frugality. psht.

I'm sure most of you take one look at my blog and say to yourselves, "like I have time to read this...where are the pictures?" Hmmm. Good question. I am really lacking on the picture side of things, but totally going overboard on the words. I hope you can deal with it. Just like my random postings that I would love to do every day but somehow manage not to...

Anyway, on my quest for shoes (so Dave is more than a foot taller than me...and apparently my Mom won't let me get married in bare feet) has turned rather fruitless. Strappy this, shiny that...sequins here and rhinestones there. I have one word for you: cheesy. Not to be picky but if I am going to pay for shoes to be on my feet, I want something classy, classic and beautiful...with just a slight vintage touch and a simple, natural look. What? Too picky?

Well, much to my surprise, I came across a shoe that not only took my breath away but also stopped me on my mad search for shoes...that is until I saw the price tag. What can I say, Dave, you are marrying a woman with excellent taste!

Seriously. How good would my foot look in that shoe? Sigh. With the price tag attached, however, I better keep searching. And while I search, I am going to pout, just because I can.
(how did I do? a little shorter and a picture...I'm practically a pro!)

banana.

I had a conversation/photo exchange/compliment session over email today with a client I have been working with on an upcoming project. I sent her the link to this blog today, so if this incredibly wonderful but insanely busy woman ever stops by, I hope she knows I am talking about her!

Anyway, after exchanging just a few words with her, it made me stop for just a brief moment and think to myself how incredibly blessed I am. This is something that I am fully aware of on a day-to-day basis and something I truly never forget, but there are those little moments and exchanges that really make you stop and just say out loud to yourself, "I am one incredibly lucky person."

I have a Mother who has given everything she has just to pave the way for success for her children, and to her I will forever be eternally grateful. She taught me; I learned. She loved me; I loved back. She let me learn from my own mistakes; I fell and she helped me pick up the pieces. She supported me; I gained insight to her immeasurable strength and applied it.

I have Friends who no matter what, never cease to amaze me by their continued love and kindness. To have those people that you can turn to in any situation and know that they will be there to punch someone in the face for you or just let you use their shirt for a kleenex; that is an incredibly humbling thought and one that I am so grateful for.

I have a Family that I am marrying into that not only accepts me, but welcomes not only me, but my Mother as well with open arms. It is a dream I have always had, to have those two families come together as one and I see that dream lies before me. Words cannot explain how wonderful that truly is.

I have a Fiance who somehow manages to make me fall deeper and deeper in love with him on a daily basis. He is a source of laughter, a comforting voice, a smile on my face, and the breath from my mouth. Every day I am reminded how truly amazing God is and how he brought us together and it brings in me a feeling that I can't possibly put into words. I cannot tell you how much, I cannot tell you why and I cannot tell you how - but it is a feeling that I wish upon every single person in this world.

I apologize for getting sappy. Let's mix things up a bit. I met with Bethy tonight (our photographer) and instantly became an adoring fan of hers. She is so beautiful, so sincere and so passionate...after meeting with her I just wanted to jump up and down. Literally. I just cannot wait!

Also, I will have you know that I baked some banana crumble muffins tonight for my turn at "treat day" at work tomorrow. My apartment smells like heaven. Just a little FYI for you all. More tomorrow...

sugar.

It's been too long since my last post; no excuses but it truly has been crazy busy with the holidays among other things. I'm sure none of you missed me too much, but for those of you that actually do read this, I apologize!

This past weekend, as I sat in front of Dave's television (which remarkably gets cable channels unlike my own) I stumbled upon the most remarkable show. It's called Amazing Wedding Cakes on the WE channel. It follows three different high-end cake designers in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York as they work with clients and develop the most amazing wedding cakes (funny...how ever did they come up with the name for the show??)

After watching four hours of this show (in a row), I came to the following conclusions:

1. It is a blessing that I do not have cable. Yes, a blessing. There are a plethora of wedding shows on television. Seriously. If I had access to those shows in addition to the endless sources on the internet, I think my head would explode.

2. I had no idea just how complicated and intriguing baking wedding cakes truly was. Wow. That is all I can say.

3. There are a lot of shows about weddings on television. Yes, the word plethora is used again. And for good reason.

The Cake Girls out of Chicago are by far my favorite artists to watch (the images above are also some classic examples of their work). From concept to sketch to finish, it is incredibly difficult to take your eyes off of their every move (you can even ask Dave, he watched two hours with me and actually enjoyed it!). Check out their website here. I dare you to not be impressed.

in the air.

I started to mentally compile a list of the little things I think I am going to want and/or need come wedding time. Since I want to spread out costs as much as possible so we aren't bombarded at the end, I wanted to at least start thinking about these things and write down a concrete list within the next week or so.

With many retailers fighting a sluggish economy, discounts are around every corner. Including the fragrance counter. Which leads me to the thing that has been most on my mind. Renee (my beloved Matron of Honor) was actually the first bride to bring this tradition to my attention. Because our wedding day is going to be one of the most magical days in my life, I want to remember everything about it. That's why wearing a special fragrance on that day that you've never wore before is such a unique idea. The first time you wear the fragrance is the day of the wedding...after that point, you can wear the perfume for special occasions, other weddings you attend or on any random day. Every time you spray that perfume, all the memories of that day will wash over you and take you back to that magical place.

I've been "sniffing" around the fragrance counter and haven't found anything that has truly stood out to me thus far. I have done a little research and although I haven't actually smelled this scent yet, I am mighty curious to try it out. It's called Sheer Veil by Vera Wang (see photo below). Other than this scent, I'm not sure where to look or what to look for. I would love some suggestions on places to check out or fragrances that might of interest. I'm ready to "sniff" out any leads!

obsessive? compulsive.

By definition, the word plan (according to one of my favorites, Merriam-Webster) means:

1: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as a: a top or horizontal view of an object b: a large-scale map of a small area

2 a: a method for achieving an end b: an often customary method of doing something c: a detailed formulation of a program of action d: goal , aim

3: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective

4: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)

A four letter word with truly four different ways to define it. Coincidence? Not a bit. You see, you would expect a four letter word to have a simple definition. Although the definition is .easily comprehended, understandable and what some may consider common sense, it is by no means simple. Actually, it is really complex. It's like each letter has a different meaning...each letter represents another way the word can be used. And that, dear friends, is not simple.


Okay, kind of a random introduction but it leads me into the statement of a fact. According to a magazine article I read (or a website I visited...or a consultant at a store once told me...let's just stick with the fact that I heard or read it somewhere and now it is in my head for me to share with you), the average bride spends the same amount of hours planning her wedding as she does working full-time for five months. Without amazing you with my quick math skills, that is A LOT of hours to plan (averaging 40 hrs. a week, with a standardization of 4 weeks a month, that comes out to 800 hours - I know, you're impressed, right?)

This leads me to my next point. Although that statistic is quite the staggering number, I think it might be accurate. Actually, after the past week or so, I find it to be very accurate. Why, you might ask, do I believe the statistic after the past week? Simply put: Etsy. After discovering a couple friends had started blogs way before I had even thought of it (ahem, Karley...Mary...thank you for proving I am totally unoriginal), I also discovered a link to a website that I have been absolutely fascinated with and have actually scheduled into my daily routine for the past week. No really, I found myself searching through the jewelry, the clothing, the paintings...and do you know what is so great about this site? Every last item is made by hand. Handmade. Really. Cool. Stuff.


So, as I was saying, this site had me hooked immediately - of course always looking for a unique find, a really good deal to brag about...or a section of the site completely dedicated to weddings. Sigh. Why do you have to do this to me? From invitations, to jewelry, to hair accessories to garters, this website has all the little intimate details to make your special day even more special. And everything is handmade. How can you not look? I dare you to even try it. You will continuously hit the arrow to take you to the next page and you won't be able to stop. I can almost guarantee it. Scattered throughout this entry are little pictures I have compiled of some of my favorite things (thus far, my friends, thus far) that I have found and truly wanted to keep in the back of my mind for future use.

...the talent and beauty that so many different individuals from around the world have created simply leaves me breathless. It truly is an amazing world. And this website allows people to sell a piece of them...a piece of them that they've created that somehow fit and match your very own personality so well it almost seems unimaginable. But when you see that item...that simply takes your breath away because you know it was made for you...that's when the beauty of the world truly makes me smile. And on that highly poetic note, I have picked the one piece that literally sang to me when I saw it. My favorite Etsy find (I'll let you decide which of the four items it is):


And with this many ideas multiplied by about 6,876,919, floating around on the internet, in magazines and basically around every corner you turn, the real question is, how can a bride not spend the equivalent of five straight months of full-time work planning her wedding? I can guarantee you, when it's all said and done, I will have thought about more projects in this 10-month time frame than I ever dreamed I could think of. Compulsive. Obsessive. Plan. But what can I say...there's nothing I'd rather be spending my spare time on. I love it!

wish.

I've been doing it since I was a child. I'm sure you have too. An eyelash on my fingertip. A shooting star in the sky. The candles on my birthday cake. A four leaf clover that I diligently spent hours lying in the grass trying to find just so I could make a wish. And of course, the very special time of 11:11. Somewhere along the way, "wish" turned into much more than just a word. More than a want. It became much more than that. It turned into hope.

Recently, I stumbled upon a book called The Wish Trees. As a child who found herself wishing more often than not, it struck a special chord inside me. The book is based upon the idea that every child can help to make the world a better place. Each page brings a child planting a new tree and making a wish as they plant that tree. Along the way, they discover the wonder of trees and learn that a wish is really more than just a want, but truly stands for hope.

That being said, Dave and I have set to work on a special "wish project" for the wedding. It's been in the works for a few weeks and we are close to putting the finishing touches on it and calling it good (I love being able to cross things off the list!). I have a small preview below but I refuse to give away all the details here. You'll just have to come see it in person. At least I can hope.

inspire.

As some of you know (ahem, Tig), I subscribe to a daily email type thing called Daily Candy. If you live in a larger city (Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, etc.) you should definitely sign up and even if you don't, it's fun to see the daily updates. There is information about health and beauty, fashion, weather, weekend guides for what to do and of course fashion. Call it the inner "fashion major" in me, but I love getting updates on new designers, retail strategies, etc. Okay, okay, all this does have some kind of tie to the wedding. Believe it or not.

A few days ago, I opened my Daily Candy and read an introduction about the founder of Nettleton Hollow...

"The name Nettleton Hollow comes from a valley in Litchfield County, Connecticut, through which the founder's family drove their cows home from the summer pastures to one of the last dairy farms in the area. "

Seeing as how I am from Litchfield, Minnesota, I of course took upon this as a sign and clicked to the website. Lo and behold my inspiration! Branches and grasses and foliage, oh my! This creator has managed to capture the true essence of nature in an artificial product. After browsing through craft store after craft store, allowing my thoughts to wander and collectively put together a collage of images and ideas for the wedding, I realized how true his words were about not finding true natural items like this in a store.

Pure. Beautiful. Natural. Everything I want our wedding to be.