three times a bridesmaid

After a 12 hour day on campus and running errands, I was ecstatic to come home to some good news. My first book for my first book review came via UPS today.

“The DIY Bride: 40 fun projects for your one of a kind wedding,” by Khris Cochran caters to brides like me, DIY wannabes. From the looks of it the artistic among you will also gain something from this one. I’m planning a longer review over the weekend, but wanted to share my happiness at opening up the book

I breezed through briefly, and was glad my fears of the book being over my none artistic head were unfounded. The very first line says no crafting knowledge is required.

If you don’t want to wait for my review, and I do hope you’ll check it out, you can check the book out on Amazon. I’ll be posting the review Monday, and yes, there will be DIY projects included.

I haven’t had time to post as much this week thanks to another of my blog firsts, my first contest has had awesome success. If you haven’t entered for your chance to win a $25 Target gift card, please do so here.

In fact, I’ve been so happy with all the visitors and comments, I’m planning another contest soon. I want to team up with some of my fellow wedding bloggers. So, if you’re a wedding blogger interested in teaming up, send me an email at threetimesabridesmaid@gmail.com.

I took about two months off of this blog and to make up for my lazy ways, I’m holding a contest. We’re also celebrating my recent engagement.

What: three times a bridesmaid relaunch contest. Winner gets a $25 Target gift card mailed by US postal mail.

When: Enter by midnight EST on March 2, 2009.

Where: Leave a comment at the end of this post. Keep reading for entry info…

Why: I was a lazy bum, and I got engaged.

Who: three times a bridesmaid, and I’d be glad to partner with other great sites with prizes to give away. Email threetimesabridesmaid@gmail.com if interested.

How to enter: Lots of ways to rack up points. You don’t have to do all of the below, just a quick comment or subscribe to my feed via email and you could be shopping on me next week.

Write a post about this contest for 5 entries, paste the URL into the comments below.

Subscribe to my daily feed by email 3 entries (make sure you let me know you subscribed and write the email you used below).

Check out the blog I just launched, Weight Watching, write a comment over there and post the user name you used in the comments in this post for 2 entries.

Write a comment on any post besides this one found on my blog, and then come back to this post to tell me the user name you used and where you posted for 1 entry.

I’ll be keep an excel spreadsheet with everyone’s entries, I’ll then assign each entry a number and use random.org to pick the winner. Everyone has a chance to win, but more entries means more chances. For example if you write about this contest and subscribe via email, I’ll enter your name 8 times on the spreadsheet.

Leave a valid email so that I can contact the winner to send the prize. Good luck!

Important Update: Because I’m a nice person, I’m giving out 1 entry to anyone who simply comments below, but to reciprocate my goodwill karma, please follow the instructions above and comment on another post, then leave a comment here so I know you did so. And, to clarify, you don’t have to do all of the above to enter, but the more you do, the better chance you have of shopping for free at Target next week!

Yesterday I posted about “wanting” to start a weight loss journey. Today, I decided to walk the walk after talking the talk. I’ve started a second blog, also hosted by today.com, called Weight Watching.

My “bridesmaids” blog has already been infiltrated by wedding planning talk, so I wanted to have another place to talk about my weight loss experience. I know there are about a gazillion weight loss blogs out there, but hope to add something to the experience. I’m starting it as I start the Weight Watchers program, so it should be good for anyone else thinking of using Weight Watchers or early in the process.

I know a lot of people who have been successful using Weight Watchers, so hopefully this will be the way for me.

I plan also gearing several of the posts to brides to be and bridesmaids to be. I remember my anxiety before bridesmaids dress shopping, not wanting to know what size I’d be at. For anyone not aware, bridesmaids and bridal dresses are a few sizes larger than your everyday size, how embarrassing.

Watch for my first post later this week at Weight Watching. I’m currently going to school full time, have two 15 hour a week jobs, and about 5 side “jobs” besides trying to keep up with three blogs, so I’m thinking about going with a once a week or twice a week publishing schedule on that blog, most likely after weekly meetings.

A downside of a serious monogamous relationship? A serious weight gain. Since meeting my fiance almost two years ago, I’ve watched my waist line grow month by month as we skipped exercise sessions to cuddle on the coach and bounded over Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

I’m usually not a vain person, and hate that I want to lose weight simply to look good in my wedding pictures. But, I keep telling myself the health issues involved with my obesity need attention as well.

And, I haven’t forgotten about the original focus of my blog, a weight loss journey is a great way to bound with bridesmaids, and a good way for bridesmaids to be supportive of the bride as she prepares to waddle walk down the aisle.

My thoughts so far:

I’ve decided to check out a free Weight Watchers meeting and sign up for the service. I know several brides who do so. Drag along your bridesmaids for a weekly meeting and a chance to talk their ear off in the car about your wedding of course!

The buddy system is highly suggested for exercise motivation. Another good place for bridesmaids and brides to bound. Unfortunately, none of my attended bridesmaids live close, but I’m thinking when I do go to visit them I’ll suggest we go on a walk together.

As always, I’m anxious for your thoughts and ideas… In the meantime, I’ve come up with a list of online resources:

Weight Watchers

BUFF Fitness (for brides!)

Buff Brides: The Complete Guide to Getting in Shape and Looking Great for Your Wedding Day (book available on Amazon)

So my wedding isn’t until the fall of 2010, I shouldn’t be planning yet, right? But, I’m still floating along in post engagement glee, so of course I’ve been day dreaming away.

I’m glad we opted for a long engagement. I never got why my brides were so stressed out until I started wedding planning. This week, I’ve been thinking all about the location.

I want to get married in Bloomington, Indiana because it’s where I went to school, and a beautiful city. The fall foliage is great so I’m thinking something outside. I contacted a rep with the a local national park, Hoosier National Forest, who got me thinking. In his reply email he mentioned a spring weeding might mean ticks or chiggers.

I’m worried about what else unexpected I’m leaving out. The weather is an obvious one difficult to plan around. And getting married in a national forest might mean an indoor plan isn’t an easy option.

Help my brainstorm, and decide if getting married outside in the country is going to be a living nightmare or not. Anybody ever attend an outdoor wedding nightmare?

I can’t wait for your responses. I’ve learned so much from not only researching my blog posts, but also from your responses.

The latest installment of your daily does of hideousness

I love Flickr commons! That’s where I found this unsuspecting victim. I almost wouldn’t believe these were bridesmaids except for their bouquets in hand.  How on earth did these bridesmaids wake up in the morning and put these things on? I think that’s why the maid on the right is puffing down a cigarette, to get over the upcoming stress of wearing this dress in front of a large crowd of people. What was this bride thinking?

Seriously, I’m again at a loss of words, these dresses make fun of themselves, no extra words needed. At least these bridesmaids can reuse their garb, as Halloween costumes. The dresses would make perfect hooker costumes. They could preserve their bouquets and be bridesmaid hookers.  I hope the wedding was children free. I can’t imagine trying to explain these to a child.

I plan on working to make sure my bridesmaids wind up in something that won’t make it to my “Ugly Dress of the Day” feature, but were you not as lucky? E-mail me your photo, you’ll remain anonymous, if you wish, and I can blur out faces like above. It’s good therapy! Send your photo to threetimesabridesmaid (at) gmail (dot) com.