in defense of davids (and more!)

I wrote a little about this already in the comments section of A Los Angeles Love the other day. But I really had an awesome experience at David's Bridal. When I first went to try on a dress, I went to a little boutique down the Cape (Cape Cod for any non-Mass residents reading this). It was having a sale where all dresses were $400. Except that they weren't. That only included sample sales and even then not really. The one guy (who I believe owned the shop) kept trying to convince me I wanted different styles then I did and it was so awkward and I felt bad leaving not buying anything even though I didn't like anything, nothing fit me super well and everything was way out of my price range. Then I went to Davids and found an amazing dress (super affordable, style was just what I wanted). The women there made me feel awesome and beautiful and I could not have been happier. This morning I went for a fitting and everyone was wonderful. I got there at 10 and they did not open until 11. Someone had accidentally scheduled me for an hour earlier than they opened. They still saw me and said I was beautiful and made sure I was fully aware of the charges of the fitting. Again, awesome. I understand that not every store has amazing employees (doesn't that go for any store?) just like I understand that there are certainly boutiques that are probably amazing too! All I'm saying is I'm not a size 2 and I'm not flawless by any means, but the David's store I went to made me feel that way.

In other news: went to the venue today with my aunt aka my other mom aka my florist had her little planner with her and we did some floral figuring out. They also had tables set up so I got a better sense of how it will look the day of. Needless to say, I....am....super....psyched!!!!

and finally a list:

- finish buying/making out of town gift bags

- finish buying gifts for everyone related to wedding/thank yous

- pick day for my sister to do hair/make up trial

- make something to give the little kids at the wedding (bucket with coloring book, crayons?)

- call caterer and have them fax license to venue

- hope a particular etsy vendor comes back from vacation so I can buy these earrings for the wedding:

- figure out wedding help (figure out who can help and what I need help with, mostly setting up day of...volunteers: I will need you soon! I love you all!)

Also, did I mention I needed to have my dress taken in a little? Woo!

boozy fruit!

For my "bachlorette" (as I'm mentioned before), I'm thinking informal snacking and drinking, hanging out with my favorite ladies. Maybe mexican food, maybe summer favorites like grilled veggies, etc. But something like this would be a welcome addition:


(image via sweet paul, find the directions here)

Actually, this would be a welcome addition to any day. Say a Wednesday perhaps?

operation: fit into dress, commences

Lady Grace kinda sucks. There I said it. The woman who "helped" me? Terrrrible! She was really rude and kept saying things like 'you know the bra you're wearing doesn't fit you right (I thought it looked nice!)?" and "wow didn't you wait until the last minute to go shopping (nuh uh!)" and "one of your boobs is bigger than the other ( never noticed, thanks for something new to be self conscious about!)". Also when I told her what I wanted she said ''ya basically that doesn't exist (but David's Bridal told me specifically to get this for my dress) " then seemed exasperated when she asked me about my size and had to measure me (Really? Am I the first one to come in to a flippin' lingerie store that needed to be measured? Sorry Target doesn't measure me when I buy their 2 for 1 specials). So needless to say I did not want to spend $50 on a corset that gave me pointy Madonna breasts, especially since the lady was so snippy and judgy. On the way out, I wanted to yell 'You suck and your store is 90% old lady nighties!'. Basically this is what she gave me to try on (but strapless):

So instead we (me and Mom) went to Macy's and bought serious shapewear and bra that actually fits! Its called a "miracle suit" and was actually pretty comfortable (even though I'm probably going to be a sweaty mess wearing it in August). Moving up in the world, baby. Also, we got dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and I got a small salad and didn't even eat the whole thing! Seeing yourself in a crazy huge mirrored dressing room trying on undies did wonders for my appetite!

7-0

So since I spent yesterday ranting about marshmallows, I didn't really write about anything else I've been up to. So here goes:

1- Me and the momma going lingerie shopping. Time to buy the craziest corset of all time! I love how excited my mom is for this. We also talked today about rehearsal dinner things which I am so glad that her and my other mom are planning this so I don't have to think about it.

2- I did some iron on bags for out of town guests. So far I just made 3 since I know 3 groups of out of towners are coming for the wedding. I used this image:

(from art.com)

Just like to say how proud I am of myself that I actually remembered to print out a mirror image so it actually came out correctly when I made it! Half of my christmas gifts I made this year were backwards iron on transfers. Oops.

I need to do some investigating into what to fill the bags with. So far, I just have some salt water taffy. Any good Massachusetts ideas? What would you like to get if you came for a wedding in Beantown? I'm thinking maybe going into the city or down the cape to buy some souvenir-ish things like lobster lollipops, postcards, cranberry things, etc.

3- Also I finished the table numbers and signs. Well I might do one more big 'wedding this way' sign. I have them pressed in books right now since it is so humid (thanks Ry! I totally wouldn't have thought of this)

They are double sided (also Ry's idea) and I used the scallop edged scissors to cut them all. I really like how they turned out!

I can't believe the wedding is in 70 days! efffff.....

favor madness

So I actually did a ton of stuff today! I was in my basement for a good chunk of the day stuffing favors which meant putting giganto marshmallows in tiny bags, tying with bakers twine and putting them in tiny gable boxes with a tealight and wooden stick ( Quick question: should I add a matchbook too? I was thinking those cute little boxed ones. Your thoughts?). Heres what they look like:

First things first: we need to discuss these ridiculous marshmallows.

They are almost the size of apples. They are a good 4 bite marshmallow. I tried to eat them in less and almost choked. Can you imagine the headline? "Deranged DIY bride chokes on enormous marshmallow while attempting to check another item off her Knot to-do list''. Awful! Anyways, first off you have this guy:

There is something creepy about the fact that he is wearing clothes. On top of that it is that creepy mascot eating its own kind thing. Not only is he roasting one of his own on a stick, he is wearing a shirt of a marshmallow on fire. Serious self loathing!

Next we have this tagline:

I just love it because it makes me think that they must think somewhere someone calls regular marshmallows 'tiny roasters'.

Clearly, I have had waaaaay too much sugar today.

long overdue post*

some things I love about my soon to be husband:

- I love his laugh. It is the best when something makes him really laugh. I still get so excited when I make him laugh too

- I love how sweet he is. It always seems on days I feel the dumpiest/most haggard/like a chub, he looks at me and says ' You look nice today'. Whether he senses my down-in-the-dumps attitude or is simply being sweet, I do not know ( but I guess it doesn't matter does it?)

- I love how much he likes music and reading (I also love how he is very seasonal on what he reads and listens to)

- I love how when he is cleaning out the upstairs (backstory: we currently live in his grandmothers house), he brings down boxes for me of stuff I might like. Its like going to an awesome thrift store, everyday!

- I love how he doesn't care that I go to bed super early and watch awful tv and often when I'm 'reading' a book, its a cookbook (I read too! I swear!)

- I love that we are getting married and that he is putting up with me during all this wedding to-do baloney.

- I totally love his beard

That is just a snippet too. I am a lucky gal.

*I thought I needed to write a post like this after seeing several other sweet ones and spending last night buying mini wooden sticks (to put in my diy roast your own marshmallow favors which people are probably going to look at, maybe say 'awww' then eat the marshmallow and toss the rest)

I can't believe I actually got anything done this weekend

I can't believe I accomplished something other than getting mosquito bites on Memorial Day weekend but there's a first time for everything. So here's the summary:

- Friday: went to store for surprise hammock for anniversary gift. Super psyched for cheap hammock with stand. Then met up with Ry's excellent best lady and ate pizza
- Saturday: realized hammock did not have stand, that is why it was so inexpensive (well for a hammock). still debating whether to get a stand or return hammock. Spent most of day being a lazy person.
- Sunday: went to cookout. petted some baby bunnies. talked wedding stuff with the extended family. was told numerous times how much people liked our invite which made me very happy.
- Monday: went to cookout. My sister cooked me a delicious burger and everyone liked what I brought (green salad, tomato mozzarella salad and this one). Also, my sister is totally hilarious so that always makes my day. Then went to to wonderous Michaels with 2 gift cards and spent most of one. I invested in some canvas bags for out-of-town gifts to fill with things like salt water taffy, etc. Also bought some scallop scissors for table numbers, tiny cellophane bags for favors (also bought enormous 'campfire' marshmallows using another gift card, currently storing them in my basement to avoid them getting overheated in this weather and expanding/exploding), bought a bunch of craft books I always read (this one, this one, and this one...don't judge me!), some more tattoo and iron on inkjet paper and some terrarium stuff (since my succulents are piling up because I am a nut for terrariums right now but still needed 'river rocks' to finish making them).

Also, won these on ebay for the table numbers (I won 36 and it only came to $20 which is way less than I saw them everywhere else. Yay!)



Hooray for 4 day weekends (well 3 1/2)! I want another.