Where To Begin?

There's a billion things that I want to gush over about our wedding, but it's so hard to do without the proper visual aides that professional photos offer. I love the few non-pro pics we have in our possession, but I don't want to blab about all the details now...just to have to share the photos in (hopefully) January and have everyone sick of wedding talk. So...would you mind waiting a bit more for the juicy wedding talk until then?

Honestly, it may help me to recollect my thoughts and relive the entire experience in the coming new year. As of this moment, I'm not entirely sure it's all had the time to really sink in. With TWO huge trips on the horizon (more on that shortly...), thank you notes to write and Thanksgiving just a week away, I may have to lean toward the non-wedding related posts for a bit longer.

The problem is...what to talk about? The wedding really consumed us all there for awhile and I'm not sure where to begin not talking about it! So, I'll leave it to you...what would you like to read about? I have quite a few new projects on the horizon that I'd love to share with you, pre-honeymoon discussion and lots of fun newlywed nesting tidbits. How does that sound? Anything else? I'm all ears eyes :)

In Four Days...

I'm getting married in 4 days. This year has gone by so quickly, but what a great and busy year it has been. Like Emily Dickenson said, "To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."

Only a few lingering tasks await me these next few days. Family and friends have begun to arrive and emotions are running high for all involved. Me? I'm a bit of a roller coaster, actually, but fairing pretty well. If anything, I wish I didn't feel guilty that I didn't work out every day like I promised myself I would. Guilt's a hard emotion for me to shake, too. Oh well. Multivitamin, lowfat yogurt and big glass of water, here I come! (And really...if that's the worst emotion I feel, I'll find a way to push through. Ha!)

I wish I could find a way to put into words everything I'm feeling, but I can't. Or maybe it's that I won't? For me, this is a time for reflection, introspection, goodbyes, hellos, truth, love and promises. It isn't a party. It isn't about the money spent (or saved). It isn't about the decor, the flowers, the dress. It's a marriage. A powerful and true covenant between two people willing to go in front of God and everyone to commit ourselves to one another forever. These last few days, that's where my thoughts have been. How do you thank someone for loving so deeply in you that they make this commitment to you? That's love to me, pure and simple. We believe in one another that pledge of faith and friendship. We know things won't always be perfect -- they never have been, why would it change now? But we know that we can work through anything. We can apologize (*though one of us is better than the other, but I'm learning.) We can forgive. We can laugh, dream, work hard, work together, love, respect and honor one another. Though, technically, "the rest of our lives together" began years ago, I'm looking forward to the new, the unexpected, the unplanned and also the mundane, the routine and the constant our future together holds.

I feel like standing at the top of the tallest tree and shouting to the world and to God, "Thank you!" Every day, everything looks a bit richer somehow, colors more vibrant. I think my heart is smiling.

Sorry If I'm MIA...

{autumn splendor in the smokies}

Dearest Oh My Word! readers,

My posting is going to be very sporadic for the next, oh, month or so. I had a mini meltdown yesterday over the daunting task of finalizing everything. As much as I LOVE you, my dears, I want to be mellow and need to take the time I spend blogging and be more diligent with getting wedding things done (because I'm, admittedly, procrastinating on a few things.) I hope you understand. With that said, I do promise to make it up to you with lots of photos and some updates :)

Also, I'm not checking out entirely...just can't promise updates on the daily. Let me know if you'd like to be a guest on the ol' blog! I'd love some other folks to chime in with their loveliness, if they're so inclined, while I'm off doing the wedding and honeymoon thing. Thoughts? Any takers? Email me if you're interested!

What a Gal

{courtesy: Reader's Digest}

It's no secret around here how much I adore Paula Deen. Mom and I have eaten at The Lady & Sons in Savannah. To me, she's a rare one...a positive, hardworking, down-to-earth, real woman with a real story who worked hard and honest to get where she is today. You can't even believe how quickly I'd jump on the chance to sit and have a cup of coffee with her and just chew the fat.

Today, while I was out running wedding-related errands, I popped into Meijer for printer paper and the November issue of Good Housekeeping has Paula and her grandson Jack on the cover. For $2.50, I bought it. Yes, I'm a magazine kinda gal. Yes, I don't have $2.50 to be spending on Good Housekeeping. Yes, I thought it over while in line. Yes, I bought it anyway. Yes, I'm so happy I did.

In in is one of the best articles I've read in the longest time. The editor-in-chief had an interview with Paula and it made my day. The woman is just a peach! Not only did she do the whole interview in a long nightgown (because she couldn't stand to wear Spanx any longer!), propped up on her bed in her bedroom, she talked about her work ethic, her family and her history, she kept it real with us...all the real folks reading the article. No false pretenses, no B.S., no show. Those few pages of reading were more refreshing than a tall drink of water, let me tell you what.

With so many great magazines, like Gourmet and Modern Bride, calling it quits, I hope that Good Housekeeping will be safe for awhile. I know, after that great article on Paula Deen, I'll keep reading and you should, too. After all, what woman couldn't stand to have a little more "good housekeeping" in their life?

Is it Any Less Personal Because it's Traditional?

So I'm going to give the closest thing to a rant that I've ever done thus far on this blog.

Perhaps it's just me being sensitive, but I'm starting to wonder...when did the non-traditional wedding become the standard to which all weddings should be measured and judged? Am I alone here in thinking there is something sacred with being married in a church, something awe-inspiring about brides in white, crispy linens on the tables, sit-down dinners and dancing the night away to your favorite songs? The question begs to be asked: At what point, exactly, did traditional become cliché? Is a wedding any less personal when it's traditional?

Stay with me for a second...because I'm confused and would like to work this out.

It seems to me that more often than not, wedding-related sites and blogs out there are giving the impression that they celebrate the individuality and personality behind the wedding, cheering on the "non-conformists" for making some kind of stand against the WIC via their wedding and, by doing so, have found the new formula to a happy wedding. Well, sorry, but I think that's a bunch of B.S.

This really should go without saying, but I feel like I need to give a kind reminder that it isn't the tchotchkes on the tables, wedding fashion choices, invitation selection, flowers, venue, music, cake or any of that other stuff (or lack thereof) that makes a wedding personal. That stuff doesn't define you; it merely reflects your personal taste. It didn't make your wedding special. Perhaps it made it memorable, but not special. There's no magic in stuff. The part that made your heart sing, your guests cry and onlookers wonder with delight came from the non-tangibles -- the unadulterated bliss in seeing your love at the other end of the aisle, the sadness in hugging your parents, a baby crying through the vows, tripping on your dress's train, dropping the rings, giggling during the blessing, eating well and drinking enough to dance on a chair (sorry, Mary!) -- these things are it. These very real things make the magic of a wedding and make it a fiercely personal experience. The practicality lies in your perspective, knowing that the stuff doesn't ever make or break you.

I'd hope that everyone getting married wants to celebrate in a personal way, in a way that reflects who they are, what they represent as a couple and what makes them truly happy. Otherwise, maybe they shouldn't be getting married in the first place...but that's another post entirely. My point is this: who are we to judge the wedding-related choices that another couple makes based on our own personal preferences? Should we look down upon a bride who dreams of a black-tie wedding at St. Patrick's and reception at the Ritz, wearing a white Monique Lhuillier gown and sipping champagne on the arm of her handsome bridegroom, listening to the sounds of an 18-piece band? Do we somehow feel that the antagonist bride & groom have a better chance at a successful, loving marriage because they opted for being married in an art gallery, with her in a bright yellow dress and he in Chucks, with a doughnut and PBR reception, complete with local underground DJ and an after party? Is their version that much more "real"? Are we guilty of privately (or publicly) shaming those people who spend exorbitant amounts of money on their (stress: THEIR) dream wedding or those who let go all preconceived notions of a wedding and got married in the back yard? Are we jealous, maybe? Jealous of the money spent on one side of the coin and freedom spent on the other? Perhaps we will always think the grass is always greener? Maybe we're completely insatiable creatures. Who knows.

For me, the magic behind any happy wedding (and marriage) is the love, respect and friendship people share, with their dearest people encouraging and supporting those same feelings. It has very little to do with the stuff. The trick in planning YOUR perfect wedding is to not give a hoot what other people think about the choices you're making, but be unwavering in your choices made together. Don't let anything distract you from what works best for your budget (whether it's $500, $5,000 or $50,000), what is a natural choice for you as a couple (because that's where the magic really starts) and what you'll be happy remembering forever (because it really should be forever.)

So. With that said, I'm going to say this: though maybe the wedding we've planned for ourselves may appear too traditional for some, it's what works for us. Every choice we made was thoughtful and deeply personal. Nothing went unnoticed, nothing made arbitrary. It will be a complete celebration of who we are and what we're all about. This is OUR wedding and our version, like many others, involves a church, a white dress, black tuxes, a sit-down dinner and a band. It also involves a fourteen-year friendship, an eleven year relationship, our shared values, our memories together and separate, our creativity, what we love and who we love -- best friends and family who came from all over the globe to witness and be in the presence of our joy.

And it is that, my friends, is what it's all about. For us, anyway.

Redefining Tradition

In the earliest stages of wedding planning, the question I was most asked is "What kind of wedding will you have?"

With a decade of memories, trends and friends behind us, Mr. and I sat down and put our heads together about what we pictured for ourselves. It was important to me that decisions be mutual and not "bride exclusive" for what is to be our special day (though I did have to rein myself in when it came to flowers, cake design and DIY details a few times. I forget that gentlemen, generally, aren't so bothered. Sorry, darling.)

In my designer's mind over the years, I had planned several altogether different styles of weddings for us, from a nautical theme on Lake Erie to eloping to Europe. Europe only narrowly lost. But those variations didn't answer the question for me. "What kind of wedding will we have?" A happy yet serious one, surrounded by our very closest people . That was our priority. I couldn't stop picturing in my mind's eye -- walking down the church aisle to my love, my best friend. There was just one small problem. We didn't belong to a church and I wasn't interested in borrowing a church for the day. That just seemed strange; that we could enter this holy bond but never go back to the church for the other celebrations life has to offer? So we began what I snarkily refer to as" church shopping".

I know, I know. It sounds terrible, but really. You're going to try one more than one pair of shoes before you buy them, to make sure they're the right fit, right? Well, Mr. and I have varying degrees of faith and our beliefs come from different foundations, so it made it trickier finding a place we both felt was a church home. Can you imagine that we found it after 3 Sunday service visits? First Community Church. Amazing people. I love them. I feel happy when I'm there. I feel light of spirit after a service there. I feel community there. Becoming a member of a church, having never been such previously, was a big step for us both, but one of the best decisions I personally have ever made. After a little time, I knew in my heart that the dress, flowers, and all that other wedding stuff didn't truly matter. I was coming down that aisle in whatever I had and we were getting married in a happy place no matter what. Talk about feeling liberated from the Wedding Industrial Complex!

Once we knew where and how we'd be married, that's when the research began. Though the details of our wedding wouldn't effect our marriage, details are my thing. I'm a fussy britches designer; I simply can't help myself! Wedding blogs and magazines were a great help in keeping my creativity keyed up, but that was about it. To me, the most important thing was that our wedding be a reflection of who we are and that wasn't going to be found in any magazine. The idea that floated around me was how we would go about redefining tradition, learning from the past to create our personal version of holy matrimony. Classic. Honest. Elegant. A modern take on a vintage wedding, chock full o' love, laughter, food and memories. Yep. THAT is the kind of wedding we would have.

Back to the more than ten years we've spent together up to this point. You can imagine what many folks said when we announced our engagement to marry. "It's about time!" was a resounding anthem last year, but it was the very last thing I ever wanted to hear. We did what many people don't before they marry. We grew up. We just happened to grow up together. We gave ourselves time to figure it all out. Turns out, we kinda like one another! I don't want our wedding to be a countdown, something everyone has been waiting around for...those "it's about time" folks. I want it to be a celebration of our time together, our love for one another and dedication to one another. I want to focus on what it means to us to do this because marriage is pretty serious stuff, isn't it? It's all about the real. That's my new motto.

Now that the invitations are out and all those fun details are coming along beautifully (having the luck and grace of finding brilliant vendors certainly helps), we're approaching the 2-month mark with more excitement than we can contain. My darling Mister keeps wishing time would hurry up. Last month, I was nervous about getting projects done. Now? Who really needs them?! I wouldn't mind if time hurried up just a little bit myself.

Perhaps someone gave you words of wisdom that worked well for you or you've come upon learning something yourself...To all brides, old and new, what is the best piece of marital advice you would be kind enough to share?

Remembering 9/11

{Fynnegan Sloyan via Platial News}

Eight years today, our country experienced grievous acts of terrorism. Thousands of people died. Millions were affected. Where were you on 9/11/09? I was in class downtown being taught the fundamentals of design by an American veteran. He left to make copies. He returned with a look on his face I'll never forget. That was the last moment before finding out how my America would forever be altered. We were dismissed to go home. I've never felt so scared, listening to everything transpire via radio and later, on television. I called everyone I knew. I prayed for my friends and family in New York and around the world. I cried. I walked to the drug store, where I stood in silent companionship with fellow Americans. We all were numb. The towers were still burning. Hours later, our dear friend called from Japan, where he had just learned of the attacks. The first words out of his mouth were, "Is this for real?"

So, why is it in this short eight years that we are so many so quick to forget those primal, raw feelings of how we felt that day? Are we disillusioned by war and politics? Perhaps some of you are. Do either change the outcome of that day? Absolutely not. Innocent men, women and children died that day. Better people than I died trying to rescue survivors. We're doing them a dishonor by not remembering or, worse yet, dismissing the accounts of that day. Do parents talk with their kids about it? Think about it...the now-adult 18 year olds were 10 years old when 9/11 happened. Do they really understand? Can they ever really understand? A deep part of me fears they never will.

With respect, I ask you to take a moment today to sit and remember where you were on 9/11/01. Give thanks that you are still here and say a prayer for those who are not. Or don't. That's the beauty of freedom.

Edit: Thank you to Jason for sharing this great map with us all. Be sure to leave your mark.

Happy 09/09/09!

{source}

Yahoo! News had a great article yesterday about what makes 09/09/09 such a special day (read it here.)

Did you know...?

· 09/09/09 represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.

· Apple held back its traditional Tuesday release until today.

· Lots of folks are taking advantage of the special numerical anomaly and getting hitched today (and congrats are in order if you're one of the luckies!)

Some cultures think it's lucky, some auspicious. Me? I think it's really cool. Clearly, having chosen Friday the 13th as my wedding date, I'm not one for negative superstitions :)

With this unique day in front of us, what are you doing to make it memorable? Eat an ice cream sunday with 9 toppings? Run 9 laps around the track? Run out to buy The Beatles Rock Band? Go to the movies to see 9 (which, incidentally, is a Tim Burton animation extravaganza about the post-apocalyptic world and looks pretty amazing)?

Personally, I think I'll aim for 9 minutes of the 30-day Shred, 9 cupcakes and 9 Diet Cokes.
(Well, at least I'll think about that 9 times...)

Busy Bee

Gosh, sorry for not posting anything new this morning...I spaced out! I've been running around all day like a chicken with my head cut off (gross), trying to get every last bit and bob that is needed to finish putting together the wedding invitation suite so they can go out next week (*squee*).

And, for the record, I did spend a fair amount of time in Filene's/DSW, but let it be known that I didn't purchase a single thing (how's that for willpower!)

Without completely revealing my true geekedness, I'm also going to just say that I'm having some intermittent issues with my graphics card. Strange things with virtual memory not being dumped properly. Anyhoo. It's a pain and so I'm trying like the dickens to figure that one out...which is turning out to be relatively complicated. I digress..

The rest of this week is shaping up to be festive and busy, with working on the invitations, my bridal shower and two birthday parties this weekend. What a whirlwind! And to make things even more completely fantastic, my new online BFF from one of my favorite retailers is sending the man and I a super secret wedding gift. AHH! So excited! It was very unexpected, but we've had a great time with a little back-and-forth Q & A. If I get the green light, I'll share more on that later :)

So...this was my very long (winded) explanation as to why this week's postings may get a little thin...Thank you kindly for understanding! I swear, your regularly-scheduled postings are back on track on Monday! Or perhaps Tuesday...but soon!

xo,

I'll miss the turkey salad.

Though I had only visited the Broadmoor Market a couple times in my life, it reminded me so much of the teeny tiny local Catawba Market grocery store of my youth that I am sad to see another local, family-owned, historic business close. I will forever miss their turkey salad, which was second to none. If anyone happens to know the misters Lombardi, please let me know. I'd love to add that recipe to my cherished collection.

Brain Rot

Not feeling particularly inspired today. I blame the brain rot.

For now, here's a bit of drivel to keep you going until I can come up with something glorious.

xo

I Can Has Cheezburger

Children's dental aid FAIL

Police FAIL

No, thank you for the Penicillin.

She's Crafty.

I am feeling rather crafty today, but my formerly-tidy work and craft room is an utter mess. Why, you ask? I anted up and moved nearly all remaining boxes and bags from mom's basement. Oh yes, darling readers. The Final Move. Now I'm really starting to feel like a grown up :)

Now I'm off to create something lovely. Or not. Maybe I'll clean like I know I should... but probably not... Terrible, aren't I? I sure am lucky that my darling puts up with me the way he does. Oh and how he does!

The Value of My Dollar {Pt. 5}

{Courtesy brilliant. Check them out...they get it.}

Exhibit 5: Buy Local

And when you can't buy local, buy independent. We should all be embarrassed that we don't do this more often. Yes, it's not always easy, but is anything worth having ever as such? So much of our money goes to support overseas goods production - boosting their economies. Well, in case you hadn't noticed, our own isn't doing so hot. Don't believe me? Next time you're at a store, look at the "Made in" label. It could be pruning shears or rain boots. I'd bet you have a hard time finding anything made in the U.S.A. Why do you suppose that is? Well, my friends, it's cheaper to make cheap stuff elsewhere and occasionally, "they" make it better (read: cars.) It's sad, but true. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say I only buy American-made goods because I don't, but I am buying less in general than I ever have before and I carefully consider where my money will go next.

More than anything, though, I want to support my local small businesses and independent retailers every chance I get. It just goes back to being a responsible shopper -- take your time and do the research. Get out into your community and talk to a real person - the farmer selling organic greens, the boutique owner who supports the local art community, the small coffee shop who is still in business, even with a Starbucks down the street. Those are your neighbors. Lift them up and they will give back by strengthening your communities -- giving people jobs and recycling money back into the local economy. They are tremendously hard-working people too. They have to be in order to be a success. Take our wedding, for example. I am proud to say that every, single vendor we have chosen is a local business owner (and most of them 1 or 2 person shows.) A couple work out of their homes. Every person hugged me at the end of our meetings. I would be honest-to-goodness friends with these amazing people. I will go to them for their services and goods and refer them as often as possible because that's what it is really all about.

I'll step off of my soapbox now, but I will ask each of you to consider everything I've mentioned. Let it linger in the back of your mind. Marinate on it for awhile.

I think that money and how we spend it is a topic that each of us needs to not be afraid to discuss, if we are to ever EpiPen some life back into our economy. Wouldn't you agree? Let me know what you think -- if you agree or if you don't. I live for feedback!

Tagged!

Karin over @ HennHouse tagged me in a fun little blog game of sorts! I had to read through all the rules so I understood...I am still learning all of this good blog stuff, of course :) I had to do it. It was a moral imperative!

This fun get-to-know-me is all about our Top 6 Favorite Unimportant Things. I took a gander through quite a few Top 6 lists and I have to say -- you all have some fantastic favorite things!

Without further ado, here's my Top 6 List of Favorite Unimportant Things:

1. Movie quotes. Oh. Oh yes. I have something of a problem when it comes to quoting movies. And television shows and sometimes song lyrics. Especially the funny ones. My poor sister loathes the "What Movie Is That From" game! It's all Mom's fault. She started it with the lyrics and it slowly evolved into a beast of a movie quoting monster.

2. Bed & Bath Section at Any Store. Now this is one that makes D. squirm and want to run the other direction. To see shelves chock full o' fluffy, clean, colorful towels, sheets, pillows and blankets...ah, it's bliss! I almost always find myself in the Bed & Bath section, even when I went to the store for shoe polish or a gallon of milk.

3. The water. There's something about growing up near water that somehow binds your soul to it, like the very essence of you is steeped in that water. I haven't lived near Lake Erie in fifteen years but it will always be home. I miss the water every day. My Mom fills my head full of images of early 20th century 1-bedroom cottages near the (read: any) lake. We're simpatico.

4. Shoes. Heaven help me, I have a shoe problem. Though I've grown better and reigned in the worst of it, I could spend all day trying on shoes. Especially the really crazy expensive ones. I like to pretend I'd have somewhere to wear them. It's a safe bet they would be wasted in Harrison's :)

5. Pets. All pets. All the time. All of them. Big and little, but especially the fuzzy, cuddly ones.

6. Ice Cream. Being that lactose and I don't see eye-to-eye all the time, this one can get tricky, though my denial usually helps me get through the worst of it :)

Now, here's my perfect date. Spent the day at the beach, put on a new pair of shoes, went to see a movie, then to the pet store to visit all the little guys, then ice creams on the way home. That's it in a nutshell. What can I say, I'm a simple girl!

---------------------------

Here are the "official" rules: Mention the person who tagged you, list your six unimportant favorite things, and then tag six other bloggers.

1. anna and the ring
2. Written Bliss
3. US Meets UK
4. The Vintage Housewife
5. The Metro Housewife
6. A Little Bit Vintage

HOWEVER, even if you're not on this linked list, I would still love (LOOOOOVE) to know what your unimportant favorite things are. In a comment. On your blog. Wherever. (ditto, Karin) Please!

The Value of My Dollar {Pt. 4}

Exhibit 4: No-Pressure Sales

Shopping when you don't really need anything is empowering. You don't succumb to sales pitches or sales racks. You know what you have and you know what you need...eventually. You have as much time as you need, too, which gives you time to research a better deal. Think about it like this: It's January and you have $20. You hit the post-Christmas sales to see what deals you can find. All ornaments are 75% off -- about $1.25 each from their original $5. You buy 10 at $12.50. Now here's the value: yes, you had to spend $12.50, but you saved yourself $37.50, if you bought those same ornaments in October, right before Christmas. Sometimes, it takes money to save money in the long run.

Shopping early has HUGE advantages, but you have to be organized to be successful. Take note and assess everything you already own, what key pieces you need and what you'd love. Keep holidays, birthdays and other events in mind throughout the year and buy on sale when you can.

Personally, I've been shopping for my honeymoon (even though it's not until December) because we're going to Jamaica and, right now, all of my local stores are featuring summer stock. Have you ever tried to find summer clothes in November? It's almost impossible! By shopping for the few items I'd like to have on my h'moon now, I get to use them all summer long, may take advantage of summer sales and have them for December. It's not so much "impulse shopping" as "carpe diem" shopping.

Now, this doesn't always apply to every item, but, given that the majority of my shopping lately is wedding-related, I've found that nearly everything I buy, if I weren't patient and in control of what I am shopping for, could end up spiraling out of control and I'd end up spending 30, 40 or 50% more than I should. Besides, everything with the word 'wedding' tacked on is more costly, so the more time I give myself to research and find a good deal, that's money in the bank. But I'm also not the kind of person who equates self-worth to material cost. An insecure bride-to-be may think she's better than buying discounted items for her wedding. Maybe she even thinks that, if she didn't spend full-price on that guest book, that people may think she's discounting her very marriage. It's sad, really.

The Value of My Dollar {Pt. 3}

{source}

Exhibit 3: The Little Black Dress and All Her Colorful, More Trendy Friends

The Wardrobe Musts. Now this one is the hardest for me to follow prudently because I refuse to allow my fashion to consistently dictate into what box society will fit me. It's safe to say I like to wear a lot of hats, literally and figuratively. And my closet needed (and still needs) major assistance. Sure, I have some fantastic pieces, but a wardrobe complete they don't make. Some things are too small, some too large, some too worn and some need mending. The mending is easy, but what about the rest? I have trouble justifying The Big Clean and donating everything that isn't perfect...what would I be left with? A handful of items that are as close to perfect as I can ever get. Do I have the ten basics to survive by, a la Tim Gunn? I'd say a solid 6 of 10 isn't too bad, is it?

My biggest problem is not immediately going for the cheap when buying new and knowing when to let go of items I already have. When it comes time to donate my favorite pair of British khaki-colored dress slacks because they really are too big to wear, don't be afraid to replace them with another well-made, well-fitting pair. Consider those price versus value concepts with every purchase and think out of the box whenever possible. Maybe you find a great bargain at a discount store but they need a bit of a nip & tuck beyond your skill level to have them fit perfectly. Consider the cost of a good tailor and tack it onto the price. Still a steal or would a new J. Crew petite pair be a close second? Did you wait until the last minute before buying those pants? Did you presume the pair in your closet still fit and they don't, you have an interview in the morning and now you're desperate for another pair? "Desperation shopping" always seems to cost me double.

It's a Major Award!

Oh if you could have seen the smile on my face when I saw that Anna (of Anna and the Ring blogdom) has bestowed upon me a One Lovely Blog Award! I did a happy dance!

Now, as I graciously accept the honor, I am asked to share the honor with my favorite blogs as well.

The rules are as follows:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 10 other blogs that you've newly(-ish) discovered.

And the blog award goes to...(drum roll, please)

1. HennHouse
2. Tea for Joy
3. Daisy Cottage
4. Atomic Tea Party
5. The Perfect Palette
6. Happy Together
7. Grey Likes Weddings
8. US Meets UK
9. Written Bliss
10. A Little Bit Vintage

I can't wait to read more - You're a talented bunch!

The Value of My Dollar {Pt. 2}

Exhibit 2: Thrift Store Faves

I have a heaping TON of favorite clothing items that I bought at the thrift store. I like to call these my 'shabbies', though by the look of my perfect-fitting vintage London Fog trench, you'd never know it. Sure, there's a seam that I need to resew and it could stand a good soak, but I'm pretty certain it cost me $3. Both of my favorite tees came from the thrift store - a baby blue Ithaca, NY one and a navy blue Foster's Lagar one. They really are completely ludicrous, but I love them so much I would consider rescuing them from a fire.

But my thrift store pièce de résistance, you ask?


This stunner: a shiny, black dining room sideboard with multiple drawers and a duo of cabinets. Those features help it to look like it's $1,000 cousins, but mine had a price tag of $22. Yes. I'm serious. In total, with paint et al, $50. I knew this was a piece I would like to have eventually, I knew to keep my eyes open. When I was at the thrift store and saw the ugly brown pre-makeover version for $22, I didn't hesitate to call D. to help me bring it home. After a lot of sanding, priming, painting and a hardware change, it was complete.

I've found the key to thrift store shopping is to not go in looking for anything particular, have a few hours to kill and look through everything. Heck, make a day of it and visit a handful of shops with a (patient) friend.

The Value of My Dollar {Pt. 1}

Lately, I've been really thinking about shopping (OK, to be fair, I always think about shopping) but the difference lately is that I am consciously considering not only how much I pay for items, but the businesses (specifically) and industries (generally) I choose to support through my purchases and the ratio of price versus value (or how much "bang for my buck" an item has.)

For me, the biggest consideration as a patron is service. I don't care where I am, what they sell or how much it costs, I expect an almost unattainable level of service. For a very long while, I was in the customer service industry - from retail sales to IT call center service quality management for a very popular computer vendor. Though graphic design doesn't scream "customer service job", any successful designer will tell you how critical it is to understand your customers and consistently follow-through with a professional service experience. When it comes to spending my extra pesos on something, I want to make sure I feel good about it. The last thing I want to do is walk away, thinking I just gave my business to someone ill-deserving. Sure, I may give you another chance if my first experience is meh, but that's it. And here's a PSA for all managers and business owners: We are judging you on the quality of the people you hire. With Ohio's unemployment rate at just over 10%, there is no excuse to settle for arrogant, snotty people who make your patrons feel as if they are a nuisance to their day. Very qualified, fantastic, motivated, talented people need jobs, too. Sometimes, we even want to get out of our field and start selling used books. Give us a chance! Set the bar high. Very high. You will not be disappointed and neither will we.

Now onto my most recent, seemingly unnecessary purchase:

Enter Exhibit 1: Full Price with a Perk

I love my TOMS Shoes and D. loves his a whole heaping ton. Did I need another pair of shoes? Not really. Did I want them? Abso-friggen-lutely. Will I wear them until they fall apart? High probability. How's the quality? Tops. The service? Well, it was online and the shipping took a bit longer than I had wanted, but the intrinsic value of the 'one for one' (buy one pair, donate another pair to a child in need) more than makes up for it. I tried to buy mine locally at Tigertree, but alas, they didn't have my size or my flavor.) They are cute, match just about everything in my closet and make a great shoe to travel in. Is all of that worth my $45? To me, it was, not merely at face value, but when taking into account all of those factors.

TOMS Shoes Twins

Am I alone here, or do you feel better about paying full price if you know that there is a vote of "good will" tacked on? The way I look at it is this" I spent $22.50 on a new pair of shoes and bought a pair for a needy kid for $22.50. That's win-win to me, folks.

Wait a Minute, Mister Postman

Lately, I've been on a slight online shopping frenzy and my nice postman keeps showing up with glorious little bundles of happiness. I forgot how grand it felt to get things other than credit card offers or other junk mail (Did I mention how fantastic online bill pay is? It's a MUST.)


Just yesterday, I got the coolest little old Swingline stapler (Made in the USA). I like that it came from Minneapolis Public Schools. That's so...random :) Oh yes, even with shipping, it came to less than the piece o' plastic version (Made in China) that I bought from CVS (and never opened...it's getting returned this week.) Go go eBay!
Other bits of fun to arrive recently: my TOMS (though I had to reorder as these are a half-size too snug), a darling white and black stripey sweater from Old Navy (petite AND on sale), my last two "wedding" vases (that makes 9!) and a minty-condition, out-of-print vinyl LP (though I'll not divulge the title, as it's complete pop trash from the 80s and it would be a poor representation of my musical tastes.) The reason for my enthusiasm for that particular purchase, you ask? It's replacing one that was "borrowed" and never returned back in college. (Take THAT vinyl thief! And for only ten bucks. Good times.)

The one thing I am most eager to receive hasn't yet arrived, though, and I'm getting a little nervous. I bit the bullet and bought some fantastically perfect stamps for our vintage-inspired Save the Date postcards. It is almost painful not having posted photos of that project yet, but you won't see them until most people have received them. I couldn't ruin the surprise for them, now could I?