Tuesday, January 31, 2012

..:Always Look For Deals..:


Bought:
140 address labels
100 postcards
50 brochures
50 rack cards
50 oversized postcards
10 notecards w/10 envelopes
10 sticker labels
1 lawn sign
1 banner
1 poster


All for $41.93; Mostly from ordering extra brochures (serving as wedding invitations) and adding pictures to the brochure and the poster, otherwise everything was free. Awesome deal!!!

Yes, I have given in and started couponing too! I have had two shopping trips and definitely learned alot. A huge part of the reason why I decided to coupon was I want to save more money for the wedding. My last trip, I paid $2.17 oop for two boxes of WhoNu Cookies, 2 4-pks of Activia and 2 boxes of Cheerios (Peanut Butter and Dulce de Leche).

I recently joined Pinterest.com. It is so addicting. I love it. I can't stop looking at the pins. I love all the wedding ideas, the fitness and motivational quotes along with really yummy desserts.

It's been over 2 weeks and I have not put my dress back on. Surprising, huh?!? I still need to get my dress hemmed and altered around the hips. I want to wait until I get back to my desired weight before doing so. I want to lose a few more pounds, so it can balance out after all the wedding and NH celebrations. I want to no have to worry about it during my trip to PA and St. Lucia.

This week is honey's birthday. We are celebrating in multiple ways.. starting this Thursday by going out for Chinese. I am also making his favorite bunbohue soup. I will take pictures and blog about it.

Here is one of my most recent new soup I ate. I had it during Vietnamese New Year weekend. Bun Mam is a native vermicelli noodle fish soup.


Bun Mam


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

..:The WOW Factor Does Exist:..

The WOW factor does exist.

I found my dress at the Wedding Shoppe on Grand in St. Paul! I never thought I would love a dress this much. 

When I got there, the constutant asked me what I like. I told her I like ruffles, beads and lace; all in one. She said, "Wow, you like everything. You want it all." I started to describe what I saw so far and was considering buying at the other shop. She told me that there is a new dress that she thinks I might like. 

She put the dress on me. My friend, Kat, was talking to me so I had my head turned away from the mirror. She gasped and said something along the lines of, "OMG, this dress is gorgeous!!" I turned to look in the mirror. I eyes widened and I immediately fell in love. The dress was gorgeous! It had everything on it, plus more. There were flowers and feathers on the dress too. 

"This gown features a defined sweetheart neckline and a dropped waist bodice adorned with delicate lace applique, embroidery and Swarovski crystals. The skirt features soft ruffles throughout."  -Allure Bridals 






But then I looked at the price and nearly fainted. It was way out of my budget. The consultant told me not to worry and that it was in my budget... There was a story to the dress as to why it was at their shop; when it's not suppose to hit the wedding shops until Spring 2012.What happened was the Wedding Shoppe ordered it for the fashion show the past wkend (true, there was a Wedding Fair at the Convention Center). The dress didn't fit the model, so they used a different dress for the fashion show and decided to try to sell it.


I thought they were pulling my leg, until I got home and googled the dress! 
I got to take it home (which if I bought a different dress, it would not come til end of june!). No more waiting for me! It's a bit loose around the hips, so I'll probably get it taken in and hemmed at the bottom.

I was jittery and so nervous about buying it! I sat in it for about half an hour... debating. It was a bit more expensive and fancier than I originally thought I would spend, I put the other one that was my first choice from a different shop on and it felt so plain. I couldn't pass up the dress! 


Lucky gal I am!



Saturday, January 14, 2012

...:Our Perfect Wedding Theme:..

Selecting a theme for the wedding is important. It will help guide you in decorating, party favors, colors and other small details. The wedding theme can also say alot about you as a couple. I want our love and personalities to show through on our special day... So I am so happy that we get to make the decisions!

I bought these!!
Our wedding theme is going to be the BEACH. We both love going to the beach. We love to lay out and tan. We  both can't swim, so we really just go there for the beach! For those that know me, they know I love all things seashells. I love the breeze, the smell and the sun! It is going to be a summer wedding, so why not have it outside, right? Our wedding will be decorated with seashell garlands, seashell center pieces, seashell party favors... and even seashell chocolates! My only concern is that my color scheme, which is white and red, might throw it off.  Most seashell decor I found are blue and white.I chose them because they are classic wedding colors. I love the contrast of red and white. I love red lilies and white hydrangeas! Oh somehow, I will make the red and white work under the beach theme. :)

Our guests will be asked to come in beach/summer dresses, khakis and linen shirts (relaxed but yet clean attire). After all, it will be hot outside. Honey will be wearing a white linen blazer and khakis. I am still going to wear a gorgeous wedding gown despite the hot weather. I will also be wearing it at the reception too. I am not going to buy a reception dress because I want to be in my gown all day!

Our love is our paradise!! 
Another reason why I chose this theme is because we are going to the Sandals Resort in St. Lucia for our honeymoon. We booked a honeymoon suite with an oceanfront view, private pool and butler service. We will be there for 6 nights. Guess what else is amazing? Our dear friend, R&A, who is also getting married this summer, is going at the same time we are. Or should I say we are going at the same time they are! Thanks guys for asking us to join you. We are staying at different Sandals resorts, but we plan to meet up for dinner, maybe a couple of activities and best of all (that drove me to say YES) we are going to take each other's pictures. I want lots of pictures. Whenever we go on trips, we always have to ask strangers to take our pictures or we are taking pictures of each other only.. I am going to take my brother's professional camera and take couple pictures. I also plan to bring my wedding dress there too for the pictures. How gorgeous to be in my wedding dress and on the beach too! So yes, I will be wearing my wedding dress more than once! :) We are also going to do a private ceremony in St. Lucia for us.

Most of all, I just feel so happy and lucky to have found such a wonderful guy. Never have I met anyone who loves me so much, keeps me so positive and helps me to be a better person each and everyday.

I love this... but red.
He loves chocolate and sweets just as much as I do. We are crazy about ice cream and desserts, which mean we will have a wide selection of desserts at our wedding reception. I plan to have a whole table dedicated to desserts; cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, pies, ice cream and cake.

Our food selection also screams, US, Asian foods. We love love Asian food... We are integrating Vietnamese and Hmong food together. I have requested such things as spring rolls and lotus root salad while he has requested purple sticky rice and Hmong sausage. Yes, we are driving to PA with a cooler full of Hmong sausages. These things don't have much to do with the beach theme... but it's okay. I'll make an exception, so I can be satisfied with dinner. I'll make up for it by eating plenty of seafood in St. Lucia.

Leave us a message!
This morning, we discussed what is the next step in our wedding planning. Invitations! I think I will be making it.... all because I want to. :) I want to personalize it myself. I have a pretty great idea... so STAY TUNE! I am hoping to get it done by the end of February.

Lastly, I want to share this activity that I will have at my wedding, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. The guests will write advice(s) or a message to us, put it in the bottle with sand and seashells. We will open and read one every wedding anniversary. I have yet to order the kits. They are sitting in my shopping cart at the moment along with monogrammed wine bottle labels and the red/white pearls.

Our wedding is not going to be very traditional. We are not doing it the Hmong or the Vietnamese way. We are doing it the Duong and Mor Chia way. I am very Thankful that both our parents are not pressuring us to do otherwise.
BTW, GO TEBOW!!!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

..:What is Reasonable:..

Lately, I have been adding and crunching numbers to see what is reasonable. I have been searching up prices here and there. I am iffy about using services. The biggest reason is because I want to do it all. I am the type of person where I want to supervise or do it myself so things are to my liking. Yes, this could easily result in me turning into a crazy bridezilla! AHHHHH! Yikes! However, I have been drawing, mapping and planning my vision of this wedding... So I do want things to work out in my favor!

I think it is rediculous to pay 3 or 4 times the amount of cost for a bouquet of flowers when I already have a vision of what I want. Plus, I will have the summer off to do it all. Of course, it's understandable to have someone else do it if I didn't have the vision, talent or the time... But I love doing arts and crafts things. At my sister's wedding, I made all the bouquet and did the center pieces... She paid for her bridal bouquet and a few center pieces and it costed so much! It wasn't even extra fancy or anything! I was also disappointed that they did the center pieces there at the wedding. You would expect it to be ready when it arrived.

I am still debating about my perfect wedding dress. I want to go back to the WC and buy the one I like there... but there is a GoodWill Bridal Showcase Event on Feb 25th. I would like to go there first. If there is not one in my size that I like... But I am hoping to get LUCKY!

This is the link to the GoodWill Bridal Showcase Event:
http://www.goodwilleasterseals.org/site/PageServer?pagename=bridalshowcase

You have probably already seen it.. the websites where they are selling a wedding dress for $200-$300, even designer dresses. Is it a scam or if I order from it, will I get a nice quality dress? I have been reading many many mixed reviews and the thing is anyone can write on these forums. I just can't convince myself that the money is worth the risk. Most of these companies/sites are from Asian and have a reputation of being unreachable. Another scary factor is I have not tried on the dress yet. What if it doesn't fit right?! It's just too nerve racking for such an important item. There are so many things to worry about already... I don't want to add the wedding dress to it.

I'll leave you my very first successful attempt of making stuffed chicken wings. It was so delicious!

After deboning the wing, stuff it with eggroll type filling. 

I bake it to cook it first.

Then I pan fried it to brown and crisp the skin.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

.:Finding a Venue:.

Planning a wedding in Lancaster, PA from our home in Minnesota sure is confusing and nerve racking. I have been looking at venue for a couple of days now and even wrote to several place to inquire about their wedding packages and prices. It's so expensive! Rental fee ranges from nearly $3,000 to $7,000. I am freaking out because we don't have a venue. I can't chose a venue because I can't go see it in person, who I am nervous about booking it without seeing it. I also want Asian food at my wedding and all of these places are "American foods." Ideally, I would just rather book an Asian restaurant and pay for decorating. But then Asian restaurant websites are wedding detail friendly... So after much thought and careful consideration.


Okay, so here is the wedding planning update:
1. I want a small and intimate backyard wedding with games, good food (Asian food!) and drinks. Probably 50ish people.
2. We are going to do it Sat, July 21st in Lancaster. Ceremony at his parent's and then reception at his aunt's. We are going to rent a tent for the reception. I was also thinking why have a summer wedding, if I am not going to be outside. I want to be outside! We also decided on this date because we have a wedding to attend in NJ Aug. 5th so it'll be when we get back from our honeymoon too. I can't have it after cause work will start Mid Aug for teacher trainings.
3. We decided on this because of the expensive venue rentals and then having to pay for a wedding planner since we are planning from afar (and paying the dowry). All the venues (cept for the Asian restaurants cater American food out in Lancaster). We also want to go on our honeymoon the day after the wedding.
4. It's not going to be extra fancy, so I hope you all will still attend! It's going to be a beach theme wedding with seashells.... so semi formal wear like khakis and summer dresses! BUT it will still be nice and extra cute!
5. Bachelorette party will be in Philly Thursday or Friday before the wedding.



Inspired by the following wedding posts: 
1.  http://www.younghouselove.com/wedding-album/
2.  http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/budget-savvy-bride-smaid-planning-a-backyard-wedding


The downside is that I have to be extra picky about my guestlist... which no everyone will travel anyways... so perhaps it works out!??

Monday, January 2, 2012

...:Happy New Year 2012:...

Happy 2012!!! 


2011 has been great. And 2012 will be another great year. It's important to keeping looking for the good in people and in life. Of course I am still going to keep working out and eating healthy. These are not just new year's resolutions, but my way of life. My life is about bettering myself to be happy... to live the best life I can live... to be the person I want to be.


Lately, I have been annoyed by people; who are lazy, inconsiderate and make terrible decisions in life and then complain about how life sucks. Life does not suck, you suck at life!!! As much as I love them and want to be there for them... I am pretty much to the point where I feel like I am wasting my words and energy. They need to pick themselves up and fix it. No one is going to fix the problem for you... Why fail yourself!!! So cliche, but so true... "Love yourself first." Love yourself enough.



From's my friend, Pj's status" 
"note to self-- LET GO of the things/ppl that are not worth it...the bad experiences-let them be bygones and learn from them, but don't forget about them because mistakes can happen more than once... the good things-remember them so you can reciprocate it in this new year... EMBRACE the CHANGES that you cannot control-if you can't fix it, maybe it was meant to 'change' YOU instead--to become a better, stronger and wiser person.. and LOVE YOURSELF... it starts and ends with you.."


In 2012, I am looking forward to soo many wonderful things:

  • Getting married! And going to two 2 best friends' weddings.
  • Having my own classroom!
  • Going to Mexico/Caribbeans!
  • Spending more time with friends and family. 
  • It's quite simple... IF I did all these things above than I am fulfilled! 

I will leave on this special note from 20: 40 Vision.

"The world is not watching you. There is no finish line. You can let yourself feel some freedom to figure s*** out. Slow down. Don’t chase the ladder or the limelight. Take some time to just be with yourself too.”