She's Gonna Make It

Hot in Black & White

2010-01-21T20:36:00.001-07:00

I want, I need, I have to have...

Too bad I have no idea where the dress came from!! :(

A Successful Holiday

2009-11-30T07:08:00.005-07:00

We had a wonderful, outdoor picnic for Thanksgiving, and the meal turned out pretty delicious for my first! I went with the traditional meal plan from my earlier post.

The turkey was perfectly moist, the brussel sprouts toasty and tasty, and the stuffed mushrooms were awesome. The potatoes were kinda bland... but not bad.

Yum!

Something to Be Thankful For... And A Thanksgiving Drinky Dessert to Celebrate!

2009-11-23T20:11:00.003-07:00

I found out three days ago that I passed the California Bar Exam! That is only one of the many things I have to celebrate this Thanksgiving.

2009 has brought me a lot of experiences, good and bad. The good experiences are of the extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime type. The bad experiences are equally memorable, and are just as noteworthy in terms of marking my learning and growth.

I am thankful for all of these gifts, welcome and unwelcome alike. I know that I would not be where I am or who I am without them.

In the spirit of celebration, and Food Network’s Sandra Lee, I have decided to designate a cocktail (slash dessert) for our Thanksgiving celebration! And, since I am not a huge pumpkin pie fan (oh the shame…), I think I would rather drink my dessert!

The Pumpkin Pie

1 part Kahlua
1 part spiced pumpkin pie filling
2 parts Malibu rum
4 parts light vanilla ice cream
4 ice cubes
Garnish with cinnamon

Put everything but the cinnamon in a blender and mix on high. Serve in graham-cracker crust highball glass with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Two Options for Turkey Day -- Reason to Celebrate TWO Thanksgivings!?

2009-11-14T16:36:00.009-07:00

My mom, who is visiting for Thanksgiving, suggested we go out for Thanksgiving dinner...!! I immediately started mourning the loss of the leftovers just with the thought it.

So, despite the fact that I have no dining room table and there are only three (and a half, if you count the begger-dog) of us, I think I am going to make an executive decision and just make dinner! (sorry mom). So here are two recipe plans for our Thanksgiving "picnic"!

Herbal Traditional
Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy
Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan and Pine Nuts
Garlic Red Potato Mash

Spicy Sweet
Red Curry Spice Rubbed Roasted Turkey
Cranberry, Apple, and Ginger Chutney
Smoked Chile Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans with Carmelized Onions & Almonds

I am hoping mom will bring some yummy yeast rolls from a bakery from my hometown to compliment either meal we end up with.

I think I will tackle pie (for the first time ever) next year, and buy one this year from a local cooking school & cafe, Generous Servings. They have mini-pies that look delicious, and that way we can have a variety to choose from!

Which Thanksgiving dinner sounds better to you?

Before & After: Real Wedding Inspiration Board & Details Recap!

2009-11-11T08:53:00.007-07:00

Some of you may remember my first (and, eh hem, only) inspiration board for my wedding from a post back in May. Now that it's all said and done, I put together an inspiration board from the real wedding! I think it turned out better than I could have imagined!

[all photos are from my fab photog, New Vintage Photography]

A few of the ideas that you see in the inspiration board:

Ringbearer: Our terrier mut is such a huge part of our lives, it was probably no surprise to anyone that she was our ringbearer, or even that she wore a blue ringbearer dress (which, by the way, I had no part of! My sister bought it, I swear!). But, what was a surprise was how she made her entrance! When our officiant asked for the rings, "Who Let the Dogs Out" blasted on the speakers and around the corner came our perfect puppy (and our lovely junior bridesmaid escorting her).

Placecards: I printed placecards on standard business cards from Office Depot, adding a blue doily pattern from Martha Stewart's website. Then, I taped them to kabob skewers, and put them into an antique wheel barrow full of sod!

Centerpieces: My mom and I went crazy at the produce department, buying limes, peppers, Granny Smith apples, funky squashes, and eggplant, and clipped some clumps of grapes from the family vineyard.

Table numbers: I bought cloud shaped blue card stock from Papeterie, and then glued them to paper doilies from The Dollar Store. I wrote the numbers on the card stock with a white pen from Joanns.

Tablecloths: You all might remember the tablecloth dilemma from an earlier post, but we ended up going with a blue paisley from Joanns and my mom sewed them all! We want to make satchels out of the fabric to give to some of the people who helped make the wedding happen.

Signs: My sister-in-law is a pro at handpainting decorative signs, and she and I got together one summer afternoon to paint on some old barn wood from my parents-in-laws' house. We had signs for cocktails, guys & gals restrooms, the photo booth and parking!

Photo Booth: We had tons of fabric left over from the tablecloths, so we made a backdrop for a photo booth. My photographer brought an extra helper to be in charge of photobooth pictures, and chalkboards for people to write on. All the special notes and photos from the booth was probably the funnest part of getting our picture proofs after the wedding!

Cake: My aunt made the cake, with lemon curd and lemon icing (delish!), and piped the decoration on the outside to look like my dress. The cake toppers were ones that I found and fell in love with online.

Blue Shoes: I decided to go with the latest blue shoes trend, but had a really hard time finding the right blue before the wedding. So, I bought a pair of dyeables (gasp!) and had them dyed the color of my bridesmaids' dresses. I plan on dying them black or navy or maybe pewter now.

What fun it is already, only two months later, to reminisce about the most fabulous day ever!

Here's the old board...

Gray + Ruffled = Deliciousness

2009-11-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

On a meandering lunch trip to TJ Maxx to stock up on tights, I found fabulous gray tights and (gasp!) these t-strap, gray, ruffled peep-toes by Tahari.

As a fan of all things feminine and frilly (except super floral perfume...), I am so happy with current girly fashion trends. For example, RUFFLES! Add a muted color, i.e. gray, and you have pieces that can go with oh-so-much.

Here are a few other gray ruffle-y items that I covet:

A dress all by itself or add a long sleeve T and some tights for a more cozy version...

Your basic cardigan with ruffley goodness...

Accessorize...

A professional blazer...

Oh the outfits I could pair these with...

So sophisticated!

A little darker, a little warmer...

A tank for layering (not gray but still awesome)...

Green is the New Black: One Plastic Sandwich Bag At A Time...

2009-11-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Environmentally conscious living is, like, so totally in! Little efforts by individuals can compound to have a dramatic effect on saving natural resources and preventing waste. We really need to rethink our daily living if we want to affect change on a broader scale. In an effort to highlight how simple, daily choices we make can impact the environment, I decided to start this series, Green is the New Black, to post simple ideas where a little effort can go a long way!

Starting with: Plastic ziplocs! The excess of plastic in our waste stream is astounding. Even the most environmentally conscious among us cannot avoid it. Take, for example, this NRDC employee's collection of one week's worth of plastic:

So there are a lot of different ways to reduce our consumption of plastic, but what better place to start than plastic ziplocs.

One small change I decided to make was to clean and reuse plastic ziploc bags. While not using them at all would be better, for some things, they function much better than the more permanent alternatives. For example, I like to buy large quantities of food and sometimes cook large quantities, freezing the extra food or leftovers for later. Plastic bags work much better for space and maintaining the quality of the food in the freezer!

My husband calls me cheap, but I save more than money by reusing my plastic ziplocs! If you used five plastic baggies a week, say, for packing a lunch, that would be 260 plastic bags a year. If you use one bag a week instead, that is only 52, which is saving 208 plastic baggies a year! If you think about this on a broad scale, the waste and moolah saved on plastic ziplocs alone would add up to something significant! Plus, it just takes a few seconds while washing dishes to clean each bag.

After years of washing, rinsing, and hanging to dry baggies, I only recently discovered a new way of drying the baggies without having them strewn all over the kitchen... Little creative solutions can really make a difference :)

Ok, so maybe it's not that pretty... but it is much better than having them hanging on cups, utensils, and the kitchen sink faucet!

Happy ziploc washing!

Featured by Twigs & Honey!!

2009-11-01T08:32:00.005-07:00

Twigs and Honey by Myra Callan supplied the perfect birdcage veil and silk flower fascinator to complete my wedding ensemble. You might remember from an earlier post, I wasn't into the traditional veil thing, but I still wanted to wear something in my hair that was "bridal"... the birdcage became my accessory of choice. I am so glad I decided to go for it after all!

Myra recently posted a blog featuring pictures of her handywork from our wedding! Twigs and Honey has quite the assortment of hair (and other) handmade accessories (belts, for example!) that would be awesome to add to the wardrobe... The kinds of accessories that you build outfits around :)

A Belated Post About My Wedding Dress

2009-10-29T13:29:00.018-06:00

I didn't want to post anything about my wedding dress before the wedding, but got consumed with life after the wedding and am only just now getting to it!

I knew going into dress shopping that I have expensive taste and an eye for fancy details, but I did not have the budget for a designer dress. I went dress shopping long before I was ready to buy a dress at a place called Glamour Closet in San Francisco. The store had amazing designer gown samples that were a fraction of the price of buying them directly through the designer, and I found a few dresses that I thought were gorgeous!

One of Monique Lhullier's full lace ensembles:

"Alice" by Jenny Packham (great for a roaring twenties feel):

But, it was a little too soon (we hadn’t picked a venue yet…), the prices were still above my price range, and I just hadn’t tried enough on yet to be sure.

A few months later, after we had figured out we were going to do a backyard wedding in the country, I went shopping again. This time, we went to the Saks’ wedding department closeout sale. I tried on one that my mother-in-law thought was perfect for me…

(Amsale)

And it was gorgeous! But strapless just wasn’t what I wanted. Either it would be so tight that I would be uncomfortable, or I would be jimmying it up all day and night… Neither sounded appealing to me. Also, it was seven times my budget! My mother-in-law has expensive taste like me!! :)

There was one dress that stuck with me from that day, Kristene by Claire Pettibone, but I wasn’t totally sure it was the one, so I walked away. And the sample seemed a little beat up. The very next day, I went with a close friend to a wedding dress boutique in Windsor (One White Dress, which has since closed) that carried samples of several designers I liked, including Claire Pettibone. I encountered Kristene again, in better shape than the one at Saks, and close to my budget (still over, but the dress was one of the few things I was willing to splurge on).

(I look terrified in this picture, and I actually was! Buying the dress was the most nerve-racking, scary thing I did throughout the whole wedding process! I was a total wreck for almost a week afterwards!)

The dress had an air of country and old fashioned that I loved, and the dangleys added a lighthearted swing that I could just see dancing on the dance floor!

Can you see the movement in the photo below?? :)

A detail shot by New Vintage Photography that I simply LOVE:

My dress turned out to be the perfect one for me, and it inspired a whole bunch of details at the wedding!

The cake (made and decorated by my talented aunt)…

The table decor (doilies in particular)…

(this was just a sample table we assembled before the big day)

And the table numbers...

I haven’t decided what to do with the dress now, though I have been toying with shortening it to knee length and saving the train. But, I am not sure a bridal cocktail dress will be that much more useful than a complete bridal gown… Suggestions anyone?

[the wedding pictures above are by Jen Howell with New Vintage Photography, the others are my own snapshots]

Looking Cute & Keeping Warm...

2009-10-27T20:45:00.000-06:00

As our first Winter Storm Warning arrives in Denver, I was browsing several favorite retailers for fashionable and warm things. Girly is in and scarves are all the rage... Looks like I might be in luck!

Maybe not work appropriate, but I would probably live in this otherwise...

A slouchy colorful beanie keeps the head warm, but maybe messes with the 'do a little less than other hats.

A scarf with colors that go with practically everything (not like scarves have to match or anything...)

Plush eggplant gloves + ruffles = awesome!

Tights can add pizzazz, and warmth, but are softer and less restricting than hose!

Bring it, storm!

Mole for the Spice Novice

2009-10-25T13:42:00.000-06:00

I discovered a great mole paste at the grocery store this week!

Dona Maria

Just dissolve the paste in water or broth, and you have delicious mole sauce for your choice of meat... without having to go to the restaurant, eating bottomless baskets of tortilla chips, and feeling feel like you're about to explode!

I made the mole verde sauce (basically made of pumpkin seeds, peppers, and spices) in the crockpot with four large skinless chicken breasts, shredded them up, and we had delicious tacos. The sauce was flavorful, unique, and just the right amount of spice. I can't wait to try the red mole now!

Emerging from the Chaos

2009-10-05T19:49:00.000-06:00

It's been quite the whirlwind since my last blog entry (bar exam, loose ends of wedding planning, wedding, honeymoon, moving 1300 miles across the country, starting my first post-law school job...). But, as the title of my blog indicates, I did make it!

I didn't really believe people that blogged about how their wedding was the best day of their lives. Call me a cynic, but I just never really was that into weddings. So, I was beyond amazed at how wonderful the whole day was for me, and how many people came and cried and laughed and danced at our wedding. What a happy day it was! Of course there were little glitches, there always are. But it was a monumental day for the two of us, both because we fundamentally changed our identies and joined our lives, officially, forever, and because we shared it with so many of our friends and family. I am so glad I decided not to elope! :)

I am excited to share photos of all the wedding happenings here!

For now, the sneak peek from our fab photog, New Vintage Photography by Jen Howell!

It Takes A Village... and The Cake

2009-07-22T22:50:00.000-06:00

We are so lucky to have so many family and friends chipping in to pull off our backyard affair... I don't think we could do it without them! From the backyard itself, to the DJ/emcee, officiant, decor, and bartender... This list goes on and on!!

Not only are we fortunate to have so much support, it is so amazing to see all the personal touches each of these contributions add to our Big Day! It just wouldn't be the same, or "us", if we fit the wedding industry mold!

One thing that we recently got squared away is our delicious cakes. My lovely and amazing cook Aunt offered to make the cake, and even though I have never been a cake person (I know, shame on me... but you can count on me doubling-up on the ice cream...), I loved the flavors that she put together for us! I suggested lemon, to go with the country, summer evening... and she ran with the idea. We will have vanilla cake with lemon curd layers and a lightly lemon-flavored icing! Yum!

Here's the original inspiration...

Things evolve, and our cake is no exception. Here's a sneak peek at my Aunt's version (which draws details from my dress... so cool!)

Add a few ivory roses, and there you go!

Instead of precarioiusly stacking layer upon layer, we decided to set cakes up on varying layers of pedestals. Plus, each pedestal is a glass vase, that we are going to fill with lemons (and any leftover roses). It's going to be so spectacular!

Sort of like this, only with cakes instead of candles...

Finally, I found a cake topper I couldn't resist! I mean, the bride has strawberry-blonde hair. And the groom is so helpful. It's totally US!

Don't you just love it when things start to come together? :)

Dying in Suspense of the Tablecloth Decision? I Will Save You!

2009-07-20T23:28:00.000-06:00

You may recall an earlier fretting over what fabric we should use as tablecloths (more like squares to jazz up the white tablecloths), the worry over blue versus green, and my lamenting the loss of green as a wedding color.

Well, the decision, made by an interesting combination of timing, stress, the original one I chose being out of stock, and sheer frustration, actually has turned out to be a really solid choice that I am so happy with!

We went with a blue paisley that looks even better in person! It matches the bridesmaid dresses (and guys' ties) PERFECTLY! Plus, it incorporates a darker blue that will match the groom's navy suit quite well.

(excuse the iPhone picture... it's not the best representation of the colors in person...)

What happened to the green? Well, it has officially become an "accent" color ;) The favors are green, and oh so adorable...

Plus, the centerpieces will be made up of green produce, and I am hoping to add green ribbon and other green accents in other details as I come upon them (bouquets, the grass and general landscaping).

I always knew blue would be a dominant color, at least in the attire, because it's practically the only color the groom ever wears. But I will still squeeze some avocado in there wherever I can!

If I Could Do It All Over Again...

2009-07-17T12:40:00.001-06:00

"It" (i.e., the wedding) hasn't even happened yet, but if I went back in time and had seen this dress many moons ago... things might have been done differently! I still love my dress, but this one is gorgeous!

A Little Laughter for Your Thursday

2009-07-16T15:33:00.001-06:00

I may be lacking in inspired, profound blog entries lately, but at least I still share cool and funny things I see online! :)

This literally made me laugh out loud. So adorable!

Coolest Photo Booth Ever... If Only I Had Time & Crafty Skills...

2009-07-15T14:15:00.000-06:00

This is just so awesome, I loved it from first glance! You have to check out all the fab photos at this link.

Here is just a sample... :)

Too Kitchy or the Cutest Idea Ever?

2009-07-06T21:41:00.001-06:00

When I was about thirteen, I decided the first (and only) blanket I would crochet would be completely rainbow colored. I look back now and think, there is no way I will EVER use this ugly, primary-colored blanket.

What does this have to do with today's post? I think I am attracted to odd styles, and sometimes... well, they just aren't that great in the end. So, I have a little doubt when I see things and my first instinct is: "That is so cool!" There's a good chance that anything that says that might not be that cool...

So, what do you think? Cowboy hats for guests? Too much? Would anyone wear them anyway with their hair all done? It's a funny alternative for fans, and block the sun pretty well. Plus, they could make for some awesome photos.

To Band or Not To Band... And If So, What Band? Arg.

2009-07-02T23:27:00.000-06:00

So, the time is ticking away... and very soon we are going to have to get my wedding band ordered with the jeweler (if I am getting one)! Yikes! I have NO IDEA what I want to do yet. Here are two pictures of my ring sans wedding band...

(Yes, that last one is on a stuffed doggie toy named Frog... It's all I could find to show the sides/gallery)

I have been wedded (pardon the pun) to the idea of a simple band that matches the sides of my engagement ring (that I can wear alone as well), but a straight band will not sit flush to the ring because the center stone and prongs extend beyond the band. Knowing that, I am sure they will turn and irritate me, and I am not sure that I like how they look together. Here's a (not perfect) picture of my ring with a straight band.

I have toyed with the idea of a contoured band, but haven't really found anything that I love. I did a little research today and found two sets that might work, and would still maintain the antique-y, carved look of my engagement ring.

Contoured #1

Contoured #2

I have even thought I would be happiest without a wedding band, because if I don't like anything with it, why spend the money?!

What do you guys think?

Bride Share... Who Knew?

2009-07-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

What a fabulous idea this is! You can arrange to share the cost of expensive things you want at your wedding with other brides that also want to use them! Boy do I wish I knew about this a few months ago...

Broke-Ass Bride's Bride Share

A Day of Lovely Engagement Photos

2009-06-29T23:11:00.000-06:00

I saw three engagement sessions today on the blogs I stalk; they were all to die for! Couldn't help but share...

Green Wedding Shoes

The Bride's Cafe Hotel Session

The Bride's Cafe Wide Open Spaces

Honeymoon-worthy

2009-06-29T22:53:00.000-06:00

Victoria's Secret is having a semi-annual sale, including their swim suits and cover ups! So glad I caught it in time to snatch up a white bikini (in case anyone wonders whether I am a newlywed) and the perfect color purple cover up.

Not exactly the one I got, but close. Mine has little metal design detailing...

LOVE the purple!

Maui, can I come tomorrow instead of two months from now? :)

The Proper Care and Feeding of A Bride-To-Be

2009-06-25T22:26:00.001-06:00

Studying for the bar is painful, for me and those that are "graced" with my presence each day. It has turned me into a mean fiance ("barzilla," to quote him exactly), a less than adequate mom to my devoted puppy, and otherwise just rendered me MIA in terms of friends and family that haven't heard from me in weeks (you should be glad if you are in this bunch).

Ultimately, though, while stressful and consuming, I have also figured out that balance is necessary, and that comes to me by way of getting some real exercise for the first time in years, tanning (yes, actually submitting myself to UV rays in a coffin-like tube!), and since I am home most of the time each day, taking better care of my skin, nails, hair and body.

This all fits together quite nicely for me because these two months could be the key to making me the glowing, healthy, happy bride that every girl wants to be. Plus, I am getting a base tan for the honeymoon! (I am so not a tanning bed kinda girl... but I am kind of enjoying it this, the only, time)

Anyway, I have discovered a few fave health and beauty products that I love, and thought I would share!

Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil Gel with Aloe Vera
A little greasy for everyday, but great if you are lounging around the house or showering after a workout and need unbeatable moisturizing.

Hempz Sunburn Relief
My after-tanning solution. Ultimate moisture, and a delicious(non-aloe-y) smell.

Trader Joes High Potency Multivitamin for Women

Super absorbant, and I haven't felt sick taking it yet! Gotta keep the immune system up!

Purell
Along the same lines, no getting sick for this bar examinee/bride!

Solar Oil
Awesome cuticle oil, with a great smell. You have to let it sit for a few minutes before touching anything... It is oil, after all.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash
Preventing rough patches and body acne; a must for normal showers, let alone pre-wedding showers :)

Shuga Dressy Mist
The ultimate hair volumizer and texturizer! Cheap too!

Pureology
I have both volume and hydrate.... they smell fabulous! And protect your color.

Pilates
Probably the most important so far, getting some exercise has been fabulous, considering I haven't really gone to a gym regularly since law school started! Pilates is the best because it stabilizes your core and lengthens your muscles, without adding bulk. Plus, what a great stress-relief!

Five A Day
I have also been trying to eat healthy and stay hydrated throughout the day. Frequent study breaks for fruit, almonds or (sometimes... when it's necessary) a small cup of coffee seem to make a world of difference. Plus, I just feel better when I eat healthier!

Piercing the Corporate Veil

2009-06-20T19:45:00.000-06:00

First, apologies for taking so long to write, I have been very busy studying for the bar exam! Bar review is also my excuse for my cheesy title... For those of you that are non-corporate lawyer types, all you really need to know is that it has absolutely nothing to do with this post except that it has the word "veil" in it! :)

I have noticed that the easy decisions have all been made and all I have left are hard decisions. I am sure that's because I have been putting the hard decisions off for as long as I can... Hoping that it will just come to me or that I will just know one day. Turns out, that isn't really how it works!

Anyway, one of the areas I have been mulling over is whether I want to wear a birdcage veil. I have known all along that I didn't want a traditional veil. I think they are lovely on many brides, but just don't go with my dress. At first, I was not into birdcage veils because I thought they were too trendy and "high fashion" for me. I hate to admit it, but I am a sucker! After months of browsing photos online, the idea has progressively grown on me. There is something about the open netting that is so vintagey and bridal, and when else will I get to adorn with such fancy decoration?! :)

Yesterday, I decided, what the heck? I can have my cake and eat it too! I will just wear the sucker for the ceremony and maybe the family photos and then take it off for the reception and probably our first look photo session. Plus, since the designer of my hair flower (Twigs & Honey) sells a pretty cool one, I may as well save on shipping and order them together. So, as I type, my birdcage veil is being crafted.

Here's the veil with a different flower...

And my flower...

Anyway, hopefully I can make sure the hairdo can handle my on-again off-again fickle tendencies! Anyone have any tips or similar indecisiveness? :)

Sometimes the Devil is in the Details

2009-05-21T19:08:00.001-06:00

I get the feeling my mom is ready to wave the white flag, move on with her life, and hire someone else to work with me. This is mostly because for about two months we have been trying to decide what we should have for tablecloths.

I think the trouble is that I came into this wedding with a vision; a vision of paisley and patterns in avocado green and slate blue; of vegetable and garden details. My maid of honor was quoted as requesting a Sound of Music style bridesmaid dress, and I actually loved the idea! Well, after months of looking for bridesmaid dresses, and the strikingly few that come in slate blue or avocado green, we ended up with more of a cornflower color. I love the blue, and it will look fabulous on the maids with their lovely blue eyes.

The other thing that was pre-decided was that hubby-to-be will be wearing a tailored navy blue suit, and his guys will be wearing navy slacks, and a matching shirt and tie. After the maid dresses were picked and ordered, we went shopping for the tie. I found a fabulous polka dotted tie that matched both the navy and the dresses perfectly!

Trouble is, this evolution (polka dots, cornflower) is not sitting well with my original patterns/avocado/slate/vegetable plan! We bought this gorgeous green paisley fabric (in the middle below), which I love, but now I am having second thoughts about having green at all! I mean, I am just not sure it fits into the motif! Should there be green in the tablecloths at all? Should I scrap the original green altogether and go with another color? Should I do the green and the blue in another pattern , or a darker blue version of the same pattern? Should I do all green, and forget about doing blue? Triple sigh...

I myself have almost waved the white flag in surrender, abandoning any hope of a cohesive "theme"... does anyone have an idea??

I am loving the far right fabric, the color is closest to the cornflower. The green in the middle is the green paisley I love. Far left is the dark blue version of the green paisley pattern; not a perfect match for the girls dresses, but not bad either.

Here is the girls' dress color...

And the guys' shirt, tie and navy blazer...

HELP! Does anyone have an idea or opinion what would make for good table coverings (any or none of the above?)

New Vintage Photography Rocks My World

2009-05-20T16:14:00.000-06:00

We got a preview of our engagement pictures this morning (from the photo session just this Monday!) and I am absolutely floored how awesome they turned out! Jen Howell with New Vintage Photography surprised us with a bundle of colorful balloons, chalk and bubbles, and combined with the old cars, tractor tires, rust and country fields, what resulted was an amazing mix of colors and textures. We had so much fun at the photo shoot, and all the foxtails and stickers we are still picking off of our shoes (and the dog) were well worth it! Thanks Jen for such a wonderful experience. It should have been no surprise considering how well my sister's photos came out, but I love them!

Engagement Session Inspiration

2009-05-10T18:17:00.001-06:00

Our engagement photo session is next week, and one of my top studying procrastination techniques this week was compiling engagement photos I love! The first one below is my very own sis and her then-fiance by hers, and our, photographer, Jen Howell of New Vintage Photography. I am also hoping that looking at all these pictures will make me less nervous....

So awesome! Stay tuned for how it goes...

My First Ever Inspiration Board, AKA "Country Vintage"

2009-05-09T23:12:00.001-06:00

I made an inspiration board! My wedding will have a hint of country to it, and I love antique and vintage looking things. The two combined I think make for a really fun mix!

You will notice that the barn is from Oak Farm Vineyards that I posted about last week. The dress is Claire Pettibone's Harmony and the parasol is from Pink Frosting. The picnic idea and photo are from A Practical Wedding. The basket of antique hydrangeas is from Cote de Texas.

Chalk It Up

2009-05-08T22:56:00.000-06:00

At a friend's housewarming party recently, my fiance and I had the joy of creating entertaining photographs for the housewarmers. We had so much fun doing it, and when I got the Picasa album of the photos, it was great to look through all the pictures of their close friends and family, and their hilarious messages and expressions. Ours was no exception; the funny thing is I had no idea what the hubby-to-be had on his board in that photo!

Photobooths have become really popular, and other people are including them in their wedding. And, I can totally see our guests creating lasting memories for us, that really capture their personalities.

But here's the issue: I have only seen it done by professional photographers (fancy camera, remote control, professional background, etc).

I really want to do one of these at our wedding reception; I can totally see it with chalk boards! But I don't have any room in my budget to add more photographer fees. We are maxed out on that front! Do I have to hire someone to set it up? Can I do it myself? I am convinced there must be a way to do it on my own, but I need ideas! Inspiration! And most of all, encouragement that it is possible! Anyone have suggestions?

Guilty for Reading the Cartoons and Pretty Much Nothing Else

2009-05-06T20:47:00.000-06:00

I thank my evidence professor for nuggets of cuteness to break up the torture of studying for the exam... ...and really hope that there will be at least one multiple choice question on the exam that I can answer because I read the cartoons.

Bye Bye Berkeley. I'll miss you! Well, not really.

2009-05-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

*

I know a lot of people that love Berkeley, but I am just not one of those people. I am super excited about moving! To justify my less-than-enthusiastic opinion, I have provided a list of the five things I know I will miss about Berkeley, and ten that I definitely will not miss.

Things I Will Miss About Berkeley

The Weather

Living within walking distance to Anthropologie

The Dog, and Dog-Friendly, Parks

Puppy Play Dates

Running into my fabulous friends at school

Things I Most Definitely Will Not Miss About Berkeley

The Crazies - They are everywhere

The Potholes - My car totally needed new alignment after living here two days

Crappy Apartments & Crappy Slumlords - Not to mention the ridiculous rent prices

The 51 - Anyone who has experienced it knows what I am talking about

Playing Paperboy everytime I try to drive somewhere

Cash-only restaurants - Seriously?

The grocery stores - So stressful!

Bad customer service - Ok, my bar is kind of high on this one, but I can't think of good customer service I have had here.

Parking - I really don't know how many parking tickets I have received while living here, but I am sure I spent a small fortune paying for them.

The overpriced, and really not that good, restaurants - So many people think Berkeley has great restaurants, but I have only found one restaurant that I actually care about (La Mediterranee, and from what I can tell, they started in San Francisco), and a few that are so-so.

Anyway, it was worth experiencing, and maybe some day I hope to look back at my time here with nostalgia.

*I admit, I am not moving to Colorado right away, but it's the eventual destination... the light at the end of the tunnel...

Venue Fantasies

2009-05-04T22:18:00.000-06:00

If I could do it all over again, and had no wedding budget, I think I would have my wedding at Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi. Rustic, quaint, remote, and lovely; a little country and just beautiful. Did I mention overpriced? Yeah, that too.

Anywho, budgets make for much more interesting, involved and DIY planning, so I am not saying I would actually do it differently... But a BARN turned into RECEPTION HALL?! Perfection!

Ok, back to finals. Only one week and I will be COMPLETELY DONE with law school!

It's in Writing!

2009-05-03T22:15:00.001-06:00

I LOVE getting packages in the mail, but the package I got earlier this week was particularly exciting. I got my wedding invitations! I didn't expect to be so... overwhelmed... when I received them. It was a moment that made me feel like it was all for real, a lot like the day(s) I was saying "holy crap, I just bought a wedding dress!" It was a no-turning-back-now kind of moment, but in such an awesome way!

But the most exciting thing about the invitations is that I love them and think they really capture our country, informal wedding perfectly! I had to talk the future-hubby into the doily monogram, but now that we went with it, we are totally into it! And hopefully will figure out other ways to incorporate it elsewhere. Plus, we did postcard response cards to save on paper and postage, and they turned out so cute!

Mostly, I feel so lucky to have found the most accomodating, yet affordable, invitation designer, Emily Ley Paper, who was referred to me by a friend, but who also has a shop on Etsy. Emily kicked major butt in the customer service and responsiveness department, and when my first round of proofs had some flaws, she bent over backwards to fix the issues. I love the design, colors, and fonts, and how simple her style is.

It's official!!

One Size Does NOT Fit All!

2009-05-01T20:23:00.000-06:00

The current trend of allowing bridesmaids to select their own, non-uniform, style dress is long overdue, in my opinion. Designers in the bridesmaid business have responded (encouraged even?) this trend by providing a variety of styles in the same colors and fabric. Here is a where I am proud of you, Mr. Wedding Industry.*

Where I take serious issue with you, Mr. Industry, is in your utter failure to provide bridesmaids (and brides, for that matter) around the world the opportunity to try on a dress in their size or a close size! I get that there are limitations on how many samples a given designer can send to bridal shops for folks to try on, but what I don't understand is why those designers couldn't at least give brides an option to order a sample in a smaller or larger size, should she need one to try on. Not only that, but once a maid orders the dress, she is stuck with it if the style doesn't suit her or doesn't fit her.

Designers are more than willing to charge out the patootie for the dresses (more than a reasonable person would pay even for a gorgeous dress that she really LOVES, let alone a dress that, let's admit, she will probably not wear again), but can't seem to work any kind of customer service into the equation. How can they expect us to pay so much money, with the risk that we are not going to love it?? Extortion, I tell you!

As a former bridesmaid and current bride, this situation really hits home for me. My sisters and I are different shapes and sizes, and I know so many bridal parties are made up of a variety of different looking girls.

That is why I am glad that my maids and I decided to go to vendors and dress shops that have an assortment of sizes available to try on and purchase, and to not support those designers that lack what I believe is a fundamental element of customer service. And I hope that other brides will think about this when they make their maid dress selections.

*This entity must be identified as male, because there is no way that a woman would expect that all women wear a size 8 or 10, nor would she expect that women with their variety of sizes & shapes would be able to select a dress without trying it on!!

**The dresses that adorn my beautiful sisters above (from Alfred Angelo) are not what we picked, though we went with a similar shape.

The Beginning of the End--The Countdown Begins

2009-05-01T10:34:00.000-06:00

I never really was the girl who dreamed of having a big, fancy wedding, and when my fiance proposed, my first of many wedding ideas was to elope. Now that we have decided to go with the big, though not too fancy, wedding, I can't believe how into weddings I have become! I spend so much time online searching for inspiration and ideas, and research every little detail until my eyes go blurry.

I think my sisters and mom legitimately think I am a little nuts. This is not only because of the tremendous turn around in terms of wedding plans, but also because in the next four months, I will be graduating from law school, moving, studying for and taking the bar exam, getting married, moving (again, but this time 1,300 miles away), and starting a new job. Plus, I insisted on a honeymoon, despite the crazy schedule (or maybe because of it?).

Needless to say, it will be an action packed period of my life! But, I know I am going to make it.

Since my mom and sisters are tired of getting links emailed to them by the dozen, I decided to start this blog to share what moves and inspires me, in wedding planning and in life.

P.S. I love this picture I found, courtesy of Esh Photography. It captures my excitement for the coming adventures!