Thursday, March 17, 2011

The End and a New Beginning

Well my eagerly awaited wedding is no longer happening. My fiancé and I decided that after 4 ½ years together, we both wanted different things in life. Although it’s more of a ‘when’ we wanted events to happen.

This was my first serious relationship. I wasn’t very big on the dating scene when I was in high school and even once I got out I had two or three small relationships that lasted less then three months. It was a bit devastating at first when we initially broke up. This was the man I was planning to spend the rest of my life with, the man who was going to father my children and who couldn’t stop talking about what it would be like when we retired and lived on a farm together.

It all happened on a Tuesday night, I had just gotten done cooking dinner for us and he dropped the big bomb. “I don’t want to be seeing anyone right now” was one of the things he told me. The other was “I’m not there for you”. Initially I thought that it was an easy cop out for him to tell me that’s why he didn’t want to be together, but I’m not going to argue with someone who has decided that they don’t want to be getting married to me anymore.

I ended up staying with my mom and dad for a few days, then on Thursday he texted me and said he couldn’t do this anymore and wanted to meet up and talk about getting together. We decided to give it another shot, as he claimed he was sorry and should have spoken to me about what was bothering him instead of letting it all build up. We were together for half a week when I was finally able to understand what I wanted from him if we were going to be spending the rest of our lives together. And after asking him to think on it and come up with his own ideas for what he wanted in life, the end result was a final breakup.

The second breakup was defiantly a lot less devastating as I figured when he was avoiding answering my questions about what I wanted and what he wanted out of life/our relationship that our relationship probably wasn’t going to work. In the end the ‘I’m not there for you’ was pretty close to why I wanted to break it off. We split in a relatively calm manner, with only a few things in both our names, mostly bills.

So now I’m on the market, not actively looking but enjoying wondering what if’s in my head. The major down side of all this is moving back in with my parents as I enjoyed living out on my own, but I think that I’ll take pleasure in not having to pay rent for a while before looking at a place of my own. If I can save up enough, it’d be cool to purchase a home instead of paying rent.

I can’t wait to see where my life takes me next!

And oh yeah, I’ll be going on a cruise (my first) in October with my sister, her boyfriend and their fun family, now that I can afford it. Yeay :)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Let’s Start Anew

A couple of month ago, we decided that it would be better to move back the wedding date. I immediately picked a day in May that was a year from our original date but now that I have a bit more time, it might be nice to have the wedding close to when we actually started going out, at the end of January.

The only problem with this is that it’s a week away from my sister and her wedding anniversary. Might not be a problem, but you never know.

We’ll be viewing the site this weekend and I’m hoping that it’s great. It's right on the water front and it houses a kitchen as well as a hall and they only want $600 to rent the location. The only down side I’ve seen so far is that their website isn’t up to day and it was hard to contact anyone at the building for information. But once they have been contacted, the response time has been fantastic.

I can’t wait to see it this weekend!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

What to do when you realize you can’t afford the catering

One of my many woes as I plan my wedding is the response time it takes to hear back from the location and the catering staff. I had wanted to get married at the local zoo carosel room, it’s a beautiful room with hand carved wooden horse and wonderfully painted walls. The down side, it took the events person 4 ½ months to provide me a contract from when I originally requested one. One of my friends stated that she was having the same problem with her facility choice, so naturally I assumed that it would be the case for all wedding locations. I was wrong.



My fiancé found this wonderful building called ‘The Ruins’ located near Alki Beach in Seattle. I requested some pricing information and asked some questions, basically resulting in 4 or 5 emails back and forth and every email was answered the same day. This was also over the Christmas holiday, Dec 23rd to the 26th. That was when I learned that not all locations where the same.



The Zoo makes most their money on everyday admissions, so they aren’t too worked up about ensuring that the facilities are rented after hours as it really isn’t their bread and butter. The Ruins on the other hand makes most their money hosting events and are most likely more liable for when people slip through the cracks as its important income they wouldn’t normally be generating.



Break down of prices I received from the Zoo and pricing estimate I received from the Ruins

Point Defiance Zoo

Facility: $638 ($250 an hour minus 15% for off season)

Fully refundable deposit: $500 ($300 w/out alcohol)

Catering for cocktail reception: ($2325, 75 people) $31 per person (appetizers ($25 per person) and dessert bar ($6 per person), price does not include wedding cake)

Cash Bar: if $350 in sales isn’t met, out of pocket price for bartender $150



Facility rental contract: Price paid in full when signing the contract, the $500 damage deposit due 30 days before the event.

Catering contract: $500 due when contract is signed and payment received in full 20 days before event, final attendant number due then.



Positives: The room is wonderful and a fun location, plus it’s the zoo! The actual rental price of the facility is amazing considering all tables and chars and plain table cloths are provided.



Negatives: The response time from the sales/rental correspondent, 4 ½ months to work up a rental contract is a bit extreme. The price of catering was a bit much for a cocktail like setting I wanted. I had assumed that they would be less then the Ruins, but they where more and dessert had even been priced out separately. $25 a person for a cocktail party seems a bit extreme for the five items I wanted, one of which was fruit. They also still wanted to charge a $3 per person set up fee even though the reception wasn’t going to be sit down. The contract also had listed a $485 service fee, and I still haven’t heard back on what that fee entails. The prices of the open bar, $5.50 for domestic beer and $6 for importuned, was a bit much. The bar pricing reminds me of stadium beer pricing.



The Ruins

Facility: $1300 +$150 (ballroom and bridal room)

Catering for cocktail reception: ($1875, 75 people) ~$25 per person and the wedding cake is included

Open bar: only option available if a bar is desired



Facility rental contract: Room price paid in full when contract is signed.

Catering contract: Half the estimated price of catering needs to be paid about 30 days in advance, the final attendance numbers supplied three days before event, and the remainder of the bill needs to be paid 30 days after the event.



Positives: I love the ballroom and its wonderfully colored theme. They are excellent at responding to emails and answering all your questions. Everything is taken care of by the Ruins, including decorations and flowers, except for the bridal party. The rental information they sent me broke everything down, right to the amount of servers I’d need for my size of group and the hourly wages I’d be responsible to pay for the servers and the bartender. I love the contract and payment schedule at the Ruins, especially the amount of time you have to tell them your final group numbers.



Negatives: Open bar is not going to happen with my friends and family, the bar tab alone would probably cost more then the catering. If you wanted a cake from a specific location it won’t be happening here as everything must be done through the facility including decorations and flowers, except for the bridal party.



So now that I know my fiancé and I don’t want to take out a loan to help pay for the location and catering, and not enough time and extra cash to save up in the amount of time left before the wedding (~5 months), I’ll have to start my search again for a location that would fit our needs and allow for the wedding party to supply the food (since this is what he had wanted to do from the beginning).



I personally didn’t want to do a potluck like event for my wedding, but if we supply all the food, it turns into not quite a potluck (I keep telling myself this) and into more of a hosting party. So I’ve been given a dead line of February 21st to find a new location (he’ll also be looking) or else we’ll need to reschedule the wedding. What fun!

Friday, January 14, 2011

What To Do When You Realize You Can’t Afford the Catering

One of my many woes as I plan my wedding is the response time it takes to hear back from the location and the catering staff. I had wanted to get married at the local zoo carosel room, it’s a beautiful room with hand carved wooden horse and wonderfully painted walls. The down side, it took the events person 4 ½ months to provide me a contract from when I originally requested one. One of my friends stated that she was having the same problem with her facility choice, so naturally I assumed that it would be the case for all wedding locations. I was wrong.

My fiancé found this wonderful building called ‘The Ruins’ located near Alki Beach in Seattle. I requested some pricing information and asked some questions, basically resulting in 4 or 5 emails back and forth and every email was answered the same day. This was also over the Christmas holiday, Dec 23rd to the 26th. That was when I learned that not all locations where the same.

The Zoo makes most their money on everyday admissions, so they aren’t too worked up about ensuring that the facilities are rented after hours as it really isn’t their bread and butter. The Ruins on the other hand makes most their money hosting events and are most likely more liable for when people slip through the cracks as its important income they wouldn’t normally be generating.

Break down of prices I received from the Zoo and pricing estimate I received from the Ruins
Point Defiance Zoo
Facility: $638 ($250 an hour minus 15% for off season)
Fully refundable deposit: $500 ($300 w/out alcohol)
Catering for cocktail reception: ($2325, 75 people) $31 per person (appetizers ($25 per person) and dessert bar ($6 per person), price does not include wedding cake)
Cash Bar: if $350 in sales isn’t met, out of pocket price for bartender $150

Facility rental contract: Price paid in full when signing the contract, the $500 damage deposit due 30 days before the event.
Catering contract: $500 due when contract is signed and payment received in full 20 days before event, final attendant number due then.

Positives: The room is wonderful and a fun location, plus it’s the zoo! The actual rental price of the facility is amazing considering all tables and chars and plain table cloths are provided.

Negatives: The response time from the sales/rental correspondent, 4 ½ months to work up a rental contract is a bit extreme. The price of catering was a bit much for a cocktail like setting I wanted. I had assumed that they would be less then the Ruins, but they where more and dessert had even been priced out separately. $25 a person for a cocktail party seems a bit extreme for the five items I wanted, one of which was fruit. They also still wanted to charge a $3 per person set up fee even though the reception wasn’t going to be sit down. The contract also had listed a $485 service fee, and I still haven’t heard back on what that fee entails. The prices of the open bar, $5.50 for domestic beer and $6 for importuned, was a bit much. The bar pricing reminds me of stadium beer pricing.

The Ruins
Facility: $1300 +$150 (ballroom and bridal room)
Catering for cocktail reception: ($1875, 75 people) ~$25 per person and the wedding cake is included
Open bar: only option available if a bar is desired

Facility rental contract: Room price paid in full when contract is signed.
Catering contract: Half the estimated price of catering needs to be paid about 30 days in advance, the final attendance numbers supplied three days before event, and the remainder of the bill needs to be paid 30 days after the event.

Positives: I love the ballroom and its wonderfully colored theme. They are excellent at responding to emails and answering all your questions. Everything is taken care of by the Ruins, including decorations and flowers, except for the bridal party. The rental information they sent me broke everything down, right to the amount of servers I’d need for my size of group and the hourly wages I’d be responsible to pay for the servers and the bartender. I love the contract and payment schedule at the Ruins, especially the amount of time you have to tell them your final group numbers.

Negatives: Open bar is not going to happen with my friends and family, the bar tab alone would probably cost more then the catering. If you wanted a cake from a specific location it won’t be happening here as everything must be done through the facility including decorations and flowers, except for the bridal party.

So now that I know my fiancé and I don’t want to take out a loan to help pay for the location and catering, and not enough time and extra cash to save up in the amount of time left before the wedding (~5 months), I’ll have to start my search again for a location that would fit our needs and allow for the wedding party to supply the food (since this is what he had wanted to do from the beginning).

I personally didn’t want to do a potluck like event for my wedding, but if we supply all the food, it turns into not quite a potluck (I keep telling myself this) and into more of a hosting party. So I’ve been given a dead line of February 21st to find a new location (he’ll also be looking) or else we’ll need to reschedule the wedding. What fun!

Dark Days of Winter Book Tour in Redmond 01/15/11

January 15, 2011 2:00 PM
Redmond - Borders
Redmond Town Center
Redmond, WA 98052
Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses) brings us the first installment in her new series-Once in a Full Moon.
http://www.ellenschreiber.com/home.htm

Kimberly Derting will sign copies of The Body Finder.
http://www.kimberlyderting.com/

Cynthia Hand debuts her angel novel-Unearthly.
cynthiahand.blogspot.com/

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Book Review- Redeeming the Lost

Redeeming the Lost
Book 3 of 'The Song in the Silence'
By Elizabeth Kerner





















In this book you start off exactly where you left in Book 2, Lanen is held captive by the Evil Brays and the true dragons have just landed after flying from their destroyed home island. This fast paced book leads you though the captivity of Lanen, the awaking of the Dark Dragon and the final battle between the demon that killed so many of the Dragons centuries ago.

Lanen finally meets the mother she had been yearning for while the father she wished she had never met, tries to return her to the evil mage intent on stealing her soul. Lanen's and Akor/Varien's relationship is put to the test during the final battle and in the resulting chaos afterwards.

Overall this book was a joy to read although it did stall a bit in the first couple of chapters, but one you get past them the story speeds up and continues in a fast action packed pace. I love her depiction of dragons and how they dance in the sky. Her explanation of postures help the reader understand how the dragon is looking but in a way where the reader understands exactly how their feeling.

Over all I would give this book a 4 out of 5 storyline/romance. Although there is very little romance in this book their is are affirmations of relationships that the storyline brushes upon.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Long Slow Learning Curve

Yes, I swear sometimes I have the worlds largest learning curve. I decided that it would just be fantastic if I created this spectacular Quilling gift for my mother on her birthday. It was going to be a giant J with a flower off to the side and fill with wonderful quilled paper.

First issue I ran into, base paper. Having the proper base paper will make or break your project. Mine warped, bubbled and I swear disappeared in places. I was using a thick paper, but not card stock.

Next, paper stretches when wet. Allow your paper to dry before applying that last coat to the piece. It was fun having to cut and reset the outline (yes it took me forever to just get the outline done, that darn base paper can kill you).

Get a small ruler. I learned the hard way that trying to make do with something that is almost straight isn't as great as if it was straight. It'll also help you with length measurements.

Realise what type of mog pog your using will effect the base paper. I used dark gray paper and a gloss like mog pog. It was shinny and you could totally see where I used the brush.

Watch that frustration level. If you find your project isn't work because its too wet, the paper's sliding or not sticking, the papers kinking (I had this problem a lot), please and I mean please, take a break. Let what you've done dry and come back. It helps immensely and you're more likely to finish the project.

Currently I have the J completed and part of the flower.

Because it was taking so long, I decided that she needed some Calvin and Hobbes ornaments. I found clear plain glass balls and proceeded to cut out small pictures of Calvin and Hobbes. Number one fact you should know about ornaments. They're curved.

Who knew! This causes pinching, buckling and overall frustration with the pieces you where imagining would look spectacular. But I continued on and in the end they weren't too bad.

I used the mog pog again, coating the back of the paper or the ball and pressing and holding the paper down until is stuck to the glass, smoothing any wrinkles by lightly creasing areas. Let dry and apply one more coat of mog pog to the outside of the paper. The mog pog dries clear. Next time I'm going to try a colored ornament.