Eclectic Bride, Wife, & Mom

Traditions

2011-11-26T01:00:00.001-06:00

I am almost done with my holiday shopping and didn't leave my house to fight off crazy people like that pepper spray lady in California. I have been scouring the web and the TGIBF app on my phone to scope out the best deals for the dozen or so on my list. My sister-in-law was over last weekend and helped me put our tree up ahead of schedule. I even finished our holiday cards. I am setting

Turkey Cookies!

2011-11-23T21:25:00.001-06:00

Blind turkeys make for better confectionery treats... that way they don't have to witness their impending fate. Recent traditions dictate that my Thanksgiving responsibilities consist of the following: Purchasing bread rolls and warming them up. This year, I decided to go all Martha-Stewart-meets-Modern-Girl and add to my list by volunteering to make sweet potatoes, veggie dip and Turkey

Why Does Fall Have to be so Blah?

2011-11-15T00:14:00.001-06:00

I get that leaves are falling, my plants are shriveling up, and the sun even sets earlier making way for winter. Fall in Illinois, like Spring, seems to last a even shorter than Kim Kardashian's marriage. A few good weekends to visit a pumpkin farm, tailgate or squeeze in a family photo shoot. Inevitably it is a time to change up fabrics in my house- throws, blankets, drapes, etc. Then onto the

Easy Peasey DIY Guest Book

2011-09-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

This year Husband and I have been invited to a ton of weddings. Three on the same day, in fact. It was a little crazy and we have one more to go. The wedding we most recently attended was of Baby B's Godmother and my dear friend, Cadiz. I had the honor of NOT being a bridesmaid. Yes, you read that correctly. I was honored to not have to be part of the formal hoopla leaving me free to do the

Growing into Baby Gear 0-3 months

2011-04-19T18:59:00.000-05:00

As Baby grows, I'm growing into the associated Mommy and Baby gear...and there seems to be a boundless sea of options of cute or practical and sometimes cute AND practical items. Here's a list in no particular order of items I found especially useful in the first three months of Baby's life. This list doesn't include basics like a pack and play, swing, pacifiers, and nasal aspirators...but those

Making Room for Baby in the Kitchen!?!??!

2011-04-04T17:05:00.000-05:00

Over the door canvas organizer available at Target Husband and I have a lot of stuff. Then along came Baby so our stuff exponentially multiplied. I keep trying to go through and recycle, donate, and toss (as much as I don't like to throw things away) in spurts. Now that Baby's eating solid foods, we added utensils, food storage and baby food to her bottles, milk storage and more milk storage

Etsy for Hair Accessories!

2011-03-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

As I wait for Baby to fall asleep in my lap I rifled through the pages of Etsy's on line offerings. I could probably spend just as much time looking for things I never knew I needed on the site as I would at a fabric store. TROUBLE. Thus far I have resisted as I have no events to prepare for (phew!) and no steady stream of income for frivolous flights of fancy. In the meantime a girl can dream

Cake Pops

2011-03-23T02:34:00.000-05:00

A friend posted cake pops inspired by Bakerella that she made on Facebook almost two months ago. I was inspired to try making them myself. While I was not successful at getting the cakey goodness to stay on a stick for very long, I have found a new thing to do with left over birthday cake. I ended up making cake balls and they were just as yummy. Mine were lemon cake with cream cheese frosting

Fabric Key Chains

2011-03-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

One of the girls at work was using stretchy thin elastic around her wrist as a key chain strap. It was really sad. I offered to make her something sturdier and after doing some research ( I really love Google). I came across Hip Girl Boutique's tutorial on Fabric Key Chains that are really easy to make. I used cotton webbing and grosgrain ribbon but fabric scraps would work just as easily. I

Spit Happens

2011-02-17T16:33:00.000-06:00

This morning started out like most others. I woke up to find Baby fussing because she's run out of crib corners to explore (wiggling on her back - no wonder she's got a bald spot). She's hungry, so we go downstairs to start our day. I turned on the news and proceeded to nurse. No big deal. When it was time to burp, Baby let out a little one and smirked. She opened her mouth and let everything

Can't Hardly Wait...

2011-02-13T04:16:00.004-06:00

Baby's been successfully thriving outside my body for 4 months as of today. That is crazy. She's gone from a peanut who barely opened her eyes to a gurgling and giggling baby. A real person with an emerging personality. So far, she appears to have an easy temperament. She only fusses when she's overtired or really hungry. She's pretty chatty or observant of the world around her otherwise. I am

Teething Already?

2011-02-08T00:55:00.002-06:00

Baby may have started teething at 15 weeks. She was fussing and was clearly tired, but not sleeping. I rocked her in the crook of my leg to put her to sleep around 8 pm. One hand on her head, one finger in her hand and usually a blanket over her head. (I'm slowly turning into my own parents). She wasn't having any of it. So I put her up on my shoulder to try to let some air out thinking it might

Back to Basics...wedding stuff

2011-02-01T00:34:00.001-06:00

Cadiz12 is planning her wedding to H while working full time. She's got the basics down, but is a self proclaimed procrastinator. Since I'm not working full time yet and itching to work on some kind of project, I've adopted her wedding (as long as she lets me, that is). Recently we were talking about what to do about the 'Getaway' or the post ceremony toss of stuff. You know that time after the

Crockpot Cooking for 2.5

2011-01-28T00:02:00.000-06:00

Husband and I have agreed that if I'm working part-time and caring for Baby the rest of the time, I will attempt to be the Good Little Indian Wife he thought he married. For those of you who know me, you know that's an insane request. I am Good, I am Little, I am Indian and I am his Wife...but that combination of words does not usually come up when anyone is describing me. My father asked him if

Surprise C-Section

2011-01-26T23:22:00.000-06:00

Doc T1 and Doc T2 (yup, same first names) had alternated examining me for the weeks leading up to my due date. Doc T2 said that Baby's head was down at least a month in advance. My due date came and went with no sign of Baby. I was HUGE, I might add. Doc T1 examined me the following Monday and at my instance, checked the position of Baby for good measure. He looked up at me and said, "You know

Crying it Out

2011-01-23T01:12:00.002-06:00

I've read a lot about child rearing dos and don'ts. DO encourage tummy time to promote muscle development. Do spend time talking with Baby so she learns language. Do spend time encouraging Baby to explore the world around her, etc. DON'T over dress Baby to avoid heat rash. DON'T feed baby solids until 6 months. DON'T put Baby on her tummy to sleep. It's getting the Baby to sleep and more

From Sweats to Suits

2011-01-21T19:28:00.000-06:00

Baby B is now 3 months old (and adorable, I might add). She's cooing, holding her head up, clasping her hands and drooling. A lot. She seems to recognize me and laughs when I sing her the alphabet song. It's pretty amazing that this little peanut lived in my body for over 9 months. While she still looks like my husband, we're hopeful her hair will fill in and she'll look more like me soon. Now

Baby on the Brain

2010-09-25T22:32:00.006-05:00

Since I have Baby on the brain, I've been focusing my craftasticness on onesies, decorating the nursery, machine washable diaper changing pads and even "I Love Grandma Blankets" (one for each, of course). Here's a shot of the onesies. They are all store bought iron-ons since they are fairly easy to work with. I bought solid colored onesies from Target on clearance and found the newborn hats at

Eclectic Bride and Baby!

2010-07-30T15:57:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the extreme slacking, BUT I have been busy with guest books, wedding coordinating and even making a person. We're expecting Baby B in early October. I'll have pics of my wedding craft skills as they transfer to the nursery. I've also started to sew thanks under the tutelage of Cadiz12. I'll have pics up shortly of our DIY crib sheets in the next few days.

Menu Meal Choices...

2009-09-13T17:57:00.002-05:00

My mom thought of this, but we couldn't find it at the time and leave it up to Paper-Source to read my mind. I wanted to use little stamps of animals to designate meal choices for the wait staff to know what to serve my guests. It would have been a lot cuter and more 'me' than stickers that said 'lamb' and 'fish'...I don't know how this would work for all cultures as they don't include lamb/

If I Could Pick Another Gown...

2009-08-08T13:11:00.004-05:00

While I LOVED my gown. I always had a 'crush' on this one by Eden Bridals. It's so glamourous and potentially convertible to a short gown. This would make for a great city wedding or even an upscale suburban one. It's very last year (or even the year before) but who really cares, if you look good in a dress, it doesn't matter when they designed it...unless of course you're a slave to fasion in

2009-07-25T10:18:00.004-05:00

Getting through the final steps in changing my name. Definitely start with the social security office and work your way through banks, brokerage institutions, credit cards, banks, and work.

Wedding Pics

2009-07-03T22:32:00.011-05:00

We've been married just over a month. We're starting to write thank you's and are still opening beleated gifts. Technically, not belated as guests have one year to give a gift to the happy couple. I find myself speaking in the terms of the royal 'we' more and more. In addition, I seem to stumble on my words when remembering I have a new last name...(not officially, but more on that later).As I

We're married!

2009-05-31T10:25:00.001-05:00

The rest of yesterday got busy and now a total blur of friends, family, music, food and more music. Pics coming soon. Lessons learned... take a bouquet meant to cascade out of water upon delivery. Other than that not much went wrong. We are heading to brunch to open presents and hang out with our guests.

Make up done... almost. Still waiting on lips.

2009-05-30T11:09:00.002-05:00

Make up

2009-05-30T10:21:00.001-05:00

Heading to put my face on. Trying to post pics. This is pretty sweet

E-mail posting

2009-05-30T09:43:00.001-05:00

Trying to post via gmail. Just finished hair. I love it!

2009-05-30T08:19:00.001-05:00

Just got up. Going to jump in the shower while first maid gets her hair did. Let our crazy day begin!

Mendhi!

2009-05-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

Here's a few shots from my mendhi last night. The artist (my cousin-in-law) had never decorated a bride before. I am very happy with the results and the color's soaking in nicely. It's turning a dark orange and will soon turn more black/red by tomorrow.

Bridal Shoes...

2009-05-24T21:00:00.001-05:00

I was working on the escort card displays with Matron of Honor and she had a few pairs of shoes to run by me. This was one of them and immediately fell in love (not like I love Groom, but you know what I mean). They will match my something borrowed - a broach to cover my bustle pin up spot along with the necklace I'm turning into a hair ornament.Bridal party gifts are completed. I think they

Trend Setting....

2009-05-20T01:02:00.007-05:00

I love Paper Source....I love Paper Source....I love Paper Source. Of course they'd roll out a whole India Collection 11 days before the wedding. There's even a Rajastani paisley print that would have been PERFECT for our big day. I have also noticed a lot of coral this season and the one shouldered dresses are making a strong statement.... Maybe I should have considered working in wedding

Escort Card Display

2009-05-14T17:13:00.001-05:00

Here's the escort cards we made. I'll post other pictures when I'm not running around like a crazy person!

Escort Cards

2009-05-14T01:05:00.002-05:00

You know how they say "it takes a village" to raise a child? I think it takes one to prepare for a wedding. I am very lucky to have the greatest friends and family (and future family) coming together to make this event a very personalized, memorable and creative part of our lives. Groom, MOG, MOH and I got together to make escort card holders for the reception. We got the idea from a bride in

2009-05-09T22:32:00.001-05:00

Trying to blog via my phone. Watching the Blackhawks at very random bar in the 'ville. Making a lot of wedding progress. Will post update soon!

T Minus WAY too soon.

2009-04-12T21:33:00.002-05:00

The wedding is coming up quick! We celebrated Easter with family and then took a little time to ourselves today. Groom has officially moved out of the big city and is now in suburbia...I think he's still wrapping his head around this lifestyle change. We're officially house hunting (well I am house hunting, he's studying for the GMAT) As the wedding approaches, we find ourselves getting into

My Blogging Type

2009-04-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

Just for fun. Here's what my blog says about me. Try it out and let me know what it says your's says about you!ESTP - The DoersThe active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus.

Celebrate Generously

2009-03-25T10:44:00.006-05:00

Everyone registers for gifts and that is a daunting task, just ask Groom! I wanted to include a way to give to our favorite causes since we're older and have a lot of stuff already. While we registered for gifts the old fashioned way, we did so through Wedding Channel which allows a percentage of the purchase to go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Groom picked the cause since one of his

Invitations Sent!

2009-03-21T11:34:00.006-05:00

I designed and made my own invitations with the help of Groom, family and friends. I am happy to say that they're being distributed or are already in the mail. It's custom for Indian families to hand deliver invitations as a sign of respect, I think. Plus it is a good chance to sit and visit and drink tea. At any rate, the invitations included five pieces:Flat Invitation Card on Luxe CreamFlat

Bachelorette Party

2009-03-13T19:21:00.001-05:00

I'm still learning this blogging stuff.... please click the link above for an 'old' post that's really new. I forgot to change the date. My bad.

Ring Shopping

2009-01-11T17:44:00.005-06:00

I have to find a suitable wedding band for Groom. I'm thinking something sturdy and definitely a comfort fit band. Men's rings have come a long way from the thin gold past of our parents' day. There are those fancy braided looking things, miniature diamond encrusted, or even that 'man' engagement ring look. Groom inherited one of the latter, and it is beautiful, but very noticeable and

Tasting Results are in!

2009-01-07T12:32:00.005-06:00

Last night, Groom, F&MOB and MOG along with Groom's sister went to our tasting at Meson Sabika in Naperville. Groom and I already love, love, love the food at this place. We had to choose 10 items from the lists of menus to try out. We were torn between serving all Tapas and a mix of Tapas and Traditional. As a group, we decided that if our reception is going to be at a Spanish Tapas

Something Random

2009-01-07T10:30:00.004-06:00

Cadiz12 tagged me for this six things thingy. RULES: Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.Let each person know that s/he's been tagged by leaving comments on their blogs. Link to the person that tagged you. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.Here are six random quirks about me:1. I don't

Superstars of Dance??

2009-01-05T20:55:00.006-06:00

My new obsession is Superstars of Dance where a random sampling of countries are represented by not so native dancers in all cases. I am not overly impressed with the quality of the show, but mostly am curious of how Team India will do. Let me just say, I've personally done better (in my prime) and I've seen better and even choreographed better in some cases. Can't they cast wider nets for

151 Days to Go

2008-12-30T12:58:00.005-06:00

The dresses were a bit more orange in person I have entered the 6 month frenzy. I ordered bridesmaid dresses yesterday from House of Brides in Chicago. All the girls are wearing Coral Bari Jay Style 810. The final dresses will flatter all their body types and work with the overall East Indian/American wedding look. While I was at the dress shop, I found my new favorite accessory. I resisted

DIY Salt & Sugar Scrubs

2008-12-24T12:39:00.001-06:00

DSC04653Originally uploaded by Helene OrangeFor the holidays, I made sugar and salt scrubs for my family and friends. For the ladies, I made a Maharani Sugar Scrub using the following:Coconut Oil- 4 ounces at room temperatureGround Almonds- 2 tablespoonsDark Brown Sugar- 2 ouncesLight Brown Sugar- 2 ouncesHoney- 1 tablepoonRose Water- 1 splashVanilla Extract- 1-2 teaspoonsFor the guys, I made "

Hawaiian food in Chicago?

2008-12-19T22:17:00.003-06:00

If you're a Chicagoan going to an island for your honeymoon and haven't told your Bride, take her to the Tiki Terrace in Des Plains! They have dancers and authentic food as the chef is from Hawaii. I learned this by watching ABC7 news tonight and thought I'd share.

Songs for your Reception

2008-12-19T15:07:00.007-06:00

A friend is getting married soon and put a call out for ideas for Father/Daughter and Mother/Son songs to dance to. We plan on combining the numbers in the interest of time and guests' attention spans. That got me thinking about music in general and how I've deprived you of my thoughts on music. If there was a way to include movie clips, I'm sure Groom would eat that up, however, lucky for us

My Wedding Inspiration Board UPDATE!

2008-12-16T14:26:00.004-06:00

Here's a part of my Inspiration Board. I change it from time to time as I find things that catch my eye or as I refine my thoughts. As of now, we're STILL negotiating flowers. Technically I'm on 'break' til January 1, so it's fine. I put this together using Picasa which made it very easy. I found a bridesmaid dress style I LOVE, Bari Jay 810. I am giving the girls three choices, in the event

Schmap

2008-12-12T15:19:00.003-06:00

Two things: We're going to Maui for our honeymoon and as it turns out a picture I took last year when visiting a sorority sister is now on schmap.com. My picture is number 2 of 8 of the Banyan Tree Park taken while hiking around the park. So here's why schmap is pretty freaking cool: it's an interactive map of most major cities and hot spots. There's a desktop version allowing you to plan

My Bouquet

2008-12-05T17:20:00.005-06:00

David Beahm in NYC has designed this breathtaking cascade of parrot tulips. Maybe I can find something similar (not use parrot tulips and put it in white for myself and non cascading ones for the maids in a mix of colors. I am waiting on proposals from a few florists and have to get all this decided sooner than later. Wedding planning (further appointments, except bridesmaid dress color

Sandalwood Fans for $1

2008-11-30T16:06:00.005-06:00

I'm holiday shopping (mostly on line because I don't do so well with crowds and the Midwestern cold weather). I came across these wooden fans from Pier 1. They're ONE DOLLAR. They'd be great favors/decorations for a beach wedding or reception....again, just $1 a piece! Just thought I'd share. Happy Shopping!!!!I'm working on body scrubs from scratch for most of the grown ups (I use that

Collecting Wedding (or any event) Photos with Flikr!

2008-11-25T10:19:00.004-06:00

I have been trying to figure out a good way to collect guest shots....thought about leaving a box of blank disks with pre-addressed envelopes, then realized people are slackers about getting photos off their cameras onto disks. This might solve my problem as long as I include clear directions and maybe even my e-mail address in case guests have questions. Flickr has a fantastic set of tools

Date Night on a Budget

2008-11-24T23:23:00.004-06:00

Weddings are expensive. Relationships are still important. What's a girl on a budget to do? Restaurant.com is my newest find. It's not entirely free as my tag implies, but it is a deal. I was watching the News in Chicago and they had a report on the site's efforts to market restaurants in this troubled economy. Currently they're running a special for 70% off gift certificates. For example,

DIY Wedding Albums

2008-11-22T18:35:00.005-06:00

Picaboo has come out with a flush mount leather bound wedding album. Starting at $349.99 for 20 pages; this is a pretty sweet deal. The pages are flush mount board and it lays completely flat when opened. It comes in 9 colors with 2 lines of foil stamping on the cover. There are two sizes to choose from (11 x 8.5 inches and 14 x 11 inches). I was hoping they'd come out with something like this

EEEEEKKKK!!!! 204 days to go!

2008-11-08T12:22:00.003-06:00

I logged into myknot.com site to check my to do list and realized I'm a bit behind on a few things. Here I thought I was sooo ahead of the game, but somehow I have fallen behind! I have been sidetracked by stationary and some how created extra holiday projects for myself. I am going to use the next few weeks in November to pick out bridesmaid dresses, print invitations & find a florist....oh and

Scrap Booking Fun!

2008-11-05T18:55:00.003-06:00

Archivers is my new favorite (well maybe second favorite) stationary stores. I found paper of all kinds, shape cutters, stickers, card stock in every shade of every color of the rainbow. Groom can handle about five minutes in the place before he has to leave. He likens a visit to taking me to a gaming cafe (which he's not done, thankfully) so he waits in the car. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ideas

Menu Idea.

2008-10-21T16:50:00.002-05:00

I can't take credit for this idea, Groom and I were talking about the favors and centerpieces (mostly his frustration of wedding stuff ad nauseam) but he thought we could print small menus and put them inside the tea tin tops and put those on the tables. That way people have to interact to look at them (there will only be two per table). We're looking to do small centerpieces with votive

Oh Adobe, How do I love thee?

2008-10-16T17:26:00.004-05:00

Thanks to my buddy, RJ, I have a link to all kinds of fun brush strokes for Adobe. You can download a variety of swirls, floral and block prints to embellish your stationary. I am going to play around with a few things and post the results.In other news, I recently visited I Do I Do bridal shop on North Damen in Chicago. It's a trip. The store smells a little funky. I can't quite place the scent.

Menu Card

2008-10-14T22:17:00.004-05:00

I have a while before I have to think about menu cards, BUT, I randomly saw an add for paperandmore.com so I clicked and found this Morrocon inspired "Eccentric Menu" They are about $1.50 a piece but I'm thinking I can make something like this for much less. Maybe using the same stamps from paper-source.com as I'm using for the invitations to tie it all together. Ideas welcome.

Favor Bags

2008-10-13T19:59:00.006-05:00

I went to my first "Baby Sprinkle" (baby shower for baby number 2, for those of you wondering). The baby's name is going to be Sophia so I made "Sophia's Snacks--Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice". My sister and I made favor bags for the guests with Strawberry Shortcake stickers and two inch favor tags with curling ribbon tied to a bag trimmed to be 8 inches tall. We put spice drops,

Bachelorette Party

2008-10-09T19:54:00.004-05:00

I apologize for slacking on the posts. My Bachelorette party is coming up (along with Bridal Shower). I am hoping to knock them out in one weekend so my traveling friends don't have to travel twice and still get to have fun. I must say I love being a woman right about now considering that Groom's 1/2 of the bridal party hasn't seem to got their act together for his big night out. It appears

Naperville Stuff

2008-10-09T12:26:00.004-05:00

I want to include some Naperville items in my bridesmaids totes. All of them grew up in town anyway, but we're never tourists of our hometowns, right? I found a great little listing of random things like the Mayor's bobble head doll, charms, even a Naperville snow globe. I don't think any of these items quite fit the bill for what I'm looking for. I might opt to get some treats from a local candy

English Wedding Traditions

2008-10-07T12:06:00.004-05:00

I've been reading up on English wedding traditions to find a way to incorporate the majority of Groom's ethnicity into our wedding plans. I have learned that it is traditional for the bride to receive a decorated horseshoe (a charm might do these days) as a sign of good luck. I think the Irish have borrowed that custom as well (good thing he's part Irish!). It appears that most English customs

Centerpiece

2008-10-05T19:48:00.004-05:00

I've been doing more research on the tea tin center piece idea. Martha Stewart published an article this past April for a more garden variety look. I think if I use all of the same tea tin and a more 'formal' flower, I'll be able to match the level of formality of the reception. I plan on lining it with plastic or maybe an extra wide mouthed votive holder to keep the blooms in water. Here's a

Wedding Tea Favors

2008-10-03T20:20:00.003-05:00

Adagio offers personalized wedding tea favors in organza bags for as low as $1.60/ tin. It's a small sample of a tea of your choosing and you can also select the organza bag color. The 'directions' on the tags are a nice touch. If I weren't using tea tins as my center pieces, I would definitely have explored this option.

Progress Update...

2008-10-03T18:52:00.005-05:00

We're making progress on favors/centerpieces/reception decorations. I plan on enlisting the help of my family to make garlands out of carnations and other hearty flowers to frame the entrance way to the pavilion. (it's a glass encased pavilion, but that's what they call it). Then we'll have large framed fabric boards with tags indicating each guest's table assignment. I saw something in a

Post Cards as RSVP?

2008-09-26T18:38:00.003-05:00

I've decided to make my own invitations. I'm working out the details and will post them once I have them. In the meantime, I've learned that the minimum post card requirements are 3.5" by 5" according to the USPS. This is very good news since I'm leaning towards a 5" x 7" invitation. This will work out wonderfully with my plans. The only trick is finding the right paper to print it on. Card stock

Eco Chic Wedding

2008-09-15T13:46:00.009-05:00

Here are some shots from the wedding we attended in Woodland, WA a few weeks ago. They used dahlias direct from a grower in Oregon. It was a laid back formal event, if you can use those terms in the same sentence. The ceremony site was very simpley decorated and had a stunning effect. They used a sage green and black accented with orange to tie everything together. The brides's mother used curly

Ring Bearer Dog?

2008-09-15T13:09:00.003-05:00

I found an old paisely print bow tie from prom well over a decade ago. Instead of throwing it out, I made it Tucker's new accessory for our big day. Thoughts?

Wedding Planning Software

2008-09-15T12:59:00.003-05:00

My Groom is fantastic!!!! I told him I wanted some kind of software to organize the guest list, reception details, ceremony details and attendants...not to mention the tuxes, favors, budget and everything else. He found Elm Software's "I Do" software that is available for a 30 day trial download. We went ahead and got the permanent version since we LOVED it. There are a few things I'm still

Details

2008-09-06T12:53:00.003-05:00

I'm in Woodland, WA for the weekend attending my soon-to-be cousin-in-law's wedding. She's rented out Anderson Lodge for the weekend as a mini end of summer vacation for her friends and family. I'll report on eco chic trends after the weekend's over, but wanted to share this great detail before I forgot! She's using a vintage arch as an entrance to the reception.

Grocery Store Wedding Cakes?

2008-08-21T16:26:00.003-05:00

I grew up across the street from Jewel-Osco and once upon a time Amlings. Amlings has since moved and made way for a mini strip mall consisiting of a liquor store, nail spa, custom flooring and of course a Starbucks! The Jewel-Osco did some renovating and is now a pretty sweet place for grocery shopping. While shopping for grocieries yesterday, at the recommendation of my friend, CR, I stopped

Formal Wear Rentals for the Munchkins!

2008-08-16T23:25:00.003-05:00

I am watching 190 North (yes, I'm home at 11:25 pm on a Saturday night). The show just featured some fun kid friendly places in the city for dining, shopping, and even a spa day. So the place of interest for this and any other bride to be is the formal wear rental place that offers just about everything you'd need to dress your child attendant at a fraction of the cost. You can rent not only

Indian Inspired Invitations!

2008-08-16T19:09:00.006-05:00

I am attempting to be productive while Groom is away at a golf thing this weekend. I am looking for invitations and stumbled across Wedding Paper Divas. The Modern Paisley Invitation (pictured left) and the Woven Paisley Invitation (not pictured) are my two favorites. They're reasonably priced at under $8 for the set. They have samples available for $5.00/ea. Groom really likes the first one (

OPI's Indian Collection for your nails!

2008-08-12T17:36:00.007-05:00

OPI came out with a Spring/Summer 2008 Collection called "India" with colors like a soft bronze called "Charmed by a Snake" or a deep blue named "Yoga-ta Get This Blue". I am not sure if the marketing peeps knew that the Taj is a mausoleum, not a church, but either way, "You Gotta Get Me to the Taj on Time" is my favorite. The Fall/Winter 2008 Collection is inspired by the French with deep

Freezer Paper Stencils Part II

2008-08-11T19:00:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures from my afternoon of craftiness. I am still a beginner, so thinking in negative space is new for me. I started with something simple: a flower. Then I turned it into a "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" design to put on a tote bag that I will use on my wedding day. Groom approves (he came home from work while I was finishing up). The canvas fabric of the tote was a little

UPDATE

2008-08-08T23:21:00.004-05:00

Apologies for slacking on my posts! My interview with a very well known non profit went very well. Let's hope they liked me as much as I liked them. Groom and assorted family members and I went to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, IL for two hours. Their major partner is Cargill so they have another location in Minnesota. Along with a whole host of others, we packed enough food

Guest Seating Display

2008-08-08T22:33:00.004-05:00

I plan on using foam board from Office Depot and a single mast easel to display the table arrangements for guests to view. I will also need ribbon and card stock to back the lists. The lists will be in alphabetical order with table number listed across from each guest's name...much like the table of contents of a book. We have 300+ names to post so I may make two boards (in addition to a mini

Craftiness Freezer Paper Stencils Part 1

2008-07-28T10:45:00.004-05:00

I spent a week in the woods with very limited access to technology...I had a cell phone only to talk to Groom and to check messages for interviews...speaking of which I have one!!!!My favorite craft project of the week involved a surprisingly easy method and result in totally adorable t-shirts. Before you begin you need:1. Freezer Paper (important to be waxy on ONE side only)2. Exacto blades3.

This week I'm out... (July 19-26)

2008-07-19T12:56:00.001-05:00

I'll be counseling High School students at Camp Emmaus for the week. The theme of the week is "Go Green" so maybe I'll come back with some eco-bride happy ideas.

Floor Seating?

2008-07-18T16:36:00.006-05:00

UK based Shenai Weddings has a neat idea for a very Indian themed set up. Why not put guests on the floor? They do it India, why not here? This idea includes floor pillows that your guests will thank you for. Very colorful and a neat way to incorporate the lavish Moghul reclining style of relaxing. I don't think this will work for my crowd, but maybe for those 'young people' or even kids tables.

Ushers for Hire

2008-07-18T14:54:00.002-05:00

My friends are an endless source of support AND laughs. Check out Nick's ushering antics. Wedding Ushers for Hire from nickschmidt on Vimeo.

FOCCUS follow up

2008-07-16T12:49:00.005-05:00

While this isn't so wedding planning-y, it is an important if not the whole reason one should get married. As it turns out Groom and I are in great shape for getting married according to the FOCCUS inventory and the Deacon at the Catholic Church. While we might not agree, we're compatible on big and small stuff- lifestyle, children, religion, finances, intimacy, career. We're very aware of how

Desi Girl Articles

2008-07-15T13:27:00.008-05:00

South Asian Brides are combining their Eastern roots with their Western heritage (side note, East and West are SOOO Christopher Columbus, can we find something new please?). I digress.Nirali and Sapna have a lot to say about fashion, culture, career and beauty. Nirali has some wonderful articles on beauty tips for the Desi (Indian) bride. The Sapna article talks about South Asian Brides combining

FREE Templates

2008-07-15T10:50:00.005-05:00

Click on the title link to find a list of downloadable templates by Minneapolis based Russell & Hazel. They make a FABULOUS wedding binder (retails for $75) and you can download the lists for FREE. They've thought of every list you haven't even thought of making yet. How fun is that?

Sweets...

2008-07-14T15:44:00.005-05:00

Indian food is not always about extremes, but to the untrained tounge, it can taste that way. While we won't be including Indian food as a way to express our style, we might include Indian Desserts (don't worry, we're still going to have cake, more on that later). Tahoora will box and ship them to you to share with your guests. The Motichur (Mo-ti-churr) Ladoos are my favorite. They're sugary

Beauty Find for the Big Day

2008-07-14T15:13:00.003-05:00

San Francisco's Benefit Cosmetics is my favorite make up company right now. The Erase Paste No 3 in "Deep" is perfect for camouflaging blemishes and those I-stayed-up-all-night-finishing-DIY-decoration-projects under eye circles. Just remember to warm it up and apply to your face with a light touch. Take a seat at any Benefit Counter and ask the make up artist to show you how. While you're

Miss Sri Lanka for inspiration!

2008-07-09T19:48:00.008-05:00

Miss Sri Lanka 2008 Compeition & Saree Dreams gives me great inspiration. What if I use this strapless top from Eden Bridal with red sari draped the way these ladies did in the competition? It will echo the straplessness of my dress AND still be Indian. I would have them wear the pleats in the center (my gown splits in the center) and then have the fabric drape over their left shoulder as

Stamps for invitations

2008-07-09T16:36:00.009-05:00

I want to make my own invitations. The pocket fold with four or five inserts is what I am leaning towards. My Groom is going to make the maps (see below) and I want to make the rest on my computer. I will be putting them together with the help of my family assembly line style. Click on the pictures to access the stores.

How is baking an Eclectic Bride topic?

2008-07-09T14:36:00.005-05:00

It's when Groom has a birthday, that the future Eclectic WIFE has to shine, right? I used a recipe from the Cake mix Doctor and it was a hit. I baked a mint chocolate chunk ice cream cake that wasn't frozen! You're curious, I know. You can find a copy of the book for under $5. It's worth it. I am making a chocolate pistachio cake for my dad's birthday tomorrow and another birthday cake for

How to Wear A Sari

2008-07-08T14:04:00.003-05:00

Here's a pictoral on how to wear a sari along with a link to the whole article which includes tips for how to pick a sari that's right for you.

More Bridesmaid Dress Ideas

2008-07-08T13:30:00.011-05:00

The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see sarees on the bridesmaids. They can wear them to future family functions or turn them into a host of other things since it is really just like giving someone 6 yards of fabric...very pretty fabric.

Guest Book Alternatives

2008-07-07T15:01:00.008-05:00

Have each guest sign a cork or write a wish in one word for your marriage. Make Cork Trivets out of a wooden picture frame (round or square), Cardboard and corks. If you must include power tools to entice your groom to get crafty, try MarJenning's method. Either way, you'll have a functional, eco-friendly keepsake from your wedding.If you and your beau are budding gardeners, have everyone do the

Caketopper

2008-07-07T14:18:00.010-05:00

To personalize the couple, choose one that looks like you with interchangeable brides and grooms! You can find them at Ice Standard for under $20 each. I'm not positive if the Indian bride will work with the Dancing Caucasian Groom without looking a bit awkward. There's also an Indian bride in a white sari which is cute but not for me since I'm wearing a big white dress!

Bridesmaids

2008-07-07T10:54:00.011-05:00

From l-rJC PennyDavid's Bridal Eden BridesmaidsEach of these dresses has some element that reminds me of my gown. They are all under $200 and should flatter each body type in the bridal party.

Dress Detail

2008-07-03T17:58:00.003-05:00

Here's what my dress detail looks like. Soon I'll post choices for bridesmaids dresses.

Maps!

2008-06-10T09:32:00.002-05:00

New favorite for wedding mapping is Wedding Mapper!!! You can set your ceremony & reception venues as well as points of interest for your guests to explore. There's also a DIY feature for printing to include them in your invitations. This is just what I was looking for to create a map for the day. YAY!

So Far

2008-06-05T12:50:00.008-05:00

I will organize all these thoughts in a much more sensical manner over the coming weeks...however just get you started: Here's the order I'm approaching this event: 1. Discuss and set a budget together...then do what you need to do to stick to it! www.theknot.com/budgeter is useful in the determining the traditional breakdown of a wedding. If you're profecient with a spreadsheet software, it

The Planning Begins

2008-06-04T10:13:00.004-05:00

We want the wedding to be formal, classic, fun, thoughtful, and not stuffy. It is important to both of us to celebrate our cultural differences while finding a way to incorporate details to honor our new family. My challenge has been balancing elements that echo (or sometimes scream) the make up of our families.

2008-06-04T09:45:00.000-05:00

e·clec·tic [ i kléktik ] adjectiveDefinition:1. varied: made up of parts from various sources an eclectic collection of paintings2. choosing from various sources: choosing what is best or preferred from a variety of sources or styles an eclectic taste in music[Late 17th century. < Greek eklektikos "picking out, selecting" < eklegein "pick out" < legein "choose"]e·clec