Wedding In Pics

Well, it has finally happened. I am now officially married to the sweetest, kindest, funniest and many other -est words man that I know. The wedding ceremony is such a blur. All I remember is trying not to fall down and then seeing Scott. Lots of flashes, Scott, blur of faces, Scott and so on and so forth. So here is my day in a few pictures (it was hard to choose what to put up). These are not professional, they are all taken from friends and family on the day and span over 11 hours.

Simple Reef/Beach Themed Centre Pieces

Okay, I get this question a lot in regards to my wedding. What are you doing for your centre pieces? How are you going to use them? What materials do you need? What is a simple way?

I work with a few rules when planning for my wedding.

Rule 1: KISS- Keep it simple stupid
In anything with a wedding you get to complicated you will increase the chance of it stuffing it up. Simple is key.

Rule 2: Use local supplies or suppliers from your country

Rule 3: When creating or crafting refer to rule 1 constantly.

Rule 4: Plan ahead, because sales are your friend and random things happen (e.g. operation!)

Okay, so using the above rules I have created the following centre piece. I love it! It is simple and matches beautifully with the surrounds at the reception (Reef HQ), when surrounded by ocean aquariums...you just need something simple.

Reef/Beach Centre Pieces

Large mix shells
Small mix shells
Star fish
Coral sand
Taper Candle
Large balloon vase

Steps
1. Ensure marks on bowl are cleaned.
2. Pour in the reef sand filling the base.
3. Place candle in the centre of the bowl.
4. Place 1 starfish and 3 large assorted shells in the bowl (aim for varying kinds)
5. Sprinkle with small shell mix.
6. Store safely in a box with bubble wrap for transport to and from venue.

I used the following local business/chain stores:
- Hired vases from Doug Ede's Marquee and Party Hire
- Coral Sand from Pet HQ
- Candles from Dusk

Online Ordering
-Australian Sea Shells for bulk shells and star fish. This company was brilliant, particularly in regards to maintaining contact and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Roast Pumpkin Sauce on Pappardelle...mmmm

I have been craving warm creamy sauces this winter. I have been meaning to share this recipe for a good while now but just keep forgetting to post it. I made this up for Scott and I one night. I love the creamy texture but next time would add more garlic and spice to off set the pumpkin flavour. I hope you enjoy and if you make any changes let me know. 

Roast Pumpkin Sauce on Pappardelle

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1.4kg of butternut pumpkin, cut into 2cm cubes

4 garlic cloves

3 tsp fresh thyme

100ml olive oil

500g pappardelle

2 tbsp of cream

185ml of vegetable stock (can also use chicken stock)

30g shave Parmesan Cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Place pumpkin, garlic, thyme and 60ml of olive oil in a large bowl and toss until pumpkin is covered. 

2. Season with salt. Transfer to baking tray and cook for 30 mins.

3. Cook pasta al dente, drain and return to pan, toss through olive oil and keep warm.

4. Place cooked pumpkin and cream in blender and process until smooth. Add warmed stock and process until smooth and combined. Season with salt and black pepper. 

5. Toss through warmed pasta, serve immediately with Parmesan cheese.   

On another note. 8 DAYS UNTIL MY WEDDING!!!! I may be getting excited, here is a hint of something else...

On the other side

Hello blogging world,

I have taken a little hiatus because life has gone crazy. I am coming home exhausted with all these things happening. But I feel it is a time to do a check list of all the things I have achieved since my last post. Plus, I would like to share a recipe I found yesterday while in the hospital waiting room, but I will put that in a separate post. Will be making them ASAP and tell you how they went. 

I have achieved the following for my wedding (I want to share photos but you will have to wait for the day, see sneak peek here):

• Organised Limo's
• Finalised catering
• Picked up my dress and had it altered
• Found out all 3 bridesmaids have theirs
• Organised my bomboniere for my guest
• Organised my bridesmaids gift
• Confirmed wedding cake
• Confirmed flowers
• Organised hair and make up for the day
• Filled out final forms for the DJ with wedding songs etc
• Have gone over and approved the final script for the big day
• Finalised photographer 
• In the process of the final steps with my reception site
• Started to make my first of 2 decorations for the bridal table.
• Started organising seating position
• Started the scrapbook my sister gave me to put in photos of the process.

And thats just the wedding! So life is insane. I am also babysitting a friends beautiful cat. His name is Lucifer, he is gorgous. D'Argo adores him, Delenn is stand offish and complains alot. Nothing new there. But the 3 have been delightful to come home to. EVEN though they steal each others food like children! 

Finally, the biggest reason I have been so stressed is a health scare. I had surgery yesterday and am feeling wooooooo. But, the best outcome has been reached. It went from a high chance of melanoma (Yay 7 weeks out from the wedding) to being nothing life threatening but needing to be dealt with immediately. I would like to thank the following people who have helped me through all of this. 

Firstly to Scott for being my rock, caring for me and making sure I was okay.

To my family for being their to listen to me freak out and celebrate the good news.

To my work collages who have been supportive and understanding.

To Dr Sally Meade my surgen, thank you for your suggestions, wonderful intellect and hands. 

To Dr Chris Jelliffe for making sure I felt nothing and appreciating my humour. 

To the amazing administration nurse at the Mater Hospital who had a wicked sense of humour and gave the most awesome numbing cream in existence, I feel awful that I cannot remember your name. When I find it I shall add it to this post. 

Also, to ALL of the hospital staff who work so hard to ensure the health, well being and hapiness of their patients. You are ALL AMAZING!  

So me in a nut shell this past month. It has been a roller coaster ride and I am sure it will continue to be. 

Wedding Sewing...the beginning

Well it is time to begin. I have my pattern and now I need to make the matching pair of plushies for our wedding. Thank you again Funky Friends Factory (love the patterns). Here is a sneak peek of what I am doing, I am linking these into where we are having the wedding reception. Each of us selected our own fabric and now I need to start the hand sewing. With the 'help' of my buddies who lay on or steal everything I touch. Lock down in the office :)

Wedding Snippets

Well we are in the final stretch of organising the wedding. I have had a few people asking where I got inspiration from and how I did it all. So I thought I would share a few photos that I used to inspire me for my big day. Think rainforest meets the sea.

I live!

Life has become very hectic with school, wedding and social events. In the past month I have been very spoilt. I splurged and went and got highlights and my first facial (which I loved). I love the Ella Bache products, I actually have clear skin for the first time since...I forgot. My skin is starting to look beautiful again and I found the hairdresser for my wedding.

On the work front it is insane and I am trying to find ways to cope. I stopped sewing, crafting and cooking properly which was the worst thing I could do. I have started using a planner to try and get myself organised and the craziness of life sorted. So, with renewed focused I shall start these things up again. Here is a photo story of my past month. I hope you like.


The blurbs crack me up. WIll have to post a few favs.


Birdie Buddies


My cat eats flowers...she isn't a kitten anymore


Which one doesn't belong. I can't see ACDC supporting a low alcohol wine product.


I didn't mind the pink one in the middle.


Valentine's Days- special lights and dinner


Latest swap (plushie in an envie) You send un stuffed to save postage.