Because One Project is Never Enough

In case you haven’t heard, our oldest daughter is getting married.  Yes, we’re pretty excited around here.  And once she and Wesley were ready to get married, they were ready.  The wedding is in February.

 

Last Wednesday after being gone for almost 2 weeks, I drove to Dallas (where the wedding will be) to look at the venue and then to Austin on Saturday to look at wedding dresses.  Over the next couple of weeks we have to decide on flowers, photographers and invitations.  Oh sure, no problem.  We’ll just squeeze that in between Thanksgiving and the little 5-day getaway James and I planned before we knew the wedding was coming.

At least the hard part of the wedding planning is behind me for the moment though.  On Thursday morning I had the delightful experience of having a 2-hour “wedding budget meeting” with my CPA husband.  He thinks his requests are SO simple….just keep every receipt and let him know what column the purchases go in and don’t spend a penny over the allotted amount.  He may as well have told me to build a functional rocket ship and haul it on my shoulders to the North Pole.

There may have been tears.

And chocolate.

But I survived and I am determined to keep this wedding within the budget we have set.  After all, we still have 8 kids left to marry off.  My entire goal is to have a tasteful, elegant wedding on a shoestring budget.  I am scouring the dollar stores and thrift stores for some things and making other things.

I’ll be keeping you updated on the plans and preparations as we go.

We also have a major remodel project going on in our guest house.  The bathroom had a leak behind the wall which led to water damage which led to us tearing the bathroom and kitchen down to the studs.  And now we are working to put it back together again.  Like Humpty Dumpty but no help from the king’s horses or his men.  It’s just little old us and our limited skills.

That’s 2 projects, a holiday and a trip over the next few weeks.  If I disappear just know that I am probably hiding in our gross barn just so no one can find me because I need a nap.

I am looking forward to some turkey and dressing on Thursday.  It’s one of my favorite holidays.  We always celebrate with dear friends and enjoy the mix of different traditions and full tummies. Since I have done zero preparation so far I will be spending Monday in the city going from store to store to stock up on whatever bird, etc. I can find.

I have never been this disorganized on Thanksgiving before.  Normally I have lists and schedules ready, food on its designated Thanksgiving shelf in the pantry and everything I can possibly pre-prepare in the freezer.  This year I will be chopping onions at the last minute and hoping my lemon pie has time to set.  If not, we will be eating lemon curd mixed with graham cracker crumbs.

I’m really not worried about it.  These guests are my friends and won’t care if I am so tired I have to lie down on the couch after dinner.  I can still play a mean game of Heads Up from the lying down position.

Have you played Heads Up?!  It’s an app that is a perfect party game because all ages can play and you don’t have to sit around a board or keep score.  We just play and laugh.  And eat pie.  You must try it.

I sure do hope you have a wonderful holiday week and are more organized than I am.  All you would have to do is know where your plates are to be more organized then me, so you’re probably good.

And if you have any great budget wedding tips, hop over to Facebook and lay ’em on me.