Friday Night at the Rodeo

It's starting to turn to summer here in Montana (notice I said turning...we're not there yet) and that only means one thing: Friday nights at the rodeo.

A totally different way to kick off my weekend then I'm used to but it's a part of the culture here. Grab a few friend, a couple of beers and head out to the biggest country showdown that the West has to offer in this day and age. It's a gathering of true cowboys, rooting for a true cowboy sport.

When I was in high school, it was customary to spend your nights in the fall under the lights, watching your hometown boys tough it out on the football field. Here, it's summer nights on the Grandstands, watching your hometown boys and girls ride the bulls, wrestle the steers, and race the perfect barrel pattern.

But what intrigues me the most is the differences that I have seen in the East coast and MidWest. Seriously, how many rodeos do you see in Connecticut, New York New Jersey, or Massachusetts? And if you have seen one in those parts, has there ever been one every weekend? Here in Montana, each city or County will host their prospective PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association) function. And trust me, it's the place to be.

For me, the sport is really interesting. I have always loved horses and the thought of being a true cowboy. Now I'm not saying that you'll find me picking up the sport of rodeo anytime soon but I can totally see myself becoming a true fan of the old pastime. Since I've started working at the ExpoPark, I've learned so much more about the sport and will even be involved in the 5 nights of rodeo that will accompany the State Fair. 

I'm still learning...like how roughstock events like bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding scores depend upon a cowboy's performance and the animal's performance; how in timed events like steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and steer roping, cowboys and cowgirls, compete against the clock, as well as against each other; and how mutton bustin is the start to a boy's rodeo career. Get it yet?

This year, I'll get to be a part of some of the coolest events I've come across, like "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" which is a night that everyone in the rodeo arena will support the Fight Against Breast Cancer. Running alongside that is the Chicks n' Chaps event. Any girl that ever wanted to know about the sport of rodeo will get the chance to learn three of the staple events from the cowboys and cowgirls who have made barrel racing, bull riding, and bareback riding their lives. And I'll even experience my first rodeo dance with country artist Keith Anderson as he performs live at the rodeo this summer. C'mon what is cooler than that?

This summer will be my first official Rodeo Summer and it will be chock full of nights rooting on the cowboys. For a horse lover, and a closet wanna-be cowgirl, there doesn't seem to be any better way to spend those nights.

The 2 Month Deliberation

Never thought that you would take 2 months to deliberate over a piece of paper? Wait till you start trying to decide on wedding invitations! I mean seriously, why has it taken me 2 MONTHS to decide on an invitation? Actually, scratch that - I haven't even decided yet...

Embarassing? No. Obsessive? I'm starting to think so but I feel that I have good reason. Mainly the invitation has to match the "feel" of the wedding. The colors have to go with my theme - green, brown and a touch of orange all encompassing that barn/fall wedding that I'm going for here - my wording, my size choice, and most of all my price range.

Ahh the price range...doesn't everything revolve around the price when you're on a budget?

Griff tells the funny story of a friend of his who's getting married and the conversation that he had with his fiancee about invitations. She called to say that she found the invitations and when he asked how much it would cost, she cooly replied "Oh just $900". He told her that unless someone was personally going to the doors of each of their wedding guests to do a song and dance, they wouldn't be looking else where. But $900 isn't even that terrible. Some people will spend upwards of $2000 on wedding invites...oh but not me!

At first I was on the DIY kick..."I'm going to sit down and design these babies myself, print them on the printer in my house, and hand address them." Until I realized how much work that really is. See being a perfectionist, nothing would have been easy in that scenario. I would have agonized and obessed over the littlest things. And to top it off, not having the correct computer software would have driven me insane.

So I moved onto the "semi-DIY" invitation option..."I'll find a graphic desinger who would design the invite and then send me the files so that I can print them and assemble the invites." This is where my love of Etsy came into the picture again. Sifting through the invites for hours, I found a few contestants and fell in love with one in particular. For $50 she would send me the files to my customized invite, RSVP card and reception card...the rest was on my plate. Perfect!

Then I found a site that would send me the paper, envelopes and pocketfolds in my colors for a VERY LOW price...even more perfect! Until I was perusing their site and found the winner of a DIY contest and fell in love with her invitation...just great.

Back to square one I go and the deliberation over the piece of paper continues.

Movin' On

Wow..I am really slacking with all of my blogging! But I have good reason...so let me explain.

My last day at the Foundation was on Friday so I was trying to get myself caught up there and get ready for the HUGE benefit that I was organizing basically by myself. My hours were getting longer and longer and the time that I was having at home to relax was shorter and shorter.

To add to that, Griff went back on his alert schedule of going out to the field about 8 times a month. So I was trying to get in as much time with him as I could and still figure out everything at work.

Yesterday, I started my new job. I know, no time off in between?! Am I crazy?! I'm starting to think that I am but I had promised the Foundation that I would stay until after the benefit and the new job needed me right away.

So here I am, at my new job...and I have to tell you, I'm happy as a pig in mud. This is the job that I have been wanting for a very long time. I'm back to my calling...back on my career path...planning events. And these are BIG events.

Here at the Montana ExpoPark, I'll be planning concerts, sporting events, tradeshows and rodeos (I mean c'mon I live in Montana. I have to plan a rodeo!). And then there's the big one, the State Fair. What can be more exciting than planning the STATE FAIR?!

It feels so good to be able to say that I am finally working a job that is right in line with what I want to do - plan events and work with people to make them happen.

Although the last weeks of my old job were stressful, planning that benefit made me realize that coming to the ExpoPark was the right move for me. I love events. I love the details, I love the people that you get to work with, and I love the creativity.

And now that the transition is starting, maybe I can get back to loving the details, loving the people, and loving the creativity of planning my wedding...nah, I'll wait till next week ; )

A Little Face Lift

The blog is going to be getting a face lift over the next few days so I wanted to apologize if anything looks a little strange or if you can't read my posts.

But...it should be an exciting change!

My Inspiration

Since this whole wedding planning has been a daily part of my life, so many people are asking about my color scheme, my ideas and what I have been thinking about incorporating into my day. I'm always collecting pictures that I find online and Googling various keywords that describe the things that I want to incorporate.

So I decided to follow in the footsteps of two of my favorite blogs (The Perfect Palette and Snippet and Ink) and create my very own Inspiration Board.

I showed it to Griff the other day and he was even kind of excited to see the things that I have been thinking of. It's so nice to be able to look at this and visualize all of the things that I have been thinking about. This board is a way for me to collect my thoughts and even to keep me on track with what I want to do.

If I collect more pictures, I'll be sure to post Board #2!