Lullaby

As I've visited the BHLDN website, I've become more and more in love with the sweet lullaby that greets the curious visitor. I just left the site up an let it play. Meanwhile, Hubbs almost fell asleep beside me.
It's Amiina from Reykajvik . Of course they're from Iceland.
Check out their Myspace page here.
And the song  What are we waiting for here:

 

It gets a bit more dramatic towards the end. Fairy-like drama.
I want this to be the soundtrack to my life.

(Hellllllloooo, Myspace.)

Adulthood

Coca-Cola Cupcake from West Egg Cafe

  I don't feel very adult.  I got married, and that didn't do it. I turned the big three zero (I can't even say the number, still!).  I am pretty responsible.

I still don't feel very grown, except in the presence of let's say, twenty-one year olds. I walk the line between being fun and responsible but, you know, not overdoing it.  I think my Hubbs are still at a point where we haven't solidified our careers yet, nor own a home, or a boat. We are in the process.

Well this past weekend had some quality time with my mom. She gives me my birth certificate to keep. She may be moving soon, so it makes more sense for me to keep my documents. That kinda did it. I mean, even Shawn's mom still has his! I know its mine, but I always called my mom or went home if I needed any important documents.

One little certificate.*sigh*

baby holding practice

The weekend was so relaxing, though. My mom hooks it up. Shawn was so excited to be fed so heavily for every meal, especially home cooked Filipino food.

We toured the Sweetwater Brewery, saw Elliott Erwitt & Todd Selby at a gallery.

We saw some dear old friends, and their sweet little babies.

Wanna see:

starfruit

Jackson Fine Art

Maybe this adult feeling is a good thing.

Anthropologie's Sister prepares to marry

Imagine this:

Anthropologie's spring '10 Beda Dress

  Crossed with this:

Oscar de La Renta

 Well, maybe not exactly.

But, then again, who knows? I'm pretty sure Oscar isn't designing for BHLDN just yet, though.

The dreamers behind Anthropologie will release their new sister brand BHLDN, the wedding brand, on-line this  
February 14!

Lovely.

So their talented collaborations with hmm..maybe Tracy Reese, may extend to this brand. Or imagine Leifsdottir pretty floral bridesmaids dresses?? Dammit, I 'm already married.

It will be exclusive on-line until this summer. Then, somewhere, some lucky city will host the first BHLDN store (maybe in the south?). I can spot an Anthro dress, accessory, or home item in every featured wedding on GreenWeddingShoes.com, so this is very appropriate. Long overdue, actually, especially for the woman who's needs weren't met by bridal shops. Women such as  myself, who chose a dress from here instead of the wedding gown. (And I'd wear it every single day if i could!)

Check out the preview shots on
www.bhldn.com (or click here).

and check our their Facebook page.

Some homespun comfort

The hubbs & I are spending a few days with my mom. We are eating a lot and doing some window shopping. We hit up all the usual spots, like the Buford Highway Farmer's market, the most awesome grocery store. I love the Russian candy aisle. I will also visit 2 of the 3 Anthros in the city. I just can't stay away.

My mom's place is like a B&B, except there is a spread for every meal. There is so much food here. We are pampered. There's just a certain something about seeing mommy. You get your batteries recharged. Maybe this is where I have learned the desire to feed people.

Also, this place is like a Bath & Body works. There are lotions soaps everywhere. I'm stocking up!

Off to Fellini's!

Recap: Our Tablescapes

   In the beginning, I planned to have quaint little teacups on the tables with blooms and herbs. I wanted people to be able to snip fresh herbs right off the table and season their dinner with them. And then take the teacups home with them. Well, that was ambitious!

   I ended up collecting white ceramic teapots, carafes, and creamer and sugar containers and filled them with flowers and eucalyptus. It was fun collecting the white ceramic pieces, which I got from Ross and a thrift store. I think I spent about $35 on them. The birdies sit in our kitchen and we use the pots & carafes now for our coffee & tea. Plus, some are stashed away for either sweet housewarming gifts or the next table design project. Go Ross!

   The flowers came from the Fresh Market. I literally went there that morning to pick them out. Our good friend accompanied me and lent me his discount (the home office is here), so I spent less than $50 on them.  They were super fresh and lasted about two weeks. Here I am putting them together:

photo courtesy of Lindsay Salet

On the table, Photo by Nick Sanders

Had extra for the cake, Nick Sanders

2 weeks later!

And above is another idea I had that never panned out. I bout these branchy lights from T.J.Maxx but forgot to use them on the day of.  I definitely recommend hiring someone who can help you remember these things! I did place the candles, however, on the tables, along with the paper flowers. Candles were $6 for 12 @ Big Lots.
I love bargain shopping! So if anyone has the need for these lighted branches, I have 4 and a little assortment of white ceramic serveware.

Recap: Photo booth

Photo by NIck Sanders

  I think our little "photo booth" was a success. Judging from the pics we got from it, that is. It doesn't matter that we had to move it from its original location, which made most people miss it. "Photobooth, where was that?" Our little back drop and props (don't forget the props!) produced some presh photos. And that was the point.

Here's how we did ours:
1. Simple panel curtain. We only used one, but had we had more space, we would have used two.
2. Curtain rod suspended illegally on the pipes. Fire marshal no no. However, I couldn't locate the twine in time that I was originally going to use.
3. Props. We made the plywood "talk bubbles." We used a jigsaw to cut the shape, then sanded, and applied 3 coats of chalk paint, sanding in between coats.  Used 1/4 plywood.

Ready for chalk!

Photo by Nick Sanders

Awww, little love note.

The other props we used were googly eye glasses and a clown nose from the dollar tree. And let's not forget the wax lips.
So the cost was really low. The most expensive was the chalk paint and the curtain and curtain rods. We used what we had, no there was no added cost there. I suggest maybe borrowing some paint (we have extra!)  and finding plywood scraps.
Check it:

Photo by Bob Laigo

Photo by Bob Laigo

They got married about a week later!

 My mom's a good sport, too.

Photo by Bob Laigo

 This is very true.

Photo by Nick Sanders

 My good friend Lindsay, who just got engaged!

Photo by Nick Sanders

  Second cousin, Bob, in action.

photo by Nick Sanders

 Good Sport!

Photo by Nick Sanders

When you're done  you can put the glasses on the dog.

I must admit, I got the plywood talk bubble idea from the talented Brandy Schuman. Remember this from this summer:

Brandy in the blue top

More dresses-I just can't help it.

Right. I shouldn't be looming at wedding dresses anymore. I wasn't even a wedding dress kind of girl. I couldn't help sharing these. I stumbled across this site on my daily blog reads and couldn't not share it. Plus, a dear friend of mine just got engaged so now I find the relevance in sharing these dresses again. She appreciated it.

Light in the box.com. Check it out!

Its hard to find an appropriate short wedding dress, or fabulous reception/after party dress. Especially ones this cheap. They are all custom made, you send them measurements, and make sure you get your finishing touches done by a professional. There is a reason these models look this good. Oh, and the fact the are six feet and size 2. You can look up each model's measurements for perspective.

$99!!! from here

from here.

 This was is only 139.99. There's a lot of skin showing, but imaging how fun it would be to dance in it!

get it here.

Then this little gem. Its 99 dollars. That's crazy. I kind of want it. It's super couture. If I had to do it differently, I'd wear this dress, or have bridesmaids wear it. The photos would look like a Vogue spread of a modern Robert Plant shoot or something like that.

from here

And this beauty is just so precious. I love the sweetheart neckline. It's so darling, even for formals, or bridesmaids. Its shown in teal, but other colors are available. 99 dollars. seriously. somebody buy this.

Baby Talk

I think one at a time will be good. But they are so cute. From here.

 A lot of my married friends have told me that after a year of marriage, you naturally want to start a family. I braced myself after our anniversary, then sighed with relief when I wasn't flipping through Parenting magazine and wanting to hold every baby I saw in public. Whew! I think we'll be ready in a couple more years. Well, maybe not ready, but not so ready to flinch at the idea. I think we have to be blindsided, absolutely forced to confront the impending Shawlani arrival to really, really be ready. 

However, the Hubbs told a friend of ours that Fall of 2012 will be the time. And, AND, I found an article bookmarked on my browser's webpage entitled "How to make my wife pregnant." Plus, he's been more interested in women's health lately. I guess it will be inevitable. Eventually. I hope I can be ready in time. Now, where is that article on being a nurturing, disciplining and hip mamma?

Geez.

For now I'll just laugh about it all, while I can:
(From Facebook)

11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids by Amy Lawrence on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:24am 

Lesson  1. Go to the grocery store. 

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

 Lesson 2

 Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

New Stuff

Love: Hubbs setting up my workshop for the past 2 days, for me. And I, pretending to care about the Colts tonight, for him. Go Colts.

Last night, I learned a lot about country music. Well, not a lot, but enough to realize that I had gotten Keith Urban and Tim McGraw confused. Watching Country Strong made me realize that:

Me: oooh  

Hubbs: You need to fix your blog. 

 

He teaches me about country and football. I humor him and actually find interest in these things. Never thought about it before.

I teach him about  new foods and different grain textures. We try out new recipes together.

We discover yoga together. Is it proper yoga technique to end with a slow dance?

Recap: Hubbs song set

He practiced and practiced.

He bought a new amp.

And a mike and stand.
Installed the Dean Markley into his acoustic.
Countless you-tube instructional videos later, he was more ready than I thought he was.
He sounded better than I had ever heard.

Maybe it was the audience, or the acoustics, but damn, this was so good.
This must have been what the Shawn Michaels band was like 14 years ago.
When he sang the line, " I wanna honor your mother, " I sobbed heavily.

He sang:
Shameless, in the tune of Garth Brooks
The Waiting by Tom Petty, a request from me
and Tim McGraw's Keith Urban's (oops) Memories of Us.

I ran up to give him a big bear hug after it was over.

And we could both breathe again.

(There is a video floating around somewhere. I'll post it as soon as I can get my hands on it! )

pics by Nick Sanders