Blue skies shining on me

Sometimes I make myself think of that song when we are having the weather we're having... flood warnings on the horizon.

I have a new problem. Something I do that I know I shouldn't do, yet continue to do anyway. I fall in love with photographers. Like head-first, sigh-invoking, undying adoration. Poor F, still first in my life, but it's a close tie. Now, more than just the obvious problem with this (love with inanimate, online objects isn't enough?), the problem is that I fall in love with them before I check the price tags. F and I are doing things on a budget because we are probably financing most, if not all, of the wedding on our own. Actually, I'm thinking less than budget, we're doing things on the cheap. Unfortunately I have a certain level of class and elegance that I want on the cheap. So where does that leave us with photography? It is an expensive reminder of an important day and it is something I can't part with. Some brides go with the informal route by relying only on photos taken by friends and family, but I can't. I want that wide-skied, enlarged on canvas shot that makes F and I look amazing.

So what are my other options? Young photographer looking for new business is also an option, but due to our long engagement I can't start looking for them quite yet, but I want to get this nailed down.

Splurge more on photography than I planned is another option. But I want good photography for a good price, I just can't see myself spending $4000 on photography!

Oh, and the way I judge good photography? If they include a photo on their blog that is black and white, with something (usually roses) in color, I immediately close the web page.

Sigh.

Miss Penny Lane

I have been obsessed with movies lately. I don't know if it's the cold that is making me want to hibernate with a movie on (with snow starting to fall again!), or what. I've been drawing a lot of inspiration for the wedding from movies... some make sense and some are more random. I'm trying to get some really good shots, but I'm still collecting them so I'll make that my next post. Look forward to Mamma Mia, 27 Dresses among others.

Welcome to the new year! It is going to be a year of significant changes for me. Graduating from college and trying to find a job, applying for grad school, planning a wedding, moving out and moving in, finding time for creative endeavors and physical ones too. I've made a list of sorts; a list of goals- not resolutions- but goals. I haven't made resolutions in years, I consider those something that are made to be broken since they are never considered in exactly a positive light. For immediate goals in terms of wedding planning are finding a venue and setting a date. Also I want to sit down with F and prioritize where finances need to be spent.

Speaking of F, I need a little vent session. One of my biggest pet peeves since becoming engaged is having people 'remind' me to call F "fiance". F and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary this month (!!!) and for the majority of this relationship my main nickname for him has been "boyfriend" or I shorten it to "BF", and in turn he calls me "girlfriend". So as you can imagine, it gets a little tiring when I refer to something "my boyfriend did" and people laughingly say "not boyfriend" or "you mean, fiance?". Technically, I guess yes I do mean that, but I assume if you are a friend or family member, you are aware of this nickname I have for him. And when I say I don't really like the label "fiance" I get bizarre looks. That term is just not us. Irritation ensues.

In other news, I have found a new beautiful, if not dangerous, website. Beautiful because of the amazing vintage creations, dangerous because of the price tags. Trashy Diva creations.

Love the print on this one!

Beautiful top, with the puckering

I love this coloring on this one, and it is on sale!

I think I'm drooling.

Wow...

Apparently it has been over a month since there was a new post on this blog, but it doesn't feel like it! It has been a crazy crazy last month for me. I have just returned from my study abroad adventure, and was thrown straight into Christmas. I only had one hiccup in my travels back and that was in Chicago- my flight got canceled and I spent the night in the O'hare airport! But I was luckily able to get back home before the really bad weather hit there... The day after I got home the snow started; the snow, oh my goodness. We have had record breaking amounts of snowfall for December. It was fun and pretty at first, but mostly annoying and ridiculous now.

But now that that is all over with, it is time to return to the real world :sigh: "Recent college grad searches for job, plans wedding, and organizes life" That is my headline from now on. Plus I need to catch up on my American tv! Ha :)

Speaking of catching up, with the craziness that was the end of the term with traveling and writing more than I thought possible... I let my Google reader go. And now it is just out of control. It was over 1000 new entries after the first week, and now I've been putting off just sitting down and going through it... I've got to man up and do it! I think I'm going to find a way to organize it, is it possible to have more than one? My wedding blogs are a little overwhelming at this point.

I've also discovered a sick love affair that I never thought I would have. Actually, make that two.

The first:

Leg warmers.

F got me some for Christmas, they sort of look like the ones pictures above (which are from Monsoon/Accessorize ... which I sadly no longer have access too), they are that cream color with the cable knit pattern. But I love them! I wore them with my thick brown tights, jean skirt, and brown men's jumper from H&M. I was warm, even though it was freezing out. Very retro, but I love them anyway.

Second thing: Martha Stewart Weddings
I have never really been a huge Martha Stewart fan (and not just for her criminal record), but I've always thought she was a little out of touch for the everyday person. But now. Now. I realize her creative genius! Her wedding magazine is mouth-watering, and her website is beautiful! There are so many items of inspiration on that web page, it is hard to not get back into wedding planning with zest!

I'm still collecting wedding inspiration. But I have been trying to keep creative. I knit myself a pair of fingerless gloves that I absolutely love and will post a picture of later. And I used my sewing skills and made a knitting needle holder for my grandmother.

And I've been reading the Twilight series... And so has my mother...

10-10-10

Yep... we're keeping this date.

This weekend was all about getting the parents on board: mission accomplished.

-Anna

This is the most important election America has seen in a long time... make sure your voice is heard. VOTE!

New board for today: Green and cream


And this really cool website I found on What Junebug Loves

Wordle! Put text in and it randomizes it, but you can also edit the colors and the layout (to an extent). This could definitely be helpful when creating invitations and save the dates. Plus, it's also just a fun time :D

Yay!

2009...?
I found the dress! It's a white cocktail-length vintage-looking dress. I'm going to wear it with a birdcage veil.

I'm going along with Plan A, after all. Autumn brunch wedding in the Pacific Northwest. Classy yet relaxed.

Cake replaced by a pastry tower.

Fiance is on board.

-Anna