Planning Our Happily Ever After - A Disneymoon PTR! (NEW 7/13 - TR Link!)

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

ROOM ORGANIZING & TOILETRY BAG "STOCKING"

Since Miguel and I will be spending 11 nights at the Poly on our honeymoon, I figure room organization will be very important. Normally I don't give this topic too much thought because I tend to be one of those people who just lives out of the suitcase on vacation. I absolutely hate repacking a suitcase to go home, so I try to do as minimal unpacking as possible! But, since we are going to be staying close to 2 weeks, I think we're going to enjoy unpacking and not having to go to the suitcase every time we need something. Plus, I really want the Poly to feel homey for us!

I was inspired by the desire to organize our room, so last night I took a trip out to the Container Store to see what I could find. Here's what I ended up getting!

I bought one of the mesh pop-up laundry baskets for Miguel and myself. I figure we can just set these up in the room and toss our dirty clothes in there and then just dump the dirty stuff into a bag at the end up the week and throw that in the suitcase. I definitely don't want 12 days worth of dirty clothes laying around the room!

I also want the bathroom to stay organized. I hate having so many bottles lining the tub area, so I thought a little caddy would help keep away the clutter.

I like how it has different sections inside to keep things even more organized.

And finally, I bought tons of travel bottles!

I already had a few that I used when going to Italy, so I have quite a collection now! My goal is to fully "stock" our toiletry bags so that we can just get the bags out of the closet, throw then in the suitcase and go. I hate that I can never really finish up my packing until the morning of a trip because you have to use the toiletries up until that point. Since we're going to be doing two packing jobs this time (one for the wedding weekend and then of course for the honeymoon) it will be really nice to at least have the toiletries all set. I'm hoping to have this completed well before our trip - hopefully by the beginning of May before things get too crazy!

To help me stay organized, I of course made a spreadsheet! I listed out everything I will need, everything Miguel will need and the things that we can share so that when I take trips to Target I can get what I need to start my stocking process.

And going back to room organizing, since I've never really done this, I'd love to know what all you do to keep your rooms organized while on vacation!

 

[Joyciemc]

Oooh, good ideas!! From reading my reports, you might know that I am not even a little bit organized. So I can't give you too many tips in that regard, but I love your idea of a caddy for the shower/bathroom- the way hotel bathrooms get all messy and cluttered bugs me, too!

We do have a dirty laundry bag, though- it makes a huge difference to be able to keep the dirty stuff neatly out of the way.

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi Courtney.. love all the planning so far!

I have a similar toiletries list.. every week when I go to the supermarket, I'll buy one thing off the list - it's nice to spread the cost out & collect all the honeymoon toiletries, bit by bit!

14 weeks

Emma x

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Oooh, good ideas!! From reading my reports, you might know that I am not even a little bit organized. So I can't give you too many tips in that regard, but I love your idea of a caddy for the shower/bathroom- the way hotel bathrooms get all messy and cluttered bugs me, too!

We do have a dirty laundry bag, though- it makes a huge difference to be able to keep the dirty stuff neatly out of the way.

Haha! I will admit, my hotel rooms don't end up very organized either. I'm really hoping to break that cycle this time, though!

Hi Courtney.. love all the planning so far!

I have a similar toiletries list.. every week when I go to the supermarket, I'll buy one thing off the list - it's nice to spread the cost out & collect all the honeymoon toiletries, bit by bit!

14 weeks

Emma x

That is a great idea! I will have to start doing that as I'm out instead of just getting everything at once. Maybe I should make it my goal to fill a bottle or two a week. That should even it out nicely.

 

[Mrs T 2009]

The toiletries idea sounds great!!!! and keeping the mesh bag in the room for dirty clothes is a great one too! We would always just unpack into the drawers, and then put our dirty clothes into one suitcase to take back, and use the other for anything we would buy to bring back with us. made it easier to know where all the dirty clothes was with it being in one bag.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

The toiletries idea sounds great!!!! and keeping the mesh bag in the room for dirty clothes is a great one too! We would always just unpack into the drawers, and then put our dirty clothes into one suitcase to take back, and use the other for anything we would buy to bring back with us. made it easier to know where all the dirty clothes was with it being in one bag.

Thank you! Getting the toiletries together is always one of my favorite parts of getting ready for a trip. At least, buying them is!

 

[therussells08]

I love your new room organization stuff! Every time I go on vacation, especially to Disney, I always "move in" no matter how long I'm staying. The first thing I do when I get to my hotel room is unpack my suitcase completely. I'm really weird about doing that, even if we're only staying a few nights. It makes me feel like I live at Disney, and for some reason it makes my vacation seem longer! Plus, it always seems a lot easier for me to repack when my clothes are nice and folded in drawers, because if I left them in my suitcase they would be all balled up from me digging around.

I love the mesh laundry container. Usually I take mesh laundry bag that I had in college. We stuff it throughout our trip, then just toss it in the trunk when we're on our way home. One of these days I want to stay at Disney long enough to merit doing laundry there. Then I wouldn't have a giant heap of dirty clothes to add to my post-vacation depression when I got home!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love your new room organization stuff! Every time I go on vacation, especially to Disney, I always "move in" no matter how long I'm staying. The first thing I do when I get to my hotel room is unpack my suitcase completely. I'm really weird about doing that, even if we're only staying a few nights. It makes me feel like I live at Disney, and for some reason it makes my vacation seem longer! Plus, it always seems a lot easier for me to repack when my clothes are nice and folded in drawers, because if I left them in my suitcase they would be all balled up from me digging around.

I love the mesh laundry container. Usually I take mesh laundry bag that I had in college. We stuff it throughout our trip, then just toss it in the trunk when we're on our way home. One of these days I want to stay at Disney long enough to merit doing laundry there. Then I wouldn't have a giant heap of dirty clothes to add to my post-vacation depression when I got home!

Thanks! I definitely want us to feel at home on this trip and I think unpacking is really going to help achieve that. It will be nice to actually put the suitcases away for once!

 

[blessedmom4]

Courtney, I love all of your wonderful purchases! ...You need to come to my house after the honeymoon and help me with your spreadsheets, etc ...I should be doing THAT instead of DISing! But at this hour of the night, the stores I would need ARE closed, so that is a good excuse to DIS, isn't it??? Your wedding and Disneymoon are going to be amazing and TWO weeks of Fun and incredible memories!!!

 

[Jennifer48]

You're so cute Courtney! Love the shower caddy!

We usually unpack our suitcases and use the drawers in the room. The dirty laundry we throw into one suitcase that way, its all together. Any unused clean clothes go in another suitcase and that is where we will put our toiletry bags. It works for us!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Alas...a kindred spirit. I don't unpack either. I unpack Aisling because her customs require ironing but I never unpack myself!

Toiletries...we always keep packed toiletry bags in the linen closet. We all have our own. You never know when you might want to go away for a night and that is always one less thing to pack

hmmm about the laundry basket. This might work for Randy who completely changes at least twice per day. I was thinking that I was going to have to do laundry for a 10 day trip. That might work. Interested to hear how it works out for you guys

Now, the shower caddy...does it collapse to fit in a suitcase???

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Courtney, I love all of your wonderful purchases! ...You need to come to my house after the honeymoon and help me with your spreadsheets, etc ...I should be doing THAT instead of DISing! But at this hour of the night, the stores I would need ARE closed, so that is a good excuse to DIS, isn't it??? Your wedding and Disneymoon are going to be amazing and TWO weeks of Fun and incredible memories!!!

I really feel like every other post is a new spreadsheet! I'm afraid people might be getting sick of them!

Late nights are the best time to DIS in my opinion. But then again I am a night owl! Makes for some difficult mornings, unfortuanately!

You're so cute Courtney! Love the shower caddy!

We usually unpack our suitcases and use the drawers in the room. The dirty laundry we throw into one suitcase that way, its all together. Any unused clean clothes go in another suitcase and that is where we will put our toiletry bags. It works for us!

Haha. Thanks! That is such a good idea about sorting the dirty and clean clothes! I might just have to do that, it certainly would make unpacking simpler. Thanks for the tip!

Alas...a kindred spirit. I don't unpack either. I unpack Aisling because her customs require ironing but I never unpack myself!

Toiletries...we always keep packed toiletry bags in the linen closet. We all have our own. You never know when you might want to go away for a night and that is always one less thing to pack

hmmm about the laundry basket. This might work for Randy who completely changes at least twice per day. I was thinking that I was going to have to do laundry for a 10 day trip. That might work. Interested to hear how it works out for you guys

Now, the shower caddy...does it collapse to fit in a suitcase???

Finally! I was beginning to think I was the only one who doesn't unpack! I just really hate unpacking (I will sadly admit that I haven't fully unpacked my suitcase from the weekend trip we took down to my Dad's over MLK weekend).

That is exactly what I'm going for with the toiletry bags. It will be so nice not to have to worry about them the morning of.

Hmmm...I'm not sure my little caddy is going to go in the suitcase! I did think about that, though. Since we drive I guess I can just throw it in the car if need be.

 

[klacey1]

Love the organizing stuff, girl! I have a question-- how do you find the quality of the travel size bottles at the Container Store?? I'm looking for some high-quality ones. I bought a .99 cent one at Walmart (I THINK, can't remember), and my eye make-up remover spilled out all over the rest of my toiletries at JFK when I took it out of my carry-on to go through security. Don't want that to happen this August in Disney, so I was hoping to find some nicer ones-- how are those bottles??
I love the idea of a shower caddy and might have to steal that! There's never enough room for anything on the edges, and you're right, it looks so cluttered.
We usually don't have an organization system, although I always unpack everything and then throw our dirty clothes into the suitcase after we wear them.

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

A bit late, but joining in! I'm soooo jealous that you have a Container Store so close. Our closest one is actually yours, but we never seem to make it there.

I really enjoyed your Italy TR and I'm loving your wedding and disneymoon updates! Looking forward to more!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Love the organizing stuff, girl! I have a question-- how do you find the quality of the travel size bottles at the Container Store?? I'm looking for some high-quality ones. I bought a .99 cent one at Walmart (I THINK, can't remember), and my eye make-up remover spilled out all over the rest of my toiletries at JFK when I took it out of my carry-on to go through security. Don't want that to happen this August in Disney, so I was hoping to find some nicer ones-- how are those bottles??
I love the idea of a shower caddy and might have to steal that! There's never enough room for anything on the edges, and you're right, it looks so cluttered.
We usually don't have an organization system, although I always unpack everything and then throw our dirty clothes into the suitcase after we wear them.

So far the Container Store bottles are holding up well. I used quite a few on my Italy trip and I didn't have any spillage or leakage. They seem to be fairly sturdy, too (the plastic doesn't seem thin).

A bit late, but joining in! I'm soooo jealous that you have a Container Store so close. Our closest one is actually yours, but we never seem to make it there.

I really enjoyed your Italy TR and I'm loving your wedding and disneymoon updates! Looking forward to more!

There's still a lot more to discuss!

I am very lucky to have a few Container Stores close by. I love that store!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

WEDDING DETAILS Pt. 7

Recently we finally finalized two of the really big details for the wedding that I considered to be the most important: the food and the invites!

First for the invites – I feel like this is truly the “first look” that guests get of the wedding and really set the mood of what the wedding will be. I wanted something that both set the tone and was unique. I searched the internet and I stumbled upon an Etsy seller that makes handmade boxed “couture” wedding invitations and I instantly knew I had to have them! I have been eyeing these invitations for nearly a year and it felt so good to actually get them ordered and get the wording to the designer. This lady is really spectacular – she does everything for you. She assembles the entire suite of invitations and boxes them up with the label for the guests. All I will have to do is put them in the mail! Here are some pictures of the samples:

And here is the proof that she sent me:

It definitely seems more real when you see the writing! Haha. I approved the proof about a week ago and it takes her about 15 days to get them ready so hopefully she will be shipping them out within the next week or two. My goal is to get them all in the mail by the first week of April since we have set our RSVP date at May 18. Here’s hoping the boxes don’t cost too much to mail!

Now, moving on to the food: my favorite aspect! I have been telling my family since the beginning that this is the one aspect of the wedding that we can’t skimp on. I said I was fine with scaling back on other things as long as we can have good food! Haha.

When I was about 10 years old, I went to a wedding with my grandparents that has literally stuck with me throughout all of these years. To be honest, I don’t even know who got married. I have no idea what the bride wore or what her colors were, but what I do remember is the meal! Most weddings in my “circle” have buffet receptions, but this one was a sit down meal and from the day I went to that wedding I knew I had to have a sit down dinner. I also knew that I didn’t want a typical wedding menu – you know, fillet, roast chicken, etc. I really wanted the food to match the theme and to be different and of course – delicious! I found a wonderful caterer that offered a very extensive menu for what I believe is a really reasonable price, and, they are open to customization, which was really important. So, without further ado, here is our reception menu:

When we went for the tasting, everything was so delicious. We didn’t get to try everything on the menu, but we did try an assortment of things. (This was before we actually decided on the menu). Here is the huge try of food that the chef prepared for us:

A close up of the strawberry spinach salad we will be having:

The potatoes in front are a smaller version of the one's that will be served with the entrees, behind those are the fried green tomatoes, and back in the back you can kind of see the shrimp and grit cups.

This is the salmon that we will have, and behind that are the short ribs. I didn't get to try the pork.

And continuing with food, we thought it would be nice to let the rehearsal dinner be all about Miguel’s culture and his food since the wedding food is totally southern (and me). We found a really neat Mexican restaurant to host the rehearsal dinner. I actually thought of Disney as I was looking at pics of it online – it definitely has that feel to it!

Miguel and I went there a few months back to try out the food and it was delicious. For the dinner, we will be doing a limited menu so the guests can choose what they’d like to eat. Here’s the menu for it:

And here’s some pictures I took when we went to eat there. Obviously we couldn’t try everything on the rehearsal dinner menu, but we did get to try two of the three entrée choices! I had the chicken dish which was sooo good!

Miguel got the steak dish. This one isn't quite as fancy looking but he said it was really good.

We also got a slice of the ancho chocolate cake to go. We were too stuffed to eat there!

I can’t believe the wedding is only 3 months and 3 days away! Where has the time gone?!

 

[Nermel9]

Wow, those invitations are beautiful! They're so elegant, and yet so different from most invitations! I hope you don't have to get, like 4 stamps for each box! Since I had a very small wedding, I did the print at home invitations you can buy at Michael's, and they actually worked out really well, they turned out so pretty! And they had a purple design on them, which was basically the only theme I had to my wedding...purple!

Your menu looks amazing, again, so different from most weddings! I wish we were all invited, it looks like it's gonna be fun!

I can't believe the day is almost here, yay! Then again, my 1 year anniversary is May 1, and I can't believe that either!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

OOOH those are some fancy dancy invites! Love them. Interesting that most of your weddings are buffets. I don't think I've ever been to one that isn't a sit down meal. I'll say it again, I love that you learn so much about different parts of the US on the DIS...it's not just about Mickey

 

[ronnmel]

Lovely invitations. And the Mexican restaurant looks great!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Wow, those invitations are beautiful! They're so elegant, and yet so different from most invitations! I hope you don't have to get, like 4 stamps for each box! Since I had a very small wedding, I did the print at home invitations you can buy at Michael's, and they actually worked out really well, they turned out so pretty! And they had a purple design on them, which was basically the only theme I had to my wedding...purple!

Your menu looks amazing, again, so different from most weddings! I wish we were all invited, it looks like it's gonna be fun!

I can't believe the day is almost here, yay! Then again, my 1 year anniversary is May 1, and I can't believe that either!

Thank you! I know - I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to mail the things! I didn't know your anniversary was so soon! How exciting!

OOOH those are some fancy dancy invites! Love them. Interesting that most of your weddings are buffets. I don't think I've ever been to one that isn't a sit down meal. I'll say it again, I love that you learn so much about different parts of the US on the DIS...it's not just about Mickey

Haha - thanks! How interesting about the seated dinner/buffet. It is neat to learn about how things are done in different areas of the country. This is a very educational place!

Lovely invitations. And the Mexican restaurant looks great!

Thank you! I'm pretty excited about both!