Reinspired!

Didn't want to leave you hangin' before the long weekend.

So here is the inspiration board from Elizabeth Anne Designs which we're now working with.

In trying to explain the new color scheme to our wedding party, it was hard for everyone to see it and get it. So my girls will be wearing champagne colored dresses. They will carry plummy colored bouquets.

The girls' dress. The belt will not contrast the dress. All monochromatic here.

This is the fabric and color my girls' dresses will be.

Groomsmen will wear gray suits, beige shirts, and gray ties. My groom in a black suit, gray and white tattersall shirt, and Burberry check tie in beige and gray. They guys will sport plummy colored boutonnieres.

I will wear a white gown (duh), and carry a white bouquet.

Here's the inspiration board I came up with:

you likey?

I own those shoes. I just ordered that Burberry tie for Dee. I ordered that cake topper a while back from Etsy seller Goose Grease. She's waiting for pictures of my gown to paint the topper respectively. And my gown will hopefully look very close to the gown in my board.

Sources: Burberry large check tie - burberry.com, black suit by Hermes - nymag.com, flowers - knot.com, Sergio Rossi shoes - zappos.com, nude colored dress - coquette blog, boutonniere - brides.com, cake from marthastewart.com, gray suit - Express.com, minted.com, gray tie - macys.com, flowers - knot.com, etsy seller Goose Grease.

We'll be working off both these boards to execute the new vision. I can't wait. My coordinator's already come up with some great ideas. I can't wait to share them!

Happy Holidays everyone! Thanks for reading!

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colors officially changed

Went BM dress shopping Nov. 8th. I started feeling iffy same day, made it known on Nov. 10th.

It's been 2 weeks. We are going with nude and plum. Coordinator notified. BMs dress colors switched and orders placed. No turning back now.

p.s. I am pleased.

new-ish color scheme

Remember that uneasy feeling I couldn't shake off during BM gown shopping...it persisted. And I got to talking to my coordinator, who started to help me understand what was going on in my head when I was thinking of pulling off aqua and orange. Breaking it down, it seemed like I was trying really hard to rebel against wedding cliches (pink and brown, Tiffany blue, etc). And I was making it a goal of being different...to stand out in a sea of brides.

So which color scheme would I go with then...well, if you've been following my blog, then you've seen it before. So it's not entirely new to me, but it's very different from where I was originally headed. It's a little safe, but my coordinator reminded me that being safe is better than being sorry. And she also brought up the point that I should be able to look back 50 years from our wedding day and still love everything about it, not have the feeling of "what the hell was I thinking?!" Okay, the color palette...so here it is...again:

It's the nude and plum inspiration board from this post. The main neutral colors, nude and gray will be accented by plummy colors since my wedding is in the late spring/early summer. Source: Elizabeth Anne Designs.

I'm still sitting on it for now. My coordinator suggested I wait a week to see how I feel. I've got 3 more days til that week is up. I'm still good with switching the color palette right now.

I got really lucky with my BM's gowns too. Two of my girls had not placed their order yet, so I can still change colors. I asked Siri to send me swatches of some other color considerations, and they did...lightning fast! I really appreciate it! And I loved the color swatches they sent.

with flash

without flash

without flash. for some reason, I didn't take a picture of this with flash.

I would go with Shantung in Sand (look at 1st and 2nd picture of swatches; it's the top right swatch) for the new color palette. It's a beautiful color! My coordinator has already come up with some great ideas! I'm excited all over again! It's kind of fun being back at square 1.

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More Deals

1. 30% off EVERYTHING at Tobi (including sale items, but excluding Comme des Garcons, Love Quotes, APC & Nudie Jeans) with code 30FORYOU until tomorrow, 11/20.

2. 30% off everything but handbags & pre-orders at Revolve Clothing (I think it works on sale items) with code GIVEGOODGIFT - expires TODAY (11/19)

3. 40% off at Ivy Blue with code oneyear through 11/21 - excludes Velvetine Bags and Golden Goose boots

4. Shopbop is offering 40% off the Designer Boutique with code DB40 through 11/21. (this isn't valid on items on the "main site")

Source - www.grechenscodes.com

Hurry, before they expire!

Bridesmaid Gown Shopping

Okay, so I've been having second thoughts on the aqua and orange color palette. How did that come about? Well...my girls and I went to Siri to find the BM gown. While I let the girls pick the dress, I did have some criteria that I wanted the dress to meet: all BMs must have same dress, the choice must be unanimous, tea length, oh, and cleavage must not be visible. Here are some pix from the day:

It was a lot of fun watching them try on dresses..and funny because the samples were so huge. It was a little hard to picture them as they would fit the girls. I think stores need to start carrying smaller sample sizes in addition to the size 8 and 10 samples they carry in the store. Anyways, they finally narrowed down their choices.

These were the 2 dresses going head to head:

Francesca (left) and Harvard (right). The dresses were huge! Please excuse the length, and the humongousness of the dresses on my girls.

Well, the girls went through dress selection as jury would go through deliberations for a verdict in a case; I know because I was just part of jury. It was interesting hearing their deliberations, and I was a little surprised with their final decision but ultra happy because it was my first choice dress for them. They chose Harvard!

I love my cousin. Hehe.

So then we all picked the fabric, which had to be some type of aqua, and they preferred a contrasting belt. So they chose a parsley green to go with the aqua.

And here is where I started to feel uncomfortable. The aqua was looking so baby blue to me, and I didn't like that. I started thinking, "omg, that's not me." But I ignored that feeling. I took a bunch of pictures with my camera...hoping that the aqua would look the way I imagined. It never did.

I kept ignoring the uneasiness. We got the girls measured, and everyone would either place their order at the store or phone it in.

After coming home, I uploaded my pix onto my computer right away, and I stared and stared at them forever! It was not a pretty obsession. So then I went through my blog to figure out how I ended up here. And then I decided I was not happy with my color scheme.

Up next...new color consideration.

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trying my luck...

to win a Rebecca Minkoff Kerry bag!


I love Rebecca Minkoff! Yummy leather, and urban-chic style! Carried by Hayden Panettiere, Vanessa Hudgens, Agnes Deyne and other fashion icons. I own 2 Matinee bags and 2 Rose clutches.

Grechen's Closet is holding a contest right now for the chance to win a signed Rebecca Minkoff Kerry bag. Try your luck too!

Click-->here to try.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the site. It will definitely come in handy for the holiday season!

Happy Shopping!

fit bride guide: tip #2

baby steps.

Start out slowly.

Don't overwork yourself on the first workout. It's not going to make a huge difference. So don't expect much. Get to know your body. Do a little cardio and add in a little weight training.

Need some direction? Check out www.trainwithmeonline.com. This website is a community for people wanting to get in shape and stay fit. It's an awesome resource. They offer free workout routines. FREE. They have pictures and videos (you can download these to your ipod) of the exercises.

They have forums with people asking the same questions you have and trained professionals who answer your questions. I asked what workout would be most beneficial to me during my lunch hour. The trainer suggested I do the Intermediate level Full Body Fitness workouts. There are 6 Intermediate Full Body Fitness workouts, and I mixed them up everyday. I lost 18 lbs combining my workout with watching my diet.

When it came to my diet, I didn't cut anything from my diet...yet. I started out by sticking to a 1600 calorie diet, and then gradually went down to 1200 calories. And I drank lots of water. Lots and lots of water. I still do. My body started telling me what was good for me and was bad for me. I then started to avoid foods with lots of sugar (high fructose corn syrup) and trans fat. Organic is great..all natural and ingredients you can pronounce. I do allow myself to indulge once in a while. I love me some dessert! And believe me, I work it off hard to make up for it. And I try to avoid alcohol as much as I can...it's hard, but again, there are times when you just give in.

It helps a lot that Dee is mindful of our training (yep, we totally work out together) and eating habits. So try and get your significant other to join you. The buddy system works here!

Eat breakfast! Make some oatmeal or grab some fruit.

Going out to eat? Ask the waiter to take half your order and put it in a take-out box. Ask for dressing on the side if you get a salad. Get grilled instead of fried.

Take a multivitamin. I can't remember where I read it, but studies showed that women found their hunger was suppressed longer when they took a multivitamin.

Caffeine. Controversial, but it helps...regulate the body. Also, eat lots of fiber-rich foods.

Green tea. It's negative calories. I just buy a box from the grocery store, stick my tea bag in some hot water, and drink. No sugar added.

Want some reading material? Read David Zinczenko's The Abs Diet.

It's got a lot of interesting and useful information! It's not about a diet, it's about making a lifestyle change. And don't worry, it's an easy read. It's like he's talking to you. I got my copy before they came out with a women's version. I'm not sure how they differ, but for women who have read the "male" version, it's worked. And I enjoy reading it!

Try and stick to your plan for 21 days. Doing something for 21 days consistently makes it routine behavior to you. You'll feel the difference. You'll know the next time you eat a greasy slice of pizza, that it was the wrong decision. Your body will tell you. You will see results, but be patient. You won't want to give it up after seeing results.

see my other fitness posts here.

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oh shite (like the Brits say)

I'm having second thoughts on colors.

Sales!

Get your shop on early for the holidays. Michael's 50% off, good through November 15, 2008.

20% off at Singer22 with code "PREHOLIDAY20":

20% Off Friends & Family event at Bloomingdales. Online only: 11/10 to 11/16. Use promo code "BDFF"

30% Off Friends & Family at Urban Decay. One week only: 11/10 to 11/18. To redeem offer: Enter "FFH30" at checkout and hit "redeem coupon"

30% Off All Sale and Full-Priced Items at Active Endeavors. Enter "getahead" at checkout. Ends midnight tonight.

The 'Maids

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have 6 bridesmaids. 2 are currently living in Nor Cal, and 4 are in So Cal. This weekend, we made a trip up to San Francisco to get all the girls acquainted with each other and to order bridesmaids gowns at Siri!

We had a tea party and then went out to enjoy San Francisco.

Please meet my lovely ladies:

My sister and maid of honor, J1.

BFF, M1

BFF, M2

My cousin, M3

My other cousin, T

BFF, J2 (she wasn't able to make our tea party, but she met us up afterward)

And here's me with all the girls having dinner

I need to mention that when we came back from bridesmaid gown shopping, we were welcomed with appetizers, all prepared by M1's wonderful boyfriend. Thanks again P for the awesome dinner. You are butter chicken master!

It was so much fun! I only wish the weekend was longer. But we got wedding stuff done, so I'm happy. And Dee was able to come up (he drove) and hang out with some friends in Nor Cal (2 of his groomsmen are up in Nor Cal too).

Up next: Bridesmaids' gowns

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DIY Project No. 1

The 'maids' gifts...firstly, though, I'd like it to be known that even though I knew I was going to have to wait 2 years until our wedding day, the excitement pushed me to ask everyone (almost) to be my bridesmaid. Big OOPS! It was hard to fix the mess that I'd put myself into; it gnawed at me for far too long. So bride tip #1, choose your bridesmaids wisely...and wait. I mean, really think about it...think about the expenses you'll incur times the number of 'maids you can really afford. Think about their ability to pay for the expenses, their ability to be reliable and available, and their ability to still love you after you become bridezilla. I love all my girlfriends, and if I had it my way, I'd have 12 bridesmaids. But I can only handle so much.

After I fixed that mess...I had a bridal party. They already knew who they were, but I still wanted to do something special, so I made bridesmaid gifts. I also have to say that I'm an anxious person, and sometimes, I can't wait, so unfortunately, only 3 of my 6 (did I mention I have 6 'maids?) got to experience the full effect of my gift ---> I had planned to mail the gift to each 'maid (as I love receiving things in the mail!), but I jumped the gun with my local-ish 'maids, and ended up giving their gifts...unpackaged and unpretty...but they all got the same thing, basically. =|

First, I downloaded bridesmaid info cards from MarthaStewart.com after entering contact info for each 'maid.


I cut them up with my rotary cutter. I wrote all the info the girls would need regarding their attire on the cards.


I printed out my favorite dresses from Siri (where we'll be getting BM dresses), color swatches from Siri, and their shoes (Nine West Accolia in Gold).



I randomly glued the pieces to the info card. I then printed out wrap around labels, also from MarthaStewart.com after entering the respective info for each BM.


I then cut them up with my rotary cutter and ran the labels through my Xyron and then affixed them to the envelope.





For the packages I was sending away to my out-of-town 'maids (they're actually all out-of-town, some closer than others though), I put the envelope inside the boxes I got from Staples, on top of the gifts which included a frame of me and the respective 'maid, a makeup bag, tools & accessories from e.l.f.


Okay, so in the madness that is my life...Dee and I were in the process of moving, so I was not able to search and print out pictures, but I included a note asking that the 'maids to insert a picture of us in the frame. <-- lame, I know I am.


I then wrapped the boxes in brown paper and tied them up with string. For the girls with these packages, The labels on the envelope said "brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things." To which you would then find the makeup and picture to mean that getting packages in the mail is one of my favorite things, as well as makeup, and that particular person...i thought it was cute. I just addressed it to the girls I already handed the gifts to. 'Maids, if you're following, I'm so sorry to not have done it all the same...i was just too darn excited!

Et Voile!


From the response (of both packaged and unpackaged gifts)...I inferred they were a hit!

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Twilight

I'm pretty obsessed with it...actually, that's an understatement. It's consuming me. I can't think of anything else. I just finished the first book over the weekend. I started the second book yesterday. And today, I'm a little mad at myself because I didn't bring the book to work with me...but then again, I chose not to bring it because I know I totally would not get any work done.

Anyways...I'm super happy to have finished the first book before the movie came out, which I am determined to see with or without a buddy!

I'll have to thank my sister and cousin (both in my bridal party) for throwing me into a world in which I do not obsess over my wedding. I didn't think such a world would exist!

If you haven't already, check out the book...read it, get lost in it, obsess over it in your dreams...especially if you need a moment away from wedding planning.

photo credit: filmonic

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