#657: tips.

not mine.

better.

read them through the links here.

#656: pretties.

i haven't been stalking my favorite blogs lately. maybe i don't really feel like i need to anymore. or maybe i've just been too busy. idk.

but i'm going to try harder to keep on top of all of the sites i used to visit everyday twice-a-day. because inspiration is inspiration, just the same. for you, me, married, not-yet-married.

and i hope to keep that part of this blog alive, at least for as long as this blog is alive.

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here's what inspired me today during my 5-minute roam around the nets.


rachel's recap of her stay in hawaii (which is my absolute favorite place on this planet. so far.)


numbered tin can DIY instructions via 100 layer cake.


via daisy chain.


via le love.

#635: ellie's back.

congrats ellie!


via mint.

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you know she's going to share lots of visual goodness. first up, her invitations. are you as inspired? can't wait to see what's next.

#599: words.

i haven't really written anything worth reading these days. or ever.

but meg has. and then esb made me laugh.

and then LPC noted i never use caps. and then i couldn't stop reading her blog.

that's all.

#598: soap giveaway.

via 100 layer cake.

so the ladies of 100 layer cake are hosting a giveaway. a giveaway of yummy soaps that they handmade. or, is it homemade? anyways, the criteria is to leave them a comment describing something unique you're doing or did with your bridesmaids. and then you get the soaps if you win. and then you can gift them to your girlsies.

sadly. i tried to leave a comment but got stuck. because i don't feel like anything i've done has been...'unique'. so. i'm hoping to be inspired by the comments you leave. you know. to get some cool ideas. heh.

so go. leave a comment. maybe win some soaps.

#587: distract thyself.

via bridetide.

#564: two cents.

these ladies have gone through it. and i like what they have to say. so i'm sharing.

read this and this.

#544: "girl, i love you."

i don't know about you but i sometimes think about the what ifs and get crazy.

the fiance's not plugged into the blog world much (except for sites like f my life, which, let's be honest -- isn't a blog)...and has never indicated that he'd like to become as obsessed as i have about people i've never even met or spoken to in real life i'm weird i know.

i shared the nienie dialogues with him yesterday. i explained their story and had him read the entry nie wrote on february 7. out loud. {ok, go read it and come back...}

it's not just their current plight that gets me. it's the then and now, everything since even before the plane crash...her husband's love for her, her love for him, their love for their kids.

"girl, i love you."

i get scared sometimes, thinking about what could happen to either of us at any given moment. how would we deal with it. what would we do. from where would we draw the strength. is love enough.

#515: i'm a feature of the month, biatch.

ok. i'm not.

but this blog is.

check out what the lovely peeps at for the modern bride have to say about me. i mean, this blog.

*thank you!*

#499: i'm number one.

click here to read an interview of yours truly.

and then let's be friends.

#496: the invitations.

have you seen the latest kleenex campaign? you know. the one that goes:

touch touch touch touch touch touch touch touch...

...feel.

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yeah, well, i wish you all could feel the invitations i just received from april. because she did it. she captured what we were going for. and made it happen for us. with the lamest of directions.

the stock is so beautifully textured, the font is perfectly whispy, and the ink colors on the paper exude a tinge of vintage. it's everything i (and inadvertently the fiance) love but could never (and actually didn't ever) articulate.

so dearest april: you are brilliant, talented, awesome, and somewhat of a mindreader. in the best possible way.

t.h.a.n.k. y.o.u.






next step: decide on the packaging. i'm pulling the vintage stamps idea since they cost a lot. regular postage it is.

as for the invitations...i keep coming back to lace for some reason. hm. a lace cozy perhaps? or just a little trim on top?

idk. TBD.

#460: continuing the money talk.

what may be common sense for some may not be so obvious for others.

if you think you're in the latter category and could use some tips as you plan your wedding, give these a read:

1) ...via perfect bound.

2) ...via manolo for the brides.

#431: one of them days.

it must be a full moon tonight. or something.

i just began my day and so far...

1) during my morning run, i fell. hard. and landed on a sprinkler head.
2) i spilled coffee on my new dress on my way into the studio.
3) i pressed 8 in the elevator. i work on 9.
4) my shoe is broken.

good times.

it doesn't really matter. because regardless. i love love.


le love image via from diamonds to vows.

i like it spicy.

#430: polaDroids.

via oh happy day.

read how to give all your digipics the special polaroid look at poladroid.

is it strange that i want to do this to ALL of my photos?

#425: just say no.

cheerio.

please read this.

and this.

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a wedding should never be defined by its tangibles, no matter how complicated or simple. and it's disheartening to know that it's become status quo to put ourselves under so much pressure to impress (either monetarily or craft-ily or even first dance-ily).

let's say no to all that. and just revel in being ourselves. let's be confident enough to spend a millllllllion dollars or bake our own 15-tiered cake only if we want to. not because WIC or Martha or our peers are demanding it.

a wedding is, in its simplest form, an announcement to your close ones that you're committing to your betrothed for forever...and that you're going to come into some tax benefits as a couple.

all the rest of it is...stuff.


*note to self*

#384: broke-ass brillz.

hey. here's a thought. why not extend the life of all the stuffs from your one-day affair and at the same time save some coin.

read more from miss broke ass bride.

#285: i am not an island.

what makes this blog work.........

........is (are?) other blogs.

if you don't believe me, take a gander at my profile. i compile my ideas from blogs i visit daily. i really do.

and i found another one to add to my blogroll. meg is the funky fresh over at a practical wedding. plus, she's TEAM $10,000 as can be verified by her budget friendly (and quite practical, i must admit) posts here and here.

#276: my one regret.

effing a. somehow, i managed to click onto some spammy website through this blog and now i keep getting comments that say "click here" or "read this". hopefully you guys already know not to "click there" or "read that". i'm deleting as i get them but just wanted to give you a heads up...don't give them any love. pretend they are an ex you abhor. everyone needs to make a living, i guess...even spammers...but still, they are effers in mine eyeseth.

#249: comment of the day...

"i went to a wedding fair at the 4 seasons and they had one photographer and videographer combo who offered a diamond package that costs $55k. i vomited a little bit."

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

my only question is...um, did their diamond package include an actual diamond? holy madre of the entire earth.

#245: HOLY SH*T #6!

from emily jackson photography.

found via style me pretty, the above photog is having a contest...for a free wedding package.

that's right. yet another one. dahhhhhh!!!