Unveiling the Veil

I ordered my veil!

This is an Adam-free zone!!
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*Stop scrolling now or the bunny gets it!
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*Anyone know what I am quoting?
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*And it doesn't work as a threat since the stuffed bunny is mine.
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*Point being - GO NO FURTHER ADAM!!!
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*Last chance to stop scrolling!!
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Ok. We should be safe now. =)
Except for all the *'s, this is actually kinda of a short and simple post. When I found my dress originally, I thought I knew which veil I wanted to. It was a simple finger tip length veil with silver beads around the edge that matched the beading of the dress.

Simple and pretty right? Cool. Call it a day. Except that I was wearing it on top of my head, and I think I look silly like that. But it'll look the same when I wear it back further right?
WRONG! The beads were just heavy enough that when I put it further back on my head it all gathered together in the ponytail o' tulle.... not exactly what I was going for. So when my dress came in and we figured out the beading just wouldn't work. The dress shop owner stuck an angel cut fingertip length on me. We liked it. Then I tried on every other shape and size in the store, and found out that Yup - the angel cut looked best. (My mother and one of my bridesmaids were in control of the cameras and decided that since none of the other veils looked very good, pictures weren't necessary. So, I have nothing else to show but my pretty veil - sorry!)

So, here's my veil! (Again, don't know about the hair bling yet.)

See the little curly edge on the right? I hate that. Apparently its just an ironing/steaming/pressing or whatever thing. (See the camera the Momma Duck is holding? Its a hostage! I half expected to get a ransom note.)

I found this quick info on Angel Cut veils for anyone who wants it.

Angel Cut Bridal Veils

1/19/2008

The back tapers to a soft point while the sides gently cascade down Requires an edge finish for the distinctive cut to stand out, therefore not offered with a plain "cut" edge Offered in 1 layer only--a second layer would hide the cascading sides Available in elbow, fingertip, waltz, chapel, cathedral, and regal lengths Can be worn on top of or behind the head, whichever you prefer If a blusher is desired, a detachable version can be added as a custom order	Angel Cut Style 35" Petite Fingertip Length	Angel Cut Style 52" Waltz Length
	The longer the veil the more pronounced the cascading effect, as seen in the comparisons above
	Can be worn on top of the head, as seen here	Or behind the head, as shown here

Whatcha think? Anyone else have a pretty simple veil finding experience?

Hostess Gifts

Back to my weekend o' wedding planing....

Our first shower is going to be a Mexican Kitchen party. This is the party that we are adding to the guest list to have more people at. Mothers! Oh well. The point of this is 2 fold. For starters we needed to register for more than fancy pants china and a few kitchen gizmos... but that is a whole other post.

This post is about the hostess gift. Errr... hostesses. The Momma Duck had already gone to one of her favorite store and bought 4 fancified candles (on sale!) she planned on giving the ladies. Well, they added a 5th hostess, and she happens to work at that store.... so she knows that the candles were on sale and she knows how much they were and she could use her employee discount to get them cheaper anyway. No big deal, its the thought that counts right?

hmm... I have left out key factors about the women throwing this shindig. They are incredibly sweet, been family friends forever, have a HIGH sense of fashion and propriety, and have more money than God. Oh yeah, shopping ON A BUDGET for 5 women who have everything, or if they don't, can buy it without thinking twice. Damn.

ahhhh - enter the wonderful world of bridal blog bliss! Ready 2 Spark posted about an Etsy shop they fancied.Well, this requires counter space and you have to like the look of it. Well, none of these women are exactly modern or simplistic styled women.... but.... when I went to the Etsy shop, I found these!

Not exactly style stunning, but they can go in a drawer. And guess what's in 'em? Oh yeah - Mexican Spices!!!

Purpose Design
Try something new and exotic with this tasty collection of spices!

This handsome brushed aluminum box holds 15 glass top containers each measuring 2 inches in diameter, with 15 spices essential to Mexican cuisine. Contains ancho chilis, cayenne pepper, crushed chili peppers, chili powder, cut cilantro leaves, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, ground cumin, minced garlic, minced onion, pasilla chilis, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sea salt, and taco seasoning.

Makes a great gift for a hostess or the adventurous chef in your life.

This kit was inspired by my spice muse, crowjoy. Mucho gracias senorita!

Needless to say - ETSY ROCKS!

How perfect is that for women throwing a Mexican Kitchen party for us!?!?? (OK - SOMEONE tell me its perfect!?)
Anyone else have some snafus when finding hostess gifts? Or find some great things on etsy?

Next up - I ordered my veil!!

Dresstastic Drama!

I thought about making yall wait for the dress photos through a couple of potentially boring posts about my weekend accomplishments.... but I am not that patient a person and want to share about my pretty dress!!! Ok, thats really all the drama this post contains; that I almost teased yall with other posts first.
MY DRESS ROCKS!!!!!!
Must I point out that from here on down is an Adam-free zone??
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*I repeat - NO ADAM ZONE!!!!!!!
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**I KILL YOU!!!!
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*OK - are we Adam free now?
Good. So, quick reminder. I ordered my dress from Casablanca and I can't brag enough about this company. You can piece together any aspect (bodice style, bodice detailing (lace or whatever), skirt, neckline (with specified inches!), back line (with specified inches!), SKIRT LENGTH!) at almost no extra cost. (SIDE NOTE: I HATE their online/magazine photos. I saw my base dress -style 1892 - in the mag and said I thought it was ugly.... someone else had to point out it was actually my dress!!! Lesson Learned: DON'T go by magazine pictures!)

So, without further ado...

TA DA!!!

See how its kinda buckling a little between the bodice and the shoulder straps? Yeah, umm - I lost an inch on my waist since we ordered it so now it sits just a little too low. So my beautiful dress will be headed to a seamstress for fitting. Whoops.

LOVE LOVE LOVE that we added that V to the back. Its just enough to be a little fun without giving structural issues.

Me and the Momma Duck. There is one of one of my bridesmaids and I (woohoo for luck of her coming into town this particular weekend) but I have yet to get my mother to email it to me.

I wasn't annoyed I was just talking! And no, that is not necessarily my head bling.

So, we got home (we = mom +me) and she decided to touch up her hair... which gave me a couple minutes of down time... so I put my dress back on! And it turns out.. my cat is a fan.

Curious Kitty.

Confused Kitty.

Yuppers - thats my dress. Whatcha think?

Anyone else hate the magazine photos of a dress they loved?

Anyone else put their dress back on anytime they had at least 2 minutes down time?? I DID!!! In 1 weekend I put that dress on at least 8 times. =D

Accidental Perfection

People say that the things you want tend to fall into place when you aren't searching for them. For some things, I agree. I wasn't looking for love when Adam stopped in Hawaii to visit, but 1 week in and I was head over heels. I wasn't the girl who was hounding for a ring or hinting at marriage. We were happy with our lives together and I wasn't going to try and shove the relationship in any new direction; and then he proposed.

Now if only this was true of wedding planning....

As you remember from previous posts, I went to a bazillion stores and tried on many dresses at each store before finding my dress... and then it took 6 posts to fill yall in on the process!! Then it took 3 times as long to find the company that was right for my girls' dresses.. which I condensed into 3 posts.

So I've got all these pretty new dresses picked out.... but some of my "staple" clothes in my closet were getting a little.... ok - A LOT worn out. So in a non-wedding planning I-need-new-tank-tops-and-jeans mode I went to Kohls. As I was walking towards the registers I meandered through the mens section and

AH!!!!!!!! (choirs of angels singing... not screaming)

THERE sitting on display beckoning to me with every ounce of color they could muster (muster-not mustard-yellow is not in the color scheme) were the PERFECT ties.

As I've said before, I am not detail oriented. I am also not a perfectionist. If the shade of the guys ties were off.. meh! I wouldn't care. BUT, since I put forth NO effort into this particular moment of perfection, I am quite happy with it!

Of course, the Kohls here in Pcola only had a few, so I called my mother and she went to the Panama City Kohls and cleared them out of theirs... of course we only needed 3 of one and 2 of the other. (2 Dads and 3 Groomsmen who wont be in uniform.) Oh well!

Anyone else STUMBLE on a moment of perfection for their wedding?

Just Cause

I am one of those people who doesn't strike anyone as hippie green and giving... but I really do like to help and be eco conscious when at all possible. We recycle and have changed out most of our light bulbs to be more efficient, but we also use the dryer. We use the reusable grocery bags, but don't always buy organic. Sometimes it more than we can afford in time or money to go the really green route. We are also donors. I am a regular blood donor, and a volunteer for the Red Cross, and we both give a good chunk of our change to helpful causes.

So what if you could help and its free? What about if you could help while playing a game that helps improve your vocabulary? (And I think we probably ALL need that.) I have two answers for you (And every image is a link back to the source so please - click away!!):
www.freerice.com
How to play

• Click on the answer that best defines the word.
• If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word.
• For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. (No, 20 grains isn't alot, but it sure adds up quick!)
  

WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance..

No kidding. To anyone who has the time to be reading this and kicking around on the internet, open up a new tab, enhance your vocab, and feed some hungry kids.

The other one I get an email reminder for daily. I follow the link, click the button on the screen and voila! I have just helped feed someone, support breast cancer research, get medicine to a child, help someone learn to read, save some of the rainforest, and feed and rescue animals.

These work on the principle of sponsors (like most websites, blogs included), so it doesn't cost you a thing.

Wait - Did anyone else see #3? SHOP to give?! Rock on! And its actually a fantastic shop with so many unique things. I am probably getting my wedding decor and my bridesmaids gifts from there..... aww hell.... I think some of them read this.....oh well!

From BEAUTIFUL scarves and pashminas to funky jewelery, (and some classic beauties too - check out their pearls!). They also have a huge range of home and garden supplies and decor: from tea to garden tools, and rugs to solar paneled house numbers... its all there. Every dollar spent ends up with a large donation to whichever site you went through to get there (Rainforest, Animal Rescue, etc). Oh yeah, plus there are fun cloths, scrubs, pet toys, and awesome purses! Oh - and one last major note - REASONABLE PRICES! :) Go forth and shop!




Anyone else find a new way to donate and plan on incorporating into their wedding?