There's a reason DIY could be pronounced DIE

In the world of weddings, if you don't make it personal, your wedding will suck.

Okay, maybe not completely, but after reading such wonderful blogs and forums like Weddingbee and Snippet & Ink, I want to make everything in the wedding myself. Wonderful thoughts of calligraphy classes and hand-made favors come to my head. Although, I keep getting knocked down by the harsh reality that these talents don't suddenly appear when you get a rock on your finger.

Recently, I have been pitched in an epic battle of woman vs. printer. I really wanted to do the "I didn't pay for calligraphy but it looks like it" look (my inspiration is here) but my printer doesn't seem to agree. I'll get it perfectly set up on the computer and then someone drops the ball. Envelope size? check. Font bought? check. Font color? check. Print example? NO WAY.

It seems that my old mac and Mr. Snow's old printer don't want to get along. Maybe one cheated on the other a while ago (I blame the mac) but that doesn't mean they should hold grudges, right? My nerves are frazzled so Mr. Snow is on the case.

Any tips on how to make beautiful invitations have matching beautiful envelopes without breaking the bank?

One job down: Dog sitter Extraordinaire

In my hunt for identity and a career, I now know something I DON'T want to do.

I'm watching my friends' dog Rossi this weekend while they are off doing some wedding planning of their own. This dog is adorable. All 70 pounds of him. He's only seven months old so he's got a good way to go as well. I love him dearly, but having him and my crazy companion Bode around is WAY too much to handle.

They love to wrestle, dig, and generally cause a ruckus. I seriously know what kind of mom I'm going to be like now. The one that kind of ignores the temper tantrum going on in the super market because it's just simpler. Yeah, that's probably not that great of an idea, but I don't care.

But on the other hand, I haven't stopped laughing since he got here on Thursday. Like, for example, yesterday when Rossi got highgrounded on Bode and had his feet dangling off of him for three minutes when Bode tried to figure out what was going on. I couldn't get to a camera in time, but trust me, it was hilarious.

So I know now I can at least rule out a career as a dog sitter or walker or anything. I need some calm parts in my life and I don't think either of those jobs is conducive to that. I would, however, totally be willling to work to champion for dogs for a humane society or something. Got any great ideas for me?

The invitations are here!

I'm busy contacting my rolodex today on the job hunt, so I've gotta keep this short and sweet.

Yesterday was a Wedding Planning Bonanza. I picked up some necessary chicken cutlets for the boobs (or lack thereof), picked up the invitations, and had my first dress fitting. I have a secret: I think the invites are my favorite.

Why? Because they highlight my wonderful fiance's artwork.

This is what our guests will see when they crack open the wonderful folio.



Ain't he crazy talented?

He drew our Save-the-Date as well. A lot of people asked me where we got the clipart of a redheaded bride, which is pretty funny.


We are also using several other "friendors" (vendors that are friends) for our wedding. I'll tell you about those in another post. Whaddya think of Mr. Snow's awesome artwork?

All you need is... Softball?

I'm a terrible softball player. While this may come as a shock to some of you (Why Morgan, you are normally so graceful and athletic, I would have thought you would have had a full ride to college! Ha!), to others this is just part of my charm.

I am looking for a job everywhere. I've emailed my friends and family, will be contacting my rolodex, and frequent Craigslist often. I play on a softball team with a few ex-work friends and some non-work friends. Of course, I network there and now bug my new friends for openings at their companies. (Sorry to those of you on my team that are reading this!)

While it's a bonus that I have the ability to network with a wide variety of young professionals through this team, it's more just the blast that I have with them that I appreciate.

Having an hour a two a week to think about things completely unrelated to my unemployment is a blessing. These people don't care if I am a bum. They care if I can hit a ball. (Which I can't, so I don't really know why they keep me around.) Plus they are such a great group of people to be around, it's just a fun event that I get to go to when rain doesn't ruin it.

I really think that my friends and family are the most wonderful things in the entire world. When I got home from my softball game tonight, I was welcomed by two incredibly sweet notes from friends of mine offering their support and love. What could be better than that?

Who cares if I don't have a job. I have friends, family, and softball. Suh-weet.

THE DRESS

There is so much hoopla over the perfect wedding dress. I mean, they are all white dresses (for the most part) it's pretty amazing how many different types of styles there are. But when it came to my dress, I was focused.

Almost immediately after getting engaged, my mom and I went to the Priscilla of Boston salon in Cherry Creek. It was just a place we found that would be fun to go to. I was never a fan of the brand or anything (in fact, the names "Priscilla" and "Boston" aren't exactly my favorite words for some reason). We just went.

So you could imagine my total shock when the fourth dress I tried on was (trumpets and horns, please) THE DRESS. We didn't buy it initially, because c'mon, how fun is that to only try four wedding dresses on in your life time? I want more hoopla!

The next week we went to the CUTEST salon in the world, Anna Be as well as back to Priscilla of Boston. I loved a lot of the other dresses, but none of them quite gave me the twitterpated feeling as my wonderful original white dress I tried on at POB.

We went back. There was a trunk show. We got it for 14% off. It happened.

Since that purchase, I've probably been back four or five times to try on MY dress (once it was made). I've become THAT bride. The one that can't get enough of her dress. I freakin' love it.

On Wednesday I'll be going in for my first (and hopefully last) fitting. My boobs aren't the biggest in the world, so I gotta take it in a bit around the chest, but everything else should be fine.

Other than that I am STOKED to be wearing this one-of-a-kind kick ass dress for my wedding. I'll post pics when I know for sure Mr. Snow won't be seeing it!

And you do the hokey pokey....

I've kind of ignored this economy until I got laid off. I never thought it was that bad because I don't really have any assets and I only knew a few people that were jobless. Now I've taken on a more "woe is me" status.

But enough moaning. It doesn't really help any situation. I need to take some action.

Right now, its pretty naive to think that I could move my career in the online ski media world any further up. As everyone knows, no one is hiring and I really shouldn't get my hopes up. Instead, I kind of want to take this opportunity to do something fun in my life. I should do the hokey pokey and instead of trying to move up, I should move sideways and put my left foot in.

I've always been jealous of my friends that have had the freedom and ability to travel to far flung places for months at a time. I studied abroad in college, but they've taken it further. I had a friend who was a raft guide in Argentina for six months. I have two friends who are teaching abroad in Hungary and Chile right now. How cool is that?

This kind of traveling isn't really a possibility for me. Why? Well, I found the man of my dreams and don't plan on leaving him anytime soon. I'd much rather do something uncool with him here than something really cool without him there.

That doesn't mean I can't do something awesome right now. I can be a ski bum next season. I can nanny and write blogs all summer. I can go to pasty school and be a baker like I've always secretly wanted to be. The possibilities are endless.

Which is another problem of itself. What the heck should I do with my life? Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

You, Me and the Ranch Makes Three

When most people get married, they make a life long commitment to one person. Sometimes that commitment includes the family (especially if the Mother-in-law is a little crazy). Not often does that commitment include a place.

Well, when my fiance and I get hitched in September, I will undoubtedly make a set-in-stone commitment to the HF Bar Ranch. Yeah, I've already dedicated a portion of my life to this dude ranch in northern Wyoming, but when we get married there, I'm never getting away.

You see, the ranch is special. It's the second oldest dude ranch in the country, so traditions run deep. Every family that has been there has been going for generations. The way I found the place was kind of an anomaly as I found it through a friend of a friend of a friend. Mr. Snow (my blogosphere name for the fiancee) has been going there since he was six years old. I am definitely a fluke.



For example, one of my favorite stories of the ranch is about a family called the "C's." They have been going for probably over 50 years. Two years ago, the whole "C" clan was there for great grandpa C's birthday. Great conversation was flowing around the family dinner table. People were laughing, eating and just enjoying the place and the company. Mr. C (who was in his late 90s at this point) excused himself. He ended up taking a short walk to the Horton House (the original house on the property) and sat on its front stairs. What I think happened was he took a deep breath, sat back and let himself pass away to the Great Unknown. His family found him, in what I think is the best possible place and way to die. I wish I lead that full of a happy life and pass away at the place I love.

You see, once you go Ranch, you never go back.

Only a handful of the people that will be attending our wedding have been to the ranch. I would argue that even less have truly experienced its charm and draw. A couple of our vistors think its too "rustic" (aka rundown) to really enjoy. I think it's perfect. Mr.Snow and I had our first kiss there. We shared our first space, meal, and conversations there. When we fell in love there, we fell in love with the ranch as well.

So it looks like there will be three characters in this wedding show. Of course, Mr. Snow and I will be the main players, but the ranch's personality will come out in every part of the event. When our guests come out to the ranch in September, I hope they not only support the commitment Mr. Snow and I are making to each other but fall in love with this place the way I did five years ago.

I mean, not all commitments are bad, right?

all photos by Justin Casey. He's crazy talented, right?

You've Got to Accentuate the Positive...

"and eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with mister in between."

I'm not sure if those are the exact lyrics to that song, but I like them and think they work just fine for my cause.

I got laid off from my dream job on May 22. It came as quite a shock to me as I thought I would be moving into busier and more involved role when I was told a meeting was scheduled for that Friday. I had turned down a job interview for that Thursday for a former organization of mine, not wanting to lead them on when I thought I would be moving up in my company. That was mistake number one. After I got laid off, I immediately called the interviewer back and asked for a spot back. They graciously offered it to me for that afternoon. Let's just say that Friday was busier than I expected to be.

A week went by before I heard of any news. That week was rough, but I had something I thought I could look forward to. I figuratively put all my eggs in this basket as I avoided looking for any other job. That was mistake number two. They didn't offer it to me and now I'm back to square one looking anywhere for a job that I'll like half as much as I did my original dream job.

I don't mean to moan and begrudge the unfortunate experiences in the last week. I want to look on the bright side of what I do have and what I can offer.

Let's start with the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am marrying my wonderful fiance in September. A life with him is a dream come true and I should be incredibly thankful for that.

I have a great support group. My friends, family, and future in-laws have been overwhelmingly supportive. They are there for me and I love that.

This is a sweet opportunity to take advantage of some true time off. There is nothing in the world right now telling me I have to stick to my original career path. I can totally go work somewhere silly this summer and then be a ski instructor this winter. I mean the economy right now certainly isn't pushing me towards a real job.

Not to mention I'm smart, eager, energetic, organized, and enthusiastic. I'm swell. Hire me. ;)

We're Famous! (kinda...)

If the actual day of the wedding wasn't enough of a faux-celebrity experience, the entire year leading up to it sure fits the bill.

Our wonderful wedding photographer, Cheryl Ungar thinks we are really attractive. Or, she just likes posting pictures of awkward people riding bikes. I'd like to think the former, but you never know.

We got together with her two weeks ago for some "practice" engagement shots so she could get to know us and our style before the wedding. Charming in theory, a little strange in person. The shots did turn out wonderfully and I really do appreciate having them, I'm just not sure I'll ever get used to this much attention on me at once!

Anywho, enough jabber. Get to the glamour shots!

What do you think? Did you get this opportunity when you were getting married/ got engaged/ would you if you got engaged? Does anyone else feel silly with the camera pointing at them?

Hello Blogging World!

Ha! Check me out.

As this is my first OFFICIAL blog post, I should say something eloquent, shocking, persuasive, and interesting. As it is currently 11:43 pm, that's not likely.

What I will say is that this blog will rock your face off. Well, maybe not literally, but it will be fun, for what my opinion is worth.

Here, I will write about my trials and tribulations of joining the thousands of people re-evaluating their lives after recently getting laid off and getting ready for the darn tootin' ho down of the century as I prepare to marry my wonderful fiance in September. Yeah, I have a lot going on, but doesn't everyone?

So thanks for joining me here. Obviously, if you have any job opportunities for me, email me. Other than that, I'll see you in the blogosphere!