First Few Photos...

Breaking my blog silence...to bring you some photos from our session with the totally fabulous Jenny Jimenez - she is amazing! These are just the first few but I had to share, it's our first "forealsies" photos together. Pearl was quite a ham, very photogenic, I'm sure you'll agree :)

31.

Last Friday was the big 3-1! I took it easy this year (last year was enough for a decade, thankyouverymuch) and celebrated by going wedding dress shopping with my mom, sister and good friend Shannon who was in town for the holidays. I wasn't too jazzed about spending my birthday standing in front of a mirror, staring at all my insecurities, but in the end it was worth it - by Monday we'd found "the" dress. Yay! It's a surprise for the groom so I won't post any pictures now, but it hit all the marks: fitted, flared, lace, vintage-feel, a touch princess-ey, a touch pink, a little dramatic, but not too much! I'm excited about it. Now it's time for...SHOES, veil, jewelry, hair, etc. AKA the really fun stuff!

After dress shopping I changed into comfy clothes and had pizza with the fiance. Kept it classy with just ONE cocktail and a glass of wine. I'm not too sure how I feel about being 31. I think I'm still mourning the loss of my 20's. I know, that's embarrassing. Part of me feels like I just didn't do 20's totally right. But I guess that's what 30's are for, learning from our mistakes of our 20's! I hope this is the decade that brings career and family successes and joys. I'm excited :)

Honeymoon Plans

Guess where we're going?

Wedding Dress: hurry up!

Yeah...so, I think the rules say I'm supposed to have my dress by now. Don't worry You Guys, I'm on it! Here's another batch of pretty dress pictures I've collected:

Another Wedding Post

The latest dress inspiration: I still have no idea which silhouettes will flatter best, but I'm loving these "flowy" skirt options - they're a bit Cinderella without being too princess-ey...

I know this is cray-cray, but it's fun...

love these sleeves...

love the bustle...

Ask MansionMogul XI!

You Guys, the painting project I mention here has foreals been on my to-do list for OVER 4 years. Ridiculous.

And here's a link to Bunnies for Birthdays. So cute! Also: Via Tribunali.

Now I'm all outta questions for Ask MansionMogul so shoot me some more Y'All!

I'm Free!!! (for a month)

Whew. Just finished Summer Quarter, and now I get an entire month break until Fall. YAY! I feel so free to do WHATEVAHIWANT. I still have freelance design to keep up with, but other than that I'll be filling my days with socializing, home improvement, crafts, and wedding stuff.

List & Comment Friday: Ambitions for Over Break:
1.) Sand and paint my cruddy old bedroom furniture. I HAVE to do this now before the weather turns. For example: we've got mismatched bedside tables. I want to re-vamp them so they don't look like hand-me-downs!

2.) Design our Wedding "brand". Oy. I am really trying not to be a perfectionist on this project to the point of paralyzed. I think the majorness of the whole event makes me put pressure on myself for it to be the best wedding design the world has ever seen. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be "us". Loving this invite for example (this is mostly more "me" than "him", but lucky for me, I'm in charge of this task!)...

3.) Frame and hang some stinkin' art already. We have so many fab pictures from Europe that I'd love to have printed and frame, wouldn't they look great? We still have almost nothing on our walls, even though we moved over 6 months ago. How do other people get it done so quickly? I love how all these tiny frames right next to each other make one big piece of artwork.

4.) Stay tuned for a really fun storytelling of how I found a piece of wood for "free" on the sidewalk and am going to turn it into a headboard. I want to paint it with a border similar to this one, but add a pattern in the middle.

5.) Sign up for Dance Classes. The fiance very sweetly got us certificates to take a dance class, and I really really want us to learn at least one dance. Now I feel like I finally have some time to sign us up!

side-note: culturally, don't you think it's crucial that Keene watches this movie with me?

*Something* to Post...at least

I'm at a loss for what to post today, so I thought how about just the last 5 things I pinned on my Pinterest board:

I like how this combines my want for "tea candles" and "mason jars" on a wedding tablescape.

What a joyful photo. Remind me to "pop" my foot up for this perfect picture pose! {by A Bryan Photo}

This is ridiculous. And I'm still loving watermelon right now. Watermelon cake!

Baby barrette necklace. I totally had these! {via Aunt Peaches}

{via Aunt Peaches}

These Brian Atwood heels are ridiculous and I would totally wear them.

Things I am Excited About

Yep, some things I am currently excited about...

1. My China.
So, my mom and I have been detouring through the china section for years now, speculating about what I would pick, what other brides have chosen, talking about all the details and whatnot. So of course when the time came, I knew I had to have my wing-mom help me pick out some of the important things for our registry. She was the perfect person to come along! We really thought it all through, and finally came upon this "Silver Palace" pattern from Noritake. I love it! It's traditional and classic, but has pretty nouveau details that I love...

2. Whisked!
A delightful friend I made out in DC, Jenna, started her own bakery. I love the name, the concept, the creativity, and her and her business partner's commitment to making beautiful delicious products. And they have a Pie CSA (or "CSP" for "Community Supported Pie")! Where they alternate sweet and savory pies each month! Isn't that GENIUS!? Mad props.

(Whisked! makes a bbq chicken tart - doesn't it look amazing!?)

3. Being done with Summer Quarter.
Oy. 11 weeks condensed into 8 weeks. Making up for 8 lost years where I should've been working in web design (yes...I know, my print background will help me, but I'm 30, I've gotta MOVE on this!). Balancing school with the "life" I have now. It's a lot different than my life was in 2003. I'd like to say my life is more full now, which is fantastic, but it's time for me to go on lock-down and power through these last 3 weeks and make the most of my classes...and I can't wait for the month-long break I'll get before Fall Quarter starts. I will actually get to go to our farmer's market again! (I currently have class those nights).

4. Acquiring a Silk Kimono.
I was thinking about how I need to go out and buy more "house clothes", because that's all I ever wear now and I don't currently have enough to get through a week. SAD THOUGHT! But then I started thinking, what if I made my around-the-house-wear something fabulous instead? I totally want to buy a bunch of silk pajamas and walk around à la Phyllis Nefler in Troop Beverly Hills (best movie ever) and OH MY GOD when is Troop Beverly Hills: The Experience coming to Seattle?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I want to sing-along to "cookie time" in public SO BAD!!!

Doesn't Blair always have the BEST pajamas?

Now I just need to get some awesome "Chuck Pajamas" for Keene. So fancy!

5. Cuban Radio on Pandora.
When I get ready in the mornings lately I've been listening to "Cuban" radio on Pandora. Then I pretend I'm eating Cuban sandwiches in a 50's sundress and sipping on a mojito!

6. Watermelon.
Seriously. I could eat a whole watermelon in a day and almost have a few times lately. It's so good right now! You have to buy it while it's this good You Guys!!!!

Ask MM: Blog Edition

Another loyal reader and friend recently sent me several fantastic questions. I thought I'd start by answering the weddin'-related one!

"When are you shopping for a wedding dress? Or have you bought one? Do you have a silhouette in mind?" - Andrea (Drew, as she is to me!)

To answer Andrea's question: I think I'll be shopping for a dress around October. Being that I am all cliche and whatnot, I'm trying to shed just a few extra pounds before the shopping starts. I think I can get to my goal by October! (hope)

As for styles/silhouettes, I am truly going to just go with what looks best. I've barely worn any formal dresses in my life, so I don't know exactly what works well on me yet. But I do know I love "vintage" looking dresses, classic, and lace, lace, lace. Oh, and a little sparkle doesn't hurt either ;)

Let's first start with The Ultimate in Perfection: Kate. I DIED when she stepped out of that car on her wedding day.

And before her, was her inspiration: Grace. Again, the lace, I die for it.

I have always liked 3/4 sleeves as well. Why not on a dress?! They can be gorgeous!

Or vintage...

Or a great excuse for more lace...

I love love love all the detailed, scalloped and lace backs that are out there...

Ok. Let's pretend for a minute. I would never actually go "mini", but these are tempting!

Love it! Maybe for my "getaway" outfit :)

Tea length is also tempting because it shows off FABULOUS shoes so well!

Most likely I'll go for a sweetheart neckline, since those always flatter...

I've seen this dress all over the place lately - isn't it precious?

Dying for this neckline. Sweetheart, lace, and the sparkly vintage-ey belt. Love.

The cascading back could be pretty...

Or I might go more simple with a luscious satin...

But OhEmGee....is this classic silhouette dreamy or WHAT?

I guess you'll just have to stay tuned! I can't wait to go dress shopping. I wonder if it'll be like the movies/tv where the one that makes my mom cry is "the one"....