Have a great long weekend

We are off to Portland, Maine. I am very ready to relax.

Hey, we've been there!

Happy couple in Turks and Caicos:

Ben and myself in Turks and Caicos:

All of us in Turks and Caicos:

Cake topper ideas

Great Quote

"Forever is composed of nows." -Emily Dickinson

Money after marriage

Ben and I have been talking a lot about money and experimenting with saving systems that work for both of us. We haven't tackled how to manage our money once we are married, so I am thrilled that I came across this suggestion from $2,000 Wedding.

Any suggestions from you married folk out there?

Round two: Correct postage

An early morning trip to the post office fixed this problem right up!

Invitation update

Some of the invites made it through! All is not lost! There has been a sighting as far away as Washington D.C. If anyone gets one today or tomorrow, feel special.

The correct way to mail wedding invitations

I knew better. I knew I knew better. The man at the post office warned me, as did the nagging voice in my head.

All of the invitations were returned to us needing postage. UHHHG!!

So to all the brides-to-be out there, take your finished invitation to the post office, have them weigh it and THEN buy your postage. This will save you time, money, and you will be able to avoid slapping one of these slightly suggestive 27-cent stamps on all your invites:

Depressingly, hilariously true

Some e-cards is really in touch with my life.

This is totally something we would do ...

So I've decided against the hair trial. With all the traveling and craziness, I just don't see the point. BUT, my mother has scheduled a cake trial ... not because it is a really difficult cake, but because, well, we like cake.

Bridal hairstyle love

I found my hair. Minus the veil, this is what I want my hair to look like. One more decision checked off my list! I'm on a roll!

Sporty way to involve the groom

The theme for the cookie favors...."Pick Your Team Cookies" because of Super Bowl weekend...great favor idea...cookies by Park Avenue Pastries!

(via The Bride's Cafe)

The invitations are in the mail

Here is the final design. Coming to a mailbox near you!



I'm so happy with the baseball stamps! Ben loves baseball and I love the color and design, so they are perfect.

Last minute change!

With 48 days until the wedding and the invitations teetering above the mailbox, minutes from being sent out, we found a way to invite everyone to the wedding! We were keeping the wedding guest list to bare bones and then inviting everyone else to the reception, which is the part everyone likes best, anyway. But we were able to move the ceremony to the larger balcony which can accommodate everyone on our list.

This makes my big entrance even more nerve-wracking.

Woo hoo!

Pink squirrel, get it?

Happy Friday!

By illustrator Catherine Lepage.

More invitation hints

I might actually be able to work these in!

Invitation design breakthrough

I've really been struggling with the design of our wedding invitations. At first, there were so many choices I couldn't even start. Then, every time I had a new idea I scrapped the old and started all over again. Last night, I finally started printing my options and piecing them together. I found that the design I really liked on my screen just didn't work on paper.

But at midnight, it became clear what I need to do ...

(more to come!)

Black cake stands

I'm loving these three cake stand! After two days of google-stalking them, I could only find a vendor and price for the damask dome stand. It is $169 at Jaf Gifts. Maybe I could just make the stands on the left ...

Bridesmaid dresses

While I just said, "Ummm, wear something black. Or white. Or, well, black and white. A dress, preferably," my soon-to-be-bride friend has actually put some thought and research into her bridesmaids' dresses. She is considering Dessy, which I am totally behind because I would look great in one of the above little numbers.

Artisanal Chocolate ... Mmmm ...

It's not often that I find a fellow artist who started out in good ol' Lincoln, Nebraska. Christopher Elbow's chocolates look heavenly and their names are even better ... Russian Tea, Venezuelan Spice, Yuzu ...

I see there is a shop in Omaha that carries them. I will have to sample a couple when I am there for our wedding.

Fun little story

Jump on over to the New York Times to read a great little story by illustrator Christoph Niemann.

Gin and Titonic

(from A Cup of Jo) I can't decide if this is in bad taste or not, but either way, it's pretty awesome.

Commiting to a design

AAAAAaaaaaaagh. I am being tortured by great invitations! Just when I think I have our wedding invitations designed, I see another style or design or color or wording that I want to include. This invitation is just a work of art. I love it!

(Via Ape Do Good Blog) Adam Brodsley designed this one for part of his wedding invitation. (PAPER PRINTING: Water Based Ink on Recycled Paper)

Beautiful calligraphy

While learning calligraphy is on the list of life goals, I didn't squeeze it in before the wedding. But when I do cross this off the list, I want to be just like Betsy Dunlap. Just look at those lines!

Lovely Friday

Have a lovely weekend.

(Photo by Emilie Bjork)

Barack Obama hilariousness

While researching a story, I found this http://barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com/. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, is that strange?

Something from my day job

The only bad thing about working on luxury magazine layouts is that I fall in love with half the products. For example, I NEED sparkly rings the size of my head and the latest Coach bag.

Hair appointment, check!

I avoided making the bridal party hair appointment for so long, but now it is done! We are going to a fun, funky salon called T'eez, which is across the street from the hotel. Now, I'm excited!

Black and white bouquets

I can't SEE what my wedding will look like, so I have to calm my wedding fear/excitement by looking at photos of how I HOPE it looks. Have you ever just visited an item that you really wanted to buy to make sure it really is as wonderful as it looks in your head? It's kind of the same thing ... I think.

Talented, beautiful, successful ...

What I really love about the whole blogging/crafting world is, not only do you get to see an artist's work but you can follow along with their process via their blog. Buying my wedding hairpiece from Myra at Twigs and Honey was only the beginning of learning about her. I now read about her on wedding message boards and keep updated on her newest products through her blog. The woman only gets more innovative as time passes. She just started a second Etsy store called Pebbles and Paisley and created a bolero out of tulle, flowers and pearls. So inspiring to get out there and create something beautiful!

Biting, but true e-cards

I always consult Some E-Cards first for all my e-card needs. They usually have the perfect card for every situation ... but most of the time it is too rude to actually send. I love this one!

The fake eyelash debate

Pro wedding day false lashes:
Glamorous look
Wear less makeup so crying won't mess up anything
Tons of styles out there

Con:
Can be $130 if done by a professional
Can fall off if done by me
Could irritate my eyes
Would have to test them out in advance to get used to them
Could look fake

I like the idea of looking great and not worrying about makeup because I am a low maintenance kind of girl. But will it be more hassle than it is worth? Anyone out there have some wisdom for me?

Great Save-the-Date idea

I wish I had seen this 6 months ago!

The countdown

Our official wedding website is on MyWedding.com. A nice little service they provide is a 'by-the-numbers' breakdown of your site. If you ignore the fact that invitations have not been sent out and no one knows to RSVP online, this is kind of terrifying:

64 days until your wedding

Your wedding date is Oct 11, 2008.

• RSVP Reply Summary

  5 total guests

  2 responses

  0 not attending

• Guestbook Entry Summary

  3 entries

• Hit Stats

  133 visits to your site

  A visit is counted each time someone arrives at your website.

  594 total page views of your site

Guest book photo mat

It's decided. We are going with the photo frame mat as our guest book. I'm thinking this will be easy enough to put together. This one is from WeDoWed.com.

Taste of Hartford

Oh yes, the time has come to knock off a few restaurants from the "I would LOVE to eat there, but it is too expensive" list. I have three days left of Taste of Hartford where I can go to some of the best places to eat and enjoy a three course meal for just $20.08.

Friday, a group of friends will be gathering at Barca in Hartford. Here are the dishes we will be choosing from:

Appetizers (choose one):

Pollo al Ajillo: Sauteed Chicken in a Garlic White Wine sauce

Arroz Cremoso: Creamy Wild Mushroom Risotto Stuffed in Sweet Piquillo Peppers

Setas del Monte Asadas: Wild Mushrooms Sauteed with Garlic and Butter

Main Courses (choose one):

Paella Mariscos: Chorizo, Scallops, Clams & Shrimp with Saffron rice

Skirt Steak: Sauteed Summer Vegetables & Roasted Red Peppers

Pargo al Estilo de Barça: Roasted Red Snapper, Spinach, and Potato Puree

Desserts (choose one):

Dulce de Leche Cannolis

Key-Lime Pie

Flan

(Photo by Steve Dunn, The Hartford Courant)

Ok, I've decided on a shoe. Again. I think.

I have decided to end my stream of indecisiveness and just decide on a shoe. I need the shoe to have proper alterations and I need the shoe so I can stop worrying about the stupid shoe.

So here it is folks, the winner:

Luichiny Women's Pretty Pump from endless.com

Making a decision never looked so good!

Baby's breath wedding flowers

The idea of having baby's breath as the only flower is so simple and SO gorgeous! These are photos from Jennifer and Josh's wedding, photographed by Katrina and Andrew of Sedona Bride.

I now heart headbands

I feel like I am cheating on the hair piece I already have just by looking at ShopBando.com. Photographer Jen Gotch (of My Polaroid Blog fame) just launched a new shop called Bando. The shop features beautiful handmade headbands made from vintage flowers and ribbons. They are just gorgeous.