Here is the ring I really want after researching all the designs and consulting with Jim Haffey, our designer here in Redmond.  It is a Bezel setting for the main stone and then I would like 3 channel set diamonds on each side of that, for a total of 6 side diamonds at 2mm or .1 carat each. 

 

What I'm thankful for today is my happy family.  I love it when they smile and laugh, especially when I am not looking, when I hear them from the other room making each other happy.  I am also thankful for the fun I have every day laughing- thank you to anyone who has laughed with me because it is much more fun to share a laugh.

Some invitation ideas...

Hollywood in Vegas
To go with the blue and red theme, the suite we would like to stay in is here.  It says it will fit 25 people for the cake and champagne, but it looks like it would be standing room only.
http://www.mgmgrand.com/hotel/hollywood-suites.aspx

I have looked at a couple of different restaurants, one looks red themed and is in the MGM Grand. 
http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/diego-mexican-restaurant.aspx

They do plated dinners or family style.  Yummy!

 

Sweet Sixteen!
Happy Birthday Lexi.  I love you.

Harvest Highlights

We took Owen to the Pumpkin Co. pumpkin patch on Halloween to check out the cool pirate ship made out of hay.  Here are some highlights of the picture cutouts.



Emma's Little Teapot
Emma turned 10 on October 23.  We had a tea for her with several of her friends, Madison & Ashley.  It was beautiful with rose petals strung as garland and pink everywhere- even all the food was pink. 

Look at These Cute Stamps

I purchased these at http://www.zazzle.com/ for the save the date cards and invitations.  I thought they were great for our theme and destination wedding!

Ring Shopping
It's almost time to make this thing real with some ring shopping.  I've been doing online shopping and found some looks that I like.  I never wear any jewelry except the diamond studs that Steve purchased several years ago.  Here are some photos of the looks I like.

Hopefully we will go to Zales or somewhere soon so we can see how these guys look together!

Cake Ideas

Here are my ideas for my cake.  I want a very casual, yet clean cake that will go with the funky topper I found.  It lights and flashes the Vegas sign.

 



http://www.retrobakerylv.com/

 

I am thinking about the suit one on top of the quilted one with black beads instead of silver beads and sapphire blue or red or alternating frosting beads at the bottom of the cakes instead of the purple/red-black.  (Whew.)

Las Vegas Ticket Save The Date Cards

I have been hard at work on the Save the Date cards for the wedding on 11.11.11 in Las Vegas.  I got the idea to make the cards in the shape of airline tickets and searched the internet for templates.  I found basic instructions on e-How.com and took mine a few steps further with a hand perforator and magnets.  The background of each one specifies "Not a Valid Travel Voucher" and "Boarding Pass" "11-11-11."  The message says Stephen and Julie would like you to join us as we go All In!


The printed sheets of STD's

After printing the sheets, I hand cut them and rounded the corners.   I hand made jackets for them that were color coordinated in red, blue, and gold to match the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.  These will be our wedding theme colors.

I perforated each card along the "bar code" strip and applied a magnetic background just on the end portion with the pertinent information.  I used a corner rounder, perforator, paper cutter, scissors, pencil, ruler, printer, circle cutter and glue striper. 

The part that made it look most professional was the corner rounding with the $7.99 rounder.  This gave both the envelopes and the "tickets" a polished look.  These are fun, easy cards to send to my friends and family.

TheKnot

TheKnot: Here is Steve and I's wedding site with updated information as often as I can

My nephew is in Kindergarden and overheard a story of a great reward of a new video game for a teenager getting straight A's in school.  Bradley Dean (who is currently evaluated on Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) looked at his parents and proudly said "I want a new game, too, my teacher said my A's are getting a lot straighter!" 

Make a slideshow

Owen is a ghost.  He is also my son.  He is also my son's new imaginary friend.  I am not sure how imaginative it is that Owen's new friend is also named Owen, but I can say with certainty that imaginary "ghost" friends make black sharpie drawings on the walls look pretty damned cute.  And that when my son says "Mommy, Owen ate all the candy," I can't argue with him.  Apparantly, Owen didn't actually SEE Owen eat all the candy- because Owen is a ghostie, and you can't see ghosties.  Right, well, OK then, tell Owen that if he eats the candy or draws on the walls again, his "imaginationarian" friend is going to get smacked upside the head for it, because, well, I can see him.