Oh, Prease, Gimme!!!

So, attending Lindsey's bridal shower yesterday made me start to think about what kinds of crap I want for my big day.  So, I started googling.  I knew I wanted some color while Chris wants like plain, boring white (veto!).  Then something magical happened...I found this!!!  Spode "Baking Days" serveware and cookware collections.  It comes in black, red, Carolina blue, and lime green.  How cute!  For Christmas you could do the green and red or black and red.  For spring, blue and green.  I can go on and on.  Plus, it's polka, which btw, is soo me.  The best thing is that I can steal Courtney's idea and use this as everyday china and special occasion china.  Now, please everyone, convince Chris that this is the china and bakingware we need to start a new McKeown household next year! :) :)

GAGA!!!!

OMG!! Lady Gaga is coming to North Carolina..twice!  (The only thing better than this would be *N SYNC reuniting and coming to North Carolina.)  The Princess of Pop will be in Charlotte on Saturday, Sept 18, 2010 and in Raleigh on Sunday, Sept 19, 2010.  I have no idea when tickets will go on sale, but I'm Googling all I can to find out.  I am planning on going to the Raleigh show and probably taking off work on that following Monday.  Anyway, two things.  Please let me know if you know what day they're going on sale and let me know if you're going.  I have a crowd swarming already!!  YAY GAGA!!!

 

New Wedding Cake People!!!! :)

After the huge craptasticness of the last cake lady (see previous entry), we learned a few lessons.  Robin had successfully bullied us into an oval, lilac, 3 tiered fondant cake.  I am not a 3 tiered cake person, much less a FONDANT 3 tiered cake person.  I had always thought I'd end up w/ a cupcake wedding cake that's fun and a little different.  So, after the whole debacle, Chris and I decided to go back and really decide what we wanted for a cake and find someone who could do that for us (and at a jew price).  I called all around town and narrowed the list down a lot.  I mean some people are charging $4 - $5 PER CUPCAKE.  No thank you. 
We then had a list of about 5 people to meet with.  We met w/ a nice young lady last weekend.  Her cupcake tasted okay, but mine taste just as good and Courtney's are better, BUT she could do what I wanted (decoration wise).  BUT THEN...she said her delivery fee was $75.00.  Are you kidding me?!?!!  Thank you, but HELL no thank you.  So then we set up two other interviews.  The first was last night. (Spoiler alert:  We enjoyed the first place (Island Cakery) so much that we cancelled the second interview and booked Island Cakery immediately)
We showed up to Island Cakery and the owner Gail wasn't quite ready for us yet, so we chatted with her husband, Frank.  Immediately we felt very comfortable and at ease.  We were at their business, but it felt very homey.  I was skeptical about pricing for this place because their cakes are $5/slice (that's a lot).  However, after everything is said and done, we are only getting charged $20/dozen cupcakes and $60 for the giant cupcake top tier (to hold our cake topper).  We will have three flavors w/ three different frosting colors (and are purchasing 12 dozen cupcakes).  Including all of this and delivery we're only paying about $375.  And let me tell you, the cupcakes are delicious!  I am thinking of buying a dozen just for the heck of it sometime.  So excited!!

I thought about not blogging about this because I need to stop wedding blogging since we're going to have a very small wedding and it may be considered a little rude, but I was very excited and it was time for a nice blog instead of a rant. 

Cake Ladyzilla

Backstory:  I have emailed our former cake lady 6 times and left 1 voice mail since 1/11/2010 asking for a contract for her services (which she apparently has readily available).  She had always responded by saying "Oh I'm sorry, it's coming", except for my last email (from 1/19) and voice mail (1/22) in which I received no email/call back.  I found this unprofessional.  So after a week of waiting for a response, here's what transpired today:

My email:

Robin,

I am not sure if you did not receive my previous email from 2/19 or my voice mail from 2/22.  I am not sure why I have not received a response from either means of communications, though I am sure you have good reason.  To be honest, not hearing from you adds to my growing list of concerns.  I have been already concerned because I have had to ask for a contract a total of now 6 times since our meeting on 1/10.  Please understand that I am just an extremely organized person who is treating her wedding like a business and would like all paperwork signed and in place.  I feel like I have been unable to have this happen.  At this point, I would either like to have a discount for my cake and my contract as soon as possible, or, if you'd rather, for us to amicable split ways and have you refund my $100 deposit.  I have been hoping to not have to send this email, but I am losing sleep over the matter and am anxious all the time.

Thanks for your time and understanding

Stephanie C Sebo

Her response back:

Stephanie,

First, I did not get a voice mail from you. Not sure why, but I have your contract to mail. Your emails are written confirmation that negotiations and plans are ongoing. So as far as having confirmation, that would do it. I have your contract together, and it is my fault for not sending it out as promptly as I usually do business. With your wedding over a year away, and the email documentation, I didn't think it was as urgent as you feel it is. I have many brides I am working with on a daily basis for weddings in the next few weeks and months. I'm really sorry you feel you would like another baker, and if that is in fact what you want to do, I will refund your money. I will not discount a cake for 2011.

I'm sorry if you view your wedding as a business. I think you may lose all the special excitement involved in this important time. I bake cakes because it is special and I enjoy helping in the magic of that day.

I have your address as: (please note, she had my addy right, but I'm not broadcasting it)

I will forward the deposit to you there.

Sincerely,

Robin

Did this not seem bitchy to you?  Chris and I were steaming?  It seemed she was insinuating that 1) I was handling my wedding wrong 2) I am less important than her other brides  3) She seemed to talk in circles too and contradict herself.

I was really nice responding back as well, fyi.  I wanted to make sure that I didn't say anything to negatively affect my chances of getting another cake vendor or affect my current wedding vendors she may know (i.e. my awesome freakin' photographer)

Argh.  The hassles of a wedding. 

I Think Its Time For A New Phone Number

So, yesterday at 10:19 am I get a phone call from 1-336-847-0800 (yup, I just put it on blast).  I didn't know the phone number, so I clearly didn't answer it.  He leaves a voicemail saying, "Hey Stephanie.  This is Thomas.  Call me back."  Well, I know one Thomas and this guy wasn't it.  So I didn't call him back.  Flash forward to today at 10:45 am.  Same number, no voicemail.  Well, curiosity got this cat.  I called.  "Thomas" answered. Here's the really odd conversation and my thoughts on it:

"Thomas" (who seemed to be a fat, 30-something redneck) seemed surprised I didn't remember him.  He gave me his last name Mc(something) and said he thought we had a "really good time" when we met at a bar in High Point about 3 months ago.  I informed him that unfortunately for him, whoever he met was not me b/c I have been with my fiance for about 4 years and have not been to High Point in approximately my entire life.  He then apologized and said someone must have set me up - maybe my "husband's ex-girlfriend."  He said he'd throw away my number and never call me again.  I also apologized and told him that someone must not have had as good of a time as he had if they gave a false name and phone number.  He told me I had nothing to be sorry for and to have a nice day.  Click.

So here the extrapolation will commence: 
1) "Thomas", if you, in fact are real and had SUCH a good time w/ "me" why did it take you THREE MONTHS to call? Or is it that maybe someone randomly dared you to call me yesterday?  Someone, who, as you said does have it in for me (for whatever reason)?
2) Clearly "Thomas" does not know my "husband" b/c he would know that my FIANCE has an ex-WIFE, not an ex-girlfriend and she doesn't live anywhere around here.  Destiny may be the culprit of a lot of things, but I don't think she has her hand in the cookie jar in this one.

So if you know Thomas, the number 1-336-847-0800, or anything about this matter, feel free to clue me in on the practical joke.  If not, at least I got an interesting blog entry out of the matter. 

Not A Bridezilla After All

So, as most of you know we are not getting married until 2011.  We did this for three reasons 1) Chris will graduate in 2011, 2) Chris will be in Spain this Summer, and 3) and so I will have plenty of time to plan and not be a Bridezilla (this reason should probably fall into the #2 spot).

Well, it appears our little plan is working.  I have been a very busy bee booking almost all of our vendors: Photography, Cake, Reverend, DJ, and Locale. Through all of this, I have been shockingly easy-going and easy to please (..or at least that's MY perception)!!!  I may be a little over-prepared with my little printed out sheets of info I assume they need and my fully-crafted ideas..I may be Neuroticzilla, but definately, absolutely, not Bridezilla.  YESSS!!!  Let's just hope I can stay this way until I start my Chris-mandated Xanax treatments (6 months out from wedding) :)

Would you like a free bourbon & coke, to go?

Yesterday was the definition of a PERFECT day:

Part 1:  THE DRESS
Clearly there will be no picture here, but I found "THE DRESS".  I went to Fountaine's Bridal here in Wilmington and tried on some dresses.  I narrowed it down to two.  One was pretty and very inexpensive, but the other was so pretty and perfect, but more expensive.  It came down to Jew vs. Bride.  Well, Bride won :)  I can't wait!

Part 2:  SEVENDUST
Chris and I went to eat at the House of Blues before the show so that we could "Pass the Line".  We showed up pretty early (4 p.m.) and ate and then went up to the bar to have a couple Happy Hour drinks.  We got bourbon and gingers for $3!  (I love SC just for happy hour!)  So about 15 minutes later, Chris nudges me.  One seat away from him is LAJON WITHERSPOON (the lead singer of Sevendust).  So, I scurried my butt over, sat down next to him, and we bought him a drink. 

So we got to talkin, learned he recently got married and a bunch of other stuff.  He really seemed to like us and asked me to write our names down on a napkin, which I did.  Turns out he wanted to get us on the guest list for backstage passes!!!!  After he had left, we had another drink and were ready to go get in line for the "pass the line" (it's where you get in before the doors actually open).  We were about to go and the nice bartender lady looks to us and say, "Hey, I noticed you guys were drinking bourbon earlier and I misspoured these two bourbon & cokes, do you want them...to go?"  DUH!  So we go inside and the opening act was great and Sevendust killed it!!  Lajon promised me earlier he would play "Face To Face" and totally did and I believe he may have done some sort of dedication at the beginning to us.  He said later that he even did some running gestures in there for us (I told him it's how I finish every 5k).  He also played "Enemy" and "Rumblefish" which we had specifically told him we ran to as well.  So, after the show, we go upstairs (w/ about 30 other folks) to hang out with them.  We go straight to LJ and I thanked him for hooking us up.  Then, he embarassed me.  I had mentioned that I think Morgan (the drummer) is incredible so he decided to personally introduce us.  He said, "Stephanie meet Mr. Rose"  So embarassing!!  But I totally got to hang out w/ Morgan for quite a bit.  It turns out he uses Biofreeze and Tens units, so I gave him my work phone number so I could send him some stuff from SME :) 

Oh what a great night!  If Sevendust wasn't already my favorite rock band, they totally would be now. 

Okay, so be totally jealous of my day ;)