Quick post about the candy buffet - Pic Heavy

Here is the progression of the Candy Buffet.  I did a mock up of this one for my friend's daughter's wedding which is 2 weeks before my own daughter's wedding.  I will do a similar one for Christa, but with her colors.  Luckily they are both using silver accents so I can use the same ribbons and just change the display cards.

I have been assembling the jars since I found out about the wedding.  Garage sales, Ikea, T.J. Max, gifts from friends (thanks Gillian and Annalisa), etc.

I couldn't find a template that I liked from the paper/scrapbook stores so I ordered them off Esty.  Thanks, Maria! (Her website is http://www.mariapalitousa.com/)  I used organza and satin ribbon and tacky glue to hold them on.  It took me about 5 hours from start to finish (washing the jars, figuring out which jars I wanted figuring out where to place everything, which candy to use in which jar, making the labels and so forth).

Here are the pix along the way:

Busy Saturday - 4 weeks until the wedding.

Christa is happily attending JetBlue University, again.  They let her miss her orientation since she had it before so she could fulfill her obligation to Ikea and work her last day there.  Thanks, JBU!  There is some kind of basketball tournament between the various airport provisioning teams taking place in Orlando so she has been cheering on the LGB team.  Sadly, they lost yesterday.

Saturday was sooooo busy.  I went to Sam's Club to buy the last of the candy buffet items for Alex's wedding (2 weeks, YIKES!), then did regular grocery shopping at Stater's, unloaded everything (thankfully Randy has a few hours of surplus time off work to help me) then I went to drop off the flower girl's dress and tiara.

Kids grow so fast during the summer!  We may need to buy yet another dress, LOL.  It fits her now, but just barely.  We are going to try it on her a week before the wedding.  If it's too small I will be picking up one more thing in L.A. that week.

Then off to the 99 cent store to finish off the Out Of Town bags.  I was able to get razors and toothbrush kits.  As well as some stuff for Gunner (ring bearer) and his baby sister, Rowan.  Later, I worked on the labels for the water bottles and got them put on.  The template I posted on here was for a different brand.  I tried using all kinds of different templates, but wound up just making my own, ARRRRGGGGGHHH!

I had lunch with DeeJay, the videographer.  We caught up on what was going on in eachother's lives.  He was one of my Drama Babies at Long Beach Poly.  He also attended the YMCA Youth Institute (CORAL) like Christa did which is where he learned the videography.  He and one other Y kid will video the wedding and then Christa will do the editing herself.

After I dropped him off I took Christa's dress back to Francess.  After trying on the dress again, Christa decided that, while she wanted to be bold, she didn't want to be so bold as to show her booty to all her guests.  So, she is installing a modesty panel about half way up the back.  Still showing skin, but not her ghetto booty!

Then to Staples.  Got the label paper and a paper-cutter.  I've been using the one at work in my off time and decided to just go for it.  With two weddings in four week, I will probably need it again!

Got home and worked on the labels (see above) for a few hours.  Checked out the pictures of Randy's niece, Shauna's wedding being posted by folks in Wisconsin.  Then off to meet the photographer, Zack, at the venue.

Lanterns

Long tables - We're using rounds

More of the ceiling

Showing with the doors open

We got there ahead of the photographer and were able to sneak upstairs and peek at the way they had it set up.  Randy took some pix before the ceremony ended and we had to leave.  Unfortunately, Zack didn't get there til just after that.

While waiting for Zack, we bumped into a bride I've corresponded with, Camile, from the wedding bee boards www.weddingbee.com She and her finace were just adorable!  They are looking for a venue and are considering the bath house at my suggestion.  It was so great to meet someone from cyberworld IRL and she was such a nice lady!

We walked around with Zack and his assistant, Dawn, and looked at sites for where he wanted to get pix, talked about the various events and then went over to the vacation house I rented for Christa to get ready in.  Unfortunately, it was rented so we only got to look at the outside.

All in all, a very productive day!

Sunday I'm going to do a mock up of the candy buffet and get the wedding stuff in the front bedroom organized!

On a parting note, I thought I would share this photo of my co-worker, Maiko (pronounced like Mike with and O), with you.  She was heating up some curry in the "Maiko-wave" and when she pulled it out, she tripped a little.  Curry went EVERYWHERE; walls, table, floor, but somehow it missed HER.  This is a pic of her cleaning up the last of it off the blinds.

Maiko and her curry!

For Sarah!

Randy making faces at the cat

Randy and Pattie at the Skirball

Randy and Pattie at the Huntington

Here are some pictures of Randy and Pattie and a few of Christa for your consideration.  Nice to talk to you, Sarah!

Randy

Pattie at Noah's Ark

Randy and his friend, the best man at our wedding, Joel

Pattie

Randy

Randy pointing a skunk at Joel

Pattie

Trey and Christa the night they got engaged

Randy and Pattie's Mom, Evelyn

Randy and our God-son, Josh

Randy with our god-children Corina and Josh

Pattie with a bunch of stuff from her sister in Tucson

Pattie in her David Meister Dress

Another dress purchase

Pattie and Christa with friends at Christa's Shower

Pattie with her sisters and Mom

Christa with her shower cake

Christa and Pattie with Grandma Evelyn

Our cat, Amber Lynn Kromrey

Pattie with her friend, Sonia

More Updates

I took one of the groomsmen, Alex, to the dressmaker with me to get measured for his vest for the wedding.  I picked up Pru's dress and left Ummi's there for her so she could try it on before she took it home. I also picked up my dress for Alexandria's wedding (the purple designer $500 dress I got at Bloomingdale's for about $50) and the rehearsal dress I got at Norstrom's. 

Since I was there, I asked if she had started my dress yet.  She hadn't so I had her re-measure me.  I had lost 4 inches off my waist, 6 inches off my ribcage, 2 inches off my bust and 6 inches off my hips. WOOT!  I'm so happy that my hard work has been paying off.  Can't wait to find out the test results for my diabetes A1C!

Alex and I headed over to the house I'm renting in San Pedro for the girl's the night before and for Christa's wedding night with Trey.  Wanted to make sure I knew where it was in relation to the venue (about 5 minutes away right across from Point Fermin and down the street from the Korean Bell) and to see if it would be suitable for an after-rehearsal party.  Unfortunately, it's not.  Looks like we'll be having a party in my back yard.  It's a little far from the venue, but at least I know it will hold everyone comfortably.

The kittens are getting so BIG!  Seven weeks yesterday.  They should all be gone by next Saturday!  The house will seem so empty without them.  But, I will be glad to have some peace in the house again with the cats.  The mother cat has just caused so many problems with my other kitties.  Amber's great attitude has really changed and I haven't seen Trixie in days.  I'm sure because of all the drama the Mom-Cat caused.

I forgot to mention that Christa had a corset back put into her wedding dress.  Apparently, it is the style to have the skin show through the corset lacings.  We had never heard of that!  I feel so back-woods now.  If it weren't for a post on Wedding Bee I would have never known.  We were going to take if back to the seamstress to have a "modesty panel" installed when Christa changed her mind.  She said, "I wanna be BOLD!"  So she will be, LOL.  I'm not 100% sure how feel about it, but I'm just going to go with it.

Randy's brother and sister-in-law are going to make it to the wedding!  Yay!  So excited to see them again! We have all our A-list RSVPs back and are waiting on the B-list. Looks like we stayed within our 135 target!  Christa still has a few people from work (so do I) that we might invite if we get a few more regrets.

I'm starting to work on the Out of Town bags.  I purchased sunglasses, t-shirts that have California Logos on them, first aid kits etc. for the tote bags.  I'm working on a cute little card for them and labels.  I also want to print up labels for the bottled water.  Found a great template! (Wedding Water Bottle Lables) Also, from my friends on the Bee!

Christa's last day at Long Beach JetBlue is tonight.  She is still trying to work out if she can delay her flight on Tuesday to Wednesday so she can finish out Ikea on Tuesday.  If not, tomorrow is her last day at Ikea.  She was originally told that she would be flying out on Wednesday by JetBlue personnel and they changed it last Friday.  They also told her then that she would have to be in class on Saturday, August 13th.  WHAT?!  She was planning on flying out Saturday morning to get to her Bachelorette Party and flying back Sunday.  Now it looks as if the girls will be having the party without the bride!  So SAD!!!  My heart really aches for her.  She's had so many things come up at the last minute.

Moving, getting transfers in place, not getting RSVPs, having the rehearsal party up in the air, not getting the bar info until the last second, freaking out about her dress, not having one of the bridesmaids get the alterations done, figuring out hair and make up.  She's having a rough month!

We went out to dinner with her at Hoff's Hut after she got off work last night.  It was nice to connect with her one last time before she goes off to start her new life.  We're lucky that she's only 45 minutes away via plane and that we still have free flight benefits!

It's all happening too FAST!

It's day T-minus 34.  Christa and Trey have moved to Hayward, just outside of Oakland.  They are back in Long Beach until the 9th when Christa flies to Florida for training.  Trey is moving into the apartment with the cats on the 10th and starting his new job on the 14th.

We made it through the bridal shower!  Very nice time.  Toilet paper bride, the Panty Poem and the Household Goods Love Story were played.  Lots of nice gifts.  Great food and great fellowship.

 

I'm going to look at the house I rented in San Pedro today to see if it's acceptable for the rehearsal dinner.  Trey's family wants to make the rehearsal lunch only for the bridal party so I thought it would be nice to include everyone at a party where we can get to know one another in a more casual setting with a taco cart.  Should be fun!

I'm also picking up the altered dresses today for myself for Alex's wedding and for the rehearsal.  As well as the bride's maids dresses.  Connie finally got her dress to the tailor in Hawaii as well.  And Alejandro, one of the ushers,  is coming with me today to get measured for his fuchsia vest. He's really excited. Or maybe not, LOL.

I'll try to update this evening, but the morning's just gotten away from me and I need to get a lot done.

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