Coming up...

On Tuesday, March 6th 2012, I am starting my "weight loss challenge". I am giving myself 10 months to lose 100 pounds. I have already lost 34 lbs, but I want to lose an additional 100. Why in 10 months, you ask? Well, on February 14th my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years asked me to marry him and we are getting married in May 2013. So, along with blogging about my weight loss, you may also see blogs about my wedding planning.

I am currently a member of Weight Watchers and they have helped me lose the 34lbs. I have decided to cut my Starbucks down to once a week (usually about 3-4 times a week now), stop drinking all sodas, and I am going to increase my workout routine. Dear friends, beware of my "crankiness" this week as giving up soda is like giving up cigarettes to me.I will be weighing in every Tuesday!

Let's talk wedding! I have been searching like crazy for a wedding venue. We are looking to get married in either Hesperia, Riverside, or somewhere in between. There are not many places in the desert that are nice.

On February 25th my fiance and I checked out the first wedding venue, in Riverside. It was absolutely gorgeous, our outside ceremony would be held right above a little lake and lots of greenery, it was just everything I could imagine. The wedding coordinator at that venue is AWESOME! She is completely like me, personality and all. She was organized and basically walked us through our wedding night. Also, this place does food tasting where the coordinator will actually set the table in my colors, and the food we think we want, yet there will be other "parties" at other tables trying other food, so we can try anything! She will set everyone's tables for their wedding which I think is awesome.

The second place is in Hesperia. When I saw pictures of the second place I fell in love and told myself that is where we would be getting married. When we went to see the second place it looked like it could be breathtaking in the summer when everything is in bloom, however, the reception would be in a "tent" and the "tent" looked like poo outside and there is a "swamp cooler" to keep us cool if it's hot out, very unattractive. The wedding coordinator at the 2nd place was also VERY unorganized and didn't seem interested in "impressing" me. She didn't give me information about who would be doing the catering and didn't seem to want to answer questions. This made me sad because I seriously wanted this to be "my" wedding venue. Oooh...and she was LATE! That is my BIGGEST pet peeve. I am very punctual and if you can't be at the appointment on time, I must not be important. When I asked about tasting the food she said I would need to talk to the caterer, yet she didn't have their information for me.

The third place we looked at was in Hesperia also. Turns out they are a "sister company" to the first place, however, I was not as impressed. The one part I loved was that the reception room sat on the water, so we could go out on the balcony looking down on the water. The ceremony would be a ways away from the water, and I would have to walk on the grass in hills to get down the "aisle". Also, the coordinator was nice, and somewhat organized, however, she was more of a "I will let you do all the work, and if you need anything come find me" kinda lady. When I asked about the food tasting she said "we don't do tastings" than went on to say that they don't want to by a prime rib if it's just for a tasting than she offered us a coupon for a "2 for 1 deal" for their Sunday Brunch so we can taste the chef's cooking. So needless to say....not too impressive.

Yesterday, I took my mom to the first place to see it, so she can see why I am IN LOVE with it. She was also impressed as was one of my bridesmaids. The coordinator was giving mom a visual on my wedding and mom started crying...I think this coordinator ROCKS! I am soooooo gonna try to get married at the first venue!

Anyways, I need to get going to finish up my homework! Stay tuned for more news wedding and weight loss!