Valentine

Does this have anything to do with weddings?
A collection of pretty, Valentine's Day clothing?
My dream outfit?

Um, weddings mean love means Valentine's?
Close enough.

Bling Bling

Comes with free pen/carrying case

I noticed something today that got me thinking...

A coworker recently got engaged, and after I congratulated her and shared post-engagement stories, I asked to see her ring. She seemed a little embarassed as she held it out--it was pretty, and huge--and right away she said she had to get it made smaller because "it looked like costume jewelry." I don't know if she meant the ring band or the diamond, and I didn't ask, but I thought it was a little strange. The diamond in my own engagement ring is smaller, and I got the sense that she was worried that she was showing off or embarrassing me because hers is so much bigger.

It's bizarre, but it's not the first time it's happened (another was a friend of a friend who got engaged a week or two before me. We made the mistake of holding out our hands at the same time, she blushed, said something about the size, and pulled her hand away). And every time it does happen, I feel weird. I love my ring, L-O-V-E it. There is absolutely nothing I would change about it, including the diamond size--it is so exactly what I want that I keep trying to pressure Dave into picking out the wedding band, too.

So why all the weird feelings about comparing ring sizes? I don't really know where it comes from, and I'm not the best at making anti-Tiffany's rants or raging about the consumer-driven mindset that's led people to equate size of diamond with amount of love and happiness afforded to a couple.* Still, it bothers me, and I don't like feeling like I have to defend my beautiful ring every time someone pulls out something bigger (which I don't do, because that would only add to the weirdness, but the feeling's still there).

I think engagement rings, unlike almost any other kind of jewelry, are so universal and so expected and so tied up with feelings of love that they naturally lend towards comparisons. And I don't think this is necessarily bad, and I enjoy seeing different styles and shapes and settings, but feeling any kind of embarrassment about rings--yours or someone else's--is pretty silly.


*You know who is awesome at this? Meg, from A Practical Wedding. Along with oversized engagement rings, her blog should be required for all brides- and grooms-to-be.

A Garden of Golden Flowers

When I came home from my weekend away (in Boston!), I was delighted to find many little packages waiting for me in the mail.



These are a few of the pins I got as part of the bridesmaid jewelry I plan on making.



It won't just be the pins. I have a plan.


A plan that involves making jewelry, which I haven't done in about 5 years, and even then not so successfully...


Still, aren't these pins lovely? Like a little golden garden.

Cuff Links for My Kiddo

If I can get my rear in gear and/or learn how to do it, I think I would like to make cuff links for my groom-to-be and his wonderful groomsmen.

That, or I will cop out and buy them from Etsy... It's not my fault! This stuff is cute!

I am always in awe of the lovely wood-inlaid pieces on Etsy
These beauties are no exception

One time Dave and I visited the (wonderful, but textbook yuppie) couple I dog-sat for.
They were drinking glasses of wine, listening to jazz, and playing Scrabble.
It was like a Stuff White People Like explosion!
Since then Dave has often expressed his desire to drink wine and play Scrabble.
But thanks to an obnoxious college roommate,
I can't stand the game (yay Ivy League!)
Still, I could see myself making this small concession to marital bliss.

Yankee Stadium cuff links!
Juuuuust kidding. If I gave these to Dave he probably would not marry me.
Sports are funny.


I love these. Lovelovelove.
With my kiddo in Chicago and me in New York,
this is like our relationship, in cuff link form!


Typewriters are very important to me.
Back when I was considering writing for a living,
Dave went and bought me the most beautiful vintage typewriter,
his way of saying that he supported me.
I know, right?

Black Lego for the classy nerd.

Lego PLUS Star Wars?!
Now I know what to get my brother when he gets married

I wouldn't actually buy these.
I just like how much they remind me of that episode from the Simpsons
when Homer gives a pair of heirloom cufflinks to Lisa's future husband

Coin Rings

Came across these beautiful coin rings. Made by a son and dad team of crafters, the rings are pounded and shaped from antique coins. The process leaves a few words on the outside and inside band.

While most of the rings are dated from the 1960s and 1970s, you can pick almost any coin to make a ring, including current issues. How nice would it be to have a ring with your anniversary engraved onto the surface?

What's also sweet are the words that rise to the surface (don't you love things with multiple meanings?)


You can get designs from other countries around the world, too. I'm particularly fond of this lovely set made from a Swiss Rappen and Swiss Two Franc.

Prices range from $24.50 to $79.50, for men's and women's sizes. Buy online at their website or their (duh) etsy store.

The Happiest Song in the World

Let me just put it out there, I am a Gleek. And while Dave and I are still on the Great Wedding Music Hunt, there is one song that I know I will dance to at my wedding: the Glee girls' mash-up of "Walkin' On Sunshine" and "Halo," also known as the happiest song in the world. It is like taking pure perkiness and distilling it into 2 minutes and 6 seconds. Every time I put it on I can't help but dance around like a foo'--I just love how it so well expresses the crazy joy you feel when you've found the person you looove.

And, it's also possible I love it so much because those girls look downright adorable in their pretty yellow frocks (big hair? headbands? little silver flats? yes please). I'm thinking of throwing my bridesmaids into yellow (except Evie, my MOH extraordinaire, has requested a color that doesn't wash her out) or wearing some yellow shoes or requesting Dave stick a little yellow flower in his boutonniere. It's a nice little ray of sunshine. Here are some of my faves:

This is Quinn's dress, from Calvin Klein.
It's sold out, but I am like 80% positive I saw it at Marshall's for half off last week
(let's all give it up for the big M)

My first obsession, wedding-planning-wise, were daffodils.
"Let's have a daffodil-themed wedding!" I shouted.
"Um...whaa?" Dave asked.
It was a dark time, filled with many brightly-colored flowers.
The obsession has since waned ('specially because we're probably having a fall wedding),
but I still like this daffodil bouquet ($37 from EdenProject)
and matching boutonniere ($5 from Blooming Gorgeous)

My gown (spoiler alert!) will probably be strapless
I love this sweet garden-themed necklace ($48 from Anthropologie)


I'm pretty much set on wearing yellow shoes, something with some sunshine,
and whimsy, and a bright dash of color.
These suede beauties (by Joan & David, $155.04 from Zappos) are pretty sweet.

Then again, these cuties (by Asics, $64.99 from Online Shoes) ain't too bad either

Fingerprint Wedding Bands

Love love love these fingerprint wedding bands from artists Brent and Jessica Williams. They're perfect for people who want something personal on the inside of their bands, but have no idea what to write (like me and Dave. Somehow initials don't quite cut it). Dave and I both want something simple and plain for our bands (my ring is white gold, solitaire stone with four emerald-cut baguettes on each side), and these would be just lovely. Starts at $125 for women's, $150 for men's at Brent Williams Designs or their etsy store.