It's All in the Details

When you go to a wedding, you don't always think about all the little details that it takes to make the day great.  From things like flowers, seating charts, the cake, pictures, invitations, centerpieces, there is so much to plan.  Whenever I look at wedding pictures, I love the details pictures.  I like to see what the bride has been working on, the little details that can occasionally get overlooked.  So, here is a look at the details from our wedding!

We got our wedding invitations printed at PDQ Printing, which is no longer in business. We got raised lettering, which I thought really made the invitations stand out.  I loved them.  We also made them so that we could fit them in normal envelopes and wouldn't have to pay extra on postage.  We also used a gmail email address for the RSVPs, which saved on postage and envelopes.  It worked really well and we got a lot of responses, more than we were told to expect.  It was convenient for us and guests.  We've been to other weddings that have done that as well, but as a guest, I really liked a reply email just to let me know they got my RSVP.  We did that for everyone and it didn't take much time but I wanted to make sure everyone knew we got their email because it was a different way of doing it.   On to some of our flowers!
 

flowers at the alter

unity candle

I loved our white flowers, but I hated those black bows on the flowers at the alter.  Kind of looks like funeral flowers, huh?  I liked the flowers, but just should have removed the bows.  I didn't really notice it until I saw the pictures though, so I guess it didn't really matter anyway!

bridesmaid's flowers

my flowers

Love the detail!

I absolutely loved my flowers.  I wouldn't change it if I could.  I got some black lace and white fabric from Joann's Fabric and brought it over to Blossom Basket and they did a beautiful job.  I loved the pins too.  It looked so classic and elegant to me. 

We also wanted to do something to commemorate our family members that had passed.  I wanted people to be able to see a picture of them though because I knew a lot of people hadn't had the chance to meet the grandparents on both side of our families.  So I enlarged a few pictures to 8x10's, framed them in black frames, and put a single long-stemmed white rose for each grandparent in front of the picture.  I also printed In Loving Memory on some place cards that I got at Michael's.

When people got to Memorial Stadium, we had a picture on their flat screens of us to indicate which floor the reception was on.  We had this hilarious picture of us from college when John bought us both Illini jerseys when we went to the Illinois game at Iowa.

John and I decided to have cupcakes instead of regular cake (half the price!).  And we went with funfetti, white, and chocolate.  A-maz-ing.  We definitely made 20-30 extra and definitely only had about 7 left at the end of the night.  I gave my cake lady some more lace that I got from Joann's Fabric for our top tier, which she wrapped around the round cake.  The green on top of the cupcakes was a little too green, I would have preferred it to be a little more pastel, but yummy nonetheless.  We also had a bit of an ordeal figuring out how to construct a cupcake tower.  It was difficult to find one that we liked that would hold 230 cupcakes.  We bought a cardboard one online with the intentions of decorating it.  That was going okay, I wasn't thrilled with it, but it was coming along.  Then my good friend, Emily Isenbarger, got married two months earlier and also had cupcakes.  I believe her now brother in-law made a while tower for their reception and she let us use theirs!  It was great timing and very thoughtful for her to allow us to use it because I was not looking forward to the one we had in progress.

  

Another detail you don't think of until you're planning a wedding is the seating chart (if you choose to have one) and how the guests will know what table they're going to be sitting at.  I played with a bunch of ideas, but went with something that was easy, but I thought looked nice.  I printed an alphabetical list on fancy paper and framed it in the same frames from the pictures of our grandparents.  

After you walked in and saw where you were sitting, you saw a bunch of pictures on easels.  We've been to wedding with pictures up and loved looking at them so thought we'd do the same.

 

University Florists took care of the flowers at our reception.  They did a great job.  We met with them once, showed some pictures, and they looked perfect.  The tables looked exactly how I pictured them.

Our favors were small boxes of homemade chocolates that were at each place setting.  They were made at Black & White Confections in Gibson City, IL.  They were so yummy.  We only had one left of those and had about 10-12 people not show up .. so someone was snagging some!  Our table markers were also picture of us on both sides with card stock in our colors (white & green) and silver number stickers on them.  I used rubber cement to glue them and definitely ruined John's mom's dining room table in the process.  Whoops!  I guess the rubber cement drying dried out the finish on the wood and left white spots.  I felt pretty bad about that one ..

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends..

I am of the belief that strong, healthy friendships are necessary to maintaining one's sanity and just life in general.  You need people in your life other than your spouse or your family that can be there for you in ways that your spouse or family can't.  They're there for things like reality checks, subjective opinions, brutal honesty, and someone to share the other half of that heart necklace with BFF written on it.  I also think that as a Christian, it is vital to spiritual growth because Jesus didn't just hang out with Mary and Joe.  Throughout the years, friends do come and go, but the ones that remain are utterly priceless.  Those relationships are so precious and valuable. They have made me into the person I am.  As I enter adulthood, I have been reflecting on these friends that have remained.  Despite multiple moves, different states, different countries, different regions of the US, college transfers, college graduations, and multiple jobs changes, these people have been my rock.  After saying all that, I'd like to take this time just to brag about some of these amazing people ...

Beni Atibalentja

I've been friends with Beni since 6th grade.  I've known her for more than a decade.  We have been through thick and thin and had our own personal trials and tribulations, but she is literally one of my closest and dearest friends.  She tells me when I need to go back to my closet and change because I look ridiculous, she tells me when I'm being too sensitive/not sensitive enough, when I'm being unreasonable, when I'm being high maintenance, but also tells me when I'm doing something right or when I'm doing something well.  She's also very good friends with John and knows him extremely well.  So when I need another opinion, I usually turn to Beni.  She tells it like it is, so incidentally, a lot of times problems get solved quicker.  I also highly respect her interests and need to be informed about important issues in the world today.  We have pretty similar views, and we do enjoy sitting around and agreeing with each other :-)  Oh, and she's hilarious.  And her laugh is indistinguishable from Elmo's, so even if what you said wasn't that funny, you'll laugh at her laugh.  Who doesn't love that?

At one of our various wine nights in college!

Emily Isenbarger

Oh, Mrs. Isenbarger.  I've known this beautiful lady also since 6th grade.  We lived together my first sophomore year of college.  Literally one of the best roommates ever.  You know how I know she's awesome... look at what she did for my birthday that year:

Chocolate chip cookies, Swiss Cake Rolls, and a homemade Funfetti cake.  She can read me like a book.

That same year, when John and I were broken up in college for the first time, she was there for me in a way no one else was.  I am so thankful for that and her presence during that difficult time helped me walk through a tough situation with grace.  She's also someone whose opinion I respect immensely.  She is a very calculated individual that lives with intention.  I also love Emily's sense of humor.  I feel the funniest when I make her laugh.  She does NOT laugh if something isn't funny.  But when she does laugh, it's this hearty, genuine laugh that makes you feel like freakin Groucho Marx.  Despite me living in Iowa for three years, her in Sweden for a year, and her living in Nashville for a year now, we still find a way to make time for each other.  I was also in her wedding last year and was beyond honored to be a part of her day.  She was a beautiful, beautiful bride!  Oh, and she has this knack for finding hilarious websites and YouTube videos.

Crystal Lake Lifeguarding days!

Thomas Maddock

I met Lonzell when I went to school in Iowa.  We started hanging out through a mutual friend, and for some reason, this guy was always, ALWAYS at our apartment.  So we started watching Family Guy, Madagascar 1 & 2, Dumb and Dumber, and Liar Liar, and our friendship began to flourish.  We both went to Greece for some college credit and since then have been really close friends.  He was an usher in our wedding and flew in from Seattle to be there!  We have about 981 inside jokes for some reason and all of them are equally hilarious.  Him and John have also become extremly good friends over the years and that means the world to me.  Lonzell is just a good guy with a good heart.  John and I can't wait to go see him in Seattle.  Lonzell is someone that I can say one word to and have him laughing for 30 minutes.  Plus, he has an amazing girlfriend, Briana, that I've had the opportunity to get to know.  They are an amazing couple that compliments each other perfectly.  We live a long plane ride away, but when I talk to him I feel like we never miss a beat.  He is the brother I never had.  And I think the son my mom wishes she had?  I think she likes him as much as she likes me..

Singing Michael Jackson, Black or White, while cruisin around the Greek Isles in 2008. 

Kathleen Kelleher

I'm noticing now that all my friends are hilarious.  I was going to start my Kathleen-brag session by saying how funny she is when I noticed a pattern.. anyways..  Kathleen is my world-traveling, fashion-wise, Happy Gilmore-loving lady.  We also have known each other since 6th grade and became really close in high school.  Sadly, she relocated to Syracuse in college but we have still maintained our friendship.  We've been through a lot, but man, she's pretty awesome guys.  I have a soft spot in my heart for this girl.  She has the most genuine and sincere heart I have ever seen. She loves kids and people with her every ounce of her.  Kathleen would cut off her leg if she thought it would help someone in some way.  She's one of those people that if she was your son or daughter's teacher, school counselor, or anything related to taking care of your child, you would be relieved.  And you know your kid would have the best time hanging out with her but they'd come home with some new annoying talent like making duck noises constantly.  She has a work ethic to be admired, her heart is as big as my face, and she loves with all she's got. 

Kathleen and I during one of her IL visits!

 I feel that when you become adults, get married, have kids, get jobs, make big moves, you have to make a concerted effort to cultivate and further these precious friendships.  Every day I'm trying to get better at this.  It does not come easy, but when you call your friend after not talking for a while and before you know it, it's 2 hours later.. life is good and there is definitely a smile on my face.

So, cheers to my close friends.  Cheers to those that I'm becoming closer to here in CU.  Cheers to everyone out there with a good buddy that they wouldn't be the same without.  Cheers.

Hospital Etiquette

More hospital tips I've thought of!   My mom told me that she wishes when you go into the hospital that they just tell you things to expect and what you should/should not do while you're there.  So this is part two of my public service announcement.

1.  Don't talk while your nurse/doctor is listening to your heart or lungs with their stethoscope.

2.  When they lean over you to listen, don't cough or exhale in their face.  That's very rude.

3.  Get off your phone when they come in the room to talk to you.

4.  Ask your visitors to scram for a minute if things get busy with you or your roommate and lots of doctors and/or other staff members are attending to either of you. 

5. For most hospitals, nurses have 30 minutes to an hour before and after your medications are due to actually administer them.  So if at home you normally take your Prilosec at 8:00 am sharp and it's 8:04 am, please refrain from putting on your call light and demanding your Prilosec.  They will get there; something important may have come up or they didn't know your personal time schedule.  For example, at Carle, I have an hour before and after the med is due to give it.  So if you take your blood pressure pill at 9:00 pm sharp every night and I have a 10:00 pm medication and time allows it, I'll bring both meds at 9:30 pm, or closer to 10:00 pm. 

6.  Don't bring babies or small children to the hospital.  People at the hospital are sick with some gross stuff and bringing a baby around that, even if it's not in the same room as your loved one, is just not a great idea.

7.  Don't walk barefoot on the floor.  Some of the grossest things in the world have touched that floor.

8.  Don't ever, ever, ever lay on the floor.  I've seen some family member lay on the floor and I want to throw up in my mouth.  So. Gross.

9.  If you are diabetic, eat at the normal meal times and don't eat until they check your blood sugar.  It screws up the reading and the amount of insulin you'll need.  Even if you don't take insulin at home, most diabetics need supplemental insulin while in the hospital.

10.  Don't ask to get ready for the day or get ready to go to bed at shift change.  It is beyond inconvenient for the staff.  They will rush to get through it for you because they have to be in report at a certain time and clock out at a certain time.  Wait until the on-coming staff has gotten there and introduced themselves.  They won't be rushing and will have the time to make sure you get everything you need and get situated.

11.  Go to bed at a normal time (8-11pm) so you can get to sleep and if you have a roommate, so they can sleep.

12.  Always be conscious of your roommate.  So if you have 5 visitors, so do they.  If you like to fall asleep to watching TV, they have to as well.  If you like to sleep with the light on, they have to now too.  If you have your ringtone on, they have to hear it.  If you have an alert on for every single time you get a text message, they have to hear that too.

13.  Don't ask staff about other patient's condition/situations, or ask about your roommate.  They legally can't tell you anything.

14.  Don't be crazy mad if you don't see your doctor every single day, especially if you're there for a long time.  Most doctors have Physician Assistants (PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) that round on their patients daily.  These support staff members daily update the MD if they don't have the time to come around themselves.  Doctors are absurdly, absurdly busy so these NPs and PAs are essential to them.  Doctors also make it a priority to see their most critical patients first too.  So don't get mad if it's 9:00 am and you haven't seen your doctor yet.  They might not plan to see you until 2:00 pm and then they get called into an emergent surgery or case at 12:45 pm.  There are so many things going on with their schedule and so many unpredictable things that staff cannot tell you when a doctor will be around that day, if they will be there at all.  It sucks, but it's something that can't be changed or fixed.  The staff hates it too, but that's just the way it is.

15.  If a staff member (doctor, nurse, tech, etc) did something really awesome for you or were really helpful and went beyond your expectations, write an applause card or make sure the floor manager know how great they did.  Every hospital has some way of recognizing staff for a job well done, go the extra mile for them and recognize that.

16.  If you hate your nurse, request not to have that nurse again.  Ask for to speak to the floor manager and make the request.  Sometimes people just don't mesh well and we don't want patients to be uncomfortable all day or feel like their needs aren't being met.  In most cases, accommodations can be made.

17.   When you know you're going to be discharged, make sure you have your transportation all figured out.  And if your ride is only available during their lunch break at work, you MUST tell staff that the night before.  The doctors have to put a bunch of orders in the computer and the nurse has to complete a bunch of paperwork so if you have specific time issues, you have to give the nurse ample time to prepare.  He/she might have 3 discharges and orders get to them all at the same time in addition to all of the individual care for their 5 patients.  Discharges always happen later than patients expect.  Plan on eating lunch there.  When a doctor says that you'll be discharged tomorrow, count on it being tomorrow afternoon.  Then if you go home earlier, you are pleasantly surprised :-)

18.  If you take a lot of meds on a specific time schedule at home, chances are it won't be the same when you're in the hospital.  (And honestly, it doesn't really matter that much unless it's Coumadin or something if the times are off by a few hours.)  If doctors put in your meds as three times a day, it defaults to certain times, usually 8:00 am, 12:00 or 1:00 pm, and 6:00 pm.  So if at home you take yours at 7:00 am, 11:00 am, and 5:00 pm, please don't yell at your nurse and say that all your meds are completely messed up.  I promise it's not my fault!

Beauty Favs Around CU

Favorite Beauty Places

favorite place to get a massage
Spa Envy, Lacie was great!  I like it when they do a little conversation at the beginning but don't talk during the entire massage.  I can't relax if I have to make small talk and Lacie did a great job. 

favorite place to get your hair done
Katie Garrett at Timothy John.  I will never, ever have another person cut my hair.  She is the best and completely corrected a bad hair cut just before my wedding.  She also styled the fake hair I wore for the wedding and John had no idea! 

favorite nail place
U&I Nails 

favorite place to buy make up
Sephora. Duh. 

favorite place to get make up professionally done
Shelly at Timothy John, she did my wedding make up and a friend's wedding make up and she looked flawless. 

favorite place to get a wax
Again, Shelly at Timothy John

Favorite Beauty Brands

favorite eye shadow
smashbox & mac

favorite mascara
maybelline's blackest black great lash

favorite facial lotions
norwex day & night cream

favorite make up foundation
bare minerals (love their brushes too!)

favorite bronzer
warmth by bare minerals 

favorite eyeliner
smashbox's black paint-on eyeliner

favorite scents
bath and body work's aromatherapy in sensual
banana republic's classic 

favorite lip balm
burt's bee's, tinted 

favorite body lotion
the body shop's body butter 

favorite hair care
big sexy hair root pump plus
moroccan oil

Wedding Videos

2010 REWIND..  Watching the youtube videos of Jared and Marissa's wedding made me think back to our wedding.  It reminded me that John's cousin, Shaynah, took a couple videos at our wedding that I wanted to share.  The first is our first dance in which Todd Rukes is singing a song that John wrote called Walkin Next to Me.  The second video is John's dance with his mom, Susan Kleber.  They dance to none other than Boys II Men.  Best mother/son dance ever and I promise I'm not biased!


John and Kati Kleber's First Dance


John and Susan Kleber's Mother-Son Dance

My One Year Nursing Anniversary

What I Have Learned About People Since Becoming a Nurse
(one year ago today)

After age 65, modesty no longer exsists. Gowns don't need to be fastened and people are suddenly completely comfortable sleeping without underware on.

Normal, common, social considerations are out the door once you are a patient.  Saying "excuse me" after burps, farts, sneezes, and coughs are no longer necessary in front of nurses or techs.  They are though in front of doctors.  Whatever.  Oh, and coughing in my face is suddenly "okay" with me.

It's easy to see which people think of themselves first and which think of others first.  Some people want things right now or at specific times designated by them, not considering anything else you or your staff has to do.  These people don't usually say thank you, they have the attitude that everything a staff member does is their "job" and therefore they don't need to be appreciated for it or acknowledged.  These people always sleep with a TV or a light on and does not think about their roommate.  Others are the complete opposite and anytime they ask for anything are apologetic for bothering staff, always say thank you, and try to be as accomodating to your schedule and other things that are going on.  They go to sleep earlier so they don't keep their roommate up and always turn their light off.  People are either one or the other, there is no in between.

For the most part, diabetics have no idea what diabetes is.  They eat at irregular times, randomly check their blood sugars (if at all), randomly give themselves insulin or take pills whenever they feel like it, and drink 4 Mountain Dew's every day with 6 granola bars, and chicken fingers with BBQ sauce for lunch and dinner.  Oh, and they don't eat breakfast.

No one knows how to properly use an inhaler.

When coming into the hospital, people are all of a sudden are completely incapable of putting on or taking off their own socks.

Babies are like crack to old women, they get so excited to see babies.  They don't want to touch/hold them, they just want to stare and smile.

Seeing old men cry is the most difficult thing to endure.  It's worse than that Sarah McLaughin dead puppies ad.

Being a 6ft female nurse doesn't intimidate people as much as I would have hoped.

I wish that one of the requirements for becoming a doctor was working for one year as a nurse.  I would like to think that the world would just be a little different.

There is nothing better than when a 90 year old lady grabs your hand, look you in the eye, and sincerely tells you that you are a good nurse. 

Kleber Wedding #3

John and I went to his cousin's wedding this past weekend in Philadelphia, PA.  It was probably my favorite wedding ever.  The wedding was in a church that was built in 1701 and was very well maintained.  The reception was right next door.  The night was perfect, the DJ's were awesome, the drinks and food were yummy, the groomsmen were handsome, and the groom and his attendants did an a hilariously amazing performance for his brand new bride.  Perfection.

View of the church from the front side as guests are walking in.

What's a wedding reception without a candy bar?

Guestbook - complete with Polaroid camera, sticky tape, and Sharpies.

Wedding in progress!

Reception tables

Literally the best hors d'oeuvres I have ever had! 

Cake!

 

 

An absolutely delicious dinner:  lasagna, pasta salad with vegetables, salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and they also had chicken florentine but I didn't have that.  John and Sam both said it was delicious though!

Following the beautiful ceremony, the yummy food and drinks, the great toasts, the first dance, and some dancing, was a little performance.  Jared and his groomsmen sang to the new Mrs. Kleber and here is the video!  It's sideways for the first 15 or so seconds but I figure it out.  It's just great, and I heard it was the bride's favorite part of the wedding!

Jared Kleber & Company sing to Marissa Kleber

Another thing about the wedding that I really enjoyed was that everything was convienent for the guests.  The rehearsal dinner was at the hotel that everyone was staying at, the hotel provided a shuttle to the wedding ceremony and also back from the reception.  Everything was in one place.  Also, everything flowed really well and I didn't feel like I was sitting around waiting for something.  After the ceremony during their pictures, we got drinks and had some of the delicious apps and just checked out the surroundings.  We watched the first dance, the father/daughter, mother/son and then had ample time to eat.  Another thing that I loved was that Marissa and her dad danced to the same some my dad and I danced to!  I can't listen to it without tearing up.  It's a great father/daughter dance :-)

Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III

So at 11pm, the reception was over and everyone headed back to the hotel.  We were all wide-awake so we had some wine in the lobby and just hung out.  Marissa and Jared also were staying in the Honeymoon Suite that night at the same hotel.   So they went up to their room after we all hooted and hollered at them as they walked away.  At about 1am we were all still hanging out, enjoying spending time together when this guy walks up ...

That's right.  The groom walks up to the lobby, in search of more champagne, wearing his suit pants, dress shoes, and his vest, looking like Aladdin.  Oh, Jared..

Warm Glow Candle Outlet

Myself, John, and dad went to Pittsburgh and then Philadelphia for a Kleber wedding this past weekend.  Outside of Richmond, IN right off of Interstate 74, candle heaven exists.  It's a place called Warm Glow Candle Outlet.  My mom started going there years ago and now we stop basically once a year, on the way home from PA.  It used to be this small, overcrowded shop and they've since expanded and it looks amazing.

Warm Glow!

Side view of store, and if you look you can see some handsome men walking in!

John thinks I'm a crazy candle lady, but our house smells awesome, so whatever..

And that's everything I came home with!  The candle on the left is White Cherry Cheesecake, the middle small one is Evening Mocha, the large green one is Northern Pine, and the one on the right is Vanilla Bean (John picked out that one.)  And the two in holders have Country Kitchen potpourri. 

It's just off of I74, about 3 hours east of Champaign-Urbana.  They have like 14 signs before so you can't miss it.  Feel free to come over and smell my house!

Oh, Wise Poverbs

When I do my daily Bible readings, I like to read a part of the Old and New Testaments and either a Proverb or a Psalm.  About two years ago, I discovered the One Year Bible, which has daily readings with an excerpt from each for every day of the year.  I love it; it's my second time going through it.  I found that when I read my regular Bible, I get somewhat distracted by trying to read a certain amount of chapters daily and then it ends up being too much.  This sections it out, so I do the same amount every day.

Because Proverbs is so short, they put only 2-3 verses of it for each day.  With the verses sectioned off, you just have short, yet immensely profound, statements that just hit you hard after you're finishing up with the rest of your read.  I'm also realizing that wisdom is a huge theme in Proverbs.  I really enjoy verses that speak about wisdom, as I feel that it is such an important part of being a witness.  I just always picture what kind of a Christian we should strive to be (as defined by the Word) as a slow to speak, calm, and wise person.  So I have really been sucked in to these verses that tell you how to be wise.  Here are some that have really stood out to me:

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.  It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.  13:18-19


Wise people think before they act; fools don't - and even brag about their foolishness.  13:16


Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.  12:3


Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  11:3

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than kisses from an enemy.  27:6


The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.  28:1

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 9:10