White For Less Green: Adrianna Papell

Hello, lovelies, I've got another installment of White for Less Green for you!  I really love this one, and I am totally considering it for myself, the beading (which I am not usually a fan of but is great here), the chiffon, the neckline... I'm smitten.  And really, for $240, you really (really) can't complain!

Seriously, check out this bodice!

All the details here, from Dillards.com.

More fun than a barrel of monkeys!

For anyone who's a typography enthusiast and/or nerd (like me), check out these fun quizzes. 

This one takes famous logos and puts them in both Helvetica and Arial and you have to pick the original (it tells you the name of the original type face in each question).

This one uses one letter from famous movie posters and you have to enter the name of the movie based on one letter of the type face from the poster!  (This one is much harder.)

Have fun and Happy Thursday!

Contests!

Got some more fun contests for you today, children.

First up is a giveaway from Minted presented by Classic Bride.  They're giving away 50 free custom designed Save the Dates.  The deadline is November 3rd and the details are here.

Go, now, enter!  Because their stuff is rockin'!

{P.S. Stay tuned for a contest I won for free custom STDs too!}

Next up is a contest for free wedding photography from Caroline Ghetes and Ruffled including day-of coverage, 400-600 4x6 prints and a CD with all your images.  Deadline is November 12th and the details are here.  Get on it, Charlotte brides!

Photo copyright Caroline Ghetes.

So there you are, two totally awesome contests.  Good luck, everyone!

White For Less Green

In the hunt for a wedding dress, it does not take very long to realize that "wedding gowns" are bananas expensive.  So, I spend a lot of my "free" time trolling the internet trying to rustle up some steals.  Take the BCBG dresses that I posted Saturday.  With that in mind, I thought I'd start a little feature, White For Less Green.  It's pretty simple.  I find dresses that would be nice as wedding dresses and cost lest than a whole ton of money, and I put 'em up here to be sussed out.

I'll start with two this time because the one I wanted to feature only has one size left.  So, without further ado, White For Less Green.

First up, a pretty silk chiffon number by Night Way.  This lovely is only $90 from Dillards.com, so get going while it's still there!  That said, this dress is only available in size 8, you lucked out if that's you!

This next dress is great for an elopement, a courthouse wedding or for a cheeky bride looking for a cute, and put-together looking short dress.  I love the sheen and the slight pattern, it reminds me of blind letterpressing.  The little bow is the perfect finishing touch, very Jackie O.  This Tahari dress is only $128 from macys.com.

What do you think?  As always, I'd love to see your photos and hear your thoughts!

 

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter I

Today’s board is definitely grown up, but (I hope!) remains unpretentious.  I wanted to take the classier elements of a traditional formal wedding (the black and white color scheme, for one) with a little whimsy, a lot of style and without the fussiness.  The best thing is how easy this color scheme is to pull off- no color matching- just, “Is it white?  Is it black?  OK, good.”

Credits: Martha Stewart, StudioThisIs, Merci Paris, ABCDragoo, Daily Drop Cap, Jesse Leake.

I’m really loving paper details right now like the doily pinata and that great thank you card from ABCDragoo.  I am totally digging on glass and crystal too.  The chandelier and the tall sticks with the roses (I may very well use this at my reception, in fact, the image is titled “LOVE this centerpiece” on my computer.)  Couldn’t you see this with pussy willows and your favorite flower? 

And that wood table with the clear glass candlesticks!  Seriously, yum.  In my unlimited budget land, I’d have lots of old, mismatched wooden tables with ghost chairs, different varieties of white flowers and lots of different sized white candles; different sized pillars, votives in antique jars and tapers in transparent, modern glass candlesticks.

Just a little technical note, to view the boards much larger (and in better detail) just click the image of the board and it will open in the window you're viewing the blog in.

$100 off BCBG this weekend

Saw this sale on the Bowie Bride and thought I'd pass it along ASAP because the promo code is only good for this weekend.  Here's the deal: you spend $300 (before tax and S&H) or more on anything at BCBG stores or at BCBG.com and enter the gift code GIFTCHECK09.  That nets you $100 off your purchase and 12 free issues of Vogue!  That's it!   Easy peasy.

They even have a few dresses that would work for us soon-to-be-hitched gals.  There's one I've had my eye on that was worn by a Ravelry friend, who generously agreed to let me share a few photos from her big day here with you.  It's the Strapless Shadow-Stripe Gown and it is now $100 off $360 for this weekend.  Here it is on the model:

And here it is on a real bride.  Isn't she just lovely?  She crocheted that shrug herself!

Photos courtesy of Chris Sztybel.

And though this is not really my personal style, I could see if being quite lovely on a "modern ruffles" sorta girl.  It's the Silk Chiffon Layered Gown.  It's $348 less $100 this weekend.  I like the cute little keyhole back.

So there you have it, 2 wedding dresses for $250 each.  Pretty good deal, to me.  Let me know if anyone takes advantage of this offer, I'd love to see your dresses!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter H

This is my first board that I've made with Pages rather than the board builder at the Style Circle over at SMP.  I think I like it, but I'm not sure, there are still some things I have to figure out.  I like not having to upload every photograph I want to use, though.

Anyhow, I saw this "H" and immediately thought "woodlands."  Now, I knew I had some good woodsy cakes (not in a gross, make a cake in the woods way, but a more nature decorated type way).  So I start looking and I never get past the one folder.  All sorts of cakes fit the inspiration, so I decided to change the game plan a bit.  And thus, the Daily Drop Cap "H Cakes" board was born.  Sit down, and tuck in!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter G

I love this board.  I think it takes all the little details that blogs are filled with and puts it together into a realy beautiful (and attainable) wedding.  The colors, the lighting, the location, they're all soft and inviting.  I love the little mystery with the bride in the mask.  It's a party I want to put on or go, it just seems so fun and inviting!



Though it is possible that I like this board so much because I included so many little things I'd really like to do at my own wedding.  That and the fact that I'd just love to get a present wrapped like that one.

As always, initial cap from Daily Drop Cap.

Pink Tigers Den

It's funny, that for all the traditions I'd like to forgo, I'm so keen on wearing a veil.  I guess I feel like even if I stray from the mainstream in places, a big hunk of tulle on my head clearly says to everyone (and me) "BRIDE."  So I'm planning to go that route for the ceremony.  But I think that (for the most part) veils look silly and out of place in the reception.  And let's be honest, it would seriously impede my ability to dance like a fool, so that's out.  And that's where the idea of a fascinator comes in handy.  I'm not sure if I'll wear one the whole time (with the veil and without) or swap the veil for it once the deed is done.  But, I'd been lukewarm on the ones I'd seen, until I found Pink Tiger's Den.  They rule hardcore.

Row 1: Jessica, Tamara.

Row 2: Molly, Jane.

Row 3: Louise, Joanna.

Row 4: Hayley, Rachael.

Her etsy shop is here and her website is here.  Everything is custom made in whatever colors you want.  I am in lust.  I may be making a purchase from the UK in the near future...

No sooner said than done.

So I posted my favorite J Crew dresses yesterday at 6:36 pm.  Glee aired on FOX two and a half hours later.  And what do you know, there was one of my top three pics!

Emma Pillsbury, the guidance counselor wore Nanami and danced through the dress shop to "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady.  She looked great, classic, classy and comfortable, the wedding dress trifecta.

Also, the J Crew dress (Orion) I mentioned that had been sold out is back... if you're a size 6 and looking to spend $2800.

It's got pretty beading and it's swooshy...

J Crew Weddings

Wedding dresses are overwhelmingly and incredibly overpriced and ungapatchkied (a transliteration of a yiddish expression meaning tacky and overdone).  J Crew has a line of wedding gowns that are definitely simplistic and often quite affordable (at least as these things go).  My favorite from the fall line has mysteriously disappeared from the website, but nevermind, they've recently put a few new dresses out in a really great price points.  These are my favorites below.

From left, Row 1: Whitney ($395), Gala ($600), Nanami (not at all a steal like the others, $2,995), Goddess, ($450).
Row 2: Mimi ($595), Genevieve (another big price tag in the group, $1950, sold out online, possible stock in stores), Tatum (again, not a cheapie, $1100), Silk Chiffon Sophia ($395).

I've had my eye on the Goddess dress for a while now.  So swingy and pretty.  I just have this nagging feeling that it wouldn't look so great on my body.  (Here comes the annoying part: it's mail order so there's not really a place to try things on.  Well, select dresses are available for trying on in select stores, but not all of them, and not at all locations.)  My favorite is the Mimi tshirt gown.  So comfy, very me, yet drapey and elegant and would be hella fun to dance the night away in.  I would be ordering it right now instead of blogging if it came in true white or ivory, rather than such a golden shade.  Plus, it's got a cute little triangular keyhole in the back.

The one I'm really considering is the Sophia gown.  They had had it in another fabric and just started making the chiffon version (it's the long version of their most popular bridesmaid dress that I also liked).  It's way in the budget, swingy and romantic.  We'll see, depending on how fed up I get with dress shopping and wedding planning, I might just bite the bullet and go for it.

And because I hate when people post fashion commentary and only put the cute stuff and ooh and aah over it, here's the rest: there are a few that I really don't like.  Let's just say, if it's not figure flattering on a stick thin model, it won't do well for almost anyone.  Plus, why photograph white dresses on white backgrounds?  Hello, it's hard to see here, people!  That, and giant ruffles all over is overkill.  Oh, and there is no way on this green earth that I am buying a $3000 dress (for my wedding!) over the internet, without even seeing it in person, let alone touch it or trying it on.  Just saying.

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter F

Time for a new Daily Drop Cap board?  I think so.  Today is brought to you by the letter F.  Lots of cool, light blues and simple whites and ivories with pops of bright color.  It's a modern take on a vintage style.  I like that every piece is doable, approachable, and a lovely cohesive way to make a bold statement pretty subtly (if that makes any sense).  The dress is Mon Cheri and retails for about $700-800 last time I looked.  The pinwheels are super easy to DIY.  The bolero is from an etsy seller and I love (again) the flowers with the lamp.  I'm even thinking of making myself a brooch bouquet!






I really digging on this board, I hope it inspires you too.  It really should inspire me, though.  Inspire me to get moving on some more boards, that is!  I've only got through G finished and Q was posted today!  More catch-up...

Free Photo Contest!

Another contest for you, my lovelies.  Grise Photography is holding a destination wedding photo contest.  You get full day-of coverage, a day-after shoot, a disk of all the images and a free book (which is a great deal in itself, those albums get pricey fast!) all for the price of what it costs you to get them to your big day!  I highly recommend entering contests like this because you never know if you're going to be the lucky one who wins! 

The contest deadline is January 1st, 2010 so that gives you a good long time to think of something winning to tell them!  All the details are right here, so go get 'em!

Go Julia!

I never knew this until Julie/Julia, but Julia Child is freaking hilarious.  She is kind of hulking too, but dang, wit like crazy and handy with a blowtorch.  Here she is at her finest, glossing over problems on David Letterman, and coming out the funnier one in the bit.  Enjoy!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter E

I love today's board.  It's sorta how I feel about weddings (well, maybe a little sweeter).  It's romantic and soft, but not saccharine and cliche.  It's real, everyday love, and it makes me feel good because it reminds me that what I feel (complete and totally overwhelming love for one other person) is beautiful in its own right.  It's big smiles and small gestures.  It's rich and it's simple.  It's one really great day, that's just a prelude to the wonderful life to come.


Just a little reminder that the main characters for my letter inspiration boards come from the Daily Drop Cap blog.

That feathered clip makes me swoon.  All these blogs keep coming up with beautiful hair clips that I want to wear but can't figure out how to with the veil I know I want to have.  Who knows, this looks easy enough to DIY, maybe I'll try and report back.  Speaking of DIY, I think I may try making those mobiles and paper flowers myself.  It depends on how ambitious I'm feeling.  That and if we decide to use candles! 

Now, not to rain on the love parade, but right now I am walking into an exam in my Program Evaluation course so think good thoughts for me!

Loft love.

In the last week, Apartment Therapy has had a whole bunch of winners for me. In particular, I am just smitten with these two spaces. Both are open plan loft (well, one is more loft-like) home. I am loving the flowing space, the openness and the great use of storage as a statement piece.


This apartment is in Chicago.

I love the little wood cutout of the state of Illinois on the island.

I am so thoroughly jealous of all that gorgeous light.  The whole place just seems like a place I want to be.  Let's just say that I would have a very hard time finding reason to leave the apartment if I lived here.

This next house was actually built as a church.  It is such an incredible use of space.  The whole thing is one flowing permanent piece of furniture with library bookcases seamlessly becoming kitchen countertops.  This house is where I want to live when I grow up.  I want to be the person that's cool enough to live in a place like this.  Just look at the pictures, you'll see.

Come on!  I told you so.  And yes, someday I will have that many books and a pool table.  That will be a very good day.

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter D

Today's board is thoroughly modern with just enough little vintage touches to sweeten it up. The color scheme is olive and white. I've used some of my favorite inspiration photos here, I love the baby's breath in the body of the lamp, the hairdo, and of course that incredible tourmaline Vera Wang ring (I. Want. It.). Think modern loft with quirky spins on traditional wedding trappings.

Another Letterpress Giveaway!

Alliance by Bec Winnel.

I have another giveaway to share with you, Lovelies! Bespoke Letterpress commissioned 10 works from 10 illustrators to letterpress in limited editions. They're selling them all, except one, a set that they're giving away! Details here. In addition to the awesome, their entire shop is now 10% off! So go! Scurry! Enter!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter C

Yesterday, after seeing an amazing performance of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria*, I forgot where I'd parked my car, called my parents and told them. Well they didn't pick up the phone when I called to say I'd found it (after 20 minutes of parking lot searching) and then forgot my phone in the car. They called the police who showed up at my door 2 hours later. Saying that having the police tell you to call your parents is embarrassing is a gross understatement. Nevertheless, I am fine.

But after my little run-in with the law (well, campus police), I made another letter board, which the site I use to build them, did not save. There are not enough words to say how annoying this was. So I rebuilt it this morning, but I wasn't happy! Let's just say, when "E" rolls around, it won't be my favorite board.

So anyhow, here's "C." It's brown and orange and totally 70's with a little bohemian. More of a weekend theme than a wedding for me, but hey, different strokes, right?

Credits: Jose Villa, Silvana Di Franco

*I realized I breezed over Alegria. To say it was amazing is selling it short. It opens up with the most incredible swinging trapeze act, I mean, I want to be this woman when I grow up and get over my fear of the good swinging trap tricks. Then, the tumble track. Holy crap. Someone threw a triple backflip. I spent the whole act going "Oh man, oh my god." And the clowning was actually funny! That's the one part of Cirque shows that usually leave me cold, but these guys were just great! They're on tour right now with the show so if you have the chance to see it, GO!

I forgot I never said this here, but it makes my circus obsession make more sense. I learned circus arts as a teenager and practiced for a few years. Last summer I taught full time as a camp counselor. Flying trapeze is my favorite and if I ever do get the chance, I really will run away and join the circus.

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter B

Time for the second installation of the Daily Drop Cap inspiration board series. Today is brought to you by the letter B! The feel is cool blues, whites with hints of brown and dusty rose. Nice antiquey accents with classic elegance. I'm especially loving that cake (how cool is the marbled fondant?!) and that chair for the entryway of a nice little house filled with afternoon sun... I digress. Enjoy!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter A

I've decided to embark on a regular feature. I stumbled across this very cool site, Daily Drop Cap. It's written by a typographer who is creating an alphabet of upper case letters, each with their own style. They are each so cool and unique, I thought I'd do a set of inspiration boards, one for each new letter. And we'll start at A, because the beginning is a good place to start (or so says Julie). I'll work through G (what's been posted so far) over the next few days and I'll put new ones up as they show up on the site.

This one is inspired by the rustic, autumny orange and the vines of A. With a bit of blue thrown in because hey, with a mother for an artist, I know my complementary colors!

Inspiration Board: Funky Modern Yellow

Here's another of my favorite boards I've made. It's all about varying shades of yellow, from lemon to pale gold. It transitions from day to night, starting from the minute you wake up in those birdie sheets, to a bright, sunshiny ceremony, a funky table setting with sparking crystals and a late night after party in a wine cellar. Hmmm, sounds like a good day to me!



Now I just have to start a board or two using Nicole's work as my inspiration...

Happy Friday!

Holy Crap, I Won!

It doesn't happen often, but as Mr. McGee said, I "won the internets." Last week I entered a contest for free wedding photography from Nicole Koester, and lo and behold, tonight I have a message in my inbox saying we won! I'm SO EXCITED! This is HUGE. We are saving so much money and getting something so wonderful, I... don't know what to say. Thank you thank you thank you Nicole!

Here's a sampling of some of my favorites from her recent work:









All photos are property of Nicole Koester.

ABC Dragoo Blogiversary Giveaway

ABC Dragoo is having a blogiversary! To celebrate they're giving away 100 bespoke thank you notes, holiday cards or personal stationary with matching envelopes. You can enter here on pretty lovely things. Me? I'm hoping I win these awesome thank you notes!

Touch a tit, save a tit.

Funny or die strikes again. Plus, two of my favorite ladies, (Alyson Hannigan and Emily Deschanel), touching each others' boobs. Remember monthly screenings, but beware of paparazzi.

THE BOOBY SCARE Featuring Alyson Hannigan, Emily Deschanel, Kat McPhee, Minka Kelly and Jaime King - watch more funny videos

Is anybody out there?

So, I have zero comments for the existence of this blog. That kinda sucks. If you're a lurker, or just stumbled upon this, or you're my mother, leave a comment, say hi. Please?