librarian tells all

Pretty Papers for Ladies in Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

It's finally happened: I've reached my wedding planning threshold. There are simply too many options! The choices are dizzying, and they eventually become paralyzing. It's true that people react poorly when they have too many choices, and this fascinating article describes the phenomenon: "Overabundance of choice seemed to freeze shoppers' decision-making skills... Your search for the better might be making your life worse."

The article focuses mostly on dating, and I'm not interested in searching for a man other than Keith. But my search for wedding invitations needs to end now--it's only making me crazy! I love the idea of purchasing a customized suite of coordinated designs for paper goods--from invitations, to programs, to thank you notes--having them printed locally, and assembling the invitations myself. Your paper goods can be as luxurious or as economical as you like, depending on your choice of paper and printing methods!

My jaw literally dropped when I saw the Vintage Botanical Wedding Invitation by 3EggsDesign

The Botanical Bird Wedding Invitation set by 3EggsDesign is just as good, though! How's a bride to decide?

The Rustic Bird Wedding Invitation by KayleighDuMond is perfect for those who want a simpler, more modern option.

Not getting married? Who cares! Buy a year of pretty cards from KayleighDuMond.

I think we're actually going to choose a simpler design and dress it up with some DIY touches. But I love these botanical illustrations so much--I'd like to frame them and hang them on my wall. But enough about wedding invitations, right? How was your weekend?

I think I gained 10 pounds in three days, and I don't even care because I feel so happy and loved. Keith treated me to a luxurious date night at Table 3 on Friday. Their pink starfish cocktail tastes like a mermaid's kiss--it's so salty and strange! I love it. Then my entire family got together for my sister's birthday celebration at Etch and a walk on the Shelby Street Bridge on Saturday. And on Sunday, we had a Father's Day get-together at the lake house with mountains of hot chicken from Hattie B's and a few sidesplitting games of Exquisite Corpse. Last week I was a frazzled ball of wedding planning nerves. But after all the hugs and kind words shared over the weekend, I can't stop smiling! It was so hard to say goodbye to my sisters today.

Wedding Planing Update. Bridesmaid Dresses: Check!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:23:00 +0000

This is what I thought my wedding party would look like. Minus, you know, the me being Christina Hendricks part:

Christina Hendricks and Bridesmaids, as seen on Elegance & Simplicity

Or perhaps this (minus the whole yellow floral thing):

Mismatched maids, as seen at Belle

Basically, I envisioned an eclectic mix of dresses. I wanted our wedding to be an excuse for my favorite women to buy themselves an awesome new dress they like (within a certain color family), not a reason for me to dictate their clothing choices. I feel super-weird about telling my friends what to wear. And generally, I don't like matching bridesmaid dresses because I don't feel good about grown-ass women wearing the same dress. Women don't like showing up to a party in the same dress as some other chick, period. But my girls had other ideas!

Bridesmaids in pretty neutrals, as seen on Style Me Pretty

Five of my six 'maids, my mother, and I went to Bridal Warehouse on Saturday. I wanted the girls to wear shorter hemlines and dresses in a certain color family. Other than that, anything was okay with me. Chiffon? Sure! Lace! Cool. Satin? Yep. They pulled armloads of dresses they liked and headed to the dressing rooms. The fashion show was fun. My friends and sisters are so pretty!

I love these soft, sweetly mismatched colors! As seen on Style Me Pretty

Unfortunately, Bridal Warehouse mostly stocks a weird and limited number of sample sizes. If you want to shop there, keep that in mind. It was difficult to imagine what some of the dresses might look like in the proper size, because they were so very, very off. Until, that is, Stephanie came out of her dressing room wearing The Dress and announced, "I'm wearing this!" It was so flattering, everyone wanted to try it. The Dress came in a size that somehow fit everyone, and it made all my girls look beautiful. They wanted the same dress.

Is that Jessica Alba in the wedding party? Whoa! As seen on Belle.

What was a bride to do? Throw a fit and say, "But I imagined that you would all want different dresses, waaaaaah!" Um, no. I wanted this to be an excuse for them to buy any dress they liked--and they all happened to love the same dress. It's a fantastic, dress, too: Lauren says, "It makes me feel like Audrey Hepburn on a boat." Um, who doesn't want to feel like Audrey Hepburn on a boat?!

Swoon! As seen on Belle.

Since they knew I craved variety, we picked two almost-the-same colors. Three girls will wear the greenish version of The Dress, and three girls will wear the bluish version. We're going to look less like the other pictures, and more like this. And my mother is so relieved!!!

You'll Never Forget an Experience at the Catbird Seat.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:08:00 +0000

Presentation matters! I love this little guy's 5 o'clock shadow.
19th century Rabbit soup tureen from 1st dibs

Today I have no words. No words, that is, to describe our extraordinary dinner experience at the Catbird Seat. My beautiful sister, Erin, is visiting Nashville from Hong Kong, and on Monday night she treated our family to the best dining experience I've ever had. I want to do the meal justice. But unlike Old Red Boots, I'm not a food blogger, and I don't think my culinary vocabulary is up to the challenge!

Each course was a delicious surprise: We had two appetizer courses, soup, monk fish, duck, lamb, something that tasted like a tiny Reuben, and three (!) desserts. But that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the experience. The chefs' attention to detail, thoughtful combinations of textures and flavors, and playful wit (Porcini and Parmesan savory Oreos!) elevate food to art.

I asked so many times, "This is really potato? How did they make potato DO that?!" We're still talking about the experience and trying to decide which course was the best. I think dining at Catbird changes one's approach to food; two days later, I'm looking at food differently and experiencing each meal more thoughtfully. Erin, thank you so much for making this dinner possible--you have no idea how much it meant to us!

What is the best meal you ever had? And if you've been to the Catbird, a) what did they serve that night, and b) Did you frame your menu? I'm seriously thinking about framing it and hanging it in our kitchen!

Dramatic, Moody Rooms Full of Glamour and Elegance

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

How was your weekend? Mine was a whirlwind: I caught a loud, crazy show at the Springwater on Friday with Keith. It was a night of friends, spilled beer, and laughter. On Saturday, I met up with my five of my six bridesmaids to shop for their dresses. I was so thrilled to see my sisters--it's rare that we're all on the same continent, let alone in the same place! Our shopping trip didn't turn out the way I expected, but I love what the girls chose. I'll tell you more about it later--promise! On Sunday, I worked on a knitting project, walked the pups through a dazzling cloud of fireflies, and admired the dark, elegant work of interior designer Todd Yoggy. Look!

Oak Lane home: Distressed leather, dark wood fireplace, and bottle green draperies.

Oak Lane home: Bottle green walls, velvet sofa, and crisp white trim.

Oak Lane home: White matelasse bedspread, black lampshades, and stark black and white contrast.

On the surface, it's not the most, um, attainable look. But there are so many things here that even budget-conscious decorators can do. It would be easy to channel this glamorous look with bottle green or bright white paint and a bit of animal print or velvet. Switching white curtains for dark, dramatic draperies isn't hard. Changing out beige lampshades in favor of black ones, or adding a finial to a lamp, wouldn't be very difficult. And most of us hang our art in intentional disarray. But hanging it in neatly aligned rows with matching frames looks so classic (and it would probably be much simpler). What do you think of these rooms? Are they too dark and somber? Or do you like a traditional look with a touch of moodiness?

Thrift Store WIN: Curtis Jere Raindrops Wall Sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Curtis Jere raindrops wall sculpture, as seen on Freshome

I don't post very often about thrift store finds. Most of my thrifting posts would sound like this: "I bought a white plate because I broke a white plate last week. Here is the white plate I bought. How thrilling." It's not that I don't thrift; it's that I rarely buy anything very exciting. My mother, on the other hand, is the queen of exciting thrifting. She's always finding Waterford crystal and high-end furniture. But yesterday's find is her crown jewel!

Yesterday I received an unexpected call from my mother. "Jen? You know those Curtis Jere wall sculptures you like? I think I just found one at a thrift store. It has the C. Jere signature on it. But I don't love it, and it's $59. I don't want to buy it unless it's something really special." I congratulated her, but cautiously. I didn't want to get my hopes up. "I can tell you what it is. Send me a picture?"

Curtis Jere, or C. Jere, is the name signed to the metal wall sculptures made by Artisan House. Their iconic work in the 60s and 70s is now very collectible, and you often see it on Mad Men and in movies. I'm just a little obsessed with the older C. Jere sculptures, but I like certain pieces much better than others. "Raindrops" is probably their most iconic and desirable work. Raindrops was reissued by Jonathan Adler in 2007, and these reproductions sell for $1,800.

My phone beeped, and I saw a photo of the C. Jere signature on a shiny silver disc. Could it be? I called to Keith, "Guess what! Mom found a Curtis Jere sculpture. I just saw a picture of the signature. She's sending me another picture of it... wait, hold on... OH MY GOD IT'S RAINDROPS!!! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! Keith, I think Raindrops sells on eBay for, like, thousands of dollars!"

Keith popped his head in the room. He was holding his phone, and he said, "Actually, it's priced between $4,000 and $7,500, depending on the size and condition. How big is it?" Ha. Keith, you're a know it all. I don't like to get too hung up on the prices I see online. Just because someone online is asking that price, it doesn't mean anyone will actually pay it. But this is an incredible find. Mama done good, y'all. Mama done REAL good.

After work I went to her house to admire it. I've never seen a Raindrops sculpture in person until now, and it's gorgeous. It catches the light from all angles, and photos don't do it justice. Also, it's HUGE. Just look! Okay, I'm only 5'4, so maybe it's not that big. But it fills the space over a sofa perfectly. Congratulations on the find of a lifetime, Mom! And hey, if you're reading this, I heard that you and Dad don't actually like the way it looks. If that's the case, I'll be glad to, um, store it for you. On my living room wall. My own Jere is lonely; I think it needs a friend. *grin*

Book Review: Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

You think YOU had identity problems in high school? You didn't have anything on Max.
(vintage hand mirror from LilyPieVintagex on Etsy)

I've never read anything like Golden Boy, and I don't think I'll ever forget this story. Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin is about gender, ambiguity, and secrets. It's about the discomfort some people feel when they can’t neatly categorize others, and the damage well-meaning parents can do when their "help" becomes invasive and inappropriate. It just came out a few weeks ago, and it will probably be controversial, but it's an excellent story.

Sixteen year old Max Walker is popular, athletic, and attractive. Teachers and girls love him, and his mother thinks of him as her perfect angel. But Max’s family is hiding a secret: Max is intersex. Strictly speaking, he isn’t biologically male or female. But Max identifies as a boy and he likes girls, so his parents raised him as a son. When Max was born, his parents couldn't agree on a course of treatment, so they did nothing. The Walkers seem to think they can make Max’s condition go away if they simply ignore it. But Max's secret has been ignored too long, and it comes to the surface in a terrible way. The book begins with a bombshell. One shocking event creates a long list of questions and a twist that I really didn't see coming. At its heart, it's a coming of age story, but it has the tension of a mystery novel. I could not put this book down.

Max, his mother, his brother, his doctor, his girlfriend, and his father take turns telling the story from their own points of view. I was impressed, because each character's voice is believable. Max's unnaturally logical, robot-obsessed 10 year old brother is especially funny.

This is Abigail Tarttelin's first novel, and it's so good that I can only think these small criticisms: She always shows that characters are nervous by making them blush or chew on things, and it gets distracting. And the doctor is a flat character that exists only to impart medical information. She sometimes sounds like Wikipedia, not an actual person.

But my complaints are small, and I'm so impressed by Tarttelin's multifaceted approach to the story. She shows the many ways that the secret and all its ensuing fallout affects the entire family, not just Max. At the end, though, my favorite thing about this book is that Max isn't the problem; the secret is the problem.

Balcony Makeover: Before and After. The Stage is Set. Romeo, I'm Ready for the Balcony Scene!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Do you have a place where you pile all your junk, close the door, and pretend it's all disappeared? For me, that place is was my balcony. Last month I looked at our balcony from the outside and thought The HOA could probably fine me for that mess. It was piled high with tools, littered with remnants from old spray painting projects, and topped with towels hung out to dry and then forgotten. The flowerpots had nothing growing in them but weeds, and the string lights were too far from the outlet to plug in. Classy!

A thorough cleaning, freshly planted petunias, hand-sewn bunting and chair cushions, and a splurge--a Safavieh rug--make a huge difference. I can't do anything about the air conditioning unit on the balcony, I'm afraid, and the varnish stains under the table are sadly permanent. But now when I drive home, I look forward to relaxing outside after work with a book and glass of wine. And I'm not dreading an assessment from the HOA anymore. I considered spray painting the chairs, but I couldn't commit to a color. What do you think?

For more before and after excitement, check these out:

Like to cook? You'll love Kitty Cat Stevens' baking nook before and after.
Drowning in a sea of books? Look to She Was a Bird's dramatic living room switcheroo for inspiration
What have you done so far this year? Year of Serendipity FLIPPED A HOUSE! This woman is amazing.

Wall Sconces? How Electrifying.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

So last night, Keith and I were walking the dogs while I chattered about my bedroom redecorating project: "Tomorrow I'm going to buy paint samples and fabric. I wish we could install wall sconces in the bedroom. There are outlets on each side of the bed, but I don't like the sconces with cords the hang down the wall." Keith says, "Since there are outlets right there, I could install real, hardwired sconces." UM, WHAT?!

I was incredulous. "You can install sconces?" He shrugged, as if we were discussing a simple task like, I dunno, tying shoelaces or boiling water. "Yeah, I can do that." I should have known this about Keith: He designs circuits for fun. Still, I was so impressed. Wall sconces, here I come! I love these sconce-bedecked bedrooms, and I'm hoping to do something similar.

I love the neutral colors, matelasse bedspread, and subtle blush color on the walls.
It's a little fussy, though. I'd like to add a skull or something playful to punch it up. From Houzz.

I love the black and white floral on the walls and pillows! This easily could've become
grandmotherly, but the graphic letter C and the owl doll keep it fresh. From Houzz.

I love the stark contrast, moody painting, statement chandelier, and ruffled pillowcases.
This is the sort of room I admire but could never recreate, because I don't have this much
restraint when it comes to color. But oh, I love it. From Houzz

I prefer adjustable, swing-arm sconces. And that's not just because they're called library sconces! Ideally, I'd like something in oil-rubbed bronze with a vintage-industrial look and accordion-folding arms. But first, paint! And then reupholstering the headboard, re-covering the pillows, and editing all the stuff in there. Ugh, so much stuff.

Discovering Keith's secret identity as an electrician wasn't the only great thing about the weekend: On Friday, Keith treated me to a delicious dinner at Silly Goose. Their honey beet ice cream is incredible, so earthy and sweet. On Saturday, I got up early to ~~lazily float down the Duck river with beer in hand~~ kayak down the richest river in varieties of freshwater animals on the North American continent. That sounds really pretentious, so let's not attibute those words to me. Let's attribute them to The Nature Conservancy! Even though we got caught in rain for the last 15 or so minutes of the day, I came home blissed out on sunshine and friends, and ready to begin new creative projects.

Vintage Scientific Illustrations + Art Nouveau Style = Eugène Séguy.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

dragonflies.

I just discovered the work of Eugène Séguy (1890 - 1985), and I'm so enamored. Séguy was a French entomologist and designer whose work marries educational science prints and art. Who says science and creativity can't go together? Séguy illustrations represent the insects faithfully, but with distinctive style and heavy Art Nouveau influences. They almost look like jewelry, don't they? Séguy's designs were translated into Art Deco style textiles, too. A scientist turned fabric designer?! He sounds fascinating, but I can't find much biographical info on him.

moths or butterflies?

It's been a pleasantly quiet week: I've been reading and sunbathing, making flowers for the wedding and brewing up a big pot of soup, snuggling with the dogs, and directing traffic at the library. Okay, that last part hasn't been quiet at all. The first week of the Summer Reading Program has turned my library into a circus. I need this weekend to rest and recharge. What are you doing this weekend? My plans involve friends, boats, cold drinks, and lots of sunshine. See you next week!

cicadas.

Knights, Magic, and Medieval Adventures! The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Bridwell Library

Do you love Game of Thrones, but sometimes you're not in the mood for torture and botched beheadings? Um, yeah... Me too! Then you'll like The Wretched of Muirwood, the first book in the Legends of Muirwood trilogy by Jeff Wheeler. It's packed with adventure, secrets, and Medieval magic, but no flaying. Ouch.

The Wretched of Muirwood has something for almost everyone: If you like Medieval knights, illuminated manuscripts, imposing abbeys and quiet cathedrals, this book is for you. If you like brave young girls with bows and arrows and heroines who care more about reading than boys, then you'll love the main character, Lia. And if you like magic systems that blend elemental magic with psychic connections à la Orson Scott Card's philotic web, then look no further.

Intrigued? Read my full review on Nashville Geek Life!

A Beautiful Boudoir with a Hint of Gothic Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you have to accept that something isn't working and start fresh. In my case, that applies to my bedroom. In 2009, I painted it a gray that never looked right. I tried to distract my eye from the wall color by adding vivid mustard and turquoise textiles, but it just created jarring, too-bright spots of color in an odd-looking, not-quite-gray room. It's time to start over.

This time I want to create a restful room with soft colors and the occasional offbeat, slightly gothic accessory that might've been lifted from one of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. I'm going to paint the walls Blanched Coral by Benjamin Moore (the background color on this mood board), re-cover my upholstered headboard with brown linen, sew pillow covers from the two printed fabric swatches you see on the board, and sew black pom pom trim on the white curtains to copy the Toorie curtain from Anthropologie. I'll keep my cream matelasse bedspread, black painted furniture, and crystal lamps. I don't want to totally scrap everything I have.

I lusted after the fabric at Textile Fabrics last weekend, but I was afraid the fabric would be too girly for Keith. He was with me, so I led him toward it. Before I could point out my choice to him, he stepped in front of me, picked up the one on the left, and said, "I like this one!" WIN. I showed him the coordinating birdcage fabric, and he nodded. It figures that he'd like it--our first conversations were about Neil Gaiman.

Speaking of Mr. Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane comes out in less than three weeks--and we already have our tickets to hear him speak at the War Memorial Auditorium in July. I haven't seen him live in almost 8 years, and I'm beyond excited!

I Wish for a Fish Dish.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 28 May 2013 18:06:00 +0000

I hope you had a happy Memorial Day. I spent the day on a boat with my family, soaking up the sun and admiring the herons and the charred but still stately ruins of Johnny Cash's former lake home. Dad is a great Captain! And boating definitely relates to today's theme. Today I want to show you pretty serving dishes with an ocean life motif. As I said in my last post, I admire elaborate china, but it doesn't fit my lifestyle.Still, it would be fun to dress up my table with these lovely serving pieces. They're neutral enough to match my white dishes, but oh so fun:

Vintage Fish Plate by Fitz & Floyd sold by DetroitRockabetty on Etsy
In the mid-1970s, Fitz & Floyd made a complete line of servingware in this pattern. WANT IT ALL!

Serving Dish with Sea Turtles by Charlestowne Pottery on Etsy - Isn't the baby turtle cute?

This conch shell bowl from Pottery Barn is just too beautiful. Okay, I admit it: I registered for this one!

Vintage Clamshell Soup Tureen sold by JaysJunque on Etsy

Vintage Fish Tureen by Fitz & Floyd and listed on eBay Isn't this guy marvelous?
I love this pattern (and making soup!) so much that I had to list two tureens.

The Loveliest and Most Tempting Fine China. Or, Why Am I Suddenly REALLY Into PLATES?

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 27 May 2013 17:04:00 +0000

Fine china. It's just fancy plates, right? I like the way food looks on plain white plates, so I've never really been into dishes. I bought a complete set of Gibson Regalia dishes at a thrift store in 2004 for, like $40. That's been the extent of my dinnerware shopping, ever. China that's too precious to actually use has always seemed frivolous to me.

But my sweet, wonderful, old-fashioned grandma put aside a set of vintage china for me and each of my sisters before she died, with instructions that we were to be given the sets as wedding presents. I miss her so much. I have no idea what it looks like, but she and I had similar taste, so I'm sure it's beautiful. I'm registering for some white everyday plates, because I've broken about half of my Gibson set, but I'm not registering for any additional china.

Despite that (or perhaps because of it?), I've recently become fixated on super-crazy, ornate dinnerware. It started as casual, voyeuristic perusal of wedding registries on giftregistry360. Does anyone else do that? It's creepily fun to see what brides and grooms requested, and then try to guess what they're like. Especially the couple who registered for ALL PURPLE STUFF. Who are these people?!

Anyway, to make a long story short... As we crafted our registry, I peeked at other registries. I cackled like mad at the woman who registered for china that was $575 per place setting. Honey, your friends love you, but they don't love you that much. And then I became obsessed with fancy plates and stuff. A lot of these would look ridiculous with spaghetti and meatballs piled high on them, but they're so beautiful! I. Just. Can't. Stop. Looking.

Lenox Watercolor dinnerware in Citrus

Noritake Kyoka square plates

If you like the watercolor painting look but you prefer a small, Japanese style dinner set, these are beautiful. I love the look of the delicate paintings on white porcelain.

Mikasa Daylight Dinnerware

Villeroy and Boch Modern Grace Peonia dinnerware

Of all the dinnerware designers I looked at, Villeroy and Boch is my favorite. I like that they decorate the plates prettily but leave plenty of unadorned space for the food. I like this buttery yellow color, and I love a botanical print that looks modern and fresh. OH, and they have a beautiful blog with recipes, pretty table settings, and tempting cocktail recipes. It's now on my lurk list.

Edie Rose Peacock dinnerware by Rachel Bilson

Who knew Rachel Bilson designed plates and stuff?! Not me! This set is hit or miss: Some of the pieces are fussy and too busy, but many of them are lovely. I especially like the large flower platter and small sculptural bowls. I'd like to mix and match certain pieces from this line with my plain white dishes. If you're REALLY into peacocks and butterflies, and you want it all, this set is HUGE. It even includes weird stuff like coordinating napkin holders and matching aprons.

Portmeirion Botanic Hummingbird Collection dinnerware

This is not my favorite dinnerware collection; I think it's too busy. I'm including it, though, because it exemplifies the current trends in patterned china: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and botanical illustrations in very bright colors, with an emphasis on greens, blues, and yellows. Here's what I like most about this particular pattern: If you look very closely, you'll see that it includes the scientific names of the birds. I love long Latin names for tiny, tiny creatures!

Nectar dinnerware by Spode

These funny, elongated little blue hummingbirds look hand-painted, and I'm a big, big fan of that. I also like the unusual scalloped edges of these plates.

And now, for my absolute favorite: Up next is the pattern that I would register for if I was going to register for china. This is the pattern that makes me want to go to HomeGoods right now. For some reason, my local HomeGoods store is awash in pristine but lonely bone china teacups, platters, and serving bowls that somehow lost their brethren and ended up alone at HomeGoods. And from now on, this is the design I will search for there:

Villeroy and Boch Amazonia dinnerware collection

It has the birds and butterflies that are popular now, but in a lovely color palette that looks less electric and more like a classic botanical print. I love the violently spiky passionflower, the delicate ferns, and the sturdy little beetles hiding in the corners. This is it, y'all. This is the best one.

Except, if I'm honest, I don't want to have a perfectly matched set of china. I'd rather supplement my plain white dishes with fun salad plates and serving pieces from a variety of patterns, including some that have been discontinued. They'd be really fun to hunt down on eBay, etsy, and at thrift store and flea markets! To be continued...

Peachy Keen Paint for a Light and Bright Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:02:00 +0000

Oh hi, Internet! I've been neglecting my blog in favor of, you know, actually doing stuff. And when I'm not running around, I'm looking at pictures of warm, peachy colored bedrooms. Our bedroom is the only room in our place that gets very little natural light. Right now it's painted gray, and it looks like a well-upholstered dungeon.... not good. I'd like to go back to something like the room's former design: Black furniture, black and white textiles, and color on the walls. I need a paint color that's light, bright, and warm, and I'm leaning toward a very pale peach.

Adorable Home

Love Inspire Create

Avant Garde Design

Better Homes and Gardens

What do you think?

So what, you may ask, have I been doing when I haven't been poring over paint colors? I had such a full weekend, I feel like I'm only now stopping to catch my breath! On Friday I dropped in at a friend's birthday party, then went out and danced at QDP with awesome people. On Saturday I helped two of my favorite people in the world move into a new house, and then was treated to Rosepepper and Jeni's ice cream as a reward for my efforts. And on Sunday, Keith and I introduced our families to each other over dinner in Chattanooga.

His parents, my parents, and his Mom's parents all met for cocktails and dinner at the Easy Bistro, which is incredibly gorgeous and swank and just OMG look at it. It's in an old building that was once a Coca-Cola Bottling plant, and it has so much Art Deco charm. The sexy black walls... the chartreuse banquette... WOW! When we were there, the tables were festooned with gorgeous arrangements featuring peonies and calla lilies. Oh, and we witnessed a proposal! So much love is in the air, y'all.

The whole point of this dinner was for us to introduce our families, but we ran into a storm on the way there and arrived last. I was afraid we'd walk in and our parents would be awkwardly eyeing each other and it would be horrible. Instead, I felt like we were crashing their cocktail party. We walked in, and they'd obviously been talking a while and they liked each other. I was so happy to see Keith's parents and grandparents, too. Big hugs all around, no awkwardness, and lots of smiles.

Halfway through dinner, I looked around and thought All of these people are here because Keith and I fell in love. These people are going to be related to each other because one night we both went to the 5 Spot and started talking... and never stopped talking. A little crush became something something big and life-changing. It's a humbling, joyful thing to see that our relationship has the power to change other people's lives, too. It makes my stomach drop, like I'm on a roller coaster.

And then I had to break the spell by saying to Keith, "They're all here because of us. We have the powerrrrr!" in a supervillain voice. But still... Love is a big deal.

May 2013 Ipsy Bag: Spring Fling

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000

For those of you just tuning in, Ipsy is a beauty subscription service. For $10 a month, Ipsy sends 4 - 5 surprise beauty products to your door in a cute cosmetics bag. They even mail it in a shiny hot pink envelope! Seeing that envelope in my mailbox always makes me dance around like a little kid. If you don't want to get in a beauty rut, Ipsy is for you.

It's Ipsy bag time again! I'm not a fan of their new shipping partnership with DHL: It took 6 days for my bag to go from North Carolina to Nashville. What, are they shipping it by sedated land tortoise? But all was forgiven when I received my bag. This month it's chock full of fancy full-size products! And they're almost all to my taste, because this month Ipsy started using our beauty quiz results to customize our bags. Everyone received a full size Zoya nail polish, a yaby concealer, a Mirabella lipstick OR a Juice Beauty lip gloss, plus two random items chosen just for you. And some users got a bonus Urban Decay eye shadow! Here's what I got:

Full size yaby Concealer Refill in Buff - $4.85
Full size Zoya Nail Polish in GeiGei- $8.00
Full size Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick in Posy- $22.00
Full size Pacifica Perfume Roll-On in Tahitian Gardenia- $12.00
Anastasia Mini Clear Brow Gel - $6.68
(full size is $22.00 for 7.93 mL)
Full size Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadow in Space Cowboy - $20.00
(special gift for active members/content creators)

TOTAL VALUE: $73.53 (HOLY SHIT!)
Ipsy Price: $10.00

I'm so excited that I got a full size Pacifica Perfume! Pacifica doesn't use any phthalates, nitro-musks, or benzene. The Tahitian Gardenia scent is almost overpoweringly sweet and heavy when it's wet, but it dries down to a subtle, citrusy floral scent that's perfect for spring. It's feminine in a classy, old-school way. Some Ipsy users complained that it smells like old ladies, but I disagree. It's probably more sophisticated than the scents those girls usually wear, though. This is not a bubble-gummy, fruity scent for a young girl, and I like that. The packaging is pretty, too!

I was skeptical about the yaby concealer. How would they give us the right colors? But Buff blends well, and it's a perfect match for my skin. I used it yesterday on my undereye circles, and I like the result. Ipsy is still ironing out the customization thing: On the forums, many African-American women said they received Buff, too. And pale Irish girls got Pecan, the darkest shade. But I can vouch for the product's quality--it's good.

I wanted to try a clear brow gel, and it's like Ipsy read my mind. I have long, unruly eyebrow hairs that do what they want, damnit. The Anastasia Clear Brow Gel holds my brows in place without looking heavy or unnatural, and I like that. When I wear it, though, I can feel it. I become distractingly aware of my eyebrows in a way that is weird. I like the way it looks, but it's going to take some getting used to. Still, I'm glad to have this for bad eyebrow days. Yes, I have those. Don't look at me like that!

The Mirabella Colour Sheers lipstick applies like a lipstick, looks like a stain (think BeneTint), and feels like a super-buttery lip balm. It's made with mango butter, and it made my semi-chapped lips look smooth and healthy--major win! The color looks very dark and bright in the tube, but it's sheer, so I like the way it looks on my face. This is an item I never would've bought, because I would have expected it to be garish, so I'm so glad Ipsy sent it to me!

I wanted to try the Zoya polish because it's free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate. Can you pronounce that? Me neither. Anyway, I thought a less toxic nail polish might dry slowly, but this dried even faster than the polish I got in last month's bag. Unfortunately, though, the sparkly baby pink polish makes me feel like Tinkerbell. It's childish; I'd have preferred the mint green or sky blue polish that other users received. But I like the formula, and now I know that Zoya is a brand to look for.

Finally, let's talk about the Urban Decay Moondust eye shadow. IT'S A SHOWSTOPPER. When I swatched it on my hand, I looked like I'd rubbed up against a disco ball. It's a neutral, champagne colored shadow jam packed with silver glitter. It's definitely not for every day, but the neutral color can be used with practically any wild eye look. Ipsy sent it with a note that said, "Thank you for being an active member of the Ipsy community. Because we appreciate the content you create and share to inspire and help members of the Ipsy community, please enjoy this brand new product from Urban Decay as a bonus in your May Glam Bag." Bloggers, take note: If you subscribe, Ipsy will show you extra love!

If you subscribe to Ipsy, what did you get this month? Do you think they customized the bag well?

Right This Second: Cool Songs, Gatsby and Art Deco Sparkle, and Toys for People Who Love Making Lists.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

New York City watercolor print by SketchAway on etsy

Right now I'm crazy about the New York Rooftop Party station on Songza. It has a lot of my old favorites... Lou Reed, David Bowie, the Velvet Underground, and Yo La Tengo seamlessly mixed in with newer bands like Phoenix, Passion Pit, Divine Fits, and Alabama Shakes. Alabama Shakes were a strange choice for this mix, but no matter. Every time I hear them, I think of that magical month in 2011 when they played in Nashville, like, a dozen times. I caught almost every one of those shows. I love them!

Rhinestone Headpiece by ShopElizabethPerry on Etsy

Who isn't inspired by the 1920s right now?! I saw The Great Gatsby on Friday, and I loved the music, lush costumes, and over the top set design. As much as I appreciate historically accurate art deco design, I did love Baz Luhrman's outrageously orchid festooned, bodaciously bedazzled re-imagining of flapper style. This headband looks like something straight out of Gatsby!

Also. During the scene where Jay showers Daisy with his clothing and it begins to look like rainbow confetti, was anyone else reminded of the scene in Spring Breakers where James Franco crows, "I have shorts in every color!!" Um, yeah. I started laughing uncontrollably because for a brief moment I imagined Leo with a big nasty grill.

Antique French Game Board Print from inkpainter on Etsy

If you've ever watched someone play video games for hours and days and years and thought If he improved himself in real life as much as he improves his character, he'd be a super-fit millionaire Ph.D by now, then you've probably wished there was a way to turn real life into an RPG. Now someone has done it! In the last two months, I've become completely addicted to HabitRPG.

You simply enter in the things you want to do on a regular basis, like take vitamins or read a book for half an hour or work out for an hour. You also enter things you don't want to do, like eat junk food. You can set tasks to be done every day, or only on certain days of the week. When you do the awesome stuff, you check if off your list, earn points, and eventually level up. When you do the less awesome stuff--be honest!--you lose health. At the end of the day, you also lose points for the healthy tasks you didn't complete. You can enter one-time chores on a separate list, and earn points when you complete those, too.

For an obsessive list-maker like me, it adds an element of fun to my daily chore list. I'm using the principles I learned in the book Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard to make difficult tasks easier to complete: I'm breaking each job down into very small, specific tasks. For example, "clean the bathroom," can sound overwhelming, and it doesn't provide much direction. It's better to break the job down into specific tasks, like clean the bathroom mirror, wipe down the vanity, put fresh towels out, etc. And it works! I'm beginning to develop better habits. My bathroom has never been so clean, my laundry pile has never been so small, and I haven't forgotten to take my vitamins in weeks.

Have you played it? I'd like to talk to someone else who is using HabitRPG to see what kind of things other people use it for!

Handmade Felt Wedding Bouquets Look Like a Fondant Confectionery Dream Come True!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Here's a little preview of my wedding flowers! I took on a huge project when I decided to make all of my wedding flowers by hand, but I absolutely love it. I've made about 60 flowers so far. The more I make, the prettier they get. My maid of honor says they remind her of frosting or some other edible confection. Mmm, that's exactly the look I'm going for! It's been so much fun to come up with my own designs.

You probably recognize the rosebuds and chrysanthemums. They're fairly standard felt flowers, and they're very quick and easy to make. I use them as filler, and they make up about 2./3 of the bouquet. The real showstoppers are the heart daisy and pansy. They take longer to make, but they're very special. The loose petals on the pansy give the bouquets a touchable, unstructured look. And the petals on the heart daisy are so full and lush--each flower has 16 hand-cut petals! The lazy daisy is another filler flower, and the crazy daisy is a good way to use small scraps of leftover felt. I don't make many of those, but a few in each bouquet gives the bouquets more variety.

Best of all, when it's all done, my wedding flowers will cost $200. I ordered a 10 yard bolt of ivory colored eco felt on Etsy for $106. I bought another 2 yards of colored wool blend felt for accents from TaDaa Studio Felt for $23.50. Then I bought 432 pieces of floral stem wire from Save On Crafts for $37. I'll probably buy more stems before I finish the project. The bridesmaid bouquet pictured here contains about 25 flowers. I have 6 bridesmaids and 20 tables to decorate, so I definitely have my work cut out for me. Luckily, I have 5 months to do it all, so I'm not worried.

I do wish the eco felt wasn't so fake. It's made of recycled soda bottles, and the texture is like a thin sheet of fiberglass. Is isn't opaque, and it doesn't keep its shape well. Worst of all, thousands of tiny plastic fibers get into the air when I cut it. I probably shouldn't have worked on this while I had bronchitis! I set up an air filter next to my workspace, though, and that helps improve the air quality. The wool-blend felt from TaDaa Studios, on the other hand, is so luxurious. It's thick, soft, easy to sculpt into whatever shape I want, and it doesn't shed nasty fibers into the air. The eco felt was so cheap, but If I could do it over again, I'd consider splurging on a big bolt of wool-blend felt.

Overall, though, I love them. This bouquet isn't finished; I'm going to make a fabric collar and wrap the stem in the same fabric. I'll use leftovers from the fabric we're using to make table runners, to keep the look cohesive. But I just couldn't wait to share! What do you think?

Mood Boards: Gray, Aqua, and Cherry Red! Vintage Meets Modern in an Open Floor Plan. Let's DIY.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

My friends Wayne and Elizabeth asked me to help them come up with a cohesive design concept for their first home. Umm, what's my favorite thing to do? Of course I was glad to help! They have an open downstairs floor plan with the living room and dining room/kitchen joined together as one big, open space. They want the two spaces to flow and look good together. Elizabeth likes a casual, bright, vintage-meets-modern look that's heavy on thrifting and DIY, so it was a lot of fun to make a design concept for them. The first board shows their starting point:

They have...

Vividly red cherry hardwood floors--can I say that I am so jealous of their gorgeous floors?!
A fireplace with a slate tile surround, which they intend to keep as-is
A super-cool vintage TV that they DIY'd to make into a storage piece. I love that thing.
Elizabeth just bought sleek, simple gray panels on the bay window in the living room.
They just painted the kitchen and dining room a beautiful gray: Cathedral Gray by Behr.

They need...

A paint color for the living room that won't clash with the gray in the dining room and kitchen
A sofa, rug, and entertainment center in the living room
To either DIY their existing dining furniture into something they like, or find a new dining set
A light fixture over the dining table
A non-stuffy way to store and display their wedding china in the dining area

Elizabeth and Wayne are warm, fun-loving, and not afraid of a little color. I wanted to make a design concept as vibrant and fun as they are. For living room paint, I selected Cool Jazz by Behr because I love the way the aqua pops against the red hardwood floor. Don't those colors come alive together? Then I came up with some fun sofa/rug combos for them. The gray/blue/cream options are safe, and the red/orange options are a little wild. I don't think they can go wrong with any of these!

The dining room concept gives them a chance to do some DIY. Their current dining table is a beautiful, heavy round pedestal table, but it has a very dark finish. A coat of white paint would brighten it up and help it match everything else. Thrifted chairs painted in the leftover paint used on the living room walls would look fun and tie the two rooms together. Finally, a thrifted brass chandelier + a few coats of red spray paint = AWESOME. The Habitat for Humanity thrift store always has brass chandeliers just like the one pictured. It would be such an easy and satisfying weekend project. Finally, Elizabeth is interested in using ladder style shelves to display her dishes by the dining table, and I love the idea.

Elizabeth and Wayne, I hope you like these ideas. And if any other friends want a moodboard, let me know! It was so nice to have something to do besides work on wedding plans. I spent most of Saturday working on our wedding website. The RSVP function is a bitch, and it took me hours to make it work. By the time I was done, I wanted to poke my eyes out if that meant I'd never have to see that page again! Even though wedding planning is a lot of work, we had a good weekend.

On Friday night, we saw The Black Keys and Flaming Lips. The show was good, but the pre-show dinner was spectacular. We ate before the show at the Patron Platinum Club in Bridgestone Arena. You guys, it was so swank. The restaurant has a private entrance, so we didn't wait in line. They served a fancy buffet style dinner, with southern themed dishes made to match the night's show. The service was incredible, and when I walked through the restaurant the staff flattened themselves against the wall and made after you gestures like I was Kate Middleton or something. Then they made me a fancy drink to go and I was like Do we have to leave please please can I live here forever? See? That's a good weekend!

Why HELLO, Lovely Felt Flower Brooch.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:05:00 +0000

After almost two weeks of coughing, I've finally kicked the Evil Bronchitis of Doom. A few days ago I simply decided I was so over being sick, and that was the turning point. Coincidence, or mind over matter? At any rate, I'm relieved to finally feel human again.

While I was sick, I spent most of my time sipping tea, watching Once Upon a Time, and making felt flowers. At our wedding I want to have lots of felt flowers similar to those created my Muncle Fred Art on etsy. Since I have more free time than money, I'm making my own flowers, and they look really good!

While I was at it, I made this brooch, too. It's gotten so many compliments at work, and it was super easy. I just made 3 small flowers using these instructions, glued them to a felt circle with a few leaves from a sprig of fake flowers, and glued a pin back onto the whole shebang. Voilà!

I'm looking forward to a full weekend: Tonight we're seeing the Flaming Lips and Black Keys. Saturday we're working on our super secret project. And on Sunday we're going to a backyard barbecue to celebrate a friend's birthday. What are you doing this weekend?

Infographic Save the Date with a Timeline and Venn Diagram: Let's Tell 'Em When We're Getting Hitched!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Stop the presses! Hold the phone! Look at this! Our friend Stefanie designed our infographic style Save the Date, and words can't even describe how much I love it. She chose such playful fonts. They really make our story come alive! Keith and I had so much fun reminiscing about our most special times together... and the Man With the Coat story.* We made a list of events and sent them to Stefanie. Then Stefanie helped us edit our timeline to make it more cohesive and give it broader appeal. Because it's not about us, really. I want everyone else to enjoy it, too!

It's going to be on a postcard, and the back of the card lists the wedding location and date: October 5, 2013.

HOW amazing is Stefanie?!?!?!

* I was gobsmacked-smitten I felt when I first saw The Man With the Coat at Exit/In, but over the next 9 months, his face became a hazy blur. All I remembered were the butterflies in my gut, the coat, and a shaggy haircut. I pined over The Man With the Coat all spring and summer, then started dating Keith in the fall. One night Keith showed up at my house wearing the coat, and my jaw dropped. He didn't have the same hair as The Man With the Coat... But was it him? I casually brought up the show where I first spied him. Yep, Keith was there. I casually brought up haircuts. Over the summer, Keith had cut his hair short for job interviews. I'D BEEN DATING THE MAN WITH THE COAT FOR A MONTH! I am so having a wedding portrait done wearing my bridal gown and that coat.

Wedding Inspiration: White Flowers, Twinkling Lights, Mercury Glass, and Apothecary Jars. Or, In Which I Talk About NOT Talking About Weddings Too Much, and then Talk About Nothing But Weddings Anyway.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Hi! Remember me? It's been a while. I realize that my upcoming wedding is a LOT more interesting to me than it is to everyone else. I don't want to be that girl who mindlessly babbles about chiavari chairs, menus, centerpieces, and mermaid versus ballgown silhouettes while everyone gives her the side-eye. I used to work with that girl. She sucked!

What librarian's wedding would be complete without a few books thrown into the centerpieces? Source

I'm trying not to bore y'all with wedding stuff, and as a result, I've dropped off the face of the earth. To stay sane and not entirely wedding obsessed, I started a knitting project and a redecorating project, but they're not ready to be revealed. And to top it off, I've been fighting a nasty case of bronchitis since Sunday!

I want a sweetheart table! Source

So I'm going to share our wedding planning progress, because a )I'm so damn excited about it, and b) I don't have much else to tell you. And if you don't like it, I recommend checking out what Lladybird is sewing or what funny thing Kimmie has to say today or Karen's amazing house-flipping project. Let the wedding talk (and inspiration images) begin!

Mercury glass, white flowers, and white candles! Source

Last week I met Jim, the owner of Chef's Market, to do a food tasting and plan a menu. He does a lot of weddings, and his professionalism and experience are so reassuring--not to mention his enthusiasm for a lakeside October wedding! He rhapsodized about the one other lakeside wedding he's done in a way that made me feel really special and creative, as if I'd invented the damn lake myself. Working with Jim will make a bride-to-be walk away saying Why yes, I am completely amazing! How lovely of you to notice!

Distinctive linens! White flowers! And oh my god, that chandelier! Source

Since the wedding decor is to my taste, I wanted our menu to reflect Keith's tastes. I told Jim that Keith is a Texan who loves beef brisket and Nashville style hot chicken. Jim helped us craft the perfect menu and even offered to invent a new Hot Chicken Bite appetizer just for us. He was gleefully rubbing his hands together, like Yay I get to experiment with food! He loves what he does, and I loved everything I tasted. Any bride who chooses Chef's Market is in good hands.

I absolutely love love assemblages of vintage stuff.
This is how I incorporate my beloved phrenology head into our wedding! Source

Jim recommended Liberty Party Rental, so we met with them the following morning to choose tents, linens, tables, chairs, china, glassware, and flatware. Working with one company = Paying just one delivery fee. Here's an important thing to be aware of when choosing a party rental vendor: All of them charge a "Breakage fee" because guess what Captain Obvious, stuff might break. Some of them charge a redundant "Replacement fee" to replace anything that actually breaks. That is a total rip off and you should avoid those companies.

These natural elements would be perfect at the lake. Source

Liberty Party Rental isn't a rip off, and playing in their showroom was possibly the highlight of my week. We played Table Dress-Up! We took our favorite linens, china, and glassware, and set the table to see how it would all look together. And then we did it again, and again, and again. Tablescapes are just decorating on a smaller scale, y'all. The only thing that didn't impress me was the linen: I practically grew up in fabric stores, and I have very specific ideas about how fabric should look and feel. Mom agreed, and we decided she'd make custom runners that we'll place atop basic ivory tablecloths.

I'm not crazy about the barn setting or dark chairs, but I love the tablecloth.
It's very similar to the fabric I chose for our custom table runners. Source

We found the perfect fabric for the runners at Jo-Ann Fabrics on Monday, It's a super-swanky home dec fabric, but it's 50% off right now, so we're placing an order for massive quantities of it. Like, enough to smother an elephant. I ordered 10 yards of ivory felt, too, for making flowers. Soon it will be time for the fun part: Making the flowers and collecting the bell jars, apothecary jars, candles, candle holders, antique oddities, and vintage books that I'll use to dress the tables!!!

No wedding of mine would be complete without apothecary jars. Source

In between all of this crazy wedding stuff, Keith has been so supportive, creative, and funny. I feel closer to him than ever. He's full of inspiration right now for his own projects--think electromagnets, electrons moving through vacuums, and using centirugal force to... wait, it's not patented yet! I need to stop right there! But he's brilliant, and I love what he's working on. Best of all, I get it, and I like talking about it. I even gave him a few of the ideas he's incorporated into this project, and I'm proud of that. We bounce ideas off each other every night while weaving lots of quotes from Idiocracy into every conversation... And while I cough uncontrollably. I really want to kick this bronchitis soon!

P.S. MY VEIL ARRIVED YESTERDAY! I picked it up after work and wore it around the house for an hour before Keith got home because veils are really, really flattering, dammit. I want to wear it all the time. I was all, "Keith, want to see my veil?" NO HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEE IT. He's superstitious about NOT seeing my wedding gear before the big day. It's pretty cute.

April 2013 Ipsy Bag: Pretty in Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:35:00 +0000

For those of you just tuning in, Ipsy is a beauty subscription service. For $10 a month, Ipsy sends 4 - 5 surprise beauty products to your door in a cute cosmetics bag. They even mail it all in a sparkly pink envelope! Seeing that envelope in my mailbox always makes me jump up and down like a little kid. If you like trying new things, Ipsy is for you.

Last month's Ipsy bag was a big disappointment, but the Pretty in Pink bag completely makes up for it. This is my favorite bag so far! I've been rocking the blushing bride-to-be look with flushed cheeks, full hair, and a bit of subtle shimmer, so I like everything in this bag. And two of this month's items are full size! It's a great value, too: It's worth three and a half times what I paid for it.

Sation Nail Polish (full size): $5.00

Be a Bombshell blush in Beach Please (full size): $16.00

MICABeauty Cosmetics eyeshadow in Earth (2.0 gram deluxe sample): $11.96

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play (0.07 oz sample): $2.11

TOTAL VALUE: $35.07

But is this stuff any good? Oh yeah.

The Sation Nail Polish is a slightly thin formula that goes on sheer, but 3 coats build up to create an opaque, Pepto Bismol pink nail. It's not my favorite color, but it's a fun springtime novelty. I'm impressed by the polish's durability. With a topcoat, it looked perfect for four days. That's practically unheard of for me! It's versatile, too, since it can be worn sheer or not.

I loved the Be a Bombshell lip gloss in my first Ipsy bag, and the blush is just as good. It's INSANELY bright pink, but a very light dusting of it looks great on the skin. It's already become part of my daily beauty routine; I've worn it every day since I received my bag. A little goes a long way, so this will last a long time! This brand is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine.

The MICABeauty eyeshadow is a loose pink mineral powder with a gold sheen. It's very fine, and it creates a subtle but noticeable shimmer that looks good on the eyes or as a highlight on the cheekbones. This is classy shimmer, not stripper shimmer. It will make you glow!

As much as I like the other items, the Big Sexy Hair Powder Play is probably my favorite item... mostly because I can't figure out how it works. It fascinates me! When I sprinkle it into the roots of my hair, flip my head over, and mess it up, the powder solidifies to invisibly support my hair. It's like having a spidersilk-thin skeleton supporting your roots. My hair stands up just enough to give it body, but not enough to make it look weird. When dry shampoo leaves me with flat hair, this stuff fixes it. I'll buy a full size bottle when this runs out.

There are two unusual things about this month's bag that are worth mentioning:

1. Ipsy started using DHL to ship their bags this month, and my bag arrived much later than usual. I'm not too concerned about that, because hey, the bag arrived. But that's a thing that happened.

2. I didn't receive the cute pink and white bag that other subscribers received this month. As you can see, my things came in a blue, green, and white bag. Ipsy sent a note saying the original bag manufactured for me "didn't match Ipsy's high quality standards," so they sent me a substitute, and I'll receive the pink and white bag next month. I don't care, because I'm not really into the bags anyway. I'm all about the makeup! If I could choose to forego bags altogether and receive more makeup, I would.

That concludes this month's Ipsy bag review. I heard other subscribers received different eye shadow and hair products. What did you get? Did you like it?

Beaches, Leis, Mai Tais and Mickey Mouse... We're Taking a Disney Hawai'ian Honeymoon!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Aulani Resort Beach ... Can I go there NOW? Please?

Keith booked our Hawai'i honeymoon on Sunday afternoon. His parents offered us some of their Disney Vacation Club points as a wedding present so we can stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort on O'ahu. UM YES PLEASE OMG THANK YOU! My future in-laws are the nicest. I'm excited because O'ahu is next to Kauai, where they filmed Jurassic Park. We're going island hopping and dinosaur hunting! Okay, time to gank pictures of Aulani and Hawai'ian beaches for your viewing pleasure.

Whoa.

It was surreal to listen to Keith planning the practicalities: "We'd like to be there one full week. No, I think we'd like to fly out the morning after the wedding. Jen's last name won't be legally changed yet, so let's let's book it with her maiden name." Keith's mom really wanted to give me their last name on the travel documents--she said she's just so excited that I'm joining their family. When Keith told me that, I nearly cried!

Kauai! I can't wait to hike a volcano.

Want to know something strange?

On Sunday night, I felt unexpectedly sad while browsing through a wedding planning/vendor guide booklet. Each two-page spread featured a real wedding and promoted the venues, caterers, photographers, and planners that brought the event together. I looked at each page and thought No, I don't need that. No, I've already chosen my photographer. No, that Botanical Garden is beautiful but I don't need a venue anymore. I didn't understand... why was it making me so sad?! I felt like I was about to cry, and it was weird.

Oahu isn't too shabby, either!

I'm the oldest of three girls, and I grew up in a family that encouraged a lot of wedding talk. When we'd walk past a jewelry store, Mom would encourage us to look in the windows and pick our favorite rings. When we'd visit a beautiful place, Mom would always say things like, "Maybe one of you girls will get married here," or "Wouldn't this be a nice place to have a reception?" And this was when we were eight years old.

Aulani at night

Usually we'd roll our eyes at her and laugh. But in the same way that it's fun to plan an outfit for a party or create a decorating scheme for a room, it was fun to think about what we might want to do for our weddings someday. It was girlish daydreaming, full of what if? Anything was possible, and any pretty picture in a magazine represented something that I might do or make for myself someday. But now that time is gone. I'm not a girl daydreaming about what my wedding might be like someday. Now I'm a woman who knows what my wedding will be like, because it's happening in six months and I've booked half the vendors. I was sad because I enjoyed that time of hopeful daydreaming, and it's over now.

Aulani has horseback riding!!! YESSSSSSS!

When I told Keith how I felt, he was so encouraging and sweet: "Now the adventure begins! We'll just have to plan more special things. More vacations and parties and things we can look forward to doing together." Is he a gem, or what? Still, I think it's going to take me a minute to get over this. Did anyone else feel this way when they got married? Was it bittersweet to let go of all the pretty possibilities you didn't choose and all the fairytale what ifs?

When is a Fairy Tale a Sci-Fi Time Travel Novel? When It's Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I often wonder why some books rise above others and become paragons of their genres and part of the literary canon, while other equally engaging stories are read, loved, awarded, and then all but forgotten by the literati. Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper, originally published in 1991, sheds some light on the phenomenon: Beauty is an imaginative story that marries classic fairy tales, time travel, faerie myth, environmentalism, and feminism. Keith and his mother both love this book, and I read it at their behest. It's an engaging story, but it often loses its focus and is encumbered by ham-fisted political diatribes. It's a shame; I think a more tightly edited version of Beauty could have become a timeless piece of literature.

The title character is born in the 13th century to a French Duke and a beautiful fairy who abandons the family soon after Beauty's birth. The reader quickly surmises that Beauty is known to most of us in the 21st century as Sleeping Beauty. But our protagonist neatly sidesteps her somnolent fate and goes on a quest to find her mother. Meanwhile, the rest of her household are in the throes of a deep, enchanted sleep.

Beauty experiences events that inspired classic fairy tales, and the differences between the Disney stories and Beauty's experiences are often very funny. The grim events Beauty witnesses in the future are sobering, and Tepper's take on the Faerie world is chilling. Tepper's talent is obvious; a lesser writer couldn't make the reader feel so deeply.

But Tepper often interrupts her story to beat the reader about the head with a variety of themes: Ugliness is steadily replacing beauty in our world as species die out and natural settings are destroyed! True. Authors who write horror stories bring another kind of ugliness into the world (I'm not entirely sold on that point)! Rape is bad! Thank you, Captain Obvious.

I wish Tepper had narrowed her focus to just one theme. As it stands, the story lacks cohesion. And once Tepper chose a single theme, I would have liked for Tepper to show, rather than scream, this theme. A bit of subtlety and restraint go a long way with such screamingly obvious topics!

Despite the lack of focus and clumsy political rants, I like this book. I fell deeply into the worlds Tepper builds, and I admire the dexterous means by which she connects these separate worlds into a smooth, convincing story. Unlike many Goodreads readers, I had no trouble keeping track of characters, times, or places. Each one has such unique characteristics, it's easy to remember who is who! When I finished the story, I felt like I was leaving friends behind. Read this book for the new version of old fairy tales, and please forgive it for its lack of subtlety.

Here Comes the Bridal Librarian: I Bought My Wedding Dress! I Wonder If It Will Look Good with a Cardigan?

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:36:00 +0000

I bought my wedding dress on Monday, and once it's had some minor alterations, it's going to be perfect. It's surreal; I can't believe I found my dress in just one day! To be honest, I wasn't terribly thrilled about wedding dress shopping. I expected it would be a lot like swimsuit shopping: Everything would make my boobs look weird, I wouldn't find anything ideal, and eventually I'd settle for something that was less horrible than the others. Isn't that sad?

So I approached dress shopping with grim military precision: I pinned dozens of dresses I like and listed the precise qualities I like about them. Then I made a separate list of the cuts and styles that are most flattering on me (with this book in one hand and a measuring tape in the other, you can't go wrong). Then I Venn Diagrammed the two lists to come up with the criteria that would create The Perfect Jen Dress. OCD much? Um, yeah. *grin* These dresses were my inspiration.

Onyx Gown from BHLDN: Tulle ballgown skirt! Tiny waist and embellished bodice! STRAPS!

I wanted a big ballgown style dress with a tulle skirt, lots of embellishment on top, and straps or sleeves. I went to the dress shop armed with this list of criteria. Since one of my criteria was NO STRAPLESS DRESSES, I did not go to the dress shop armed with a strapless bra. BIG MISTAKE.

Aspen Gown by San Patrick: Tulle Ballgown! Cap Sleeves! Sweetheart neckline!

My mother and I visited a well-known Brentwood bridal boutique that carries big name designers. Almost all the dresses were strapless. In a cruel twist of fate, the strapless dresses fit my other design criteria regarding silhouette, embellishment, etc. But the non-strapless dresses did not meet any of my other criteria. They were all mermaid style dresses. BUMMER! The proprietress assured me that she could add sleeves and straps to any dress I liked, so I began trying on the strapless tulle ballgowns. With my big vintage style, full-coverage, non-strapless bra. Awkward.

Artico Gown by San Patrick: Tulle Ballgown! Embellished Bodice! Not Strapless!

She didn't offer me any other undergarments, and each time I stepped out of the dressing room, I looked and felt like an idiot. The entire shop was the size of my living room, and it was crowded with prom shoppers. They all stared in horror at my grandma bra. It was creeping out of the ballgowns like it was trying to eat my chest. I stepped onto the platform, and the proprietress asked how high my wedding heels would be. I said, "Oh, I'm wearing flats." She clutched imaginary pearls and said, "OH!" This shop was making me feel like a freak. It was time to go.

Parker Gown by David Tutera for Mon Cheri: Tulle ballgown! Not strapless! Are we sensing a trend?

I mouthed "Get me out of here!" to my mother. She followed me to the dressing room and offered me Xanax. WTF?!?!?! Oh, Mom. Mom, Mom, Mom. Pills are not the answer! I told her, "I don't need drugs. I need a dress store that doesn't make me feel like a weirdo." We left and looked for another place to try on dresses.

I didn't really want to go to David's Bridal, because I'd heard their quality isn't great and that their salesladies act like high-pressure used car salesmen. But all the other boutiques were closed on Monday, so we went there just to look. We stealthily slipped by the front desk while the salesladies were distracted by other customers, congratulated ourselves on our sneakiness, and started greedily pawing through their dresses. Without any salespeople hovering over me, dress shopping was a lot more fun!

Casablanca Bridal 2091 Gown: Tulle ballgown! Straps! Pretty belt!

They had more non-strapless styles than I expected, and a dizzying mix of high and low quality dresses. But I found half a dozen dresses made of good quality fabric that fit my criteria. Armed with proper undergarments, I began playing dress-up. The sixth dress I tried was The One. Ohmygoodness, was it ever The One! When I stepped out of the dressing room, my mother made a hilariously emotional face. I loved what I saw in the mirror. Other shoppers came over to admire me. I felt like a peacock and a princess and a celebrity rolled into a single poofy white tulle package.

Wedding Gown by Orkalia: Sparkly tulle! Long sleeves! Embellished bodice! MY FAVORITE.

I preened for about 45 minutes. I examined it closely, asked questions about some minor details that I'll change, and had it bustled. I chatted with my dad on the phone: "You found a three foot long snake skin in the basement? COOL! Hey, guess what I found? My wedding dress! But enough about that. What kind of snake do you think it is?" I tried the dress on in a larger size to see what that might look like, but the size 8 was perfect. My mother took a dozen pictures and sent them to my sisters. I bought the dress and a mantilla style veil, and I'm so glad I don't have to think about it anymore! Now I can start focusing on the reception decor, woo-hoo!