Thursday, August 29, 2013

It's harder than I thought...

That's what she said... no but seriously though, it really is more difficult than what I had anticipated.

For the last year, my other half has been away on training, 14 hours away! We did pretty good being on our own. I mean, yes of course we missed each other but we did good because we always talked, like always. Most of the time we talked everyday, some times we missed a day but we made it up the next day by spending even more time on the phone. We had a routine and it worked. We sorted things out with each other by email and texting throughout the day. It was difficult, but we made it.

Now that he is gone to basic training, he is way too busy to be able to spend time chit chatting with me. Yes I know.. I talk a lot, but I just wish I had more than 5 minutes to just say hi I'm still alive! With his day starting at 5 am and ending at 11 pm, filled with different tasks, I can understand that spending time on the phone is not priority numéro uno... but it's hard! On my end, I am bored and sometimes I just need to talk to him. I do a lot of outward stress relief, meaning (you guessed it) I NEED to talk about it to feel better.

We have been going through something kinda really hard lately and it is causing me a great deal of stress.  I am having a hard time not having him around to talk about it. I don't blame him one minute because ultimately, we chose this but it would make me feel so much better to have him around. I feel like I'm gonna deserve my own set of support dog tags at the end of this, just for making it through!

I am still trying to keep busy, but this kinda really though thing we have been going through is sort of on my mind 24/7... I guess I just gotta keep pushing through it. I have always viewed myself as an independent person, I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't carry along and learn to deal with it and make it better. I can do it.. I think.

But yes to keep busy I have continued with my crafting efforts for the wedding. This week I have accomplished a lot actually.

I have done 60 large flowers for my table decorations. And i am currently in the finishing touches for 50 favors boxes. I still have around 20 more large flowers and 10 more favor boxes to make. I have also taken the time to fix that awful list I posted about last time. It is now all clean, on my cpu.. it even has boxes to check! I'm in heaven!

Here is a look at the two major projects that should be complete in just a little bit.

(There are far more flowers than you would think on here!)

(These boxes were $1.25 each at Micheals. I got a free template online that I fixed up to my liking and printed on card stock, then cut, creased and folded. Nearly done, just need a few stamps here and there. Oh and yeah, ten more. The card stock was around $9 for 50, considering i'm making 60, i'm saving lots here! )

Still to make are more smaller flowers, invitations, place setting cards, signing books and much, much, much more! But I know I can handle it. My crafty is crazy, she makes me believe I can do so much, so I do!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Keeping busy

So while my other half is away I have been trying to find ways to keep busy. Since we are planning a wedding, there is quite a lot for me to do, which is great!

I want to share in all of me wedding planning endeavors since we are trying to do an almost all handmade wedding at the lowest cost possible. It helps to be crafty that's for sure. Basically I am making my flowers, my decorations, my deserts, my favors... you name it! This is when my list making abilities come into play. 

Here is just one of the many lists I have for the wedding. I wish it was neater. I do love lists with a passion and an un-kept list just bothers me. So this list irks me ... I  know, I'm a bit crazy!

It is so un-organised...  I can't, I just can't. 

The good thing is that we both agree on everything about this wedding and we did manage to get a few things done before he left for training. 

In order to make some of the things on this list I searched the many blogs and Pinterest and was able to find a lot. I will be posting pictures of some of the few crafts I have started. I say started because they are mostly started or halfway only. I'm trying to not get annoyed with one craft by rotating them. I also have to thank the many people who have been on hunts for supplies with me. Having extra hands is definitely going to make this handmade wedding possible.





Here is what i am currently working on:

- table numbers
- table number holders
- paper flowers
- favors packaging
- and obviously hunting for more supplies, it's an ongoing process.

That's about it for now. I'll be posting pictures soon. 

Good news: My other half and I can actually talk while he is in basic! Yay! Turns out they changed policies and the recruits can use their cellphones during off hours!


Sunday, August 18, 2013

Setting sail ...

Well... he is off.

This won't be the first or the last time, but this departure is going to be one of the most significant ones for sure.

Last august my other half left for his career training. He was gone for a total of 11 months. He was 14 hours away by car and too far away for my heart. He had a few weeks off and some extra time back and forth between his place of training and home because of some bureaucratic "difficulties" on the part of an association that will remain un-named. But yesterday he left to accomplish the first major step in his military career. He packed his bags and left for St-Jean-sur-Richelieu for his basic military training.

I think I was and still am more stressed about it than he is, or maybe he is just really good at making me feel like he has it all under control.

Technically he has been enrolled in the military since last august when he left for his career training. We were basically told two days before he left that he was recruited and that the military would pay for his training. We were quite relieved. We learnt that last minute is how the military operates. Now this will be an adjustment for me, queen of planning months in advance. He is already a pro at dealing with last minute since he is a military brat himself. Though I am also a para-military child, I was fortunate enough to have never moved or dealt with such drastic changes as the military life has to offer. It is not all bad, not at all actually. Like I said, I have always lived here, in my home town. I have always been fascinated by traveling though. I have done some but not nearly enough for my liking and I am thoroughly looking forward to all the adventures that this new life has in store for me. Of course I am scared, but my dreams of exploration are grander than my fear of the unknown.

Documenting our journey will be for me a way to connect with family far away and close,  a way to reflect on some aspects of my life I have yet to share with you and a way to pass the time while my other half does push-ups! Or maybe I should be doing push-ups too! Well.. maybe later!