I love feeling like I am stretching my money into several meals. It must be the “saver” in me. 😀
Today’s lunch included leftover salmon from Wednesday night’s dinner.
Salmon Salad
I used the fish to create a simple salmon salad that included:
- Broiled salmon
- Broccoli slaw
- Light Miracle Whip
- Relish
- Mustard
I served my salmon salad on Nature’s Pride oatmeal bread that I received to sample through the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program.
Nature's Pride Oatmeal Bread
Friday Lunch
The bread was super soft and had a slightly sweet flavor which I really enjoyed.
Along with my sandwich, I snacked on a sliced green pepper.
Green Pep
Since today was Foodie Friday at my work, I also nabbed a chocolate pumpkin cheesecake bar for dessert.
Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bar
Yum.
Wedding Survey
One of my colleagues at work sent me this fun wedding survey the other day and I loved reading her answers! I figured I would take the survey myself and post it on the blog in anticipation of my wedding in exactly 8 days!
How long did you date before you got engaged?
6.5 years … We met my freshman year of college.
Did you get the ring you wanted?
Yes! A platinum band with a princess cut diamond. Perfect.
Was the proposal a complete surprise?
Yes. I was TOTALLY shocked.
Did you cry when he proposed?
Yes.
Was the proposal romantic or creative?
Both! The clues Ryan created for our scavenger hunt were very creative, but the proposal itself was very romantic.
Where do you want to go for your honeymoon?
We’re going to St. Lucia!
Are you buying his wedding band for him?
Yes. His band is a platinum band with light etching at the top and bottom.
Is your wedding band simple or elaborate?
It’s a lot more elaborate than I initially anticipated. There’s a lot more bling than I thought I would want, but after shopping around, I fell in love with my band. I cannot wait to wear it! I think my engagement ring is getting a little lonely.
Have you gone over your original wedding budget?
Ummm…
What day of the year will your wedding be?
October 30, 2010.
What kind of weather?
Cross your fingers for sunny skies and cool temperatures!
Inside or outside?
The ceremony is outside in a garden and the reception is inside in a ballroom.
Time of day?
Early evening.
Any kind of theme?
No.
Will you serve dinner? Plated or buffet?
We will be serving a plated dinner.
What are your wedding day colors?
Yellow, gold, ivory, cream and white.
How many bridesmaids? How do you know them?
Six. One is my college roommate/sorority sister, I’ve been friends with four since elementary school and my sister is my maid of honor.
What kind of cake/what will it look like?
Red velvet with white chocolate mousse and buttercream frosting. It will look like Jessica’s!
What kind of dress will you have/color/material?
My dress is ivory and is mostly lace. It reminds me a lot of a modern version of my mother’s dress.
What kind of flowers in your bouquet?
Roses and “field flowers” for an un-done romantic look.
Will you wear your hair up or down?
Up.
Is the reception big or small?
Medium.
How long is your honeymoon?
6 days.
What will you do?
Zip lining, scuba diving, hiking, relaxing and eating.
What is the age difference between you and your groom?
1.5 years. I’m 25 and Ryan just turned 27.
Have you hired a wedding planner?
No.
I love surveys! I think they’re so much fun to read and also pretty fun to do!
I’d also like to reach out to you guys about the dancing portion of our wedding reception. There are so many cute ideas out there for fun, interactive dances.
There is one I definitely want to include in our reception. The DJ asks all the couples to get on the dance floor and then they sit down when the DJ calls out the number of years they’ve been together. I love seeing couples out there dancing who have been together for 20+ years! It’s so heartwarming!
Please let me know of any other fun and romantic dance ideas you have seen or may have done at your wedding… or any songs we absolutely must play during our reception.
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OH how fun! I wish that I was getting married again so I could do this. And I can’t WAIT to see your cake!!
Yes, that cake of Jessica’s is Gorgeous!! Great taste, love it!
Saved that cake for my “wedding file” -> don’t tell the boyfriend 😉 Stunning!
Oh my gosh! I was so excited for this survey! 🙂
How cute!
UHM How about playing a dance song that EVERYONE knows like the Macarena, it’s always fun!
Maybe have the parents of the Bride and Groom have their own dance?
That’s really sweet about the DJ asking couples of many different years to get out on the dance floor!
I can’t wait to see your wedding pictures BUT who is going to post while you’re gone!?
PS Watch this wedding video! It’s amazing! I swear!
They’re just super super sweet
http://Www.hulu.com/watch/176860/coco-rocha-and-james-conran’s-dream-wedding
Shout! Everyone dances to it — young and old and it’s such a fun song =)
I loved your survey! 🙂 You should definitely play “The Cupid Shuffle.” It’s by far my favorite line dance. It really gets people up and dancing because it has a good beat to it.
that’s definitely on our “must play” list. i LOVE that song!
If it were my wedding, I’d start with the classic, fun songs and then dip into the top 40 near the middle so plenty of people dance! 🙂 If you like that kind of music, I would make sure the DJ plays all the current hits. Otherwise, people might not dance, which is definitely the best part of a reception!
Congrats Julie. 🙂 You’ll be a beautiful bride!
Ahh! I can’t believe your wedding is SO soon! Very exciting 🙂
I know you must be in wedding mode, and I hate to be a nag (but you are the only one I know that has a vizsla!)… what do you feed Sadie? Koda is having some issues and I’m thinking of switching her food… also how much do you feed Sadie? Thanks!!
(I outlined the details on my blog today in case you’re interested)
My cousin did the dance where the DJ calls out the number of years couples have been together. My grandparents were the last couple out there at 65 years of marriage! My grandma was embarrassed (I think she didn’t want to give her age away) but we told her it is something to be proud of, not embarrass 🙂
Wow! Your wedding, cake and all, is going to be beeaauutiful! We must have the same taste in hair.. love that updo, too.
SHOUT is always a wedding must, right (think Wedding Crashers!)?
Yummy dessert!!! What made you guys decide to get married in October? For whatever reason I always ask that quetion???
we actually wanted the first weekend in nov. but we got a nice lil’ discount for planning our wedding on oct. 30 (halloween weekend), so that made that decision an easy one!
That is 99.9 percent of everyones responce!! They wanted one date, but it was either taken or more exspensive! 😉
80’s music definitely got my guests on the dance floor!!
that’s a really cute idea! i looooooooooove long, happy marriages 🙂 people focus on how marriages don’t last and are hardwork, but really some people do find their person. some people do have an effortless love. some people do find their soulmate. i say keep chasing rainbows and butterflies, because the truth is “some people” can be you.
I was at a wedding once where the bride and groom played a cute game on the dance floor. They each had to take off one shoe and it give to the other, then the they were put back-to-back in chairs. They were then asked questions and had to answer which one of them the question most pertained to by raising the appropriate shoe (For example: Who will wear the pants in the relationship? Who will be the first to say “Not tonight, honey”? Who’s messier? etc.) It was really cute and funny!
Super cute survey! I totally did it in my head for myself as I read each question 🙂
This isn’t really a DANCE, but for my wedding (10.2.10) 🙂 we did something a bit different for the bouquet toss – I put a gift card to Nordstrom in the bouquet and had the DJ announce that there was an extra “incentive” for catching it, and then he played “Eye of the Tiger” as the song 🙂
Julie – my good friend is getting married the same day as you! I had a quick idea to throw in … because my aunt and I were talking about my friend’s wedding the other day and she said she saw a creative idea on some wedding show on TLC or something… here’s what they did. Each table was designated a song (put a name tag or something with a song on each table) … and the songs were all sorts of different songs from different eras that the couple liked. Anyways, when the DJ played that song, everyone at the table with that song assigned had to get up and dance. They said it was a great way for everyone to get up and have a good time 🙂 Just an idea…
Can’t wait to see/hear about your big day!
I love surveys too! And this one makes me SO excited to get married…except I’ve gotta find a man first 😉 haha! You and Ryan are a beautiful couple, Julie!
Reading all of this fun wedding planning has me re-living mine all over again every day!! I love it. I have no regrets or disappointments about my wedding, but no of one bit of advice for you that I haven’t heard anyone mention yet…when you are walking down the aisle try to remember to hold your bouquet down by your hipbone. Sounds weird, but this was the best advice that I got and I practiced hard to get used to it. I’m glad I did, too. When people don’t think about it they end up with the bouquet up by their chest and cover so much of their beautiful dress. Practice a lot and you should remember to do it on the big day just out of habit. Good luck!!
I’m actually glad to find out you dated for 6.5 years before getting engaged. I’ve been with my boyfriend for 5 and it feels like forever! I’m just worried I won’t be surprised when he proposes because we already discuss getting married, it’s just a matter of finishing school first.
You’re wedding is going to be just great, I know it!
Cute survey! So exciting that its almost wedding day. I remember the week before my wedding! I had a ton of things to do, so it kept my mind off being nervous!
Check out this wedding dance. Its awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZ4ZTTfKO8
As a follow up to the longest married couple dance, at a wedding I attended, the couple had to give the newlyweds their “secret” for staying together so long. At the last wedding I went to, the bride’s name was Stacey, and the DJ played the song “Stacey’s Mom” which was hilarious… the mother-of-the-bride really got into it! So if there are any songs that have Julie or Ryan in them, I think that would be cute!
Aww, I am so excited for you and Ryan. I love weddings and hearing about all of the details. It sounds like yours is going to be incredible!
P.S. As a gal who just hit the 6-year mark in her relationship, I am encouraged by your 6.5 years of dating before getting engaged. I don’t know that I’ll be getting engaged anytime soon, but I always love to see other couples taking things at their own pace 🙂
We couldn’t convince anyone in our “boring” families to dance at our wedding! lol
We pulled out all the stops, but it was just us, my best friend and her husband, and the ring bearer and flower girl!
Cute survey! 🙂
I just heard Matt Nathanson’s, “Wedding Dress” song and it was so beautiful. I was just thinking how perfect this would be at a wedding.
I did the anniversary dance at my wedding, the last couple standing was married for 44 years, the song ran out before the couples, lol.
Oh I love surveys!!! I was thinking about all my answers when Keith and I got married…fun!!
If you are going to scuba dive on St. Lucia, I highly recommend the “Superman’s Flight” dive right at the base of the Picons. My husband and I did that dive last year while visiting St. Lucia and it was AMAZING!!! Best dive ever. It’s a gentle drift dive along the Picons.
we were twins today! i swear! i also had a a left over salmon sandwich with mayo and then green peppers on the side!
Just discovered your blog and I love it! So excited for you that your wedding is so close…enjoy it all! My husband and I went to St. Lucia on our honeymoon and it was amazing.
Surveys are one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I love reading people’s answers and then seeing how mine differ!
I’ve never heard of the dance that calls up the couples by how long they’ve been dating. That is SO sweet, I almost teared up imagining grandparents celebrating their high school romances <3<3!!!
You have to do a dollar dance. The maid of honor and best man each have a basket and then everyone makes 2 lines one for the bride and one for the groom. They place a dollar in the basket to dance with either the bride or the groom. It lets everyone have their dance with the happy couple. And the money is supposed to go towards your honeymoon. Its a great time 🙂
I LOVE “Stars Go Blue” for a romantic dance song at a Wedding…annnnd of course you have to play Cupid Shuffle, as well as any and all Michael Jackson songs! 🙂
I also wanted to say you totally motivated me tonight. I did NOT want to work out, but I remember your “I’ve never regretted a workout” mantra and dragged my butt to the gym with one of your interval treadmill workouts printed out. Awesome workout and I feel so much better.
Thanks Julie! 8 days, so exciting!
we did the anniversary dance too at our wedding! but just be specific to your DJ if you want to just honor the 2 couples who have been married 50+ years (just an example) or if you want to make it clear that grandparents A have been married 57 and grandparents B 51. we didn’t make that clear enough & our DJ didn’t do that… not the end of the world, but just a small disappointment. 🙂 your wedding will be beautiful! it’s almost here!!!
I love “Cha Cha Slide” by DJ Casper…it’s probably already on your list, but it’s one of my favorites because everyone can do it, and it’s fun!
Hi Julie, I love your survey so much that I copied you and did it on my blog!
You must be so excited for your wedding! Congrats!
Lauren
Hope you don’t mind, but I would like to borrow your survey 🙂 So cute! LESS THAN ONE WEEK JULIE!!! 😀
not at all! enjoy! i can’t wait to read your answers!
The anniversary dance is a big deal in the midwest (particularly in NWOH). We did a different take on this, we just danced with his grandparents who were having their 63rd wedding anniversary on the same day.
Another one they do here is the dollar dance. The maid of honor and best man stand with baskets and folks ‘pay’ to dance with the bride and groom. I think its weird, but all weddings have it here.
We also incorporated the dances we did while in college, Shout which played during football games, Jimmy Buffet which was played at the Piano Bar, etc.
So excited for you!
My husband and I just celebrated our one year wedding anniversary yesterday, and we watched our wedding video, so this idea is fresh in my mind. One of the most fun parts of the reception was the “soul train” line to Outkast’s “The Way You Move.” Have the guys line up on one side and the gals on the other side and the people at the front of the line pair up and do a funny dance down the line. We had a lot of fun and laughs with that!!
Julie! This is the first time I’ve ever commented, but I love your blog! The best “game” i’ve ever played at a wedding was the DJ had a pile of all the couples name’s in a jar. He would reach in the jar and call out one couple. The couple would then have to kiss each other, in whichever way they wanted, and then the bride and groom had to do their best to replicate the kiss. It was really sweet and got everyone laughing!
Congratulations!!
JULIE HAVE AN AMAZING WEDDING! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND RYAN!!
Barbara