Violet Hills Weddings + Events

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

bridesmaids and prezzies.

I was recently asked if I would write a post on the subject of gift buying as a bridesmaid. I agree with this friend-o-mine that it can be a touchy subject and leaves bridesmaids with the daunting question of...

I have to buy HOW many presents??

For those of you that have been a bridesmaid before, you know it's a super important role that includes quite a few "duties", let's call them. But they are FUN things (well, mostly fun things) that strictly revolve around making this great friend of yours the happiest person alive. This is HER time, so really, if the bride wants it, the bride should have it. Among other things, that list of duties includes attending quite a few pre-wedding events. This friend-o-mine that asked me to write this post was faced with all of the following:

1.) Throwing a bridal shower

2.) Attending an additional bridal shower planned by someone else

3.) Helping plan and, of course attend, the bachelorette party (which is also a lingerie shower, 2-in-1)

4.) The wedding itself

Along with all of these must-do and without a doubt exciting events comes the obligation to buy presents for all of them. But do you have to? I mean, of course you want your friend to be spoiled beyond spoiled, but let's be reasonable, you have to draw the line somewhere, right? So here's my take on the above events:

1.) Since you are spending money throwing the shower (invitations, decorations, food, possibly a venue, time planning and preparing, time is money friends), you do not need to buy a gift for the shower you are throwing. A simple card will suffice saying something along the lines of "I hope this shower was everything you'd imagined - I wanted it to be just perfect for you! I love seeing all of your close friends and family gathered together to celebrate you. I'm so lucky and grateful to be a part of your big day. I love you!"

If you're really feeling that tug to buy something, consider spending a smaller amount ($10-$15) and going in with someone else to stretch your buck a little further.

2.) You should come to this shower bearing a gift. I would spend around $20 considering the other gifts you will purchase and money you will spend being a part of the wedidng.

3.) You should come to the bachelorette party prepared to chip in for the bride's costs (dinner, drinks, etc). I would also bring a gift for the lingerie shower, but again, something small around $20.

4.) For the wedding itself, especially if you are purchasing your own bridesmaid dress, shoes, and paying to have your hair and/or makeup done, you do not need to purchase a wedding gift.

I have been a bridesmaid 5 times, and I have followed these guidelines each time. For 4 out of the 5 weddings, I had to purchase plane tickets to get there. I was absolutely more than willing to do whatever I needed to in order to be there for my friends and sister, and stand in that coveted spot that represents their closest pals - it is such a great honor. But with that being said, because they are such great friends, I knew they would get it.

You get it, right?

Anyhoo, I hope this helps. And because I dislike posts sans pictures, here are a couple of gift wrapping inspirations for you.

via

Cheers.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

sunday's thwacks and shout-outs.

Thwack (verb) : to strike with, or as if with, something flat or heavy.

Shout-out (noun) : a public expression of gratitude or recognition.

Thwacks:

1.) I had a #1 enemy this week. That #1 enemy's name was Color Printer on 17 (as in floor 17, the floor I work on). I was working on an important project with a short deadline, and it kept jamming on me, over and over. So TSS gave me access to Color Printer on 18. Color Printer on 18 has its own problems - it doesn't hold very much paper. And I had heels on. So I was up and down the stairs multiple times adding paper to it. In my heels. And it took 10 minutes to print 2 copies of what I needed. I needed multiple copies. If I did the math, I wasn't going to meet my deadline. Basically, the whole situation ruined my day. I hated it. What a stupid thing to ruin a day, right? I know. My solution?

A. Suggest to my colleagues we go on strike until they replace the color printer.

B. Come in late at night with a bat and do some business on Color Printer on 17. Anyone seen Office Space? Insert scene here. You know which one I'm talking about.

Neither have happened. Neither probably will happen. I'm all bark and no bite about it, really.

2.) This happened on Wednesday.

Wednesday was April 6. Barf. Enough said.

3.) I had a very creepy encounter with two teenage neighbors in our cars in the alley way. Although I know they were just messing with me like dumb immature teenage boys do, I still felt fairly threatened by the situation, and didn't sleep much that night because I was so upset about it. Needless to say I'll be prepared to kick some neighbor butt if necessary, thanks to shout-out #4 below.

4.) The husband's cooking "skills" S.T.U.N.K. up the house again - and set off the fire alarms, again.

Really? Bread? I have decided I need to teach him a thing or two, in case something ever happens to me. We shall work on that this summer.

5.) Dear Spokane chicas - just because mother nature finally decided to bless us with a little sunshine this week does not mean it's time for inappropriately short shorts, skirts, tank tops, and flip flops. It is still in the low 50 degree range. I can only stand looking at that icky-ness for a few months out of the year, so please hold off until at least June. Get classy Spokane ladies. Gracias.

6.) The husband and I went to the store last weekend for some ice cream. They had this stellar sale going on - buy 1 get 2 free. Uhhh, okay? Please, pull my leg a little harder. I was pretty sure we'd have ice cream for weeks. Mmmmmnope - it is almost gone. I guess I'm supplementing no chocolate with vanilla ice cream smothered in caramel sauce and heath bar niblets sundaes? #layoffthesweetsfail

Shout-outs:

1.) Remember that really big proposal for that really big prospective client that I was telling you about? And I was in charge of putting that really big, important proposal together? Well, we turned it in on Monday. SUCH a good feeling to be done with it. Now, we cross our fingers.

2.) I attended another fabulous LaunchPad women's networking luncheon and met a couple of really great people. I love meeting other Spokane women at these events - I feel like it brings me closer to my hometown! I was able to listen to Mayor Verner speak about her journey to mayorship (is that a word?), and I also met Michelle Baker with Windermere Real Estate - I think she's a real gem.

3.) The husband was on spring break this week - it was nice to have him around all week! I miss him when he's gone.

4.) I finally started a self defense class on Saturday! I've been wanting to take one for a long time. Last time I signed up, the class was canceled due to low enrollment. In order to ensure they didn't cancel it this time as well, the husband signed up last minute to take it with me. Our instructor is one if the highest ranking female black belts in Spokane - she is legit. And kinda scary. Slash she beat up on my husband. It was awesome. I meant to take some pictures showing some moves I learned - maybe next week's class I will?

5.) The necklace I have been eying for w.e.e.k.s. at The Loft finally went on sale! And they had one left! So of course I bought it! Lots of exclamation points! Good for the wardrobe, bad for the Violet Hills savings account. But it was on sale..? And I still had allowance left for the month..?

6.) Our awesome cousins took the pups all day on Friday while we were at work. Friday happened to be a VERY sunny day, so the husband treated me to lunch and we went for a nice little jaunt around the park downtown.

I love this little brick street leading to Riverfront Park.

A few other sunshine enthusiasts with the same idea.

Hiiiiii. I'm wearing my favorite shoes. And my new jeggings that have been revolutionary for me. Yes. I did say that. Revolutionary.

I love him. And his sweater that looks like it's from the 7th grade.

The carousel was even up and running.

I loved lunch on Friday.

I also loved dinner on Friday, because we got to spend it with said cousins and then some!

We woke up a little discombobulated from nap time. And we looked like the happiest mommy in the world.

We wore stunner shades.

We observed the dog petting zoo.

We looked really cute in our new hat.

We got clobbered by long dog tongues. This picture makes it look like we were forcing little man into this purely for our entertainment, but trust me, he was loving it.