Wedding planning can be fun, but also overwhelming. The wedding planning industry is big business and it is easy to get lost in beautiful and inspirational ideas, but I’m here to offer some practical and useful resources. Here are the places I have visited to cross things off my I DO to-do list:

• Craigslist – let other brides do the work for you! After their weddings, they are eager to sell off centerpieces, reception and ceremony decor, even dresses! I find it is best to search the entire ‘for sale’ section for ‘wedding items’. I scored some lanterns similar to these that I will be using as part of my centerpieces:

• Google Docs – When it comes to organizing, this is by far the best tool I use. I don’t need a huge wedding binder when all the information I need is right at my fingertips at any computer. Here are some pre-made templates that I have found useful:
• Wedding Vendor Payment List
• Wedding: Music List
• Wedding: Choosing a Venue
• Wedding: Address Book

• Etsy – I could browse etsy for hours, there is so much! I’m not a huge crafter or DIY-er, but there are plenty of talented people out there to do the work for me! From save-the-dates to hair pieces to table numbers, there is something for everyone, and many items can be custom made! Here are a few adorable details to add that extra something special to your special day:
• Custom Return Address stamp:

• Mini tissue paper poms:

• A flower for your hair:

• Illuminated table numbers:

• Save-on-Crafts – This website is like a super cheap online version of Hobby Lobby, but with even more crafts and supplies. You can view their wedding shop here and spend hours browsing all they have to offer.

• Russell and Hazel – Click here for a long list of free wedding planning templates. I printed off the Wedding Timeline/Checklist and although there are several items that don’t apply, I find it to be a comprehensive guide to help me stay on track.

And there you have it!

There are 144 days left until our wedding, any other awesome resources I should know about??

I found out about this book via twitter and immediately placed it on my reserve list. She is just one of those likeable personalities and I love watching their reality show, because they do seem genuinely happy together. I’m only number 17 on the list, so I’ll have to wait a while, but seems fitting for me to read this year, don’t you think?

Did you make resolutions this year? Did they include losing weight, eating healthier or sticking to a budget? Here is the secret to sticking to your goals:

Awareness.

By simply being more aware of our choices and the outcomes they will create, we eliminate the need for fancy diets and complicated budgets; all you have to do is just pay attention!

Here are some personal examples of when I know I am completely un-aware:

FOOD

1. Sitting down to watch TV with a box of Cheez-Its. How many servings did I just eat? Was I even hungry? Is this nourishment for my body?

2. Eating goodies someone left in the office kitchen just because they are there.

3. Finishing my entire gigantic-size portion at the restaurant, just because it is there.

MONEY

1. Buying something I don’t need just to cheer myself up.

2. Not having money for important things (healthcare) because I spent it on trivial items (makeup).

3. Wasting money by paying late fees, overdrafts fees etc.

And now some examples of what it looks like to be aware:

FOOD

1. Evaluating your level of hunger before and after eating. Stopping when you feel satisfied, not when you are about to burst.

2. Reading the labels on food and making smart choices about what you want to put into your body.

3. Not letting circumstances (parties, buffets, and eating out) extremely affect the way you eat.

MONEY

1. Taking a good look at the money that comes in and keeping track of all the money that goes out.

2. Realizing that advertising can be very convincing and talking to yourself about why you are purchasing a certain item.

3. Putting aside money each month before you pay any other expenses for an emergency fund.

If you take the time to analyze and evaluate each decision before you make it (sometimes this process only needs to take seconds), there is ultimately no need for self-judgment and guilt afterward.

If there is a pie sitting in the kitchen and you are craving a piece, but you know you will end up in a sugar-coma, feeling guilty and back at square one with your goals, use these outcomes as a motivation to skip it.

But if you think it over and you decide you truly want it and you are at peace with that decision, eat the pie, banish your guilty thoughts and love every minute of it!!

Sharon Montrose is amazing at capturing the personality and joy of dogs. This is only a few of my favorites, check out her website for more! 

 I love how it looks like Raleigh is looking down at all of his dog friends…hehe

Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.
Joseph Campbell

(Sorry, I seem to have lost the source for this photo)

Hi Everyone! Thank you for responding to my little survey from the last post. Seems like most of you like the updated look of the blog and you want to hear a little bit more about wedding planning!

I think I will use the surveys again in the future. It is a fun way to get you involved. And just so you  know, I have no way of knowing how you responded, it is completely anonymous!

The main reason I wanted to change the layout of the blog is because I wanted to be able to include wider photos. Blogging is still a learning process for me and I’m finding these things out as I go along.

Anyway, this post is just sort of reflection on the blog so far and why I want to try to keep it going. There have been times when weeks, even months have passed and I have found no motivation to post anything. But every time I come back to it, I remember why I enjoy it.

I enjoy sharing parts of my life that I might not otherwise share and receiving comments from you guys (sorry if I am not always the best about responding back!). But the other reason I find myself coming back to it is because it is a fun way to create something. Every little post is like a collage, bringing words and pictures together to create a story.

So there you have it, I know this was sort of a long ramble, but since I have been blogging for about a year now, I wanted to check-in. I would love to continue this little blog, be more consistent with posting and gain more readers, but I wanted to thank all of you that have been reading it since the beginning, even when I was too shy to tell anyone about it. I really appreciate your feedback and support!

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Click here to see more pieces from the artist Dalton Ghetti who creates sculptures from pencils.

Like most people, I have a soft spot in my heart for animals;  and as I have made very clear here, baby animals especially. This is why it is very very tragic and sad to see photos of baby elephants being trained for the Ringling Brother’s Circus. I was brought to tears by the harsh treatment, terrible conditions and lack of respect for these wild creatures.

After seeing these photos I will never attend a circus with animals and I urge you to do the same. There are plenty of shows like Cirque Du Soleil where the entertainment is provided by people who love to perform, rather than animals that have no other choice.

Click here to see the photos but please be warned that it is very sad. But I feel it is important enough to share so no one else supports this practice.

On a lighter note, here is a cute video of a baby elephant that looks much happier and playful, like baby elephants are supposed to be!

I realize there is also a lot of animal cruelty involved with mass food production, and that is one of the reasons why many people choose to become vegetarian or vegan. Obviously that issue deserves attention as well and is something that has been on my mind lately.

What stands have you taken for the sake of innocent animals or your own personal peace of mind?

Capturing your pet on film can be pretty difficult, especially when your pet is known as ‘The Crazy One’ and tends to think the camera is just another treat you are offering him.

Well on the day I was taking photos of the new room, stars aligned and I was able to capture some good shots of Raleigh.