Ahh, such a gorgeous home.  Perfect for an at home ceremony (or just to live in..)(image via sothebys real estate)

Inspiration for my bouquet. Less green though. (image via the knot.com)

I love the handmade wooden signs leading you to the ceremony/reception. I commissioned my dad to make one for the drive way leading down to our ceremony.

Love love love the ribbons! I am doing this on my bridesmaid bouquets and my own bouquet only in navy and white grosgrain ribbon. (image via brooklyn bride)

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! It was D & I's first one not spent with family so we ended up cooking our own meal! Thankfully my parents donated some money to the cause otherwise it definitely would have been mac n' cheese for us! We make a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, fruit custard salad, rolls, tollhouse pie, mmmm mmmm. We have been eating left overs all week and I love it!

In other news, the trip home went well. It was great to see family and get a few wedding related tasks crossed off the list! We decided on a florist and got everything finalized. I also got to go dress shopping and came out of it with two dresses I like. Now I just need to make a decision!

Before we left for home we were also able to pick up our save the dates! Today was spent gathering remaining addresses and fixing up our wedding website and tomorrow I get to spend all day addressing them! My goal is to have them ready to be dropped in the mail on Monday.

Tomorrow I also have to start working on my list of Christmas presents. Due to the lack of funds this year I plan on making almost all of my gifts. I will let you know how they turn out and post a few pictures after the Holidays!

One of our engagement photos from Amy Carroll

The Dress

I am heading back to my home state in just two days!! I am soo excited! As an added bonus, we got snow yesterday and the forecast for the days we are there calls for snow also!! After living with the cold, harsh winters for 22 years you would think I would be soo sick of snow but it's actually the opposite. Since moving to California I have a new appreciation for the cold weather. Don't get me wrong, I love the consistently mild weather of S.F. but truthfully, there is nothing Fall or Winter about this place. 

This coming weekend has a lot on the agenda in terms of wedding. I have been slacking quite a bit these past few weeks (ok, months) and now it is time to get serious about planning. 

On Friday I get to go with my mom and a friend and look for my dress! I am really hoping I will find one! (cross your fingers!). I already have a few I am in love with but unfortunately most of their price tags rule them out of my budget.  Here are just a few that I am in love with!

(Photo credit: Brides.com) Carolina Herrera Fall 2005

(Photo credit: Brides.com) Amsale Fall 2008

(Photo credit: Brides.com) Amsale Fall 2008

The last image will not load for some reason...Either way, it was an image from Martha Stewart weddings magazine showcasing a real wedding featuring the bride wearing a polka dot organza gown by Carolina Herrera. (I believe the 2004 collection). I can't find this dress anywhere! Have any of you seen it and/ or know which one I am talking about? 

A few other things that have caught my eye lately.

(photo credit: weddingbee) I love this birdcage veil with the flower.

I love the texture of this bouquet. I think I would go a little smaller but I am pretty sure I will be going with an all white bouquet and having my bridesmaids with green's, white's and maybe some pink.

I am off to pick up a prescription and hopefully our save the dates! Have a great rest of the week!

It's here!

I officially opened my Etsy Shop! There is a link on the right, go check it out!

**Great for Holiday gifts & exchanges
**Each one is completely handmade by me!
**Want a certain color or pattern? No problem! Just let me know what you are looking for!

I'm back!

and I have some very exciting news soon! I will hopefully be able to post about it by the end of this week!

In wedding news: I'm heading home in just over a week to do some much needed wedding work (and see my family again!). I have A LOT planned and I just know I won't be able to get it all in. I have a consultation with a florist, a meeting at the reception site to go over a few questions, get some measurement, and take a few more pictures and dinner with the friends of the family and owners of the home where we will be having the ceremony! In between all of that I plan on looking for a dress, getting some coffee at my favorite coffee place, drinks at the local brewery with friends, and checking out the local fabric store for table runner materials (and possibly some cozie, belt, and bag material as well!)

It's crazy but I am soo excited today. D and I were talking about careers and the future and I think I may have figured out what I want to do in terms of career (long term, that is). I will have more on this in the future as well!

Unfortunately because I haven't been visiting any blogs in the past week I don't have any pretty pictures to share but I will soon!

Until then here is a picture of what I have been up to lately! :)

ciao!

I voted!.... Sunday actually.... and now i am watching the numbers come in on ABC. In a little bit D & I will be heading down to a park a few blocks away for the celebrations and free ice cream from ben & jerry's. 

In other news, I need a break. This week has been tough and I have decided to take a little break from blogs for a while.

Enjoy the election fun!