Style Parade 12.31.09

This is my very last post of the year. Tonight we enjoy food & cocktails with friends as we ring in the new year. Of course, I like to do things in style. In the spirit of this look, I created my own from my closet. I feel like a lady. I usually wear this dress in the summer time. It's made of a thin, non-shinny silk material. I got it on sale at the Gap 2 years ago. It's very airy & flowy.

Dress: Gap; $16 on clearance. Belt: grosgrain ribbon. Necklace: Forever 21.

.:~~~:.

This was what I wore last New Years Eve to my brother-in-law's party. I wasn't fashion blogging yet, but it was such a fun ensemble. I loved the playful accessories, especially the little bows on my shoes.

Dress: H&M; $40-ish. Shoes: Lela Rose; $39. Hair flower: Forever 21. Layered necklaces: H&M

Stitch

At Christmas I was chatting with my cousin & she was saying how it would be really nice to learn a craft together. Browsing Etsy, I came across the 'patterns' section and saw these cross stitch patterns. These are so chic. Way cooler than what you'd find at most craft stores. Cross stitch seems fairly simple. I'm thinking this could be a fun project to do together. Anyone out there try cross stitch? Is it more difficult than it looks?

patterns from andwabisabi

Style Parade 12.29.09

This is what I wore to work today. It started with the fact that I really wanted to wear these new bow barrettes from Forever 21.

I shopped my closet for something blue to match and found this old flouncy cotton top that I normally wear in the summer time. Originally I paired this will a plain black pencil skirt, but then I spotted this patterned one. I've never really been one to mix patterns. It's really tricky to do correctly, but I think this works because the colors in the patterns are the same and the black tights yield a solid base.

Blazer: Forever 21; $24. Blue top: Gap; $30. Skirt: Forever 21; $22. Necklace: handmade by me. Charm bracelet: Delia's. Tights: Old Navy. Shoes: Kohl's.

In the mood for love

We don't usually make a big deal out of Valentines Day. Mainly it seems like a test designed by women to see how the new man in their life measures up when it comes to gift giving. Although last night, Gary was cleaning out his bookshelf and came across a book of "Love Coupons" that I gave him for Valentines Day in 2001. Basically it consisted of things like "Breakfast in Bed" or "30 minute back massage". He was joking that he was going to start cashing them in. I was like - Hey, just cash them all in at once and live like a king for a day. he he.

I was walking through Target yesterday & they had the cutest dinnerware for their 2010 valentines collection. The pieces were really sweet - typography patterns and tiny heart plates. I've also been seeing some super cute items on Etsy like heart gift bags and vintage flash cards that spell out phrases like "K-I-S-S" and "L-O-V-E".

Tuesday link love

This week is looking to be very light as well (work wise). There are 2 paid 1/2 days in my future. Yipee. Today through... I'm thinking it would be fabulous to be a Moxy Mrs.

I'm also loving these looks for New Years Eve. I know I could whip up an ensemble like this from my closet for our party.

Later today I'll have another Style Parade post. Until then, have a great day everyone.

My bridesmaids

As some of you may remember, I spent a really long time trying to perfect the look of my bridesmaids. I didn't want them to look too "matchy" thus, I embraced the idea of having them all wear different dresses. I loved the outcome. My bridesmaids; my friends looked amazing on my wedding day.

My choice to use hand fans instead of the traditional flower bouquets totally worked. In addition to being budget friendly, the fans added a touch of drama to our photos. I think the girls had fun posing with them.

Lisa & Braden walking down the aisle

This shot really shows how great everyone looked together. The guys all wore matching ties, but each of them had their own black suits.

We took some pre-ceremony shots at the University of Redlands. Luckily no one hassled us. The stairs were extra helpful in taking the large family portraits, serving as risers.

photo courtesy of Tammy Thomas

It's important to remember the people who support you and your husband in your everyday lives. I am very lucky to have girlfriends who support us and are there when it matters most. It's essential to remember this when choosing your bridesmaids. I will say this, 3 was the perfect number. I couldn't imagine having 10 bridesmaids.

*All photos by Ryan Bethke Photography unless noted otherwise.

NYE plans

I've very much enjoyed my last days off for the holiday. Sadly, I feel like I did nothing around the house. I wish I had felt a little more compelled to use the block of time to do some home improvement projects. Oh well.

Plans for New Years eve were looking very dim this year. No one has any major plans, so Gary & I decided last minute to throw a party at our house. Nothing to go overboard about. Just a nice, classy cocktail party. I hate being out in public on New Years. Too many worries about drunk driving & such. Private parties are definitely the way to go. I did an online invite, but that doesn't mean I skimp on style.

I also discovered this lovely home design blog on my break. So many nice ideas.

Door Sixteen.

Side table makeover

This is the side table from my book nook. It was a little plain for my taste. It needed some whimsy, so an easy update was to replace the knobs. Enter Anthropologie in all its usual awesomeness.

The knobs themselves are a bit pricey - $8 each. But they are made of porcelain & they are very ornate and unique so I think it's worth it. I couldn't decide - there were so many options in the store, so I did both. I like the mismatched look.

I'm contemplating on adding a decal to the table top. Decals are great because you can apply to any surface & they are semi-permanent without damaging the surface. That way, I can remove later if I change my style (which I frequently do). I think the gold (left) could be pretty with the gold tones in the knobs.

Handmade gifts

I love the idea of handmade gifts, but not everyone gets it or appreciates it. But for some people, it's the perfect gift. I made this statement necklace for my friend Melissa (my maid of honor & my new sister!) It's a bib-style necklace with a ribbon fastener. She just recently started getting into jewelry accessorizing and I know that she has nothing like this. Hopefully she'll like it.

The enamel flowers are actually earrings from Forever 21. They're much too heavy for the ears, but I thought they'd make a great necklace. I removed the earring backings & affixed using a combination of jewel fabric glue & a glue gun. The bib itself is made from 2 pieces of fabric. A sheer layer of chiffon & a solid silk backing (for comfort). After the glued pieces dried, I trimmed the chiffon layer & sealed the edges using a candle burning technique. I filled the flower gaps with black jewel beads of various sizes.

I made this bag for my brother's girlfriend. She's also a very crafty person, so I know she'll appreciate the effort. She definitely has a unique style, so I wanted to create something to reflect that. I started with a standard black canvas tote (from craft store). I affixed a paper doily with sewing pins. Using gold acrylic paint mixed with fabric solution, I painted over the doily pattern. I repeated with a smaller sized doily in the center. After 24 hours of dry time, I ironed over the design to make it permanent. I sewed a fabric flower using black chiffon and light & dark purple silk. Lastly, I added gray toned & black jewels with jewel fabric glue.

Style Parade 12.21.09

I have never owned a pair of skinny jeans, mainly because I have large hips and the skinny jeans just seem to exaggerate that feature. It's not that I dislike my curves, I just have to be mindful that not everything is cut to fit my body type in a flattering way. I digress. These jeans originally caught my eye because of the color. They're light gray. I've been super into muted colors lately. I tried them on with a longer top & I loved how they looked. Plus they're stretchy. I feel like I'm wearing tights or leggings. So comfortable. This modern cardigan is hands down, my favorite purchase this season. It's so versatile. The sleeves actually hang down a bit below the arm. It looks great with loose layering pieces like I've done here.

Skinny jeans: Elle (available at Kohl's); $25. Flats: Target. Modern cardigan: H&M. Black layering tee: H&M. Scarf: Target. Gold bangles: Forever 21.

P.S. - In case you were wondering... I tried on some pieces from the Rodarte for Target line today (what was left of them anyway). Total crap. The fabric looked really beautiful, but the quality was static cling central in a polyester nightmare. Plus, unless your 5'3 and 100 lbs, this collection is not happening for you. I am so bummed. No wonder they plugged the line so hard in Teen Vogue. But honestly, these pieces are so not for 13 year olds. Half of the pieces look like lingerie.

Vacation

Around this time of year, work is always super slow. No one wants to advertise because no one is watching television. So, I've been asked if I'd like to take an impromptu vacation for the rest of the week starting tomorrow. I have about 3 solid weeks of vacation time left - it just seems silly to waste it sitting at home by myself. But, it's better than sitting at work with nothing to do. I'm sure I'll get going on tons of home projects & cleaning. Things that need to get done, but never do because of lack of time. I'll have a new Style Parade post later today. Until then, have a wonderful day everyone.

Tea at twilight

Attending a tea party at 4:30 was a bit of a twist for me. It was a lovely intimate affair. I felt like I was on a porch in 1930s Louisiana. The music was of the era. We sipped our tea outside under a covered awning with sheer black lace curtains draped & string bulb lights. Luckily the weather was warmer than it has been.

For the dessert social, I baked a red velvet cake with chocolate shavings. There were so many tasty treats. One of my favorites: Rosemary lavender cookies. I've never had these before & they were delightful. And don't you love the gothy tree? It's black with red lights. Fun.

Style Parade 12.19.09

This is what I wore to the "Mad" holiday tea party last night. Gary snapped these photos for me just as we were leaving, but I'm not too happy with how these turned out. I think that I'll never stand like this again. It's such an awkward pose. I think I just felt self-conscious with Gary taking the picture.

Onto the ensemble... I scored this skirt in the kids section at Target. I love the red plaid because it's festive. I finally decided to try out the J.Crew fishnet sock look. This was a good event to be more fashion forward because it's a less judgmental crowd. Everyone there had very their own style - from steampunk to vintage glam.

Blazer: H&M. Polka dot mesh top: Target; $24. Skirt: Target (kid's section); $12. Fishnet trouser socks: Target; 2pk for $7. Shoes: Kohls. Lace bib necklace & sparkle ring: Forever 21. Cocktail hat (sans feathers): handmade by me.

Table details

This is going to be a rather gratuitous picture post. But if you've been following me during the wedding planning portion of this blog, you already know that I'm obsessed with details.

photo courtesy of Sherry Vignol

This is one of the guest tables. We had ten, 60 inch rounds and seated 8-9 people per table. If you remember, I caved at the last minute and added the green table toppers instead of using the patterned table squares I purchased from Etsy. By the way, if anyone is interested in the table squares, I'm selling them. Contact me through email or if you're on Wedding Bee, reply to the listing.

The Mitten Building staff was amazing! Such friendly people, who sincerely care about making your event special. They had everything set up by the time we arrived to get ready for the ceremony. It was such a treat to see everything on my own before the chaos of the day.

I loved that our venue was an old building with history. I incorporated that history through our wedding favors. Many people (including myself) were curious about the venue name - Why was it called The Mitten Building. Did they make mittens here? I printed out a brief history of the building & placed on the table.

This is the head table. I found some burlap at Michaels right before the wedding & decided to use it as a table runner. It was cheap - under $9 and I think it really added a rustic charm to the table.

If you recall, I ordered these bird place cards for the head table from Timeless Paper. If you have a chance, you should check out Emily's blog. It's very charming & elegant.

After the sun went down, the venue took on the most romantic feel. The candlelight, the gorgeous chandeliers. It was all so beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding. photos courtesy of Shannon Harkins; bottom right photo courtesy of Sherry Vignol

The event was not inexpensive by any means. It's a lot of money to spend on one day, one party. But I can say that it was ultra conservative budget-wise by today's wedding standards, especially for Southern California. I think it's important to mention this now because you don't have to spend $20k to have the ultimate wedding. I don't feel like I did without. We decided what was most important, questioned the traditions and did what was true to us. Remember that if you're just starting to plan your wedding. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Listen to your voice & dare to be different. Your guests will embrace the change and will compliment you later for breaking away from the norm. Even the older crowd.

All photos by Ryan Bethke Photography, unless noted otherwise.

Read Taming the Beast by Emily McGuire. I actually read this book poolside about 2 summers ago. It's about a teenage girl who has an affair with her English teacher, then goes on to have numerous encounters. The main character is extremely complex and is almost painful to read, but it's an exciting read that keeps you thinking.

Listen to Metric. The music itself sounds somewhat edgy, but is paired with harmonious female vocals. The perfect mix. Plus, you'll quickly find yourself singing along to the catchy ones. The style is slightly similar to Silversun Pickups if you like that sort of sound.

Eat buffalo patty melts. It might sound strange, but buffalo meat patties are actually really tasty. The meat is super lean and light. I really enjoy a classic patty melt, but hate getting "The Itis" after eating a meal.

Super side note: "The Itis" refers to the feeling you get after eating a large meal (primarily from consuming large amounts of beef or pork) that makes you want to take a nap. I originally heard the term during season one of The Boondocks. If you haven't seen this anime-style series on Cartoon Network, I highly recommend that you rent it. Any who, Trader Joe's sells a prepared patty that already has mushrooms, cheese & onions mixed in. How easy is that?! Ingredients: -Trader Joe's frozen buffalo patties with mushrooms, cheese & onion -vine ripened tomato slices -Low fat mozzarella cheese (part skim) -Thousand Island salad dressing (low fat) -Stone ground spicy mustard -Extra sour rye bread To prepare:

Brown buffalo meat patties. When patties are just about done, add thin slices of mozzarella cheese until melted. Toast rye bread. Spread thousand island dressing & stone-ground mustard. Add tomato slices & meat with cheese. Serve alongside spring lettuce with your favorite salad toppings & balsamic vinaigrette.