Eye candy

I've been away from the blog for awhile.  I was completely taken out of commission when I got sick for roughly the fifth time since January.  That sucked.  Since then, I've been playing catch-up.  My wedding time right now needs to go toward addressing our save the dates which finally arrived this past weekend.  I had some camera play time a couple of weeks ago after getting some Easter candy in the mail (inspired by a blog contest) so I figured I'd share what I came up with (before it all ended up in my stomach-except for the ring, of course).  I can't wait until I have a DSLR again, but it's still fun to wax creative.

{all photos by me, candy compliments of my mom}

New old treasure

Last summer we went home to visit for the first time in two years.  Rediscovering all of the cold-weather clothes I'd left behind in my closet and all of my possessions waiting for me in Minnesota was so exciting.  I didn't want to wear any of the clothes in my suitcase, just the sweaters and jeans from my closet.  (Which, for the most part, I was able to because I was freezing!)  It was new again and I loved it all.

I'm hoping for a similar experience when I return this summer and get to see everything for the wedding.  The vases and fabrics we bought for the reception are waiting for us and my dress has come in at the shop where it is waiting for me to come and try it on.  I'm more than hopeful that I will see these things and love them all over again.  Some things I'll be seeing for the first time, like my bridesmaid's dresses.  Thank goodness I decided to go for the mismatched look because coordinating colors and designs from across the globe...well, there's only so much you can do.

Mike's mom just pulled out the fabric to work on (and some of my girlfriends here are planning a shower - it's all starting to become real!) which prompted me to revisit this photo I took.  Thank goodness I took this photo to remember!  This was probably the fastest wedding errand yet, even though we visited 3 stores, owning to the fact that I dragged Mike along with me.  He's not much of a shopper and prefers the speed shopping method.  Despite the fast decision making (to which I certainly am not accustomed) I love our picks!

I'm excited to see these scattered about the room along with all of the other decor and surprises we have up our sleeves.  I don't know which is my favorite.  How about you?

For the love of chocolate

If I had attended this wedding with this amazing looking chocolate bar I’m pretty sure I would’ve thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

I don’t think this will be redone at our wedding but I can only hope to someday be in a room with so much delicious chocolate up for grabs. That’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Dandelion love

Well over a year and a half into this engagement, wedding planning has morphed into something entirely different.  In the beginning it was all about inspiration and ideas.  And I filled my head with a lot of those.  But now it is becoming much more real, and I have moved past that in many ways.  In part it is due to necessity.  There is no more time to sit and daydream.  Decisions are being made and I'm behind on the to-do list.  It's like when you write giant research paper and you have to spend hours on the front end finding quality research, reading it, collecting data, etc.  And then finally it's time to write and you just have to hunker down and focus on your paper.
Also, my brain is full.  Most of the images that fill my google reader start to look the same.  Fabric bunting?  Seen that before.  Bride in Manolo Blahniks?  Next!  But every once in awhile I come across something I absolutely adore.

If I had a flower girl, I would send her down the aisle with dandelions, just like this.  I mean, seriously, how perfect would that be?  How charming would it be for her to reach the front and blow all of the seeds to the wind?  So much more natural than rose petals or a fancy floral arrangement.  Love.

We wove a web in childhood, a web of sunny air.
[Charlotte Bronte]

Photo from ::here::

Save the dates ready for print

Our save the dates have been edited, scrutinized, uploaded, and ordered!  It feels so good that it is (temporarily, at least) out of our hands and onto the printing press.
This has been a big hurdle and it is a big giant check on the to-do list.  There was a fair amount of stress, disappointment, and frustration involved.  More on that later, perhaps.

But, for now, I am pleased, relieved, and excited to see the finished product and get this real wedding stuff going!

And until I have more time on my hands, just a peak.

Goodnight, island!  Goodnight, world wide web!

Slow, sweet walk

Walk With You
Edwin McCain & Maia Sharp

I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say “I do”
He will discover just how blessed a life can be
I know ‘cause all those years ago someone handed you to me
Every step that we take brings back the memories
Winter snows and horse shows and dancing on the beach
I can’t help thinking that I’m the lucky one
You’re still my baby daughter and now I’ve gained a son
I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say “I do”
He will discover just how blessed a life can be
I know ‘cause all those years ago your mom handed you to me
Don’t miss a chance to put each other first
Now that you’ve vowed for better or for worse
Don’t let the beauty of this life pass you by
In the times of trouble you’ll stand side by side
I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say ” I do”
I picture a slow sweet walk yet to be
When you’ll take my hand and say “Daddy come see”
Then you’ll know what it felt like
You won’t believe what it feels like
Then you’ll know what it felt like when she handed you to me.
She handed you to me

I heard this song on the radio the other night while driving home from a late soccer game.  I'm sure the rest of the world has heard it already (we don't always have the most up-to-date music on the airwaves here) but maybe there's someone else out there who hasn't.  Or someone who would like to add it to your music collection for free.

I googled the song when I got home and found out that Edwin McCain offers it as a free download on his website.  I love free stuff, and it really is a sweet song, even if there is a bit of country twang.  Check it out here!

Priorities

Mike is finally home!  Now that we're together again, we can make some progress on the wedding front.  Except that all I want to work on right now are non-time-sensitive projects, like ceremony fan designs and reception factoids, not pressing to-dos like save the dates (now quite late) and invitations and such.

<sigh>