So I stumbled across this website because I was curious about "+1 etiquette" and wondered how to go about it and her outlook was:

Erin Hagedorn: Is it OK to ask the bride if you can bring a guest if your invitation is made out only to you?

Samantha von Sperling: No, it's not okay to ask to bring a guest if the invitation is made out only to you. Remember each place setting is an additional expense to the Bride and her family. Also keep in mind that some establishments have seating capacities, and she may also be trying to place the same number of people at each table. Certainly you can not expect the Bride to forego a cousin so you can bring your new boyfriend. Here is an exception: You know the Bride extremely well, she is not on a shoe-string budget, you yourself just got engaged, or your aged aunt is flying in from Timbuktu, and it is an emergency. Only then can you ask, but you do not expect.

Erin Hagedorn: If you get invited with a plus one and you don't have a serious girl or boyfriend, can you bring a friend along so you can have someone to talk to and so you can flirt with the other single guests?

Samantha von Sperling: If you get invited to a wedding with a "plus one" invite and do not have a serious girlfriend or boyfriend to bring along, you should RSVP or phone the Bride and thank her for the kind invitation but that only you will be attending. To not do this would be selfish, as the Bride can now add someone previously excluded from the list or be thrilled at the reduction in cost. Note that this does not preclude you from flirting with other single guests.

Reasonable and somewhat helpful. But some of these are just incredible...

Erin Hagedorn: If you don't go to a wedding you get invited to because you don't want to attend, is it OK to not send a present?

Samantha von Sperling: If you do not attend a wedding you were invited to because you did not want to attend and then choose not to send a gift, you are sending the message that you are choosing to terminate your relationship to this person. In other words, this is construed to be a rude and aggressive gesture.

I mean.. really? Gosh that seems harsh. o.O I don't think I would ever feel that way, especially this day and age and the fact that most of my friends are young adults just finding their way in their career and their lives. I don't expect anyone to give a gift in the first place, so to terminate a friendship because one wasn't sent by someone who didn't attend..? Too drastic for my blood!

There are a couple more like that. Gosh etiquette is exhausting. Though this NY Times article on it was pretty amusing. (Ms. Eisenberg relented to two friends in recent relationships, but said she surreptitiously eyed the couples the whole night. “I was like, ‘You people better be in love or put down that chocolate-dipped strawberry!’”) LOL XD

I was sick today and this week is going to be hellacious, but I have to be grateful for things I have done and for hoping I can continue to get my shit together.

What has been accomplished, you ask?

- Bought Mike's wedding ring.
- Paid this artist for invitation artwork commission.
- Determined wedding favors.
- Think we've determined bridesmaid gifts.
- Determined not to get colored table linens and just take the short white ones we get with the room and focus on centerpieces.
- Got my hair did.
- Paid spring semester tuition.
- Looked into rental car for while we get our hail damage (from MARCH) finally fixed.
- Laundry, dishes, trash, cooking, etc.

So. It's not a total loss. I can just do better and I know it. :C

I have officially spammed all of my social networks with this news, but it just cannot be helped. ;P

I finally got my shoes for the wedding!

And you have no idea how much of an ordeal this has been. I just couldn't seem to find anything I liked. I really wanted to get something I could/would wear again and that felt "me" - had some spunk and personality. I was looking at grey, silver, ivory, blue, and even some white options. I was looking at heels, Victorian ankle boots, and even a few flats - but my concern with flats was that Mike is just so much taller than me so I wanted to have a little height.

I swear everything I tried on fit weird or hurt or had heels that were way too steep. I finally decided on some pinstripe cuties which I do enjoy, but same problem - pinch my foot all over. So I'm sending those back.

At the very beginning of this process I came across some shoes by Naughty Monkey that were very cute, very me, and don't really match my dress at all. But on top of that, they were pretty pricey so I kept avoiding them. They went down at one point but then shot back up and then weren't in stock in my size. It was all bad news bears. But today, after failing hard on a hope filled Target run because they'd come out with some Victorian ankle boots but they look really cheap and don't feel so good, I decided - eff it. It's on. If I can find the Naughty Monkey's in my size, I'm getting them.

And not only did shoes.com have them - they were on sale! And I found a coupon to save even more and get free shipping! I saved $36 total and got the shoes I wanted in the first place...



So. Here's hoping they fit and don't hurt, yah? ;P Next - time to spend a ton on an already expensive wedding dress by getting alterations, wee~!

Just a quick update due to this artwork I found. XD I just had to make an icon from it, but the icon didn't match the layout so I went ahead and changed my layout. I adored slyfoxesq's design, but I've had it for so long and I just wanted something new. (Though I did keep the tiny icons because they just make me smile. XD)

Otherwise.. ugh. I'll update with real info when I've got more stuff done. ;P

I have never done this before - I have never felt the need to - but I just did an epic friends cut. I chopped over a third of you. I cut anyone whose username I didn't even recognise or who I haven't had contact with in forever. Basically, I only kept people I speak to regularly or still feel close to.

If you feel you have been cut in error (especially if you commented to my friending post - I probably just forgot who you are, sorry!), please feel free to comment here, or to the friending post.

HEEHEEHEE!

So pleased with how well this low-key Halloween costume situation turned out... ( Follow for photos! )