Thanksgiving 2010

I love holidays, but Thanksgiving is extra special for me because it reminds me most of Jason.  One of my happiest memories with Jason is of us dancing in our living room last year because we had four days off together for the first time ever.  We were both over worked and exhausted, and I had pneumonia, but we were so happy that we had to dance.
I don't think Jason even remembers it, but it's one of my most treasured memories.
Thanksgiving is also the only holiday that we have already created our own family traditions.  Baking my mom's cheese cake recipe together (and complaining the whole time about how we wish we had a mixer), making a beautiful vegetarian dinner all day, and watching It's A Wonderful Life before bed.

Check out the Quorn Turk'y ;)

This Thanksgiving we had our friends Kari and Wes over, since we were all kind of misplaced.  It was very relaxed and informal, with no drunk uncles or awkward baby stories.  Yes please.

Effortless Flower Girls

Since little girls are such a huge part of my life, I feel that it's necessary to have flower girls in my wedding party.  After all, I am around children as much as I am with adults, and they're my little girl friends too!

I want my wedding to be as close to my everyday life as possible, meaning that I want everything to be realistic.  I have no interest in asking the lovely ladies in my life to buy a dress that they will only wear once, and the same goes for my flower girls.  Of course, they will grow right out of their dresses, but I want those hand-me-downs to be worn and loved just like any other sundress.

I've been looking for a website that would fit with what I wanted, and finally -- I found Mini Boden!

Girls Buttercup Corsage Dress -- $60

Bow Trim Dress -- $48

Pretty Cord Dress -- $36

So cute!

Wedding Dress of the Week -- Frosted Windowpane Dress

I love the idea of a dress with sleeves...especially since we're planning a September wedding.
This one is just way too short for me to feel comfortable though.  Yikes!

Frosted Windowpane Dress -- from Modcloth.

$52.99

In the Kitchen Launch Party.

In the Kitchen is a music and creative collective that some of my friends and I have started up as a way to compile all creative outlets into one.  This past Sunday was our launch party at The Project Lodge, and I have to say -- it went well!  Lots of people, lots of music, good food and hot cider!

Yum!

The next In the Kitchen projects:
(Just in case you would like to get involved!  Anyone is welcome!)

• A music compilation of 80's sitcom theme's.  Final Date to apply: 12/1/2010
• A cookbook.  Email your favorite recipe to me at connie.jordan1[at]yahoo[dot]com!

ITK launch!

Hi little babes,
I just wanted to let everyone know that In The Kitchen (A music and creative collective that I am a founding member of) is having our launch party this Sunday at The Project Lodge!

Right now we already have a lovely array of art work currently hanging in The Project Lodge, including a quilt made by yours truly.
Also our apartment seems super empty because almost all of the artwork by Jason that we usually have on display in our home is at the ProLo!

Anyway, come on out to the potluck, musical and poetic extravaganza that's going to start a wave of creativity in the community!
Hooray!
See you there!

Wedding Dress of the Week -- joan shum's Bella Tea

I love non-traditional anything. The idea of a 100% traditional wedding kind of makes me want to gag...so I obviously I fell in love with this blue wedding dress.
And it meshes both signature styles of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn perfectly.

Bella Tea by Joan Shum

P.S.  Check out Grace Kelly's bridal party!  

She had a whole herd of people to support her!

via

Autumn Wardrobe Inspiration 2010

Isn't it amazing how red suddenly makes every other autumn color a neutral?
And can we please talk about how much I like headbands right now?

Helloooooo Dolly!

All items found at Anthropologie.

1. What a delectable selection.
2. They are copy and paste friendly.  Yes please.

Day 1 - Introduce Yourself

Ummm, duh.  I'm Connie.  I feel like you should know this already, but I feel obligated to do it because it's part of this whole thing.
I live about a 95% (?) DIY lifestyle...meaning I try my hardest to make everything that I need myself.  I try my hardest to make my blog about how easy/challenging living a DIY life can be, and use that as my unifying focus and topic.
I hope that my pitfalls and peaks help to guide others in their creative endeavors, or at least are somewhat entertaining!

When I'm not trying to think up different ways to self-sustain in modern society, I go to school, teach history, and warm bottles for a living.

Wedding Dress of the Week -- sarahseven Elope Dress

Jason and I want a non-traditional diy wedding (did you expect something else..?), but we have to have some traditional options, like our location.  The location has to be 100% handicap accessible in order for my grandmother to attend, so that crosses out most parks and backyards.  I can deal with that, especially since there are tons of other options that we still have.
There are a few things that I will not budge on.  I want a handmade or vintage dress.  Right now, I'm still set on sewing my own wedding dress/reconstructing a vintage dress, so the Wedding Dress of the Week is purely for inspiration right now.  I thought it might also keep track of dresses that I love, just in case my sewing plans fall through.




I love how shorter dresses are so low-maintenance and classy.
And you could wear it again!  How can you go wrong?

Elope Dress -- sarahseven

$755