Vintage Wedding Dresses

I have been gifted my Grandmom's, my GREAT Grandmom's, and my Mom's Wedding Dresses.  They are beautiful!  Below are some photos.

My Grandmom Lucy is in the striped dress - top left.

My GREAT Grandmom Angelina is seated.

Lucy (my Grandmom) was married sometime in the 30s.  She is the center bride below.  On the left is a picture of the dress today  I don't have the sheath underdress, but the sheer overdress is beautiful.  There are large covered buttons all down the front edged in lace.  It also has the train you see in the picture.

I don't have a picture of my Great Grandmom Angelina in her wedding dress, but I've put it on.  Clearly I am too tall and large. My Grandmom was under 5', guessing Angelina was even smaller and I'm 5'8").

It's just a beautiful dress though.  I believe she was married in the early teens. 

Below are pictures of my mom on her wedding day.  The dress is two layers; the outer layer is encrusted with lace.  My parents were married in 1973.

20 Things to do Without - Budget Wedding Planning

I'd like our guests leaving our wedding to turn and say to each other something along the lines of, "Dang that was FUN! and her dress was [or she looked] amazing!" (amazing in a good way).

With that goal and the type of people we are in mind, we've set out to create a non-traditional take on this traditional event without going crazy or breaking the bank.  

The invite list is 140, which if  80% attend, is 112 guests.  So, it's a challenge with any sort of reasonable budget for a Philly Center City wedding.

Admittedly, the budget part was made a tad bit trickier when I fell in love with (and my loving partner agreed to) a venue that was out of our original budget.  BUT, it IS amazing!  I'm super stoked.

Place, food, & alcohol are the main ticket items.  Those we are not compromising on.  We want the food&drink to be 1) delicious and 2) plentiful.

There are, however, many things i am willing to give up or compromise on that are usually part of a traditional wedding.  Reasons are not only monetary, but the overall goal and tone of the reception/wedding/party dictates a more laid back approach.

We've been together for 10 years and own a house, so we already consider ourselves committed to each other for life.  This wedding reception is really all about celebrating with everyone.

We've also decided to pull it all off in three months from The day we decided to get hitched legally it to the day of the reception (which in wedding time, is akin to deciding to host Thanksgiving the Monday beforehand).

So, here's my "can be cut" list:

1. Officiant - Pennsylvania actually allows for you to marry yourselves (thank you Quakers!) which is more in keeping with our personal beliefs anyways.

2. Traditional Ceremony - For us, this part is really just about the two of us.  We may do a small ceremony another night before the big reception just for immediate family.  This will maximize social & party time at the reception/party.  Plus, you don't have the costs of a church, unity candle, choir/soloist, tipping the servers, etc., etc.

3. Being walked down the aisle and/or bride entrance - I guess this seems redundant from number 2, but I thought I'd explain.  I don't belong to my parents (anymore) for them to give me away.  I also want for us to greet our guests as they arrive.  A friend did this at her wedding and I loved it.  It will set the tone for the wedding and we'll also get to say hello to everyone right away.

4. "First Look" - I want to look like myself, just on a great hair & face day & with a great dress on.  I also don't want to spend 3+ hours of the day apart from my groom.  It is okay if we get ready in our house together.  I want to spend the day together :)

5. Groom's Attire - I want him to be comfy and feel good.  I'm not about to pick out his clothing for him.  Plus, he has style.  He is also allowed to look like himself (!), just a little dressed up.  We aren't the kind of people that wear tuxes or suits all the time.

7. Invitations - originally, I wanted to send an e-vite only.  It is environmentally friendly, cost effective, and fast.  A friend did this for his reception and it was fine.  However, we have quite a long list and there are some folks who don't use email (really!).  So, we've compromised.  We opted for postcards which ask for folks to RSVP via phone or email.  Postcards = less postage + less waste.  Plus, I designed/drew them myself, so I didn't pay for design fees.

8. Engagement Pictures - well, we weren't really engaged.  We're just gonna get married.  I guess that means we're engaged, but it just feels like us as it always has.  We have pictures from our 10 years together that we really like (such as vacation photos from around the world) and they'll be lots of pictures from the wedding.

9. Wedding Photographer - staged photos are not really us.  Ridiculous photos - yes, but spending an hour before the reception taking pictures outside, not so much.  Wedding photos always look like wedding photos.  They are great, but not necessary for us.  We will crowd source our photos with a # for instagram/twitter & have created a shared Flickr so everyone can upload/download each other's photos.

10. Rehearsal Dinner - with the chance that so many folks'll be in from out of town, why would I want to not see them? We'll play the day as it goes.  We will [and by "we" I mean the ladies will] decorate during the day and see who's around for dinner all together.  It's also an added expense that is not necessary.  It'll be just as fun to be at home with everyone gathered around.

11. Real Flowers - this may change as I suddenly have a hook-up here, but they are also not environmentally friendly and they just die.  I am somewhat conflicted about flowers.  If we are not having a traditional ceremony, a bouquet seems silly.  Maybe I will compromise on the table centerpieces.  We'll see.

12. DJ - SPOTIFY, baby.  One list for dinner, one for dancing. Boom.  Plus, we can curate the list, so it's amazing. Yep.

13. Bridal Party - It's not necessary since there will not be a traditional ceremony or shower.  Plus, I've just saved all the ladies I'm closest to $1000 each. AND they get to wear whatever they want.

14. Bridal Shower - We have so many household and decorative items, we could have a reverse-shower! Ha! That's not a bad idea actually...

15. Toasts - We know our families love us.  We know we're fabulous.  Let's all just hug it out and celebrate.  No need for someone super close to us to be nervous all night until their speech.

16. Engagement Ring - I'm a practical gal.  I'd rather spend it on the house or a vacation.  Also, I'm supposed to inherit some diamonds (don't worry, I'm not waiting on someone to die).  If I do, I may have a ring set.  We will probably get wedding bands, although maybe not right away.

17. Honeymoon Right Away - This may have to wait a bit or we may do a mini-moon.

18. New Shoes - I already have so many fantastic pairs.  I already know what I'm wearing.  PLUS, I can dance all night without blisters.  AND, they're blue :)

19. Hair/Make-up - again, I want to look like me.  Plus, I know what I like.  Although, I may have to pick up a new shade of lipstick...

20. New Jewelry - I was gifted with some heirloom pearls - a bracelet & earrings.  I will def wear the bracelet, earrings and other jewelry will depend on how the dress turns out.  I have my mom's prom necklace that I may wear as well.  It is Audrey-esq-classy and sparkly.

_____________
That cuts out some things.  I am also somewhat crafty (she's crafty!), so I'm planning on some DIY:

Tablecloths (almost done, actually)
Decorations (started)
Centerpieces
Favors
Dress (have the fabric, haven't started yet, still have 2 months...)
Photobooth! (although, we may purchase a new camera for this, but then we'd have a new camera)
Cake Topper (started)

I'm looking forward to a great party!  I'll let you know how it turns out.

On Quitting My Job

Just about 3 months ago, I quit my job without plans to work anytime soon. For those who don’t know me, I have done this before.  I am a serial quitter.  Although the last time I quit, it was 10 years ago.

When I quit in February, I had been working in Admissions at the same university for over 8 years.  I loved the university.  I am the type of person who is “all in” and works very hard.  I was recognized for my hard work by being promoted thoughout my time there.  In a team-building exercise where we all picked the animal that described a given partner, I was described as a work horse.  Being an All-In personality, work was like the nursery rhyme, where “the girl” is work:

I once knew a girl with a curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good, she was very very good,

But when she was bad, she was wicked.

In the months leading up to leaving the position, work was wicked.  I was consumed by this job and my life swung on the pendulum of my daily employment experience.  I was even dreaming about work – stressful, tiring dreams.  I’d wake exhausted and sluggish.  I was irritable, depressed.  I found myself wanting to be mean.  And as mom always said that the one thing there was no excuse for was meanness.

I do miss the walking commute.  Not enough to replicate it now, but a walking commute is a definite perk of living + working in the city.  The 45 minutes each way was refreshing and gave me a chance to listen to NPR.  I liked feeling in shape and I liked encouraging my mind to wander off or get lost in NPR stories.

Ten years ago when I quit a job, I felt clear about doing so.  About a year into that position, I had gone on a 2 week vacation, spending time with and visiting friends in Europe.  I still remember such strong feelings of happiness and thinking, “I am SO happy!  I don’t remember the last time I was this happy.”  When I returned, I decided to evaluate my life and get back to the place where I was happy, or at least content in my everyday life.  In the following months, I quit my job.  This was the best decision I had made to that point in my life.  I was convinced of it then and still now.  It was a “crazy” move.  Here was a good paying job in my field I had landed just out of college.  I had little to no savings.  I did not have another job lined up.

I am a “people person”.  Truly.  I have always loved customer service.  When I worked at a bookstore, I loved working the register.  In Admissions, I loved talking with and meeting students.  When I left my job, I thought I’d be lonely being home by myself each day.  I am not.  I do not miss people.  Maybe six months from now, I will.  I have many things I want to accomplish; I focus on those projects.  I see my partner when he returns home.  That is nice.  But, I don’t feel the need to spend every evening around my partner.  I will often spend at least part the evening by myself in my studio.  I still have NPR.  This is the link I need to the outside world.

It’s a difficult decision quitting your job when society is telling you, “Career! Money! Promotion!”.  Even now, I have stressful dreams and panic when I allow myself to drift into the “what if I can’t find a job once I need one” or other self-doubt thinking quick-sand.  I keep from being completely submerged by remembering how miserable I was before I quit and how that unhappiness was bleeding into every part of my life. It is a stark contrast with how satisfied and happy I am now unemployed.  Happy.  Not content – happy.  It is a gift I’ve allowed myself to accept.

This is not a good economy to quit a job. When you are looking at a possible promotion, are a home-owner (of a fixer-upper, no less), and have health issues (SLE), the idea of quitting your job is scary.  For people not in my inner-circle living with my day-to-day, it is inconceivable. 

Additionally, the working world in our society does not understand the concept of taking time off or studio-focused unemployment.  If you are not working, there must be something wrong with you.  A hole in your resume is a stigma difficult to overcome.  It is a shame that employers seem to be unable to see how enriching time off can be, and how that enrichment can make an employee an eager, open, and positive asset to a company’s workforce. 

How does one know if the right decision is to leave your job?  It can be an even more difficult decision if a job situation changes dramatically in a very short time.  A few months before I left my job, I thought I’d be at that university for another 5 or 10 years.  I was in such a good situation such a short time before a seemingly impossible situation.

A past boss used to say, there are 3 sides to any situation: your side, their side, and the truth.  While there are always things that could have been done differently, I do not know that it matters.  What matters is not who was right, who was wrong (or who was more right or more wrong), but where, after the dust is settled, you arrive.  I can say that while painful, the process of and time leading up to my leaving was very valuable. 

Some things, such as when I approached a boss about my concerns, being told that I must already have another job lined up because not everyone would appreciate the way I looked, will stay with me.  That same person had also let slip years before to a colleague that I wouldn’t be promoted until I changed the way I dressed because I looked to young (no bright colors, sparkles, sequins, ruffles…).  I started wearing all black and dressing more conservatively, and “poof!” I was promoted.  These will be hard for me to let go (clearly!).

But, I will also take away with me important lessons about dealing with people and supervision.  I will take with me the outpouring of support and love when I left from colleagues across the university.  Their recognition stays with me.  It turns out, people do notice when you work hard.  People do notice when you are polite.  People notice when you prioritize their needs over your own work.  People appreciate when you actually care about the people you work with.  This was the most important lesson and the best validation I could have asked for.

I’m not advocating that quitting your job is the right strategy for everyone who is employed in a difficult situation.  But I also think that taking a chance on yourself, on business ventures, on personal projects, and actively changing a negative daily routine is not a mistake.  I have the opportunity to wait for the right position of employment.  I have the opportunity to re-boot, to center myself, and to reconnect with the things I love about myself.  I am happy.  I am healthy.  It feels great.  And not only am I not sorry that I quit, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

2012!

DAG, it's been a while...

If you've been following my Art of the Day, thank you!  It has been ongoing for nearly 3 months! Woot.

I'm going to share some Christmas home decor (some changes from last year, some new things!) before January is completely over (doh!).  I've creates some montages (yep, you know I love 'em) to fit in the photos.  ENJOY!

Swooped the banister garland instead of wrapping it like last year. Think it works well with the curves. 

 TREE of course! LOVE. Moved Santa and the stockings around this year from last year.

I also LOVE to wrap gifts! Yay! Captain Baddy-E also loves to play in them :)

Some new ornaments this year! [Clockwise from 9] The cat ornament S picked out b/c he said it looked like Eva (hehe). Retro wrapped balls from the 60s in their original box! Eyeball from the holiday bazaar hosted by  ArtStar. Pizza and beer from moms and dads from Oak Island, NC.

I also LOVE Santas.  Above are some old and some new...

I went a different direction with the "chandeliers" from last year.  Next year, I may try something in between.

Mantle fun...

I dressed our reindeer with the tails from my first tap recital!  They are sequin edged.  I also put an ornament in the center of the wreath above the mantle.  The snowman is so cute and perfect!

 Some around the house stuff...wreaths on the back door...

Creepy dolls all Christmas-ed out, cookies, Santa...

And SANTA HEAD!  He happily presides over the dinner table.

Happy October!
Man, life is busy.  It's good to have things to do, but the days do sure fly by...

I'll share some good olde invitation GD I did for a September Wedding Shower.  The themes of the wedding are music (both are musicians) and books (both went back to school while together).  The bride also loves with her shoes/shoes in general.  So, I tried to work all of that into the invite.  FUN!

Front:

Label is taken from an old 20s label design.

 Back:

Searched for appropriate titles + authors the bride likes (Dave Eggers).  Each of these books was taken fom a different photo (or I took the photo).

Also, my sister turned 20 this month (what a young-in'!).  To celebrate, I took us both skydiving!

my tandem dude gave us tutus to wear!!  My sister later said, "I like that we are the type of people you'd offer tutus to."  AGREED!

AND...of course I have decorated for Halloween (I know, you are shocked!)!
Note to those decorating: Pumpkins/gourds do not last as long as I thought.  Me, "I'll get this now and I will be able to keep it until Thanksgiving."  Truth: I got this 2 weeks ago, and it was already rotten and SO SO SUPER GROSS.  Not getting more inside gourds/pumkins (lots of underlining and bold happening there...hmmm...).

BUT, the pictures turned out well:

to steal a friend's pun..."Gourd-geous!"

New October Mantle:

...complete with fake spider webbing.  Turns out fake spider webbing requires a BS in Spider Webbing (yep, used BS on purpose).  Uh, not so easy!

SKULL-ELLA, lookin' rad:

we wear many hats in this house...er...sorry! Couldn't help it ^^


Creepy doll will tell your future...


My trophy for best costume last year!  And creepy steampunky old pocket watch:


Halloween is everywhere! Love how I found this old pictures of S & I from 6? Halloweens ago:


And October also (usually...sob!...not this year, though) means Phillies.  So, we have a Phillies/gourd shelf.


Fall leaves on the lights...


$1 decor popping here and there...


And a skeleton to welcome you home!

FYI...this will be her Facebook Profile Picture.  Everyone knows that you look cutest/skinniest if you take the photo from above.  And  makes your eyes (and head, but hey...), look big.

Montage Madness!

Wow!  It has been 2 months since I've written a post!  YIKES!
Not to worry faithful readers...well, reader, anyway I'm sure (!), I will place blogging back on my priority list.

To catch up a little, I have made some montages.  This will allow for more pictures in a flash-like reading fashion.  So here it is...rapid fire:

1. Birthday Mantle Montage! (click on the images to enlarge):

From left to right: 

Birthday Roses (SO PRETTY) with

Birthday Earrings hanging on the vase (see right)

Birthday Print - Jellyfish in a JAR just like MY JARS! What an awesome gift :)

Birthday Blue Headband (from Montreal)

Birthday Lace Cowgirl Hat!

2. Black Krim Tomato Montage!

This is the neatest tomato!  It is ugly, scarred, and greenish brownish red on the outside and a dark dark crimson on the inside!  Great taste (not as tangy as a yellow heirloom, but still very delish).  Great for sandwees!!

3. Tomato Montage Extraordinaire!

We were SO lucky to have such beautiful amazing tomatoes this year!  We had too many to photograph, but here are a few.  The top right tomato was a gorgeous yellow to red ombre' on the inside:

4. Ombre' Tomato Montage!

 

So...what do do with all these tomatoes?

5. Tomato Dinners Montage!

Tomatoes with motz & basil...sprinkled with balsamic!  Perfect for a Summer evening!  AND...some stuffed tomatoes!  You can see the process from ingredients, to scooping (love this pic!) to uncooked to cooked! = Melty, tomatoey goodness!

But there are more good things from the garden than tomotoes...

6. Kale NON-Montage...er...Montage!

How kool is kale?  These big leafy greens cooked down to some tummy tickling collards.  Sorry folks, no pics :(  But look at the size of them!  Fun to grow :)

What else, you ask...

7. Peppers into a Stuffed Peppers Dinner Montage!

Yep! These were grown in our garden.  We have a whole bunch out there now we'll need to pick shortly (along with another purple eggplant).  I see chili in my near future! 

Isn't the peppers tops pic cute!  I love putting the tops back on to cook them so they stay all moist and tender inside.  Gauw-jous!

Well more goodies are yet to come, but I'll leave you with a secret place to chill out (and/or sleep) if you are a cat in our house.  Apparently, there are good vibes here:

8. Cat Hide-Away Montage!

 Montage Montage Montage.

Moss Chandelier

I decided to try to make a moss chandelier!

Here is the space I picked out - shady section of the wall under the tree.

So, I drew out the shape on the wall in purple sidewalk chalk...

Then mixed up some Moss Milkshake: 

Here it is dry in the bucket: 

Mixed with water, beer, and plain yogurt below.  I used yogurt to make it a little thicker so it would stick to the wall.  Mmmmmm...yummy!

Next, I went about "painting" in the chandelier on the wall:

Here is a close up of the mixture:

And one of the candlesticks:

Here is the whole chandelier painted and still wet:

View 2:

Here is a look at the chandelier the next day all dry:

How pretty it looks!

The moss chandelier did not take as well as I had hoped.  I think the heat of the summer coupled with no soil made it difficult for the moss to live.  I will try again in the Fall when it is cooler.  I may also make a mesh armature in the shape of the chandelier that I can fill with soil and attach to the wall.  This may help the moss to grow and thrive.

More garden...more delicious.

Garden dinners are delicious!  I have not been taking pictures of every garden dinner (that would be a lot of pictures), but here are some pictures from dinners (or dinners to be) of deliciousness past (or...er...to be)...

Here is a bean just up from the ground!  They are now ready to eat.  This is a plant that has yielded purple beans!  Super cool how the bean seed opens like a capsule.

Here were the early spinach squares.  Our first salad was before the end of May!

Here is beautiful salad with some swiss chard and spinach.  Now, of course, it is too hot for spinach, so this is from a while ago, but it was delicious!

  

And how I LOVE pak choy!  Look at those beauties! 

We cut the stems from the leaves, chopped up some onions... 

Fried up some bacon, removed (left in the grease), fried the onions with the stems...

Added the leaves and bacon, some seasoning... 

 and placed over rice - delish!

So far we've had  spinach, swiss chard, lettuce, peas, beats (salad with the greens and salad with the roots), our first cuke (!), beans are ready...we've had to fight so many pests (!) but I hope for a great 2nd half!