Review: Massager Heating Pad

You may recall a while back when I said there would be an upcoming review on this blog.

Well, 800 years later, here it is!

Using our generous $30 credit from CSN Stores, and with wedding stress and half-marathon training (RightHand, not me!) upon us, RightHand and I decided to purchase the Sunbeam Heat Plus Massager Heating Pad. (The link says the product is currently unavailable- great timing, CSN!)

So, I'll break it down simply for you:

Pros:
-It has heat and massaging action, so that really helps with sore muscles, etc.
-The heat and massage functions can be used together or alone.
-It is great quality- nice pad cover, strudy control remote, etc.

Cons:
-There are only 2 settings, high and low. I'm used to pads that have settings of 1-10.
-The shipping was pretty steep: $7.00. Not sure if that is standard or not.
-The pad is a bit thick, though I understand that's the price one must pay for the massaging function.

We probably would not have gotten this product without the voucher, but we are glad we have it. Overall, I would give it a 3 out of 5, and a big thank you to CSN Stores, and a huge recommendation that you check out their selection when searching for anything for your home- seriously! Their selection is overwhelming at times.

Thanks for tolerating a review, dear readers!

Wedding Decisions: Music

Much to my surprise, there will be two kinds of music at our wedding: live (live!) and recorded (I guess that's what you call it...).

I never thought I'd be one of those lucky brides accompanied by a string quartet (okay, ours is a trio, but still!), but, hello- nice to meet you! Due to amplification restrictions at our venue, we were "forced" to turn to strings. (RightHand was forced, I delighted in it.) (I played the violin in middle and high school and miss it so much... So glad to have a piece of it in our wedding!)

At first, my former violin teacher was going to play in the trio, and I was ecstatic!! But, things fell through, as things do, and we still ended up with a magnificent option (and are hoping said violin teacher will still be able to at least attend!): The Classy Chicks

I got a call from a classy Classy Chick (see what I did there? ;) the other day, saying they may have to use a classy man, so not really sure where that leaves us on the name. And they are currently updating their website, so there may not be a sample of their work, but still, you can check it out. (This post has a subtler theme of unfulfilled expectations, eh?)

To give you something concrete, here is the repertoire list they sent us last week, from which to choose the songs that will be played on the BIGGEST DAY OF OUR LIVES (you see how I put pressure on every aspect of the wedding, yes?):

Wedding Music

Seating of the mothers/grandmothers

Air on the G String, BACH
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, BACH
Air form Water Music Suite, HANDEL
Ave Maria, SCHUBERT
Largo from "Winter", VIVALDI
Ave Maria, BACH

Bridesmaids

Canon in D, PACHELBEL
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, BACH
Spring from the Four Seasons, VIVALDI
Autumn from the Four Seasons, VIVALDI

Bride

Traditional Wedding March, WAGNER
Trumpet Voluntary, CLARKE
Arioso, BACH
Canon in D, PACHELBEL

Recessional

Traditional Wedding March Recessional, MENDELSSOHN
Finale from Water Music Suite, HANDEL
Brandenburg No. 3, BACH
Rondeau, MOURET
Ode to Joy, BEETHOVEN
La Rejouissance, HANDEL

Other Pieces

Hymns
Fascination
Moon River
Almost Like Being in Love
Theme from Love Story

Now, I can't share the songs with you because, my zounds!, we don't want any guest reading this blog reading my wedding posts, adding a glass of wine, and considering themselves having attended, now do we?

But trust me, it will be delightful music and surely tear-inducing! I was getting chills just listening and planning.

For the reception portion of the evening, RightHand and I fainted at the cost of the DJ and promptly hired his (please please please) capable brother.

Yes, we are having speakers, an iPod, and a brother. (And perhaps a brother-in-law, who demonstrates such showmanship after a drink or two! Feel free to grab the mic, Paul! ;)

I sent the following passage from theknot.com to RightHand today, accompanied by a frowny face:

Skip The iPod Idea

You may have the most genius playlist in mind, but there's a reason why DJs and bands are so common at weddings—they are there to read, interact and adjust to your crowd's mood throughout the evening and to make sure everyone is dancing and having a good time (so you don't have to). Besides, do you really want a friend or family member getting up to grab the microphone all night to announce your cake cutting and bouquet toss? Didn't think so.

What do they know?! Right?? They're just a website dedicated to wedding planning! (But seriously, most of the articles assume you have money flowing out your booty...) We are putting together a killer playlist and instructing Daniel (said brother) to the point that he probably won't show up. (I kid, I kid...not...)

Can't wait to celebrate! It'll be great! :)

Happy Bunday!

Some weekends, ya just gotta...

Stretch out...

Tend to some personal hygiene...

And relax!

Hope you had that kind of Bunday!

Happy Caturday!

Well this weekend and last weekend have been frantic yet fun-filled, so it's only natural to show our furkids partaking of the same:

Gatsby checking out the new scratch pad plus feather toy
(This is about as active as he got :)

Royal goes in for the kill...

...Got 'em!
Though Latte looks envious...
(And great photography RightHand!)

Inspired by Royal, Latte takes down the mighty seagull

Hope you're having a playful weekend! :)

Belated Friday Fotos

So I completely missed last week. Perhaps that's what wedding planning and working on the weekend will do to you?

And I'm late this week, but we'll call that improvement. :)

Here are my favorites (go here to pick yours):

Such a crazy story, but perhaps further proof that cows aren't just food?

I am so anti-clutter, this gives me a heart attack!
So sorry for the people who have to clean it up :(

Quite beautiful propaganda

Reminds me of a certain high school playground in Highlands, N.C.
Ahhh, sweet memories...

Proof that, somehow, some way, life does go on

At first this looked kind of fun, but then I remembered: Pillow fights hurt!!

'Til next time!