the topic is CAKE, share your favorite Cake / Filling combination (For instance, I absolutely love French Vanilla Cake with Fresh Strawberries) ~ This is worth one (1) entry.

There is a total of 3 Mandatory Entries which you’re able to gain a total of 9 entries!! And an opportunity for 9 extra entries!

This GiveAway opportunity will end on Tuesday, December 22nd @ midnight Pacific Standard Time. The winner(s) will be selected and announced on Wednesday, December 23rd.

All new "All Things Wedding Guide"

I am pleased to share with all of my readers that beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) I will be debuting my All things Wedding Guide! This will be a new feature for my Blog as I've had a couple of requests from readers and fellow DW Brides for certain information with regard to wedding planning.

My All things Wedding Guide will feature different aspects and/or topics which are all wedding related. I will compile information on that specific topic and share them here with my readers!! Please feel free to leave any comments regarding any future topics you'd like me to feature!!

With each Topic in the Wedding Guide, I will be offering a "GiveAway". However, please note that I do my give aways a little differently than most other bloggers. So, please be sure to read the Give Away rules for that specific topic!!!!

Let me share with you a little sneak peek at what I'll be offering as my first GiveAway:

Christmas Wish of a 13 Year Old ~ Wedding Updates

So, when asking what my 13 year old daughter wants for Christmas, all she says is: "Um... I don't really want anything". Hmmm.... how do I take that?!? When I call the infamous ex hubby to see what he's got in store for her so we don't duplicate anything he replies that he's getting her a desktop computer and and iPod Touch. SERIOUSLY? For a 13 year old?!? A $750 desktop and a $195 iPod Touch? Okay...fine... it's your money, spoil her all you want. I guess it's safe to say that we definitely won't be duplicating any gifts for sure!!!
Knowing full well that I'm NOT spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on one of my three children individually, I feel like how can I even compete with him? I sit and ponder this for a couple of days...then I finally tell myself I don't need to! Christmas isn't about who can buy the better or most expensive gift! And certainly, my daughter knows the true meaning of Christmas. All of my children do! I raised them better than that!

So, when speaking to E about what it is she would like to have for Christmas, she finally shares with me that she would really love a new Flat Iron. She even shares with me a link to a website where she's found one that she says is "absolutely perfect".

This particular Flat Iron retails for $139 but is on sale for $79 and I can get free shipping! I think this is a reasonable gift for her and the $$ is not too bad at all as well. I have a few days to make the purchase in order to receive it in time for Christmas ~ however I saw one at Bed Bath & Beyond that was very similar to this one and I'd have it in hand for sure wrapped and under the tree in time for the big day!!!

Who else do we have on our list to buy for?!? Brian's got 5 grandchildren ~ we have one left to buy for. Little K. K will be two in February and I'm just at odds at what to purchase!! He's got two older brothers. One is 6 years old and the other will be 5 this coming Sunday! What do two year olds like?!? We have cruised the aisles of toy stores and have come up with absolutely nothing!!! We even thought of books. We're just not seeing anything "jump out" at us! You know, this gift has to be "perfect" according to Grandpa!!! :)

All things Wedding Related:

I've accomplished absolutely NOTHING in the last couple of weeks!! Seriously! Here we are, 17 weeks out and I'm acting like I've got all the time in the world! What is with me?!? I think I posted a list of wedding related tasks and/or projects that I needed to do. Well, I can honestly share with you all that I've completed absolutely NOTHING on that list. NOT A THING. I need to get my little behind in gear!!

My top priority is to find, locate and order our flowers for the Bridal Party! Yes, my bouquet, 4 "bridesmaids" bouquets and 5 boutineres. AND, since I'm not able to take real flowers on board the ship, they have to be real touch (silk) flowers. So, I've got my hands full in that department! So, can someone please give me that swift kick in the arse that I so desperately need?!? I thought I had it all figured out until the whole BM Dress delima happened!! Now that we've got all the dresses in hand, I have to find a different bouquet for the girls since the color of the dress is now more of a Turquoise / Teal color! Any suggestions?!?

My second priority is to find Ceremony Music! Brian's niece will be playing the flute for our ceremony and she's been on us for days to let her know what our song choices are so she can get the sheet music and practice before April! You would think this would have been done months ago, and I agree that it should have.....however..... my lovely fiance has been changing his mind as to what songs he likes. So, I'm giving him unitl the end of the week to get me his choices. Come Sunday, I will be emailing his niece with our choices. With or without his input, I'm sending her something!!! :)

Here's to hoping you all have a wonderful Tuesday!!

Seventeen ~ 128

Seventeen Mondays remaining until the Wedding Cruise. ~ 128 days until THE day. There are days like this when I wake up thinking OMG, "how in the world is everything going to get done in time". We decided on a Cruise because we felt it would be less stressful and way easier to "coordinate". We originally thought that we'd have MAYBE 10 others joining us; however, as of today, we have 16 Cabins booked ~ 32 people!!! Yikes! I love it!!! We also have approximately 6 more individuals who have every intention on joining us but have to wait until after the Holidays to book their cabins, which is totally understandable!!

We have yet to get our Message in a Bottle Invitations out to all of our "local" guests! We've had these for months now and though most of them have booked, we still have some whom we have given Save the Dates to and we need to follow up with the Invite! Here's a peek at what the MIB's came out like:

I think for me, DIY'ing the ceremony isn't as hard as I anticipated, however having two receptions in two different states is the tricky part!!! I want to do a Candy Buffet at both of the receptions, and have the Apothecary Jars and Bowls that I need, but my delima is do I ship them to Minnesota after the California reception? Or do I pack them up and fly it with me? Or do I just spend the $$ and buy them when I get there? (Which by the way would be way expensive to do).

Here are a couple of "inspirational" photos of my vision! :)

On non-wedding related issues, I'm very pleased to share that I met with another client (Bride to Be) and have contracted with her to do her wedding cake! Although it's not a big, fancy cake, it's another client on the books nonetheless! I seem to be getting more and more clients as the fall season ends and I'm hoping to get more right after the Holidays. I mean, don't people get engaged during Christmas?!? And if not then, then Valentine's Day?!?

I remember two years ago, I was booked solid for the months of May, June, and July with Weddings, Quincenera's, Confirmations & Baptisms!!! Of course, there were a few Birthdays thrown in there as well! I am hoping to be just as busy this coming year ~ but with the wedding in April, receptions in May and June, I don't see being quite as booked!! :) All for good reasons!!

Today hopefully I'll be getting our Holiday Letters mailed out, along with a Birthday Package to one of Brian's grandsons; lots of laundry to catch up on and then doing a little shopping. :)

Hope you all have an AMAZING Monday! :)