happy second anniversary, etsy wedding!

{ happy anniversary card by jeanfrancisbean }

crazy. two years!

this year i found love, moved in, faced surgery, lemonade and loss, and my sister made this amazing little thing i seriously can't get enough of. my life is radically different from this time last year, in ways large and small, and i'm so thankful to you all for coming along on the way -- i am full of hope for the summer and year to come.

if you like a little more misty nostalgia, here's my first anniversary and the beginning of it all. if i'd only known what i was getting myself into.

thebrokenplate: unique bridal party cufflinks + pendants

{ custom matching broken-plate cufflinks for groom + four groomsmen }

how great are these?

thebrokenplate makes wonderful, quirky matching sets for bridal parties, with something cool for the gents: mod cufflinks. plus rings, pendants, fascinators, belt buckles --

*and* two great ideas, from the artist's custom order page: first, let's say you already have a broken plate, maybe grandma's precious china -- or let's say hypothetically a collector's mid-century modern vase that your boyfriend can't believe you put flowers in and then the cat knocked over ("you couldn't have used an IKEA VASE???"), that sort of thing... you can send in the pieces and have them transformed into pendants for your sisters or cufflinks for said irate boyfriend. neat!

second, check out the idea for making jewelry from plates broken during the jewish tenaim engagement ceremony -- i love the symbolism (and drama!): mothers smashing plates to make way for their children feeding each other, and �may a plate be broken for you soon...�

baltimore-based thebrokenplate loves custom work and has a huge assortment of colors and plates pre-smashed (oh, the catharsis!) to choose from, or you can send your own.








more at thebrokenplate.etsy.com and ibreakplates.com

today: get out there and...

{each photo linked to its shop}

etsy wedding says: go vote!

cakewrecks: a little mental-health break

happy monday!

my darling friend delanie was so moved by this blog she *texted* it to me in the middle of the day yesterday -- had an instant mental image of her crying laughing, trying to type on the little tiny keys while wiping mascara out of her eyes.

i am likely a latecomer, so if you haven't already found this pearl, yes: there *is* a blog devoted entirely to Cakes Gone Wrong. will add it to the side links for future enjoyment.

(the kermit cake alone is worth the trip...)

the great outdoors: a picnic sampler (and recipes!)

{ custom oilcloth tablecloth by chalkydoodles }

so there was this amazing article in the new york times today with "101 20-minute dishes for inspired picnics" -- simple delicious things to take to an outdoor gathering. my mouth has been watering all day. and that makes me think -- picnic rehearsal dinner. picnic themed reception, with grilled stuff and gardenburgers and smores. outdoor wedding made simple.

you get the drift -- it is the minimalist way, right?









{each photo links to its shop}