No. We have not contracted some horrible disease! We have (almost) finalized our Save-the-dates. Yes, it's probably one of the worst wedding acronyms ever (and there are plenty), but it is what it is.
Yesterday afternoon we met with our South African friends, Claire and Kait (ridiculously creative sisters) and hashed out a plan. They showed us what they've come up with, and besides a few minor adjustments, we were really pleased with their ideas. While they designed a 100% digital card, Matt and I wanted to be a bit more crafty with some parts of it, so we're combining the two. They're designing the basic fonts, layout and colors and we're adding a few more scrapbooky details. We can't wait to put it all together!
After the brainstorming session Matt and I headed out to old downtown in Daejeon to one of our favorite stationary shops to by a paper cutter and some supplies. It's real now! We have something to look at, work with, rearrange, print, cut, paste and process. We're super excited to get this all going!
Our goal is to send them out before the holiday rush, so we plan on mailing them home to my mom no later than mid-November. Then she will send them out from there.
On another front, I'll be sending my dress measurements in in just TWO weeks! Although I am not at my goal weight, I'm confident that adjustments can be made when I go to try it on and also when I go home to Maine. I'm not worried, just anxious! It's crazy how someone in Vietnam is going to start making my dress in just a few short weeks!
To come: more on fitness (which I'm determined to increase!), healthy eating and the 12 week push to our SouthEast Asian adventure!
October 17, 2011
Crisp Air
Ahhhhhh. What a beautiful fall Monday morning in Daejeon, Korea. The sun is shining, the leaves are turning (finally), and there's not a hint of humidity anywhere to be found. Now if only we didn't have to work!
But thankfully I am in a good mood. I always feel like Monday can be one of two things (never any gray): horribly depressing or surprisingly do-able. You either enter the workweek desperately trying to grasp onto the previous weekend or content to let a new week begin. Today I feel the latter. I am excited to travel to Busan this coming weekend. We're going to take the train down early on Saturday, visit an ocean side temple, and then watch am amazing fireworks display over a bridge in Busan harbor that night. Sunday is a free day. Maybe we'll go to the fish market, or explore another beach or go on a small hike. This small (anniversary) weekend getaway makes me excited to get this week over with. The amazing weather this morning helps the good mood along!
But thankfully I am in a good mood. I always feel like Monday can be one of two things (never any gray): horribly depressing or surprisingly do-able. You either enter the workweek desperately trying to grasp onto the previous weekend or content to let a new week begin. Today I feel the latter. I am excited to travel to Busan this coming weekend. We're going to take the train down early on Saturday, visit an ocean side temple, and then watch am amazing fireworks display over a bridge in Busan harbor that night. Sunday is a free day. Maybe we'll go to the fish market, or explore another beach or go on a small hike. This small (anniversary) weekend getaway makes me excited to get this week over with. The amazing weather this morning helps the good mood along!
October 13, 2011
The Ring
Sometimes I can't believe that we've already been engaged for almost 9 months and that I've been wearing this ring for that long:
I remember being entranced with how sparkly it was in the very beginning. I couldn't take my eyes off of it! Of course I still stare at it from time to time, especially when it does gather and reflect the light. I love this ring because it's small, delicate, and fits perfectly with my personality. It's simple and doesn't look ridiculous on my small, chubby finger.
One of my favorite parts of the ring is the small inscription on the inside:
I remember being entranced with how sparkly it was in the very beginning. I couldn't take my eyes off of it! Of course I still stare at it from time to time, especially when it does gather and reflect the light. I love this ring because it's small, delicate, and fits perfectly with my personality. It's simple and doesn't look ridiculous on my small, chubby finger.
One of my favorite parts of the ring is the small inscription on the inside:
 |
| forever and always |
E-PICS!
Toby was able to finish going through the pictures earlier than expected, and we got the pictures back last night! It was super exciting!
Matt actually got to look at the 35 edited pictures that Toby chose to work on before I could. Toby emailed them to Matt, and so when I got home from work Matt had a surprise to show me! It was really sweet to go through them together.
Here are a few of my personal favorites. Some have been edited while others are in their raw format. We are REALLY pleased with how they turned out!
Thanks again to Toby (and Soyeon!) for the amazing shots, and for taking time out of their weekend to accommodate us, two days in a row!
Matt actually got to look at the 35 edited pictures that Toby chose to work on before I could. Toby emailed them to Matt, and so when I got home from work Matt had a surprise to show me! It was really sweet to go through them together.
Here are a few of my personal favorites. Some have been edited while others are in their raw format. We are REALLY pleased with how they turned out!
 |
| At the entrance to one of our favorite temples: Gapsa |
 |
| Looking out over our city (Daejeon) |
 |
| At Gapsa Temple |
 |
| Cute, eh? |
 |
| I really like the colors in this picture |
 |
| At Hanbat Botanical Gardens |
 |
| Lotus pond |
 |
| I love you/ Sa-rang Hae (Korean) |
Thanks again to Toby (and Soyeon!) for the amazing shots, and for taking time out of their weekend to accommodate us, two days in a row!
October 10, 2011
Sneak Peek: PAPER
No, it's not an engagement shoot sneak peek, although that would be fantastic! I have never been so anxious to see pictures in my entire life! It was the first time I've ever been photographed semi-professionally. I mean, how often do you have a legit photo-shoot, especially one where you don't get to see the pictures automatically when you're done? I am going nuts! I suppose I am guilty as charged as being one with my generation: needing instant gratification.
Instead of a snapshot or two of our amazing photo shoots (yes, we did TWO!), I have a picture of a package that came to my school today from my mom:
Exciting, HUH?! This is the background color of the save-the-dates, as well as the envelopes. This color is the closest blue I could find to what I was going for, and Matt and I are both really happy with it.
As if we didn't already have awesome friends in Korea (re: Toby, our photographer for the engagement shoot), our South African friend Claire is a graphic designer and is putting together a design for our save-the-dates! We're meeting with her and her sister (who is also a designer) this coming weekend to see what ideas they've come up with. While Matt and I had a good idea of what we wanted, these girls know the programs and have the creative, designer flare that we need to make them look more professional. If not for them, our save-the-dates would have looked rather elementary. Thank goodness for talented friends!
So things are looking REALLY good in the stationary department. After months (seriously) of talking about these darn things, we're finally getting them off the ground. Paper is here, envelopes are here, pictures have been taken (we'll be using one from the shoot in our save-the-dates) and the design will soon be finalized. Awesome!
It feels incredibly good to get going on the actual nit and grit of wedding planning. You can only make so many lists, draw so many sketches, calculate so many numbers on so many excel spreadsheets before you just want to explode with frustration. Let's just get this show on the road already! Next week we should have an ACTUAL save-the-date that we'll get printed, with hopes of getting them off and mailed before November. Here's to wishing!
Another awesome thing: our 3 year anniversary is 2 weeks from today!
Instead of a snapshot or two of our amazing photo shoots (yes, we did TWO!), I have a picture of a package that came to my school today from my mom:
Exciting, HUH?! This is the background color of the save-the-dates, as well as the envelopes. This color is the closest blue I could find to what I was going for, and Matt and I are both really happy with it.
As if we didn't already have awesome friends in Korea (re: Toby, our photographer for the engagement shoot), our South African friend Claire is a graphic designer and is putting together a design for our save-the-dates! We're meeting with her and her sister (who is also a designer) this coming weekend to see what ideas they've come up with. While Matt and I had a good idea of what we wanted, these girls know the programs and have the creative, designer flare that we need to make them look more professional. If not for them, our save-the-dates would have looked rather elementary. Thank goodness for talented friends!
So things are looking REALLY good in the stationary department. After months (seriously) of talking about these darn things, we're finally getting them off the ground. Paper is here, envelopes are here, pictures have been taken (we'll be using one from the shoot in our save-the-dates) and the design will soon be finalized. Awesome!
It feels incredibly good to get going on the actual nit and grit of wedding planning. You can only make so many lists, draw so many sketches, calculate so many numbers on so many excel spreadsheets before you just want to explode with frustration. Let's just get this show on the road already! Next week we should have an ACTUAL save-the-date that we'll get printed, with hopes of getting them off and mailed before November. Here's to wishing!
Another awesome thing: our 3 year anniversary is 2 weeks from today!
October 08, 2011
Engagement Photo Shoot!
Today is the day. Our friend, Tobi, has graciously agreed to photograph us for our engagement pictures. Although I am super excited, I'm a little nervous as well. What if we don't look romantic? What if it's super awkward? Matt and I are very close, but we don't normally show it in public, let alone in front of friends! We're hoping that after a few shots we'll relax into it. Fingers crossed!
Tobi, who is an amataur photographer, will take a variety of pictures using his digital DSLR, as well as his new (to him) 1950's medium film camera. We're really excited to get some actual film prints, especially from someone who is going to develop them himself! The camera is one of those ones you look down into from the top, how cool is that?!
Last night we went shoe shopping for me and found a nice pair of slacks for Matt, which completes our outfits for the day. Who knew there was this much work involved?
Can my tomboy self pull off a dress and heels? Only one way to find out!
While most of the prints won't be available for a while, when Tobi gives us a few samplers I will make sure to post ASAP! :)
Tobi, who is an amataur photographer, will take a variety of pictures using his digital DSLR, as well as his new (to him) 1950's medium film camera. We're really excited to get some actual film prints, especially from someone who is going to develop them himself! The camera is one of those ones you look down into from the top, how cool is that?!
Last night we went shoe shopping for me and found a nice pair of slacks for Matt, which completes our outfits for the day. Who knew there was this much work involved?
Can my tomboy self pull off a dress and heels? Only one way to find out!
While most of the prints won't be available for a while, when Tobi gives us a few samplers I will make sure to post ASAP! :)
October 04, 2011
Post Hike
So, 5 minutes before we were about to leave our apartment to catch a train to Seoul, I got an email: "Sorry everyone, the shelter is being renovated and is closed. We can't stay there during the hike. You will all have to complete the entire two-day hike in 14 hours."
AWESOME.
The reason why we decided to do this crazy hike was because we would be stopping early on the first day at a shelter where we could take a much needed nap, relax, play games, enjoy the scenery, etc. Instead, we'd have to endure one of Korea's most arduous treks all in one day, on little sleep. Zero sleep for me, actually.
Well, we did it. Now I am in a TON of pain, probably more pain in my legs than I have ever had. But, I'm recovering and hopefully within the next week will be fully functioning again!
AWESOME.
The reason why we decided to do this crazy hike was because we would be stopping early on the first day at a shelter where we could take a much needed nap, relax, play games, enjoy the scenery, etc. Instead, we'd have to endure one of Korea's most arduous treks all in one day, on little sleep. Zero sleep for me, actually.
Well, we did it. Now I am in a TON of pain, probably more pain in my legs than I have ever had. But, I'm recovering and hopefully within the next week will be fully functioning again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)