{with the pixie grin}

another year gone by...

2011-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

wow. i can't believe it's been a year since i've written anything on this blog. i usually like to revisit my new years to do list..and a few of them did get completed...but i honestly spent most of my time making this:

you can read all about him here.

<3

{happy new year} to do list: twenty-ten

2010-01-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

so, just like everyone else, i want to eat better, get fit, blah blah blah..in addition to those, here are my top 5 things i'd like to accomplish this year:

1. go on an exotic vacation. whether it's to hawaii, aruba, or some other far away land (bora bora in the picture below) i'm going! sure, i'd love to go to europe, but i'm feeling this is this year for some fab beach and cabana time.

{photo from here}

2. get my dollars in check. sure we have a savings account, and yes we pay our bills on time and credit cards in full..i'm talking cd's people. stocks..you know...get serious about where my money is going..you never know when that big rainy day will come...

3. learn something new. i like having this as an ongoing 'to-do'. i had this one last year and it feels so good to continue my education..whether it is sewing, understanding the chemistry in cooking, or canning. i'm looking forward to whatever it is i might get my hands into this year...

4. plant a vegetable garden. now that we have a backyard, i can grow tomatoes again, but this year i want to do carrots and other veggies as well. i'd also like to learn to can a few of them for use in the winter months.

5. reduce the stress and continue to be optimistic. so this was an issue that bubbled up this past year. i was completely stressed out the point of insomnia and hallucinations...until my boss told me one day, "it's not cancer." this statement rings in my ears every time a little bump in the road comes up. it has helped me get thru the silly little problems and focus on life's more important things...i hope i continue remembering that if i mess up, or if things don't work out exactly how we want, it isn't cancer. no one is going to die. (well, unless i am driving like a maniac or something like that..but you know what i mean)

so wish me luck! i hope your to-do list includes some fun stuff you've always wanted to do and i hope you have the energy and the health to accomplish them all. happy new year everyone!

xoxo

{happy new year} to do list, past reviewed...

2009-12-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

2009 has been such an amazing year for me. it definitely had it's crappy moments, but for the most part, it was fantastic! i got married to a brilliantly lovely man who has an equally brilliant lovely family..my career is going well, my health, for the most part, was on the up and up and i accomplished many of the goals i set out about this time last year:

2009 to do list:
1. pay more attention to my posture. ok. so..i did, or at least i thought i did this very well, but looking back at some of my wedding photos, i think i must have forgotten this during all the excitement. aw well.

(ack! why didn't someone tell me to stand up straight?!!!)

2. eat more leafy greens & cut down the sugar. i did this very well ..until recently. my sugar intake is thru the roof and i plan to get it back in check just after midnight. ;)

(mmm. smores. these were amazing)

3. turn off the tv. yes! i think we did this very well..we've been on hikes and now that we have a big back yard, we tend to that every now and then and we even went on a hot air balloon ride!..although when we discovered the 1st season of lost on dvd..we were hooked for 3 months straight. it was awesome. but now we wait for the final season just like the rest of you lost fans out there...can't wait!

4. learn something new. while i didn't learn to sew (as i've been threatening to do so for some time), i did learn how to knit. i'm still in the process of making my first scarf and i like it!

(ok. so this was a little wide i found out and just tore it all out and started over. it's much skinnier now) :)

5. write more handwritten notes. ok. so, this was kind of cheating. i had to write a bajillion thank you notes after the wedding. :) but! i did also write a bajillion christmas cards too... i think that counts.

6. go for a walk..or run. which i totally did for a week straight. and then i hurt my knees and refuse to run on pavement ever again. the pain was ridiculous. back to the treadmill for this cookie.

i wonder what next year will have in store for me?

bummer.

2009-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

{image from here}

somehow all of my pictures in my 'blogger' folder on my picasa account got wiped. sorry for the lack of beauty here folks..i'll see what i can do about it this weekend.

{shopping} for the girl who has everything..

2009-12-10T10:54:00.001-08:00

i bought one of these at a holiday fair last week and absolutely love it! i feel so sassy when i wear it on my boot, and glammed up when around my neck. if you're looking for a gift for that super sassy friend in your life, this would be a definite smile-maker on Christmas morn (or just treat yourself like i did!)

here are some of her other styles, but be sure to check out her website(s) for more unique bootlery:

stivali
website
etsy shoppe
how-to video

{santy claus} best stocking stuffer ever...

2009-12-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

wow. and here i thought restoration hardware was just for the serious...who knew they knew how to have serious fun?!

{cake topper} by me!

2009-12-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

'remember this little buddy i diy'd a while back for my own wedding? weeeell, my fatastic photog (from our wedding) and his beautiful bride requested one for their big day..check it out..

i think it turned out really well! i'm working on putting together an etsy shoppe, but in the meantime, if you are looking for a custom, handmade cake topper for your event, drop me a line in the comment section or find my email address on my profile page.

more fantastic pictures to come from this gorgeous, vintage inspired wedding..

{photos by austin gros photography}

{shopping} just fine, thank you very much...

2009-12-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

hello loves! i know i've been amiss, and i've really no good excuse other than i've been busy! (although i know you are thinking that i was even busier when i was planning my wedding and STILL managed to post something at least once a week).

but i digress.

i haven't come here to bore you with my life details, i've come to show you these:

they're cutting boards and aren't they just darling? see the whole lot of them at 'fine little shop'.

{hair-bows} she's at it again...

2009-10-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

i always look forward to the posts chelsea makes over at oh my deer..i mean, she did do my lovely hair-bows too! (i know they really aren't hair-bows, but i have a problem calling anything that goes in my hair..well, a hair-bow.) well..she's at it again...

check out her sweet little blog or etsy shoppe to see the full collection.

{diy} initial wreath

2009-10-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

saw this yesterday over at design sponge and thought about how lovely this would be for a fall ceremony..and looks easy too!

{fashion & design} oh joan.

2009-10-12T09:44:00.001-07:00

i will be making a quick trip to nashville just in time for my bff's birthday celebration and she wants to do it in style..by style, i of course mean mad men. {if you have not seen this show, i highly recommend you sit your fanny down and watch it, if not for the deeply intense storyline, then for the beautiful women, fashion and set design}.

my inspiration for my outfit? joan of course.

because i am not the birthday girl for this event, i decided to go with something a little less...red:

and of course i had to get new shoes:

next up..jewelry.

{random} still alive...

2009-10-05T09:25:00.001-07:00

hello my dears! i can't believe it's been over a month since i've posted anything to my beloved blog..but life has been busier than ever! i have so much to share with you, including a move to the suburbs, a san francisco wedding, and a secret project!

but for now, check out these beautiful, dreamlike photos taken by the ever-so-talented erica berger at a friends wedding right here in san francisco:

more to come!

{diy} 'pennants' stamp

2009-08-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

from cathe @ just something i made. check her out..tons of inspiration and good laughs.

{diy} 'rose' stamps.

2009-08-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

from martha, of course.

{random} i'll keep the book, thank you very much.

2009-08-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

i read the time traveler's wife last summer and absolutely fell in love with it...no book can ever compare now to the love i have for the character's in this story..i miss having henry and claire in my life, so much so that my husband and i have agreed to name our children after them! well..henry at least...so when i heard the movie was coming out, i was ecstatic!

well, after reading the reviews, i just can't bare to see a beautiful story ripped to shreds and i refuse to see it, for fear that i will no longer love the characters as i have imagined them in my mind. and come to think of it, i don't ever remember a movie telling the story as beautifully as any book can do..have you?

{random} ahhh. shoes.

2009-08-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

i am so picky when it comes to shoes...well, now that i live in a city where walking up and down steep hills is a daily thing (so heels are usually out)..and i've noticed i have traded comfort in place of style. sigh. so i usually throw on my chucks or some flip flops and carry on..searching for that perfect flat that marries style with comfort and doesn't cost a fortune..well, if some of you out there are a lot like me, then i hope you will find these shoes as perfect as i do:

behold the ecco ballet flats. they are just darling on the foot -very french i think- and the leather inside is that super soft and supple leather that gently caresses your foot as you move. i adore them..and best of all, they seem to go with everything. find them on sale here.

{wedding day} save the last dance for me

2009-08-14T08:38:00.001-07:00

our last dance was so magical..can't you tell by the guy puking in the corner? ha. i love this picture..i love it because you can almost feel the love between us, i love it for the candles glittering in the background, and the delicate cafe lights dangling above our heads, and yes, i even love my husband's friend doing whatever he was doing (coughing? sneezing? puking?) in the background..it, to me, represents the sense of humor we will always carry with us. :)

we danced to heavenly day, a patty griffin song..and it was perfect.

Oh Heavenly day
All the clouds blew away
Got no trouble today
With anyone

The smile on your face
I live only to see
It's enough for me baby
It's enough for me
Oh heavenly day
Heavenly day
Heavenly day

Tomorrow may rain with sorrow
Here's a little time we can borrow
Forget all our troubles in these moments so few
Oh we can right now the only thing that all that we really have to do

Is have ourselves a heavenly day
Lay here and watch the trees sway
Oh can't see no other way
No way
No way
Heavenly day heavenly day heavenly day

No one on my shoulder
Bringing me fears
Got no clouds up above me
Bringing me tears
Got nothing to tell you
I got nothing much to say
Only I'm glad to be here with you
On this heavenly heavenly heavenly heavenly heavenly day
Oh all the troubles gone away
Oh for awhile anyway
For awhile anyway
Heavenly day
Heavenly day
Heavenly day
Heavenly day
Heavenly day
Oh heavenly day

{random} loving julie & julia...

2009-08-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

so you might think this post is just about a movie that i liked and i'm trying to get you all to go see it..but it's so much more than that...

if you blog. if you write. if you even read these blogs that so many people across the world get up to put their words out there as they drink their morning cup of coffee and push 'publish post' ..then i think you ~~would like~~ should see this movie. this movie is so inspirational on so many levels..and amy adams and meryl streep were amazing in it. i laughed, i cried, i was inspired!

oh..and..this was super cool..so we're sitting there, drinking our red wine, watching this fantastic movie admist a crowd of handsome gay men, obvious food lovers, and of course the 'older' crowd..and i notice around julie powell's (amy adams) neck..this fantastic little pendant:

only hers was on a pretty little silver chain. can you believe it?! i just posted about the cuff links i got for my husband on our wedding day..i must have it! i simply must! right?

oh. and while were doing a little pretend shopping, i might as well get this too:

to learn more about julia child (in case you didn't grow up watching her on tv) you can watch the old pbs shows here.

btw. did you know you can still read the blog that was initially the whole reason for the movie? yup...and i just added it to my fav. blog list..i think i'll start from the beginning...

{wedding day} gifts...

2009-08-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

i had totally forgotten to write about the secret gifts until one of my readers reminded me (thanks stephanie!)...

for the groom...
ok, i'm warning you..this really isn't very unique..to you..but for my groom, it was perfect. we got engaged in new york, he needed cuff links for his new french cuff shirt (didn't own a pair), and our style for the wedding was vintage..so of course, i just had to get these:

they are vintage nyc subway tokens set in sterling silver. gorgeous in person..and he loved them.

for the fam...
we really wanted to do something special for our parents. without their examples of love and the support of our relationship, this wonderful day would have never happened. so we presented them with a small token at the rehearsal dinner to represent the gift that would arrive later:

a cherry tree, already picked out and paid for was to be planted at each home, representing the strength of our love that they can watch grow over the years.

what are your unique or thoughtful gift ideas?

{that's life} sirens, smoke, and sleeping pills...

2009-07-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

don't mix those 3. it's kinda scary.

saturday night, we both took a sleeping aid..and right before we went to bed i said, "you know, we really need to only have one of us take medications in case there is an emergency..so we aren't both so out of it we make a fatal mistake..etc." he agreed and we went to bed..a couple of hours later the fire engine sirens wake me up..and then i smell the smoke. i was terrified..shaking my husband to wake him up..yelling at him to open the window to the fire escape and was gearing myself to jump out of bed, grab the dog and make a run for it ..i thought for sure we were about to lose everything, but didn't care as long as we were alive. he finally jumped up and looked out the window..and sure enough, there were several fire trucks right under our window..but the fire (praise the Lord) was outside..someone had set a car on fire.

holy bajeezus was it a scary moment.

so..no more duo medicated people in our house. it was good, because we had that conversation we've never had before..what to do if we did have to leave in an emergency..and we both agreed that no one thing in our place was worth risking our lives..we would just leave it all behind (after, of course, i joked about saving my makeup..i mean, there were like 10 cute firemen outside for peet's sake!). really puts life into perspective.

have you guys talked about what you would do in an emergency?

{wedding day} reception details

2009-07-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

photos by daniel meigs

while we were finishing up some post-ceremony pics, our guests enjoyed refreshments and filled out the wish cards for our "guest book."

Don't: think you need to have a "cocktail hour." we set up cucumber water and orange iced tea outside of the reception area along with mints for our guests to relax with. by keeping the doors closed to the reception "barn," it encouraged our guests to linger in the garden before the sun set, fill out the cards for our wish bowl, and mingle with friends. i don't think they minded not having a glass of wine or beer at this time, but i'm sure they did enjoy the refreshing beverages on such a hot day.

Do: take dancing lessons! we so enjoyed practicing in our living room during the weeks leading up to the big day, and still bust out a move in the middle of a store, or on the street when a song puts our feet to action! we also started our reception this way..after the pics, the guests were asked to enter the barn and wait for our arrival..as soon as we entered, our song played..and we danced..it was a great way to kick off the party and gave us an opportunity to then visit our guests at their tables afterwards.

{what i'm jonesin' for} tabletop

2009-07-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

the wedding day feels like a dream i had once..a long time ago. there are more pictures to come, but i want to take a break and fill you in on my latest obsession: nesting.

we don't have a dining room, per se, but we intend to make one...meaning arranging a few things around in the living room and thus creating a 'dining area.' i for one, am bored of sitting on the couch and hovering over my food that sits on a coffee table...staring at the tv. i work so hard (sometimes) on creating a delicious meal, that i want to sit down at a table and enjoy it with my husband..so, without further ado, here is what i'm dreaming of:

table: big sur from crate & barrel. cost: $1499.
chair: Marais A from DWR. cost: $250 x 4
feed sack table runner: in red from wisteria. cost: $399 (not kidding)
vintage washtub: from wisteria. cost: $199

total for dream dining area: $3,097

see my problem?

let's not forget the assorted antique silverware and mix-match french plates. le sigh.

update: the chairs are 50% off. we just bought 4. score!!

{wedding day} the ceremony

2009-07-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

photos by daniel meigs

the ceremony was the favorite part of the day for me. the old house the girls and i came out of was amazing inside..but you had to go up one set of stairs and come down another to get to the door i was coming out of...we had to take of our shoes for the trek..those stairs were steep!

Do: put aside money in your budget for microphones. i know they aren't a glamorous thing to spend your hard earned money on, but our guests were so grateful to be able to hear us..especially since we wrote our own vows. remember: they came to see you, yes, but they came to hear you too.

Do: think outside the box! i sat my parents on the grooms side, and vice versa. this way our parents were able to see our faces during the whole thing and it was comforting to look out and see my mom's smile.

Don't: think you have to have a seat for everyone. chairs can get expensive and they take up a lot of space. we had enough chairs for the immediate family and elderly, while everyone else stood. this created an incredibly intimate atmosphere..but i don't recommend this method if your ceremony lasts longer than 20 min.

Don't: forget to close your mouth when making your way back up the aisle during the confetti throwing. i was choking on a piece of stuck rosemary thru the rest of the night!

{wedding day} pre-ceremony pics and details

2009-06-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

photos by daniel meigs

we all had so much fun taking several family photos and other various pictures before the ceremony. it was nice to have everyone together.

Do: use your friends! they are great resources and it never hurts to just ask. my moh worked in a wine store and i asked her to save up any wine crates so that i can use them for different things like putting the packets of rosemary confetti and programs in. my husband's side of the family has musical talent, and when jeff said he would sing in our wedding with an acoustic guitar, i nearly cried. he learned and played (beautifully) a joshua radin song that was just perfect for the day.

{wedding day} for the first time..

2009-06-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

photos by daniel meigs

we decided to do photos before the ceremony..and it was so much fun!! so if you are wondering if it's for you:

Do: photos before. it was fun walking up behind him..with all the anticipation..and the look on his face is something i will never forget. it also totally calmed my nerves and i was able to relax and listen to the words that were being said at the ceremony. really, it was probably one of the most romantic moments of my life. and we were able to be ourselves..just the two of us (and daniel) for a few minutes before standing in front of 120 people and then whisked away to celebrate. i highly recommend it.

{wedding day} dress and details...

2009-06-23T10:25:00.001-07:00

photos by: daniel meigs
hair flowers by: oh my deer (chelsea)
purse by: red ruby rose
jewelry by: me!

Do: get your nails done the day of or the day before..not a few days before. just throwing that out there.

Don't: get a strapless dress. ok. this is shocking, i know..but in my experience, if i had to do it all over again, this would be the one big thing i would change. don't get me wrong, i love my dress! but i wish i would have added some lacy straps for 2 reasons: 1. i was so worried about my bewbies flopping out and shocking guests, that i was hunched over in most of my pictures. 2. as the night went on, no matter how tight the dress was to get into, it stretched out..and i had to keep pulling it up. not sexy.

next: more vendor appreciation & seeing each other for the first time...

{vendor appreciation} Vintage Florals.

2009-06-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

i know i promised details and the dress, but i'm pretty sure y'all are tired of looking at me and would much rather look at these beautiful flowers vintage florals arranged for the day...

photos by daniel meigs

i actually found melissa thru a wholesale flower shop that i used to frequent when i lived in nashville..i emailed the shop, asking if he had any recommendations for a floral designer..and luckily..he knew melissa.

the moment i spoke to her on the phone, i knew she was going to be fantastic. she seemed to know exactly what i was looking for and was just as excited to arrange them, as i was to have them there on the big day.

Do: be prepared. do some research as to what is in season on or around your wedding date. if you must have a flower that isn't readily available..be prepared to pay. try the wedding flower finder on real simple.

Don't: expect her to read your mind. bring pictures of designs/colors you like to your floral designer so you are clear about what it is you do and do not want. try the color image finder on google.com.

Do: check out your options. there are many ladies (and guys!) out there who do this sort of thing for a living out of their own home while trying to raise a family. you might get a better price and fresher flowers than if you use a florist. (but not always..there are good florists out there who won't charge extra just because the word "wedding" comes out your mouth).

{wedding day} getting ready...

2009-06-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

my post-wedding blues have stepped aside today...i have pictures, and permission to use them, from the fantabulous daniel meigs. i really cannot say enough about this guy..he has been a dream to work with ... from start to finish. so..without further ado..here are the pics before the dress:

the girls and i got ready at my mother-in-laws house, which was right down the road from the venue. she provided us with a fantastic salad and bread and even broke out her good china for the day.

Do: eat. and drink lots of water. i assigned my mom the job to make sure i always had something in my lap or hand to eat. this was such a big help..there was no time to just sit down and eat..there was always something going on..something to do. so make sure you delegate this job to someone. please.

my hair and make-up was done by a friend of the family as a wedding present. she does the stars of nashville and i was ever so grateful to have her there that day..she did a fantastic job, and even touched up my girls (my bm's that is..not my bewbies). :)

Do: get creative! we needed to have me raised up to eye level for my make-up girl to be able to do a good job..and she needed good light. my bm's got the great idea to use the wine crates we were using in the wedding..and stack them up high enough..AND they made for great photos.

Don't: think that you have to have your hair dirty for it to work better. i'm glad i mentioned to my make-up girl that i tend to get a little greasy if i don't wash my hair..she said that i should definitely wash it and we will make it "dirty" with products. so be sure to talk to whomever is doing your hair..she might have a trick up her sleeve...

next up: details and..the dress!

{tap tap tap} it's been 17 days...

2009-06-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

and i'm still waiting..on more fancy pictures, on an authentic marriage license (so i can finally change my name!), and for me to decide where to begin...

i want to tell you my do's & don'ts..but would love some images to go with it..i can't wait to tell you the songs we danced to and the little surprises we threw out there, but again..i am sure there are beautiful pictures just waiting for me to post..so we wait.

in the meantime, i am working on thank you notes. first for the vendors..to hopefully go out this weekend. and we have decided to send all guest thank-you's together..in 1 big batch, so there are no hurt feelings over who get's theirs first...and we wanted to be sure to have used the money for something, so that when we send a thank-you card to aunt so-and-so, we can thank her for the money toward (insert fabulous gift here), instead of..thanks for the cash! you know what i mean?

...

photo by daniel meigs

17 days..and it feels like a dream..and the best part is that our families are still swooning over what a magical day it was..so happy that our happiness & love was felt and spread to those around us.

{beauty} buy it.

2009-06-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

i know i'm a lucky, lucky girl..especially when it comes to breakouts. it seriously just doesn't happen to me. and when it does..it's ridiculously microscopic. ok. i'll shut up now...

BUT..of course..it happened. 4 days before the big day. just one..but it was GINORMOUS...and not just to me..other people commented on it, etc. i was mortified.

so..i scurried to my face place to see if they had any quick remedies..and boy did they ever:

lavender vinegar from l'occtaine.

seriously. buy it..just in case. it saved my life...er..face.

{beauty} my big fat face..or makeup..

2009-06-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

doing some serious catching up at work, but i really wanted to let you in on the whole makeup/hair ordeal. as a matter of fact..there are so many things i learned from my own wedding and i cannot wait to share those with you...but for now..let's do the makeup thing...

remember how i went out and bought a ton of makeup? and i did a ton of research on how i wanted my hair? well..that all got thrown out the window...

photo by daniel meigs

i didn't use a drop of the $150 worth of makeup. lesson here is to find out from your makeup artist if she will be using her own stuff...chances are that's the way you want to go anyway...she/he will be able to see things that you might not..like color, texture, etc...in fact..she airbrushed my foundation on..and it lasted for-ev-er. as for the hair...well, she knew i never wear my hair up..so she came up with her own little do..and it turned out great!

so think about who you are and who you want to see when you look at your pictures years from now.. who cares if it's customary for the bride to wear an updo...do what feels right to you, and you can't go wrong.

{details} caketopper

2009-06-03T07:31:00.001-07:00

still honeymoonin' and we cannot stop looking at our pictures! what an amazing day!! wanted to show you all the caketopper i made forever ago..and how great it looked on our grocery store cake (which was the tastiest wedding cake ever!):

like the cake? call publix.
like the caketopper? email me! haha. :)

back to bliss...

{tada} mr. & mrs.

2009-06-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

ahhh. on the honeymoon...and oh so relaxed. i have so much to write about! but wanted to check in and tell you that the day went off without a glitch (that i was aware of anyway). it turned out better than i imagined and the whole thing was worth every single additional gray hair on my crazy little head. every single one of my vendors was super fantastic and i can't wait to go over every detail with you..but for now, feast your eyes on these babies:

holy moly. aren't those pics fantastic!!!!??? we ADORED our photog...daniel...not only was he totally professional, he was cute, nice as can be, and really comfortable to be around.

you guys! we are married! i can't stop calling him husband..it's so much fun..and feels sooo right. more to come...but right now..i'm headded to the beach with husband... ;)

{totally random} the day after tomorrow...

2009-05-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

it's so close. and i am finally relaxed and excited. this week has been one disaster after another. it's funny now..i mean..i remember when people were saying..omg...there will be something that goes wrong..blah blah blah..and thinking to myself..not at my wedding. i thought i was prepared..that i had started early on every thing. HA. this week has been the most difficult week out of the entire year of the planning process. so many little things that have gone wrong..one thing right after another. the stress at times has been nearly unbearable...and the exhaustion has become a part of my life. ..

don't get me wrong..it's still so amazing. especially the people who come thru for you..is just..well, i can't explain...well, let me just say that my moh is a-freaking-mazing. she has a solution for every problem and i don't know what we would have done without her. she has made my life so much more .. easy...relaxing..she has fixed my broken wing on more than one occasion..and no little trinket, or well written card could ever show her just how much she means to me.

and my future mil. so organized...so able to carry on, despite my breakdowns..and my own family too.. seriously..this list could go on. the people in my life are really just normal, humble people..but let me tell you what..they do amazing things and i am ever so grateful to be sharing the MOST important day with them..the day after tomorrow.

and tomorrow. tomorrow..we are all getting our mani's/pedi's...having rehearsal AND..rehearsal dinner. sigh. it's almost (finally) here. and i think i will finally sleep tonight...

{holy moly} best girl party ever..

2009-05-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

i really cannot put into words how stressed out we all are right now..in fact..i feel a bit guilty for taking a minute to write about it! i need to blow dry my hair and get out the door to run more errands..but i had to give you a sneak peak at our girl party photo scavenger hunt from last night:

we split up into teams and one of the pictures we had to take was with a person in uniform..well, we were the people in uniform! going to the firehouse was the most fun i've had in a long, long time! there are so many more great pictures to come, but have to run for now!

looks like clear skies on saturday! thank you for the support! i will try to keep you all updated as the week progresses!

xo

{random} and then one day..

2009-05-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

seriously. one day, you are just living your crazy single life and then all of a sudden...

love just comes along and smacks you in the face.

(pic first seen here).

peace out. i'm off to nashville..to marry.

{random} really?

2009-05-21T08:31:00.001-07:00

'cause that would totally break my heart. thank goodness it still has time to change it's mind..

{random} finally!

2009-05-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

after a year of planning, speculating, dreaming, wishing, hoping...i finally feel like a bride. although there are still a few stressful details that i have to take care of today..i have finally let go of everything and am sitting here with the biggest smile on my face knowing that i am getting married in 10 DAYS!

...

i used to go to church on a regular basis, right after i was baptized in 2001. it was an amazing time in my life..i felt such peace. i revisited that place again last night in my sleep as i handed over all of my burdens to God. all of the stress, the fears..it's all in His hands now. and i'm not worried about the little things that will inevitably go wrong next saturday..whether it's the cake toppling over, the wrong color of linens, a spill of red wine on my beautiful dress, or even if my brother's crazy ex-girlfriend shows up and causes a scene...years from now..it will be memorable..no matter what happens..and it will be beautiful.

(but in case you want to add a few extra prayers in, please pray that everyone makes it there and back home safely. pray for good health. pray for long lives..and if you're feeling extra generous in your praying moments, please, for petes sake..pray for clear skies!)

thank you. thank you to all of you who have no doubt been there with me thru my heartaches, scary moments, and the good times too. i wish i could invite you all! and in spirit..you will be there too, as you also helped make this day happen.

i'm so freaking excited!! :)

{ideas} because i have control issues.

2009-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

i am in the process of drawing out every little detail. not kidding. so last night i finished the table layouts..let me tell you that i do realize i am no graphic artist. i am okay with that..but i think this is good enough to get the point across...

Table Scheme:
15 5' tables. Each will have the following:
1 ivory table cloth that goes to floor
1 centerpiece
8 chairs
8 settings (see below for setting details)
3 white votive candles in clear glass holder
(6 of the 15 tables will have reserved signs - thanks to my fab readers who insisted upon me doing so..you gals are life savers!)

Place Settings:
The following will be set at each chair (8 at each table, 120 total):
1 khaki napkin with pocket fold.
1 large fork
1 large knife
1 sprig of rosemary

Cocktail Table Scheme:
5 tall tables. Each will have the following:
1 ivory table cloth that goes to floor
1 khaki tie halfway between tabletop and floor
1 centerpiece (budvase - smaller than the large table centerpieces)
1 white votive candle in a clear glass holder

is anyone else out there as crazy as i am -- taking drastic measures to ensure fewer miscommunications?

{ideas} Minus 3 Weeks .. and counting..

2009-05-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Some things I need to think about...

Server Trays. - servers & caterer's will poor champagne in the kitchen and serve everyone at one time with champagne. We will need at least 5 trays - may be able to borrow some?

Ice! - How can we keep ice outside/inside near the beverage jars for those who like ice in their glasses? and without using a big blue ice chest...(will also need 2 scoops for this)

Sweet Stuff. - Will need something to put the simple syrup (ice tea sweetener) in for guests to pour. Thinking about a syrup bottle? (something that can stay covered and is easy for the guest to pour).

Curious George. - Something to keep the kids happy (coloring books, crayons?)

Bathroom Baskets. - (1 women, 1 men, full of spray deodorant, gum, tide to go stick, etc. placed in the bathrooms)

Sorry, VIP only? - Should I make "reserved" signs for certain tables for bridal party, etc. since we are not doing place seatings?

What else should we be working on at 3 weeks out? I am about finished with the programs, will need to finalize a few details and print...

I can't wait to see it all come together..

{ideas} carried away...

2009-05-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

from here.

{dress} good...better...

2009-05-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

i heart my little alterations lady. not only does she know what she's doing (she was a seamstress for chanel for 10 years!)..but she's also fun to go to ... it's just like visiting my grandmother..complete with kisses on my cheeks (only with a thick italian accent that is sometimes hard to understand)..anyway..the point is..she rocks...and i'll show you why..

when i first picked out my dress, i wasn't exactly crazy about the little belt. it was cute, but i wanted something else..this became less a priority over time and it did look good with my fh's suit:

but my little italian seamstress said no way was she going to let me walk down the aisle with that ugly thing..so she made me this:

eek! isn't that so much better?! i pick it up next week!

moral of the story...trust a good seamstress.

{diy} stamps, wishes, and thank you's..

2009-05-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

if you are a diy bride, and you have not yet discovered the wonderful world of rubber stamps...well, let's just say..read on..

i love them. i have found so many uses for them and have found myself addicted. first off, i used them for my save-the-dates and my invites..now i will be using them for my "wishbowl," thank you notes, and sachets..check it out:

wishbowl - n. apothecary (or other fancy jar) for your guest to place wishes, advice, or other notes inside..this takes the place of the traditional guestbook. we aren't opening ours until our 1 year (paper) anniversary.

so our guests can choose from one of these cards (hand stamped by yours truly):

and place it in the jar(s):

from here.

i also used the stamps for my thank you notes..which i hope to get a head start on before the big day:

and last, but not least..if you remember, i have a ton of leftover rosemary from the confetti project...with some great advice from my readers, i decided to make little sachets for my luggage, bm's and moms:

with all the stamping madness..i think elvis (my pug) is afraid he's next!

{ideas} check, check, & check!

2009-05-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

candles:

from here.

violet mints:

from here.

and my scent, of course:

from here.

all currently on their way to the future mil's house!!

{woohoo!} butterflies-a-flutterin'..

2009-05-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

heck ya! i'm getting married this month!

omg. i am so nervous. nervous that it might rain. what a bummer that would be..or nervous that i get pig flu and sneeze instead of saying "i do"...

and i'm pleased to announce that my programs are about finished..just have to print, stamp, and cut! here's a little preview:

front: cast & crew, ceremony ... back: letter for the parents, meaning of rosemary...all printed on the same cardstock as the invites. thanks to my co-worker friend for giving me a good "kick in the pants" (as she called it).

happy weekend everyone...

{final countdown} this time next month..

2009-04-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

i will be in nashvegas..running around like a crazy person trying to get everything done..and i am..panicking. crap! i have sooo much to do y'all. for reals. here's the breakdown:

1. programs! - and i am so dreading this part for some reason. i am completely uninspired and i have no desire to make them fancy..(i am diy'd out!).

2. wish bowl papers. - instead of a guest book, we are having a "wish bowl" and i need to find pretty paper for our guests to write their wishes on.

3. candles. i need several votives already in glass. i would love to get beeswax (mostly for the beautiful color and slight smell of honey)..but daaang. they aren't cheap. i also need several tall candles to go in the fireplace.

4. final dress fitting on monday! this i am excited for!

5. make my bm's necklaces. i have the stuff..i just need to do it!

6. get started on thank you cards. for serious. we've received so many great little gifts already.

7. buy my perfume!

8. get my man his wedding day gift. i wish i could share it with you all..but i know he reads my blog..so that ain't gonna happen. it's truly perfect..y'all would die..

9. beauty prep. hair, nails, facial. you know..the works.

and that's the stuff i need to get done before nashville..there's a whole 'nother list of things to do once i get there. and i'm tired already.

can i get it done?

{beauty} hello lovely..

2009-04-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

i am seriously having a hard time breathing right now.. a couple of months ago i asked the ever so talented chelsea of "oh my deer" to work some of her magic for me and my girls..and just look what she came up with:

for my beautiful girls...yellow "ranunuculus" with guinea feathers and "bling":

and for me:

eek! aren't they just perfect?

if you are looking for some lovelies to add to your big day..drop her a line on etsy..and get your very own!

{vino} our picks for the reception...

2009-04-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

knowing we will have about 150 people attend the reception..choosing wine has been a rather .. delicate matter. we both love our wines. we would really like to share our favorites with the ones we love..but let's face it... that can get expensive.

looking back..i remember the first red wine i first truly appreciated..a pinot noir made by toad hollow. ever since..i've been a die hard fan. so, naturally when we visit wine country, we like to stop off in healdsburg at their tasting room. the wines are easy to drink, easy on the wallet..and easy on the eyes..meaning that the labels have a lot of character...

lucky for us, ryan's uncle is a wine distributor in nashville and has worked hard to get us a good price on our pics and is delivering them for us..thanks uncle bill!

and without further ado..our wine pics:

you can find tasting notes and other information on their website..now..on to the beer...

{random} always up for a contest...

2009-04-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

i am so glad this little lady posted a comment on my blog..i would have never known about hers...and she has some great inspiration ladies..so be sure to check it out.

right now she has a fun little giveaway that concerns this fun set (can you say margarita's?!):

{random} one lovely weekend coming right up!

2009-04-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

tomorrow is supposed to be 76 and sunny in the city. we can't wait! fh is taking the day off and first thing in the morning we have an appointment with her to do a little bit of this:

and then we are going to grab a bottle of wine, pack a picnic lunch and head out to the beach or a park to do a little of this...

...write our vows..together.

sigh.

you can go puke now. :) hope your weekend is full of sunshine and romance!

{beauty} oh yea..hair!

2009-04-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

i got a note from the lovely miss chelsea yesterday saying that she will be working on the flower for my hair in the coming weeks...which got me thinking about how to wear the hair on the day...

i've imagined from day one that i will wear my hair in a low side bun sort of thing..but loose and romantic. but here's the thing..i loathe wearing my hair up. i have always been that girl who hides behind her hair..mostly because to me...my nose is freaking ginormous and i don't want anyone to see it. it's a vain problem, i know..but i really can't help it. so what am i thinking? i want to feel beautiful..not self conscious...i thought that maybe at least if the bun thing was more on the right with the flower, when i stand at the "alter" with my fh..no one will notice my sniffer.

sigh.

so here are some ideas for the low bun thingie:

of course these beautiful girls have cute little noses...so i've started to wonder if maybe i shouldn't wear my hair down..like this:

what do you think?

{gulp} 6 weeks and counting.

2009-04-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

when people ask me, "when are you getting married?" i find myself answering, "next month."

holy crap.

really?

i mean..it feels like i've been planning this day forever..deciding every little detail, tying knots around hankies, searching for the perfect shoes, thinking about wines we will serve, carefully writing out addresses and now i'm filling in the rsvp's as they come in and my list of things-to-do is getting shorter and shorter.

and i'm getting married next month.

i'm ready.

but..still. have i forgotten anything?

on another note..dad has almost finished the signs:

we realize the "wedding" sign needs to point one way or the other..not both. but don't they look great?!

{google} this is handy..

2009-04-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

this is a dream tool for all us girls who know the colors we want to include in our wedding day..now we can find pretty little images to match. google released their image search to now let you choose colors! check it out:

so..i typed in ranunculus (of course) and chose yellow. after perusing the pretty images..i clicked on my favorite and it took me to toast and tables where i found these lovlies:

sigh. aren't they just breathtaking?!

{ideas} rosemary confetti

2009-04-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

the rosemary for my confetti showed up last week...and while i originally was going to do this, i decided to do something like this instead. although..when i pulled out the antique sewing machine my mother gave me ages ago..i realized. i don't know how to sew. at all. i thought, "how hard can it be?" .. ha. so to keep a long story short, i put the sewing machine back in the closet and did this instead:

oh..and i bought entirely too much rosemary. seriously..i have like 4 lbs. left. oops. anyone have any great ideas on what i can do with that much rosemary (besides cook. a lot.)?

{million reasons why} #82

2009-04-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

there are quite possibly a million reasons why i am so in love with my fh. don't worry, i won't be listing them all..but i do want to point out a one today..

reason #82: because he cares too.

i asked him to please, please take the invites in to the post office to have them hand canceled and delivered..it was time for them to go out into the world..and to please, please be sure they have enough postage..

a few did not (can you believe that one little paper for the rehearsal dinner invite made a difference of .17 cents?!). the sweet old lady behind the counter tried to convince him that using this (as added postage to the hearts):

would be perfectly ok. he knew otherwise.

instead, he bought the appropriate .59 cent stamp and did this:

that's right. he {carefully} peeled each heart stamp off, saved them on a sheet of wax paper, and replaced with the pretty little wedding heart stamp.

sigh.

my fh rocks.

{ideas} keeping with the vintage...

2009-04-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

last night i was up looking at my dress...the shoes, etc. and i kept thinking there was something missing...something that i needed to really take it back to "old fashioned" and vintage...and then i found these:

aren't they perfect? it will be so cute to see the little ruffle poking out of the bottom...don't you think?

April Fools! haha.

i do think they would be cute to wear around the house tho. thank bloomers4u for the awesome pic.

{ideas} vintage hankies

2009-03-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

i have been collecting vintage handkerchiefs for the past year to hand out as favors for the ladies..i plan to have them gathered in an old wine crate with a sign that reads something like "ladies, please take one for your tears of joy.."

today i washed, ironed and tied them with a bit of baker's twine:

i also have picked out a few to belong to myself, my girls, and the moms:

i have about 60 right now and am thinking i need at least 20 more..

i don't really have favors for the gents..is that bad? i'm thinking they don't really think of things like that and i doubt they want man-kerchiefs...what do you think?

{invites} wax seal

2009-03-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

last night, i finished up my invites and they are ready to be hand cancelled (a must when using wax seals) and sent out the door! to be honest, i'm worried about the little guys..i've worked so hard on them and it's tough to see them go out into the world..

but i digress.

i had some trouble figuring out the whole wax seal thing and wanted to share with you my tips and tricks if you plan on doing them yourself..

1st, using my glue stick, i touched a dab of glue on just the end of the flap. i only used it on the end because i did not want my guests to have to tear open the envelope, thus tearing the beautiful liner i worked so hard on. this also helped to keep the envelope flap in place as i used the wax:

2nd, i used wax that can be put in a glue gun, however, i have a mini glue gun, so the huge wax sticks would not fit into mine. boo. i was not about to admit defeat! so i used a lighter to heat the wax/glue. tips for using the lighter: don't place the stick directly in the flame. it will catch on fire. it will also turn your wax/glue black, which you don't really want, otherwise you would have ordered black wax..right? turn the stick back and forth constantly..you will know it's ready by looking at it..it looks soft and gooey..

sorry for the bad pic..but you get the idea, right?

once the wax is soft, pretend it's a crayon and draw a little circle on the flap of the envelope where you want it to seal. for me, the first coat wasn't thick enough:

so i repeated this step. the first time i drew clockwise circles, and the second time, counter-clockwise. just to be sure to get an even coating of the wax. make sure your seal is nearby and facing the way you want when you go to grab it. i use my right hand to "color" the wax and then moved it to my left as i grabbed the seal. you will need to do this somewhat quickly, and make sure you don't have a window open or a fan going as it will dry the wax quicker. then simply press your seal into the wax and hold it there for about 5 seconds:

and voila! they didn't all turn out perfect, and yours probably won't either. it's okay. i don't think they are supposed to be perfect. it took me about 10 envelopes before i really started to get the hang of it. so definitely practice. it took me less than 2 sticks to do 90 envelopes..oh and my thumb hates me today (from using the lighter).

happy waxing!

{bay area brides} sample sale

2009-03-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

amy kuschel and bella bridesmaids team up to bring you lovely ladies up to 50% off and an additional 10% off if you make a donation to a cause of your choice: support marriage equality or the breast cancer fund.

visit this site for more information.

{ideas} mini candy bar

2009-03-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

i'm sure as the rest of you, i have been in love with the candy bar phenomenon...it's just not in my budget, nor is there room...but i have been thinking...

outside the reception "barn" i am using one of the picnic tables to place my "wish bowl" and i'm thinking what if i have a dish of these:

chowards violet mints from here

i also love these, but they don't really match as far as colors go, and i'd want to remove the shiny plastic wrappers:

soft peppermints from here

and maybe i can borrow a couple of pretty candy dishes from friends or family members to cut down on the cost..

hmmmm..

{jewelry} dreams do come true..

2009-03-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

my fh has not had a day off since mid-january. he's works 5 days a week and goes to "fireman school" on his 2 days "off." we never see each other anymore and he's working himself sick..yesterday, he stayed home with a headache he can't seem to shake...but by the afternoon, he was ready to get out of the house for an hour or so..just long enough for us to buy our wedding bands!

his (only his is all platinum, without the gold):

hers:

as we sat there, watching the incredibly nice manager of the store wrap up our beautiful tokens of love (cheesy, but true!), i was engraving the memory in my mind. i don't want to forget the moment when we purchased our rings. it was one of the happiest moments of my life...a girl from not a lot of money, sitting in tiffany's buying a wedding band with the man of her dreams. that doesn't happen for a lot of girls, i know. i am very, very blessed. i want to remember that feeling and i want to smile back on it someday when we are old and grey..and our son or daughter calls to tell us they are purchasing their wedding bands...and i will remember, sitting in an ever so elegant room, young (well, sort of), and giddy in love.

we were so excited, we stopped for a cocktail on the way home..

and vowed to only wear our rings around the apartment every once in awhile until the big day!

{beauty} finally!

2009-03-21T13:57:00.001-07:00

i found my makeup! originally i wanted to try out some dior products (mainly because i'm obsessed with diorshow - which i still need to get). but i just love mac. it's just looks great on me. the colors are vibrant enough to show up on my skin and it's not heavy..and it's a makeup line i can afford...dior, not so much.

but why is it that they always coat it on at the makeup counter? i had to come home and wash my face..but i did reapply to show you guys (don't laugh at my crazy face..it's hard to find good lighting and i think the one in my bathroom is the best!) and never mind the hair please..it's a rainy day here in the city..

a semi close-up:

i am already in love with a couple of the products...

Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolor. ladies. this is the one to go with for the wedding day. it's basically..paint. you need makeup remover to get this stuff off. one side is fab color (my choice was "lishous", other side, creamy gloss). brilliant! also worn with cremestick liner in "sublime culture" tip: apply liner after the lipstick, this helps it from bleeding and blends more in with the lip color rather than having an obvious line around the lips. yuck!
Studio Sculpt Concealer. holy cow. this stuff is amazing. i have terrible dark circles..but this covers them like a dream. it has a pink undertone to the color to cover up the "bluish" tint undereye circles plague me with. another plus: it's water resistant..perfect for those tears of joy that will be making their way down my face. tip: glide on with a soft brush and be sure to follow of the entire eye as this makes a great eyeshadow primer
Sheertone Blush. Just a great color for my skin..gives me a natural, innocent blush. tip: apply directly to the apples of the cheek for extra innocence
Studio Fix. I cannot push this product enough. It's the lighted foundation, concealer, powder stuff I've ever been able to find. It's perfect for my skin. tip: use a brush to glide on instead of the pad it comes with. it will go farther and go on lighter
Eye Shadow shades: yogurt, quarry, blackberry, and ground brown.

i also got some fake eyelashes for a little extra oomph but i'm not sure if i will be using those yet. also, you might not be able to tell, but one side has brown eyeliner (my left) and the other has my usual black eyeliner (my right). why do you think..black, or brown?

{random} things i must do today:

2009-03-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

1. pack up caketopper and send it to fmil's house in nashville
2. pack up fab new clutch fh bought me and send to fmil's house
3. finish addressing & stamping invites (sending out next weekend..a little early.)
4. figure out what to do about rosemary confetti.

and it's rainy and cold outside. i just want to sleep.

{ideas} latest obsession: make-up

2009-03-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

a friend of the family is a professional make-up artist for celebrities in nashville...she's graciously agreed to do hair and make-up for the big day... i'm totally confident that she will do a fab. job. seriously. it's a little worrisome that she's never done my hair or make-up before, and probably won't get a chance to do a trial run before the wedding...so..i've been trying to find pictures of the look i'm going for and have been obsessed with trying to find the right one..

of course i want the "natural look" but i'd like my eyes to pop..and very little emphasis on the pout. i have olive skin with a purple undertone so pinks generally do look good on me. so i'm thinking a sheer pink on the lips..and dark eyeliner on the eyes..

but i also want that glowy-bronzy look..but without the glitter. why do they put glitter in everything? and i'm thinking a golden, pinky, brown on the lids..

sigh. i went "make-up" shopping last weekend, and i seriously could not pay people to sell me anything! it was the strangest experience...i want to try dior products, as i love and am going to get the diorshow mascara...but am waiting until the date gets closer, otherwise i know i will use it all up..but i've been a mac girl for years...i feel like i'd be cheating.

this make-up thing is really stressing me out. so is the hair...but that's another post..

{random} homemade fried ice cream

2009-03-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

well. sort of. when the fh & i first started dating, i would whip up fantastic homemade meals (i still do!).. and even desserts. one evening was particularly fun as i told him we were having fried ice cream..later he confessed that he knew i was a keeper right then and there..although i wouldn't let him in the kitchen while i was making it, because it was a long-time family secret.

well, the secret is out my friends:

cornflakes
honey
cinnamon
vanilla ice cream

1. crush up the cornflakes on a little plate (i just use my hand)
2. scoop up some ice cream into a bowl
3. drizzle the ice cream with honey
4. add corn flakes
5. sprinkle with cinnamon

i know it sounds crazy, but it seriously is one of our all time fav. desserts.

enjoy!

{shopping} hearts have my heart...

2009-03-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

got these too, for the rehearsal dinner ensemble:

from free people.

{honeymoon} shopping success!

2009-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

couldn't resist the urge to go to target and check out the suits...we first stopped by department stores and boutique shops where bikini tops alone were $68 or so. really? that's messed up..so on to target we went...and scored! the entire ensemble below was right around $60.

this thing is awesome! not only is it incredibly soft, but you can wear it as a dress or a skirt..i'm using it as a cover-up for my cute new suit! but beware..the sizes run big.

for some reason, this suit looks really weird in this pic, but i promise you, it is adorable on. it totally enhances my bewbie area and the drawers are not that big...the rings on the side can be adjusted making it more of a low-rider than shown here.

these flips are incredibly comfortable and affordable. we saw some yesterday for over $50. for flip-flops. does anyone else find this disturbing?

now all i need is a big red floppy hat..

on another note, i got this (only in gold) to go with my rehearsal dinner dress...isn't it super sweet?

from free people

{ideas} flowers & hospice

2009-03-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

i keep having to remind myself to take a deep breath..cause y'all, i am so excited. i spoke with my incredibly nice, patient, and super intuitive floral designer late the other night. we went over flowers, style, colors..everything. she suggested some options without being pushy and i felt completely comfortable with her. in the end, she seemed just as excited as i was about what we came up with...

so here it is:

for the ceremony, we will have 1 bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 4 bouts total and 2 corsages for the moms. they will all have the feeling of this:

click on image for larger size

but using a lot of greenery and these flowers & herbs:

click on image for larger size

for centerpieces, banquet tables and cake flowers, we are using these:

click on image for larger size

also... 2 bay leaf and lavender wreath's to hang on each of the white barn doors:

and one large one to hang right above the fireplace:

i think the coolest part about the whole thing is that she can set up for perenity to stop by the next day and take the flowers from the reception to a local hospice hospital. what a wonderful way to celebrate life, flowers, beauty, and hope...

{ideas} ceremony structure

2009-03-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

i haven't seen a lot of you blogging brides out there write about how their ceremony is going to go..so, i thought i'd throw a little something out there that i've been working on to get you girls thinking about it, if you haven't already. i mean, it really is the most important part of the whole day!

i really want to be sure that the ceremony reflects our love style...simple, sweet, playful, and meaningful:

1. Officiant & Groom enter and stand at front

2. Groomsmen & Father of Bride line up at bottom of stairs and walk girls in following order:
1. Taylor (with Jillian)
2. Bryan (with Diana)
3. Jason (with Miranda)
4. Dad (with me)

3. Officiant starts with:
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice
in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they
will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come
to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the
complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like
a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put
an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see
face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been
fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest
of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 (NRSV)

4. Officiant welcomes the families of the bride and groom and the guests...something like "we are here today because of love. a love that has brought these two young souls together"....or something that ties in the word love from above... (officiant says he's got some ideas for this)

5. Reading by the Brother of the Bride (don't know what this is yet - he's putting it together)

6. Officiant announces that the Bride and Groom have written their own vows

7. Bride reads her vows

8. Groom reads his vows

9. Officiant reads the blessing of the hands:

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

10. Exchange of rings

11. Officiant reads final prayer:

"May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
May God give you grace never to sell yourself short,
Grace to risk something big for something good,
Grace to remember that the world is now too dangerous
for anything but truth; and too small for anything but love.
So, may God take your minds and think through them,
May God take your lips and speak through them,
May God take your hearts and set them on fire.
May God lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen"

12. Officiant states that the groom may kiss the bride and announces the couple as husband and wife.

13. Bride and Groom walk down aisle (followed by wedding party) as guests throw confetti.

14. Celebration time!

eek! what do you think? (i'm so excited!!!)

{random} honeymoon dreamin'..

2009-03-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

spring here is a funny thing. the hills are green, the flowers are in bloom, but quite frankly, i'm freezin' my butt off! i am so ready to be hanging out in the warm sunshine, my toes deep in the warm sand, hiding under a hat as i sip my freshly made mango mojito...

$12.99 from here.

less than $10 for both from here.

only $12.99 from here.

anybody else jonesin' for a little sunshine, warm sand, and big floppy hats?

{shoes} from betsey, of course!

2009-03-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

while waiting to get my wedding dress fitted (i am always way too early for important appointments)..i casually strolled into betsey johnson...just to look...and walked out with shoes..

for the rehearsal dinner of course!

and a dress...

:)

{ideas} flowers, floral designer, and a warehouse

2009-03-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

i am overdue to find a florist. i was hoping to find one while in nashville...but totally forgot it was valentines day. we walked into one florist that would have worked out perfectly because it was close to the wedding site, but i did not like the attitude. she was nearly appalled that we had the audacity to show up on valentines day to talk about wedding flowers. really lady? total mistake on our part, yes, but an attitude? seriously? i'm scratching that one off my list. plus it has bad reviews on some of the wedding vendor sites (for the same problem).

so...for the past week i have been emailing florists all over the nashville area to see who might be able to help me...and while i did receive some very thoughtful responses, i felt like i was just picking blindly... i immediately remembered this amazing flower warehouse place that i used to get lillies from nearly every other week while i lived there..it was just down the street and the selection was always super fresh and the prices were amazing! so i emailed the peeps at import flowers and immediately heard back from lou. i have had a wonderful experience so far...and he has a list of preffered vendors! perfect. i much rather go off of a recommendation, especially if he even trusts his precious cargo in the hands of another..you know what i mean?

so...now for the flower pics i will be sending these lovely floral designers:

this is seriously how i want my bouquet to look. i love the bright colors and the greenery...although i would add rosemary, maybe fern curls or pussy willow, and more white... and add ranunculus here and there to tie in with my centerpieces.

i love this one too..i love how wild it is, the big puffy white flowers paired with the delicate dark ones..and have a smaller version of this type of bouquet for my girls..

centerpieces would be super simple in mason jars tied with brown & white bakers twine...i really want a rainbow of ranunculus, but mostly yellow and a few sprigs of rosemary and maybe even lavendar..

although, i really like the little white flowers in this one (don't know what they are)..

when i started collecting these images, i threw them in a folder on my desktop, and unfortunately have no idea where i "borrowed" them from. i sincerely appologize and if you happen to see one that belongs to you, please let me know.

{million reasons why} #12

2009-03-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

there are quite possibly a million reasons why i am so in love with my fh. don't worry, i won't be listing them all..but i do want to point out one today..

reason #12: he loves to surprise me.

after reading my blog post today, he bought me this. i am seriously the luckiest girl in the world. not because he buys things on a whim for me, but because he loves to see me smile. and i love that he reads my blog every day. i love that he knows when i need a hug, or to be left alone.

what a man.

{ideas} O.M.G.

2009-03-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

i would feel waaay too guilty to spend $70 on myself right now...but seriously, there couldn't be a more perfect clutch for my wedding day:

redrubyrose, of course.

not even kidding. the print totally matches the stamp i use on my invites. gosh i wish i could just buy it! although..i did save like $250 on my shoes..hmmm...

{ideas} love, love, love

2009-03-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

i just love this photo.

borrowed from here.

{ideas} check and check..

2009-03-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

wow. what a wedding weekend. saturday i spent the entire day wedding dress shopping with coworker. it was really fun to see her in so many fancy dresses...we ended up with the perfect dress at the last place we went (the same place i got my dress!). it was her first and only day dress shopping. it was wonderful.

sunday, i worked hard on stamping and gluing invites. i still have work to do on the entire suite including: stamping rsvps, rehearsal dinner invites, tying them together in a pretty bow of bakers twine and addressing the envelopes. here's what the little package will look like when i'm finished:

i also managed to stumble across the little blue crystals i have been searching for at my local paper-source. i couldn't wait to get them on my shoes for my something blue:

and i have decided to get rid of the paper cones idea. it's just too much. it was totally stressing me out. i mean what was i thinking? make 150 little cones? yea right. so i am going to get cute little 3"x 3" square envelopes and mark them confetti to hold my rosemary toss. not sure if i want to attach them to the programs (yet another thing on my to do list) or just have a wine box full of the little packets. i'll let you know.

in boy related news: his tie is safe. they do have enough fabric to make it (yay!) and wonderful mike has actually found a couple of other fabrics very similar to the previous out-of-stock tie material for the rest of the boys. oh. and fh bought the shoes (woohoo!):

and i have my first dress fitting on saturday! i can't tell you how excited i am to see how the dress is going to look custom made to fit my body. sigh.

happy monday!

{groomsmen} bummer.

2009-02-27T09:42:00.001-08:00

i promised aunt kerry that i wouldn't blog about this..but now that it's not happening the way we planned, i think it's ok to share...

this was probably the most exciting part about our nashville trip and the fh was such a trooper! we stopped by a fab. men's tailor/clothing store where the fh picked out vests and ties for himself and the groomsmen to be handmade especially for them! he did such a great job on picking out the fabric (and i certainly didn't mind that the yellow and grey kind of went out the window at this point..the more color, the better!):

the vest material:
fh's tie:

and for the groomsmen ties:

but unfortunately, we just found out that the fabric for the ties is no longer available! boo!

sigh.

but the good news is that the owner is super awesome and has great taste! (so hopefully he can find something comparable). he made us feel comfortable and helped us decide on what to do instead of pushing us into what he thought we should do. top notch service and great loot to boot...if you are in the nashville area, be sure to swing by j. michaels for your man.

{random} what?!

2009-02-27T09:32:00.000-08:00

when did that happen? holy cow...there is still so much to do.. i mean, it took me an hour to handstamp 24 invites the other night. i still need a florist, to make the girls jewelry, put together a playlist, write out our ceremony, write my vows...the list goes on...and i'm seriously starting to panic.

{vendor appreciation} best bakery in town..

2009-02-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

ok, so i may be biased..but in my opinion, publix bakery rocks. let me tell you why...

that saturday in nashville, my crew (me, fh, mom, aunt kerry, and fmil) all show up at publix (in brentwood for you local gals) in the middle of the afternoon. it was valentines day and the bakery was rockin'. we walked up to the counter and i explained to the lady that i was hoping to talk to someone about wedding cake. diane smiled real big and asked if i'd like to make an appointment for a future date. oops. i explained that i would not be available since i live 2000 miles away, but my fmil might be able to come by to taste the cake for me..well, diane wouldn't have that. she asked if i could come back at 2pm that very day...she would set up a tasting for me. what?! for real?

sure thing...we came back at 2pm and she had it all set up..different little cakes (chocolate, vanilla, red velvet) and different little fillings and frostings (2 fruity ones..i think strawberry and raspberry, cannoli, cream cheese, custard, chocolate, and vanilla buttercream). we all sat around and ate cake like it was going out of style!

in the middle of ~~stuffing my face with~~ tasting cake this tiny lady pushes thru our little crowd..no smile, no explanation..just a serious face intent on tasting some cake herself. she started to reach for a piece of chocolate cake - i just watched her..i mean, it was sample sunday after all - and just before she was able to nab her a piece, another bakery lady came dashing across the room in what seemed like slow motion, and informed the lady that it was a private tasting. the cake-snatcher just turned around and started to walk away. i told her she was more than welcome to try a piece, but she refused and left. poor lady. i know how it feels when you can smell cake but can't have any...

after choosing our favorite flavors, i showed diane the picture of the cake of my dreams. we worked out the size..and viola! i will have cake!

what flavors did we choose? the best kind: vanilla cake, cannoli filling, and ivory vanilla buttercream frosting. and the best part? we will have a beautiful, tasty cake that will feed over 150 people for less than $500 (including delivery!).

so ladies..don't forget your local grocery stores if you are watching your budget...you might just find a gem.

{ideas} coo-coo for crosswords

2009-02-25T07:43:00.001-08:00

i think that if i were having a morning or even an early afternoon wedding, i would have to incorporate something like this for the reception:

martha, of course

but, did you know you can create your own crossword puzzles online and print them out as pdfs? how cool would it be to fill it up with little facts about you and your future 'til-death-do-us-part mate? you could even give away a prize for the one with the most correct answers..

look online for all sorts of these tools..here are some of my favs:

edhelper
create a crossword puzzle!

{vendor appreciation} nashville wins in the service department

2009-02-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

wow. it's good to be back...i've missed you guys! my weekend in nashville was a whirlwind! we spent the entire day saturday running errands and it really paid off and i don't know what i would have done without my crew (thanks mom, holly, kerry, and fh!).

my mom drove from knoxville early saturday morning to help with the decision making, here we are at traveller's rest (the reception site):

(we are going to hang a large wreath filled with natural herbs right above our heads..where the spotlight is...and fill the fireplace with ivory candles. it's going to be gorgeous..)

but our first and one of the most important stops that morning was at southern events with jill cole in franklin, tn. this woman was a-freaking-mazing. she knew what she was talking about and helped me pick out so many things that i would have forgotten. let me start out by saying that back when i was looking for rental companies on the internet, i emailed and called several. jill was the only one to return my messages and followed up promptly with price sheets and invoices. when i told her i would be coming in town, she didn't hesitate to pencil me in at a convenient time on valentines day. she helped me pick out place settings, linen, easels, etc. she even had photos to show of previous events so i could imagine what my chairs would look like with my ivory tablecloths. and at moments when i was in a near panic, she was so calm...and she never forced me into what she thought would look best...she always waiting for me to make my decision. it was an absolute pleasure. i highly recommend this vendor if you are looking for a rental company for your wedding or event that has top notch customer service and beautiful inventory to choose from, please contact jill. you will not regret it.

next up..the cake!

{random} heading down south..

2009-02-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

the fh & i decided to head back home to nashville for the long weekend..it will be the first & last trip we'll be making before the big day (that is less than 4 months away!!). i wish i could say it will be nice and relaxing, but with the list of things to do, i doubt we'll have enough time to sip on a cold glass of sweet iced tea!

on the agenda:

visit the rental place and actually see the items i've put aside in person - and see if there is anything else we could add on to the already increasing bill
visit the ceremony & receptions site - take measurements and think about how we are going to set things up
meet with the officiant
meet with my awesome photographer
taste cake!
visit the flower shop
deliver bm dresses

i also can't forget to take with me:

bm dresses
cake topper
pictures of flowers
pictures of cake

and seriously, what's more romantic than planning your wedding day for valentines day?

i just hope i remember to breathe...

{ideas} savory confetti?

2009-02-11T12:18:00.001-08:00

so remember when i was thinking of this for the confetti? well, i've totally changed my mind...since rosemary plays a significant role in our life (the herb, not the poor mother who gave birth to the devil), i've decided to include sprigs of it in our wedding flowers. then, today, i thought i should have a look at what the meaning of the herb is:

Legend abounds around this lovely perennial known as the "herb of remembrance." It is said that rosemary will grow particularly well in gardens tended by strong-willed women. Young brides traditionally carried a sprig of rosemary in their wreaths or wedding bouquets. The young couple may even have been brought together with the magic of a touch of rosemary, as in the refrain of an old ballad: "Young men and maids do ready stand/With sweet rosemary in their hands."

so strange.. when we first started dating, i would make dinner in my drafty little apartment in the attic of an old house. i would send my fh down to the garden, where i grew pineapple sage, thyme, jasmine, and.. that's right..rosemary, to bring up a few sprigs for whatever i was making. it reminds us of those days whenever we cook with it today and now it will remind us of our wedding day.

from here

so returning to the confetti, i'm hoping to make about 150 cones out of the same paper i used for the envelope liners..

and hang them from each chair with twine...

to kind of look something like this (minus the orchids, of course)...

from here (of course)

and of course we will include the little meaning from above and a short line or two as to why it means so much to us...i just hope a leaf doesn't poke me in the eye!

{ideas} anticipation..

2009-02-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

i am obsessed with chelsea. she amazes me with her incredible sense of style, her craftiness, and true-to-heart kindness. if you haven't already, check out her blog and her etsy store...

photo by jose villa

she's working on some pretty little hair flowers for me & my girls...and i cannot wait to see what she comes up with...

{ideas} sugar and spice, and everything naughty?

2009-02-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

alright ladies... i know i'm not the only one thinking about the romantic wedding night...hoping for candles galore and champagne kisses..but i gotta be honest with you...i don't plan on wearing fancy lingerie under my dress. i'm sucking it in with basically a girdle and holstering the girls up in some plastic stickers. not kidding. so i can either slip into something a little less comfy when we get to our honeymoon suite...or i can opt for something that would save me the time of actually changing into something that's just gonna get ripped off anyway (sorry mom):

betty beauty

what do you think? cute & sassy or weird & trashy?

{ideas} bay area brides + pointers

2009-02-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

i didn't know what to expect really when i decided last minute to attend the "wedding university" on sunday. i had never been to a wedding event .. so i didn't have it anything to compare it to, but i imagined it to be some huge commercial for local vendors, lots of walking around, and lots of pushing and shoving by a bunch of bridezilla's. i was so wrong.

the event was held at four season's hotel in palo alto california (about 45 min. south of san francisco). the hotel was magical...beautiful, serene, and comfortable. we were greeted with a glass of champagne on a silver platter and were welcomed to try a freshly sliced cut of prime rib with truffle au jus, roasted brussel sprouts, and potatoes. there was an array of fresh beverages that were available throughout the day, including pelagrino, fiji water, soda's, and tea with honey or coffee.

we each were given a folder with an agenda..each bride's agenda varied to the color of her name tag, so we were split most of the day, which made for a relaxed atmosphere, as the groups were made up of about 20 girls. the mini-classes were great! not only did we learn about the vendors giving the presentations, but they were very informative...like how to choose a photographer or dj...the right questions to ask, what to look out for, and normal pricing and what to expect for each price point. i learned so much and wished there was an event like this one earlier in my planning that i could have attended. i hope to go over some of these tips within the next few weeks, but for now, enjoy some eye candy from the day:

the above designs were created by:
paper :: chewing the cud
flowers :: nancy liu chin florals
design :: sash and sugar
lighting :: enhanced lighting
tabletops :: hartman studios
linens :: wildflower linens

and the event was hosted by jubilee lau events

{invites} sweet suite!

2009-02-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

you guys..i am so excited! i just picked up our trial invites from the print shop today...and of course the first thing i did when i got home was stamp them up and put it together...what do you think?

the entire suite together:

closeup of the invite:

closeup of the map:

closeup of the rsvp:

closeup of the rehearsal dinner rsvp:

and of course, the lined envelope! (here's my tutorial on diy envelope liners)

sorry for the not-so-great photos, but i'm oh so excited! they look really pretty in person... so us.

{ideas} ceremony music

2009-02-05T08:31:00.001-08:00

so i've never been the girl who does what everyone else has done. i like what i like...i hate what i don't. and for me...the traditional wedding march song is just not ... me or even us. i wanted a song that would make everyone understand how i feel about my fh...about our past we've shared and about how we imagine our future together... i struggled for awhile and when i first heard this song, there was no doubt that it had to be played... i've known for awhile, but have kept it a secret. i don't want to keep it a secret anymore...

a musician in the family will be playing this tune...just like this..with one guitar. and there will be no other song...my girls will walk to this too..i hope to come out during the last verse.

sigh. it's perfect.

{ideas} how did i live without you?

2009-02-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

but seriously... have you ever come across a store that you wondered how you ever got along without it before? i wish i had come across this little shop earlier...and a big thanks to my friend who opened my eyes to it...just check out some of these fab finds:

we were going to use birdseed as our "confetti," but now i'm considering these cute little dried jasmine flowers (and extra love because they look like those popping things you can get around the fourth of july):

Dried Jasmine Flowers $13 lb

also considering these to add as my "something blue" instead of the jasmine flowers:

Ivory Rose Petals and Blue Hydrangeas 5 cups for $19.95

check out this adorable cake topper:

5" Wedding Doves $2.99 pair

they also have shepard's hooks, flower baskets, candles, lighting, cake stands, even glue gun wax to do the old fashioned stamps on the back of your envelopes (i ordered some in silver and will let you know how they turn out).

happy shopping!

{ideas} printable wedding planner

2009-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

for all of you in need of a wedding planner, but don't want to spend the dough on all of those pretty, overpriced binders... you can print one here for free.

{ideas} gifts that glitter...

2009-02-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

for those of you who don't have the time, or maybe you don't know how to make jewelry, erin gallagher can help you out...

customize necklaces, bracelets, or earrings for your bridesmaids:

she even offers free ground shipping! check her out here.

{vendor appreciation} our menu.

2009-02-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

remember this? well, she has sent me our menu in writing! so now i can make this to write it all on.

our wedding day menu:

1. Global artisan cheeses, lavender honey, picholine olives, strawberry jam, fresh fruit, crusty paesano bread, sweet and spicy almonds

2. Moroccan beef skewers, harissa, cool mint chimichurri

3. Fresh baby shrimp and crab cakes, lemon-herb aioli

4. Wild mushroom puff pastry, parmesan, white truffle oil

5. Thai chicken satay, cucumber salad, coconut peanut sauce

6. Mini italian cold cut sandwiches with roasted tomatoes, basil pesto

7. Traditional hummus, marinated feta salad, pita chip

8. Refreshing Cucumber Water

9. Orange Pekoe Tea, (with some sort of simple syrup flavored sweetener on the side)

I've also asked her if she thought maybe we could add a simple french style potato salad or a garden salad...what do you think?

i wasn't hungry before, but i sure am hungry now!

want to book kristen for you special event? here's how:

Daffodils Catering
Kristen Gregory & Amy Willis
316 Camille Ct
Cane Ridge, TN
615-268-0424

{random} surprise!

2009-01-31T11:40:00.000-08:00

i'm going to apologize in advance for whatever i may say or misspell here...i have been sick and am all drugged up on alka-seltzer cold stuff...that they say is non-drowsy, but i really believe it knocks you out cold and makes you sleep walk and do really stupid things so your friends and family can laugh at you...

but i digress.

my coworkers rock. no seriously...how many people can say they work with some of the nicest and smartest people ever? well, i can. the other day they dooped me into going to my fav cafe (i normally like to eat at my desk so i can catch up on my favorite wedding blogs while i stuff my face..paints a cute picture, doesn't it?). when we got there i noticed the entire team i work with was there .. about 30 or so..and all sitting at a large table. i wasn't sure i was invited..or what was going on, and turned to my cubemate and asked if we should sit with them (i mean, it's not like we were invited and maybe it was some sort of secret meeting or something???)..that's when i noticed a ginormous card and presents in the middle of the table...the envelope read "amy" in curly-cues...it was a little party for little 'ol me! was it my birthday? nope. could it be a going away party (my official last day is monday - yikes)? thought this could be it...until i noticed the wrapping on the presents was from none other than the fabulous williams sonoma! sweet! it was a wedding party thing! (shower?? i dunno). so check this out...i opened the card and look:

home-freakin-made! by the same little chica who did this. i mean..how thoughtful..and oh-so-cute. you might not be able to see it in the pic, but she actually printed out pics from my blog to make it uber-personal. and everyone on the team signed the inside ..next to the big 'ol benjamin taped to the inside. w00t!

i know, i know...you want to know about the fab loot...well, it was all stuff i craved from my wedding registry at williams-sonoma:

heritage bundt pan. comes with an awesome little recipe too...thinking about trying it out on the co-workers as a little appreciation...

muffin pan...have you seen the cupcakes in the latest from martha stewart? seriously.

avocado pitter/slicer. i love me some avocados...especially now that i live in cali.

oh yea! ice cream maker!! and whole foods has strawberries on sale right now...2 cartons for $6! i cannot wait to use this baby...and my fh made fun of me for registering for this...i guess i'll make fun of him when he wants a bite of my homemade strawberry ice cream!

we also got a fluted pastry wheel (for my love of pie-baking), a simple apron for the fh, a paring knife (available in stores only), and a fabulous maple wood spreader (also only available in stores) - which i used last night to spread my garlic/parsley/butter/ black pepper butter on french bread before throwing it in the oven...and let me tell you, it will be one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.

so here's to you fab co-workers! you made my day.

{beauty} post-wedding snip anyone?

2009-01-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

I've heard of ladies cutting their locks to a shorter, sassier style after the wedding...although my honey seems to like my long hair...i just get so bored with it...so maybe something like this would be fun, sassy, and still a little sexy:

{from here}

{ideas} hey you..your slip is showing

2009-01-29T07:34:00.000-08:00

..and i love it! how cute are these little pretties:

if you haven't yet discovered ysis, then go, now. and bring a towel for the drool. oh..and if you're a daily candy subscriber, then you already know about the 30% off especially for dc members.

{vendor appreciation} houston..we have a photographer

2009-01-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

holy moly y'all. i can't believe it. i seriously thought we would have to forgo the whole fancy photographer due to lack of money...but nope! i was mistaken! not only is this guy totally within our budget, but he freakin' rocks...check these babies out:

and that's just from his wedding collection.

he does other stuff too:

don't be jealous! you can book him too! just not on may 30th...that day, he's mine!

interested?
Daniel Meigs
danielmeigs@mac.com
www.danielmeigsweddings.com
www.danielmeigs.com

{contest} wine label inspiration

2009-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

have you ever noticed the artwork that goes into wine labels? i'm infatuated with them (so much that i frame them & hang them on my wall). i thought it would be interesting to see what you all would come up with when you use one as a basis for an inspiration board...kinda like this:

mollydooker's carnival of love still remains our favorite bottle of wine to this day...it's velvety smooth and has a lingering taste of chocolate, and great memories to boot.

photos from here: umbrella from bella umbrellas, vera wang gown, corrousel de paris from flickr, red-rustic bouquet from brides.com, and pricilla of boston maids dress.

rules for the contest:
1. choose a wine label (mollydooker and bonny doon always have great stuff if you need a jump start)
2. create an inspiration board around the label. it doesn't have to match the colors, but maybe a feeling you get from the label, or the wine itself (i recommend a tasting at home to boost the inspiration!)
3. send me the image of the wine label and a brief description why you chose it along with your inspiration board. please remember to give urls of where you found your inspiration images. send info to my email at amylynnfrank {at} gmail {dot} com.

deadline for entries is Sunday, February 1st. I will select my favorite board (not by random!) and announce the winner on Monday, february 2nd. i don't know what the prize is going to be yet...more details on that later...

good luck!

{beauty} yuck.

2009-01-26T09:22:00.001-08:00

i seriously smell like i just got out of a tanning bed...like burnt skin. it's nauseating...although my dimply butt never touched a tanning bed this past weekend...oh no..it's all due to this:

and i am sooo taking it back. not only does it freakin' stink, it has glitter in it too (although no mention of it on the front of the product)...so much for "natural" glow.

there is something else that i just recently purchased...a moisturizer for my face. so far, i lurrrve it...but want to give it a week before i give you guys the low down...

also...i'm going to have a my first giveaway! stay tuned for contest details (aren't you excited??!! - i am).

happy monday!

{the dress} obsessed.

2009-01-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

first it was shoes, then candles...now i'm obsessed with finding the perfect rehearsal dinner dress. now, i have one that i borrowed from a good friend of mine...and it's a super cute blue halter from j crew a few years back.. and it's beautiful on...but i kinda want my own dress...you know? however, things are kind of at a stand still right now (as far as employment future goes)...so in the meantime, i've been drooling over these (and am ever so grateful for the blue dress from my friend!):

anthropologie altostratus dress & viemoderne yellow brooch

BCBG cocktail dress

Valencia Boutique Dress

i know. i'm all over the place...and i'm okay with that.

what are you doing for your rehearsal dinner dress?

{random} a little fun & a little truth

2009-01-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

i admit it. i am one of those girls who reads her horoscope everyday. i know..i know..it's mostly a bunch of mumbo jumbo..but sometimes there is some really great advice in there...so..when i saw the housewives tarot on whorange today, i couldn't resist checking it out for myself:

sigh. it's so true! the past year and a half has been great...moving to california, doing things i would have never been able to do in tennessee if i hadn't taken this job...however, this job is about to end. i signed a contract and now my contract comes to a screeching halt on february 6th. we are in the process of trying to get me hired on full-time..but with the economy not doing so well, the company is not really hiring right now...so we just have to wait and see...

in more uplifting news...if you haven't already checked out the whorange site mentioned above, be sure to do so! it's full of inspiration & fun!