Wedding Bells

Again, its 11pm and I'm just NOW sitting down to write my blog. Seriously, something has to be done about this. I'm not finding time to blog, instead I find myself rushing something else to be able to sit down to write and then of course the post is crappy like last night.

Either way, todays topic is about wedding bells! Nope, not mine! My sister is getting married in 6 weeks, yep you heard that right 6 weeks. Jan 30th is the day and I thought it'd never get here. In fact it really seems like this is the longest engagement in the history of the world.

My sister is not much of a wedding planner. She didn't really help me out with my wedding planning and she hasn't really helped out anyone with the planning of her wedding. I've given up on doing anything "wedding" related as far as the "big day" goes. If she doesn't have any flowers its not my problem.

My best friend is my sister's koubara (like a maid of honor) and together we are PLANNING her show (my momma is paying, I just do all the leg work!) So far the venue is booked, the invitations went out, and the RSVPs are rolling in. The problem here? Her registry kind of sucks. It's really not her fault. It's my mom's fault. My mom has bought EVERYTHING for my sister and her hubby to be. Pots and pans...check. Tupperware...check....towels...check (like 19820392 of them)....bed linens....check and double and triple check (duvet, comforters, and sheets all done...like 7 sets of each)....toaster oven, slow cooker, coffee maker...check check check.

See why its hard to blame her for a bad registry? Not only that but I went with my sister to register and she didn't want to add anything to it because she thought that everything was priced too high and she didn't want anyone to feel obligated to buy her what she asked for. I told her to do it anyway. Some people will be willing to spend the money on the gift and others won't. Thats why you put items from different price categories onto the registry. Someone may only spend $40 (placemats for the table) while someone is willing to spend $150 (those photo frames sets...)for big ticket items a few people may pitch in get her something really nice. Nope, she kept her registry pretty bare and all the good things were already purchased by her koubara as well as koubara's mom.

Now I'm stuck taking the RSVP's and answering the question: "Is there anything Alex wants that isn't on her registry?" How do you explain to them that anything needed for a house is already purchased and she just wants decorative knick knacks... oh but shes very picky and has taste like my mom? It's almost too easy to say "Yeah I think you should give her cash" but that sounds greedy and makes the shower look as if its a money grab which its not and shouldn't be.

I remember when I was getting married I was on some wedding forums and people said the tackiest thing in the world was to be told "no box gifts" or "they couple is collecting cash for X reason". Let's be honest, part of the fun of a wedding shower is to watch the bride open her gifts, not to watch her open envelopes and count cash.

So now I have to come up with some fun and interesting games that can be played with people of all ages, get some prizes for these games, order the cake for the shower and just wait for the shower to be over with....then start the bachelorette party...then the spa day and then wait for the wedding to get here....all while fat and pregnant and in my 3rd trimester.

I'm going to be 31 weeks at my sister's wedding. I had to order a tent for a dress....seriously, I'm not joking. The dress was ordered when I was 3 months pregnant and they sized me and guessed where I'd be...my dress is a size 24. Yes, thats TRIPLE my CURRENT size... I guess I'm spending a boat load of money on alterations!!


NaBloPoMo: 9/31

I've been doing some thinking

So, I've been doing some thinking and wondering why in the heck I can't post on my other blog. I'm just so uninspired. The URL isn't me and I'm far too lazy to come up with something else that suits me. I am Giftedly-Outspoken and I will continue to be. I can't post behind a fake name and actually feel real? Who cares if people know I'm talking about them? Since when have I been one to hide behind a computer monitor? Yeah for those of you who actually know me in real life you'll know that I don't roll like that.

Anywho, so the reason I had moved the blog in the first place is because one of my co-workers found my blog a while back and complained to my boss about it. Why? Because my blog mentioned how she was a lying bitch and a few other choice words. I'm sure scraggly cunt was one of them. I know, I'm so gifted with words. Oddly enough my boss never said anything about it. I guess he figures as long as we can work peaceful with one another who really cares what our PERSONAL feelings are towards one another right? I mean, I don't like all of my co-workers 24/7. We have spats, we have different opinions but we all get over it.

Well mostly get over it. I don't care if she stalks my blog and reads this. I still think she has been faking nearly everything "dramatic" that has happened. I think she faked the pregnancy in order to avoid getting heat for being a bitch (of course if my boss excused my emotionalness based on being pregnant it was a perfect excuse for her too!), I think she lied about the miscarriage and subsequent D&C, and now she is supposedly suffering from H1N1. I just don't believe it.

Why not? Let's see, I get the wonderful joy of checking her expenses and she'd have coffee daily (yes, they are allowed because they are travelling sales reps and they get X amount of money per day for meals, so if they wanna use it on coffee more power to them!), she'd enjoy her glass of wine with her meals at trade show dinners, and she had sushi more than once or twice, oh and large caffeinated beverages daily! After her "miscarriage" she went straight to work.

My boss brought her up to Montreal to discuss all of our issues (no I'm not the only one in the office with issues regarding her). He asked me before our big meeting what my problems were with her and I explained to him that I prefer to keep it professional and only mention my WORKING issues with her and nothing personal. He agreed. In our meeting I told her how I did NOT like how she had a bad day with one of our distributors and how she tried to place the blame on me. I also told her that I didn't really like it when her parents were sick in the hospital (supposedly okay?) and she emails me telling me NOT to email her as she is taking personal time. I totally get that you are taking personal time because something has happened to your family HOWEVER if part of my job is to send you emails. It is up to you to choose when and where you respond. Like, am I supposed to remember every sick day that everyone takes and make a mental note not to forward them information or maybe I should set my email on a delivery delay to accommodate someone else's schedule? Oddly enough she agreed that in both cases I was right and she was just having a poopie day both times. Seriously, not my problem.

When I'm having a poop day I just kind of avoid people. I keep my emails short and to the point and avoid all long conversations if at all possible. I don't start bitching at the first person who crosses my path.

So her first official day here in the office we had that meeting which lasted for 4 hours. Then we all went to dinner together and that was pretty fun mainly cuz my boss' wife is HILARIOUS!

The next day my boss makes me take her out for dinner. It was so much fun (sarcasm is ultra heavy here). She checks her messages on her phone (text) and is like "OMG. I'll be right back I have to make a call. A friend's friend just committed suicide." Now there I am sitting at a table with a glass of water for 30 minutes alone. I was ready to kill someone at that point. She came back, apologized for leaving me waiting and we had dinner. Over dinner I got to hear a lot of stories most of which I think were fabricated. I mean she told me about this school that someone she knows goes to, its super posh and very Catholic...and guess what? Will Smith's son Jayden goes there... Wait...aren't they into Scientology? I doubt that Jayden goes there but I kept my mouth shut and just pretended to believe everything.

Friday she leaves. The following Friday we get an email talking about how she has H1N1 Flu and how she got it leaving Montreal at the airport most likely....but it hasn't affected her job AT all! She was still going to visit stores....wow how thoughtful of you to take your disease ridden ass all around the LA area spreading this horrible virus you have. Wait...don't H1N1 make you extremely weak and tired? How do you have the energy to go visit all these stores and spread the virus? And weren't you one of the people who was saying how inconsiderate sick people were going to work and getting everyone else sick? Hmmm pot calling the kettle black I think....

So thats my latest update on the DQ co-worker. Everything is just about the drama. I feel like telling someone, "Hey if you think you are having a bad day just call DQ and I guarantee you that you'll feel better about your life because she leads the most dramatic life EVER!" In the past few months she's been in a car accident, both her parents sick in different hospitals in different states, pregnant, miscarriage, and now the H1N1 virus. I'm sure there are smaller things in between that I just can't manage to remember.


Anyway, other than that crazy bit of drama with the co-worker I am excited to announce that on Nov 11th I'll know if I'm carrying a baby boy or a baby girl. I'm not telling you what I reallllllllly want because what I realllllllllly want is a healthy baby with all its limbs in tact and nothing extra! We've already settled on a name for a baby boy or a baby girl. Elias if its a boy after my father, and we'll nickname him Eli....Dimitria if its a girl and we'll call her Demi. My best friend is also pregnant and she find out around Xmas if its a boy or a girl...and a close family friend is also pregnant and she is having a baby BOY!!

Between my sisters wedding shower, wedding, my baby shower, and best friends baby shower we have a very busy Jan thru Feb for 2010. I'm also excited to announce that whatever Nicole (my best friend) is having that my husband and I will be baptizing! I'm so excited that I'll be baptizing a baby in the Orthodox church. This will be my second God child but the first one to do with my hubby! Also, after my sister gets married and pops out one of her own Nicole and Rody will be baptizing her kid! Our family just keeps on expanding more and more!

Alex's wedding invitations and wedding shower invitations are in the mail as of today and should be here within a week! If you ever need anything designed I seriously suggest you check out Art By Ellie Awesome prices, great custom designs! I'm so impressed by the proofs I saw. I can't wait to get everything!! ;)

Oh yeah.... I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK! I have over 1000 things in my Google Reader that I will not get to. I'm going to try to go back a few days to catch up on things but if I haven't replied to your blogs in a while I'm sorry. I'm starting fresh!!!

Stuffing the Envelope

Stuffing the Envelope


So its summer and that means its wedding, engagement, baptism, shower season. It’s actually one of my favorite and least favorite things about the summer. I love that my friends are moving on in life and getting married, having babies and all that other great stuff but I hate that every weekend seemed to be booked by going to an event. Every once in a while you like to just sit at home on your couch on a Saturday. Luckily this season has been a bit different. The majority of my friends who are having these events don’t live locally and as much as I’d love to be able to fly in to help them celebrate, I can’t. But I do send gifts when possible.

I was always taught if you can’t make it to an event, along with your RVSP card saying “I regretfully decline,” you should send a gift. Be it a check, a mixer, or whatever. You shouldn’t just say no empty handed because that person wanted you there to help you celebrate with them.

I did that with most of the events that I had to decline this season…I wasn’t able to make it to a friend’s wedding shower and I tried to buy a gift and have it sent but apparently the place she was registered at didn’t want to take my Canadian credit card. But I did make up for it at another one of her showers (lingerie).

So when it comes to sending gifts what criteria do you use? The reason I ask this is because often at Big Fat Greek Events you can over hear a couple discussing what to put into the envelope (because we don’t normally have box gifts at our weddings, that’s what the wedding shower and housewarming is for). It’s not rare to hear an older couple telling a younger couple, “Oh, you don’t have to put a lot in this envelope, the bride isn’t Greek.” Or “150$ for the both of you is okay, the served chicken!” Yep, that’s what people around these parts do. They look at the following to gauge how much you are worth.

1. Are you both Greek? If not, you just lost at least 25% of the “norm”
2. What type of meal is being served? Chicken?! Shame on you! Beef, way to go.
3. What reception hall is it at? Are you paying $40 per person or are you paying upwards of $100?
4. How well do we know you? Did you invite me because my mom made me invite you to my event?

I think its all stupid. When I go to an event with my husband I think of: “How well do I know them?” I don’t think about if they came to my event, how much did they put in the envelope, what did they serve to eat, are they both Greek or both Italian or Arabic? Who cares? The only thing that should matter is how well you know them and how close you are to them?

I’m obviously going to put more money in an envelope for my cousin then I would for a friend? And I’d put more for my sister than I would for my cousin. If I can’t make it to something I try to either send 100$ or a gift that is approximately that much. I don’t say, “Oh they are having their wedding at the Chateau Royal so their meal is probably $40…” that’s wrong. That’s cheap. At that point just don’t even bother going.

I have a funny story about my wedding. Instead of doing the traditional Greek thing and going to a Greek reception hall which are totally over done and need a MAJOR face lift I decided to go to an Italian hall in the East End. Sure, it’s a bit further away but you know what? I loved my hall. If I would have gotten married in the Greek halls I would have spent about $5,000.00 just decorating the hall to make it look decent. I didn’t have to pay a dime at the Madison. Sure I spent a little more for the meals then I would have at a Greek hall but who cares? I’m only getting married once and I wanted to have an event that I’d never forget. I wanted an event that I would look back at the pictures in 20 years and smile about how perfect everything was.

Some people (I won’t name names!) told me that I would “lose” money if I got married at an Italian hall because the meals were more expensive and people wouldn’t put that kind of money in the envelope. I told that person that I’m not looking at my wedding as a money making event. I’m looking at it as a celebration and if you can come then come. I was told that the Canadians (read “white folks”) don’t put money in envelopes and would bring us a bottle of wine or something and we’d lose money on them so to not invite them. I told that person to stop telling me what to do at my wedding. I’m happy enough to have that person join me at my wedding and I don’t care what they bring. In fact, I had recently met a cousin of a great friend of mine who was having a hard time. He was going through a divorce, he wasn’t enjoying life, and he was out of a job. (Oddly enough his parents were invited to my wedding via my parents. His parents actually married my parents. They put the stefana on them! SMALL WORLD!). I asked him if he had a suit and he said he did. I told him to come to my wedding. (I met him on Thursday, getting married on Saturday…). He said he’d love to but he just didn’t have money to put into the envelope and I told him screw that. Just come. I told him that I’d already given my head count to the hall and one of my husband’s friends cancelled at last minute so I was going to pay for that meal regardless and I’d rather someone be there to eat it then end up trashing it. He thanked me and said he’d come. He did show up and you know what? He had an amazing time hanging out with his cousin, her husband, and a lot of my friends. He loved Table 13.

Well, there was a family of 4 that showed up to my wedding. A family that was related to the person who told me that we’d lose money by doing the wedding at an Italian hall (yes this is important to the story). The husband of this family works for a huge company and brings home a 7 figure paycheck yearly. Do you know what they put in the envelope? A check for $125 for a family of 4. Um, sorry dude but that doesn’t even cover the cost of ONE meal let alone 4. At that rate, why even bother putting anything at all? It made HIM look like a fool and no one else. In fact, my husband and I decided not to even bother cashing the check. That guy called us one day asking why we didn’t cash the check (about a month or two after the wedding) and I told him simply, “Apparently you need it more than I do”. Was it rude? Sure. Do I care? Not really.

Now with all that being said I know that its not everyone’s customs to bring an envelope as a gift. But my question to you is, how do you determine the value of the gift (envelope or box)? Strictly on what you can afford that weekend? If you have to travel to get there? How close you are? The venue that the event is held?

To sell or not to sell

So my mom just called me because she just picked up my wedding dress from the dry cleaners. (Yes I know its been there almost a year, I don't plan on wearing it again so I wasn't in any rush to pick it up). But here is my thing, my mom suggested that I sell it.

It's a beautiful wedding dress with a lot of pretty details but I don't think I could sell it. I mean, yes I know I won't be wearing it again but the thought of just selling it to someone freaks me out a bit. Right now its in a huge storage box all air sealed and protected from the elements that could possibly hurt it at my moms house. I'm going to pick it up tonight and most likey shove it in my attic or one of my closets and never look at it again.

I guess I just have a real emotional attachment to my dress. It was the first dress I tried on (but I must have tried on 100 that day just to make sure I really did love my first choice) and its from the happiest day in my life. I feel bad that its just stored up in a box that no one will get to see but I don't know if I like the idea of someone else wearing my wedding dress. My parents paid really good money for that dress and I obviously can't get that money back but at the same time, maybe I can help someone who is on a budget get an amazing wedding dress at a really good price.

What do you think? Should I sell it or keep it?

Let it live in a box until the day I die or help someone else's dream wedding come true?

I've attached some picture so you can see the dress (not amazing pictures as my wedding pictures on my work computer are pretty limited.