Of feathers and fine things

Buillied into it

2010-10-01T13:01:00.001-07:00

I've gone and done it: I listed my first items on my etsy site. It's actually kinda intimidating. I mean, what if no one likes it? *sigh* I think I would cry.

But The Boy tells me people have to love it since he loves it so much (I think he's biased myself). But I've been making these sorts of things on and off for the last year, experimenting with various techniques and scenes. I've been giving them away as gifts and those people seem to like it. That is encouraging. So after much debate, I gave in and opened a store...and then left it empty for awhile.

It took a few more weeks for me to get up the courage to actually post anything for sale. But then we went to a wedding a couple of weekends ago. The Boy asked me to make a shadow box papercut illustration for the couple as sort of a "card" based on the magnet they sent out as a Save the Date. I obliged but was nervous as I did not know them very well.

The card was made and presented at a very gorgeous (although hot) wedding. And then nothing until they came to visit The Boy at his work and proceeded to gush about the "card." It made me blush a little to think that this couple, who were virtually strangers to me, actually liked the illustration so much! And there you go: the boost to kick me in the pants and start listing things to sell. Maybe someone else would want to have one made for themselves? Anyone?

(My kick in the pants)

A Bend in the Road

2010-09-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

My poor neglected blog. I had promised to write about the wedding and what all has been going on in my life since that big day...but I forgot. Well, actually, life just got busy and new projects arose and well, my blog was left at the wayside.

But I'm back. And hopefully, for good!

News: it's been over a year since I last spoke (which means, since The Boy and I were hitched!) and life has been rather blissful for the most part. Marriage hasn't changed us much, only made life much richer and happier.

What other news? I've been in the middle of changing professions in my real life so that has consumed a lot of my "free" time. It's rather thrilling but a daunting task to completely change everything. For more about that, see my other little blog. It's all about the difficulties in trying to become a freelancer in the publishing industry.

And...this blog is about to have it's own changes too! Already, I've updated the look of the blog but now that the wedding that was, well, was, it's time to figure out what this blog will be about. So, since I have another pet project going, I figured this would chronicle that since it served to record my wild thoughts pre-wedding.

And this is where I let you in on a wee secret of mine: I've opened an etsy site! Yup, I have a store. (Find me here!) For now, I have just opened the place but have yet to fill it with all sorts of things I hope people like. Here's the scoop of what it should include (and therefore, what this blog o' mine will be about): all things paper. By that I mean, handmade cards and postcards, photos, drawings and sketches, prints, and papercut art. The last bit is what I'm most nervous about. I don't really get my art out very much but I may be brave enough now to show it to you and to others.

So whaddya say? Visit me? Let's see how this whole thing will go.

we did it!

2009-08-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago, I married my best friend.

Details and pictures to follow....

2 months to go...

2009-05-19T16:10:00.001-07:00

Sorry it's so long between posts dear faithful readers (are you still out there?) but really, between our harried schedules and some medical issues, it's been quite a busy few weeks for the two of us.

Somehow, between doctor's appointments, work and family obligations, we have actually managed to get a few things off our check list.

1. Finalized the guest list! At first the numbers started out on the smaller side then ballooned an extra 20 people! We've finally settled ourselves and fought off the urge to invite anyone and everyone and find ourselves in a cozy low number that best evokes the intimate feel we're hoping for the wedding.

2. The men are styling. At least the men in the wedding party. The Boy and I talked it over and decided that a suit best fist our nice relaxed wedding rather than something more formal like a tux. He had contemplated tuxes for awhile, liking the traditional aspect of it; he liked it so much so that I agreed to go tux rental shopping with him. Two hours later, we found ourselves with our heads in suits of every shade imaginable. The Boy tried on a few jackets for me and I liked how they all fit but as we were leaving the store, I happened upon a charcoal number that I had him try on as a whim. Low and behold, my Boy was transformed into someone else...a groom. I suddenly had visions of how he would look on the day we got married and it took my breath away. I told him he had to get it because that was his suit. Isn't it funny to have the "I know this is it" moment with something other than my Dress (and the fellow, of course)?

3. Invitations are being sent out this week. After much time and such a labour of love (really, I'm quite proud of them), they're going out into the world this week. Pictures of them when they're all done.

4. Bridal accessories are all checked off. I've got the Dress, my veil, shoes and even the things unseen. It's nice to know how I'll look in a few months.

5. On that same note, I've got my makeup lined up as well.

6. And next week, we're doing the engagement pictures. Stay tuned to hear how that goes!

all things floral

2009-04-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hello duckies!

The long-promised post about wedding flowers! I mentioned awhile back that I had finally decided on concrete images for the types of flowers I want to use at the wedding as well as the arrangements. After the Maid of Honor and I browsed our local wholesale flower shop (and Costco and a few other shops) we came up with a few ideas of hardy flowers that would be in season and would stand up in the weather.

1) Kangaroo Paws

(image from miss_armour)

You've seen before. I used it in a previous post where I had some musings about flowers I was considering. Surprisingly, they remain in the updated vision. (Is it really that surprising when they are free? Thank you good friends!) Though I want to still use the kangaroo paws, I'll probably only have them on side tables like the ones for the guest book. It's really such an architectural plant and had we decided to still have the reception at the original venue, it would hold up nicely against the more modern and clean lines of the Zen garden. However, with the garden turning into a backyard garden, it's not really the lush romantic feel I'm looking for. I think it would be an interesting detail in some rooms (bathrooms? front entryway? kitchen?) in some tall vases, but the look would be a little on the sparse side because the branches are so very interesting on their own.

2) Pink Hydrangeas, White Roses and Greens

(image from ... ? If you know it, send me a message and I'll credit you)

This is my favorite of the centerpieces I've got filed away on the computer. It really goes well with the pink part of the color scheme (though, technically, we have no official "colors" for the wedding) plus I could probably throw in some peach as well (a concession to the orange requested by the Boy; does peach count as orange?). Sprays of hydrangeas, maybe creamy roses and difference plants in greens; it's full, low to the table, completely romantic and airy and at home in a garden reception. I plan to surround the centerpieces with candle votives (who doesn't love the glow of candlelight?).

I am torn by the next two images. I want to use at least one of the ideas on a few different tables.

3. Hydrangeas in Vials

(image by mellow_stuff)

The first idea is to gather a trio of vials and fill each with a single branch of hydrangeas (I don't know why but I've recently grown to really like the look of them for the wedding). I don't know if I'll get vials but I like the idea of using very few flowers that add a lot of punch.

4) Hydrangeas in Clear Glass Vase

(image by adam_binsz)

Same flowers, fewer containers. This appeals to me as I don't know what I'll do with all the vases and bottles and other assorted containers after the wedding. The fewer we have left over, the better but I can't seem to sacrifice the vision for practicality.

5) Tulips and Sprays

(image by snippet & ink)

Actually, I probably wouldn't go with tulips for the wedding even though they are my favorite flowers (in red, please!). I think they'd wilt in the summer sun and there is nothing sadder than a wilted tulip. I don't want any sadness at the wedding so I have actually banished my favorite poesy in favor of hardier ones like roses (this could work with a few of the glasses containing sprays and sprigs of --dare I say it... baby's breath!). I liked this scene so much I have enlisted a few friends to start collecting bottles and jars and all sorts of colored glass. I can recycle after the wedding.

6) Sweet Peas

(image by Blondie's Highlights)

I like the pop of the blue in the vase (plus love the fractured glass look as well) and I'd probably combine the last two images into a single vision. I'd have a collection of 3 to 5 vases/containers with the stronger coloring of this photo. I've never actually seen a sweet pea in real life but I googled it and they are actually really pretty. if I used sweet peas (which the MOH has suggested I also use some in my bouquet) it would be a really sentimental gesture as the future MIL actually refers to me often as Sweet Pea.

You'll notice that I said I'd be choosing a few of these options (if not all) for the different tables. Does this mean I have an attention span problem? Probably. But I like the charm of different tables offering different delicacies for the eye to devour; and who says you can't do it yourself on a budget? One just has to be a little creative and be a tad bit neurotic.

Enough about the centerpieces though, onward march towards the inspiration for the bouquet!

I love this bouquet. It has pink ranunculus, some roses and berries. Since peonies will not be in season for the wedding and anemones were a little too modern for the style we're going with, I thought ranunculus were the perfect choice for the bouquet (maybe in the vases too). I like the gardeny feel of it.

(image by orawrat)

For the bottom of the bouquet (where you hold it), I wanted to wrap it with typewriter keys and all! Since I won't get my books as part of the decor (did I mention I got my masters in English Lit?), I figure it would be a nice nod to my love of all things literary. (image from weddingbee's Mrs. Lovebug)

Do you know what I learned from this? While I loved flowers at home, I didn't originally think I'd use them much in our decoration because I thought, wouldn't this be a great way to save some money? I can decorate with plants and fruits and books. *sigh* I love books. But now it seems like there are flowers everywhere, even at the ceremony site (granted, we aren't providing that). In the end, we're going with what we love and while money is an important consideration, there are more ways than one to achieve that all-star wedding look that still somehow retains that charm that is our love.

(K)not a Bride's Best Friend

2009-04-21T16:44:00.001-07:00

I've been avoiding going back on The Knot web page I started ages ago (truth be told, even before we officially got engaged to become Mr. and Mrs.). I got it because, at the time, it was the only source I could think of for all things wedding. Right around the time the Boy and I started ring shopping, I glimpsed The Knot wedding planning book and scooped it up. It was my introduction to the wild ride of wedding planning. I was overwhelmed and we hadn't even gotten engaged. By the time it happened, I was well versed in both the book form and the website. I happily checked every day to see if anyone had looked at our profile, browsed wedding dresses and took quizzes that purported to tell me what kind of bride I was. It was fun and frivolous, like eating cotton candy--lots of fluff but not that must substance.

Then I discovered that there were other (gasp!) wedding websites out there and tons of fabulous blogs to read through.

I first found peoniesandpolaroids and from there fell in love with other sites (see the side bar for my favorites, folks). And after awhile, I found myself less and less on The Knot. I grew more resentful for the intrusive nature of the site, how the weddings seemed to blur together after awhile and it started bleeding into my vision of what I wanted for our wedding, twisting and winding itself around until I didn't recognize it at all.

Thus, I began to avoid signing onto The Knot. Silly, I know, running and hiding from a website. But I never said I was the most courageous gal around. Today, I finally logged on after months of ignoring it and found that our checklist of things to do (never mind the ones--that's right, more than one version--I have on several sheets of paper hidden in all sorts of pockets, purses, under stacks of paper) was overwhelming, to say the least. According to The Knot, this is what I should have accomplished three months prior to the Day:

The Knot's List (the biggies!) and Where We're At:

1. Decide on the Caterer

After much hemming and hawing, we were able to go with a fun barbecue type of meal for the wedding. We're getting the food dropped off at the reception style, served buffet style. Super casual and easy. We're serving pink and regular lemonade and iced tea in mason jars. We're also planning on doing some baking ourselves the week of for a little dessert buffet station that goes with the food. I think we may opt to make some Asian and vegetarian foods as well. How 'bout homemade lasagna, pasta, egg rolls and fried rice? I know, what an odd combination of food but it seems more homey to have such a delicious smorgasbord as our wedding fare. Must make sure there are enough napkins present.

2. Decide on the Officiant

I admit, we are sorely behind on this one. We've looked but not seriously. People have been giving us business cards, trying to set up meetings for us but we cannot make a commitment. Did I mention we have less than 3 months to the wedding? I think part of our problem is that we haven't really sat down and discussed what we want from the ceremony itself. I do want to incorporate some cultural things from my side into the ceremony but I'm fuzzy on which details I want to actually add. The Boy has mentioned that a friend of his can play the bag pipes at the ceremony as well as a nod to his Scottish heritage (luckily both of us really enjoy it and it reminds us of our adventures in England). I think we need to decide what we want before we decide on who it is that will be marrying us, don't you think?

3. Finalize your Guest List

Uh, we sorta did. And then I invited one of two (or more) people because I didn't factor in (why I didn't I'll never know) that most people will be bringing their significant other or a date. Which puts us at our original count (about 80 or so). I was a little disappointed. I had begun imagining a small ceremony and reception for 50 people. This is what happens when one doesn't pay close enough attention to one's Excel spreadsheet.

4. Hire Your Photographer

Done! They're awesome. More detailed post on them later.

5. Narrow Down Your Gown Choices and Make a Decision

Another one I got right! Whoo! It currently sits in my best friend's parents' home waiting for the first dress fitting that should take place next month.

6. Book Reception Band or DJ

I have mixed feelings on this. You see, the Boy and I have very eclectic musical tastes and one of the few genres we agree on is 80s music (I know, a strange choice). So we decided to go with the ipod plus sound system. However, I have mixed feelings on this now. I still love the idea of being in control of what music is being played (I am a tad bit neurotic when it comes to this) but I wonder if we should hire someone to DJ to help control the mood of the party, introduce us and special moments at the reception. Currently, I am thinking of asking my brother to help out with this part. He may be a little too happy to oblige but I'll have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't slip one of his personal (yes, he writes music on the side) songs in there. I may ask our more musically-minded pals if they would sing/play at the reception as well.

7. Book Your Honeymoon

Not booked. But we finally decided on a destination.

8. Choose Your Florist

No florist. We're going DIY folks. Thankfully, my pals and I are fairly creative individuals so I think it will go well. Plus I have a friend who once worked as a florist so if I really needed advice I could ask her about it.

9. Order Invitations

Another DIY project. It actually echos a bit of the Save the Date cards we made earlier. I handmade this fun little scene and will be using it on our invites. I should be making them this weekend so I'll post the process when I'm doing it. Oddly enough, making this has inspired to to possibly launch my own little shop on etsy. But more on that later....

10. Reserve Rental Equipment

Again, we're behind on this too! We should do this for the ceremony and reception sites!

11. Groom's Attire

Uh, I have some notions concerning vests for the Boy. He is thinking suits. Maybe different colored ties? I think he is shopping for this with the groomsmen this weekend or next.

12. Purchase Wedding Bands

Mine are done (he got it as a set when he bought the engagement ring) but his has yet to be purchased. Ugh, I hate trying to drag the Boy ring shopping.

13. Arrange Day Of Transportation

Thanks to the future MIL, this is not mine to think of! Whoo hoo! Cross that one off my list of things to do. I do hope she leans towards a cool pink Cadillac. That would be awesome.

14. to 100. A million other little things that make my head spin. Really, my head is catching some air right now.

But you know what happened? Instead of hyperventilating and crying in frustration, I had a moment of Zen-like calmness, an epiphany, a revelation if you will.

Here's the thing:

Our wedding would never be the kind in magazines or TV shows or other people's blogs, let alone the kind featured on the knot. But our wedding would be filled with love from the people who knew us best, lots of fun times and personalized touches that meant a great deal to us. In short, our wedding would be very US, a celebration of who we are and our commitment to continue loving each other as best as we can. It's going to be messy and a little unpredictable, but who wants a boring wedding? Not me.

The Wedding That Could've Been

2009-04-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

I already posted once today but I came across this while browsing around and I just HAD to share.

(all images by kiss the groom)

Isn't this the most delicious wedding idea you ever did see? If I could've talked the Boy into this, I would've. What girl wouldn't love to have a fairy inspired wedding? It's so romantic and woodsy yet warm and magical.

Couldn't you imagine carrying this handmade bouquet to an altar of flowers and nature shining down on you as you say your vows of devotion and love?

How about trusting your wedding bands in a little box lined with moss? This is perfect with the blue lining on top, like the sky acting like a canopy over the wedding.

I'd love to raise a toast to the Mr. and all our friends and family for celebrating with us with a moss and leaf covered confection like this goblet. It seems like it grew out of the roots of a tree near a babbling brook and that one only need to pick it up, dip it into the tangy clear water and drink to health and happiness.

I love these as coasters. Or booster seats for yours truly.

I love all the sweet touches.

Oh Boy, wouldn't you like to have a woodsy and magical fairy wedding?

Kiss the Girls

2009-04-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

I adore my bridesmaids, I do. I had a vision of what I wanted them to wear:

(image from theknot)

I wanted the look to be soft and romantic, to echo the vintage sensibility that emanates through most of the wedding decoration. None of the gals would wear the same dress as they are three different ladies, with three different body types and three different styles.

(image from perfect bound)

As much as I was trying to infuse a sense of the Boy and myself into every aspect of the wedding, I wanted our friends to be able to express themselves in their dress as well. Considering that none of them had the same taste in clothes, I figured that would be easy. I wanted each to pick something in a blueish gray tone or soft pinks or peaches because, though we’ve since decided NOT to declare wedding colors (see the mishap of the change in heart), these colors seemed prominent in the things I was choosing to include.

My only request (I guess, beside a general color scheme) was that it be something softer and lighter in overall feel. I loved the idea of hand stitched details, embroidery or ruffles, creative draping, and other fun little details that would add personality to an outfit. Because, after all, my friends were nothing if not characters in themselves. Why not showcase that at the wedding as well?

(image from snippet & ink)

When it came time to make my vision into reality, things did not prove to be so easy as I imagined. I was torn between my original ideas and the images that were staring at me every time I opened a bridal magazine or clicked on a wedding website. Can we say, visual stimulus overload?

One day, I would jump for joy thinking I had found the dresses the girls should wear. Since we all live in varying cities, I would email the links to the dresses I thought they could get for the wedding. I’d wait, hear back, they’d choose a dress…and then I’d change my minds. Or they’d present me with an idea of dresses they could wear, I’d like it, but ultimately I’d change my mind again as I didn’t feel it was really staying true to the nature of the vision I had in my mind’s eye of what I wanted the feel and look of my wedding to be.

Then it happened. Four attempts later (which included one brief dalliance with a series of Melissa Sweet dresses and only time constraints stopped us going forward with it), I found the dress. Or dresses, depending on how you look at it.

This was such a sweet dress from Anthropologie that I actually made the decision (and stuck to it) and had the maids purchase this dress. I was a little sad that they all ended up with the same dress, but lo and behold, it actually was the kind of dress that kit well on different body types (surprise surprise). And then my best friend and maid of honor came to the rescue! She remembered that I wanted each of them to look different (which is why I had wanted them in different dresses). One evening, bored and alone in her apartment to the north, she took the dress off the hanger and decided to play dress up. It was during this bout of silliness that she discovered that the sash was so long, one could tie it in any way across the body to create different looks. I was elated by the news and quickly emailed the others.

One MOH’s spring break, she came home for the week and we betook ourselves to all do all things wedding related. She checked out the venue for the ceremony (see previous post), we went to a wholesale flower shop and picked out flowers for the bouquets and centerpieces (I’ll have to post on that later), shopped for wedding shoes (I think I found them and must order them soon), got a mini makeup trial (uh, still need more work in this area) and then headed to Anthropologie and tried on the dress in real life.

She showed me the different was to tie the sash around to create a halter look

A Grecian goddess look,

Something a little more covered up on the top (though this would need a broach or something to keep it in place) (images by me)

And a variety of other ways (I liked some ideas better than others). Took pictures in the changing room (by the way, don’t you love the changing rooms there? I wish I had a closet area like that in my place!) and sent them along to everyone else. Each gal has decided on a way they are going to wear their dress (thank goodness, they picked different things), each with different accessories and jewelry, different hair and shoes and in general, the only thing that will be the same is that they all bought the same dress.

What do we learn from all of this?
1) It’s OK to procrastinate. You might get a few more gray hairs out of it but that’s half the fun.
2) Not everything will go the way you want it to.
3) Stop looking at so may wedding blogs. Be true to who you are and your vision because, after all, it’s YOUR wedding and no one else’s.
4) Compromise is a beautiful thing. I hope to keep this lesson close to my heart throughout all of our marriage.

dilemma

2009-03-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

This is where we are getting married. Isn't it gorgeous?

It's inside this garden located in this bigger garden that is one of my favorite places in town. It's the smaller of two spots one can have the ceremony in (there is a bigger location just around the other side of the garden but in my opinion, it's not nearly as picturesque). Thankfully we are having a smallish wedding and I, for one, am thankful that we'll only be surrounded by our closest friends and family.

With that bring said, I have several problems to pose to you faithful readers:

1) How do I arrange the seating in his pergola area? We're allowed to use the benches as part of the seating and we'll rent chairs for the rest but there are big beams running through the middle of the space. Do we face forward towards the pond and just place seating on either side of the beams with a mini aisle running through the middle or should we turn the entire thing around and have the guests face the little deck just off to the side at the left? Either way, it will be slightly awkward. I am leabing towards the pond view only because it would be the prettiest view.

(By the way, can you see the MOH? That's her, half hidden behind one of the beams; she's a peach.)

2) What kind of decorations should we go with? I am thinking very minimal decor as I wanted to let the natural beauty of the place shine. It's all overgrown and green and right now the whole place is blooming. There are cherry blossoms bursting from every visible space in the gardens (oh how I wish they would still be in bloom at wedding time!)

Above our heads also hangs wisteria in bunches. I'm not sure how they'll last in the sumemr heat but I also hope they hang on till then.

What do you think? Should I leave it alone like I think I should and just place the seating out? Or should I try to decorate the beams or something? I kinda like them bare myself but I'd like your opinions on it.

And psst, what do you think of this view for marching down the aisle? It makes me feel like throwing on my wedding dress and having a strut up and down for real.

With less than our months away, we have so much to do and decide on. But you know what? I'm excited. I can't wait for the party to be over with and to start this new adventure in married life.

(All pictures by me)

please don't judge me by the books I love

2009-03-22T18:01:00.001-07:00

I preface this post with a statement that may or may not turn you off to this blog completely (all two of you who read it): I love Twilight. Yes, I know there are things about it that should turn me off and my feminist self is sometimes repulsed by how much I adore the character of Edward. But I'm a sucker for stupid vampire love stories and for that, I hang my head in shame (that's for you, Jenn! Sorry. You still love me, right?)

Anyways, if you haven't seen the movie then you probably won't understand the next part of this post. I saw it with giggly bridesmaid and well, I just about fell in love with the sweater Bella Swan wears at the end of the movie during the prom scene as seen here:

(image by TwilgHt)

I love the soft look of the little shrug she is wearing over the blue dress (which, incidentally, is a very close match in color to the bridesmaids' dresses). There is some pretty beading of white and blue flowers along the edge of the shrug which gives it a lovely vintage look (plus what a fantastic way to include the whole "something blue" idea). So ever since giggly bridesmaid dragged me to the movie and thereby dooming me to love the Twilight series, I have become obsessed with the idea of finding this sweater (or a pretty close simulation of it) to wear at my own wedding. Though it's a summer wedding, the reception is at night and being held close to the bay where the wind does chill even in July.

So I browsing etsy for the millionth time today (really, it is a bad habit but thank goodness I've been pretty self-controlled when it comes to spending money frivolously as I've got a nice case of don't-buy-it-unless-it's-necessary-for-the-wedding guilt these days), when I came across a number of contenders for wedding shrug/sweater:

I came across this little beauty when I was first shopping at etsy. It's a little scalloped lace shrug that screams out vintage gorgeousness. I fell in love on the spot. But after buying my Dress, this no longer was an option as the two did not play together well. I needed something that played nicely with a garden feel.

(shrug by Rohm)

The next little pretty thing I found was all fluff and airiness; I was smitten. My heart still skips a beat when I see it. But somehow I think it won't do as the ruffles are a little much for my dress and would compete with it. If I had picked a simpler dress (maybe the one I thought about going with) this added details would've been just the thing to make the wedding outfit pop! But the two combined, it becomes busy.

(silk organza ruffle jacket by the English Department)

And then I went shopping with giggly bridesmaids and a few other friends this past week and stumbled across this while out on the town with the girls:

(capelet by Anthropologie)

I just adored the yellow trim and it really looks like it could keep me warm from the bay winds. I'm not sure whether or not it goes with the Dress but it is simple enough that it might. I am hopeful.

And then there's this last discovery which has completely won by heart. It has all the qualities I was looking for: vintage, beading, and warm! Plus out of all the other possibilities, this fits most with the Bella Swan sweater I longed for. Is it wrong that I want this based on a movie--let alone a teen movie? I feel a little ashamed by the thought but nonetheless, I adore this shrug. It is so very sweet and would go great with my dress.

(shrug by Breathless)

What do you think? Should I go ahead and buy it?

time goes by really fast when you're planning a wedding

2009-03-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

(image by dakokichidekalb)

Today marks exactly 4 months until the wedding.

Huzzah!

beware birds bearing messages

2009-03-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

Now that our little postcards are safely away crossing air and land and water to reach their ultimate destinations, I think I can reveal a little of their making.

Step One:
Go to Boy's mom's place. Make small talk. Have dinner and then when you've finally stuffed yourself silly with salmon, stemmed veggies, calamari, and all sorts of soups and breads, pounce on the moment before complete after dinner stupor to ask her to please take a picture of you and the Boy for some snazzy Save the Date cards.

Step Two:
Once you get her to agree to a rather inarticulately explained idea (for shame, all those long hours of toiling away for an MA in Literature and all she gets is gestures, diagrams and a "Just trust me, I see it in my head"), and you finally drag the Boy in on the fun, then have your brain become suddenly blank.

The boy will turn and look at you and ask, "Well, what do you want to do?"

You will respond coolly, "I dunno. Something funny and dorky, you know, like us."

"Um, like what?"

"You know. Silly."

"OK, I don't know what you want. I can't see inside your head." Turns back to the basketball game on the tele.

grumble grumble. sigh. "OK, let's just take some pictures of us standing and holding these signs I already printed out.

Step Three:
Take a multitude of awkward pictures. Thank the Boy's mom for being a good sport. Now wait weeks to print the pictures out. Got that?

Step Four:
Finally decide it's probably cutting it a little close that the wedding is less than six months away and the save the Dates card really should've been made and sent out (especially for those guests overseas) and then drag one giggly bridesmaid to your local Walmart wherein you proceed to jam up one of their photo kiosks in your pathetic attempt to print out 100 copies of 4 2x3 pictures. Get frustrated and leave and then blog about this frustrating experience.

Step Five:
Wrangle the Boy to going back to said Walmart but this time printing out a few copies and then copying the entire photo and printing it that way (ha ha! I did manage to beat the system and left relatively not annoyed).

Step Six:
Finally put together the postcards using 1) the dorky pictures, 2) some old watercolor paper so generously donated by giggly bridesmaid (I just adored the weight and texture of the paper), 3) one Xyron Sticker Maker, 4) one paper cutter and some odds and ends including stamps and pens.

Here are the dorky picture I spoke of.

Take the picture and run it through the machine. You just turn the little knob on the side and it will cranks the picture through the machine. Just be careful in the timing you put the next picture in so they don't overlap and you don't get sticky coating on part of it.

The picture comes out the other side on the sticker paper. Peel the picture off the paper...

and then put it on whatever paper you want to use (in my case, it's the watercolor paper). I made sure to leave some room on the edges so that when I cut them out I'd have a border around them.

After you get all the photos onto the paper, you'll have sheets and sheets waiting to be put out.

Cut the postcards out using a paper cutter (or a steady hand and a pair of scissors on lines drawn using a ruler works just as well).

Once done, you've got a nice stack of postcards.

I attempted to run the paper through our printer but it was too thick. So racking my brain for other ideas, I decided to punish myself by handwriting all the postcards. I took stamps I had purchased when we first got engaged and I was on this kick that the wedding will be bird-themed (still is though the ideas have been diluted somewhat since the first rush of infatuation or pragmatic sensibility). I stamped he little birdie on the top left-hand side and the vine and birds down the middle of the card to divide the text and the addressee sides. I had wanted to get one of those nifty vintage postcard stamps but time being short and me being impatient I went with the vine and I think it turned out rather well. Then I hand wrote the little note coming out of the bird's beak ("Save the Date!") and the message ("Boy and Girl are getting hitched! (Details to follow)) and when my hand wasn't complaining anymore, I wrote all the addresses of our dearest friends and family and then we sent them out.

(all pictures are by me)

With a sign of relief, I say: Huzzah, they are done!

Next step: invitations, programs and escort cards. Thank goodness I've already a good head start on most of these.

a wind of change

2009-02-25T17:53:00.000-08:00

It seems like after the first rush of wedding planning (especially if you've got some down time between the enagagement and the actual wedding) there comes this period where nothing happens. At least in my case this is what happened.

More than that, I couldn't stand anything wedding related. The shows I loved to watch so much (you know, like "Bridezilla," "Who's Wedding Is It Anyway?", "Rich Bride, Poor Bride", etc.) was like this constnt pinprick to my conscience.

Why you ask? It all boils down to this: money.

Basically, I couldn't justify to myself why we were spending all this money on one day when what was really important to us was sharing this special day with our friends and family. We knew that they didn't expect anything from us and for that, we are thankful. However the Martha Stewart in me (and maybe a slight case of too much oogling wedding blogs and other people's weddings) brought out the comptetative side in me.

However, with much deliberation, the Boy and I decided to scale down our wedding. We're much relieved by this news. It made me excited to plan the wedding again. And with the wedding less than 5 months away, I need to get excited again.

To save on costs, we decided to only hold the ceremony at the Garden we had booked for both the ceremony and reception (and cocktail hour). While we love that site and it is gorgeous, there was a lot of extra expenses we didn't anticipate when we first booked it. Luckily, because we're having our wedding on a Sunday, they were gracious enough to let us scale back to just a ceremony.

My best friend's (and Maid of Honor) parents were also generous enough to offer their home as our reception site. They have a fabulous deck and gorgeous garden and patio; this ended up being the best mistake we ever made. It feel more like us with this change in plans. Plus, with a view from their home, you can see all the beach/bay view that we in Southern California are so luck to have. And additional bonus with our summer wedding is that we will actually get to have fireworks at the wedding! Fireworks are illegal in California but from the home you have a great view of SeaWorld; all summer long, SeaWorld puts on firework shows so that means there will be fun firework at my wedding!

This home also has a very special meaning to our relationship (this was the spot when the Boy first told me he loved me) so it is perfect for celebrating our nuptuialsl.

Other updates:

- We found a photographer we liked and we've booked them. We are schedule to do engagement pictures in April (though I feel a little silly as we've been engaged for over a year now).

- We're having a good old fashioned BBQ for the reception (catered) plus tons of homemade goodies and a touch of Asian exotic foods.

- I'm thinking of having my mom wear a traditional Thai dress as her dress. I've been looking into some other traditional elements of a Thai wedding ceremony and I am hoping to include more than I orignally thought I would. There would be something sweet about it and I feel like it would also be very me.

- Mason jars. Anyone got some they want to give to me? I want to give each guest a mason jar to drink some fine lemonade/pink lemonade/iced tea from.

(image from Style Me Pretty)

- I made our Save the Date cards; they're cute. (I'll post on that later.)

- I also want to make out invitations; I have several mock ups but I think it would be easiest if I had a gocco machine. Anyone got one for sale?

- Bridesmaid dresses were supposed to be untraditional; several ideas later and 5 months to go, we're going traditional.

on the hunt

2009-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Okay chickadees,

I am on the hunt for wedding day shoes. At first, I wanted red shoes as I think they are so dramatic and flirty. Heels was another thing on my list of wedding shoe requirements (a must when I stand a measly 5'2" and the Boy is 6'3").

Since the purchase of the Dress, I have been having second thoughts about this seemingly small element of the wedding. Now I'd like yellow flats, cute darling little things. Yellow is such a happy and fun color and would stand out against the paler shades of pink, blue, orange, and copper. It would be unexpected...unless you knew me. Because, you see, I adore yellow and wear a fantastic mustard yellow coat whenever I get the chance. As for the low to no heel portion to the new shoe decision, this is a matter of practicality. Last September I re-hurt my left ankle somehow and it has never gotten better (yes, I am seeking medical treatment about this) so heels are hard to wear. In fact, I don't think I've worn anything that wasn't a flat shoe in forever (poor shoe collection, I have been reduced to living in my Converse, flat boots, sneakers or grey flats). I have a feeling the ankle won't get any better by the wedding (or not much) and since I am clumsy anyways, it's best not to tempt fate. I'd like to think my wedding day shoes will be comfy enough to dance the night away with family and friends but stylish enough for those wonderful shoe shots that I love in wedding day photography.

In light of this, I have been scouring stores and shops online.

This was the inspiration for the yellow shoe love. Plus it has feathers. Could it get any better?

(image from stylehive; shoe by j.crew)

How fun is this pair by Marc Jacobs? It's a shoe that has the cutest rat face you'll ever see. I especially love the little curl of the tail at the back.
(shoe found at zappos)

And lastly, but not least, this little gem reminds of the ruffly embellishments in my dress.

(shoe found on zappos; designed by Diego Di Lucca)

What do you think of a bright yellow shoe as my little secret?

hot guys in vests make my heart beat a little faster

2009-02-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

(image from jcrew)
I came across this in looking for things for the bridesmaids to wear (did I mention I was trying to go about buying dresses in a nontraditional way? I just don't want anything shiney or too formal and I was looking for dresses that comfier, as if you put on something very nice to go to our garden party which happened to be our wedding).
The Boy and I haven't given too much thought to what he (and his groomsmen) should wear. Is that bad? In all this time, we've been focused on what the girls should wear: what I should wear, what the bridesmaid should look like, what my mom and his mom could wear...psst, I think I like the idea of my mom going a traditional route and perhaps just dressing up in our native costume). About the guys, well we didn't even think about it enough to even figure out whether or not they were going the tux route, though I do vaguely remember the Boy saying something o this nature very early on into the wedding planning process.
Now, I've never really seen the Boy all dressed up in his fanciest clothes. The summer we first got together he was the best man in his friend's wedding. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see him in all his glory (and the embarrassing story about him forgetting the rings in his truck) because I had another wedding to go to that weekend. But from the pictures I was shown afterwards, the Boy was owning his James Bond self.
Since then, there has been few times that have called for either one of us to really dress up. We're the jeans and t-shirt typical Californian couple in that way. Only once, in all the years that we've been together, have I seen the Boy dressed up in a great fitting pair of charcoal slacks and dress shirt. Wow.
Since then, Ive been obsessed with the idea of the Boy not wearing a tux to our wedding but something along the lines of the picture above. I'd even love it more if the Boy would comply and wear a cool vest like that one. I don't know what I'd do with myself if he did. I think I might just have to marry him if he did (psst, are you listening Boy?)

Paper Nightmares

2009-02-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

I am annoyed with Walmart. Yes, I said it and I don't care who knows it.

Here's the story:
We are DIYing as much of the wedding as we can. I think it will add a cute and personal touch to the festivities (and being cost effective does help matters too).
Part of my quest to be DIY Bride is to make all the paper products for our wedding, including handmade invitations and Save the Date cards (pictures and stories about the invitations in another post). I was browsing some fantastic blogs when I first started this blog and came across a wonderful one called my polaroid blog; it's so fun and cute! You guys should check it out. She helped revive my love for old school polaroids (I am still on a quest for a polaroid camera; any one got one for sale?) If you scroll down her page, on the right hand side are cute pictures she has taken of people holding signs as her way to mark the day (there's a really cute hand drawn clock as well). Instantaneously, I got a flash in my brain (you know, the *flash* like Emily Starr has; points to you if you know the reference) and our Save the Date cards were born.
Basically, the Boy and I (with the help of his mother) took very silly pictures with us holding up signs of our wedding date; four to be exact. So in each panel, we are holding a card with the day of the week, the month, the date and the year (in that order). Cute, right? And so simple. I then planned to use my printer to print some cute save the date message on the reverse side and voile, a cute postcard!
So the giggly bridesmaid and I (yes, the very same one as the previous post only she wasn't as giggly today but moony over her new gorgeous haircut she got earlier today), waltz into our local Walmart with the silly notion that we would be able to print these pictures out in relative ease.
We were wrong.
Now the actual setting up for printing wasn't hard. I just popped by SD card into the kiosk and a couple of taps here and there to crop and sepia it and there it was. Now the reason I decided to get them printed out at Walmart was that their kiosks have this handy little feature where you can print out four pictures onto one 4x6 (I don't know if other photo places do it but I was sure Walmart did it because I have used it before). Easy peasy, right?
I printed out one copy to make sure it all turned out right (it is cute!) and then turned my attention to print out the rest. I hand tapped in all 100 print outs (that means I tapped the screen over 400 times people), hit the print button and it all should've gone smoothly and we should've been out there in under 20 minutes. The allotted time went by. Still no photos. We walked around a bit and came back to check on it. Nothing. Walked around some more. Nothing. Asked one of the photo attendants to check it out for us; she did and said we just had to be patient since we were printing out so many pictures. We shopped some more (I think I ended up with some many things in my cart out of sheer boredom). In the end, after almost an hour, we came back and there was still no photos to be seen dispensing.
I had had it. Really, I was fed up. And a little pissy.
Giggly bridesmaid was no longer giggly. Or moony. Or any feelings that could be construed of as happy.
In the end, I had to cancel the order altogether as I was not in the mood to wait another hour (or however long it would've taken to finally print). So we went into Walmart with the intentions of making my Save the Date cards; I came out with Valentine junk.

Curses on you, Walmart.

The Save the Date cards saga continues on...next version, Target?

The Dress

2009-02-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

News of news: I am in possession of my wedding dress. The shop called last Friday to tell me the dress I ordered was finally in. So months of anticipation and slips in belief that this was the perfect dress lead up to Monday afternoon where I had a face to face with The Dress.

The Dress.

Would I still love it?

Did it fit?

Was the color off or would I wish I had gone with the champagne color?

How did it still fit in with our ever-changing wedding plans (thanks a lot to all the wedding blogs I've been reading!)?

And last but certainly not least, was it still the One?

I got to the shop and they pulled the dress out.

I made a face. This was certainly not the dress I ordered.

On the hanger it looked so...expected. I did not want to be expected. I wanted to dazzle. I wanted to be me in my wedding dress not a wedding dress on me.

I sighed quietly to myself. What would I do if I didn't love it anymore? With it all paid for, I would have to wear it even if I didn't love it. There would be no other way. We couldn't afford to not wear it (unless someone bought it off of me for the same price I paid for it). I was resigned to inevitable.

The consultant (not the one I originally bought The Dress from) escorted me to a dressing room. Once the curtains were closed, she proceeded to have me take off my shirt and help me out of my underclothes. By help I mean she took off the undergarment I was wearing, wrapped a corset around me, then proceeded to tell me to take off my pants. I was shocked. Nay, embarrassed. Now, I'm not a prude, per se, but the sheer brusque manner in which I was out of my brassiere and into a corset without so much as a "I'll turn around and let you get undressed" left me speechless. And cold. In my knickers with a perfect stranger and one giggly bridesmaid.

This did not help me love The Dress.

Off the hanger went the Dress, and into it I stepped. Still not convinced, the dress went up, the zipper zipped, and the consultant fussed over where to put the embellished strap dangling by my side. Her being flustered by the placement only intensified the giggly bridesmaid. I had to calmly explain that it didn't matter as I was planning to have it cut off anyways. The consultant breathed a sign of relief, spun me around and there I was in my wedding dress.

Shock sunk in. Giggly bridesmaid ceased to giggle but was shortly replaced with squeals. She loved it. She oohed and ahhed as appropriate. We stepped out to the main showroom and up on the pedestal I went. A few tucks here and there and a pin to simulate the sweetheart neckline I had planned for and the dress was transformed into The Dress I had fallen in love with. There it was. Me in my Dress.

(image by one giggly bridesmaid)

Falling in love with The Dress again did not diminish the fact that the shop where I purchased it was requiring me to take it home right away. How could this be? The wedding is months away and I was still counting on the idea of the first time the Boy seeing me in The Dress was at walking down the aisle.

Giggly Bridesmaid could not keep it at her home as they were in the process of redecorating and she could not guarantee the safety of the Dress. Calls were put out to the Boy who suggested calling the Maid of Honor. Thank goodness MOH picked up as I was on the verge of tears. Her parents could and would keep The Dress in their home. Several more phone calls were made including a short conversation with MOH's mother and the Boy and then me, one excited bridesmaid, and The Dress crammed into her car and drove away from the shop to its home for the next couple of months.

I do so very much love my friends and their family. They keep me sane (which is a task in and of itself minus the stresses of planning a wedding).

Along with The Dress trial, I tried on the headband I purchased with the intentions of wearing it for the wedding. *sigh* It did not turn out the way I planned. Had my dress been shorter and less embellished, I think the peony headband would look sweet. But with all that is going on in The Dress, it sort of calls for my hair off my face either pulled back or cut into a bob!

When I told friends about this, there were cries of anguish with the thoughts of my hair coming off. So to appease them I have agreed to try out some hair styles that will give me the look of the bobbed hair I like (which, if they will keep in mind, I will be returning to after the wedding). B suggested this look and I do think it goes pretty well with The Dress and the feel of the wedding:

(image from Brides.com)

Imagine it with side-swept bangs and either a flower tucked in the back or a cool birdcage veil. I will definitely give it a try. I've even got the earrings to go with it. But that's another story for another day.

I am lost...

2009-01-24T15:39:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about hair, shall we?

The date is coming up fast and I have yet to decide on what I am going to do with my hair. I got it cut a few weeks ago and added bangs (oh how I've missed you!); LOVE the hair. Am thinking of possibly getting it cut again a few days before the wedding and wearing it straight, simple and non-fussy with the headband (update: got the headband in the mail yesterday, tried it on and it looks cute! It's a little bigger than I thought it would be but with the details in the dress, I think things would work out quite well).

But to run through other options, I have always loved the idea of wearing my hair up. Only, I don't think I would pull it off too well. My hair is stick straight and doesn't really get the kind of volume one would need to pull off something cute like this:

(image from A Backyard Wedding)

Don't you just love the birdcage veil? Plus, love a bride that rocks the bangs.

Or I could wear it down and wavy (this would require lots of work from curling iron, hairspray and perhaps extensions?!)

(image from Brides)

It's romantic and curly and so touchable. In place of the lace headband goes the one with a big pink peony.

Really, I am up for anything. I need to scour more magazines and websites for hair ideas. I have no preferences but just know that some things won't look good on me (adore ethereal looks but gawd, horrible on me).

Ideas anyone? Really. Please send me some.

with flowers in her hair

2009-01-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

(image from bungalow)

Squeal! (Did I just squeal?) I bought this. I am excited. I think I am going to wear it at my wedding.

I think.

2008 Recap

2008-12-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

So as to keep my good friend Mae company, I've decided to go ahead and post this cop out of a post and fill in a survey of the going-ons of my life this year. Enjoy, and if you feel so inclined, please copy it and fill it in yourself and drop me a line and let me know about it so I check it out, yo.

On with the show:

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
February - Got engaged.
March - Moved out of my parents house and shacked up with the Boy. All happened rather quickly and not much time to freak out by over thinking this decision.
April - Started my month leave from work at the end of April; all weddings plans and relationships put aside in reparation for the MA Exam which determines whether or not I graduate. It almost marks the beginning of my hermit-like state.
May - Celebrated six years with the Boy. Am constantly amazed by the numbers as it never feels as long. Also took the MA Exam and then proceed to wait an agonizingly long week to figure out the result: I graduated.
June - Tarah's baby shower. She looked amazing. Start of last summer working with a coworker from hell.
July - Last fireworks on Heather's parents deck. It's like an ending of an era. Best friend Heather and her boyfriend Tom also move to the Bay area. Start a new gym routine in hopes of getting a new/old figure for the wedding. Book wedding venue. New classroom at work (I actually start to like going to work again). Start a wedding blog!
August - Wedding dress shopping: not as traumatic as I thought it would be.
September - Get my ears pierced. Buy my wedding dress. Am traumatized by both.
October - Came up with a great carnival idea for work and spent the rest of the month building and painting it. Have thoughts of maybe being a party organizer or renting out photo boards as a side job.
December - Taste testing with potential caterers. Love getting to eat free food. Somehow wound up guinea pig sitting over the winter break.

Did you keep your New Year's resolution, and will you make more for next year?
1) I didn't make any and 2) I won't

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Tarah had a baby girl, Rowan (Tarah, will you help me name any future kids? Your girls have such cool names)

Did anyone close to you die?
thankfully, no

What countries did you visit?
none, so sad. Hope to rectify it next year

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Good health. Increased finances. A more satisfying career. A marriage.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Feb. 16th - Got engaged

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing and graduating with my masters. It was a long time coming and I am a happy girl as a result.

What was your biggest failure?
Another year passes and I'm no closer to a goal all my friends and family have for me

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Repeated injuries to my ankle

What was the best thing you bought?
My wedding dress

Whose behavior merited celebration?
* The Boy for going back to school with enthusiasm and discipline.
*Mae for bearing her hardships with amazing spirit and a kick ass sense of humor.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People who treat others as if we were second class citizens

Where did most of your money go?
Rent and bills, then books and accessories

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting engaged (short) then passing the exam (curses followed by whopping and hollering and calling everyone on my phone)

What song will always remind you of 2008?
Erm, I really liked Ingrid Michael son's "The Way I Am"

Compared to last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? Generally happier though with much more stress
- thinner or fatter? Fatter? But steadily losing the weight
- richer or poorer? New bills and responsibilities make this girl poorer though I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had as a result

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveled more. Made more of an effort in other areas of my life

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stress but that wasn't really going to happen

How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with my new and old families

What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2008?
I'm not particularly embarrassed by any of my actions...probably saying something stupid at work?

Did you fall in love in 2008?
Deeper with the same guy

How many one-night stands?
No thanks

What was your favorite TV program?
Didn't really watch much tv

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't last year?
Mmmm yes but I try not to dwell on it

What was the best book you read?
I was amazingly lucky enough to read a lot of great books this year in preparation for my exam. Loved the annotated version of "Wizard of Oz," learned that "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" was not as miserable as I thought Joyce would be, adored "Age of Innocence" (and the rest of Edith Wharton's works), became a semi-expert on all things "Beowulf," laughed with Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", and was surprised by Faye Weldon's "Heart of the Country." After all these heavy works, loved giving my brain a guilty treat by reading all of the "Twilight" series

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ingrid Michaelson, Cold War Kids, Edith Piaf, 80s classics (can't remember if they were exactly a new discovery from this year but those got the most play on my ipod)

What did you want and get?
I wanted to be finished with school and I did.

What did you want and not get?
Reconnecting with old friends

What was your favorite film of this year?
"Atonement" easily but I also liked "Dark Knight" and chick flicks like "27 Dresses"

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and spent a rather stupid day by myself

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Attaining my long-sought for goal and/or getting a better/wanted job

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Becoming more sure of myself and my sense of style

What kept you sane?
Family and friends and the Boy; books now but for awhile they were the enemy

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy most?
James McAvoy

What political issue stirred you the most?
The election

Who did you miss?
My best friend. Other friends. The Boy's grandfather

Who was the best new person you met?
Christine (though technically she wasn't new but we didn't really get to talking till this year)

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
* It may take some time but if you work hard, you can get what you want.
* Sometimes you get what you didn't know you wanted.

If you could sum up 2008 in three words, what would they be?
Trepidation. Bewilderment. Satisfaction

best wishes for wonderful winter celebrations

2008-12-23T14:36:00.001-08:00

(photo by Olivia Bee)

In the flurry of holiday-related activities I have neglected this blog and well...let's face it, all things wedding related. Here's hoping everyone has a safe and fun holiday and I'll be back in the new year with more concrete decisions (let's hope!).

food and fun is a wonderful combination

2008-12-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

We had a tasting with a prospective caterer last weekend and now we're in the "We like them but are we ready to commit" phase of the relationship. I'm telling you people: finding the guy is the easy part; planning all this craziness to celebrate the idea of us staying together for the rest of our lives is a massive headache. When can I move onto the funner aspects of DIY projects?

For those of you lucky enough to attend the nuptials, if we go with them (which we probably will because the Boy is far more decisive than I) your bellies will be very happy. Mine was. Even the Boy's dad and he is not into "exotic" foods. We're all very excited by that bit of new as he was the one we were most worried about.

But because these last few entries have been rather humbug in nature, I leave you with pictures from The Image is Found; I hope my wedding is this fun!

Is the little girl below just too cute fo words? She almost makes me want to rethink actually including small fry at the wedding. Almost.

and the second guessing continues...

2008-12-09T17:45:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my theme of wondering whether I made the right decisions for my wedding, here is another to add on top of the others: did I pick the right dress? I only ask because I came across this fabulous dress by sarahseven and thought it was adorable! Perfect for a summer wedding even. Who wouldn't have a second thought when confronted by such a gorgeous fun dress? *sigh* I do still love my dress but could I have two dresses, pretty please? I would be a happier bride.

cold feet

2008-12-06T20:42:00.001-08:00

I've been going on normallly, being swept up in all the mundane activities of everyday life, giving very little thought to the whole wedding planning process. Of course, there are times when something pops into my head and I feel my pulse quicken just thinking about wedding details. It probably doesn't help that almost-strangers come up to me and take my hand to stare at my ring and proceed to bombard me with wedding-related questions. I get flustered and mumble something to the effect that I haven't really made any decisions just yet and thanks for bringing it to my attention and setting off another series of panic-ridden minutes.

I can't help it. It doesn't seem very real to me and because it doesn't, I can only immerse myself in plans for so long until I simply get...bored. Shock. Horror. Dismay. Who would've thought a bride would be bored. Ok, maybe bored isn't exactly the right descriptive word to use. But without anything really concrete to do for the wedding (favors to make, table decor to put together, programs to type out, all those fun DIY projects), my fingers get ansty and my attention wanders off to more immediate concerns like when's a good time to visit MOH?, did I pay that bill yet?, or what would it be like to have a parasitic twin and would I get rid of it or keep it like the Octopus Man? (Because, you know, my mind is filled with lots of weird trivia.) It doesn't seem real without all of that. And because of this, I find myself changing my mind from month to month about decor details, colors, themes, etc. Currently, my mind is battling the idea of switching the color scheme to grey and yellow because it fun and incorporates two colors I am obsessed with.

Help!

Will someone else plan the wedding for me and all I have to do is show up, smile and look pretty?

To Do List: November Edition

2008-11-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

To Do:

1. Call caterers and make appointments to meet them in person.
2. Follow through and actually go taste good food (I hope!).
3. Show the Boy the prospective photographers. Convince him to decide on one and call.
4. Meet with said photographer and (hopefully) book him/her/them (I do so enjoy husband and wife duos).
5. Once we decide on a caterer, spring my gigantic list of party rentals companies for the wedding. Ok, so it's not really gigantic only my hand kinda cramped up with writing little lists of all that we need (really, do we need to feed you folks who are coming to the wedding? Will you be happy just to use the same plate, silverware and glass for any and all courses? Pretty please say yes. I'd love you even more.)
6. Show the Boy the list I've compiled for tentative play lists for songs to rock to at the wedding. Since we're on a budget, we've decide to opt for the low-tech DJ: one of our ipods connected to a laptop connected to some speakers. Yeah, we've got to play with the whole technical aspects of it but seeing as we'd like creative control over the music choices, and we're really not big on dancing anyways--though I expect our guests to boogie at the reception--it made the most sense. See what songs he'd like.
7. Work on invitations. Since I've got a general idea of what it is I want to do, keep on sketching ideas and see what happens.
8. That being said, figure out what sort of Save the Date cards to send out. I'm thinking something a little more for the Boy as I've sorta hijacked the wedding planning and turned it a little girlier than what we originally pictured it to be (modern, cool, fresh pops of color).
9. Shop for wedding shoes. Gee, that's not really a task, is it?
10. Go with bridesmaids and pick out dresses that suit each gal's figure and style. Opting for non-traditional look of matching maids. I don't really care for the look and I think since we're having a wedding that fits us, the dresses should fit the personalities of the Maids.
11. Decide what to do with my mad hair. Am I cutting it? Sticking with the whole growing out my hair thing? Getting cute fun bangs? What to do, what to do. Opinions?

And that, ladies and gents, is on my Wedding-Related To Do List for the rest of the month. Let's not even get started on the list for the rest of my life.

a photo is a creation

2008-11-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Max Wanger,

I love your photos.

Please come down from LA and take the pictures for my wedding; I'd be much appreciative.

Thank you.

Love,

Bride-to-Be

p.s. Here are some of my favorite shots.

papier collé

2008-11-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

A little quiet but can you blame a girl? Life has been a little busy (though things have begun to die down only in preparation for the holidays), almost too busy to really plan anything about the wedding. In all honesty, I am torn about designing it because it almost seems like I keep changing my kind every two seconds (and really, why can't a bride do this?) Only, it makes talking it out with other people difficult because I jump from style to style in an attempt to discover the all allusive "OUR Style." Grrrr, frustrating. But here it is, trying to blend the romantic half of myself with the fun and playful (dare I say it, whimsical?) part of our relationship with the more traditional leanings of the Boy. I love color (which has made it hard to narrow down "colors" because I love all sorts of combinations), he likes things with cleaner lines. Marrying the two isn't hard; finding something that screams us while maintaining our individual personalities proves a little more challenging. Which doesn't help my tendency to procrastinate. In an attempt to avoid the last minute melt downs that I know would come if I didn't plan ahead, I attempted more research.

I was browsing the blogs when lo and behold, I fell in love with these adorable invitations and save the date cards made by Celine, a lovely bride sharing her gorgeous wedding on Once Wed. Aren't they cute? I love the whole fun use of color and illustrations throughout the paper goods.

I love these adorable Save the Date cards. They're fun and give the guest a hint of the going theme of the wedding. I think they're cute but for us, I was thinking of something else for our Save the Date cards....

This is the cover of their invitation. It makes me want to dust off my old drawing pencils and sketch a little cartoon of me and the Boy (it would actually be fitting as I once made the Boy a comic book--with him as the super hero--way back in high school).

I love the singing little birdie on the left. I showed it to the Boy and he really liked it as we had planned on a bird theme for the wedding (not like nests and eggs but a subtle sprinkling of little birdies, bird cages, and maybe little birdie foot prints). Still working on how we'd like to word the invitation though.

Thought this was the most hilarious RSVP card ever! We have to definitely steal this idea; it's so us and out quirky sense of humor.

Long before this set of invitations, I had wanted to somehow include a map for our out of town guests (and a few in towners who had never been to our wedding site). This could be an inspiration for one way to style it.

I love the idea that Celine and Jin incorporated their guests. They had planned to go to Spain on their honeymoon so they sent along this cute stationary and had guests write down tips or places to visit in Spain. I think these would make really great thank you notes after the honeymoon.
And here is the happy couple:

Thanks to Celine and Jin, I think I may have found a little more direction with wedding plans. If you are one of the fortunate people coming to our little wedding, please don't judge me too much if you see more than one element lifted from this stylish lady's wedding--like the Boy, I think I knew it was the one when I saw it.

once upon a midnight dreary...

2008-10-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

By any name (Samhain, Halloween or All Hallow's Eve) I hope you all have a safe and fun evening!

stolen

2008-10-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

This blog post idea from Peonies and Polaroids, that is. (Again, you ask? Isn't this lady simple amazing? She never ceases to inspire me.) I was reading her blog and she has been posting about those kinds of quizzes and questionnaires people invariably send one another. And while I do fill many out (mostly out of sheer boredom), I have yet to feel compelled to make one part of this dear little Wedding blog (really, someday, I will get back to the point of this blog). But for whatever strange reason I simple could not resist this one. I like the use of pictures and the explanation thereafter. Please for the three people who actually read this blog, I tag you and request that you either post on this or send me an email with your own results. Thanks!

I used one of those mosaic makers (gosh, I love them and wish I had thought about using them before) and it lets you add links of the pictures you find. Go to Flickr (and if you don't have an account, you should by the way). Type on your answer and choose one of the images from the first page that comes up. You can either choose to explain why you picked it or not.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you?
12. Your Flickr name?

Here are some reasons behind the photos I chose.

1. Mostly, I chose this picture because it reminds me of the beautiful sunsets we have here at this time of the year. It's always been my favorite season and well, I do love wild flowers.
2. It's a joke, a combination of my favorite food and the Boy. This picture is perfect because it combines so many aspects of our relationship and individual personalities.
3. I know where this is taken.
4. It's a gorgeous color. Thank you Bob Ross for introducing it to me.
5. I couldn't really think of one. Mine are mostly from books and are long dead. However the Boy and I do enjoy his show.
6. Mmmm, I could use one now.
7. It's where I wanted to take the Boy on our honeymoon. I've always adored that land.
8. Yum. It's the one kind of cake I do like.
9. I thought about choosing what I hoped for a career but that has changed over the last 10 years and I don't know if it will change again. So, though it be the cheesier answer, I'd like to see the Boy and I be this happy old couple still enjoying each other's company as we do now.
10. You should see my house. It's filled to the brim but there's always room for more, much to the Boy's chagrin.
11. Changes coming soon?
12. I wish I had made this.

1. Queen Anne kind of sky, 2. Is Served!, 3. on the Hill, 4. The Storm of Pthalo, 5. Mike Rowe (0), 6. March 1st, 7. sei bbella Romaaaaaa, 8. Swirl Cheesecake, 9. friends, 10. Love to Read.....3, 11. "'hopeful', 12. Where to Next? The Sky's the Limit

Flora and Fauna

2008-10-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

I think it's high time I get to talking about some of the flowers I've come to love and want to incorporate into the wedding. Since we're on a budget and I'd love to do as much as possible myself (yes, I'm a DIY Bride), I've been trying to come up with cost effective yet gorgeous ideas for floral arrangements.

These, so far, have come to the top of the list in being cost-friendly, (fairly) easily procured, and not at all a monster of a task days before the wedding to set up. To top it off, I think they'd blend nicely with the Asian garden venue of our wedding as well as my style sensibilities.

1) Kangaroo Paws

Over the Labour Day weekend, my best friend (and Maid of Honor) came home for a short visit. While visiting her at her parents house, I found myself entranced by these strange yet beautiful branches of reds, oranges and greens nestled in corners all over their stylish home. I asked said BF what in the heck they were and hence the discovery of kangaroo paws! Look closely and they really do look like tiny little baby kangaroo paws (so aptly named). You wouldn't think we were the mature ladies we claimed to be with all the running around the kitchen with little blossoms pretending to be kangaroos looking for their lost paws we did. But I think that is the mark of a good friend, one who cherishes the ability to be at once mature and responsible and able to melt into childish peals of glee upon the discovery of a charming new toy. I hope our guests find the same ghoulish delight in playing with them as we did.

MOH's mother cut off some branches from the bushes growing in their backyard and I got many weeks of pleasure in looking at them.

(pictures by me)

I was thinking of putting them in light blue vases like these that show off their simple and architectural beauty.

(image from miss_armour)

2) Chinese Lanterns

Many years ago when the best friend and I decided to study abroad in jolly old England (very early in mine and the Boy's relationship), we happen on this exquisitely charming little plant in a Nottingham garden. Thanks to our British friends, I found these tiny darlings and have since longed to have a bush planted in my yard (not at all feasible at the moment).

Don't you just love the pops of red, orange and green (hmmm, I just now realize they had this in common with the kangaroo paws). They're so cute and Asian via the British Isles. I think they'd be fantastic in nice old urns like this picture below or in taller vintage teapots (the more rust the better!). I wonder if they're available in the States (I've never seen them); I may have to hunt them down and try my hand at growing them if not readily available in plant form.

(image from birdfarm)

How's about this lovely image. I like the idea of putting some lantern flowers in blue bowls. It add some visual interest combined with the height in some of the other arrangements I've been envisioning.

(Image from looseends)

And where oh where could I find these? Anybody know?

(image from OiMax)

3) Cherry Blossoms

I have always loved these trees. They make me smile and I'm ever so glad that the garden has cherry blossom trees. And I believe they'll be in bloom around the time of the wedding. So as a nod to that (and my long-lasting devotion to the girly delicate flowers), I think I'd like a branch of cherry blossoms in a simple vase to adorn the guest book table.

around the bend

2008-10-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling rather uninspired lately (it probably doesn't help that I've been under the weather the past two weeks as well) so I'm sorry I've sadly neglected my blog. Not that I think there are many readers but cest la vie. I suppose this blog is for my own sake rather than anyone else. It'll be something nice to reread once all this wedding business has settled down a bit.

So not a real entry but here are a few shots from the last time we visited our wedding venue. I still love it.

This is the lovely view our guests will be treated to when they enter the garden. I love Japanese maples; they're so dark and alluring. I haven't decided whether I'll be walking down this winding road or another. But I do love bends in the road and the fact that I won't be fully revealed all at once to my guests keeps this as a possibility. It keeps the suspense going a little longer.

We'll be getting hitched under this beautiful pergola. I don't think it'll need much decorating because it has lovely green vines that have twisted and wound all around it. I like the idea of leaving it as it is and letting the natural beauty of the shady greens and the tinkling sounds of the waterfall and splashing koi fish behind us enchant our guests. It'll be the perfect backdrop to the casual and uncluttered ceremony we're planning on.

A view from behind. Perhaps what I'll be seeing if I decide to enter the ceremony from this direction instead. We've been allowed the use of the building in the back so perhaps my bridesmaids and I will dress there and come out from there. It'd be an interesting walk in heels.

I'm thinking about using this area for the guest book table. It's a neat little path that leads from the ceremony site to the reception. Behind the bamboo wall lies more bonsai treats for nature lovers. Maybe tall stark kangaroo paws arranged in a simple tall vase would blend nicely in the Asian Zen feeling of the gardens. Where oh where will my birds belong?

The Boy didn't know I was taking pictures of him but I was thrilled by the reception site. It's a lovely curved open space that hugs the other side of the building (the one that you could see from the koi pond). Can't you imagine strings of paper lanterns and yards and yards of floaty material strung from the tops? Dance floor for those who want to dance and maybe the sweetheart table in front of the ceremonial gates. Only, I'd like our friends and family to be close by too. We'll have to work on those seating arrangements. But the place: isn't there such scope for the imagination?

Blue skies and shady bamboo groves: Asian influence without even trying. How's that for incorporating cultures?

Help for the confused bride

2008-09-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

This latest post (I know, I've already posted twice already! Bear with me) from Snippet & Ink caught my eye: she combines pale pink and French blue--a gorgeous combination! And since we are trying to incorporate a few colors together, this might be just the help we need!

just what I need

2008-09-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Since my priorities are elsewhere and I was heartbroken that I cannot, in good conscience, buy anything from the post below, I contented myself with these little treasures from Urban Outfitters.

I love fall...

2008-09-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

...and the lovely fashion it inspires. I know, I know I live in an area of the world where most people think that we just have sunshine and great weather all year long. Nothing ever changes. But I disagree. Anyone who lives here long enough, experiences all the seasons, will note the changes in the air and light that mark the passing of the year.

And when fall comes around, well it's no wonder it's my favorite time of year. Only those who know to look for it can find the changes that mark the passing of summer into fall: the smell of the warm sea breeze has a sharp edge that promises of cooler times to come, the hot air swirls around you like a sweater that's grown too tight but the night comes faster and the stars twinkle brightly saying, "Yes, we're here! We didn't leave you. We only went on holiday while it was hot and sunny and now we're slowly seeping back into the world," the sweet crisp night offers a prelude to the coming showers and rainy days, all around the air rings with laughing boys and girls let out after the last bell rings. The best thing about this time of year and indelibly marks fall in southern California: the sunsets. The broad brush strokes of pink, orange, yellow and red are like no other at any other time of the year. I could spend every night watching the sun set with the Boy.

(photo by moi)

But my favorite part of fall? The fashion. Each year I look forward to the sweaters, coats, scarves, and boots that come along with the turn in the weather (albeit, here, you do have to wait a little longer than the rest of the country for more traditional fall weather). I've missed you fall. I can't wait till the passing Santa Ana winds leave us alone together to resume our love affair. In anticipation and celebration of the lustful reunion, I give you my latest guilty desires courtesy of Anthropologie.

This gorgeous red sweater with cute brown boots that have embellished wildflower appliques on the side are adorable together. I can see wearing them with a pair of black skinny jeans and a cool knit beret. So cute and a little rough at the edges French!

I love this dress. I can see myself wearing to a party (like my birthday?); it's a gorgeous deep plum color and gives great definition in the waist but also short enough to show off my legs (and when you're vertically challenged, height is of the utmost importance in one's clothing choices! Who wants to appear shorter in an outfit?). Pair it with this great freesia headband and it totally makes it a cute party outfit!

I love hats; I do. I didn't use to as they itched and made me feel dorky and kid-like. But in the last few years I've grown accustomed to them, dorkiness be damned. Because, I'll let you in one a little secret, there are some fabulous ones out there! They do in a pinch when your head is cold and sometimes I pull them down low to look mysterious. I love the idea of embellished ones like this atop this lovely navy cardigan with silk chiffon leaves; who could mistake it for any other season than fall?

What's red, black and white? This fun and flirty combination of the white rose scarf and the black crochet lace coat! I dig the play of textures: the soft and fluid red scarf pops on the dark intricate structured lace coat.

And who wouldn't adore this swingy slip dress in pale blue with a gilded overlay? Pair it with gold flats that match the gold at the bust and you've got a sweet date outfit for a special night out with the fellow.

I love the sexy librarian look. In fact, sometimes I wish I were a librarian because I'd wear this lovely dress with some sexy red heels. Imagine what kind of reader response I'd get climbing the ladders to put books back on the shelves.

Last, but not least, an ode to the fading summer glory in this stunning sheath dress--so cute and lady-like. To make it more fall appropriate I'd throw on this fun and retro-vibe coat, some heels and head out the door. Business and lady-like appeal from the outside; fun and youthful frock under. It's the same kind of thrill you get when you know you're wearing fun knickers under your every day clothes.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty

2008-09-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

I did it.

I bought my wedding dress. But not in gold as pictured. It is stunning. I love it....

That is all.

top it off

2008-09-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

In the wake of having finally chosen a dress to wear, it sparks the imagination as to all the possibilities for head ware. I know, I know, I could go for the more traditional route and pick a veil to wear. It's what the Boy would expect. But more out of the sheer fact that he has no idea that there is anything else out there.

The first time I went to try on wedding gowns, my future mother-in-law was part of my party. I had the hardest time with that shopping day, mostly because I just could not feel like myself in any of the dresses. And when I mentioned possible alternates to veils, she looked incredulous. Is it such a scandal to wear something besides a veil to one's own wedding? Mind you, like her son, she had no idea what a birdcage veil was suppose to look like nor did she imagine the possibilities one could do with one's hair without a veil. All in all, it was easy to see why I didn't end up buying my dress from that first place; It was hard to picture myself getting married in any of them, and what's worse: they all were the type of gowns that you just had to wear a veil with. Anything less would seem out of sync.

However, my dress (how delicious sounding that is) opens up the possibilities beyond a tulle-covered head. Not that I have anything against veils, mind you. I love that the perfect one can create a mysterious aura--you can use it to hide your identity or just give yourself an allure that screams out "I'm the Bride-to-Be!" And I have to admit, I got a little thrill when I tried on some veils with some of the dresses. What girl wouldn't?

But I think, in the end, I'm not really a veil kind of gal. It's fun and all but it seems a little fussier than I'd like. I can see myself getting caught in a door (see image of me, all dressed up, walking away and suddenly flying backwards and smacking my head--and said veil--into the door frame; it's more possible than you realize), getting it caught on something (fuzzies and tears courtesy of my ring or my fingernails) or just plain getting in the way (the wind blows and the veils gets all caught on my lip gloss--what a gooey mess!; it hinders my vision and I trip and fall and there is a trip to the hospital rather than down the aisle; the veil gets caught in some gorgeously lit candles I have on the tables and I go up in a ball of fire--it can happen!). I am far too clumsy for a veil.

So, borrowing more than a little inspiration from Style My Pretty, I give you the alternatives to the veil (and they are all far more me, just like my dress).

Could you just devour this frenzy of feathers? It's such a stunning piece that would be just gorgeous and practical for a summer wedding.

(image from Brides.com)

These are from an etsy seller (did I mention that I just adore etsy for all the crafty wedding related ephemera?) Really pretty and unique (and hey, she's in San Diego as maybe I can get a customized hair piece!)

I love the lightness of this one.

(images by Sweets n Lo)

Who wouldn't love a hat on their wedding day? There's something to be said about English traditions.

(images from Melody)
Gorgeous, no?
So fun and vintagey!
A little something so fun and girly! I'd probably never wear this to my wedding but what a cute piece to have and wear for special occasions (say a rehearsal?)

(images by Satanica)

(image by Tijusai)

The dresses that weren't

2008-09-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

I did it! I did it!

I said that I would do it, and indeed I did.

I thought that I would rue it; I doubted I'd do it.

But now I must admit it that succeed I did.

'scuse the misappropriation of some classic "My Fair Lady" lyrics but I think it goes with the mood I'm in. Here's the exciting news I've been bursting to tell everyone: I think I did. I think I found my dress! Yes, The Dress (why oh why does one tiny frock demand capitalization?).

To honor the dress that weren't (for various reasons) and to pay homage to one Miss Peony, from Peonies and Polaroids, and her fantastic fashion sense, I give you the dresses that weren't and what I've learned from them.

This is the dress that taught me maybe Mom does know best (in the best translated version, my mum called this dress slightly pornish due to some major revealing skin in front and back)...

This dress taught me I do love sweetheart necklines but not mermaid dresses...
This dress taught me the importance of photographs--though I loved the vintage feel of the fabric, horrible lighting and bland pictures made me rethink if The Dress could only look good in person and nowhere else...
This dress made me realize that a halter top does wonders for the bust line... This dress taught me that while I love clean and simple lines, they do not always look good on me...

This dress taught me to always try on dresses because they can hit you at the wrong angle...
This dress taught me what looks good in photos doesn't necessarily translate in real life...
This dress taught me to stick to me guns and not give into a dress just because everyone else loved it...This dress made me rethink the bubble hem and sash combo (I really did love this dress on)...
This dress made me realize drama should be proportional to the size of the gal...

This dress made me rethink shimmer and princess cuts... This dress taught me that settling for second best is still settling...
This dress taught me that sometimes my gut reaction is the best reaction (trying on a Cinderella type dress may be fun but not for me; besides, this thing weighed a ton!)...
And this dress I love enough to go back this weekend to try on one more time. I think I love it enough to buy. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, I'll be a gal with her wedding dress.

Fabulous Fashion

2008-09-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

(image from The It Lists)

Every girl needs something that makes her feel fab...and this would make me feel FAB-U-LOUS (and pronounced just like that with attitude and snapping fingers). Isn't this a darling coat? It's not just red, it's vermilion. It's fun and girl (the lining has lace) but practical and stylish (it has a high neck). What girl wouldn't feel special in this coat? I want this coat. I want to throw it on and feel like Audrey Hepburn strolling the streets of Paris. Why does Chulo Pony make gorgeous clothes that I can't afford? I think I have to save up and wait for this to go on sale (like on clearance!)

Red Chulo Pony coat: you taunt and tease me and I come back for more.

"No cord or cable can draw so forcibly, or bind so fast, as love can do with a single thread"

2008-09-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

(image by Lauren Alane)

I dream of red shoes

2008-09-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

Gawd, I love a red shoe. You could say I'm obsessed with them. There is something slightly naughty about them that is cute when worn as a flat but turns any woman into a sexy goddess when worn at the highest of heights. Three cheers for red shoes!

(Michael Kors)

(shoes from Nordstrom)

(images from Snippet & Ink)

But I can't fault shoes in other hues that are fun and offer a bit of whimsy like these:

(image from Snippet & Ink)

(image from Lolita*Pop)

Aren't these shoes darling? I adore them. I covet them. I wish they were mine.

(image from os to)

I love silver shoes; they're fun. I own many pairs.

Random Note

2008-09-07T18:04:00.001-07:00

This has nothing whatsoever to do with anything wedding related but I had to share: I am in love. With the Boy yes but there is another love that existed well before that one. And that is my love of words. More specifically, the dream of one day owning my very own vintage typewriter. Once, when I was living in England, I visited a tiny village called Topsham and came across the perfect weathered typewriter. It only cost 50 pounds. I adored it. It called to me. I coveted it. And yet, my frugal student self could not part with the said money. More importantly, my practical self knew there was no way I could lug it on the train, take it to the room I rented out of a home for the semester, and then the most serious business of finding a way of transporting it home. *sigh* So I wailed, and declared just how unfair it was that I would not own that typewriter but with tears drying, I said goodbye. Ever since then, I have been--ok, I'll say it--obsessed with the idea of owing one. For what reason? I had great plans to write novels for a living but life interfered and here I am no where closer to that dream. But oh, if I could only own this typewriter, I think I would feel a brainstorm a thundering.

(image from Three Potato Four)

Psst, anyone out there in cyber world, my birthday is coming up in a few months. *hint, hint*

Did I mention that I love birds on cakes?

2008-09-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Jenn's blog, these are the cake toppers I like from Cornflake Girl. Aren't they the cutest? (And look carefully, there's a couple that is just for Devan. I know she'll appreciate them best and I couldn't resist adding them in with all my fine and feathered friends.)

I love flowing dresses

2008-09-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Especially those by Carmela Sutera. Here are a few of my favorites (I didn't repost the ones I liked from her before for fear of being repetitive and who would want to do that?)

(all images from Carmela Sutera)

*sigh* This doesn't make the dress shopping aspect of planning a wedding any easier. I find new dresses I adore every day but it brings me no closer to finding my dress. I suppose I could get off my bum and go out and try on more dresses but it leaves me a little sad that I have yet to have that "aha!" moment everyone talks about when you find a dress you know is yours. Because, in the darkest recesses of my heart, I do want that moment that you say, "This is my wedding dress" and know that it belongs to me as much as I belong to it and we are the perfect blending of what makes me me. As girly and fantastical as it sounds, I find myself longing for such a moment. I just hope I get it.

I'm bringing silly back...

2008-09-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

(photo by Snippet & Ink)

How cute is this? Wouldn't this make a darling scene for guests to take their photos?

a feast for the eyes

2008-09-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

(image from Snippet & Ink)

Isn't this just the most? Books + wedding = heavenly.

speaking of good eats...

2008-09-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

I found this delicious-looking cake inspired by the dinnerware I love from Lenox.

(image from Toast and Tables)

Their line of the Chirp Dinnerware is so cute, elegant yet casual and chic enough to be used everyday. The last of these reasons is why I would love to own this set because what's the good of paying (or other people buying you expensive china) when you hardly ever use it and it sits up in some cabinet gathering dust for all of it's life. I think china should be put to use and often. And who wouldn't want to when it's as pretty as this one.

what goes on cakes?

2008-08-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Other than a spoon-sized chunk out of it by the Boy? For me, it's all about the look of the cake and that includes the cake topper. I am still undecided as to use one or let the cake be the design but in the meanwhile, I fell in love with Ann Wood's caketoppers (which actually has served as inspiration for the bird-filled wedding). I love these bride and groom birds; she makes them from vintage fabrics and each one is unique.

I love the glamourous ones (these have a Great Gatsby feel to them).

This one has the feel of a chic garden wedding.

And I can't help but love these paper mache birds; the print on them makes them so very appropriate for a girl who loves birds, books and words.

(all images from Ann Wood)

And just to get out of the bird theme, how's this for a quirky take on Asian hints to the wedding?

(image from Teeny Beak Creations)

the maids

2008-08-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't these make the cutest bridesmaids' dresses?

And how's this for a wedding dress?

(all images from J. Crew)

Vintage Charms

2008-08-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get my mind off the problem of figuring out color schemes (and really, why does a wedding necessarily have to have one at all?) and in order to distract my mind from obsessing (a little too late, might I add, as I spent last night tossing and turning over ideas in my head), I happen upon a collection of lovely photographic images through Modern Vintage's website. These images by Simply Bloom Photography are breathtaking; they capture the feel I'd love to have for our own photos. The different splashes of light and the compositions just give me tingle up my spine. And you know when picture do that to you, you've found something special. I just wished they lived closer so it were more viable to contact them about doing our wedding. *sigh* Disappointments never grow easier with age.

Change my mind?

2008-08-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

(image from Snippet and Ink)

I love this color combination. Why didn't I think of it before?! It makes me almost want to change my color scheme just so I can have it; the colors are understated and romantic, vintagey and old worldish. Simply gorgeous. I just don't how it would do with a touch of orange.

'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!

2008-08-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

I drool for short dress.

The one that started it all:

(Funny Face)

Now my love has a modern twist.

(Legends by Romona Keveza)

(Galina at David's Bridal)

From Brides.com

(Stephanie James Couture via Glamour This)

(Lara Helene Bridal Atelier via Perfect Bound)

I wish my wedding called for a tea-length dress. Oh dream of dreams, you were not meant to be (but this doesn't prevent me from looking, longing for, and lusting. Easy on the eyes and even easier on the pocketbook).

The Great Outdoors

2008-08-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

I was browsing around on other blogs and found someone else's wedding that I loved. Brooklyn Bride posted pictures from Lauren and Chad's wedding. I love their idea of using the movie "Big Fish" as the inspiration to their wedding. And even though we don't have many major things accomplished yet with our wedding, many of the images from Lauren and Chad's wedding echoed some of those that I have found in books, magazines and websites that I have been hoarding away like a little miser waiting to bring it all together for our own day. I especially loved the following things:

Inspired Images

2008-08-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

If we were planning a more Pop-inspired wedding, this inspiration board from Snippet & Ink would be perfect. I still may steal the idea about the soda bottles, vases and bridesmaids dresses.

(image from Snippet & Ink)

2008-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

So I'm off this weekend to try on wedding dresses for the first time in my life. I'm a little nervous. How does one deal with the idea that some overly friendly salesperson will be in the dressing room with me, hjelping me to get into thse dresses? I don't know how I feel about that. I've never had strangers see me in my knickers before. Speaking of which, what kind of knickers does one wear for this ocassion and what about the other, ahem, undergarments? I am lost.

In an attempt tp be somewhat prepared, I've been browsing David's Bridal's website (I had made an appiontment with them last month at the Bridal Bazaar when it was in town). This is my first taste of something that makes the idea of beign a bride more real to me. So, while I don't plan to buy my dress at this point, it should be fun to try on all sorts of dresses; this trip is mainly to try on different styles and see which looks best on my figure. In the meantime, these are the ones I want to try on when I go:

(Oleg Cassini)

(David's Bridal)

But during less sane moments, I dream of gorgeous gowns like these:

What a luscious confection of silk and tulle.

(Suzanne Ermann)

Short and sassy, just like yours truly.

(Carmela Sutera)

(Carolina Herrera)

Just breath-taking; I love the beaded bolero with the texture of the tulle in the bodice.

(Monique Lhullier)

I love the sweet look with the secret sex appeal to this dress. If you look closely there is a plunging V-neck lined with delicate lace.

(Saeyoung Vu Couture NYC)

I wish I had the courage to try something as funky and cool as this one:

(Anne Barge)

2008-08-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

The other day the Boy and I went out to lunch with some good friends when rather suddenly, the friend (who incidentally is one of the Bridesmaids) casually stated that she and her mom thought we were one of the best couples they knew. Now the average person would be pleased and highly flattered at such praise but me, being slightly self-conscious about compliments (I never have learned how to graciously take one which is a cause for great concern due to the hoopla around the Engagement and Wedding), I smiled politely while the Boy thanked them with a huge grin spread across his face.

But this got me thinking about the relationship and wondering: if we indeed are a good couple (I hesitate to label us “one of the best”), do I sometimes take that for granted? And the answer is, much to my chagrin, yes. I do and I believe the Boy sometimes does as well. In all the messiness that defines much of our lives, the opposing schedules and our increasingly overwhelming workloads, I think we both assume that the other is too busy to mind that our separate lives keep us apart even in the middle of trying to plan the special day to formally join our lives together. Which can sometimes leave me stressed out and a little cranky and emotional and the Boy is left wondering where the ball of emotions stems from.

To alleviate some of my worries, I phoned a very good friend who went through her own harried wedding planning to marry a wonderful man and she helped me to realize that finding time with your partner is hard work and that even though a relationship seems to be good to the outside perspective, it can be fraught with many obstacles in the middle. Take for instance, the Boy’s and my schedules are vastly different and this makes it very hard to find time for one another. We’ve managed to mitigate much of the effects by trying to find little ways of showing that we care: leaving notes, calling/texting messages, staying up a bit later than normal just to be awake to say good night as the other comes home, fixing things before being asked to.

In the middle of all this trying to find good solid couple time together to keep this “best couple” relationship full steam ahead, we’ve also got a wedding to plan. Could we have picked a more demanding time to get married? It seems to me that when my friend unknowingly told us that we were one of the best couples, it opened up a can of stressful worms in my head.

So in the spirit of such thought-provoking off-the-cuff remarks, I want to make one (or many, I’m sure) list reminding myself what this wedding really is all about:

1. The wedding is the NOT the end all be all. I repeat, the wedding Is NOT the best day of our loves but just the celebration marking the beginning of our lives together as husband and wife.
2. Does it really matter what flowers go on what table or that the bird cages aren’t filled with the just the right what’s it or that my mom has somehow managed to arrive at the wedding wearing purple and orange? In the end, what counts is that everyone has a good time and we have fantastic memories shared with the very closest loved ones.
3. Shoes. Sure, I love them as any woman does but in the end, I’d rather be comfortable than wear the most expensive stylish pair in the world. Oh, but if I could find cute and comfortable shoes, it would be divine.
4. Yes, the Boy likes to joke around; as in telling puns, because he thinks they are funny. Not everyone else does. But should I, the bride, tell him he is forbidden from doing so at the wedding? Never. Besides the sense of humor, he’s a wonderfully kind and caring man who goes out of his way to make sure everyone around him is taken care of, comfortable, and having a good time. His calm and easy going manner is a striking balance to my somewhat neurotic manner. After all, even if it’s not exactly everyone’s cup of tea as far as humor goes, it’s one of the reasons I love him, puns and all.
5. Be sure to thank and spend some quality time with all those dear folks who took the time out of their busy schedule to spend our day with us. The day will be so hectic with all the chaos that seems to surround weddings that it will be hard to remember that these folks have flown and/or driven out to witness the start of our marriage. Be kind and have fun with them.
6. Laugh. A lot.
7. Find some time to tell the Boy how much you love him and are so proud to be his wife finally.
8. Don’t stress about things matching or “going.” As B told me in our wonderful conversation, seemingly incongruous elements will go together because they go together in you. How’s that for a compliment?

Will this good couple make it to the altar minus tears and tantrums? I hope so and mean to give it a good try. On that note, let the festivities begin…

Flights of Fancy

2008-08-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

I love our wedding venue. It's simply delicious and stunning in that subdued sort of way. (Like us?) The first time we walked through it on our own, we were both floored; I think I cried a little. The boy did not understand why even though he thought it the perfect spot to get married. There is something about it that creatively fuses together the simple garden wedding of my dreams with a nod to my heritage, casualness of being set in my favorite spot in town with a serenity you'd be hard pressed to find in the middle of the city. Can you blame us that we compared every other option to love at first sight? In the end, we took the boy's mom out to see the site and she, like us, was floored with the beauty. I hope our guests are too. We'll try not to overdo the decorations and let the beauty of the place speak for itself.

In the spirit, I've compiled together a inspiration board filled with just the tiniest fragment of things that we (and by we, I mean mostly me, but trying to keep the boy in mind--he does, in fact have a say so in the plans) are hoping to incorporate in the wedding itself. Some pictures we're taken by yours truly but others were found on the fabulous site, theknot, at the wedding shop on etsy, or the truly talented Ann Wood. In fact, the last in line actually inspired much of my wedding (as well as revitalized my own creative juices); I adore her. She's wonderful. If you haven't already done so, check her out because you'll just fall out of your seat with pure delight and plenty of oh-my-gosh-that's-so-cute moments.

Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair

2008-07-31T16:26:00.001-07:00

I've gotten a few emails the last few days from far away friends who are wondering about the details of the wedding. Only...I don't know what to tell them! Only 353 days to go and so much more to plan and make ourselves! Let me tell you; once you embark on this journey of picking out wedding colors, venues and caterers, making music selections, wondering if that gown you looked at in a bridal magazine would look good on you, figuring out what it is I want out of my wedding, well I find myself a bit overwhelmed by it all.

So first things first, I've been dealing with the dilemma of gigantic proportions: what am I going to do with my hair? Let's face it, you've all seen it in all its Asian/blond girl glory. If you don't remember it, let's recap: I'm an Asian gal with non-Asian hair. What I mean is that my hair is straight but very fine and behaves very much like what you'd expect someone with baby blond hair to do. It holds curls very well, can go very straight and has all these weird baby hairs that poke out in unexpected wisps across my hair line. Very annoying. I can assure you.

At the time of engagement, I had my hair very short. It was in a cute bob that I usually wore in loose curls in something the manner of Charlize Theron's bob, only with longish side-swept bangs. It was cute, fun and very easy to maintain. I simply adored my hair. But after getting a ring on your finger, something takes hold of you as if you are not your own person any longer. I swear something happens to a girl's head that tells her that on her wedding day she must have long hair to pull pack in a sweet chignon with a veil cascading down her back.

(image from theknot.com)

So I've started the torturous process of growing out my hair. And when I say torture, I mean it in every sense of the word when you take chin length hair and grow it out into the page boy stage wherein one also tries to cope with growing out bangs which involves a lot of bobby pins and headbands. All annoying and not at all flattering, I assure you.

But I've been thinking about my hair lately (my, this does sound a bit self-centered) and wondering to myself: am I doing the right thing?

I think long hair and up-dos are absolutely lovely in their own right and I've got scads of pictures collected that make me want to try it for my own wedding day. Only, something about it doesn't feel very much like me. I love my short hair and had already decided that after the wedding my hair would go short again. So this leaves me wondering, why grow it out just for one day if what I really love is short hair?

Hmm, why do so many women feel so drawn to long hair for their wedding day? Why am I plagued by the notion that I, too, must follow suit? Won't the people watching me get married rather see me as myself (only happier and all dressed up)?

I was reading Peony and Polaroids blog today and she just posted her wedding veil, a birdcage similar to the one I loved for my own wedding. She is choosing to go with the one with a flower in it to go with her garden themed wedding. I, however, love the one with the feathers.

It makes me smile and oh so me! Goodness, it goes well with the feel of our wedding. I think I might have to steal the ideal, with credit to Peony of course. This, somehow, does not solve my dilemma with my hair. Any suggestions?

I dream of a rustic wedding

2008-07-28T15:50:00.001-07:00

(all images from theknot.com)

I've been thinking a lot about the wedding lately (it all stems from the exciting news that we have actually decided on a place, time and date). Before that, plans were up in the air and ideas were very scattered. I love the idea of a quiet backyard wedding with lots of overgrown trees whose low-slung boughs are home to hundreds of paper lanterns; tables with fresh white linens hold homemade goodies like small cakes, cookies, lemonade and sandwiches; little flickers of candlelight sprinkle the scenery; and the air sparkles with excitement, happiness, and love. The boy would wear a navy pin-stripped suit with black Chuck's. I, the glowing bride, would be a vision in my tea-length dress with tons of tulle, bright teal shoes on my pretty little feet (my something blue), and a bird-cage veil sits upon my glorious short curls.

Of course, there aren't any backyards that I know of here that could contain the woodsy feeling to my dream wedding (even if I do know a backyard that it would perfect it, the miles are so vast that it would make the commute for most of the guests troublesome) so I have to settle for a garden wedding of a different sort entirely

However, I still hold onto my dream of this adorable veil made by Myra Callan.

The story, take 2

2008-07-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a midnight dreary...oh wait, that's not how the story is supposed to go. Once upon a time in a city by the Pacific coast, a boy and a girl met one another at the very romantic location with fluorescent lights styled in the manner of a faux lantern, greasy checkered material flowed from the tables strewn carelessly around the room, and delicious smells of smoked goods and barbeque sauce filled the air. What a perfect setting for getting lovey dovey. From then on, they were inseparable. Until, that is, the girl hopped on a plane and flew many thousands of miles across a little pond to settle in the heart of merry England. Unbeknownst to the two people, rather than marking the end to such a promising fledgling romance, the boy and the girl met again in that foggy cold air when he flew over to visit.

A mere five and a half years later, the boy and the girl remained steady in their affection but no real talk of marriage was in sight. A few personal tragedies that tested their bond only reminded the pair that it was indeed a special commitment they had. With that in mind, the boy took the girl out to a lighthouse in the middle of a glorious spring day and asked her to keep her promise that she timidly made many years prior. The years of somdays and soons and maybes had ended and the questions answered: they would be wed and spend the rest of their lives together.

In the spirit of waiting that seems to have marked every step of their relationship, all wedding plans had to wait until the overwhelmed bride had finished with most pressing matters related to all things academe. A few months flew by and not a thought was to be had that related to all things wedding.

Until that is, one day she finished and accepted her identity as a master of literature and threw open the gates to the dizzying world of wedding plans.

The girl wandered bookstores, friend's photo albums, and the internet in search of inspiration for her own wedding when she came upon the blog of http://peoniesandpolaroids.blogspot.com/. Filled with delight at all the beautiful images she found, she decided that instead of keeping all the things she found to herself she would create a blog that was in the spirit of the engagement journal she had grand plans to keep (which lasted a good month). In an attempt to salvage something of the process of planning a wedding and letting people in on it (let's say bridesmaids who don't live in town anymore or friends and family elsewhere), the girl made a blog. She is not a blogger. She hopes it goes well. Thanks in advance to Peony and Polaroids for inspiring the girl to be a better and craftier bride.

In the beginning

2008-07-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

A classic love story indeed: Boy meets girl. Playful interaction leads to full-blown trades of jabs and teases. A little inkling of attraction leads to a smoldering high school…friendship. Nothing happens. Girl graduates and both are unaware of the potential affair they had just missed. It was nearly four years later when their paths crossed again. On a whim, this man—once a boy—lays eyes on the girl (how does she stay a girl, one wonders?). Once again, attraction arises but this time, the intrepid couple embarks on a world wind, fast pace case of romantic entanglement. And the rest, they say, has been a somewhat challenging, hopeful, crazy, comfy, passionate happily ever after….