BlissfulMsMiranda

Wow - amazing pictures!!! Some of the backdrops from the weddings shots don't even look real. Incredible!!!

Did a 45-minute weight-lifting routine with my fiance last night, nothing for me today and my office Christmas party is tonight. I must NOT eat like a pig ... I'd rather save the calories for the wine. ;-) Hehehe Tomorrow morning it's a 1-hour spinning class and a few weights afterward.

Didn't exercise on Monday (it's my break day) but yesterday I did 25 minutes of jump rope to do some cardio. I'd planned to run but the massive amounts of snow and freezing rain we're getting in Montreal kind of stopped me from going outside!!! :-p Hehehe

Did a 45-min weight-lifting program this morning ... super intense and really hard!! But I felt great after. Mind you ... finished a bottle of wine with the FI while decorating the tree tonight ... oops ...

Quote: Originally Posted by kevsgirl Don't get down on yourself, Miranda, that's the easiest thing to suck all your motivation from you! When you get into working out more regularly, you'll love it and keep it up. Being tired and stressed doesn't help at all. Your goal is huge and far away. Maybe it would help to have some smaller goals so you can reward yourself more often for making them? Aw, thanks Kevsgirl ... I tend to get down on myself easily, which is no good. I know. BUT, I had an appointment with my nutrionist this morning, right after my 1-hour Spinning class, and I lost 3 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!! And in only 2 weeks since the last time I saw her ... so I must be doing something right. My small goals are going to be maintaining that 1 1/2 lbs a week loss ... the rest will be a bonus. I think getting my eating under control is the most important and I'm getting much better at it. But, thanks again. You girls are all a massive, massive inspiration.

Aww those are gorgeous!!!!!! Congrats Missy!!!!!!!

I should have gone running this morning but I just couldn't bring myself to wake up early and I'm way too busy at work to even take a lunch today so I can't do it then either. I feel like such a failure when it comes to exercise sometimes. *sigh* I'm going bowling tonight ... can't really call that cardio though. I don't know ... I'm sticking to my nutritionists diet, but I don't know if I'll be able to pull off my goal in the next 5 months!!!

Heading to a 1-hour power Yoga class tonight after work ... can't wait!

I wonder if the term "eczema" even encompasses psoriasis? Maybe I'm way in left field here ... but what my fiance has and what I seem to have (I've never seen a dermatologist) is a form of psoriasis. He gets it in small patches on his elbows, fingers, lower back and thighs. It's like little red areas that eventually flake and turn white and they itch like mad. I started to get red blotches on my arms after a hot shower (which I now realize was probably making it a hell of a lot worse!) in high school. I thought it was hives. I have VERY sensitive skin. Since then it's been reduced to a few patches on my shoulders (which I need to get rid of before the big day) and every now and then one will creep up on my face which is why I think it's psoriasis. Stress is directly linked to psoriasis .... if you're stressed patches will come up. Sooo, I try my best to de-stress however possible when I have a bad flare up: yoga, lukewarm bath, relaxing at home etc. Sounds silly, but it seems to work. Also, the fiance has a cortizone-based cream (sorry, don't know the name of it and I'm at work) that works wonders as well. As for bodywashes, I go for the milk-based ones as they seem to be the best on my skin and the perfume-y ones make it even worse. Unfortunately, it seems that the TWO things that get rid of the psoriasis for me are the ocean and the sun!!! And living in eastern Canada doesn't really help much in that area ... So I can only hope that my few days before the wedding will help the patches disappear completely. Sorry if this wasn't helpful ... but you might want to consider psoriasis ... while I think it's very similar it might have a few different properties and treatments ... so talk to a new dermatologist about that possibility.

Got up this a.m. before work and did my HIIT cardio on the cold, icy streets of Montreal at 6:00 a.m.!!! BRRR ... only 30 mins of running, but it's a hell of a way to start the day and gets my heart rate right up there.

Thanks Kevsgirl - I checked out the thread ... very cool!! Just because I know we're all visual ... here's where I'm at now: (in the dress ... I love it SOOOO much) I loathe my arms so that's gotta change ... and the dress is very tight in the abdominal region and loose on the boobs (great :-p) Hehehe And a full frontal (hee hee) because we all know that angled shots bring out the skinny no matter what ... ;-) Hehehe Really this was just an excuse to show off my dress again ... LOL but really ... I want to feel GOOD in my dress. I already love it, but I want to feel comfortable!!

My dress is ivory, vintage lace, and my MOH is wearing sand/beige with a sage colored sash and the BM will be wearing a sage shirt with beige khakis ... So I'd say stick to pastels as well ... light, soft and flow-y works best with ivory IMO!

Wow you girls are good!! I'm still super buggy (been really sick for nearly a week now) and just couldn't bring myself to wake up early and run. So, I think tonight I'm going to hit up some weights, do some dips and try and do non-cardio stuff so I won't have a mental coughing fit. :-p

You girls really are the best ... honestly. When I think about it as 1-2 (preferably 2) pounds a week ... and that I have 20 =odd weeks to do it in ... it seems totally and completely doable. To answer a few questions: I DO have my wedding dress ... and it fits ... kind of. It's a bit tight in the rib/abdominal area and would need to be taken out slightly if I was to get married in a week or so. So, I have motivation on that end. At my lowest weight, when I was running and eating well etc. I hit about 135 lbs but I know I could have gone lower if I'd not been an idiot and stopped seeing the nutritionist. *sigh* I have a very supportive fiance and he's also started lifting weights to get himself in shape for the big day on the beach and eating better to make it easier for me so there's less junk in the house etc. He took my measurements last weekend (bust, waist, hips) and snapped a few pics of me in a bikini and we'll do that on the same date every month till the big day. I know I could gain muscle weight which will stop the scales even though my body is changing, which is why I asked him to take the measurements. Hopefully this plague-like flu will leave me this week and I can get back into action as I've been inactive since last Tuesday No good!!! But, again .... thank you girls!!! You're the best, and besides my FI it's nice to to know I have you all behind me too. It will be done!!!!!!!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping all the way - I'm all about the perfectly wrapped gift with ribbons and all. 2. Real tree or Artificial? This will be our first official Xmas together in our house, so despite me not liking the idea of cutting down a poor tree (I always had artificial growing up), the fiance has insisted that it's not Xmas without a REAL tree ... so we're going to go by his tradition on that one. 3. When do you put up the tree? Well, seeing as it's going to be real, probably about 2 weeks before Christmas. 4. When do you take the tree down? Always January 01st. 5 . Do you like eggnog? I love it in a bad, bad way. 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm, that's a hard one ... I was obsessed with unicorns when I was a little girl and I was given a stuffed one for Christmas and that thing went EVERYWHERE with me. 7. Hardest person to buy for? The future husband ... he's IMPOSSIBLE. 8. Easiest person to buy for? My Mum - I always go overboard but I just love buying stuff for her. She's already done so much for me, how can I not? 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope, the cats would surely destroy it ... or eat baby Jesus and I just don't think that would be right... 10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Well, for all my work contacts, PR reps etc it's email all the way. But, for family and friends snailmail baby! 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I remember when I was really young I went to see Santa at the mall and I really wanted a stuffed bear, like REALLY badly wanted a bear ... and so on Xmas morning I open my stocking to discover a miniature, like smaller than my thumb, green plastic bear ... and my parents were like: Look! Santa granted your wish. LOL I don't know WHAT they were thinking ... definitely made me think twice about asking Santa for stuff. 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (the clay one) hands down! 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Um, a few weeks before Xmas ... 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No I don't think I have ... 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candy Canes!!!! I'm obsessed!!! 16. Lights on the tree? Yup, clear. 17. Favorite Christmas song? I hate to admit it, but it's that stupid Mariah Carey song "All I Want For Christmas Is You" ... it just makes me happy and I always sing and dance along to it. 18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? The past few years we've spent Xmas in Cuba and it's been a bit strange ... we're staying home this year and personally I prefer that! I love just staying in my PJs all day and opening gifties. 19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Maybe after a bit of eggnog ... 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open our stockings on Christmas Eve because my father was such a kid about it that he could wait for the morning so that's a tradition now... hehehe then we open the rests of the gifts on Christmas morning. 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who dislike Christmas for all the wrong reasons. It doesn't have to be a materialistic holiday if you don't want it to be. Look at it for all it's good qualities ... and he really does have a lot! 23. What theme or color are you using? Our tree and decorations match the rest of the decor in our house and we're going with silver/white/teal/green/blue 24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? My Mum's butterball turkey with yams, parsnips, roasted potatoes and all the fixings ... mmmm 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Materialistically I would love a new laptop! Otherwise I just want all around me to be healthy and happy (I've lost too many people to cancer this year) 26. Who is most likely to respond to this? All the BDW elves!! 27. Who is least likely to respond to this? All the BDW grinches!!

To think that I can lose 25-30 lbs in 5 1/2 months?! I'm currently seeing a nutritionist and have dropped a pound in 2 weeks (not exactly promising). But I'd caught a nasty virus and been inactive for the past 5 days ... plus I'm on my period so I may have even lost more but water weight is screwing me. Anyways, I don't count calories, it's all bout portion size and frequency of meals. And of course I watch my fat/sugar intake and stay away from deserts and too much alcohol (if any). As far as working out I'm getting into a habit of HIIT cardio 3 times a week in the morning before work, power yoga for an hour once a week, spinning for an hour once a week and weight training 2-3 times a week with one day off to rest and recoup. I just get so frustrated sometimes ... I'm not huge, I know that. I currently weight 148 lbs and I'm about 5'3". I just want to be ... tighter and slimmer. I don't want huge muscles I just want to be comfortable!!! I've always wanted it, but the fact that I'm getting married has suddenly kicked me into gear. My future hubby said he would be SO impressed and proud of me if I reached my goal (and not that he's not happy with how I am now, he just knows how much and how badly I want it!). But, am I mental to think I can actually do it?! I get so aggravated with myself sometimes and so down about it ... *sigh* This was more of a vent then a question ... but thanks for listening girls.

Awesome, awesome pictures ... Barney is adorable Missy!! And you're getting married in 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see the pics from the big day!!!

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!! Congrats!!!!!!!

I love Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" and thought I wanted that as "our song" but I've decided instead to make that the first "everyone dance together" song of the night ... So "I'm Yours" will follow our song... And for OUR song ... I just found it yesterday actually! After falling in love with Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" I downloaded his album and stumbled across this song: "Lucky" The words are perfect and the song is gorgeous ... and I can't wait. It brings tears to my eyes already!!

Etsy is the SHIZNIT!!!! Seriously!!!! And that jewelry is gorgeous Shay!! I found my jewelry on there too (click on the link for "necklace" in the first post to see). I'm having the chick make my MOH a similar necklace with a bluer starfish, only in the front. Etsy really is amazing ... especially for custom jewelry. There's something for everyone ... and even if there isn't - someone can just make it for you!!!

Awesome planning girls!! Thanks so much ... you've all given me some great ideas and a good base for what this AHR will actually be like. We are having it at my parent's as well - they live in the country and have a huge backyard, as well as a pool and horses and donkeys ... LOL So it should be interesting!

That's an absolutely gorgeous dress and it looks great on you. I say, if you're really feeling it and you want to go the non-traditional route then this is the dress to get!!!

OMG that's the dress I was DYING to try on when I was looking!!! I've already got my dress and I'm absolutely in love with it ... but I thought THAT dress was the one for me!! I'm sure you can find someone who wants to buy it. I wouldn't be worried about that at all. And don't worry, you'll find THE ONE...

Hi all - I've searched in this section for the answers and can't seem to come across them, but I apologize if this is a repeat post! We are starting to think about our AHR (we won't be holding it till next July, but we realize we have NO IDEA where to start with all this). I contacted a catering company to ask some pricing questions and they had a bunch of questions for me that had me realizing I really don't know how to plan this!!! Sooo ... our AHR is not going to be anything massive. We're expecting 50-80 people, we're not having an informal ceremony and I am NOT wearing my wedding dress again (despite my mother's hopes and dreams). For those of you holding an AHR what time are you holding it? Is it just a cocktail (what we want to do) with hors d'oeurves ... if so did you do it from 2-6, noon-4 something like that? I'm so confused ... Also should there be speeches? Acitivities? We want to have pictures from the wedding on a projector for everyone to see and we're going to have a cake as well ... I feel so lost. Any and all advice would be much appreciated ladies. Thanks!!

Well, you know if your sister is going to react like that to a decision about YOUR wedding ... then she definitely doesn't deserve to be your MOH. Now, don't let your Mum suck you in to feeling guilty about letting her go! KLC77 is right - tell your Mum to butt out! This is between you and your sister and if your sister can mature a little and understand the situation and where you're coming from then you might have an easier time with her. I'm really sorry you have to go through this! It always seems like wedding planning will be so easy and fun ... then we forget about situations like this. And you know your BDW girls will always be here for you!!!