a farmhouse wedding

just the beginning [of the end]

2010-06-26T00:25:00.009-04:00

i haven't posted to this blog in over a year - how strange. time truly does fly.

things got so hectic for a while there and before i knew it, the wedding was over and i didn't know where to even start back up again.

with that being said, this blog was meant to share my wedding planning experiences and inspirations. i hate that i didn't make it all the way through this process with everyone, but i guess i should at least show a small glimpse of that magical day if anyone out there is still checking this from time to time (if you are out there, you are wonderful).

in the meantime, i will now be blogging at www.foreachwindthatblows.blogspot.com and i would love it if you would stop by and say hi.

oh yeah - you can also go here to see more pictures and details from our wedding day. click here for our smilebooth photos. if you have any questions about the wedding or the planning, please don't hesitate to ask.

xo

beach party!

2009-06-19T11:25:00.006-04:00

although j and i are really feeling land-locked these days and keep wishing to be on a beach somewhere, feeling the sand between our toes...

...well we may not be there yet, BUT this is pretty close!

tonight is the annual decatur beach party in downtown! this consists of 60 TONS of sand being spread all over downtown decatur! so fun! i love summer and i love festivals!

should be a good time and we may even ride our bikes to the festivities (see below post)! and now that i'm back on my diet for the last 4 month stretch, the bike ride will definitely help this mission (if the heat in georgia doesn't kill me first).

and speaking of beaches, j and i have been researching honeymoon spots - which isn't easy with the constant threat of rain and/ or hurricanes in october, but this is worth the risk:

[images via cocobayresort.com]

although i know these beach pictures don't make the work day end any quicker - i hope you all have a great weekend!

"if you want others to be happy, practice compassion. if you want to be happy, practice compassion" - hh the dalai lama

i want to ride my bicycle

2009-05-22T08:16:00.003-04:00

j and i finally bit the bullet and bought ourselves new bikes! now that we are living in a bike-friendly (well about as bike-friendly as it gets in metro atlanta) area, we wanted dependable bikes! we ended up buying hybrids (yay for comfort and performance). although atlanta weather has been very tempermental which has kept us from riding as much as we'd like, we can't wait to be able to ride around town! jason will actually be using his bike to commute to work which helps lower our carbon footprint!! and decatur has just completed the PATH trail near our house between 2 parks which is for runners, walkers, and bikes! it's beautiful (just see for yourself):

the only downside (there's always a rub) is our neighborhood is verrrry hilly. we took a ride for an hour on wednesday and the hills were almost the end of me. my thighs almost fell off. true story.

anyways, we got our bikes from the local bicycle south shop (they are great if you're in the market for a bike! very great prices and laid back and knowledgeable staff). we couldn't be happier!

j got a 2008 raleigh detour hybrid. only it's grey, not green. he looooves it. now we just need to add a rack and fenders for his commute.

i got a giant brand hybrid that came with a rack, fender, compass (and bell!) already included. only it is blue, not black. good times!

i will get you guys some pics of our actual bikes because they are way cuter. there's nothing like a bike ride to make you feel 10 years old again and unstoppable. i can't wait to ride our bikes towards little 5 points for a snowball (in trying to relive the new orleans trip)!

summer is here, my friends.

[image via the london transport museum]

p.s. the london transport museum has some wonderful posters/ prints. we are actually thinking of using one for our invitation. more on that to follow.

confessions

2009-05-21T21:19:00.006-04:00

hello. my name is coley and i've had a lot on my plate these days. but i want to come back. a lot has happened since we last spoke, but i'm not ready to end this. i want to make this work.

wedding planning has been back in full swing now that our house is now liveable. here are some long overdue pics chez nous - mostly of the outside because we're still unpacking and making design changes. before and after shots to come soon (we didn't take near enough unfortunately).

we also took a trip to new orleans, la to celebrate our 4 year anniversary/ 1 year anniversary of being engaged and it was awesome. and although we were there to celebrate mostly, we also took the trip to take a breather and get refreshed to help get on the right track. we walked the french quarter, took the trolley to the garden district to walk magazine street, went to the french market, got snowballs, we ate at cafe du monde (chickory coffee and beignets!), took the nanchez river boat cruise, and did an awesome "haunted" tour. we had a great time all around and enjoyed the big easy (although it's good to note that it is not a vegetarian-friendly city for the majority, however angeli's on decatur street was ggggrreat)!

oh, and on a final note, i have decided i need this:

[cake topper from etsy seller, melabo]

i should also tell you...i've missed you [all]. how's things?
xo

nightmare

2009-04-14T09:03:00.002-04:00

[image via alyssa giannini's flickr]

i had a nightmare last night and i'm still feeling very anxious about it.

it was our wedding day. everyone was there. but there was no food. cake. photographer. nothing. and randomly i was in a black dress. this is a sign that i have not been productive AT ALL with our wedding planning. as of last friday, we are exactly 6 months away from our wedding! save the dates haven't even been sent! gasp.

this weekend it's time to get serious.

i have been failing at finding a healthy balance.

how do you find time to balance work, relationships, sleep, and work?

distractions and fractions

2009-04-13T14:07:00.004-04:00

helllllloooooooooo!

happy monday! i hope everyone out there had an awesome weekend! this was the first weekend in almost 2 months that was not completely booked up by the house - weird, but awesome feeling!

outside of the standard numerous family commitments surrounding holidays, jason and i got to cook our favorite breakfast in the new house (2 days in a row!) for the first time! scramled tofu + guacamole + wheat toast + raspberry with pear brandy preserves! omg.

also, my favorite best friend in the world was super awesome and put j and i on the sub pop guest list (she's amazing like that and lucky enough to work for sub pop!) to see flight of the conchords at the fox theater. omg again. we laughed until we cried and just had a blast. it was officially our first night out together, alone, doing something really fun since the stress of the house. for this awesome night, i am forever indebted to sasha (even though i think i'm sure that was already the case, determined at some point in college). either way, thank you sash. as soon as i get fully situated, expect a surprise! and i hope you don't kill me, but here's the infamous picture where people for some reason think we look like sisters - good times. haha.

p.s. since moving our internet has yet to be turned on. after this wednesday, i will be able to update more! also, so far (knock on wood) the only item that we have discovered that did not survive the move was my brand new computer sadly. thank goodness for warranties, but the delay has been torturous and painful. i've been trying to stay positivee and i'm hoping that they will be able to salvage the computer and everything on it *fingers crossed*. this may not fully excuse my gaps in posts, but it is what it is.

back to reality

2009-04-06T09:33:00.003-04:00

first off, i wanted to start today by saying thank you (x infinity) to any and all of you that stepped up last week to help show your love and support for jason and me! we are forever in awe and grateful. i also want to congratulate sam and kaitlyn on their upcoming free wedding!!! they are such an adorable couple (with a ridiculously cute little boy) and i hope that their wedding is all they could dream of and more!

j and i had a blast participating in the contest, but at the end of the day, we are super stoked to be able to plan our own wedding that is all about the things we love. and we will continue to do just that and share those plans with you guys! the save the dates will be going out this month and i can't wait to show everyone!

now that we're back in the mindset of that fall wedding (which i'll be honest, a fall wedding instead of a may wedding allows for me to get in back in shape before putting on a wedding dress so that's another plus!), i found a wonderful wedding to pull inspiration from!

[all images via fifth business's flickr]

i love the leaves on the ground with the huge trees in the background! the bike signs are so perfect and i love the streamers and tin cans. these bikes can give tandem bikes a run for their money any day.

happy monday!

p.s. jason and i are fully out of the apartment (yay for not being responsible for 2 residences) and made the commute to work from our house for the first time this morning! weird. also, it's so easy to forget that unpacking takes even longer than packing. sighs. at least there are no time contraints!

normalcy

2009-04-03T10:33:00.003-04:00

it's amazing how much we crave stability. jason and i have almost fully packed up every pen, pot, and pillow. we are in the final stretch.

all we can daydream about is sleeping in, cooking dinner together, reading our daily dalai lama quotes (we have A LOT of catching up to do), listening to the birds in our backyard while eating breakfast, gardening, laying around while jason plays the harmonica, planning our next tallulah gorge hike, watching movies, going camping, riding bikes, and just being able to hang out with our friends and eachother. our lives have been so hectic that our brains and our bodies are just simply exhausted. i know that nothing can prepare you for times like this, but the good news is that we are so adaptable and we'll get through it like we always do. one day this will all just be a memory...and a damn good one at that.

this phosporescent video says it all. we may not technically be a-roaming, but we sure are ready to be home.

have a wonderful weekend and i promise to be back with some awesome wedding-related info next week. xo

p.s. only 2 more days to vote, so if you want to help out some folks who could sure use a free wedding, please vote for jason and me here!!!! i know we're awfully behind, but apparently votes won't fully determine the winner so every vote counts. it's not over 'til it's over, right?

go figure

2009-04-01T16:28:00.001-04:00

so now that i'm home from the retailer convention that i attended this week, i am sick. super sick.

i guess when you're on your feet, giving the same presentation every 8 minutes for 11 hours within 2 days (no, i'm not kidding and somehow i still have my voice), getting sick seems pretty inevitable!

with that being said, jason and i now have to move tonight!!! hopefully we'll miss the rain! fingers crossed.

life will be normal soon. life will be normal soon. or so i keep telling myself.

it still hasn't hit me that last night was the last time we'll be sleeping in our apartment. good things to come...

broken record

2009-04-01T11:36:00.004-04:00

[image via susan's flickr page and poster via buyolympia]

"people often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. of course, this is not true. decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing" - walter h. judd

with that being said, please go to http://www.thenotwedding.blogspot.com/ and VOTE for nicole (me) and jason to win a FREEEEE wedding! we have fallen a good bit behind, so we could every vote we could get! please spread the word! tell your mom, your best friend, and your brother's girlfriend's niece! apparently, the final decision won't be solely based on votes (fingers crossed), but every vote helps! xoxo

[image via thenotwedding.com]

p.s. for all of those who have already voted, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! i think jason said it best when he told me that even if we don't win - after seeing all of the support from our friends and family and by having eachother, we've already won...he couldn't be more right.

we were chosen! please vote for us!

2009-03-29T18:23:00.003-04:00

so here it is! the secret i've been keeping [and it's been killing me]! well i guess i should say that there are a few secrets i've been holding on to. in the midst of all of the wedding planning and joy, my parents have decided to get divorced. sighs. this was not something that i planned on sharing, but either way, it has made planning a wedding [on top of everything else] very very hard. due to the financial implications, it has made discussing a wedding budget very awkward and at some point, we had to decide exactly what was to be sacrificed since we don't want anyone we love to struggle anymore than necessary when making a huge, life-altering decision. we don't ever want a day that's supposed to be the best day in our lives to be a day that brings those we love any stress or sleepless nights. we just want to be married and spend our days together always. whether that's in a courthouse or a farmhouse, us being together and celebrating our love with those we love is all that matters.

so when i saw that the amazingly talented vendors throwing the notwedding here in atlanta were having a contest for a free wedding, i figured that it was worth a shot [especially after attending this event last year and being blown away]. with the amount of stress that jason and i have been under, we could really use the help of having some awesome professionals plan our wedding, but of course i never thought we'd get picked. well guess what - we are in the final 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i got a call today confirming that we were in the final round and that now it's up the public to vote!

i believe voting starts tomorrow at http://thenotwedding.blogspot.com so please vote for me and jason! we are so grateful for this opportunity and if chosen, we want to share this experience with all of you! if you want any information or have any questions about why you should vote for us, please email me or post a comment and i will respond immediately!

i hope you can forgive the secret-keeping, but hopefully you will vote for jason and me! i believe voting starts tomorrow so please go to the NotWedding blog and vote for jason and nicole! i promise that your vote will not be taken forgranted and that we will be eternally grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! please spread the word! i have appreciated all of the blog support that i have received in the past few months and i feel so lucky to be a part of this radical community that has inspired me every day. we love you all! xoxo

"the purpose of our lives is to be happy” - dalai lama

p.s. here's the first picture of jason and i right after he asked me to marry him. good times! story to come soon!

finally

2009-03-29T17:53:00.003-04:00

woods and water are always a wonderful wedding combination! i love this wedding for it's amazing flower girls [can you ever go wrong with tutu's], the bride's adorable [short] wedding dress, and the awesome backdrop!

[all images via maggiemac photo's flickr site]

p.s. sorry for the small pictures!

so i have some amazing news! jason and i finished phase 1 of working on the house! the must-do repairs are completed, hardwood floors refinished, walls and trims painted, and everything has been cleaned! we finished late last night and it couldnt feel better! it is such a hugggggge relief that it still doesn't seem real! we start moving in on wednesday!!! you will have pictures very soon...i promise! i took a bunch last night and i can't wait to share!

anyways, today i am in orlando, fl for a convention for work. sighs. it is probably the worst time to be traveling but that's typically how it does, right? regardless, it'll be nice to relax a bit today and the weather being super sunny doesn't hurt!

so i have a confession - i have been keeping a secret in an attempt to not get my hopes up. i have some majjooooooorr news to share with everyone! it's VERY exciting and i can't wait to spill the beans! i hope you've all had the best weekend! stay posted...and check back very soon!

santa barbara wedding

2009-03-25T16:34:00.004-04:00

so i decided to start off this wedding post with a picture of the couple sans their wedding attire first. with the antlers, exposed brick, and red velvet chairs - you know you're in for a treat [i mean come on]!

most of the pictures of this santa barbara wedding include priceless shots of the couple, but with a couple so cool and good-looking it should be a given. i should mention that i love the fact that their wedding seems uniquely traditional (is this an oxy-moron?) and fancy in their attire, but their table settings and locale are super laid back. the red and white checkered picnic table cloth really works surprisingly.

[all images via azuree wiitala's flickr]

i can't not get enough of her dress and hair. freaking awesome.

walk, don't run

2009-03-25T08:17:00.002-04:00

[image via lorenzodom's flickr ]

"freedom is nothing but a chance to be better" - albert camus

flowers

2009-03-24T08:41:00.003-04:00

this wedding is amazing! i can't get over the setting [yay for farmhouses!], the dress, the happy and stylish couple, the flowers, and the patio lit with paper lanterns! this wedding is so intimate and fun. i even love the haystacks showing through the windows of the barn! this fall wedding has so many elements that i can only dream of for my day. fingers crossed!

[all images via anne lape's flickr site]

by the way, did i mention how amazing the groom's suit is? holy. yeah.

precious

2009-03-23T17:25:00.001-04:00

i will admit that my owl obsession has dwindled [gasp]. i started collecting owl items a few years ago in college and i have some great pieces that i will never part with [ i'm convinced that one day my grandkids will ask their parents what's up with grandma and all those damn owls - haha]. oh well. although i have had too much of my share of owls - i will always be a lover of all things bird-related and therefore this custom invitation by matthew bowers is right up my alley! so cute!

[image via matthew bowers]

tunes to get me through

2009-03-23T16:06:00.000-04:00

after the grind of working on the house this weekend - i never want to paint trim again as long as i live. regardless, none of this makes being at work any easier today. but i will put on my ipod and i will carry on.

i'm excited about wednesday! jason and i are taking somewhat of a break from the house [ok, well maybe not all evening] but we are going to see phospherescent at the drunken unicorn venue in downtown atlanta! not only are they from athens [my college town] but one of my best friends, scott, is in the band and i haven't seen him in many years! if you haven't ever listened to them, you should definitely check them out.

in the meantime, here's a greatttt cover song to help get you through this manic monday. enjoy!

running of the brides

2009-03-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

by the way, i thought i should mention that today was the running of the brides at the philene's basement in buckhead. on my commute to work, i listened to the local radio station outside interviewing and having contests for the girls waiting to stampede the store. although i think it's a great opportunity for girls to get a designer dress at a budget-friendly price, i couldn't be more thankful to already have a dress. i don't think i could handle the anxiety of finding the right dress within a madhouse. good luck to all you atlanta ladies who waited in lines of a thousand girls for 2 days! i hope it was worth it!

did any of you get your wedding dress at a running of the brides event? if so, was it worth it?

reunion style

2009-03-20T09:24:00.004-04:00

i recently saw jaime and chris's wedding on offbeatbride and i was drawn to it instantly! the laidback bride and groom, park setting, pinata, and prom-style wedding dress make for great pictures [and an obvious good time]. i love seeing wedding pictures where you feel like you know the couple's personalities because it shines in every element of the wedding. plus, i love that they went for a family reunion for their wedding, because there's nothing better than having an excuse to get family that you love together and celebrate your love!

[all images via jamie andchris's flickr and b and k photography]

grateful

2009-03-19T13:12:00.004-04:00

one of my absolute favorite blogger friends, color me green, has been so sweet to give me the kreativ blogger award! i don't necessarily feel like i deserve it these past few weeks considering everything else going on in this crazy thing they call life; however, i am eternally grateful for this awesome award.

here are the award rules: list 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love! be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. you can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard letting the whole world know...you are kreativ!

7 things that i currently love:
1. the satisfaction of finishing a project in our new home
2. morningstar buffalo "chicken" nuggets - since i'm not vegan, these are my sinister vegetarian favorites!
3. brunch
4. listening to bon iver
5. finding unexpected new places to hike and explore that are close by
6. spending time with my favorites: j, my family [includes soon-to-be in-laws], and beth!
7. crawling into bed with j after a looong work [office and home] day to watch lost on dvd!

i want to present this award to the following talented bloggers whose blogs i can't get enough of! they are super inspirational and a necessary daily read!
vintageglamblog
wemetinabar
eastsidebride
apracticalwedding
earthfriendlywedding
steadyhappy
heart of light

sacred cow

2009-03-18T17:43:00.002-04:00

"a man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. ideas have endurance without death" - jfk

i have been traveling on business to dallas, tx for the past few days. missing flights, not getting enough sleep, and meetings back-to-back. it feels good to be home. back to refinishing hardwood floors, calluses from painting, and still - not getting enough sleep.

but at least i'm home and working on finishing my home.

oh yeah - and back to updating! i've missed you guys!

dream of stars

2009-03-13T14:05:00.001-04:00

i am so happy that it is friday. although this weekend will yet again be another weekend dedicated entirely to working on the house [and it's supposed to rain-ugh], hopefully we'll get a bit more sleep than we have all week. and plus i get a jason-cooked breakfast which is my favorite. i hope your weekend is full of sunshine, good friends, great laughs, and lots of peace!

now that we're [somewhat] getting closer to being able to do more cosmetic changes on the house, i can't stop thinking about how i want to decorate the house to make it feel more like home. ever since i saw emily st.clair's artwork on nicole bach's living room wall, i have been smitten! i would love to have one of these pieces hanging in our new house!

i wonder if this was the inspiration?

"rituals are important. nowadays it's hip not to be married. i'm not interested in being hip" - john lennon

closer

2009-03-13T08:47:00.000-04:00

i saw this questionnaire on teresa's blog and thought it'd be fun to share some fun facts about j.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? well considering we don't have cable right now this one is tough. when we did, j's faves were man vs wild, survivorman, and now we've just started watching lost season 1 - notice a trend? jason wants to live off the grid so bad it hurts.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? ranch. hands down.

3. What's one food he doesn't like? jason isn't picky at all which helps when one is vegetarian, but he isn't a fan of sweets at all. lucky.

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? a beer. maybe heineken or a sweetwater.

5. Where did he go to high school? central gwinnett high school.

6. What size shoe does he wear? 11.5 - 12. sometimes it depends on the shoes.

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? maybe bottle caps. or banksy prints.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? he loves wraps with "bacon" tempeh strips and avocado.

9. What would he eat every day if he could? burritos or pizza.

10. What is his favorite cereal? he's not a big cereal eater. he prefers making big breakfasts with hashbrowns, bagels, or scrambled tofu.

11. What would he never wear? baggy pants or shirts that are too big

12. What is his favorite sports team? braves circa the 1990's

13. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? probably put myself down or when i get road rage [no, i'm not proud of this]

14. What is his heritage? english - if you've seen the cate blanchett "elizabeth" movie - the man who gets his hand cut off for trying to advise the queen - yeah that man was truly one of j's ancestors! crazy!

15. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? he prefers cookie cake or pound cake which his family calls "pound puppy" cake since he called it that when he was little. so cute!

16. Did he play sports in high school? yes, only for a bit. he played baseball, but then he got a ball to the jaw which resulted in having to have his mouth wired shut for 6 months.

17. What could he spend hours doing? altering photos on photoshop or planning trips

18. What is one unique talent he has? jason can write and paint extremely well. one day i'll have to post one of my favorite writings he ever wrote for me.

what are some interesting things about your guy?

p.s. happy friday!!!

sneak peek

2009-03-12T07:45:00.000-04:00

i know i've been complaining about all of the house work recently. maybe whining would be a better description, but either way i wanted to share some of the experiences with you!

we don't have any furniture moved in so it doesn't feel like home at all really - it's weird talking about "home" and that still being 2 different places. however, we did meet some of our neighbors yesterday which makes it feel more real! exciting!

we've painted 4 of the rooms so far [we have to paint every room, trim, closet, etc.] but i want to show you the paint colors we've picked and get your input! all paints are behr brand.

for the master bedroom, we chose mocha accent.

for the office, we went with ashwood but then due to the home depot drama, it's actually has a bit more grey in it than the ashwood below.

for the art room, we went with sonata for a pop of color.

for the kitchen, feather gold to go with our blue/ teal tiles.

for the main hallway and dining room, the lovely mother nature.

for the living room, we went just a tiny bit darker than the color that was already in the room but it needed to be touched up. let me introduce you to castle path.

for the add on guest bath, we chose spring hill.

for the guest bedroom, we went with garden wall.

and last, but not least, we will have sandstone cove in the add on hallway.

fingers crossed that it looks good once it's all painted! also, fingers crossed that eventually the paint fume smell goes away!

p.s. i just noticed that jason and i were obviously biased towards browns and beiges. we were aiming for earthy organic colors. hmm...go figure.

[paint samples from http://www.myperfectcolor.com/]

words of wisdom wednesday

2009-03-11T15:58:00.002-04:00

"any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves" - albert einstein

[photo by jethro soudant via jethro soudant's flickr]

l'introduction

2009-03-11T09:46:00.000-04:00

so i figured that today would be as good a day as any other to tell you how jason and i met. there are some things within this story that are somewhat embarrassing, but i could never leave them out. now that all cards are on the table, here goes...

it was the my 2nd semester of my junior year of college. being a psychology major, i was taking mr. achee's class "history of psychology." all semester i had noticed this cute boy who sat in the row next to me, but one seat up. when he actually showed up to class [which was somewhat rare], he would arrive in slippers and therefore, he intrigued me. one day i noticed that he had a button on his bag for a band that i loved and i knew we'd be able to at least have somethings in common. so everyday i would try to get up the nerve to talk to him or give him a flier to my roommate's 21st birthday party, but i failed every single day.

finally it was the last week of classes before the final exam and my opportunities were running short. he didn't show up for the tuesday class which meant i had one more chance. that night i was on FB [gasp] and i clicked on the link to show people in your classes and he was the first person that showed up on the screen! this was a bit shocking considering i'd embarrsingly enough tried looking for him before with no avail. so i figured i had nothing to lose and i emailed him.

he tried to play like he didn't quite know who i was which i knew was a front, but either way we joked about how many times mr. achee had gone over the dang müller-lyer illusion and the communication door had been opened. so on thursday, the last day of class, we got out early and we walked out together and that's when he asked me to get a beer [at 10:00 in the morning]! being that i was still 20, i instead suggested lunch and it was a blast. we were instantly connected and we would end up spending each day for over 2 weeks hanging out until 6:00 AM every night/ morning to end with awkward "buddy pat" hugs. eventually we ended up making the first move for the kiss and we have been inseparable since.

here's some random/ insane things surrounding the first meeting:
1. j grew up in lawrenceville, ga and i grew up in alpharetta, ga [it is about 20-25 minutes drive between the two cities]; however, both of jason's aunts and grandparents [both on his mom's side] live on my parents' street! his one aunt lives across the street and 2 houses down from the house i grew up in [where my parents still live]!!
2. in fact there were times that j stayed with his aunt while working in atlanta during the summer and my mom saw him and thought it was a shame that i was away at college. he also heard me and some friends setting off fireworks one night across the street and complained to his mom about it over the phone.
3. j and i had both been trying to talk to eachother all semester and had both told our moms about eachother. see - i told you he knew who i was when i messaged him!
4. since he had no interest in FB, j's cousin had actually created his FB account for him only a few days before i messaged him.

anyways, i feel so lucky that our paths crossed the way they did. regardless of whether or not one believes in fate, it seems like many things aligned to have us meet exactly when we did. and i am forever thankful for mr.achee and that müller-lyer illusion drawing:

also, just for fun. here is jason and i on one of our very first dates [put-put golf at pirate's cove]:

have a wonderful day!

be our guest

2009-03-10T10:06:00.001-04:00

the idea of making a diy guestbook is something that i'm really excited about making. of course it'd be great if i could actually make and bind a book, but that's just not realistic.

one wonderful resource is blurb.com! they allow you to incorporate any/all personal touches into a well-made, finished book for your guests to sign. i've seen so many brides are using this option for their guestbook. jesse and deanna [whose wedding i've posted about before!] used blurb to include many of their ticket stubs, pictures, and items that reminded them of the years leading up to their wedding. it looks awesome!

[images via jesse and deanna's blog]

another fun option is from guestbookstore.com! they have fun template pages that your guests can fill out and it allows the guests to show their creative sides and offer advice to the couple.

[images via guestbookstore.com]

plus, i couldn't picture anything cuter for the guests to use to fill out the pages with these rustic colored pencils!

[image via estiloweddings.com]

seems like a mixture of the two would be the most fun, but we'll see!

what resources are you using for a guestbook at your wedding? i'd love to know about other options!

strung along

2009-03-09T13:30:00.001-04:00

when we chose the farmhouse as our venue, the idea of having our pictures hang from a twine clothesline was a must! there is nothing sweeter than having your guests be able to see some of the pictures that capture the memories that lead up to the wedding day! below are some of my favorite renditions! the best parts about the clothesline trend is that it helps spark conversation amoung the guests, it is very cute, and best of all - it is very cheap and easy!

[image via theknot.com]

[image via http://www.elizabethmessina.com/]

[if someone could please send me the link for this picture to give appropriate credit that would be amazing!]

[image via apracticalwedding.com]

[image via coralee penner via theknot.com]

p.s. wouldn't it be so cute to have all of the pictures printed through poladroid.net to have them look like polaroids?

[image via theknot.com]

merci beaucoup

2009-03-09T10:42:00.000-04:00

[photo via nisedesigns flickr]

i wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has stopped by my blog since january! the love and support of such an amazing and talented community is breathtaking! i appreciate all of the wonderful advice, inspiration, and thoughtfulness! my wedding planning process would definitely be more difficult without you all!

i haven't updated in over a week and i've been feeling horrible about it! this past week [actually the past few!] have been a bit overwhelming with the new house that once i leave work, i am working on the house with j until extremely late and by the time i get back to our apartment [our lease is up during the first week of april thankfully because the house isn't ready just yet], we cram an unhealthy [ughhh] dinner down our throats and then we pass out before we hit the bed. somewhere in here, i'm hoping this helps justify my lack of posting. sadly, it has been affecting my inspiration [and sleeping needs]. also, i should note that having home depot give us the wrong paint color to use as touch up paint [which results in us having to repaint the WHOLE room tonight] definitely lowered our spirits after this loooong work weekend! at least it was beautiful outside!

i know that with each repair we fix, each wall we paint, and each sleepless night we have will result in an extreme happiness once we are completed. for now we are just kind of on auto pilot trying to get everything we need to done. once again [because i could never say this enough] we couldn't thank our family and friends more for their love and support!

anyways, i hope to have some great [wedding-related] posts this week, but really - thanks again for everything. xo

"let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful" - buddha

i want to go to there

2009-02-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

i know i've mentioned before that jason and i [maybe more so me] were sold on the farmhouse inn venue as soon as we saw it. no other venue could compare in my eyes [and heart]! anyways, a few months ago snippetandink posted the following wedding on their site and it was at the farmhouse! it just made us even more excited to see the lovely photo ops and we can't wait to celebrate our special day there!

i hope you enjoy these photos by melissa schollaer photography as much as i do!

p.s. i hope you "30 rock" fans enjoyed my post title!

"i am at two with nature" - woody allen

sunday brunch

2009-02-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

although i've always wanted an outdoor, night wedding with the string lights making the event glow, the thought of a sunday brunch wedding keeps looking better and better. for one, the vendor prices are more wallet-friendly and it just makes everything look more cheerful!

j and i aren't doing placecards or assigned seating, but if we were, this would be so cute for a sunday brunch wedding!

[image and idea from marthastewartweddings.com]

the below inspiration board from snippetandink is amazing! it is everything lovely and the outdoor picnic/ brunch setting is timeless. hmm...maybe it would be best to go this route...

did you find any inspiration during your wedding planning process that made you reconsider some things you'd always thought would be in your wedding?

"good plans shape good decisions. that's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true" - anonymous

mexican food and flags!

2009-02-24T21:44:00.001-05:00

i love the vibrant colors in this wedding!!! the wooden invitations, mexican flags, and animal tarot-esque cards really make for a beautiful and unique wedding!
i also love the mexican buffet with guacamole and various salsas. considering i could eat mexican food for every meal, this seems right up my alley!

[all images via jenna walker photography via stylemepretty]

please, mr. postman

2009-02-24T11:41:00.001-05:00

when j and i first started dating, we would go to the local playground and do mad libs for hours! mad libs played a large role in those first few months when we were getting to know eachother. since our first road trip to panama city beach [and no, not during spring break!] consisted of mad libs for the majority of the drive, mad libs will always be close to my heart. i can't wait to fill this one out and send to my boy. so cute!

if there's someone super special in your life, you should send it to them too because it never hurts to randomly remind him/her that you think of them always.

this tradition may also show itself in our diy invitations. we've discussed doing a similar rsvp card to the folks over at redprairiepress.blogspot.com below! they are so fun and unique. and i feel like they probably truly reflect the couple's personalities. it would be so awesome to get an invitation like this one in the mail!

did you include any of your personal traditions in your invitations or save the dates?

[romantic intent form via bureauofcommunication.com]

cars and guitars

2009-02-24T08:04:00.004-05:00

the boy and i have already started working on the house and it feels so great. we have a LONG way to go and i couldn't be more thankful that we have a month to fix it up before we have to move and our current lease runs out. owning a house is definitely a labor of love and i can't wait to show you all the before and after pictures!

we only have one other tiny part of the save the dates to make and those will be able to be sent out! that reminds me, i need to start getting together all of the addresses!

i also need to start working on the birdcage veil. i have all of the materials, but i just need someone to let me use them as a model to make it. jason might have to step up to the plate on this one - which would be so funny [i may have to take a picture while he isn't looking]!

hayley and tyson's wedding below is totally motivating me to get started on the birdcage veil. the bride looks so cute in her veil! so classy and fun! i love the flowers and setting for their wedding. i should also mention that i love the picture of hayley and her dad! his beard is amazing!

[all images via hayleyandtyson's flickr page and veronica olson photography]

l'essential est invisible

2009-02-23T08:34:00.000-05:00

inspired by the the ones we love project, i have decided to post six pictures of my boy.

jason inspires me to never settle, to always dream, and to do what makes me happy. his compassion and his desire to learn and travel is truly irresistable. he is my best friend and i know that with him, i've always got someone on my team no matter what. jason is the man that my mother always promised that i'd find. i am a lucky girl.

"it is only with one's heart that one can see clearly. what is essential is invisible to the eye." - antoine de saint-exupéry [the little prince]

live simply that others might simply live

2009-02-22T12:25:00.001-05:00

readymade magazine asked different artists to recreate the populist poster art during the great depression. below are some of the resulting posters [my favorites!]. all are available from readymade to download for free so check them out!

i can't wait to frame this first print to hang up in our new house! i think the message is timeless and dead on. i have already started donating garbage bags [4 already!] full of clothing, shoes, and more to the local goodwill. i am really trying to live more simply and in turn, more conscientously! at the end of the day, i've already got everything that i could ever need.

[images via readymade.com]
[header quote via elizabeth seaton]

have any of you recently made any attempts to simplify your life? if so, which changes had the biggest impact on your standard of living?

first

2009-02-21T21:14:00.007-05:00

so as of yesterday at 3:00 pm EST, jason and i officially became homeowners!!! this is our new house!

for this past week i have been so busy trying to make sure everything was in order to close on time for our house and i couldn't feel happier. j and i have worked so hard and now we will have a home to call our own. we can't wait to paint, garden, sew curtains, and just give our new house [gosh that feels so weird to say!] some personal touches. we know it's going to take some work, but we're ready! i will definitely share pictures of the rest of the house soon and keep you guys posted on the design and upgrades! if you have any advice or suggestions, please send them our way!

although we've got some work to do, i really need to kick it into wedding planning mode. i know i keep saying this, but i'm really trying to get myself motivated. jason and i worked on the design for the save-the-dates today and i can't wait to get them done so that i can share! i hope you guys will like it!

i think my biggest hiccup is the catering. we have the venue and if only the catering was decided on, i think i'd feel more at ease about the planning. the first catering proposal we got has EVERYTHING included but it also includes the hefty price tag (even considering the vegetarian menu). although i couldn't bear to pay the proposed amount, it sure would be easy to have the catering company handle all rentals and everything in between. i know i kept telling my dad that i could handle it all, but somedays i feel like having some intervention could really lessen the stress.

with a guestlist of 150, what would you suggest as the cheapest catering option? jason keeps suggesting that we ask family to help with cooking for the wedding, but i don't want to instill the stress or responsibility of feeding 150 people on our family.

hmm...maybe pizza could work? it looks awesome at the wedding below and the guests don't seem to have a problem with it! any thoughts?

in the meantime, enjoy this amazing portland wedding!

[all wedding images via evrim gallery]

"we shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started...and know the place for the first time" - t.s. eliot

a view to die for

2009-02-17T08:10:00.004-05:00

i am excited about the beautiful setting on the farmhouse where j and i are getting hitched, but the wedding below has a killer cermony site! so beautiful.

i love the simplicity and beauty of the programs and cake table!

the doilies add such a nice touch to the tables too.

[all images via goldhillwedding's flickr page and the talented traci over at http://www.realphotography.com/]

p.s. thanks to traci at realphotography for helping me credit these pictures appropriately!

folk songs

2009-02-16T20:16:00.007-05:00

jason and i listen to folk music probably 99% of the time. well that may not be entirely true, but pretty dang close. for the feel of our wedding, folk music is just simply inevitably going to be played a good bit. even though we haven't fully decided on a band versus a dj, i was so excited when i found a wedding song list from the folk alley blog i was so happy! below are some of my favorite songs from the huuuge list that will surely be played at our wedding! some will be best for the cocktail hour and obviously not the dancing reception, but they will be enjoyed nonetheless!

1. in my life - the beatles
2. if i needed you - townes van zandt
3. wedding song - bob dylan
4. song for the asking - paul simon
5. i want you - tom waits
6. give yourself to love - kate wolf

a few songs that aren't on the list that i loooove are:
1. dedicated to the one i love - the mama and papas
2. i will - the beatles
3. crazy love - bob dylan and van morrison
4. and i love her - the beatles
5. into mystic - van morrison

by the way, in case you didn't notice, i love the beatles.

i can't wait to share with you the music that we have picked out for our first dance, the ceremony, etc., but i'm not ready to share just yet. although i can promise you that it's going to be good!

[image via music stack]

yes please!

2009-02-12T20:45:00.007-05:00

jason would whisk me away for a beach destination in a heartbeat. the concept behind the destination wedding is ideal, but sadly i never felt that a destination wedding would be the right fit for me. i have a huge extended family [most who have never traveled via plane] and it just wouldn't feel right without everyone there to celebratewith us on one of the happiest days of our lives. jason's family is also very large and his grandparents would have a hard time traveling to the wedding. the farmhouse is actually somewhat of a compromise since it's about 1.5 hours from atlanta and we'll stay on site. that kind of counts as a destination, right?

with that being said, this next wedding makes me want to grab a sundress, some sandals, and just promise everyone a large party upon our return! just kidding...kind of!

[all images via kvetch.indiebride.com]

after drooling over these pictures, one word immediately comes to mind: honeymoon!

handmade for him

2009-02-12T20:15:00.004-05:00

boys should get to feel special on their wedding day too. i love all of the handmade items on etsy that can help to make the grooms stand out and feel unique [and awesome].

[ring via naturalezanica's etsy shop]

[ring via robandlean's etsy shop]

[cufflink via blockpartypress's etsy page]

[cufflink via edmdesign's etsy shop]

[tie via toybreak's etsy shop]

the wedding bands above are great since j's never been too keen on wearing a traditional ring. although my engagement ring is pretty traditional, i still think i'll get a wood ring to match jason's. however, please don't quote me on that just yet.

as for the tree tie, i think it'd be fun, especially if we actually decide to get married under the large oak tree at the farmhouse. for the cufflinks, i prefer the wood grain with the heart, but it may be a bit too girly for jason. either way, i just want him to feel good [and look good, which he always does].

are there any things that your boy will want to incorporate into his attire on your wedding day? or more generally, what is an accessory that your boy can't be without?

true love

2009-02-11T17:00:00.004-05:00

i feel like lately i've just been posting pics from amazing weddings that i adore. which is helpful to me to gain inspiration during all of the wedding planning; however, i hope that you enjoy it and don't find it too redundant!

this next wedding is one of my favorites for many reasons:
the great dress!

the adorable couple!

the "true love" photo backdrop with the unicorn! and the smiles of the guests!

the simply fashionable attendants!

the cupcake tower!

the colorful buffet!

the poster invitation!

the cute button favors!

and if you couldn't tell from the previous picture, the polaroid cake topper is brilliant!

[all images via sarahfortune's flickr]

whenever i see pictures from the wedding, the first thing that catches my attention is the joy in everyone's faces. to me, that is the ultimate testimonial to a fantastic wedding. it's the small personal touches that people remember and i hope that our wedding lasts in our guests wedding as a blast of a party and celebration. they don't have to remember the cake flavors, the drinks, or the color of the linens, but i sure do hope they remember the great time that they had and the love that filled the farm.

one can only hope...

out of all of the weddings that you've been to, what was the most memorable thing and why?

celebrate

2009-02-10T20:05:00.006-05:00

this wedding is making my day. the sweet dress and birdcage veil combo is wonderful. and the "just married" sidewalk chalk is so creative and so easy on the eyes [and wallet]. i also love their officiant's sash that reads "celebrate!"

[all images via kara anderson's flickr]

on a side note, j and i are still celebrating our soon-to-be new house! we close in exactly 9 days! also our parents got to see the house tonight and it makes it seem that much more real! we have a lot of little things to upgrade and repair but we're super excited about the adventure! however, once this is done it means that i have to get serious about the wedding planning and diy stuff that has been looming over my head. one thing at a time...or so i keep telling myself. oh the joys of planning a wedding while still trying to lead a normal life.

time to catch up on past office episodes that i have missed with my j. so fun!

never a bridesmaid

2009-02-10T08:30:00.005-05:00

i can remember way before jason and i got engaged, every once in a while we'd do the "if we got married right now, who would you want in your groomsmen/ bridal party"?

j and i would start going down the list of anyone and everyone we'd want standing next to us during the wedding celebration ceremony. i'd always imagined having all my lovelies by my side looking something like this:

[image via matthew morgan photography]

or this:

[image via flint photography]

however, once we actually got engaged and "the list" started getting more official - we realized just how difficult the decision would be. we wanted our closest friends, we needed our siblings, and we needed some people to avoid drama. we kept going trying to decide between 1 person each versus 6 each! it turned out that by trying to appease everyone else and make everyone happy, we were becoming very unhappy. j and i are very laid back and we didn't want to upset anyone on such a happy day, so we have decided to not have any attendants at all. this finally seemed like the best idea for us for 2 reasons:

1. we are having a [somewhat] small outdoor wedding ceremony. it's going to be short, but it's going to be oh-so-sweet. therefore, we felt like having 6+ people on each side would distract from the intimacy that we wanted to keep within the ceremony.

2. we are having our closest friends and family stay on site at the b&b with us the whole weekend. we figured it'd be better to include them in the weekend long celebration with us and spend the money to stay, than to buy dresses/ rent tuxes, and just stand next to us for 20 minutes.

in the end, we feel very good about our decision. there was definitely a LOT of drama that surrounded this final conclusion and hopefully in the end everyone will have fun and not be hung up on who wasn't up there, because in the end, it will just be me and jason [well and our officiant] which is what the wedding is all about, right?

did you experience any friends/ family drama surrounding your attendant decisions?

centerpieces and chest pieces

2009-02-09T10:39:00.003-05:00

this bride is so beautiful! i am thinking about wearing my hair similar to this with a flower similar to this! go figure! one difference may be that i'll probably incorporate the flower into a birdcage veil [that i have yet to make]. so much to do!

anyways, back to this lovely lady's awesome wedding! make sure to check out the other images on danielle's flickr site. i love the yellow and grey color scheme and the vintage dress. everything about this wedding seems very unique but super classy.

p.s. the highfive is priceless!

[image via danielle hampton's flickr ]

subtle and simple

2009-02-06T09:31:00.007-05:00

i LOVE this wedding. it has been saved in my favorites for oh so long. the natural setting makes for a lovely laid back wedding. once again, simplicity reigns. i am smitten with everything from the mason jars, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, to the parasols. i should also note that i love the bride's hair and necklaces! classic!

[all images via oldfashioned girl's flickr ]

ps. i wanted to apologize for my lack of posts earlier this week. we had a huge conference earlier this week at work which consisted of multiple days in a row that started at 7:30 AM and lasted until midnight. i am still recovering; however, we did get a private "heart" concert which was awesome! "magic man" is one of my favorite songs ever - one reason may be because it is in "swingers" [see random facts post]!

i hope everyone has a wonderful, peaceful weekend!

"i believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind" - albert einstein

freebies

2009-02-06T07:55:00.004-05:00

it is amazing how many awesome designers out there who are creating great stationary and then sharing them with the online community for free! check out some of my favorites!

[card via how about orange]

[program insert via martha stewart ]

[save the date via iDiy ]

p.s. do you notice a theme? what themes are you most drawn to while planning for your own wedding?

you're it!

2009-02-05T18:19:00.004-05:00

there's always a first time for everything. i have been tagged by the inspirational and awesome lady of veiled vows! i feel very honored to have been tagged! so here are 10 random things about me that most people don't know!

1. i am the epitome of a middle child. most days i feel like the lisa simpson of my family.

2. i used to have the biggest crush on john cusack.

3. i can recite every line from the movies "swingers" and "say anything" (see #2).

4. my favorite part about the weekends are sleeping in with jason. he makes the best big breakfasts on the weekend filled with hashbrowns, bagels, and tofu scramble! so good!

5. i used to have 00" gauged ears that i could fit straws through. then i grew up, took them out, and now get to wear girly earrings again!

6. i have been vegetarian for almost 1.5 years.

7. i can speak french fluently; however, i am too embarrassed to hold conversations. i can only do it if it is necessary (i.e., school or in france).

8. in 5th grade, i played alice in the "alice in wonderland" play and i had to sing a solo in front of the whole school.

9. i lived in a log cabin with a waterwheel on it in the middle of the woods during college [see picture above].

10. i got engaged to my best friend during a surprise trip to the south of france in a private garden overlooking the mediterranean sea. true story.

now for the fun part! you're it!
color me green
the last price
earth friendly weddings

step right up!

2009-01-30T23:08:00.003-05:00

erin and jared's outdoor, circus-themed wedding looks like it was an event not to be missed! i know this wedding has been posted all over, but that doesn't take away the fact that it has a perfect feeling to it. the bride and groom look so happy. the guests look like are actually enjoying themselves. love is definitely in the air.

besides this wedding being freaking awesome - i love how erin embodies the new image of the diy bride. in the past [or to some people still] a bride in green with tattoos was major taboo and i'm glad that those ideas are a thing of the past. she just glows and the wedding is truly a celebration about her and jared. and while i'm talking about the bride's attire, i also need to note that the groom's suit is super sharp!

and of course, the best picture for last. so cute!

[all images via rachel aka merge wedding's flickr]

crush

2009-01-28T21:02:00.005-05:00

in my opinion, every girl [and guy for that matter] is entitled to have a crush outside of their spouse (now that doesn't mean on your guy's best friend or brother or acquaintance). it's always safer when it's a celebrity or someone that you'll never cross paths with, for obvious reasons. well, for jason, i think it's safe to say that he never has to worry about my all time crush sadly.

for those of you who aren't familiar with bill hicks - you should be. i was introduced to his comedy by my great friend bari and i was immediately hooked. after reading various biographies and listening to and watching his skits repeatedly, i fell in love with his progressive ideas and his timeless jokes/ lessons.

this has all come up because on friday (january 30th) bill hick's mother will be on david letterman and they will play the infamous skit that never aired due to controversy surrounding the comedy material (long story). this is HUGE! bill hicks died shortly after the filming for this bit on letterman from pancreatic cancer at the [very] young age of 32. he was a timeless and very inspirational comedian who sought not only to make people laugh, but to educate and inform them. he is very dearly missed but his imprint on comedy will last always.

and if he was still alive, he'd definitely give jason a run for his money (even if he still had the mullet) - just kidding...kind of. ;) anyways, make sure you tune in on friday! you won't regret it! also, check out sacredcow.com for more info!

"the world is like a ride at an amusement park. it goes up and down and round and round. it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly coloured and it's very loud and it's fun, for a while. some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: is this real, or is this just a ride? and other people have remembered, and they come back to us, they say, "hey – don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because, this is just a ride ..." and we ... kill those people. ha ha, "shut him up. we have a lot invested in this ride. shut him up. look at my furrows of worry. look at my big bank account and my family. this just has to be real." it's just a ride. but we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? and let the demons run amok. jesus murdered; martin luther king murdered; malcom x murdered; gandhi murdered; john lennon murdered; reagan ... wounded. but it doesn't matter because: it's just a ride. and we can change it anytime we want. it's only a choice. no effort, no work, no job, no savings and money. a choice, right now, between fear and love. the eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. the eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. take all that money that we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace." -bill hicks

i do

2009-01-28T10:39:00.005-05:00

so i want to apologize for my negative nicole post on monday. i was still recovering from the reclusive week before. i also want to say i'm sorry to jason [not that he reads this] but i left out the most important things that get me through the hard times: j's undying support, his ability to make me laugh always, his hugs and kisses, and his unconditional love. i feel so lucky to get to marry him.

in the meantime, i feel so lucky to be a (very-soon-to-be) homeowner with him!!! in other words - we got the house!!! we have the inspection tomorrow so we're still keeping our fingers crossed that it all goes well, but we couldn't be happier! i will post pictures eventually i promise!

now we'll actually have a better idea of what we need to register for!

we are registered at target, bb&b, and will probably register at macy's sometime in the future. we registered for like 3 things right after we got engaged and my dad still keeps bugging me to register for more because some of his friends still want to get us engagement gifts (even though we got engaged last may) - it's crazy! i wanted to register for a tent immediately, but my parents said that gifts like a tent aren't appropriate for a wedding registry. i didn't realize there were guidelines to registering for wedding gifts. it seems like you should be able to register for anything that will help build your new life together! either way, we were able to compromise, because i won a tent off of a weddingbee.com giveaway and my dad didn't have to see a tent on our registry!

i know so many people dream about getting to register for gifts - i mean who doesn't love free gifts, right? well for some reason, it is a thorn in my side. i'll do it, but it still just feels so early still. the truth is, if there's something i really want - i'd just assume go get it now myself. we did create (it's not finished) an idofoundation.com website so that we could pick a charity and have a percentage of the gifts' costs given to help a cause we believe in so that should be awesome.

i'm hoping this new house will help inspire us and i'm sure we'll find out there are tons of things we just need. ok, well not need, but would really like!

was there anything that helped get you motivated to register? also, what was the craziest/ least-traditional thing you registered for?

centerpieces

2009-01-26T19:00:00.004-05:00

when i first started planning my wedding, i kept envisioning mason jars with wild flowers on every table. mason jars and farm weddings go hand-in-hand, right? my tastes have changed slightly, but only in the sense that now i want mason jars and various glass jars. i have started collecting a random assortment of glass bottles from thrift stores and flea markets despite j's dissatisfaction with having them all over the apartment. i keep assuring him that after the wedding, i will make sure to donate them or give them away to help him sleep better.

we haven't fully decided on the flowers, but i'm leaning towards ranunculus, dahlias, calla lillies, wax flowers, and craspedia. regardless of the flowers, we are looking for timeless simplicity with a personal touch.

speaking of personal touches, i am sure you have all seen jesse and deanna's fabulous diy wedding, but their wedding turned out so beautiful and they are the cutest couple! and the invitations, favors, and birds are awesome.

[all images via jessedeanna.blogspot.com]

happy birthday little buddy

2009-01-26T18:15:00.009-05:00

[card via someecards.com]

just kidding! however the past week was very long and heart-wrenching. i won't go too much into it since it's now a new week and time for smiles and joy [at least i'm going to try my best to make it that way]. and i feel so grateful to be able to say that last tuesday's inauguration was probably the best and most inspiring event that really helped me to stay positive and serene. sadly some family sorrows occured and everything has been turned upside down; however, i have always been a huge believer in perfect balance and i know that everything will work itself out for the better in the end.

also, i've been keeping a very large secret. j and i have been house hunting and we found a house! we have been negoiating with the family that owns the house and hopefully we'll be able to all agree on a price soon. with all of the counteroffers last week, i felt very devastated (i know, i have broken the cardinal rule and fallen for the house - so shoot me), but j and i have worked out every number in our budget and may get some monetary wedding gifts early so we're keeping our fingers crossed that it all works out. regardless of what happens, i am finally at peace with whatever the outcome is.

anyways, moral of the story is that there have been many things that have sadly pushed the thoughts of wedding planning to the back of my head for the past week; however, we did meet with 2 different catering options yesterday which has helped spark motivation to get back on track! the two different companies we met with could not be at complete opposite ends of the spectrum! the first company sat down with us for 2 hours and talked about everything involved in the wedding which was great, but i can tell the price tag is going to be huge. the second company was so laid back and other than the food, they are not involved in anything else. i will say that their prices seemed pretty high considering how laid back they were. now if we could only find a cater with medium involvement and a lower price. you would think having all vegetarian options would help cut costs, but apparently not...

...when meeting with caters or planning your wedding, what resources did you use to cut back on catering costs? any suggestions would be wonderfully appreciated!

and before i go, and most importantly, today is my niece [and future flower girl] natalie's 4th birthday! happy birthday sweet baby!

let the games begin!

2009-01-15T11:18:00.004-05:00

i am so excited for our weekend wedding celebration. there will be more time for each other, catching up with family and friends, and fun!

j and i have always thought that the main focus of our wedding would be that our guests have a great rockin time. during the cocktail hour and reception, we're going to have tons of games set up for everyone to play!

some essentials:
croquet!

ladder ball/ bollo or whatever you call it!

[image via lightstamp's flickr]

badminton!

cornhole!

[all other images via saladito's flickr]

by the way, if you've never checked out zach and leann's wedding on saladito's flickr account you are really missing out! this wedding has been super inspirational for me and has such a wonderful, peaceful, and blissful feel.

see what i mean? enjoy!

resources

2009-01-15T08:35:00.006-05:00

when i told my dad that i didn't want [moreso need] a wedding planner he was shocked. dialogue went as follows:

dad: you need a wedding planner.
me: no dad, i'll be fine.
dad: there's no way you can do it all yourself. it's just too much.
me: dad, i promise that it'll all be great. trust me, there are so many helpful resources to help me out there.
dad: ok, if you say so, but it's too much for me to even think about.
me: take a deeep breath dad.

ok so maybe that's not verbatim, but it's pretty dang close. and of course when i say resources i mean: family, friends, and the lovely internet.

oh family. they love you unconditionally and therefore get majorally sucked in to helping with the wedding. haha. just kidding! since my extended family is made up of all ladies there are definitely very many brains and hands to help! decorations, flowers, invitations, cakes (see "variety" post), etc.

friends. i have so many great friends who have offered to help me on anything at all. you better believe i will take them up on it as soon as i get there. i know i need to delegate, but most days i need help with just the delegation part, let alone the actual ideas! go figure...

the internet. the trusty companion for inspiration and how to's. whether it's a major wedding site (i.e., martha, the knot, etc.), a blog, or just flickr - there is a plethora of information at your fingertips! i recently found the wedding style download site and it is awesome! let me show you (that is if you haven't already discovered this internet wedding gem already):

you may be wondering what these pictures have to do with diy, but if you go to the link you'll get loads of free downloadable templates for drink labels, bridal party games, game signs, recipe cards, invitations, etc. i think there's something available for everyone's wedding here (whether it's the wedding, rehearsal, or a shower). hope you enjoy! and in case you're wondering - issue 7's "little bit country" is my favorite. shocked?

[all images via wedding style ]

falllling...

2009-01-15T08:25:00.002-05:00

[images via www.dustontodd.com]

those colors. that couple. the dress. the leaves. sigh...

"autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - albert camus

a bit of variety

2009-01-14T18:38:00.008-05:00

i have never wanted a fancy wedding cake. truth be told, i never wanted a traditional wedding cake at all. i've always tried my best to live simply and i felt like it should transpire to all aspects of the wedding, but especially the cake. so here's the plan:

[image via http://www.punambean.com/]

[image via http://www.countryliving.com/]

j and i felt like this option would be best because it gives everyone a different option of flavor, we can have some vegan selections, and it's so cute! ok, well maybe that last part is mostly my opinion - ha. and while i'm confessing things, i guess i should also admit that building a collection of cake stands also makes the multiple cakes idea sound a little bit sweeter!

i also thought it would be great to have our relatives each make their "infamous" desserts so we could have some of the desserts we both grew up loving. for instance, my great aunt makes the best strawberry shortcake east of the mississippi. j's aunt makes killer pound "puppy" (j used to call it that when he was little - how cute!) cake. j's mom makes amazing pies [at least so i've heard, because as delicious as they look...i don't like pies sadly]. anyways, suffice it to say we'd be well covered!

and of course to complicate things, we also love the cupcake possibility. hmm - i guess we have time to make up our minds [and then change them many times too] before our wedding.

[image via happiness in a bite]

hmm - we could always do both...even if we did one at the reception and one at the rehearsal dinner. ok, enough about cake cause it's no good to talk about cake while you're trying to lose weight!

unacceptable

2009-01-14T17:36:00.009-05:00

[image via http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/]

how have i already let a week go by without updating this thing! it has been a very hectic week and i just now finally feel like i can breathe a bit.

some exciting things have been happening lately! i haven't mentioned that j and i are trying to buy a house! we've been looking for a little over a month and it's been a bit discouraging, but we now have a favorite but it's out of our price range so we've been trying to figure out a budget. i think we're going to try to make an offer, because it's better to at least try than to never try at all [and always wonder what could have happened]. there are 1 or 2 others that would do, but they don't come close to the one. so fingers crossed...

in other wonderful news, we have officially booked our photographer! we signed the contract last night and put down the first deposit yesterday and we could not be any happier! the wonderful matt miller will be shooting our wedding next october and it's going to be a blast! please check out some of matt's amazing work!

[images via matt miller at http://www.thefivemilegrace.com/ or http://www.matthewmillerphotography.com/]

cheers! xo

barefoot in the kitchen

2009-01-07T18:51:00.006-05:00

for j's birthday, i got him the book :"Be the Change You Want to See in the World. 365 Things You Can Do for Yourself and Your Planet" written by Julie Fisher-McGarry.

there is an entry for every day of the year with various inspirational quotes, vegetarian recipes, tips, and more! so far we have both really enjoyed this book! for today the entry is a costa rican black bean soup recipe and i'm so excited to eat it! we've got about 30 minutes left to go! i'm also making some vegan jalapeno cornbread to go with it. yummmy.

i should mention that this is the first time i've ever made dried back beans. i'm super embarrassed to tell you that; however, better late than never. after becoming vegetarian in october of 2007, black beans became an consistent staple in our diets. i had always been so accustomed to canned black beans; however, i am trying to get away from as much canned and processed food as possible! the sodium alone is bad enough, let alone all of the products that you can't pronounce! although the dried black beans are much more of an effort - the health benefits are worth it. i hope i can say the same about the taste!

anyways, if you're looking for a great book to keep you motivated for 2009, please read this book! and if you're looking for a black bean soup recipe, just email me and i'll send it over!

the list

2009-01-07T13:31:00.005-05:00

to follow the trend, i've decided to determine how many of the below items i have successful fulfilled. i took this from bel's blog!

anything that is italicized has been completed!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - i've been to Disneyworld?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - going down was horrifying for me!
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - someone sketched my portrait once when i was a hostess at a restaurant and i didn't know until they gave it to me when they left! weird!
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - on Monday!!! <3>64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

great - now i even have more to add to my "to do" list! just when i thought you couldn't add anything else...

walk at home

2009-01-06T20:09:00.005-05:00

like 99% of the population (especially girls getting married this year) i have made the resolution to get healthy and in shape. and by saying i want to be in shape, i'm really just trying to make the fact that i need to lose weight sound better! so anyways, i have started keeping a food journal to help monitor what i'm eating (based on the weight watchers system). i am also trying to train to run a 5K (another resolution!) this year. i also need to get back into the routine of going to my ymca gym. sadly, there were numerous times in 2008 that i was really getting in shape and felt wonderful, but i would get comfortable with my weight, my weight would stabilize temporarily, and then before i knew it all efforts had been lost. so this year my goal is not to diet, but to revolutionize my lifestyle when it comes to working out and eating properly.

to help me acheive this objective, i will be taking advantage of the following things:
1. the ymca's "coach approach" - an exercise support process designed to teach new and returning members how to start and stick with their exercise program.

2. classes at the ymca -with a focus on yoga (another resolution! yessss!)

3. the outdoors - enough said.

4. leslie sansone's walk at home video - i know what you're thinking - walking at home? walking indoors? i was a skeptic too, but after my [super skinny] best friend kept insisting that this video was an intense workout, i figured that i would give it a shot. to my surprise, by the end of the 4th mile, i was sweating bullets and completely worn out due to a great, low impact workout! i would definitely recommend this for those days when it's ugly outside or you can't get motivated to go to the gym. the best part about the below video is that you can do all 4 miles when you want a longer/ more intense workout (the video even includes a fitness band that is used during the 4th mile); however, if you aren't wanting to really exert yourself one day, you can only do 1 mile! 1 mile is better than no miles, right?

are there any specific workouts or exercises that have really helped you reach/ maintain your weight goals? if so, please share!

second guesses

2009-01-06T19:41:00.003-05:00

this new orleans wedding is absolutely stunning. i am this close to making our wedding a new orleans destination celebration...well not really, but this wedding makes it so tempting. hope you enjoy the fantastic eye candy as much as i did. i love the veil and bicycle ribbons! since we will be staying at the b&b after the wedding there will not be a formal exit; however, if we had an exit, hands down it would have to be a tandem bicycle!

have you seen a more beautiful bride? happiness just radiates from the bride and groom.

j has never been to new orleans and i know he'd absolutely love it. maybe we'll try to make it down there sometime this year, because after seeing this wedding i feel like a walk in the french quarter and a beignet at cafe du monde are in order!

[images by http://www.abryanphoto.blogspot.com/]

it's not yellow...

2009-01-05T19:57:00.007-05:00

so the story surrounding my wedding dress is a pretty funny one. literally about a week after getting engaged, j and i were visiting our local goodwill (a favorite past time) when i jokingly asked if i should try some dresses on. i grabbed a few and headed for the closest fitting room. i put on the first dress and asked j to zip me up. he came into the fitting room and my jaw dropped...i had instantly fallen in love with the dress that i was just casually playing dress up in just minutes before. i checked the price tag and then called my mother frantically: "mom i think i may have just found the dress!"

despite a tiny hole in the train lining (which could be easily hidden or altered), i felt that this dress completely embodied a fall garden outdoor wedding. with the beautiful lace work and long sleeves, i was head over heels. i walked out of the goodwill with the dress in hand:
vintage wedding dress = $40
extreme happiness = priceless!

i didn't bother me that j had seen me in the dress, because we're not superstituous and we had always planned on seeing eachother before the wedding to take pictures anyways. i took the dress to my parents' house and definitely did not get the reaction i was hoping for. my dad's first response was "the dress is yellow" to which i replied "it's not yellow! it's vintage!"

i was definitely a bit disappointed with the parental reception, but i held strong that this was the one and only dress for me. after some further debating, we were able to find a compromise: i would at least go look at dresses in a bridal shop, but if i felt that nothing compared, then my parents would fully support my decision.

david's bridal was having one of their typical limited* time only sale so i figured i'd go and see what my other options were (* aka not really limited). i'd always dreamed of having a dress reminiscent of the dress below, but knew my budget could never afford the hefty price tag.

so david's bridal it was. i will say there is definitely something to be said about the dress-buying/ trying-on experience. having my mom there with me made a very big difference compared to the thrift store (although the fitting rooms were sadly comparable). i narrowed down my choices to a few favorites, when i decided to do one last walk through i picked up a dress that i had never imagined that i'd like, but tried it on anyways. quelle surprise! it was perfect! and the $250 price tag was low enough to help justify being a two dress bride (gasp)! [i never thought i'd be one of those girls, but so be it] i have some people who prefer the vintage dress and some who prefer the db dress. i may wear the vintage dress to the rehearsal if i decide not to wear it during the wedding. i now owe you pictures of the 2 contending dresses - i promise to get those pictures posted asap! as for the new dress, j has to wait until the day of the wedding to see it. i guess sometimes it is more fun to be secretive!

were there any surprising decisions that you made during your planning process that you never would have pictured for your wedding but ended up being perfect?

"an open mind leaves a chance for someone to drop a worthwhile thought in"

[dress via monique lhuillier]

save the date!

2009-01-05T19:17:00.010-05:00

so i've set a goal for myself to complete the save the dates this month! this thankfully means somewhat finalizing the guest list. i have had a few ideas, but i think we've finally got the endless ideas narrowed down!

the inspiration for the save the dates are:

i should note that our postcards and envelopes will be much more colorful! i am super excited to play around with these! i will definitely make sure to share once i am finished! the front of these will have to be a surprise. actually, the envelope idea may just roll over into the guestbook, but i'm torn because i sure do like the blurb concept too.

time just doesn't seem to be on my side lately. i have so many budget-friendly diy ideas, but making myself sit down and do them has proved to be harder than the crafts themselves! i know that once they are done, i will be able to sleep better at night which is a good enough motivator in itself. in the meantime, any suggestions on how to stay focused and motivated to get all of these necessary wedding things done?

side note - today i am finally back on track with getting in shape before the wedding - the holidays definitely took their toll this year and i am ready to get healthy. i have to remember that no one can achieve my goals for me and that if i don't make it happen, then no one will. this 64 degree weather in atlanta in january (!!!) definitely doesn't hurt the motivation to get outside and get moving!

[images via marthastewartweddings.com]

it's official

2009-01-02T09:58:00.007-05:00

so now that it's 2009 [the year of the wedding] i really have to get everything lined up! don't get me wrong - i'd say considering the wedding is set for october 10, 2009 that i still have a bit of time. since j and i got engaged last may, i felt that i had so much time that i just started collecting so many ideas. the problem with a long engagement is that i got overwhelmed and burnt out quickly before i had even really started booking anything. almost worse was that i couldn't get many people (i.e., parents and j) to take me seriously. i would consistently bring up ideas or try to move forward and all i would hear is "we can talk about it later, the wedding is still over a year away". but now that it's 2009 - it's time to check off more on the list...

as for some of the larger tasks, many have been completed. we set the date. we've put the deposit down on the venue. i have my dress. we've decided on the attendants. we've got a general theme idea. we know the color scheme. we've got our officiant. we've got our photographer! i'm sure there is more that's been done, but we still have a long way to go. checklist to come soon.

now about the date...i had always known 2 things before i got engaged - now i wasn't a girl who always dreamed of her wedding, but i knew i wanted a fall wedding and i wanted it to be outdoors. in georgia, the driest month of the year is october. by having an october wedding, i'm hopefully securing a nice fall wedding and increasing my chances for a rain-free outdoor wedding. since j asked me in may to marry him, i knew that it'd be easier to wait until october of the next year to get married. in deciding on the official date, we had to take a lot into account. for one, the first saturday of the month was the day before j's mom's birthday and since we thought it'd be better not to have our anniversary conflict with her birthday each year, the 3rd was eliminated. we also had to consider that the UGA fall home games in athens floods over into the small town where the venue is so we had to make sure that we had the wedding on an away weekend; thankfully the next weekend was safe so the 10.10.09 date was set!

now on to the venue...i didn't take me long to find the location. moreso, after seeing it, it didn't take me long to know it was absolutely the right spot. no other venue even came close no matter how stunning. j and i went out to madison, ga to visit the farmhouse inn (hence the name of the blog) bed and breakfast. we were immediately greeted by the lovely innkeeper, the beautiful oak tree, and lots of chickens! the farmhouse inn is on 100 acres of hiking trails, fishing ponds, a lake, and it is all breathtaking. even better is that you rent the whole b&b for the weekend and really get to spend time with those you love. j and i are really excited to be able to extend the celebration, eliminate any need to rush through one of the happiest weekends of our life together, and to just enjoy every second!

it will definitely be an affair to remember...

[image via http://www.thefarmhouseinn.com/]

jason and i are headed to north ga today to enjoy the weekend with some great friends. some r&r is definitely needed now that the holidays are over. i am looking forward to just enjoying the wooded views and the tranquility that it will evoke.

"you cannot perceive beauty, but with a serene mind" - henry david thoreau

little virtues

2009-01-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

happy new year! it's hard to believe that 2008 passed so quickly. i am so thankful for all that 2008 gave me and i am even more excited for all of that 2009 promises. i ended 2008 with three of the most important positive reminders to strive for during this next year and for each year that follows:

1. volunteer! we donated a goat to a help sustain a family (via http://www.heifer.org/)

2. inspire! i wore a necklace given to me by jason with the words that i hope to always abide by (via Kathy Bransfield/ Gandhi):

3. love unconditionally! i spent the night with some of my closest friends, but most importantly, i had the best new years kiss. with the passing of another year, i further realize that the time we get with the people we love is always limited and that wasting any of that time on anything but laughter and joy is completely unnecessary and unfortunate. with the countdown of those last seconds, i promised to let any negativity leave with 2008. life is oh too good to let the bad stuff get in the way:

i have a very important [and lengthy! yikes] list of resolutions for 2009. more to come on that later! in the meantime, i've got some vegan bbq black-eyed pea collard rolls with homemade mashed potatoes and corn-jalapeno gravy to make! helping out your chances of luck and security for the upcoming year never hurts! hope you enjoy today with the things that bring you the most happiness.

bienvenue

2008-12-31T15:34:00.000-05:00

hello!

welcome to my blog! for a quick introduction, my name is nicole and i am currently attempting to plan a wedding to my best friend, jason. hopefully by keeping up this blog, i'll be able to keep track of all the beautiful things that inspire me daily. 2009 is going to be a really exciting year and i am looking forward to documenting it all here.

"we are what we think. all that we are arises with our thoughts. with our thoughts, we make our world".