help me chose my wedding cake - i can't make decisions!!!

Help me chose my wedding cake.  I have an idea of the one that I am leaning towards (but I will not tell you).  But I want to hear opinions.  So just comment and put 1. 2. 3. or 4. *depending on the cake you like or love* and feel free to say why.

Cake 1 - you can tell what it looks like. Cake 2 - plain white/ivory. No cake topper. I hate cake toppers. Each tier is dotted with matching white/ivory "pearls" made of icing.  Cake 3 - plain white/ivory. No cake topper.  Each tier is dotted with matching white/ivory "pearls" made of icing, but not as close together as cake 2. Instead of the light blue, it would be light purple.  Cake 4 - plain white/ivory. No cake topper. Each tier is dotted with matching white/ivory "pearls" made of icing, but they're spread out all over the place rather than near the base of the tiers. And... I would probably actually keep the silver on it... since I think that may be too much purple since the "ribbon" is thicker.

Remember. I want a vintage, Anthropologie, romantic wedding.  And with that ... which cake do you like?!

Three Things Thursday.

1. I started running at the gym at lunch and it may be a really bad idea.  Because you see, when I run ... I RUN ... and I sweat and I turn bright red ... and then I have to go back to the office.  The other day our VP of Payroll said "you look hot" ... yeah I was.  BUT, I feel like that is the only way I will get my run in because by the time 5:30 rolls around all I want to do is go home, eat dinner, and then lay around.  Laying around does not equal active.  And, my parents are coming in town today till next week sometime and that means working out will be hard unless I do it at lunch... so sweaty lunchtime runs it is. :o)
2. So after one Blast900 class the instructor was talking about heart rate monitors and seeing how many calories were burned (and we all know, I'm not really burning 900 calories) so my interest was perked.  And then there was a guest blogger on Blast900's blog last week who was talking about how it felt like she was dying but by looking at her HR monitor she knew she could push harder and not die.  I really want a HR monitor - but I don't want to buy one because the Garmin I want has a HR monitor as part of it.  But with that said, I don't want to shell out all that money for a new Garmin.  But then I was at Blast Monday and running on the treadmill Tuesday and my mind kept going to a HR Monitor. I wish I had done more research when I bought my 1st Garmin and I could have gotten on with one, but back then I didn't understand/realize/know how helpful and awesome they could be. I mean I could buy the new one (and I have a REI dividend), sell the old one and put that money to the new one... but what if I cannot sell the old one.

3.  My friend Lydia and I went to spin class together yesterday and it was by far the worst spin class I have ever been too. And Lyd agreed.  We actually left 30 minutes in because it was so bad.  She didn't crank the music up, she had zero energy (very blah) and there was nothing happening that made you want to work and want to be there. so we left. yeah, we're slackers.  BUT we both did 15 minutes on the treadmill prior to spin... so that is 45 minutes of work.  makes up for it right?!

Sale Alert! Sale Alert!

Hidden (non-running) secret about me.  Even though I LOVE nice things I really try to not spend full price on pretty much anything.  I celebrate the little victories (like this weekend, between coupons and my Kroger card I saved $36 on groceries!) and love finding good deals.  And... even more I like sharing the good deals.

And here are some:

1.  The Joyful Bath Co now offers their salts on drugstore.com - well you can stock up on their wonderfulness NOW.  I love their salts because they're not boring, but still do the trick after hard workouts.  I also adore Oasty Floatsie mixed with Nilla Buttermilk -- puts me right to sleep at night. Each jar is like $2.48 off which does not seem like a lot, but hey I will totally take it!
2. The Publix Marathon is currently at a low price ($60 for the half, $80 for the full) BUT with this fun little coupon code thanks to The Big Peach Running Company you can get a discount.  Codes: BPRC5 = $5 off the half and BPRC10 = $10 off the full   .... I will totally be taking advantage of this, but I gotta check the race date out first.
3. My personal favorite is this website 6pm.com -- they currently have a boat load of Nike stuff on their site.  Everything from tempo shorts to skirts to shirts to sports bras.  Things are ranging 30% - 70% off and 6pm has other awesome running clothes too.  If I was not on a spending freeze for the month of July and possibly August too I would be snatching things up.

Well.... 3 does not seem like a lot, but I wanted to share some spending fun with you. :o)

the OFFICIAL save the date

And the 1st big “real” announcement of the wedding has been sent out to everyone we want to share our big day with!! A few months past I “previewed” a potential save the date for all our wedding guests. but I wanted to share the official one that went out to all our wedding guests.  since they have been mailed and *hopefully* everyone has received theirs by now – here it is for the whole world to see.  It is the same one that I previewed, just with a different picture.  And actually, it was 100% Kyle’s idea to use the picture that we did and I am really grateful for his opinion and help, because even though I thought it wouldn’t work and that I would not like it…it totally worked and I really like it.  And we ended up getting a lot of compliments about it so I am glad so many people like it.  YAY!  and no, this is not me telling everyone to “save the date” and attend … I just wanted to share it since I LOVE it and think it is amazing.  I hope it is on everyone’s refrigerator since it is a magnet!!

three things thursday.

it has been a while since i have done a three things thursday - but since i am trying my very very best to keep this running and working out related, i have not had too much to report on. 

1. i have been going to blast900 once a week, every week for 3 weeks now and it does not get easier, but i have found that it has made me stronger and my endurance is getting better. i thought it would get easier as the weeks went on, but it has not been getting easier since all the instructors make each class different and you never know what you're walking into. i won't get to do it this week since my 6pm monday class was cancelled for the 4th and because i was not even in atlanta...  but i really like it (even though 30 minutes in i say i hate it) and want kyle j to come with me -- the 1st class is free! :o)  they're supposedly looking for locations in northern va, so if they do open locations here i can go when i am home for holidays and when we move back....

2. i really really really want the new garmin forerunner 610. my 405 is like 2 or 3 years old and has been acting REAL glitchy and is not holding a charge very well once it gets turned on and is in training mode, so i want to upgrade. plus i want the HR monitor and I like that is has stronger satellite signals so i won't lose it like i did during the Nashville Half and Atlanta 13.1 last year.  but, i won't let myself buy it because (a) I'm not running enough to warrant buying a new one (b) my 405 works well enough, i just need to remember to put it on the charger after use (c) it is way way way too expensive and (d) because i am in total saving money mode.  but i am allowed to dream of it right? plus in a years time the price should *hopefully* drop.

3. i went home for the 4th of july and did not even get to run at my most favorite running spot ever - burke lake. i totally planned on running it at least once, but my mom's check engine light went out when i was driving it one day and cars with check engine lights on freak me out. whenever we decide to move back to NoVa (kyle needs to stop making excuses especially since he "hates georgia so much") I will run there as often as humanly possible.  i didn't even run the neighborhood - i just laid in bed like a bum and slept till almost 12:00 most days. 

1 year ago...

1 year ago Kyle J told me that he had to go to Newnan to train people and that I had to take care of the dog.  It was lie. He was actually picking up my engagement ring and he was planning on asking me a REALLY important question.

1 year ago I was mad at Kyle for making me take care of the dog on my gym day and he told me he wanted to take me to dinner and I told him (and my good friend and now bridesmaid) that I did not want to dine with him!

1 year ago Kyle decided to drive by the restaurant we were going to go to dinner at and I scolded him and I told Kyle that he had to get me home by 8:00 because I had to watch Glee and I threw attitude his direction because I am selfish and had NO idea what was going on!!

1 year ago, decided to recreate my dream and take me to a castle and give me a pink cupcake and ask me to be his wife.

1 year ago I said YES! 

i die . love for lace . love for vintage

ignore the actual flowers is this picture. but focus your eyes on the amazingness that is the lace wrap of the stems  and vintage looking brooch that adds an accent.

seriously. I die at the amazingness of it all and the detail and the vintageness of it. I know vintageness is not a word and I am sure amazingness is not a word either, but I saw this and swooned.

must have lace wrap my bouquet. and must find an amazing brooch just like that one.

….if you need me, I will be scouring etsy until I find one that it not just glitz and fake bling.