Monday Mission .... one day late.
1. How to you get motivated to do something you really hate to do?
I tell myself the sooner I do it the sooner I'll be done with it.
2. Have you ever been hypnotized? Do you think it can really be done or is it a mind trick?
I went to one of those comedy club shows with The Hypnotist a few years back. My tablemates volunteered me to go up there. I don't know if I was hypnotized necessarily ... but I was seriously relaxed and kinda felt asleep. My friends SAID I did a few things, but I remember most of them -- I don't clearly remember licking envelopes or pretending to ride in a car, but its there - but nothing out of character (like make out with a stranger or take off any clothes) -- so I think even if you are hypnotized, you aren't going to do things that are totally against your nature. Is it strange to think I've been hypnotized but not really sure? I don't know. I think hypnotism is possible ... but you have to be willing to allow yourself to go there. Who knows.
3. Bride Magazine says that the average bill for a wedding is $22,000. No, I didn't misplace a comma, that is twenty-two THOUSAND! That sounds insane to me. I'd rather elope and put that money into a house. Or a honeymoon. If you are married, how much did your wedding cost? Was it worth it? (the cost of the wedding, not the marriage, heh) If you aren't, how much do you think should be spent on a wedding?
Let's see .... I think we came out OK on our wedding. The service was held at the church I grew up in, so no fees there. The reception was held in the churchs huge fellowship hall complete with crystal, tables, and linen tableclothes -- so no cost for that. My first purchase was my dress -- which was a little over $850 (i still have it too ... I've been trying to detach myself from it enough to sell it and recoup a few hundred ... but can't quite give it up yet! Maybe another year will do it for me! I've never been the type to want my daughter to wear my wedding dress. I didn't want to wear my mom's, and I wouldn't want to pressure my daughter into wearing mine. Every bride should be able to do their own thing, in my oh so humble opinion). Veil, shoes, crinolin, hair, jewelry etc .... probably another $400 or so. Invitations -- for some reason I'm thinking that was around $250. I think that might be low though?? Flowers .... I can't remember. I think it was around $1000 for flowers. Again, our wedding was at Christmas in my home church. We used their gorgeous candelabras and pew glass globes and cut our own christmas greenery and used three huge christmas trees as decoration for the ceremony -- so our flower bill wouldn't be as high as for someone getting married in summer where the church wouldn't already be gorgeous for Christmas. Rehearsal Dinner was around $1500 or so -- i can't remember exactly. Brides Cake and Grooms cake were $450 together I think. We got a deal on those thank goodness. The Reception is the big cost for a wedding -- again I'm estimating, but I think it was around $4500. So thats about $8200 not including tuxes, bridesmaid dresses, gifts for the wedding party, honeymoon, reception favors .... so maybe a little over $10,000 for the entire thing? I'm probably underestimating -- but it was nowhere near $22,000. And Steve and I paid for A LOT of things ourselves so my parents thankfully didn't have to foot the entire bill. We bought a lot of things along the way and it wasn't so bad as paying for everything within a month or two. It's I had a huge notebook as my wedding planner and had magazine cutouts and websites and everything I could find on invitiations, cakes, dresses, etc. all about planning and researching and finding the best deal. Blah BLah Blah I'm going on and on about this. Ugh. And yes ... it was worth it. I worked hard leading up to the wedding-- and Steve, my mom and I pretty much decorated the church all by ourselves. And it looked magical -- I had always wanted a Christmas wedding and I had a beautiful one. Looking back, the only thing I would have spent less on is the dress -- I could have bought the same dress at another store for a few hundred less, but didn't know it til after I'd already bought it. It was one of those -- OH MY GOSH this is the perfect dress and i Have to order it right now -- decisions. If I had waited like 3 days, I would have seen the dress at the other store. Oh well !
4. Have you ever looked for or bought a house? Was it fun? What is the most frustrating part of the process (looking, buying, all areas)?
We just bought our first house about 5 months ago. It was a long long process. All in all, we were looking for about 9 months. We bid on at least 5 houses, lost the first four in bidding wars, and finally got the 5th one and we love it. The most frustrating part -- trying to find all the things you want in a house, in the area you want, in the price range you can afford. It's tough ... because you don't want to settle for anything less!
5. Do you have a quiet place where you can go and be alone? What's it like? Would you share it with someone or is it just yours?
Not really .... I love reading in our den in my favorite chair with my feet up. A nice cosy blanket wrapped around me. But its not like it's a secret hiding place though!
6. Summer is almost over, did you get to take a vacation yet?
We went to England in April for Steve's friends wedding -- short trip though. We had 2 days in St. Augustine, Florida earlier in the summer. Other than that -- really haven't gone anywhere. We're going to Boston in October for another friends wedding (another great bridesmaid dress --- yipppeee!) and hoping to spend a few days in Gatlinburg after Thanksgiving. I guess we're more short trip kind of people -- because getting a whole week off work is hectic and almost more trouble than its worth. Taking one or two days here and there is nice though. THen you have mini-vacations all throughout the year!
7. Do you like playing video games? What game system do you like the most (any era) or do you prefer board games?
Nope. Growing up my dad wouldn't let us play video games, period. So I never got into them, and don't really want to get into them. I have enough stuff I like to do!! I love board games though .... especially the classics -- Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Clue, Scrabble, etc.
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