Not too much of excitement going on in my neck of the woods. It's the dead of winter, but fortunately we have not had much snow. Aroostook County, on the other hand, has snowbanks that look about 10 feet high. Sure glad we missed that!
Wedding plans are moving along, and the budget is ever-expanding. My sister (former baker) volunteered to do the cutting cake and cupcakes as her wedding present, but the venue doesn't allow food to be brought in unless it's from a commercial kitchen, so DD and her fiance spent a Saturday cupcake-tasting. They brought us samples so we converged on Dunk's for coffee and tastings. Fun... and it added $600 to the budget. My soon-to-be SIL's grandmother, who used to be a floral designer, volunteered to do the flowers as her gift, but she had a stroke in January (with 5 stints put in) so she can't do the flowers. DD and I will visit the florist in 2 weeks to pick out flowers. Fortunately it's just bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages (not centerpieces) but that's gonna be another $500-$600 that we didn't anticipate. It's OK... we can pay it, just not how we'd hoped to spend all our money this spring, and of course we anticipated unexpected costs, right? Let's see... I am ordering the bridesmaid's dresses this afternoon. DD has had her first gown fitting (it really only needs a bustle and about 1" for the hem). Invitations are purchased and almost all addressed, and DD had designed the program (although we are waiting until much closer to the wedding before printing them). We have purchased all the artificial flowers for the overhead hanging decorations, decoration for the marriage arch, and all the stuff for the centerpieces. Now I have to get artsy-craftsy and make them. I am on semester break in 2 weeks, so after meeting DD in NH for the floral meeting, we'll go back to her home in CT where I will stay for most of the week and work on stuff while she's at work, and then we'll work together in the evenings. That's the plan... but it might get sidelined if there is wine involved, hahaha. She still needs to firm up her plans for favors, and we'll probably need to buy bags for them. Everything else is done... DJ and photographer hired, final food choices made, etc. I guess they are still choosing readings for the ceremony, and DD has to purchase her fiancé's wedding ring (but she found it and has the $$$).
This weekend I am at my sister's in southern Maine. We are headed towards the Boston area to go dress shopping for me. We really have no decent stores in the Bangor area, now that Macy's is gone, and I think being the MOB calls for more than a dress from Walmart or Target! I DETEST shopping, so am not looking forward to this. I have looked online but am not finding much from reputable sources. I also am body-shape-challenged, so ordering online will require several purchases to find something that fits and looks good. I have found a couple of things I like, but the companies get awful reviews regarding customer service and returns that I don't dare order (Old Pueblo Traders, Blair, JJ's House). Sigh. I have found one dress I like through Dillards, so am going to look for that today even though we don't have a Dillards. If I can try one of them on, I might order online as there are better prices and colors available. Sigh. I hate shopping, and after I buy the dress, I get to go find SHOES. Shoot me now!!