one of those days...

You know? Today has been the total pitts when it comes to my mental stability and train of thought and I think I may be dressed slightly inappropriate for work. Furthermore, why do those bananas own pajamas but no suitable attire for being in public? Happy friday, y'all.

It's Thursday!

Which means it's almost Friday! Does anyone have any awesome weekend plans? Steve and I may register Elvis for a "How Fast Is Your Wiener" Race. A-yup, a dachshund dash.

Tonight we are going to a gallery opening in Chelsea (we're so New York). Steve's childhood friend Emily works for a gallery, so when we're lucky we get privy to the posh 11th avenue art world (and free wine!). Last night I went to Union Pool with my friend Chris to see a secret Rapture show. It was so much fun. They were very successful at keeping it on the down low so the back room wasn't too cramped albeit still packed. They played so many good jams, I boogied completely. While I was watching the show all I could think of was that scene in Nick and Nora's Ultimate Playlist where they go to Union Pool thinking the band is going to be there but its something else entirely...something horrible. There is this one guy getting it on all by himself. You have to wonder: dude, your taste in music sucks but you're having fun at a solo show.

quick iPod project update: I have 45 songs, and have listened to about 600.

hi! I like your blog. My wedding is in a year and I think what you have to say is pretty cool. Are you on a diet? What do you suggest for losing weight before the big day?

Thanks! It's good to know I am not the only person who thinks what I have to say is pretty cool. Haha.

To answer your question: no, I am not on a diet but that doesn't mean that I don't have a diet. I'm gluten intolerant and have been gluten free for two years now. That makes it easy to avoid delicious carb foods and cakes. I try to eat healthily and I'm sure to only eat when I'm hungry, not when I'm bored (ok, sometimes when I'm bored).

The biggest restriction I have on myself is that I only drink soda on the weekends. I am a soda addict and for the sake of my teeth and my waist line, I implemented this system. Trying to limit sugary drinks is probably not a bad step for anyone.

In general, I am not a fan of diets. In my experience, diets make food the enemy. Food is your fuel and your friend, totally not the enemy. Poor choices and lack of self control are you enemy. I do understand the desire to slim down and look the best for your day but a crash diet is never the answer. Think about how stressed and busy you will be in the weeks before your wedding - how are you going to cope with all of that stress and running around if you are going on a half empty tank? Do not want.

Since you have a year, you have plenty of time. Evaluate how much weight you want to lose. Is it a matter of a couple of pounds? This can probably be done by doing something as simple as taking the stairs every day at work instead of the elevator, switching to skim milk in your lattes, or exercising more restraint when it comes to your portions.

Do you want to lose more than that? Maybe you could re-vamp your lifestyle entirely. Analyze your eating habbits and think about why you're eating what you're eating. There are a lot of great programs that can help for this kind of thing. A lot of people I know have had great success with Weight Watchers. The key to their progress was that they didn't expect to just buy a ton of frozen weight watcher meals and snacks and shed the pounds, they applied the system to everything. They learned about what they were putting into their bodies and how much of it they were putting in. The program grows with you (or shrinks with you) as you go on and not only will it help you lose weight in a stable manner, it can give you the tools to maintaining your new shape!

I'm not trying to sound like an advertisement. I've just met a lot of people with a lot of positive feed back. Of course, I am not a doctor or a dietician, so you should probably consult an expert before you make any rash decisions.

The best advice I can give is: eat healthy and exercise. Yay? I hope you still think what I have to say is pretty cool.

Ask me anything

iPod Project Official Day 1

I promise I won't post daily progress on the project, but this is the first day! I was feeling quite ambitious and decided that instead of filtering through and only listen to wedding appropriate bands, I was going to put my entire iPod...on shuffle!!! Aaaah!! All 8,000 songs! It's lunch time and I have gotten through about 430 of them. I haven't listened to a lot of them all the way through (obviously) and sometimes I'm not even sure what these songs are doing on my iPod! Out of the 430, I have 23 songs I put on the list. But that's not all: check out how organized I am:

Totally color coded! I love color coding. I have a selection for songs that should be played later on in the evening and also songs that I am thinking of for the cocktail hour. I am on this wedding bizniz. What are your favorite songs to boogie to at weddings?

iPod Project

Happy Father's Day, Dad!!!

Did everyone have a nice weekend? I was murderously ill on Friday with a migraine to write home about, no bueno. Even still, we headed down to Philadelphia to kick it with Steve's family for the weekend. It was a great time, we hit up a flea market in Lambertsville and picked up two carved glass bowls for our centerpeices. On Sunday we went to a family picnic on the Susquehana and ate a bunch of delicious food.

The 3 hour ride into the middle of nowhere PA on Sunday, caused quite a stir about our reception music. There are a lot of songs that I don't want anywhere near our wedding, which some people think are a necessity. I won't go all Bravo TV on anyone, but Single Ladies will not be played during my bouquet toss, the chicken dance, macarena and electric slide are in permanent exile and I will not be accepting any bribe to ensure Stairway to Heaven is the last dance. With the exception of those death stare worthy suggestions, I am pretty open to what music is played. I think that the best play lists surprise and delight and I want my guests to have a simply delightful time!  In fact there is an overwhelming amount of music that I want played; however Steve and I have different ideas of what should and shouldn't be played during the reception so we have launched a project into compromise!

THE iPOD PROJECT!

Each of us has a small portable notepad and pen to be kept on us at all times. Over the next 4-5 months we're required to listen to every viable band on our ipod (Iron Maiden, Orchid and Converge need not apply) and write down the songs that we think are a good fit for our reception. Everything that is on the shared list will automatically be included, the others have to be given a fair listen to and a mutual verdict will be handed down. The final list, on top of those songs that are already on a play list at the bequest of our family will then be handed over to the DJ we (finally) hire, then we'll get professional feedback. Sounds good, right?! We'll see.

On a side note, it's Monday and I am already counting down until Friday (insert heavy sigh). All of the traveling just makes the weekend seem like not much of a weekend. Here is what I want to do this weekend: ride my new bike, eat ice cream, go to a park, sun bathe, listen to music (via the ipod project), play some rock band. And did I show you my new bike yet? No! Good heavens, check it pretties:

Isn't it something? The Fuji feather...I love it! I totally shouldn't have purchased it, but I love it. I rationalize the splurge on the fact that Steve adores riding bikes. I never felt safe on the one I bought for $70 off of some guy on the street and not only was it a sketchy ride, but it was waaay too heavy and big for me. Fluffy (my name for the bike) rides like a dream and I get super stoked on riding her all over Brooklyn! So, while I should not have probably spent the dimes, I see her as an investiment in future (free) time spent with Steve and a mutual hobby. Blah, blah, blah....but she also promotes health! Go, Fluffy, go!!

Gowns I love, but could never wear....pt 2

And to be honest, with some of these dresses it's not that I could never wear them; it's that I already have my dress and it's the most perfect thing you will ever see after I get hitched (correction, second most because duh your wedding dress is the most perfect). Here they are: some gorgeous gowns that will run you less than $500:

Let's get right into it.

1. Sue Wong Embroidered V-Neck Gown, $488 at Nordstrom.com. This is great for someone who loves the laced beaded look for less. Antiqued styled dresses can often be exceptionally expensive because lace is costly and beading is labor intensive. This lovely Sue Wong gown offers the same vintage inspired feeling for a lot less than some others will run you.

2. Aidan Mattox Strapless Gown, $370 at Norstrom.com. I love this gown and so do people who have purchased it! It has gotten rave reviews from people who bought it online for both weddings and vow renewal ceremonies. That's always nice to read, right? People were enthused with the quality and loved the way the subtle silver patterning was set against the ivory. What I love about this dress is that the designer remembered my favorite rule: elegance is simplicity. I feel like sometimes less expensive designers go over the top with embellishments trying to create an uber fancy gown and they end up making it look costumey. I think this is a chic feeling dress with a good price tag.

4. Open Back Pleated Gown, $398 at BCBG.com. The Grecian revival is not my style at all, but this gown embodies the trend of the times in a classic way. Without the over done drapery that, in my humble opinion, has some wedding gowns looking like a toga hybrid, this gown has a flowing elegance and simplicity that makes it wonderful for an intimate wedding or beach setting affair.

5. Silk Avery Dress, $450 at JCrew.com. You didn't think I would leave J Crew out of this, did ya?! I have spied so many brides wearing J Crew in the last year and (bahda-da-da) I'm loving it! The clean cut, irresistible lines and natural cling of the fabric just make this dress my choice; and it has also gotten rave reviews!

I wanted to say something about wedding dresses in general again, inspired by a post on Sane Bride about picking the dress. Everyone has their dream dress and what they think they want and what they end up with. My advice is pure and simple: go with your gut and never be discouraged in your choice. Sometimes it's painful to be looking at these weddings online and seeing these ravishingly expensive gowns. No matter what your budget, as long as you carry yourself with grace and sophistication and allow all of your joy radiate out, you will be the most gorgeous bride on the face of the planet. Trust me! Every bride I have seen has been the most beautiful girl in the world (except for one bride, but I h8 her so she doesn't count). The main function of the gown is to enhance your shine, your energy and your confidence.

I knew that my dress was the dress because when I looked in the mirror I started to cry uncontrollably. How did you know?

I am so tired!

I am feeling more Red Bull inspired than I am wedding inspired. In spite of all of my elation that I get to start planning, I'm all like "...what up?" I found a new great blog though! Sane Bride Advice. I read the articles on picking your colors and I  thought I would just pay homage to my own:

Dear Navy Blue and Orange,

Seriously, you're the best. Orange: you come in so many shades and varieties and you lend yourself to the natural nuances of my venue, what could I do without you? And Navy, you! You embrace the greens and brown accents that autumnal New England offers. So, thank you for adding your richness to nature. My dear colors, I cannot wait to see you in all of your glory. (which will be my wedding day, because I am not a Mets fan)

XOXO,
B

I told you I was tired. On the flip side, I think there is some sound reasoning to my love letter. It is the same sound reasoning that goes into what the ladies at Sane were saying: your colors should enhance your environment, not fight it. I am kind of a purist when it comes to the need to respect seasonal colors. I will tell anyone as much as well. Just ask me what I think about black, red and silver for an outdoor wedding set in the middle of July.

I also don't think you should be inflexible with your colors as long as you keep with the same base. I plan on having multiple shades of blue - sans anything crossing the line into the aqua or Tiffany blue region. We won't wage ware on that, royal blues, natural blues and anything with that kind of purple base. For the orange, I am going to steer clear of anything that doesn't look like a natural orange. I am thinking more of a burnt fall-ish color.

That's all I got. Inventory is in a few days and I have a pile of work on my desk. I do have some well reviewed wedding dresses under $500 to share. Soon! In other news, I think I am buying a bike tonight!