It’s been a few days since I last blogged.  I’ve been busy, covered in glue and papercuts and learning to use my cricut for all things wedding-esque.  I’m taking a break from my craft-fest and decided that, while rocking out to the ‘Stones ‘Brown Sugar’ it was time for me to update the outside world, cause I know enquiring minds want to know!

Wedding plans are in full swing and with just under 9 weeks to go until the big day, we’re down to the somewhat finer details to organise.  Music selection, ceremony wording, itinerary of events, who goes where, when, with whom, airport runs and all those fun things.  Amber has kindly begun putting together a spreadsheet for me, the who, what, where, when and how of our wedding week.

I say wedding week because it really is.  It spans beyond the day itself in both directions.  Sugar Land will have around 19 internationals (including 1 kid, 1 baby) and currently 4 (+ 1 baby) out of state guests in town descend upon it.  Most won’t be driving and I doubt any of them will have a functioning phone.  So, it’s a week of events and activities, at least 1 ‘bus’ (plus both of our cars), a fine tuned schedule ensuring enough time to get to where we need to be and hopefully so well organised that all people will have to do when they get here, is have a cracking good time – and with any luck, that, too will be taken care of for the most part!

For those of you who don’t know, organisation really gets me going.  I’m an organisation freak – or at least strive to be.  I love plans, I love details, I love lists, I love knowing what goes where and when and how and leaving little left to ‘wing’.

I’m having a blast planning this wedding, I’m truly enjoying every stage although, I have to be honest and admit that this week has been a little trying.  I think anyone who says that they didn’t feel stressed, even a little, coming up to their wedding is either lying, or has blocked out the experience from their memory.  It’s not easy.  Col’s had it in the neck a couple times this week and I feel particularly bad for that.

In spite of most of our hockey friends not being able to make it out for the wedding, we’re still persisting with our hockey theme, simply because it’s been such a huge part of our history and sitting here, writing our ceremony I’m finding myself struggling a little.  As much as I’m trying to include a little about ‘us’ and our story, I kind of feel like the references will be lost on most of our guests – even those from home as they aren’t our hockey clan.  It’s a little sad that the people who’d appreciate the ‘in jokes’ and the hockey twists won’t be in attendance, but, as my friend Courtney told me, Col and I will ‘get’ it, and that’s ultimately all that matters.  I am, however, more than half tempted to put a bunch of my Canadian friends at the Oilers table to wind them up 😉

I have to say though, that my stress has been eased over the last few days.  My sister has finally finished her degree (and I couldn’t be more proud of her!!!), has come home from travelling and really gotten stuck in to the wedding planning.  I woke up yesterday to about 500 emails containing, links, pictures, ideas, suggestions, questions – the lot.  Add that to my already helpful (to the point of slave labour help) other bridal party member Amber, these last few days have been an utter blast.

They have also started scheming without me *sniff* and planning the finer details of my Bachelorette party.  I knew a while ago what the general plan was, Amber had booked a 4 star hotel for the night, booked a ‘Passion Party’ and had every intent of making me drink quite the large number of Jaeger bombs.  However, there’s now all kinds of secret goings on that i’m not privvy to, games, t-shirts, some kind of limo and, from what I gather, what will have to be a LOT of carbs to absorb the insane amount of liquor that they intend to thrust upon me.

I love my girlies – they’re really turning out to be quite the team! Not only that, but we’ve also recruited another member, miss Emily (a friend of Ambers who I hang out with most times I hit up IA) has decided to join the party and is involved in the scheming, planning and preparation.  I’m both excited and seriously afraid of what they have in store for me…I can only imagine! LOL!

Last week was busy, Monday I went to see ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ with some of my SSA friends.  It was a much better film than the name and the adverts suggest and I found myself enjoying it.  Tuesday was spent crafting and cardmaking with Helen – who has more time for fun things now that school has started back up.  Thursday morning 8-11.30 was spent at one of Col’s companys offices at their Open House spreading the word about the SSA and signing up new recruits and then it was off into Downtown with Col to claim our Aeros competition prize.

I entered a competition last week about ‘Aeros Pride’, this was the photo that won it for me,

We won passes to the Aeros press conference and a free lunch – so that was Thursday afternoon.  A really interesting experience that got us absolutely BUZZING about the upcoming hockey season.  Friday I went to lunch with the ladies, there was 6 of us and 2 birthdays among us so we had a lovely afternoon of chatting and catching up.

This weekend’s been quiet, but the weekend before Pay day always is! We’ve been working on wedding stuff and today Col’s out weeding and washing the cars…Ok, I’ve taken a long enough break from my working today, it’s back to the grindstone!

Until next time…<3