The Coolest pictures never before seen:

If you're familiar with Scott Shuman's Sartorialist blog then you have probably marveled in the awesome vintage photos in his recent contest. I think the prize was Chloe look books, it was right after fashion week this year. Anyway, people sent in really amazing vintage photos of family members or whoever capturing a sense of style while simultaneously telling a story.

Well, after raiding my mom's a couple weeks ago, I found her boxes of photos that has become her new project. She's re-organizing them into better albums. Of course, my sister Grace, has three times as much photo material than I. She's the oldest, and when I came around things got tough. C'est la vie.
But I didn't care about my baby pics as soon as I came across these:
This was my mom after high school graduation. My mom had most of her clothes made, dresses were always custom done. Even growing up in a developing Philippines, my mom had a sense of dressing for the occasion. She would never let me wear pants to church, not even those hideous floral bib jumpsuits that were popular for a year sometime in the 1990's. I really wanted one, too. They had banded ankle length hems. WTH?!
Growing up here in the U.S, I have come to the realization that we are a casual society dressing mainly for comfort. Comfort is a huge factor in dress, but sometimes we totally compromise style. I'm not talking about vanity, either. I'm talking 'bout that certain something that make you unique (and hopefully fearless, non-matchy, but mix-y, body conscious, and confident!)
I just love seeing older photos because people had such style. They knew when an occasion was one to be cherished, and had tailor made clothing. Didn't matter that they didn't have much, but what they did have MATTERED!

This dress is totally back in style:

The Beda Dress, Spring 2010.

Well, it never went out of style. Classic Tailoring.

This picture will be how I wan to remember my daddy. He's pretty hip here in his suit and plastic fireman's hat. This was probably in downtown Atlanta in the '70's. I didn't know either of my parents to be this stylish but they were. I guess when your young and child-free you have the world at your disposal. I'm sure this is the version of my dad that my mom fell for.

Look at those bells. He even had an afro. Yeah, my dad had a perm. Not to mention my mom's beehive!

I love the story that these pics tell. I never knew my parents this way, but I love seeing the life that they lived.

Word to my Mother

On this mother's day,

I wanted to let you know, Mommy,


that you are the most special,
generous,
warm-hearted, faithful,
kind,
and strong
person
that I have ever met.

My mom had raised two girls under the most modest conditions, working to put both my sister and I through college and beyond. I could only wish that her needs are met and all her desires are fulfilled now as she enters retirement. I strive to be the person I have seen in my mom all my life, the patient one that dealt with my hot head. I hope I will always work on being the understanding wife she tells me to be and the super-woman mother that she is.

I had the pleasure of taking care of my mom two weeks ago when she underwent a minor surgical procedure. The only time she needed my help was right after the surgery. The next day she was herself again. She is truly a super woman. She didn't even complain, even though she was in pain. She never does...In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I've heard her cuss. (And she must have been really mad.)

Now that I appreciate her gifts more, I hope I can make her feel like every day is her day. This woman has given me my life, and hers, too, and the least i can do is try to be the person she has shown me to be.
Love you mommy!




And let's not forget Shawn's mom:
She raised three kids almost on her own. I am most thankful for the gift of Shawn. I don't know she did it, but she made the most patient, and sweetest man I've ever met. With a good sense of hygiene. Aren't I lucky?!

The Reason

183 days to our big event. Some might be giddy with excitement. Some might simply be a bit confused since we are already married.

True.
We are newly and happily married. We got married in a small church at 9 in the morning with seven other people present. It was the happiest day of my life to date and we wouldn't go back and change things for anything in the world.
I feel that the love that binds two people together in marriage is sacred and intimate. It is serious, not to be entered lightly. It is meant to be forever.
Really, forever.

To me, that is a huge deal.

Two people make a promise to stick it out through it all, longer than any other previous relationship. Through changes, diasters, joys, betrayals, through things you don't even want to think about, through it all. We promised each other. We promised God. I've never made such a decision in my life. I never thought about it until I met Shawn. I've always fantasized about weddings and the act of getting married with others and all the happiness and tears that went with such a day. I imagined a big scene with lots of confetti thrown. There are people and food and dancing. I never imagined how the bad times could be, the tests and trials, the ever evolving relationship what we'll share every day. I started to imagine what it would be like. Who would get me through a tough time. What have we got to do to keep out love strong? What would I do if he ever strayed? Would I leave him? These aren't things that we expect, but we realize that if we don't work with each other every day, they might become reality.

I know when the answers got complicated I was really thinking about my life with him, how we can't leave.

We can't fire each other.

No, we have to think like we are other only ones for each other. Walking away will never be an option.

I knew that I wanted to make sure that i felt that way about him before I even considered marrying him. When I realized I did, I didn't even want to be engaged!
Thats why our engagement only lasted a few months.

Its not about the ring or the wedding plans that makes this relationship exciting. "It" is already there.

But, we wanted to share our happiness the way that couples do with our friends and loved ones. We didn't want to give you all three months notice. Instead, we wanted to invite you to celebrate our love and marriage with plenty of notice, and plenty of time to save the funds to do so!

I hope no one is disappointed to have not seen our wedding ceremony. Trust me, it was moving but not pretty. I sobbed the WHOLE time. It was ironically funny that all our pictures had me looking like I was in pain or something. Just too much emotion...I couldn't keep it all in!

So please join us in November. It will be a Friday night. It will be fun and creative. I am searching the blogosphere for the best of ideas. We're working on the details, and will probably be asking for your addresses soon.

There is a lot of work ahead.

At lease I know no one will be getting cold feet!He kept a straight face. I broke down and stuttered through my vows an ruined my makeup. So not smooth!

Attempting to make Sinigang na karne...

3:08 pm

Got the beef short ribs.
Got the bok choy.
Got the green beans.Got the tamarind mix...
We'll see how it goes!
In order to be a more well rounded cook and food eater, I am trying new (to me) recipes. This is actually something my mom made all the time. I may be having the urge to eat more Filipino dishes since I was with her all last week. Its also a good way to eat veggies. I am trying really HARD to eat more food not saturated in cheese.

True test is if Shawn likes it.
19:00

He Loved it.

And Bully enjoyed his bone and the familiar soup flavor I poured atop his kibble. My mom used to give him sinigang when we had it.
Sinigang is a soupy dish with veggies and your chouce of beef, pork or fish. I chose beef short ribs as the Fresh Market was havin' a saaaale!

This is the key:


It gives that tangy flavor without out adding lots of extra salt. I also squeezed the juice of a quartered lemon.

Don't forget fresh veggies. I used bok choy since I picked some up at the Buford Hwy. Hong Kong Supermarket. Latino and Asian superstore in one! The two cultures haven't quite grown large enough to have a "little Havana, " or "chinatown" or similar in places like Atlanta yet.


I used this book. Its pretty easy to follow. And I took it from my mom's house.

And...Voila!

Ikea Tea cups

So in planning for my table scape of teacups I came across these modern beauties at Ikea. The venue, Studio B, is a modern space made by re-purposing an old warehouse. You can access them here.

The idea of teacups is a bit rustic and well, teatime. So in order to make them more fitting in their environment and occasion I had to shop for a more updated cup and saucer. I'll mix these in with what other unusual finds upon which I happen to stumble.

The color of the venue is a range of blues.

They're about 4.99 a set. They are both modern and precious. I hope I can grow enough flora for these!

My Thoughts exactly: From 2000 Dollar Budget Wedding: How to DJ Your Own Wedding with an iPod

Everything you need to know about planning a wedding, a reception, or whatever kind of party you are planning is out there. Thank you ladies for doing the work and letting me link to this post:

2000 Dollar Budget Wedding: How to DJ Your Own Wedding with an iPod

I do love a DJ, but we're cutting out anything we can do for ourselves. I like the point she makes about that friend that always changes the playlist. THERE WILL BE NONE OF THAT! Maybe we'll have someone guard the iPod?

I am envisioning  my 90's era college radio favorites from middle & early high school, my southern rap & R&B favorites from high school, such as OutKast's Rosa Parks, and Lauren Hill's Do Wop (That Thing). Luda and Usher, of course and my favorite danceable indie rock tunes. Not to mention the pop. There will be Gaga. Maybe Britney. I mean, Toxic brings the girls together! Shawn's part of the playlist will be a bit more country, since he was a country singer/songwriter at one point.


BUT,

What do YOU think??

We want your suggestions. Plus, we will be dancing with you, so we'd rather it be something we all wanna dance to.

HOLY....Must Have!

 These are perfect.
Just imagine Shawn, me, and Bully together on a big beautiful Maxi B's cake, just like how it's supposed to be. Man, wife, and their son, a big wooly bear dog.

 In love.

I found them on Etsy, of course. The site of everything handmade & cute. My friend Alison turned me on to Etsy for weddings and I know others who have gotten their rings made by artists found through the site.

I am especially tickled by this profile view. The shop is Dandelionland and they can custom make the whole thing: suit, veil eyes, skin, the works.

Shawn & I? Or a street version of me and Dwight Schrute???

In all honesty, though, I have the little smurfs that my friend Lindsay gave me. We do not need to spent 65 to 85 dollars on another set. Then again, maybe we can get a groom's cake and have 2 sets. I am getting carried away by cute!

remember these? I do, it was the happiest day of my life.

And speaking of custom cake toppers, here is my friend Erin & Husband Clay's cake: a mountain with mini-hikers. So them!

2007

Any of you have your cake toppers? What did you do with them?

Easter was happy, thanks.

Hope you had a happy Easter! 

Our's was a good day. I worked in the AM, while Shawn attended church with his mom. They lunched, then came over to our house and we did some spring cleaning. I worked a bit on the garden, but I think I may have killed something in the transplant into the ground. I guess we shall see if it all makes it. 

Trial & error. That's how I do things.

Later that evening we went to a lovely dinner hosted by Chrissy, our friend Brian's lovely woman. She made duck confit. Very ambitious, yes. But very well done. Its was delicious!

Lookin' & cookin' good

Here's her family pooch, Maverick. He's a real sweetie, but let's just keep that on the low. Bully's kinda territorial.

Now its Monday and I have art classes again this week. Things will be due pretty soon. Ugh. 

On the bright side, I got to work a full week, did some party planning, and found our address book. Sent out the "we've moved" cards today and practiced the hand addressing of envelopes. Sooo, got some stuff done. 

Spring is a blessing & a curse.

At least I got some planting done before I got assaulted by nature's pollination schemes. But I am fully loaded on the cetrizine right now, so, maybe it won't be as bad this year????
Maybe?
So about my plants. I was fully determined that we moved into a house that I would grow a garden. Funny thing is, I've only tilled a plot about 2' X 3' and the rest are in pots. Renting just feels so temporary. Pots are portable! Plus, I wasn't sure where the sunny spots were in the yard and I had to watch Bully for a while to figure out where he liked to pee the most.
So far I have

romaine lettuce

spinach

 sunflowers

 dill, mmm my favorite herb

Not to mention my tomatoes, basil, chives, rosemary and cukes. I've been told to watch out for those cukes. They invade other plants. I'll just keep them separate.

Last night after Mexican food we went to Coffeology for gelato. I sampled biscotti, but had cookies & cream, which I always do. Shawn had key lime pie and Brian had mint cookies & cream. It was good but I should have had the biscotti flavor.

Being the hoarder that I am, I realized hat the tiny plastic cups in which our gelato was served would make the perfect seedling starters. So I brought them home and also made identifiers with the tiny spoons. See?

The Bull loves his yard. He refused to come in from recess a couple of days ago when it was about 70 degrees. He's got some allergies right now so I gave him some benadryl. Pretty soon he'll wake up and drink the whole bowl of water.

This is him in his throne, the yard. I feel so happy that I could give him this again!