the city so nice they named it twice

When I was home visiting my folks, I happened to remember that I had been planning to visit M & J Trimming (6th Ave btn. 37th and 38th).  I remembered when I was standing at 5th Ave and 10th street... and decided to walk.  Not such a bad thing, but perhaps Birkenstocks weren't the best choice in footwear.  Anyhow, I punctuated my walk with a few stops, on of which was Anthropologie.  Now, while some of their stuff is overpriced to my mind, walking into their store is always a spectacle of loveliness, so well designed.  Needless to say I walked out with a couple of goodies.

A little sparkle never goes amiss.

Not sure where I plan to use them, but I got an A and an S to use for the wedding.  Plus, really, I can never have enough mugs.

And my piece de resistance: my guest book.  When I told the cashier that's what I was buying it for, I got a brief, but clearly incredulous stare.  I don't really care (she did recover well) though, I think it'll be really cool.  It's a kids book all about New York from 1960.  It just tied into my gently New York themed wedding, and it has lots of empty space on the pages for signing.  Here's hoping it'll be a hit!

Put a ring on it!

So, after the nice intense little post that was Saturday, it's back to the fun stuff.  We have big news here tonight at Chez McGee... our rings arrived!!

They're quite lovely.  Ari's is a rounded comfort fit band with a brushed finish in the center framed by two polished bands.  I got a special inscription in it that I'm quite pleased about.

My band is made up of a chain of little white gold dots with diamonds set in the center of 7 of the dots.  It's a bit funky, and I totally love it.  (I may or may not have been unable to sit here looking at the box, writing a post extolling its virtues and not put it on again.  But you never know, maybe I have willpower.  Shush you, I see that smirk!)  I decided before I bought it that I'm wearing my band on my right hand (both my pretties need to have their own space to show off).  Mainly I did this because I don't like the feel of two rings on one hand.  Plus, fun fact, did you know that wearing wedding rings on the left hand (and the story about how it's closer to your heart or whatever - as if the physical muscle that pumps your blood has anything to do with your marriage*, but I digress) is pretty much a modern American custom?  In most countries around the world including Europe and Africa, wedding bands are worn on the right hand.  So really I'm just being continental.  Or something.

And because I couldn't resist one more of them looking all cosy together in their little box, here's one for the road.

We bought them from a lovely couple, Gayle and Herman at 1,873 Unusual Wedding Rings in the diamond district.  They were great to work with, fair, understanding and friendly.  I highly recommend working with them.  

*Once, when shopping for my wedding gown, I popped into look at Cartier, and the saleswoman literally told me that I have to wear my wedders on my left hand because that is the finger that blesses your marriage and it's closer to your heart and you ruin your vows if you don't wear it there!  She said if I really didn't want to wear two rings on one finger, I could move my engagement ring to my other hand.  Let's just say it was hard to conceal my "you are fucking crazy" face.

BCBG, and why it's awesome.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, BCBG rules.  Seriously.  Their stuff is so rock 'n roll, it's ridiculous.  If I were planning a different kind of wedding, you can be sure my dress would have come from here.  Plus, right now they're running a 30% off sale through the end of June 1 (PDT).

This one is perfect for a sweet little city hall wedding.  $418, on sale for $292.60.

A sweet number for those of us who can't decide between satin and lace.  :o)  $498, marked down to $348.60, on sale for $244.02!

The next two are are so rock 'n roll it's obscene.  I can vouch, in particular, for the first.  I made my sister try it on when we were prom shopping for her just because I loved it so much and they didn't have it in my size.  Trust me, it's beyond awesome.  (Full disclosure, I might be biased by the hi-lo hem that I am moderately obsessed with.)

$498 on sale for $348.60.

$358 on sale for $250.60.

This lovely gown looks like a whole lot of trumpet bridal gowns out there, and for $598, it's a steal, but on sale it's only $418.60!

This one I'd buy for myself in a hot second if they had it in my size.  Never mind what I'd wear it to, rehearsal dinner maybe.  Who knows?  In any event, it rocks.

$384 marked down to $174 (not on sale because it's final cut outlet).

And not to bring the conversation back to shoes or anything, but, in the case I am so picky about what shoes to wear, I end up picking something boring that needs some pizzaz.  At 18 bucks ($12.60 with the sale), these shoe clips seem like a worthwhile investment to me!

That said, the only thing I'm really sure I will be buying today is this baby.  Razzle, dazzle, indeed.

Happy Memorial Day sales to you and yours!

To-do list checking and celebrity sightings: Part II

When last we saw our heroine, she had schlepped all over Brooklyn and seen a PC.

The next day Ari was wonderful and didn't complain a bit about schlepping through the diamond district in a seemingly unending quest to find our (well, mostly mine, he was pretty easy) wedding bands.  They're pretty awesome.  Mine looks similar to this band.

 The couple who sold it to us was lovely and the guy sounded like Christopher Walken (like, exactly).

Once that ordeal was over we took a cab downtown and bought movie tickets.  While walking around 2nd Avenue looking for somewhere to eat I had celebrity sighting 2.5 of 2 days (Herman wasn't Christopher Walken but he sounded just like him).  I was making a beeline for Urban Outfitters and lo and behold, who's walking by wearing a weird longish jacket that looks like a tweed lab coat six sizes too big?  Jason Schwartzman, that's who.  I was on a freaking roll.  After my latest brush with fame we met up with my dad and literally inhaled a chicken and broccoli pizza.  (For the record, it was delicious and that's why I was scarfing.)

But it's so sparkly!

The bracelet I've been crushing on for the wedding has gone on sale... for half price.  I'm having a hard time not just buying it.  I keep telling myself that this week is for a camera body and roller skates.  Saving sucks.  But look, it's pretty!

@BCBG

A new take

Bumbling around net-a-porter the other day and came across this.  What a cute alternative to a diamond engagement ring!  I admit, the price is still up there ($1500), but it's super cute!  It spells out "marry me" in a pretty little cursive.

All the pretty things I never knew I loved.

I remember distinctly when I started loving shoes.  It was the first time I really felt like a girly girl.  (Besides the one time in preschool when I was a mermaid in the school play but that's way beside the point.)  Now, there's so much eye candy out there, I love me a good shoe photo.  The internet is just so full of pretty details today.  Really.  First these shoes:

and then this jewelry.

And I'm a happy girl.

Shoe photos from Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty, Caught the Light via Once Wed and Jerry Yoon via La Belle Bride.  Jewelry photos from Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty and Jerry Yoon via La Belle Bride.

CCSkye

I'm not sure why, but a random copy of Elle Magazine showed up for my mom in the mail today.  She has no subscription or anything so it was weird.  But nevertheless, it made for some good entertainment for a bit.  There were a couple of real gems in there.

Ever heard of Kelsi Dagger shoes?  I hadn't either, but they have a bunch of really great styles, some under $100 which earns an A+ in my book.  I'm pretty enamored of these "Malibu" sandals.

But my real real real favorite is jewelry (and handbag) designer CCSkye.  Like a mentioned a few days ago, I'm planning to go with no necklace and a big ol' statement bracelet for the wedding.  And the new dress I have a crush on (more on an impromptu dress shopping expedition yesterday later) is very art deco-y and with a metallic color scheme, this stuff is just right.

This one is probably the best match for the dress.

Though this...

and this are both deliciously art deco.

And this one, though not necessarily going with the dress, is my absolute favorite.  Love love love.

A Little Alchemy: Opinions on Mixing Metals

So my last post got me thinking, that bracelet, it only comes in yellow gold.  But my e-ring (and most of the jewelry I own) is white gold.  Is it bad to mix and match metal colors?  My 'maids are wearing gold, and my color scheme is simply "metallics."  My dress might have gold or silver on it too, who knows. 

What do you think?  A-OK or a no go for mixing metals?

Crazy Awesome Pearls

OK, I admit it, I didn't have any real crazy holiday goings-on that stopped me from posting, just got lazy.  Oh, and graduated, quit my job and moved from State College back home.  I guess that's kinda like an excuse.

Anyhow, I'm back, to talk about wedding jewelery.  Part of me loves J Crew, and the other half is totally underwhelmed.  However, I found pretty much the exact type of thing I wanted there.  I had been totally crushing on this necklace, but I have already decided to go with a bracelet and earrings and no necklace, so I wanted my lovely necklace as a bracelet.  So this:

via adayofbliss

became this:

buy it here.

and for $78 I think I can handle it seeing as it's pretty much perfect.  Just have to ahem, find a dress first to make sure they work together, and try it on in the store before I buy (I have abnormally huge wrists).  But hurray for progress nonetheless.

Badass Bridesmaids

Do not mess with this bridal posse, they will f*ck you up.  Get 'em here.