Wedding Week, Day 3

Our reception was something that I had been working very hard on for just about a year.  I'm really pleased with the relaxed atmosphere that we put together, and even though it was so hot, everyone had a blast.

 

Our friends Krista and Nathan made home-brewed ginger beer and wheat beer for the wedding, and it was a total hit!  I didn't drink any, but everyone loved it!

 Our friend Monica helped us with a DIY photobooth.  My sister and I made the props with one of the older girls that I take care of during the summer.  They were a blast!

 I used metallic vintage frames with old family photo's for our centerpieces.  We also had a variety of milk glass vases that held flowers from the Dane County Farmer's Market.  I placed everything on a vinyl record to have some contrast from the white tablecloth.

Jason and I collected glass jars, plates (dinner and desert), and silverware from thrift stores and wrapped the silverware in vintage fabric. 

 One of my favorite things about our wedding was that we also had a family of hummingbirds as our guests!  If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is!

Wedding Week, Day 2

Wedding Ceremony

Jason and I wanted to make our wedding ceremony personal and unique to us as a couple.  We had our friends Nathan and Krista play guitar, ukulele, and melodica instead of having a recording.  We also had our friend Stephane marry us instead of a clergymen.  He's a professor at Ohio State University and he speaks beautifully in public, and is one of Jason's best friends.
I told my bridesmaids to get grey dresses, and they could choose where they wanted to get them from.  They ended up buying there dresses from a variety of places, from bhldn to target.  I also did the same thing with the flower girls.  I was really happy with the outcome.

Processional:  "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Bride Processional:  "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young
Recessional:  "Wouldn't it be Nice" by The Beach Boys.

Wedding Week, Day 1

 So, I know I promised this a few weeks ago...but I have another surprise for my readers at the end of this week that might explain my absence a bit.  So in the meantime, feel free to enjoy the photo's, and stay tuned!

And now, a first look!

Wedding Week!

Are you ready for this??  I don't think you're ready.  Oh, really?  You are?
Okay good, because I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite wedding elements with you from that one time I married my soulmate.  You know, it happened in August, some people came to witness it.

Get ready for the DIY.
Get ready for the pies.
Get ready for lots of pictures of Jason dancing.
Get ready to see my glorious summer tanlines.

It was a journey, (and holy hell, and I more than thrilled that it's over) but it certainly was a fun day.
Everyday this week!

All images by KariK Design!

Things I'm loving at Anthropologie right now...

1. A rickshaw!  Yeah, you heard me correctly!
2. This beautiful wood cut turntable.
3. Matching aprons for mother and child.
4. A Chandelier made of forks and spoons.
5. And finally, a kids line of clothing!

Want to go fight the power with me later?

My favorite part is when she says "So!  Your money doesn't make you better than me!!"  This girl is a powerhouse!! 

Get More: TV Shows, Full Episode Video, Reality TV Shows

Fabric Bookshelf Tutorial

Remember when I posted about giving Jason's vinyl bookshelf a much needed makeover?
Well, I finally did it.
And it was an easy fix.  The best part was that you can change the fabric with ease to make it fit with any room decor!  Love it.

Materials:

• Cotton Fabric 
• Measuring Tape
• Scissors/Rotary Cutter
• Self-healing Rotary Board
• Pen and Paper
• Double-sided tape

Instructions:

1. Measure the length and width of the backboard of each separate shelf.  If you have 5 shelves, you need to measure 5 backboard sections, unless they're all the same.  Double check, just in case.
2. Jot down the measurements with your pen and paper so you won't forget!
3. Once your fabric is ironed, lay it upon the rotary board and cut accordingly to your measurements.  You might want to give 1/8th inch of excess fabric, just in case your fabric is kind of stretchy.  You can always go back and cut the fabric more if you need to.
4. Apply double-sided tape to the corners and middle boarder of each backboard section of the bookshelf.
5. Stick your cut fabric onto the backboard.  Feel free to readjust as necessary.
6. Fin!

Idaho Spud? Charleston Chew?

I'm in love!  This is a graphic organizer of every chocolate bar you could think of, and what it is made of.  Amazing.  Even the good old Idaho Spud was listed.

via, and buy it via

Lack of Ladies?

From what I counted, there were only 15/109 female musicians represented.  I think this is a really cool depiction of hairstyles of modern popular music, however, it shows the lack of influential ladies in the music industry. 
What do you think?

via

Appalachian Spring

Here's to finding beauty in everyday life.

Appalachian Spring

Music by Aaron Copeland, Choreography by Martha Graham.

Finland's gift to expecting mothers.

I just found out about this lovely idea at ohdeedoh.
Apparently Finland gives all of it's expecting mothers a baby box.  What a wonderful way welcome the little ones.
Good thinkin', Finland!

Redecorating

Since Jason and I have moved into our new apartment we haven't really had the chance to make it into a well lived in home.  That's something that I'm trying to change.

Today I put up some thrifted curtains that I bought last winter and some fabric bunting.  Yes please.

Video Timeline

As a history teacher, I'm a pretty big fan of timelines.  I'm an even bigger fan of video timelines.
Another example of how visuals can never be bad.

Here is a video timeline of modern London fashion.

Green Eye Candy.

Jadeite anything is always homey, classic, and always the perfect pop of color.  Love it.

Jadeite 9" Mixing Bowl

Fire King Jane Ray Jadeite Lot

Fabric Bookshelf

I cannot wait to try this tutorial.
Jason's vinyl shelf has been a little sore on the eyes lately, so this should really spice it up!

Cat Paw-T.

 Did I ever mention that I threw myself a cat birthday party for my 25th birthday? 
Well, I did. 
And it was glorious.

Tunes for Tykes. September/2011

Why?  Because I like you.

Everyone has a similar story.

There is a certain comradery that I have noticed does not exist in the mid-west like people in the northeast have, and particularly in New York.  I don't really talk about being raised in Queens that often, because where I'm from, it's really no big deal.  Everyone has a similar story.
My family was lucky enough to not to loose anyone on September 11, 2001.  I don't know how we didn't, with everyone we loved in New York working in Manhattan.
There was always a silent understanding between everyone I knew on the east coast that you just don't bad mouth that day.  You just don't.  It's rude, uncalled for, and completely unnecessary.  I don't know if I just don't hang out with the right people or what, but the midwest lacks that, and it hurts my heart.

Honeyluna.

Jason and I had a beautiful, romantic, and inexpensive honeymoon.  We traveled to Yellowstone, the Bighorn Mts., and The Black Hills of South Dakota.  We decided to not keep a budget to keep track of, but rather make good decisions with what we spent on and where we spent our money.  (Ex:  Not buying anything in Yellowstone.)  We didn't hold back on splurging here and there, but we didn't go crazy either.  We didn't give ourselves any kind of schedule, so we had more of an adventure than a vacation. 
As a planner by nature, I had a difficult time letting go at first.  But after nine months of wedding planning, I was pleased to let go and travel with my phone off.  I would highly recommend this mode of traveling to anyone and everyone.

 

The knot is tied!

Well, here I am...

1. Resting from a whirlwind of excitement.
2. Back here blogging.
3. Back from our honeymoon.
4. And best of all, Jason and I are married!

It feels great to be back home and living normally again.  And don't worry, we'll have more soon!

Via Kari K Design!

Fill in the Blank Friday (7/8)

1.   My plans this summer include       getting married, going to Yellowstone for our honeymoon, and hopefully fitting into my wedding dress.

2.  The best summer I ever had was    my first summer touring, but I think this summer will beat it out.

3.  Summer is     bikerides, inhalers, lake swimming, and maybe too much ice cream.

4.  My favorite summer food is   plain yogurt with fresh fruit .

5.  The best way to quench a summer thirst is with     water, of course.

6.  My summer uniform consists of       lots and lots of skirts .

7.  The best thing about summer is       getting to enjoy the outdoors.

Dads are the Original Hipsters.

Happy Father's Day, to your favorite O.H. (original hipster.)

Dads are the Original Hipsters

 

It's true, my father was obsessed with cats before I was!

Cherries.

Can we just talk about how one of my recipes have been featured on grassroutestravel.com?  Yeah!  And it was my very first baking recipe that I ever created; a hearty, rustic fresh cherry scone.  I feel so very honored for the nod.  Thanks for thinking of us, GRT!

You can find the "What to do with Cherries" post: HERE!
You can find the direct link to my cherry and oat scone recipe:  HERE!

 

via echoesofthepastonline

Fill in the Blank Friday (6/17)

 

^  Homemade Hazelnut Gelato!  ^

1.   The last movie I saw was     Midnight in Paris!  Woody Allen's new movie.  Jason and I went to see it last night, and I loved it.

2.  I want to    get my bangs trimmed today.  They are driving me absolutely insane!!

3.  Surprises are     few and far between, but fun!  This past week I brought the dinosaur-loving three year old that I watch to the Geology museum downtown.  I didn't tell her where we were going, I just wanted to see the look of wonder and surprise when she finally got to see dinosaur fossils.

4.  The best accessory is   a chunky vintage necklace.  I have a few that I will rotate when an outfit needs a little pick me up.  It always does the trick!

5.  My favorite warm drink is     a soy latte.  When it's made correctly, you don't even have to add sugar.

6.  My favorite cold drink is       water.  I once read a book as a kid called "The Search for Delicious", about a man who travels the world for the most delicious thing on earth so he could complete it's definition in a dictionary he was writing.  It turned out that he discovered that water was the most delicious thing on earth .

7.  Currently loving       sitting poolside, covered in sunblock, with nothing to do but read.  Honestly, there's just about nothing better.

Sunflower Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Phew!  It's finally cool enough to bake here in Wisconsin!  We had quite the hot spell last week, but now all is well!  
I baked some cookies for my father and Jason's father for Pop's Day, and I just thought I would share it with everyone!

What are you doing for your dad for Father's Day?

 

Sunflower Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you're in the mood for a cookie that isn't too sweet with a light airy texture...this is the one for you, my friends!


Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 large egg
• 1/2 cup soy milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
• (optional) peanut butter M&M's for topping...only because it's a Father's Day treat.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Mix wet ingredients into a stand mixer, then proceed to add the dry ingredients. Mix together until blissfully smooth and delectable.
3. Bake for 15-20 mins.
4. Fin!

Fill in the Blank Friday...only on Saturday. (6/11)

 

 

 

1.   This weekend I'm      laying low and hopefully going for as many tandem bike rides as possible.

2.  My last vacation was   probably my trip home to Pennsylvania recently.  I guess that would count as a mini vacation.

3.  My next vacation will be     another mini trip, only to Cleveland this time.  I've been to Cleveland four times, three while I was on tour, and once while I was at a greyhound bus station.  (Creepy!!)   Jason and I are going there for our friend's wedding.  Besides the wedding, I'm excited to explore a city with Jason that is mostly unfamiliar to us.

4.  My favorite way to relax is   watching hulu with Jason right before bed.  Sometimes we'll even get a movie from the library!  What a treat!

5.  When vacationing one should always     pack light.  Remember that you are not moving anywhere, so you don't need all of your belongings.  Trust me, I've lived out of a messenger bag for three months of my life, and that's even smaller than a backpack!

6.  When vacationing one should never       see themselves as being invincible, especially in a new place.  Be sure to remember that scene in Stand By Me before you jump into that marshy pond.  They ended up getting covered in leaches, and it was gross.  I always remind myself that being spontaneous is great, but being covered by leaches is not so great.

7.  The best part about a vacation is       eating different food and seeing different surroundings.

Wedding Planning Blues. AKA.. Someone Shoot Me.

I am going to make more of a conscious effort to blog more...I promise.
Lately I've been spending all of my free time doing wedding planning and reading Girls Like Us.  It's an amazing read, and I highly recommend it, and so does Oprah...so that means you would probably love it.

I've been so absent because lately I've been feeling like I've had nothing creative to share with anyone,  because I haven't been doing anything creative lately.  It's been making me so jealous of everyone in the universe who is doing anything creative.  Not healthy!  I guess I'm finally realizing that I need to let go.  Our wedding is not going to be on Ruffled of Green Wedding Shoes, because I don't have a stylist or wedding planner, and I refuse to allow myself to go insane over cupcakes and centerpieces.  I quite simply refuse!

I think I just need to be better about asking for help.  But guess what...that takes even more planning!
It's a vicious cycle.

Fill in the Blank Friday; 6/3

It's my birthday today.  I'm getting much pleasure out of the fact that I have an excuse to draw whiskers on all of my friends faces tonight, and my cat party.

1.   I love       playing music  because     I can carry a tune and play any song I choose.  I've stopped playing out in the past few months because I just didn't enjoy playing by myself anymore, and Madison's music scene isn't the easiest place for a singer/songwriter to play.  I don't think that my music will be my legacy, but sometimes it's nice to think that it might be.

2.  A time that mama knew best was    when she would tell me and my sister to not waste our time with fair-weather friends.  Mothers teach their children how to be good friends, but most importantly, how to choose quality friends.

3.  My first kiss went a little like this     ...it was the spring of my 9th grade year, outside of the school bus after school.  With my first steady boyfriend.  It was raining!

4.  My celebrity crush is   probably John Cusak or Ryan Gosling.  I don't really have a type of guy that I really typically like since personality is the most important thing I look for in a compatible partner.  I always respect the roles they play as actors though, and I find that endearing.  Especially Grace is Gone...gosh, I cried the whole time.

5.  My splurge of choice is     anything vintage.  If I find a great deal on something old and lovely, I will snatch it up in an instant.

6.  My biggest accomplishment is       following my gut.  It's lead me into every good decision I've made in life, among others .

7.  My dance jam of choice is       "Just a Friend" by Biz Markie.  Definitely.

Jackie's Wedding!

I went home last week to my parent's house in Pennsylvania for my best friend Jackie's wedding.  I have a few best friends, whom I love for different reasons.  Jackie is a forever caring and forgiving friend who's love has no boundaries.  We took our driving test together in high school, and got each other through college, so of course I had to fly home for her wedding this spring.



While I was home, my sister and mom threw me a wedding shower, too!  It was so great to see all of the people I love so much from home, and to spend lots of time with my parents and sister.

A History of Vintage Sewing Patterns

I'm a great lover of history and old vintage patterns, so when I saw this article about the history of paper patterns, I nearly keeled over with joy!
Great read.

Vintage Patterns:  The Importance of Paper

via

Happy Mother's Day!

So, it's Mother's Day in the good ol' U. S. of A.!  Call your Ma, your Grandma, or any mother for that matter, and give them a great big "thank you!"

And when you're done with that, read this super cute set of interviews from Paste Magazine:

 18 Musical Moms Talk Motherhood

 Photo by Chrissy Piper.