The BB's Big Day

The day has finally come!
After 8 years of dating and a 2 year (to the date) engagement, Jake and Carolyn are getting married!

I'm busy getting my hair did and doting on the beautiful bride, but I had to schedule a post dedicated to two of the most amazing people I know.

Jake and Carolyn have been through so much individually and together and the love that they have is the kind of love that lasts. They don't take each other or themselves too seriously and they know how to really enjoy life. At the same time, they are the most  loyal and amazing friends.

J and Jake have been best friends since 8th grade and I feel so lucky that I got to gain a friendship with Jake when I started dating J. He's become like an annoying older brother who, most of the time, I want to punch but also know that I can call for help and depend on no matter what.



And, you all know how much I love my BB. Words cannot express how much our friendship means to me. We haven't always gotten along, but now I have a lifelong bestie to share all of life's amazing milestones with.


I am so unbelievably excited for Jake and Carolyn and I know this wedding is going to be amazing! Carolyn has worked so hard planning their big day and I cannot wait to see it all come together. I am beyond honored to be a part of the wedding party and I know I will be a big pile of tears as I watch my BB and her dad walk down the aisle.

I know you won't be able to read this post until after the honeymoon, but...
To Jake & Carolyn,
A million CONGRATS on this most important day!
I love you both SO much!


If you don't already, you should head over and follow my BB's blog
Life, Love & Puppy Prints

My Dream _________

My favorite morning radio show did a "getting to know you" bit on their website where they all posted their dream (blank). I decided to copy them and do one of my own! Feel free to their questions and post them to your own blog so we can all get to know you better!

My Dream...BODY

Dancers body. Need I say more? She's thin, toned and muscular! Not scrawny and not gross.

My Dream...VACATION

Greece! I am Greek and I am dying to visit the homeland!

My Dream...DRINK

Their question, not mine...but any excuse to profess my love of Twisted Tea! I seriously LOVE it! And, good news for me..it's a Coors Product which means fiance gets it for cheeeeap! 

My Dream...HOUSE

Like everyone, I'd love to have a big beautiful home but I wouldn't want a stark, giant mansion where I never see my family. I definitely want a big, classic and comfy house. The house above isn't necessarily THE one, but something like it would make me very happy! 

My Dream...JOB

I'm loving my new job, but my dream has always been to be a stay-at-home mom! I'd love to keep the house clean, play with my babies and master the kitchen! 

My Dream...CAR

My first car was a VW Beetle and I loved it so much! I miss that car every day. I would love, love, love to get a brand new convertible, baby blue, with black leather seats! 

My Dream...MAN

Awwwww, cute right? I know I know! That's cheating! But it's pretty obvious who my dream man (besides J) is....

Duh!

Play along! What's your dream?

Wedding Wednesday: Blogging Bride

I am getting married. And, I need some advice....

You all have been with me from the start....you've followed along as I opened my business and closed my business, as we got engaged and throughout the wedding planning process. I OBVIOUSLY want to share every last wedding detail with all of you once the big day comes. BUT, I realize not all of you care to see every last detail. Once the big day has come and gone I will probably be able to fill up 300 posts with details and photos from the big day.....but do you want to read 300 posts on the details and photos from the big day?

So, I'm asking you, my beloved followers, How should I share my wedding?

Should I split it up in to Wedding Wednesdays and share different aspects of the wedding each Wednesday?

Should I go balls to the wall and do 300 consecutive posts with all things wedding, so I just get it over with?

Should I just do one big post with pics from the big day to give you a summary of what went down?


What do you want?

Those of you who have been Blogging Brides----what did you do? How did you share all the details of your big day?

I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU! WHAT DO YOU WANT? LET'S HEAR IT? GIVE IT TO ME?

K, thanks! :)

Also, remember my friend Christina who just got engaged?! Well, a little update....she got engaged on top of the Eiffel Tower! Her and her fiance took a weekend trip to Paris and didn't tell anyone but her mom....yup....it's OK to hate her.

SOOOO happy for them!

Career Change

I have been a total spaz lately. I knew this fall was going to be busy, but I didn't prepare for a career change in the middle of it. I have been hardcore slacking in the blog department as a result and I apologize. I'm hoping now that I'm a little more settled in to the new gig, I'll better be able to manage my time and actually blog! 

About the job....I still haven't told you all about it. As you all know, we closed Coffee Buzz. It was the hardest day and a week full of emotions. Initially, our plan was to close the end of September so that J and I had time to find new jobs. Well, my darling fiance went and got a new job in LESS THAN A WEEK! 

Yup, this boy

went ahead and got a job leaving me in the dust! I could not be more proud of him! J got a job working as a merchandiser for a beer and wine distributor. Well, actually they distribute liquor too but he is working on the wine side. He is absolutely LOVING it so far and the amount of free wine we get is kind of disgusting. 

Seriously, major-perk! 

As for me, one of our favorite Coffee Buzz customers who we got to be friends with actually offered me a job when he found out the Buzz was closing. I was a little apprehensive at first, but after sitting down and really talking to him about the opportunity I thought it sounded like an offer I couldn't refuse. So, I am now working for Bryant Graphics, a printing company, in sales. Anything you can print on paper, we do...marketing pieces, property brochures, business cards, etc etc etc. I had no clue how much goes in to printing and I actually find it fascinating. Plus, I think I could really get used to sales. Not spending my entire day in an office, schmoozing clients with lunches and happy hours and commission bonuses! Plus, my boss is the bomb! While I still have a lot to learn, I am really liking it so far AND I already have my first client and first order! Whoop! Plus, when I do need to hang in the office, I have a comfy little desk to call my own.

My Friends.

One of my gorgeous friends (and bridesmaid), Courtney, is starting a journey today that no one would have ever expected.

Last week Courtney was disagnosed with Stage 2 Lymphocyte Predominate Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her prognosis is good and the doctor used the word "curable" more than once however the road will be long. Court is starting her first of 5 chemotherapy treatments as I write this. Her last treatment is November 7th and from there she will do two weeks of radiation.

Courtney is the kindest and most caring person and is truly the kind of friend, wife and mom that I aspire to be. It's going to be a long on painful road and as strong as I am trying to be, I am scared to death. But, I also know that if anyone is strong enough and has the attitude to beat this, it is Courtney. Please keep my beautiful friend in your thoughts and prayers.

In much happier news, one of my other incredibly gorgeous friends (and bridesmaid) got engaged last night!

My friend Christina is officially engaged! I am sooooo happy and excited for her and her FIANCE Aaron. They are perfect for each other and I am so excited to go through this whole wedding planning craziness with Christina!

Falling

I have a love hate relationship with Fall. The main reason I hate it is because it means summer (my favorite season) is over and winter is coming (if you live in Minnesota....winter is the devil. especially for someone who prefers 90 and sunny, like myself.) But, there are so many amazing things about Fall, it's hard not to love it!

First of all, Gopher football! Duh!

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I LOVE toasted pumpkin seeds. LOVE them!

HOT APPLE CIDER. Enough said.

But, I think the most exciting thing about fall is the TELEVISION! I love my shows and the start of fall means the return of all my faves!

And, my personal favorite.....

Who else is wound up about Fall TV?

Hey Blogger....What Gives?

Can someone tell me why blogger hates me?

Look at my last post....when I composed it, it looked completely normal. The post is JACKED UP! Why is there so much space?

HELP! It's so annoying!

New Gadgets

Ladies and gentlemen....I am now fancy. I have been operating on some pretty old school ghettofabulous equipment the past couple of years and thanks to my new job and incredible boss I have been upgraded.

I am now conducting my very important business via this lovely Toshiba laptop:



It may not be all that exciting to the rest of you, but considering that my old laptop hasn't been functional in two years it is beyond incredible to have a computer that not only turns on but does what you ask of it. Plus, now I might be able to get away with the occassional "working from home" thing.

I'm pretty sure I've expressed my love for google and my google phone before, so this next purchase was not as easy of a sell. That's right folks, I'm officially and iDouche.

I swore I would live with a google phone {and Sprint} the rest of my life, but when your boss offers to put you on the company plan and buy you a brand new iPhone you don't say "no." I am still getting used to the phone but I have to admit....I love it! You guys have to fill me in on the must-have apps and such!

And finally, I get a new camera! I am guessing that at some point during the Bachelorette Lake Weekend my little Sony Cybershot got dropped and that is how the lens got bent. We all know that once the lens is bent you are pretty much S.O.L. As much as a brand new camera was NOT in the budget there was no way I was going to go through my bachelorette party, BB's wedding, MY wedding and my honeymoon without a functioning camera. So......

Everyone say "hello" to my adorable little purple Nikon Coolpix! I am loving it so far and cannot wait to post some pictures from it.

As an incredibly impatient person it is so refreshing to have electronics that actually listen to what you ask of them! Now if I could just get a new car and a new TV for our bedroom I'd be the happiest little camper in the world.

Wedding Wednesday: Parties!

With the wedding less than 6 weeks away, I am knee deep in planning! The RSVPs are coming in left and right, the honeymoon is paid for, the programs are being printed and I feel like I'm juggling about 300 other things. With all that has been going on lately, I haven't had time to catch you up on some recent wedding related parties!

A couple of weeks ago I had my second bridal shower, hosted by my wonderful Aunt Lisa. It was held at her house, the theme was black and white (perfection!) and it was such a beautiful night I got to open gifts on her beautiful patio by the fire!

Me and my baby sister! How cute is she?!


Glass of wine? Fire? Gifts? ....couldn't get any better than this!


KitchenAid Mixer from my grandma! Score!!!


My darn mom made me cry....after she and my dad were divorced she used her wedding ring to get herself some well deserved beautiful diamond earrings. She wore them every day for 16 years. Last Christmas my step-dad bought her a new pair of gorgeous earrings. So, at my shower, she wrote me a card that said, "It was because of your dad I was able to have these and it's because of Steve that I am able to give them to you." I absolutely LOVE them, and I wear them every day.

The most amazing (and adorable) cupcakes I've ever had! Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting from Sweet Retreat in Edina! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, this past Saturday was my Bachelorette Party and it was a blast! Me and 20 of my girlfriends met up at Seven Sushi Ultralounge and Skybar for dinner, drinks, games and a whole lotta undies (ya know the underwear game? we played it, and I won!)

All done up and ready to rock!

Me and the worldest best Personal Attendant/Bachelorette Party Planner, Robyn!

High School besties!

SHARKS!

Thank gooddness our boys have good taste in women!

Oh! And on Saturday I had my wedding hair and makeup trial, but all you get to see is this:

Hot right?

I have one shower left then all I have left to do is get married! I cannot believe how quickly this is all coming and going. Soon I'm just going to be an old married lady. :)

Turkey Tortilla Roll-Ups

My step-mom always makes these amazing roll-ups and I finally asked her for the recipe and attempted them on my own. I thought they turned out OK, but everyone else absolutely loved them, so I guess the recipe was a success. A word to the wise--if you're going to try these, make sure there is enough filling on the inside that it doesn't taste too tortilla-y, but you don't want too put too much or it will squish out and make a monster mess.

Ingredients:
-1 jar Private Harvest Artichoke Bread Spread
-2 8oz packages of Cream Cheese (softened)
-8 green onions (tops & bottoms)
-5 oz of deli Turkey breast
-1 small can (4.5 oz) chopped black olives (drained)
-1 1/2 cups extra fine grated cheddar cheese
-5 large (10") flour tortillas


Directions:
-Start by chopping the green onions (I used my mini-chopper to save time) and turkey
-Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend together really well

-Spread about three large tablespoons of mixture on to the tortillas

-Roll the tortillas really tight and refrigerate overnight
-Slice the rolls and serve!

Blog Luvin

When I started this blog I hardly knew what a blog was. It was actually a suggestion from a friend of mine to start a blog so that family and friends near and far could follow along as we built, decorated and started Coffee Buzz.

It's been almost 2 years since I started writing this blog and never in a million years would I have thought that people I've never met would read it, relate to me and become my friends.

Meet Katie:


Banks Photography



 

At some point in the last two years we started folloring each other's blogs {I have no idea who followed who first} and then came the comments, then the e-mails, then the facebook friendship and then something I never expected.....

Katie and her adorable husband Billy sent J and I the SWEETEST wedding card and a gift card to Macy's! I don't even know how to express my graititude....it was the most thoughtful and generous thing that has ever happened to me.

Katie and I have never met, and yet somehow we have a friendship that warrants the exchanging of gifts! How amazing is that? This blog world is pretty incredible and this little Busy Bee blog has been such a source of joy for me. I get down on myself all the time for the lack of comments or the losing of followers, but I have to remind myself whether I have 3,000 followers or 25 it doesn't matter....I have Katie {and other wonderful blog friends.} And that my friends, is what it's all about!

Katie--thank you again! You are amazing. And I'm sorry for the stalking that took place to add that picture, hope you don't mind! Even if you do, it's too late. :)

Wedding Wednesday: Our Invitations!

Our wedding invitations went out a couple of weeks ago and I am so excited to finally share them with you! I designed these myself {with some help from my friend Chris who is a photoshop wiz}. I absolutely LOVE how they turned out and have gotten so many compliments on them. And the best part, it's almost embarassing to admit how little I paid for these! So without further ado.....

I also did a screen shot of each of the enclosures so you can see what we did....

We decided to do an all online RSVP and I am so glad we did. It has been so easy for our guests to RSVP and because we're using weddingwire.com {my biggest wedding planning obsession} when our guests respond it automatically updates our guest list and includes the meal choices, then once we hear from everybody I can use the online seating chart to click and drag my guests to their tables. I am seriously in love with that website and have loved the conveinience {and money saving} of the online RSVP.