Big Day for $10K | Little budgets, Big inspiration

Cute title, right? I wish I could take credit, but alas, I cannot. That little tagline is the handiwork of Leslie Ann Jones, one of the fabulous designers that Minted.com has featured in their holiday collection this year.

I’ve known for just about ever that I’ve wanted to order this year’s Christmas card from Minted. I’m obsessed with them. I love all of their stuff. Really, every last bit of it.

Anyway, you can imagine my surprise (and overwhelming excitement) when Stephanie of Minted.com contacted me wanting to partner up… TOTALLY STOKED. I was actually at Men’s Wearhouse with Mr. Man picking up his tux a few days before the wedding, so I was a bit frazzled. Stephanie and I reconvened post-honeymoon; and I spent a few agonizing hours in front of the computer trying to decide which cards I wanted to order. I struggled. A lot.

Finally, I picked these:

Adorable? Absolutely. Cheesy? You know it. But, I had to. I just had to. And at the end of the day, they’re so freaking cute and align PERFECTLY with my blog and well, I’m just obsessed. They’re adorable.

So I ordered them. I opted to order 50 (even though I thought we could get away with 25), because I knew I’d wind up wanting to send more… so family, friends, coworkers, and who knows? Maybe even the mailman will get one. I mean, why not?

I ordered them one-sided, in the red scheme pictured above, and with envelopes.

Now, let me tell you one of my favorite things about Minted.com: The emphasis on the customer and the customer’s experience.

Not only is their customer service fantastic, but your order comes packaged (I’m a sucker for packaging, in case you didn’t already know) beautifully:

Thanks to Pat for lovingly packing my Christmas cards into the box, with that adorable ribbon and personalized sticker. Pat sure knows the way to my heart!

That adorbs packaging, however, didn’t last too long, because I just had to get my paws on my holiday cards. Had to. Couldn’t wait.

The skies opened and the angels sang (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating… but not much). I LOVE them. Love love love love love love love love ELL OH VEE EEEEEE! Love.

Enough of that. The paper is nice and heavy and the envelopes are perfect — you can’t see through them at all when the card is in there.

So, what we’re going to do is write short and sweet little messages on the backs, pop ‘em in their envelopes and mail… this coming week.

So, for those of you who are like me and a little late to the party (Christmas is 3 weeks away, dudes)… you may want to get on it and handle your holiday cards… just sayin’.

AND… for those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, or who are way late to the party, Minted also offers a ton of adorable too

If you order from Minted.com before 12/9 (that’s next Friday), use the code CHEERS15 for 15% off all orders of $150+ or 10% off orders of $100+.

Happy Holidays, readers! Thanks for reading, commenting, hassling me, chatting with me… you guys are the BEST. xo

New Years cards

Holiday cards

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I’d like to think that this affects us all; if it doesn’t, please don’t tell me… I’d like to continue thinking I’m not alone here.

When we first got engaged, I was religiously going to the gym, eating really well; overall just making a concerted effort to get in shape and be in the best shape of my life on our wedding day.

That lasted until cheer season picked back up (working 40-50 hours per week, then coaching for another 20-30); when it got a lot more difficult to keep myself on a routine. Going to the gym after work was no longer an option… and after working 12-13 hours, it wasn’t an easy choice either. Eating dinner at a normal time went out the window, I was practicing until 7:30, not getting home until 8 or sometimes even later.

Stress from guest listing, inviting, planning, PAYING, coordinating, DIYing got the best of me; and frankly, I’ve always been a foodie; but at risk of sounding like I’m obese and have a serious problem: I’m pretty sure I’m just downright addicted to food. I don’t mean that in a kitchy playful way; I mean I really do think it’s an addiction.

That aside, I didn’t go overboard eating Twinkies and Ice Cream… I’ve never been much of a fan of junk. But, when it came to an amazing meal, portion control was really tough.

Long story short, I wound up deciding that your engagement just isn’t the time to get into the best shape of your life. Or, my life. Maybe it works for some people; for me, timing wasn’t right, and it just didn’t happen.

Now, I know I’m not a big fat cow. I know that. But, I’m packing about 60-70 extra pounds that frankly, I’d rather have gone. G.O.N.E.

My wedding photos are beautiful. My dress was beautiful. I loved my sash. Adored my flowers. Am head over heels in love with my husband.

But, the first thing I see when I look back at some of these pictures is my size… and I’m already plotting in my head to get in the best shape of my life and throw a big party for a vow renewal or something (not wedding-big, but get into a killer dress and show everyone how hot I am over dinner-big).

This, my friends, is my backfat. Not cute.

Exhibit A. My backfat. Amazing photo with amazing men (Daddy and Hubs), but goodNESS that backfat is just glaring at me. Do I wish I looked a bit better? Yes. Would I change it? Probably not.

But, now, I’ve hopped onto the Hot Wife bandwagon and decided that dammit, it’s time to take control and get my life back.

I’ve stumbled upon a couple of really inspiring stories and weightloss blogs (I blame Pinterest) and I’m really starting to realize my faults:

I’m notorious for “I can do it tomorrow”

Knowing that I lost 30lbs last year by going to the gym and eating right has actually proven to be a thorn in my side… somehow, that uber-win has made it infinitely easier for me to think to myself, “Well I’ve done it before, so I can start again next week.”

I realize now that I’ve been making a lot of excuses

You know what, I bet under all this fat, I’m not “big-boned,” I mean shit, my mom is 5’3″ and weighs under 100lbs… I’m sorry, but no more excuses and no more lying to myself — I refuse to believe my bones are THIS big
While I may not look like I’m about to hit the two-hundo (OMG I just admitted that…) mark, I am… and the excuse (while most often in my head) of “Well I don’t LOOK like I weigh this much” just isn’t going to cut it

Pretending to be comfortable at this weight doesn’t equal really being comfortable at this weight

I gave myself the honeymoon… we ate ourselves silly, drank ourselves even sillier (try drinking all day in a swimming pool then GETTING OUT of said pool and somehow WALKING… anywhere. Impossible, I tell you). But this has got to stop. My back has been bothering me. I haven’t hurt it, I can only assume it’s because I’m heavier than my body is used to being (maybe that’s me going all hypochondriac on myself and Web-MDing a bit much, but give it to me). I’m out of shape, get winded way too easily.

I’ve pretty much decided that it’s just time to cut the bullshit, quit making excuses, and get my ass in gear. My goal is to lose at least 65lbs by the time we want bambinos… which should give me anywhere between 18 months and maybe 2.5 years?

I’m on cholesterol medicine to keep my cholesterol and CRP (don’t ask me what it stands for, I can’t even pronounce it… but it’s the measure of the inflammation of the vessels around my heart) down… and in order to even think about trying to make babies, I have to be off that medicine for 6-8 months. Grand. So, in order to feel okay and not freak out about not being on my medication, I really have to try to get those things down on my own (which I’ve tried, doesn’t work… but anything helps).

That’s my two cents. I figured if I said everything “out loud” then I’d have less of a chance of failing because there are a couple of thousand of you that are going to see this, hopefully ask about my progress, and not let me live it down if I get lazy and slack off. Please don’t let me do this.

I want to be able to post pictures of myself a year from now and be proud of the changes. Who’s with me?

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#242: A Very Married Christmas

#241: Post-wedding Pudge