UPDATE: Really Crate & Barrel?!?

Posted on May 3, 2013 by lysse48

This is the stupid postcard from Crate & Barrel

I came home from work one day and received the lovely postcard above from Crate & Barrel. It told me that the everyday dishes that Phil & I took so long to pick out were being discontinued in July. As I briefly explained in my previous posts about registering Phil & I took a long time picking out our dishes and the Marin dinnerware was basically the only dishes we liked together and had all the serving pieces that we wanted. I went into straight up wedding panic mode. I called the customer service number on the postcard and talked to the C&B customer service lady; who basically did not help me one bit. I asked her why the dinnerware was being discontinued and she didn’t know why corporate did it. I asked her for other suggestions, all she did was read off all the other dishes on the website, which I could have easily done myself. Let this be noted that the Marin dinnerware is listed as a recommended dinnerware set on the C&B website and it also it is the best selling dinnerware set for wedding registries. So it did not make sense to me, the average Crate and Barrel Bride, why “corporate” would stop making such a popular pattern. I was angry and sad at the same time. It was weeks before my first shower in Cleveland and I didn’t know what to do about the dishes. So Phil and I had only 3 options pick another set, stick with the Marin set and hope for the best, or buy the entire set ourselves before July. Phil and I couldn’t buy everything in the set ourselves because it just simply wasn’t in the budget. After looking at the C&B website we didn’t like any other of the dinnerware patterns. So we went with the last option and we stuck with the Marin set and are hoping for the best. So if you are reading this and you need to get us a wedding gift you can get us anything from the Marin collection at Crate & Barrel, it would be awesome 🙂

My reaction when I got the postcard from Crate & Barrel

UPDATE: A day after I posted this entry about our dishes I got a call and an email from Crate & Barrel telling us that they were mistaken in sending out the postcards stating that the Marin dinnerware was being discontinued and that only ONE piece in the collection, a pitcher, was the only item being discontinued. I was in shock and relieved. I was happy that we didn’t have to rush to get our everyday dishes and all the pieces. But I wanted those 3 days back that I stressed over deciding to keep them on our registry. Thanks to my Mom, Phil’s Mom, and Kendra for buying some of the pieces of the set before we knew that it wasn’t going to be discontinued in July.

Cake, Cake, Cake

Posted on April 22, 2013 by lysse48

We killed that cake

I love desserts. Phil also love desserts. So when it came to picking out a wedding cake it was easy as pie….or should I say cake. (Wow that was lame, but I’m keeping that joke anyway). In the summer of 2011 Phil and I traveled to New York to volunteer at the Greek American Foundation’s Gabby Awards. At the Gabby’s I had my first ever Georgetown Cupcake, it was a salty caramel cupcake and I was in love.

My first Georgetown Cupcake…June 2011

After the Gabby’s, and my first Georgetown Cupcake experience I become obsessed with everything that had to do with salty caramel. Salty caramel cupcakes, salty caramel ice cream from Jeni’s, salty caramel cheesecake, salty caramel popcorn, and everything else that was salted and caramel. So when it came to deciding on what kind of wedding cake Phil and I wanted to have it had to have some kind of caramel in it. When my mom, Phil’s mom, and I went to the Today’s Bride Bridal Fair I went to the fair with the intention of finding a cake vendor who offered a caramel flavor. To my surprise none of the cake vendors at the fair actually made a caramel cake but most vendors make a banana flavored cake, a flavor that I never ever tried, but none had a caramel flavored cake. So I had to choose vendors that had caramel filling, which is just as good. Phil and I setup an appointment with Any Way You Ice It because 1) it had a sweet punny name 2) they had caramel filling 3) they handed out cupcakes at the bridal fair and it was tasty and 4) the price was right. So Phil, I, and Phil’s parents went to go taste cakes and these were the flavors we tasted:

1. Chocolate with Peanut Chips cake with Creme Caramel filling
2. Chocolate cake with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Filling
3. Yellow cake with Creme Caramel Filling
4. Strawberry Cake with Chocolate Gnache filling.
5. Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese filling.

All the flavors were AMAZING! We especially like the chocolate cake with the peanut butter cream cheese filling and the yellow cake with you guessed it the caramel filling. So we decided to have 2 flavors of cake at our wedding chocolate cake with peanut butter chips with peanut butter cream cheese filing and the second flavor being yellow cake with creme caramel filling.

Phil’s Mom and Dad enjoying the cake flavors

When it came to the design of the cake that was pretty easy. I wanted to incorporate an art deco design with my wedding colors. Luckily art deco style is based on a lot different designs and patterns and it wasn’t had to find inspiration for the cake. I received inspiration for the art deco design from a Martha Stewart art deco wedding cake, a 1920s screen door, and the Great Gatsby book cover. It was actually much easier than I thought to create my own design. Since we loved the flavors and Kelly, the owner of Any Way You Ice It, we booked her as our cake vendor. One thing we do regret is interviewing more cake vendors just for the sole purpose of tasting more cakes.

Our Cake Design

Our Ohio State Tailgate Engagement Party

Posted on April 21, 2013 by lysse48

Us in our Ohio State gear

When my parents decided to throw Phil and I an engagement party, my mom asked me what kind of engagement party we wanted to have. My mom was thinking about throwing a party with heavy appetizers, champagne, and other fancy stuff. My idea was to recreate the day Phil and I met and have an Ohio State tailgate themed engagement party. My mom was kind of shocked to hear that I wanted a tailgate themed party. “OSU themed party? Don’t you want to use the champagne fountain I just purchased and have sushi?” she said to me. I was sticking to my guns and told her I wanted an Ohio State themed party. I wanted a party that was fun, relaxed, and celebrated what Phil and I were all about. As much as I love champagne and sushi, I wanted a relax fun environment for our extended families to meet. So my mom took my idea and ran with it and pulled off the best engagement party ever!

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The party was on March 2nd at the Monticello Barn in Canton, Ohio. The guest list included 120 people of just family…yes you read that correctly Phil and I have 120 family members combined…that is the size of a normal wedding. Originally I wanted to serve Pita Pit to our guests because that is the first meal Phil and I had together but my mom nixed that idea and instead served “very little” food which included Italian sausage, pulled pork, gumbo, pastitsio, chicken wings, salad, meat pies, baked beans, chili, meatballs, cheese tray, a bunch of dips, pasta salad, and enough dessert to feed a small village. My mom also gathered all the decorations and a lot of the Ohio State decor was provided by family members who are OSU alum. She had a lot of help from my Aunt Carolyn, my Nouna, my Yiayia, Sarah, my brother Alexander, my Uncle Jr., my Aunt Mona, and my Aunt Dina. In the invitations we told everyone to wear Ohio State gear and/or Scarlet and Gray and to Phil and I’s surprise mostly everyone wore OSU stuff. We were super happy about that. The night went smoothly we everyone eating too much, music from our college days playing in the background, and 2001 National Championship Game playing on the TV it was perfect. Phil and I like to thank everyone for coming and all the awesome gifts you gave us, except we don’t thank you for the photo of Phil in his M*ch*gan gear.

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Questions You Should Ask Before Marriage…Really?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by lysse48

I found gem of a questions on Pinterest titled “100 questions couples should ask before getting married” After reading these questions I thought “oh Phil and I should ask these questions to each other we could learn a lot” after reading through all of the questions I thought, “What kind of questions are these?! Shouldn’t all couples know all of the answers to these questions before you get engaged?!?” Below are Phil and I’s answers to some of these questions; our answers were kinda comical.

Question #1: What is the best way for me to show that I love you?

Phil’s Answer: You show it to me everyday

Alysse’s Answer: Awwwww, how can I follow that answer? Kisses and hugs.

Q#2: Have you ever been involved in any criminal activities? What were they?

P: Have you ever been involved in any criminal activities?!? Huh? Huh?

A: No, what is this NCIS? You have been watching too much NCIS.

Q#3: Is it permissible for us to open each other’s mail?

P: I don’t see why not.

A: You can’t open my mail when it is from a clothing store because I love opening up packages from clothing stores!! Also don’t open your Christmas presents before Christmas.

P: Well, duh.

Q#4: Do you trust me with money?

P: Yes, of course…

A: What is that supposed to mean? I trust you.

Q#5: How will you support my hobbies?

P: What does that even mean??? What are your hobbies? You tell me your hobbies and I will tell you if I support them.

A: Well, let’s see my hobbies include celebrity gossip, watching a bunch of TV and movies, and listening to a ton of music, and I guess now blogging.

P: I pay the cable bill so I support your hobbies!

A: I support your hobby of fantasy sports teams because sometimes you take me on nice trips with that money. I also support your man cave sports collectibles collection obviously because I have gotten you half of your collection.

Q#6: Do you anticipate maintaining your single lifestyle after we are married?

P: Video games and sports games.

A: I just studied when I was single I don’t know what single life is like without studying. Thus, I don’t want to maintain my single lifestyle.

Q#7: Is there anything about marriage that frightens you?

P: Nope.

A: You getting sick of me.

P: I’ll never get sick of you.

A: Awwwww

Q#8: How will we schedule holidays with our families?

P: We have being doing it before we get married so no need to change now.

A: Ditto and why not have every holiday!

Q#9: Other than formal schooling, what types of education will our children get and how will they receive them?

P: Well kids, you’re Cleveland fans, sorry!

A: No matter if they are boys or girls or both they will watch classic movies, television, theater, and appreciate art. They also will go to clown school.

P: Oh yes, they are totally going to clown school.

Q#10: When we have children, who will change the diapers, heat the bottles, prepare the meals, do the housework, bathe the child, get up in the middle of the night when a child is crying, take the child to the doctor, buy clothing, and dress the child?

P: Both of us. Is that the correct answer?

A: Yes, it is. I have trained you well.

Q#11: If I had bad breath or body odor or wear dirty clothes, will you tell me? Should I tell you? Why or why not? How should we do it?

P: Yes, I will tell you.

A: And I will tell you too, your breath is stanky.

Q#12: Do you approve without reservation of the way I dress?

P: Yes, minus blazers and that headband you are wearing is a little whack.

A: What you don’t like I’m wearing it like I’m a ninja. What is wrong with a strong female wearing a blazer? I like them they are cute and I wear a lot of them. Yes, except you can wear less sweatpants in public and sometimes you wear stuff that doesn’t match.

Q#13: Would it bother you if I made body noises all the time, like passing gas or burping?

P: You are already do that! Oh Burn!

A: Whatever you fart too. If you don’t fart and burp in front of each as a couple something is wrong.

Q#14: When do you need space away from me?

P: Never!

A: Awwww there is he goes again.

Q#15: If you always say you are going to do something but never do it, what is the most effective way to bring this problem to your attention?

P: Bribe me.

A: Hahaha. I have done this before and it does work. You can just remind me.

Q#16: What makes you not want to talk to me?

P: Your stanky breath.

A: You just stole stanky from me. I usually don’t want to talk to you when your cranky and you haven’t eaten.

Q#17: What justifies going into debt?

P: Food, is that lame?

A: Hot tubs, In-Home Movie Theaters…

P: Pool tables, calf implants…

A: Backstage passes to meet Justin Timberlake and anything from Madewell.

Q#18: How should we prepare for a financial emergency?

P: Buy blow up furniture. What are your thoughts on that.

A: Whatever happened to blow up furniture? I say let’s do whatever they do in NBC’s “Revolution”

P: So basically gather a bunch of candles and crossbows.

Q#19: What do you fear?

P: Nothing. Read the quote my twitter profile, “Limits like fears are often an illusion” said by Micheal Jordan.

A: Thanks Master Phil. I fear snakes, just snakes and NSYNC never getting back together.

Q#20: How do you feel about having guns in our home?

P: There are already guns in our home (Phil then points to his flexed arm muscle)

A: SMH

Q#21: Do you like pets?

P: I’m allergic to pets.

A: And that’s why we are a perfect match. I don’t like pets 🙂

Q#22: Have you ever had any psychological problems?

P: I have ADD….What did you just say?

A: I’ve just been crazy for you 😉

Q#23: Is there anything in your past I should be aware of?

P: I just farted it is right behind me.

A: I once stole a Barbie bookmark from the book fair in the 2nd grade.

P: You criminal.

Q#24: Have you ever been able to overcome a bad habit? What was it?

P: I don’t eat fast food any more.

A: Lies!

P: Not like I used to!

A: Well, if you gave up fast food. I gave up reality TV shows.

Q#25: Would you prefer to live in the city, the country, or by the beach? Why?

P: In the jungle. I am Tarzan.

A: That wasn’t even a choice.

P: I’m tired.

A: Ok, I’m done with this too.

Let’s Make a Wedding Movie

Posted on March 31, 2013 by lysse48

This video above is the exact opposite of the kind of video we want to have and the type of people we want to be.

I have always loved being in front of the camera. I started taking acting classes around the 3rd grade which lead to going to a performing arts school, which lead to be majoring in Theatre at Ohio State, and which lead to me having my own show at Ohio State called “Music On Campus.” I always thought to myself when growing up that why were wedding videos so lame and cheesy. They had zero cinematic and artistic quality. These wedding videographers had to like some sort of film or art because they got into the business of videography. But why were these wedding video so boring and didn’t tell any story. I had this misconception of wedding videos until I stumbled on this video by Brinton Films out of Arizona. It was beautiful, romantic, and told a story of a couple in love. All of their wedding videos were amazing. At the time I thought if I ever got married I would want my wedding video to look like any one of their films.

Lex & Loren – Engagement/Save the date! from Brinton Films on Vimeo.

Fast forward to early 2012 and one of Phil’s friends from his church got married and posted her wedding video on Facebook. I had just watched my cousin Sarah’s wedding video and telling Phil about it and then he sent me her wedding video by Candy Apple Films . There it was a wedding videographer that made weddings look like a real artistic movie! Scott from Candy Apple (not Candy Apple Dance you Dance Mom fans) was the only videographer we wanted and interviewed and he had us instantly sold when he showed us a film of a Greek wedding he did and it made me teary eyed and I never get teary eyed watching wedding videos. So we booked him. Watch one of his awesome films below.

Candy Apple Films presents Desireè and Sean from Candy Apple Films on Vimeo.

We would like a Photographer who makes us look skinny and super hot and also is not afraid to use photoshop

Posted on March 31, 2013 by lysse48

This photo was taken after 4 attempts; Feb. 2011 Barrister's Ball

This photo was taken after 4ish attempts; Feb. 2011 Barrister’s Ball

I am really bad at remembering to take pictures. For a couple of years my New Years resolution was to take at least 3 pictures when I went somewhere. Like most resolutions that one would last only about 3 months. Also, Phil also got me a camera for Christmas one year and I love it. But, I still wished I used it more. So, when it came to looking for a photographer for our wedding we wanted someone that took modern and beautiful pictures and had a photojournalism style. There is a lot of wedding photographers out there. Searching for wedding photographers is much more of a daunting task that it seems. In northeast Ohio there is a wide variety of wedding photographers and styles of photography. There is also a wide variety in pricing. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000 for a wedding photographer. You also have to sort through photo pricing and you have to decide if want an engagement session, the rights to the photos so you can make as many copies as you want, how many hours of coverage you want, wanting 1 or 2 photographers, and if you want fancy wedding albums. You also have to be careful to see if the photographer edits every photograph you get or you have to request for them to photoshop certain photos. We knew that we wanted an engagement session in Columbus, 2 photographers, the photographer needed to have a blog, the rights to our photos, no cheesy poses or early 2000s , and no fancy albums. We contacted about 15 wedding photographers. Yes, you read that right fifteen photographers. Some were not available, some where too expensive, and some photographers I really didn’t like their pictures. We ended up interviewing 3 photographers. The 1st photographer was good. The 2nd photographer never photographed a Greek Orthodox Wedding, which was a deal breaker. The 3rd photographer InLux Photo we loved. There pictures were simple and beautiful, Heather and Jarred the photographers were super nice, and they fit within our budget. After our long search we were thrilled to have such an awesome wedding photographer.

InLux’s wonderful photography Source

Crate & Barrel Registering Party

Posted on March 11, 2013 by lysse48

Me with our everyday dishes

Our final registering experience we decided to go out with a bang. Before getting engaged Phil and I had never been to a Crate and Barrel. While doing our “research” on places to register we checked out Crate and Barrel in Beachwood. We absolutely loved it, especially Phil he was like a kid in a candy store. Phil and I love to cook so Crate and Barrel was like walking into cooking heaven, with the each end-cap devoted to different kind of cuisine, kitchen gadgets for everything you ever needed, and dishes that matched our traditional modern style. Phil and I instantly decided that we were going to register there and we were excited that we picked our everyday dishes, glassware, and everything else we really loved (which was a lot)

Phil chowing down on some free breakfast

We signed up for Crate and Barrel Wedding Parties, which is an event that the store hosts where open the store just for engaged couples, serve you drinks and food, and demonstrate certain products. One of Phil’s co-workers went to one of these parties and highly recommended it so we thought why not? We RSVP’d to a Sunday morning event and showed up to the store bright and early. Now let’s note that Phil and I are not morning people; we both love to sleep-in, so getting up early was a challenge for . When we got there we took advantage of the “free” breakfast which included pastries, fruit kabobs, coffee, juices, yogurt, and mini muffins. Since it was our 3rd time registering Phil and I were pros. We started checking things off our list while the other couples were deciding between mixing bowls. Just like Macy’s, Crate and Barrel has an app that you can use as a scanner to add items to your registry. The Crate and Barrel app did not work as well as the Macy’s app, it actually kind of sucked. If we would have done it again we would have used a normal scanner instead of my iPhone.

As we were registering I was kind of paying attention to the other couples to what they were registering for and how they were registering. I figured out that all couples are the same. 1 person would be the person that was really into registering for things and would want to register for everything and the other person would argue and not want to register for the said item. When it comes to Phil and I, I am the person that wants to register for everything and Phil would be the person that would argue about many of items I was registering for. For example:

Alysse: Let’s register for these seafood utensils, it would be really nice to have them when we cook lobster and/or crab legs. Yummm, I love crab legs.

Phil: We don’t need that.

Alysse: It’s not that expensive and it would be fun to have them.

Phil: Um, no.

Alysse: Okkkkkaaay. (Then she registers for the seafood utensils 10 minutes later).

After 2 1/2 hours of registering Phil had enough of it. The free breakfast wasn’t enough for him and he was hungry, tired, and cranky. I couldn’t even get the guy to look at beer glasses he was so cranky. So I finished registering online. So check out our Crate & Barrel Registry, some of our favorite stuff is on it: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Alysse-Shaheen-and-Phil-Giallourakis/r5009585

Our Valentine’s Day

Posted on March 5, 2013 by lysse48

Before Dinner Shot

Phil and I planned a pretty low key Valentine’s Day…just the way we like it. We went out to dinner to celebrate our love at Fahrenheit and it was awesome. It was the first time either of us had been there and we would both highly recommend going there. For an appetizer we had the Cleveland Nachos which is basically fancy potato chips with crack put on top It was huge but Phil and I had no problem finishing the whole thing. Then we both had house salads, which was refreshing. For our entrees I had the lobster mac and cheese and Phil had the Kobe beef short ribs. The lobster mac and cheese is just as good or even better than it sounds. It was creamy, flavorful, and just plain good. Phil says that his Kobe beef was and I quote “outstanding.” Phil loves anything that combines meat with anything Asian so when he found out the short ribs was paired with lo-mien noodles he was instantly sold.

Our gifts to each other…Yes that is Manti Teo on Phil’s card I made for him.

So after dinner we opened a bottle of wine and watched True Grit on Netflix (please note we fell asleep 3/4 into the movie). Yes very romantic I know, don’t be jealous of our lifestyle. We also enjoyed/ate our presents to each other. Usually Phil and I get fancy gifts for each on Valentine’s Day, but this we decided to stay “humble” and just get each other our favorite Valentine’s Day candy. Mine is Fun Dip and Phil’s is Blow Pops. Fun Dip is the best when you get a three flavor pack with 2 candy sticks and you can mix the colors; but now that I’m an adult the Valentine’s Card Pouches are very satisfying. Phil’s favorite Blow Pop is Sour Green Apple. I’m guessing 100% on this, but I think the reason why Blow Pops are Phil’s favorite candy solely because of this 90s commercial below.

Registering in the Night- Macy’s

Posted on February 28, 2013 by lysse48

Phil loves our luggage we picked out…he can’t wait to go to the beach with them

Phil and I wanted to register at Macy’s because we needed somewhere to register for nice bedding, towels, luggage, and fancy things. I found out that Macy’s has an app that you can use as a scanner to add things to your registry. So after work Phil and I went to out to dinner and then registered with my iPhone. After we registered at Bed, Bath, and Beyond I had made a list for Macy’s and Crate & Barrel of certain items that BB&B didn’t have or things that we still needed. Turns out most of the things on our list weren’t at the Great Northern store where we went. But we still were able to test out the softness of towels, sheets, and pillows. We were really impressed in how well the Macy’s app worked. Registering at Macy’s only took an hour and half, which was a piece of cake compared to Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Check out all the fun stuff we registered for at Macy’s here: Phil and Alysse’s Macy’s Registry

The best way to test towels is to do the Yenta

This is what happens when Phil has a camera in his hands at Macy’s

Workin’ On Our Fitness

Posted on February 26, 2013 by lysse48

Phil displaying our love for food

Phil and I LOVE to eat. We met because we were both hungry, c’mon. During Phil and I’s courting period we ate a lot of delicious unhealthy food. When I lived in Columbus, I lived in GermanVillage and was in walking distance from some of the country’s best food and we took advantage of it completely. Eating Katzinger’s sandwiches with sides of potato salad, Salty Caramel and Brambleberry Crisp ice cream Jeni’s Ice Cream, Pizzas from Harvest Pizzeria, and Pad Thai from Happy Dragon. That was just just the food in walking distance. This doesn’t include the food we ate that wasn’t in walking distance Dirty Frank’s Hot Dogs, Marcella’s pasta and cheese platters, Edamame Sushi, Quesadillas from La Fotaga, and anything we can get our hands in the North Market. Dating Phil combined with my stress eating my way through law school I gained a couple of lbs. Phil also packed on some pounds from eating crazy large portions.

I love sweets

So when 2013 came around Phil and I decided, aka I decided and then I convinced Phil, that we should go on a diet. I’ve been plenty of diets before. I was actually really good at dieting. I lost around 25 lbs in high school and kept it off all throughout college. But Phil has never been on a diet. We(I) chose to go on the 17-Day Diet, a newer diet that is low-carb that has 4, 17 day phases. I was on this diet before my cousin Sarah’s wedding and it really worked. The hardest part for Phil was cutting out his favorite food pasta. Since Phil was a beginner dieter, he was a big pain to be on diet with and Phil knows this. When I told him that I couldn’t eat certain things he would complain like a fat kid who was told that he couldn’t get a happy meal at McDonald’s (my metaphor was intended). By the 2nd phase Phil got used to not eating certain foods and was much more pleasant to on a diet with. Even with all of Phil’s whining he still has lost more weight than me (totally not fair). He has lost 20 lbs and hasn’t been his current weight since high school. I have only lost 12 pounds and still have a couple more to go to get bride ready. We will keep you posted on our next phase of getting into shape.

Phil & Alysse's Wedding Blog :p+a:

Category Archives: Phlysse Stuff