love is blonde

One

My sister-in-law (I wish I could just call her “my sister” but it gets confusing because then you might think I’m talking about my “real” sister, and anyway…) gave me this awesome monogrammed recipe box as a gift for being in her wedding. I love the colors, the monogram, the pattern, and the lucite box.

Finally last weekend I handwrote my go-to recipes on it, including an amazing homemade Caesar salad dressing from my friend Jess. This dressing is kicky with the garlic and about 4,683,294 times better than anything you can get in a bottle. Make it for yourself, or for your honey, or for a dinner party (preferably with homemade croutons)!

Two

I took an eight-session photography class this summer to get acquainted with my new camera. I’ve still got a whole lot to learn, but wanted to share my favorite photo I’ve taken so far. It’s from a hallway at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, one of my favorite go-to places when friends and family come to visit DC.

Three

Its a bird, it’s a bird, it’s another bird! Actually I think I count eight birds in my newly accessorized powder room. I’m awaiting the arrival of some funky monogrammed hand towels and then I promise to show you the whole thing. It’s my new fave spot in the house (which sounds kind of lame…but true!)

Things I have been wanting but not buying:

(You will see a theme here. I get a wee bit obsessive. I’ve had spinach quiche for dinner three of the last four nights…)

This lovely striped shirt from Nordstrom. Would be perfect for work or weekends, don’t you think?

This supercute $10 rug from Kohl’s. Only ten bucks! But I can’t figure out where in my house I’d put it…otherwise I would have totally bought it already.

These chic calling cards from etsy’s sweetbeaker. Except I REALLY DO NOT NEED CALLING CARDS. I’m bad enough about returning calls I currently get.

Thing I have been wanting, and I FINALLY ACTUALLY BOUGHT:

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Except…I have no idea how to use it. But I swear I’m going to start learning this weekend.

So tell me, what have you been wanting but not buying? And more importantly, what have you splurged on lately?

About two months ago I bought a pair of new shoes. I adore these shoes. They are gray, still the reigning champion for Best Color Ever in my mind. They have a kitten heel, just perfect for all the city walking I do. They’re made of smooth leather and even have a lovely modern bow. And they’re still on sale at Piperlime! But please, if you order these shoes, order a half size up. For as much as I love these shoes, they do not really love me.

The first day I wore them, by noon my ankles were bleeding and I spent the afternoon barefoot and suffering in my office. I had to take a cab home because I couldn’t walk in them. The second day (two weeks later after the wounds healed), I made it through the day, but again took a cab home when the thought of walking was unbearable.

But today, today! I wore those dang shoes all day long, and my footsies are doing just fine. Victory!

I’m sorry to not blog for two months and then come around here just to tell you about minor foot injuries. The connection all makes sense in my head, of course, because I have decided that 2010 is the year of celebrating small victories. Not letting them pass by without feeling good. And perhaps even documenting them here on this neglected little blog.

I saw a clip of the Ellen Show tonight on the treadmill, and she said something like, “I made the same resolutions as everyone else: exercise more, eat better, and drink more” and by golly, those are pretty much my resolutions, too! In fact I’ve been to the gym eight of the past 10 days, and counted calories for the past week. (The drinking has stayed the same.) Not that there’s much to show for it (perhaps I should increase the drinking?) but I do feel pretty good. And instead of beating myself up for not doing more, or doing it sooner, I am going to be happy I’m back at it now. Anyone still here with me?

For a bit of randomness…

Lusting After: I found these earrings in Oprah Magazine (it was free at the gym! don’t judge!) and aren’t they just perfect? I just need to get rid of my fatface so I could wear my hear up and show these off.

Recommended Reading: Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, by Jon Krakauer

Our credit card statement came today. It was ungodly high, prompting me to immediately IM my husband to say that we MUST stop spending so much dang money!! And of course he agreed so let’s just all be thankful that I bought this lovely winter coat before we decided to go on a spending diet:

Don’t worry, it was on sale.

Here I am in the coat, and yes, I am wearing it with my yoga pants.

There are two kinds of people in this world: people who wear yoga pants all the time, and people who do yoga all the time. Please take a wild guess as to which kind I am.

So I’ve got a lovely, purple-y, fuschia-y, quite vivid coat for winter. Please, please help me find the perfect accessories for it! I need a scarf, hat, and mittens. Any suggestions on color or style? Items that fit into the new spending diet are especially welcome!

One of the things I loved most about wedding planning was sharing all the fun details on the blog. Now that my wedding is long gone, I have recruited one of my best girlfriends to share her wedding planning details here. So everyone, meet the lovely bride Alexa.

Alexa and her handsome and smart fiancé live in Ohio and are planning a June wedding at a rustic little farm in Akron. They have been together for longer than I have known my own husband, so I am super excited to see them exchange vows and smile and pose for photos and dance. Also, my very own European vacation begins literally hours after their wedding, so I tell them that I am honeymooning again on their behalf.

In Alexa’s words: “Our wedding day combines our favorite things and was an exercise in creativity. We wanted a casual but nice affair where we felt like ourselves. It took us a long time to even warm up to having a wedding (we’ve been together 8 years) so we were not going to backtrack from our ideals! From the food, to the dress, the location, the activities, the music, and even the mason jars–we were motivated to make our day reflect our life. With a little help from our friends, it has come together like a dream!”

(Side note: I borrowed a few pics from Genevieve Nisly, who photographed a wedding at the farm last summer. She will also be photographing Lex’s wedding. She looks pretty darn talented, don’t you agree?)

“We are getting married on a historic farmstead near where we live in Ohio. The driveway is gravel and shaded heavily by trees. You come to the clearing and there is the barn and meadow. It’s our wedding oasis!  Guests will be greeted first at our Lemonade Stand as they walk across the meadow. My fiancé’s sister will marry us in a snuggie (just kidding!).  Afterwards, we’ll play lawn games in the yard (croquette, bocce, cornhole- renamed “love bags” for the day) and sip spiked lemonade. Oh and yes, we’re having a bluegrass band for the ceremony and cocktail time!”

“Dinner will be grilled on site- kabobs and we’ll dance the night away as the sun sets. We may have a bonfire too.”

“The groomsmen will be wearing navy chuck taylors, a tie and khakis. My fiancé will wear cream chuck taylors and a blue suit. The bridesmaids will be in navy subtle lace patterned knee length dress as well.” (Note from Janet: These are not the exact clothes, just similarly inspired. I can’t be giving away ALL the secrets!)

Alexa loves birds possibly more than even I do, so she wants a simple cake like the one pictured, with with some birds possibly on top. I don’t have a photo of this but I can already tell it will be one of my favorite things about her wedding. Crazy bird ladies unite!

The wedding is already less than 100 days away, which is always a big milestone in planning. Thank you to my dear friend for sharing your wedding plans here and cheers to your upcoming big day!