Welcome to WEDding WEDnesdays!

I'm keeping the momentum going with an ambitious undertaking:  posting photos + projects + montages from our wedding (and the year and a half planning beforehand) every Wednesday, until forever--there is that much goodness to share.  I'll even share some ideas and projects that didn't make the cut, but deserve honorable mention.

Our wedding, which took place on October 3, 2009 in Sacramento, was very much representative of our daily life: chock-full of DIY projects, recycled goods, hand-me-downs, and personal touches.  All while staying within a four figure budget.

To start, I'll share a cheap and easy DIY project I did for my bridesmaids.  I knew I wanted them to wear dark chocolate and raspberry hues, and a touch of whimsy to pop against their somewhat simple dresses.  I found their dresses at J. Crew (the "Audrey embossed cotton beach dress" in chocolate) on sale for under $70, and their shoes at Payless for under $15 (not including my AAA discount and the BOGO sale going on at the time).

The shoes I had initially found as a model for a more realistic pair were the Bettye Muller wedges shown below from anthropologie for $368.    

Gorgeous, but yikes!  One pair cost more than all four girls' outfits combined--including dress, shoes, and accessories.  Determined to find a similar shoe, I looked for months.  Nothing.  So, I snapped out of it and realized I could recreate this look on my own--for cheap.  And I did!  I found a comparable shoe at Payless--my MOH 'V' tried on, strutted, and approved--bought a box of metal safety pins, and two bunches of faux flowers at The Dollar Store, and created this:

Pretty good for an under $20 project, huh?  Then, I went back and forth over whether or not to take it to the next level and add some greenery from the flower bunch... I ultimately went with 'more is more' in this case, and the girls were given these to wear:

I decided to share this particular project first after seeing V wear them (sans flora) to my house last night for a much-needed visit.  I was tickled.  I've also learned that all my bridesmaids have worn their dresses at least once since the wedding, which is really spectacular to hear.  V actually asked my permission to wear her's to church a couple of weeks before the wedding, which I didn't mind one bit.  :)  

My hopes are that these posts will inspire you to take on your own wedding projects, not only to give you something to be proud to showcase on what may be the most important day of your life, but also to have enough $$ for life after the honeymoon.  It's no secret weddings have morphed into out-of-control-crazy-expensive-events, but there are ways to keep yourself from falling victim to overspending.  You certainly don't want to experience buyers' remorse about something as wonderful as your wedding, now do you?  That was a rhetorical question. 

One last tip:  stay far far away from wedding magazines.  I didn't buy a single one, and I am glad I stuck to my guns.  Their voodoo will have you convinced you need to hit every Bridal Expo in a 50-mile radius to find and book your vendors.  Lemme tell ya, it's bull.   A better idea would be to check out some fantastic wedding-focused blogs to get ideas from other real couples whose agenda does not include profiting from your event.  Some truly amazing blogs in this arena are: The Green Bride Guide, The Bride's Cafe, 100 Layer Cake, snippet & ink, and I have to stop there or I'll be here all day...

...Stay tuned for more wedding goodness. delivered to you. every Wednesday.

I've given a lot of thought to my personal manifesto

For weeks I've been jotting down thoughts, quotes, words, etc. that I feel represent me, in hopes of creating a manifesto similar to the Kill Your TV poster I came across a while ago.  It was getting a bit out of control, to be honest. 

Then it hit me.  While washing Ava (my beloved Xterra) yesterday evening, I thought up a fantastically perfect motto. 

It follows the same rhythm as "treat others the way you would like to be treated," which is the ultimate life lesson.  It came to me as I was analyzing my personal creative rut I currently find myself in, realizing I use other people's blogs as not only a source for inspiration,  but mostly as a distraction.  Whether I am bookmarking a photo, a recipe, a touching story or project they've posted, I feel a little selfish when I don't return the favor by posting on my own blog.  I only have ninety billion things I could be sharing with the you that would surely inspire at least one person.  SO, my plan is to post more frequently and consistently, to try and live up to my new personal manifesto...hold on to your keyboards, readers. 

Quick note:  I don't know if this motto I've come up with has already been coined by someone, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if I'm not the first.  In fact, this happens to me very often--my husband always teases me--when I think I've come up with a genius invention/catch phrase/idea, and he tells me it's a fantastic idea whilst smirking... Apparently, I live in a hole.  Even if I didn't make it up, I'm still proud that I thought of it, and it suits me well. 

Today is National Donut Day

Go do something about it!

Few things excite me more than a pink cardboard box.

a mini weekend diy project

Last week I picked up a free issue of Edible Sacramento, and found it packed with local fare.  Recipes.  Restaurant reviews.  Farmers market locations and... ads.  Beautiful ads!  I made a mental note to save one of the ads for my inspiration book, but instead ended up framing and hanging it. 

I love the muted color palette and the retro vibe.  And the fact that it was an actual place in a neighboring town made it special. 

The frame is a Ribba from IKEA, and the whole project cost $10!  And it only took me about twenty minutes from start to finish, including very carefully cleaning the glass in the frame--only to notice a husky hair in between the glass and the matting once it was all hung and pretty.  Oh well.  I've learned to just let. some. things. go.

Here's a closeup. 

Yesterday I read a post on AT about how a family had given up buying art for their home for a significant period of time, because they had to budget their money elsewhere, so their walls were sad and blank.  I understand, really, I do.  But, c'mon, anything can be ART.  As long as something speaks to you, it's art! Display it!  I've had a page ripped from a domino magazine in a tweed herringbone frame for years, and people comment on it all the time.  It's a cute camping scene with a cute guy and a cute gal, a tent, a truck, some dhurries, and camping gear, and I absolutely love it.  It is my little escape whenever I glance at it, because my fav pass-time is camping with my hubs. 

So, I encourage everyone to rethink ART.  For example, the next time you pull a fortune out of a cookie at Panda Express, if it speaks to you, frame it.  [mental note: next mini project]  And, please share your art projects.  I love to read about them.  Big or small, cheap or pricey, whichever.  Maybe we can inspire one another. 

Happy hump day!

Anthropologie sale goodies!

Not that you'd be able to tell by looking at my outfit here, but I actually have a pretty well-stocked wardrobe.  If I were to organize my clothes in a pie chart by store, it would look something like this:

Pie.  Now I'm really hungry.  Anyway, while making my monthly trip to the Aveda salon in the Roseville Galleria (the reason?--that's another post), I realized I still had a gift card to Anthropologie from Christmas! that was now burning a hole in my wallet.  When I crossed over to the Fountains shopping center, it was packed with people--thanks to the much-missed beautiful weather and a giant water fountain for kids to play in--but was flagged down by a nice man who was letting me know he was leaving and I could have his [very-conveniently-located-across-from-anthro] parking space.  The day was going very well.  Then, as I approached the store, I was greeted by giant SALE banners, and a store full of sale racks.  It was like Heaven.  I spent a good hour+  browsing the entire store, only making two dressing room rounds.  I scored some delightful goods and got out of there as cheap as I ever have, amazing.  Here's what I bought (all on sale!):

The Crossroads Tee fits snugly as a tee or a sweater.  I'm actually wearing it today over a purple tank and bright orange and fuchsia paisley crinkle skirt.  It fit so comfortably, and was such a great price, I bought the same in beige.  It would be perfect paired with bright and/or neon accents.

I also snagged an adorable hat--I'm a huge fan of being too lazy to style my hair hats!  The colors are more vibrant in person.  I wore it yesterday to a Memorial Day BBQ at  my parents' and received many compliments.

This dress has to be the coziest dress I have ever tried on, truly.

I plan on wearing a brightly colored ruffle top underneath to my cousin's wedding in August.  And a belt, since the corsage is stitched above and below the seam at the waist, making a perfect belt loop.  I'll post a photo of the winning combo after the wedding. :)  The skirt  looks long in the photo, but it hits above the knee (I'm only 5'5.5"), and has a beautiful drape and overall fit.

I also found some really super cool biodegradable/compostable drinking straws with a cute circus stripe pattern, on sale.  I bought the lot.   They aren't available on the website, but I will post a photo later today if I remember.

Check your local Anthropologie to see if they're putting on a major sale event;  you'll thank me.

Update: I remembered!  Here are the straws.