A Hairy Situation

306 days to go.

I have realized my biggest mistake since moving to Ottawa four years ago. I never found (committed) to a hairstylist. Now as I search the city for an affordable and reputable (and mobile) stylist I'm finding it next to impossible. I always laughed when Q told me to find a stylist here. I would explain to him how the relationship between a woman and her stylist is very important and should not be entered in lightly. The trust I have in my current stylist (in T.O and cannot travel) is unparalleled. He's been cutting my hair since I was 16, how do I just move on?

Now I know I should have. I have been looking all over the city for a mobile hair stylist for my wedding day. I find that once you use the word "wedding" you have officially given businesses to financially rape you. They know you will spend it and they will gouge every penny from you. Look I'm not usually cheap...ok, maybe a little. But how does one justify $200 on getting one's hair did? Really? I don't even spend that when I get it cut! Plus, throw in extensions if my hair doesn't grow long enough and the hair of my Maid of Honor, mother and soon to be mother in-law... I repeat... Financially raped.

All I know is that this part of the planning is actually really stressing me out. More so then the dress. I guess because I'm not talented enough to do a really good job with my hair, and plus, this is the way I will look on the day I get married...there is just a little bit of pressure don't you think.

The Tale of the Sassy Bride's Shoes

318 days to go


Once upon a time, in the cold far way land there was a Sassy Bride who was in search of the perfect pair of wedding shoes. Shoes were the ultimate in accessory as far as she was concerned and she knew that the perfect pair of Sassy shoes would complete her Sassy wedding day. After all what Sassy Bride would walk down the aisle in anything less?

Imagine her excitement when she first went dress shopping. After all the wonderful dresses she couldn't wait to go look for shoes, even though she had not found a dress yet. The Sassy Bride and her Sassy sidekick were on a mission. Find a pair of shoes that could only be described as one thing...Sassy. Browsing (and trying on) the Manolo's, the Stewart Weizman's and the Prada the Sassy Bride found two with true Sassy potential. Enter a Sassy Bride's two best

friends...Gucci and Valentino. As she slipped them on she couldn't help but feel fabulous. She didn't walk to the mirror, she strutted; so much so she didn't want to take them off. "How much are they?" asked the Sassy sidekick...."um...$795.00" replied the Sassy Bride. She quickly used her Asian genes and did the math. With tax that's $898.35. "Hmmm..."the Sassy Bride said "I'll have to think about it" . Deep down inside the Sassy Bride knew she couldn't buy them, no matter how fabulous they were; her Prince Charming would not be impressed. After all, add $100.00 and you got a mortgage payment. But they were fabulous, no doubt about it.

Torn between being sensible and being financially irresponsible the Sassy Bride continued to look for the perfect wedding shoes. All seemed hopeless. Was there no store in this cold, fashion challenged city that housed shoes sassy enough for this Sassy Bride? One evening as she walked store to store she saw a pair with a bit of sass and a very high heel. Since the Sassy Brides shoe mantra has always been "If it's not a stiletto, it's not worth wearing" these shoes were right up her ally. "A size 8 1/2 and a size 9 please" she asked the sales girl. As she slipped the size 9 on ( yes, she has giant, not-so-sassy feet) she realized they would be too big. "On to the 8 1/2!" too small. What she going on? The Sassy Bride even tried to insert a gel insert to the size 9 to help them fit....No such luck! At Browns Shoes, the Sassy Brides feet were more size 8 3/4 then anything... :(

Broken hearted the Sassy Bride continued on her journey. Like a light shining at the end of the tunnel she saw them. She had seen them on the Internet and on a wedding forum before (only in another colour) It all made sense, the Sassy Bride thought; who is the Sassiest of them all? Barbie! Now, our Sassy Bride has never dressed like Barbie, never wanted to be like Barbie or even ever played with Barbie. Barbie and our Sassy Bride were utter strangers. But there they were...Barbie shoes.

As it turned out, Barbie was celebrating her Ruby birthday, and to honor her a line of shoes were designed. As the Sassy Bride tried them on she imagined walking down the aisle (and dancing the night away) Given, they may not be ideal for dancing, but with the money saved, she could

always look for Sassy Dancing shoes on another occasion as well. Now our Sassy Bride knows they're not her Gucci's or even her dream Louboutin's. But they are Sassy, Satin

and sexy....oh and they didn't cost this Sassy Bride a mortgage payment.

And yes, The Sassy Bride is wearing her Sassy Shoes while she writes this Sassy entry.

Putting it All in Perspective

320 Days to go

**Originally written September 21, 2009**

I don’t know why I’ve been letting this dress thing occupy so much of my time. I mean I’ve been sifting through websites, magazines and bridal salons...for what? A dress I’m only going to be wearing for a few hours? Aside from this being the most expensive dress I would have bought to date, I guess there is a lot of pressure on women to find a perfect dress and look smashing in it, after all she is the centre of it all on HER day…or is she?

Quite honestly I don’t want to be the centre of it all. It’s not MY day, it’s OUR day. Yes, I’ll plan it and make it fabulous, but I want our relationship to be the focus, not what I’m wearing; and I feel my OCD is taking the slowly killing the experience for me. Now I am aware that much of this is self induced. I have a tendency to over obsess and over analyze the smallest of details. Damn it, I should be enjoying this. I should be relishing in trying on dresses reserved for the most special of occasions and I should be excited, giddy even; not stressed out over not meeting society’s idea of perfection or obsessing over body image.

L said it best when she e-mailed me and said “But get whatever dress you want. If you think you look great in it, then get it as long as it doesn't break your budget you know?” Let’s be honest, not all of us will look like the “perfect bride” and may not even want to. I don’t think it’s quite my style. Tell you the truth; 5 years from now, people probably won’t even remember how I looked in my dress. My comfort should be the deciding factor. I need to shift focus from a dress to my future hubby and our relationship. This wedding is not to celebrate me. It’s to celebrate our life together and for our guest to have a great time and know how much they mean to us.

I think I need to go home and watch the Sex and the City movie again. I need to be reminded that when you find the right man; all that matters is the two of us. Even the most fantastic Vivian Westwood gown couldn't compare to a simple two piece if you are on the arm of the one you love.