Picked a florist

Big happy smiles! Its Arena's - not a huge shock there.

Love them!

holiday crafting

I don't usually craft, but I saw this tutorial (via Green Paper Co Blog) for making gift bows out of magazines and I had to try it. Its actually quite simple, and not hugely time consuming. I made 8 bows in about an hour and half (while watching hulu), and the first one took considerably longer than the rest.

My first attempt - made from the front of a Macy's catalog.

I also made a small one out of the scraps of the first one - much more difficult.

The rest were made from pages of a JCrew catalog

Most, from pages like this one - I think they result in interesting patterns and textures.

My favorite.

Beau's favorite is the one with the spots.

*All images by me, expect the page from the 2009 JCrew Holiday Catalog

is it weird to want to get your wedding photographer a holiday present?

I saw these magnets on How About Orange (from ThinkGeek) and just thought - wow Tammy would think these are hilarious.

And for only $25 they aren't particularly expensive, but then I think of how much we are paying to shoot our wedding, and its not like she is a friend... I don't know. I just think these magnets are awesome and I want to buy them for someone.

1st bridesmaid dress picked

My sister picked out the following Alfred Sung dress in organdy. I love how the layering on this dress is a simpler version of the layering on my wedding dress. I think they will look awesome together.

*Image from Dessy - style number D330

Its been a good wedding day

After weeks of bad wedding feelings with lots of stress and unhappiness today was a good day. I awoke with clarity on the bridesmaid dress issue, did not confer with anyone and sent an email to the girls (for those who care, I decided on black dresses from Dessy). I called my mom, told her the issue was over and she said good.

I've been having issues with florist. The first one, I didn't like. The second one, I really liked but has a "minimum" which is a couple hundred above my flower budget. The third, my favorite at the time (after an email from me wondering where the proposal is) informed me that my date is no longer available. Ugh! So I kind of freaked, and made an appointment and a florist I've driven past for 8 years, have never entered before but yet somehow decided years ago that they would do my wedding flowers. I did not initially call them because I heard (and assumed) they would be the most expensive. I met with them after lunch and I really enjoyed talking to the older gentleman (Edward) who does their wedding designs. Edward seemed to genuinely like my flower visions and embraced them. He also gave me a quote on the spot - which was amazing (since I'm still waiting for a quote from place #2, which I met with on Nov 6th - they claim I'll have it soon). Also, they are not as expensive as I thought. Their quote fell $200 bellow the top of my budget and $400 bellow the "minimum" at place #2. So, I'm pretty sure I've found a florist!

Finally, I was avoiding studying for an exam tomorrow by browsing Guilt and found these lovelies. After several rounds of texting with one of my style gurus, C, I bought them.

Ben-Amun pewter chandelier earrings with Swarovski crystal; 3 inches long, 1.25 inches wide

Retail: $205, Guilt price: $85! Holla!

Yay, for good wedding days.

Yay, for less wedding stress.

Yay (kind of), for procrastinating studying dev bio...

pretty dress

Sometimes I wish I had fancy parties to go to (and money to buy fancy dresses to wear to said parties). If I did I would wear this.

*Leila "Butterfly" dress on sale at Bloomingdales for $373.50

Super excited, my dress is expected to arriving at the end of January, but that means I now really need to start looking at shoes. I'm thinking purple or grey; off-white would also be OK . I've kind of been keeping my eyes open when I go to stores, but so far nothing. Yesterday I did find some shoes that would be perfect EXCEPT they all have 4-inch heels! Does anyone know why its impossible to get an awesome shoe without a 4-inch heel?! Ladies, I don't know about you, but I can't even stand in a shoe with 4-inch heel let alone party for an entire evening in one.

Well, if anyone finds shoes similar to these with heels 2-inches or less, please send them along.

All images from Zappos: (1) MAXSTUDIO, Salsa; (2) Nina, Kyleen; (3) RSVP, Ivana (4) Romantic Soles, Roma; (5) Nine West, Janika; (6) Nina, Ulexa