The Bollywood Bridesmaid

A little bit of bling...

2009-04-06T21:56:00.003-05:00

So the sarees have arrived and they are beautiful BUT the tops leave a bit to be desired. Now, for the most part, this doesn't matter. They will be mostly covered by the saree BUT I think they could use some decorative trim for the necklines. A little bling near the face never hurt anyone. Whaddya love?

Candy for your feet!

2009-04-06T20:50:00.004-05:00

So everyone needs gold shoes. If you have a pair--perfect! If not, here are some cute options.
My mom probably has a pair, but I can check next weekend if someone wants to borrow those. I have a pair but am wearing them to the mehndi. (Except I don't really need shoes to wear to the mehndi because my feet will be painted!)

It turns out that there are a ton of gold shoes at Target!

The above are $22! I love these!!

The above are the most expensive of the target bunch at
The above are the cheapest at just under $20.

No pictures from DSW (below) but check out the links:
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?prodId=184309&cm_mmc=prodlist-_-becomepl-_-main-_-main
Less than $30, available online, and in every size!

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?productRef=SEARCH&category=&prodId=181415
HOT! Fabulous and $40!

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?productRef=SEARCH&category=&prodId=169116
Also very cute for $50. A little more sophisticated than the last, perhaps.

All of the above are DSW clearance and the BEST selection is DEFINITELY online versus instore.

Payless usually has gold shoes for super cheap but I don't see any online right now.

So, you guys can do whatever you please in the gold, heeled, sandal-y family. But I wanted to put some options out there!

ALSO, these shoes will be worn BOTH days. AND you will be dancing barefoot.

Baby Girls!

2009-04-03T14:13:00.004-05:00

Here is an adorable mehndi outfit! It is less than $20 so why the heck not!

I had always been planning on having the girls wear red, such as the following (though we saw cuter things on hilcroft):

Now, I am thinking that maybe ivory is the way to go:

So, I have found some cute outfits online though I prefer some of the things in Hilcroft. Here are some options though:

I just can't resist

2009-03-18T15:58:00.005-05:00

I am not totally sold on the PenelliBelle Collection for the wedding but I thought I should showcase a *few* more pieces. You all seemed to take to them! They are absolutely dreamy!

Decorating the Out of Doors

2009-03-17T21:16:00.007-05:00

So, you all know how much I love a good pomander (see the December (or maybe NOVEMBER!) post) and here are a bunch of greenery pomander options all available from SaveonCrafts for relatively good prices. The prices are really decent because I can resell most of this stuff afterward! How long does moss live????

So, the above pomander could hang from shepherds hooks such as the following:
Or there could be in giant vases towards the "altar".

Something else that could be beautiful lining the walkway or possibly somewhere else:
Here is some hurricane lamp inspiration:

I am also IN LOVE with some of these random things but I want some inspirational ideas from you crafty ladies...where can this stuff go?

Also, white, ivory, or red aisle runner? That is an interesting choice that could really make a statement. (Afterall, this is distinctly NOT a white wedding!) Will ivory look dirty? I have heard that... AND we will definitely need a red carpet for the movie-themed reception.

To help you pick jewelry...

2009-03-17T07:51:00.003-05:00

I wish that I had a close up of the detailing but I don't and I don't have time to find one online before work...

I <3 Vintage...

2009-03-16T07:25:00.008-05:00

My ideal wedding jewelry is a mix of pearl, gold, and sparkle, and is, OF COURSE, vintage. I know that all of these pieces are distinctintly MY style, but do you love anything?

So, this piece seems to fit the bill exactly but I am not sure about it... what do you think?

This might be too casual. Maybe I need it for my daily wear, because I absolutely adore it...A little bling anyone? This is one of my favorites though it might be a bit over the top...

Also beautiful and I love a choker...
Here are some pearl MASTERPIECES.

The following two are from one of my favorite stores PenelliBelle

A more simple blinged out necklace...
LOVE this. For the weddding, though...I am not sure...
I can't make up my mind about this one, though I love the details.

I love these but hope to find a necklace that is part of a set.

This seems like a lovely piece but it has no bling...

I already went ahead and bought the following piece. It is simple and I need it in my collection:

What do you love?

Respond today! To save your neck!

2009-03-10T06:08:00.003-05:00

Here are the necklines:

Which do you like?

Also, a follow up on the measurements. Finalizing the order for these today! It takes 13 business days from the finalized order.
A - Blouse Length (I HAVE THIS)
B - Shoulder Width (I HAVE THIS)
C - Chest (I HAVE THIS)
D - Waist (I HAVE THIS)
E - Sleeve Length
F - Sleeve Circumference
G - Neck Width (I HAVE THIS)
H - Back Length
I - Neck to Shoulder
J - Front Cross
K - Hps to Apex

a - Front Neck Depth (I HAVE THIS)
b - Back Neck Depth (I HAVE THIS)
c - Back Neck Design / Neckline (I HAVE THIS)

Lemme know.
They said you can leave anything blank and they will just fill it in with a standard size...

It's currently in the high 80's...May here we come!

2009-03-02T11:13:00.005-06:00

These are the most practical and I think could really be dressed up by using a better corner punch and some gocco magic! I love the stick they are on.

This is my favorite, but I am not sure how you would print on a paper that size... At least, I imagine these to be a bit oversized and thus wouldn't run through a normal printer. The ribbons are an awesome touch.
I think that most people will like these most but they don't quite do it for me. And I can't decide WHY? Mostly, I think that the fan isn't going to stay so nicely fanned and won't be useful for creating a subtle beeze. but they look lovely hanging from the Chiavari chair. (Ah, Chiavari chairs! At $8 a seat, we won't be using those!)

Some inspiration

2009-03-01T21:45:00.004-06:00

It seems that I like giant flowers! big suprise!
P.S. It is supposed to snow 4-10 INCHES tonight. I miss TEXAS!!

Which one is YOUR one?

2009-02-26T20:46:00.003-06:00

Which one is for you!?!

I am ordering these ASAP! I know Sonia wants the baggy pants but other than that I don't know who wants what!?! I don't care who wants what as long as it is sort of even. Not 5 pinks and a baggy blue. Also, Maryam will have a matching outfit because she wants to dance so that will make it either 4 and three, or 2, 2, 3, or maybe 2, 2, 2, 1.
Lemme know!

Also, just as a comment, I think we will have our tops a little more fitted (not too much!) to show off your lovely shapes!

To do list: BEFORE THE SHOWER WEEK

2009-02-25T14:56:00.006-06:00

Redesign ceremony cards. SOMEONE deleted them. But I will marry him anyway.
Redesign RSVP back.
Design Mehndi card.
Print ceremony cards.
Print RSVP back.
Print Mehndi card.
Print Return address on envelopes.
Buy fabric--drive out to the fabric warehouse.
Play around with fabric flowers.
Design programs (if I get time).
Have a DC Sparkly Tahira Girlie-Drink Extravaganza!
Decide on music for the harpist (if I get time).
Order Sarees!
Order Mehndi Outfits!

I will cross things off as they happen and you will be proud!

To do list- THE SHOWER WEEK

2009-02-24T21:35:00.003-06:00

So, I am slowly becoming a complete freak-out-er. So, I decided to make a list of things that I MUST do while in Texas.

Stuff for the shower:

Get shower dress altered (DAY ONE)!

Stuff for the wedding:

Go to Bellaire and find a Mexican cake-baker. BOOK A CAKE.
Address all of the invites and SEND EM OUT!
Make fabric flowers
Figure out how best the original lanterns look with fabric in them
Go to the make-up place and make sure everything is booked/lined-up
Make program fans-at the very least design but hopefully print and assemble

Stuff for the Mehndi:

Go to Caspian and pick linens, set up, etc
Finalize menu
Book chair for Mehndi application
Go to the make-up place and make sure everything is booked/lined-up
Have dance practice!
Book a drummer!
BUY A FREAKING OUTFIT

Stuff for Life:

Close on the house
Go to Pier One and buy stuff
Go to Circuit City and buy stuff for free
Get a facial
Lasik appointment

Ikea to the rescue!

2009-02-24T21:30:00.009-06:00

I am still planning on making half pomanders for the remainder of our dining tables but have also found some awesome things from Ikea that may be useful...

I especially think the lantern may be able to incorporate tea lights and some sort of flower arrangement surrounding it. The shepherds hook is removable and the tea light holder matches the style of the original lanterns quite nicely!
What do you think?

Just as a recap, here are the lanterns I already purchased. I have 9 of them. Back then I wrote,

And here is my favorite and possibly the inspiration that will lead us to something. It is a lantern that is currently filled with maroon balls and flowers (which I like) BUT I am thinking FABRIC. Four different prints and textures in a mixture of crimson and champagne. Rich, Indian fabrics.

And here are the pomanders I made with the tissue paper that I eventually turned on...

Our (almost) house!

2009-02-17T20:43:00.005-06:00

There is a bunch more to show but I don't have pics.
Hopefully, you will get to come visit us at 350 Carnahan some day...

Engagement Photos

2009-02-14T14:54:00.003-06:00

Go to our FANTASTIC photographers blog for more pics. Many many more!

Essential Harp

2009-02-08T12:13:00.003-06:00

That's right! We are booking an awesome harpist Sara Shute to perform at the ceremony!
Yay, one decision down!

Fool me (everyone at the wedding) once...

2009-02-06T22:53:00.006-06:00

So, I have been pricing cakes and trying to figure out what I want to do.
I did not leave very much money in my budget for a cake. As Julie can attest, the cake was one of the things I specifically said I didn't care about.
Sam expressed only one opinion: he doesn't want people to have to wait for cake. He wants it to already be cut up in the back and as soon as we cut the cake, come streaming out by the waiters. (Eric and Amanda did it this way.)
When I went to professional cake makers around town, the cake was going to run around a grand. Eek! Then I turned to facebook to find indepent bakers. I am still being quote at $3-$5 for iced cakes (versus fondant cakes which are even more!). This would be at least a $750 cake. I just can't do it.

Let me turn you to my newest find:

With this, I can hire someone to just decorate these three layers and add a real layer for the topmost layer. Then we have something to cut. We buy sheetcake to stream out after the cutting. Sheetcake=cheap! The styrofoam cake = $30! Decorating a smaller cake for 30 people= $100! And everyone ends up happy! Ta da!

Mehndi Outfits: Election Day!

2009-02-04T16:33:00.007-06:00

SET ONE:
The first set isn't exactly the same but I think they go enough... They are $128

SET TWO:
These dresses are $130 and come in a couple more colors. A lighter pink and something else.

SET THREE: These dresses are $121.

SET FOUR:
The following are approx $90. Notice that there are two different leg options.

The last option is that everyone wear the same color of anything they want. Something bright would be ideal. Or we could say green and orange and give people a lot of freedom.

Or, you guys are TOTALLY able to scrap this whole idea and save money. I am COMPLETELY open to any idea.

Big Texas Hair!

2009-02-04T16:17:00.002-06:00

I love these!
All from the Knot's wedding hair gallery.

Do you have a favorite?

Mehndi ki Raat

2009-02-01T13:49:00.003-06:00

So, who likes to dance?
I DO!
It is traditional for a group of girls to perform a dance Bollywood style at the Mehndi ceremony. Sometimes guys are invited to dance as well.
Maryam (my psuedo-adopted sister) has offered to work with a friend of hers to choreograph dances for ANYONE that wants to dance a little. It should be a ton of fun but NO ONE SHOULD FEEL THEY MUST DANCE. Except Ella and Merrille and Payal. Because I have seen them dance!
She is going to talk to my cousins (Moon's boys) and see if they want to dance also.
You can you tube Mehndi Dance and see many examples of bad dances but I think it should be tons of fun.
So, no pressure.
Soon, outfits for the Mehndi! Yay!
And thank you to those who sent their measurements!
*LOVE*

Fool me once, Gocco, shame on you!

2009-01-20T16:05:00.013-06:00

So, when we set out to make these invites, we decided that the best thing to do would be to start with the back of the RSVP cards. We chose the last design from the previous post:

I am going to document this whole crazy process because it is simply fascinating to me!

So, first, let's meet the Gocco P6. Here is me trying to set up a guideline for where to place the master and cards to be printed.

Then we put the master, which is a photo copy of our desired image onto that yellow pad

and put bulbs into that yellow trapezoidal pyramid on the left of the picture above.

Then insert a blue mesh into that glass screen

and press down.

It makes an electrical connection and

BAM

there is a huge pop of light and you have burned the image into the mesh screen. The light bulbs crack like crazy and have to be thrown away. They are also a great source of heat!

We have to put these sticky sponge things between where the colors are supposed to be different to prevent them (colors) from running.

We then ink it up

and spread it around

Then, we simply put the blank card that we want to print to on the yellow pad. We have inserted the inked mesh screen into the top (see it below).

And VOILA! We got a whole bunch of crap...

So, we quit for that day and started again the next.

The REAL invitations ACTUALLY WORKED.
But Sam Mammen doesn't want me to ruin the surprise...

Who says you have to pick just one?

2009-01-19T21:13:00.004-06:00

From Carnival Cruise Lines which is supposed to be the best! I am pretty much sold!

We are considering taking off that whole first week after the wedding and chilling in Houston for a few days and then going to SA to relax and flying out the next Sunday for a weeklong cruise!

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya...

2009-01-19T18:35:00.004-06:00

SO WE ARE TRYING TO HONEYMOON PLOT. ACTUALLY WE ARE MINI-MOON PLOTTING. WE WILL HONEYMOON IN THAILAND NEXT YEAR.

At first we were thinking Moab, Utah or Miami, FL, something "local". BUT honestly, we can get to central America or the Caribbean and spend the same money.
So now, Panama is at the top of my list. Also, Costa Rica and Belize are on the list. I love Puerto Rico but have been there so I am not sure if that is quite right...

Have you guys been to any of these places? Have another south-of the border favorite?

As inspiration, I point you to this awesome Astrology based honeymoon planner!

Taurus Honeymoons: You always want to be comfortable and appreciate familiar surroundings. You’ll be willing to spend more for something special, like a sensual spa or private bungalow. Or you might go for complete relaxation at a romantic inn.

Taurus Cities: Billings, Montana; Durham, North Carolina; Gary, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami, Florida; Newport, Rhode Island; Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Maine; Reno, Nevada; Santa Barbara, California; Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Taurus Countries: Ecuador, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Monaco, Tanzania.

Sagittarius Honeymoons: You want to go everywhere and do everything, but you especially love knowledge and adventure. Go to a Buddhist monastery, on a road trip, railroad tour, safari, or to a horse-riding resort. If it piques your zest for exploration, it’ll make you happy.

Sagittarius Cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Kansas; Long Beach, California;Montgomery, Alabama; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; San Jose, California.

Sagittarius Countries: Barbados, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Iceland, Finland, Kenya, Surinam, Sweden, United Kingdom.

How freakin' true is mine???

Click here for the rest of em: The Brides Guide

And the nominees are!

2009-01-19T14:41:00.005-06:00

So, we really need to get these sarees ORDERED! This will ensure that we have time for alterations and for things to go wrong...
I have picked a couple more and maybe we can reach some sort of concensus.
I have taken all of your opinions into account and hope we all like some of the same ones.
It's important to note that we are somewhat limited by our crimson and champagne color scheme. Namely, these are traditional Indian wedding colors and thus most of the sarees are ACTUALLY wedding dresses. It would be the equivalent of all of us wearing a WWD.
I think we have found some great *formal* options.
(Some of the others were vetoed by the higher ups for not being formal enough...)

Saree 1
Saree 2
Saree 3
Saree 4
Saree 5
Saree 6

So, I need everyone's first, second, and third choices.
I will use a highly-complicated mathematical formula to determine which "wins"!
Yay!
Voting will close in one week. (How does that sound?)

Trying to measure up...

2009-01-13T20:45:00.004-06:00

Get a friend, a tape measure, and a bottle of wine (I'll reimburse this later), it's time to start measuring yourselves.

Some of these are superfluous (1) but lets just get all of the measurements and email them to me so that I have them.
A word about each graphic:
2 should be how low you would want a neckline to go.
7 the Sari Sapne place likes to measure this RIDICULOUSLY tight (FYI)
10 make this the length your cap sleeve should be, just over the bumb in the shoulder, agreed?
(Feedback appreciated, put it in the comments)
8 and 13 are superfluous but lets get them anyway so our numbering doesn't get messed up.

Just send em all.This is your back.

How far do we think this back thing is supposed to go?
OK, get to work!

Crimson Love

2009-01-10T15:29:00.004-06:00

So! Our wedding invitation paper has arrived! AND I must announce that Paper Source is having a sale on Stardream Mars paper so we got some great deals!

Today we are cutting the 5x7 cards down to 3.5x5 RSVP cards. Yay! It's beginning!

Invitation Station

2009-01-05T19:12:00.007-06:00

So, here is a preview of our invitation that I spent all day on. That's right, we skipped work!
It isn't completely done and you must imagine it on pearlescent paper with a pearly crimson cardstock border and backing. Yum!
We debated using more inventive or creative wording but have decided that the best place for that would be on the reception card. (Preview later.)

This leads to the RSVP card. It has been giving us a ton of trouble. We haven't seen any good wording choices on the internet. Right now, I have something simple that suits the invitation fine but if anyone has seen anything better let me know.
Also, the RSVP card must get the message across that not everyone gets a "+1". Anyone with a spouse, boyfriend, partner, etc will get an invite with both of their names. People traveling to Houston for the wedding also get a plus one. But (due to the not huge size of our venue) we aren't offering plus ones to all of my high school friends and family friends from Houston. We figure these people should know at least a dozen people at the wedding and thus don't need a buffer or someone to share a hotel room with.

We also have two options I have created for the back of the RSVP card. It will be a postcard so this is where the typical "Greeting from Florida" part would go. Which do you prefer?

Big GIMPin'

2009-01-05T19:05:00.003-06:00

So, I have discovered my new favorite open-source software (sorry Microsoft!): GIMP.
It is a totally free program that works EXACTLY like Photoshop!
It even comes with a fantastic easy to manage GUI (interface) that I couldn't rave about more. A lot of open-source stuff is only navigable by true techies and that definitely isn't me. BUT I have created a few little invitation masterpieces I shall share shortly.
It took me a little while to find my way around the program but 24 hours later, I couldn't be more thrilled! The help and support is even great. Sold. (Except it's free!)

So, if you (like me) have recently been considering leaving your job to tinker around in graphic design, I suggest GIMP.

Go here to download it.

Say "Yes!" to the Dress

2009-01-02T18:54:00.008-06:00

Without further adieu (sp?) here are my dresses. I absolutely love them. So thanks to all of you who shopped with me, voted on dresses and generally enjoyed the ride!

Ceremony:

Here is a close up of the detailing on the bottom that will be mimicked on the hem of the saree.

It's gorgeous. Payal can attest that the buying experience was hysterical. We actually cut strips out of two sarees available at the store to get the EXACT color we wanted. (Well, the saleslady did the cutting but whatever.) They are pretty much identical to the colors above. One might call them (light) crimson and champagne!

Now for the reception. I must say I never realized how beautiful these two dresses look together. They are made to be worn by one bride on a very special day.

So there you go. No voting required (or allowed!). But this should also help us with the bridesmaid dress options.

Love you girls!

James Bond gets Married

2009-01-01T18:52:00.009-06:00

So, Sam has a penchant for all things spy-y. You may have noticed. He dreams of wearing this to the wedding:
Call me crazy but this conjures images of:
At first I fought him on it but Mama Bollywood has been teaching me some lessons in acceptance. So, for Christmas I bought Sam a skinny black tie from Urban Outfitters. (It's now on sale by the way and super cute!) He will probably wear a dressier one for the wedding but I think he appreciated the gesture.

And who knows, maybe he'll look more like this: (!)
Photo Credit: Dean McDonald / Splash News

So, off to the MW Tux website to see what we can find along these lines... As a side note we are choosing MW Tux because all of the groomsmen can get their tux in their respective states, the prices are right, and Sam's is free!

This research has made me realize what distinguishes tuxes (This is completely unscientific.)

The number of buttons: 1, 2, 3, or 4
How high up the first button hits
The length of the coat
The collar: shawl or regular, thickness, notched or not, satin or matte
The pockets: slits or flaps, satin or matte

Our opinions on these things are:

1 or 2
Lower is better, between the third and fourth vest button is best
Should just clear your butt
Regular, not to thin, notched, satin
Slits, satin preferred but not required

Our first tux is a Calvin Klein Two-Button Super 100's Notch
Sam is even considering the vest! I think the vest would add a formal touch and definitely in the vest's corner, but we'll have to see what he decides.
The next tux is a Joseph & Feiss One-Button Notch Lapel. This one has a slightly thicker lapel but we'd have to see it on to know what difference it makes.
These are really the only two that we both liked. To the store this weekend!
Did you know there were so many variables in the tux world? Which one do you like?

You'll never be saree to own one of these!

2008-12-30T16:03:00.007-06:00

So Ella and I are relaxing in Maryland and browsing the web searching for the perfect wedding saree for my favorite bridesmaids. The following website has turned up some beauties all VERY affordable, below $100 and mostly between $60-$80. I can't

Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
Number 4
Number 5
Number 6

Which do you love? I definitely need more excuses to wear a sari!

Sarah Perlis on SALE!

2008-12-28T00:20:00.007-06:00

If you haven't heard of Sarah Perlis jewelry, I accept your gratitude for the introduction.
Her jewelry has a very particular style, rough yet romantic. (That's my description, I invite you to choose another!) The diamonds are all conflict free and the jewelry is hand crafted in her studio. It is NICE jewelry but as we move into adulthood these are the types of pieces I hope to add to my collection. Thanks to snippet&ink I discovered that Sarah Perlis is having a 25% off sale on EVERYTHING through New Years Eve. Just enter joy2008 at checkout!
Here are just a few samples of the most gorgeous pieces you may want to recommend to a future bride to be:

I also love this ID bracelet:So what do you think? Romantic and rough? Do you love? There is a piece of jewelry that reminds me of each of you on this site: even if its lust-after-but-never-purchase jewelry.

Exfoliate me Beautiful!

2008-12-27T11:55:00.003-06:00

Introducing my newest member of the new-skin new-me campaign!
Courtesy of the Clarisonic website:

It's by the makers of the Sonicare toothbrush (which I absolutely worship!) and uses the same technology. The real benefit of this Clarisonic face brush is supposed to be that it REALLY cleans your skin, which I can definitely feel already. The website claims it removes 6x more crud. There are three available heads for normal, sensitive, and delicate skin. The Sonicare turns on for 60 seconds when you hit the on button. You are supposed to do 20 seconds on your forehead. Then, it beeps and you do 20 seconds on the nose and chin. Then it beeps again and you get two ten second segments, one for each cheek. Man, I love structure.

I think this is perfect for people with acne or clogged pores that are healed by antibiotics. I have tried BC and antibiotics to help my skin and both caused more problems than they solved. Maybe the issue is that my skin is just not clean enough...

We shall see!

Centerpiece Intelligence Agency

2008-12-24T12:13:00.007-06:00

OK, I've made up some prototypes of centerpieces.
I covered my kitchen table in Christmas wrapping paper to mimic a tablecloth and table dressings.
First, I present some miraculous finds from the Dollar Store. They are bronze with gold brushed on them. Notice the fake flower half pomanders atop them.
I think the first look like genie lamps:

I think the second ones are a great find even if they don't make it into the centerpieces. The paisley print will definitely be a recurring theme! Notice the two different sizes of pomander; I think I actually prefer the smaller. Ignore the different color flowers, that is just me making use of all of these flora laying around my gameroom.

Here is just the half pomander. Half of what I had originally envisioned. How would we dress it up?

And here is my favorite and possibly the inspiration that will lead us to something. It is a lantern that is currently filled with maroon balls and flowers (which I like) BUT I am thinking FABRIC. Four different prints and textures in a mixture of crimson and champagne. Rich, Indian fabrics. These could also line the tables, we know fabric will line the aisle, we need a red carpet for the entrance to Majestic Metro, just think! Note: these are distinctly NOT from the dollar store!

What do you think? Do you like the lanterns or something else more? What about the idea of an abundance of fabric?

Buff shiny?

2008-12-24T11:26:00.010-06:00

First things first, I do not want to have to mess with my nails during the wedding. I don't want to need a manicure that morning. AND, let's remember that I would need perfect nails Friday night and all day Saturday.

This led me to decide that I must get fake nails for the wedding. I am not talking Lee Press -Ons. Some people may swear by these but I have never been a Press-On fan!
I found this at a pretty fun website!

My mom gets some pretty good-looking fake nails. They are the kind that are constructed out of powdered acrillic in pink and white shades right over the top of your nails. Courtesy of my mom:

So I had pretty much decided to go this route UNTIL I went in for a mani-pedi this week. Besides getting a snowman painted on my toe, I discovered a whole new manicure. The technician doing my nails insisted that I get them buffed shiny with no polish because polish "always chips the next day". (She was pretty insistent!) So, I tried it and I think they look fantastic! They just used that rotary buffer with a cloth buffer. It's days later and they still look great. These pictures aren't great and my nails are super-short, but look:

I think that if I were to use that white pencil under longer nails I could get some fantastic results! I have always been a fan of that white pencil (you can get it at any grocery store, Wal-Mart, or Sally Hansen Beauty Supply).

So, I have a new nail plan! Yay! Have you heard of this buff shiny business? It rocks!

Fly me to the moon! (It doesn't make sense till the end...)

2008-12-22T09:49:00.005-06:00

So, since deciding to have an outdoor wedding, I have tried to think up that best way to show "This is where the bride and groom go". When scoping the site Julie and I saw that there is a big tree that would make a nice focal point behind us. Note that the benches won't be there!

We could hang beautiful ribbons, lanterns, wreaths and decor from here, a la these ingenious pictures from Martha Stewart Weddings

Let me show you some other views of our space at Rice University. Again, imagine it completely empty:

Now I haven't put too much thought into what the space should look like or how to mark the actual wedding spot. I have considered a chuppah but that might be one too many cultures and it would definitely be a budget buster! SO, my newest Google Reader addition ACupofJo has the most beautiful idea!

Isn't it gorgeous! There are no set-up directions but I am sure we could do this! I am thinking that dupattas might look very nice!
What do you think? What should we do to spice up the space? Have you ever seen a floating altar? Is it over the top or just amazing!?!

An "artsy-fartsy" style

2008-12-18T23:02:00.013-06:00

When contacting photographers I have taken to referring to my preferred style as artsy fartsy.
For a while I found a bunch of photographers that had 500 photos of

a bride
and a groom
looking at a camera

I also came across a bunch of big studios with a million photographers where you really pay for the studio and get the photographer as a bonus.

But the field has narrowed to THREE!!! Three amazing, beautiful, creative artists, one of which will help immortalize our big day.

I first present WeddingsTX. This seems like abigger studio but I really like their work. A sample for you:

http://www.weddingtx.com/index1.html
All photos here taken by the photographers at WeddingTX

Next on my list is a man who seems awesome: Nicholaus Haskin. He has an awesome
"I am me" photoessay on his website that really pushed him *towards* the top of the list.
When I contacted him he responded with all the requisite info and "How did you meet? Was the proposal romantic?" He just relocated from FL and so I found him on Craigslist from a very interesting posting name... He is my favorite PERSON. And I believe my favorite photographer for the actual wedding.

All photos by Nicholaus Haskins

Last on the list is an amazing find thanks to Blondie Bridesmaid (Andrea!). This week I saw an engagement shoot on WeddingBee where the couple chose to shoot in a record store and the photos were AWESOME. There is nothing better than creative props, right? So after a trip to the new beautiful Whole Foods in Sugar Land I said to my mom, "This is the PERFECT engagement shot place. This place, the library, or half price books in the village..."
Then enters Snaptacular. On their (very witty) blog I discovered that this photographer has shot at that exact half-price books, a houston public library and HOLD YOUR BREATH H-E-B! I couldn't believe it; we must have the same muse!
Visit their blog to be inspired...by love and photography. http://www.snaptacularphotos.com/blog/
I have added her to my google Reader (highly recommended!). She is the best, most adventrous engagment shooter. You just take a spin through her blog and realize she has guts. She even comments about negotiating with a passing fire truck and an alterations store manager for the perfect shot.

All photography by Snaptacular

So whaddya think? Who do you LOVE?

Flawless...it's gonna take some work

2008-12-17T10:19:00.004-06:00

So as all of you know I hate my skin. I have fought with it since I was twelve and it always wins. With the prospect of 13 hours of photography in my future, I am freaking out. (We'll explain the 13+ hours later!)
So, I have decided to take drastic measures. I want to resurface my face! Most of my problems are scars from old tragedies (read:pimples) and apparently there are a ton of things one can do now to fix this. Here is what my research has turned up:

Apparently it's cause I'm brown!:

Post-inflammatory pigmentation is discoloration of the skin at the site of a healed or healing inflamed acne lesion. It occurs more frequently in darker-skinned people, but occasionally is seen in people with white skin. Some post-inflammatory pigmentation may persist for up to 18 months, especially with excessive sun exposure. Chemical peeling may hasten the disappearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html

There are apparently a million different types of scars:

Ice-pick scars, Depressed fibrotic scars, Soft scars, superficial/deep, Atrophic macules,

There are also a number of treatments:

Dermabrasion. This is thought to be the most effective treatment for acne scars. Under local anesthetic, a high-speed brush or fraise used to remove surface skin and alter the contour of scars. Superficial scars may be removed altogether, and deeper scars may be reduced in depth. Dermabrasion does not work for all kinds of scars; for example, it may make ice-pick scars more noticeable if the scars are wider under the skin than at the surface. In darker-skinned people, dermabrasion may cause changes in pigmentation that require additional treatment.

Microdermabrasion. This new technique is a surface form of dermabrasion. Rather than a high-speed brush, microdermabrasion uses aluminum oxide crystals passing through a vacuum tube to remove surface skin. Only the very surface cells of the skin are removed, so no additional wound is created. Multiple procedures are often required but scars may not be significantly improved.

Vibradermabrasion tackles dull skin, fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, acne scars, and age spots. It can even help to elleviate or minimize dry or oily skin. Like other treatments such as MicroDermabrasion, Vibraderm works by sloughing off the dull, damaged top layers of the skin, Vibraderm lets the healthy glow of the newer layers appear, But Vibraderm goes farther than other treatments by also encouraging new collage production. This means that not only will the surface of your skin look better, but that it will also be more firmly supported by the deeper layers. Skin becomes less slack, and more firm and supple.

Have any of you ever had any of these treatments? Would you recommend them? Have you heard any horror stories? I am leaning towards Vibraderm because it seems the least painful. They say it has minimal redness and no swelling. It's also called a lunch time facial-that almost sounds fun!:

Shoes!! (better than candy)

2008-12-15T22:07:00.006-06:00

So, as all of you know I have had one true love affair for the past decade or so: DSW. This weekend was no exception and I purchased a quarter of a dozen (3--sorry, math major!) perfect little heels. Two of which are in the running for my WEDDING SHOES!

I never looked through the DSW clearance racks for wedding shoes before but right now THERE SEEM TO BE TONS. I found two pairs in a 6.5 which never happens in the sale section. I cannot even tell you what a STEAL these were!

Here is their grand debut, open for voting! A lot of women wear super exciting heels (read: color!) on their wedding day but as someone who own half a dozen green shoes and three pairs of SHINY silver everyday-wear, I am going for a classic champagne.

The first: These are a great pair by Caparros. I owned one pair of Caparros before and they were super comfortable. These manage to fit my fat squishy little feet quite well despite the three strap detail. They even look nice ON! That being said, no one will ever see my feet...

The second: These are made by Ann Marino. I have never owned a pair of her shoes so I know very little about them. I simply know that they are adorable. They seem not uncomfortable, but how would I really know after 15 minutes? The strap is loose enough to not dig into me so that's a good sign. On the other hand, who cares either way? They are gorgeous!

So what do you think? Are you on board with the more classically styled shoes I'm showing here? Which do you like better?

DIY: Making paper flowers!

2008-12-13T21:33:00.014-06:00

So many people have expressed interest in my paper flower "factory" that I thought I would put together a little how to for you lovely ladies! Today I will be making the luminaria style.

First, you will need:
Tissue paper
Scissors
Floral Wire
Wire Cutter (Didn't have this this time and used a razor blade--NOT RECOMMENDED!)
A ruler

For other types of flowers, you need:
Floral tape
A 1" styrofoam ball

The first step is cutting the tissue paper into 10"x 5" rectangles. You will need 5 or more for each flower. My experience with these flowers is that NOTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT. So don't stress about cutting or lining up perfect rectangles!

Now, you line up five of the rectangles and start making accordion pleats/folds. You will want to be folding the short side (see the photo for clarification).

Now you take the accordion-ed rectangle and fold a piece of floral wire over the center of it. I usually have approximately 1" of wire that folds over the tissue and then you simply wrap the short end around the "stem".
The next thing you will want to do is cut the edges of the flowers. With only five sheets of tissue and decent scissors you can cut through the stack in one chop. I prefer rounded corner but you can also do peaked corners for a different look.

Now you have to fan out the accordion pleats. You will need to separate the layers of tissue and pull them toward the center. You will quickly learn the "right" amount of pressure. Too much and it rips, too little and you don't get enough separation. This takes the most time. Here's a photo of me-mid separation. You can see that the opposite side hasn't been separated yet but is already fanned. I usually really work the "seam" and try to pull the layers apart from here. I think this adds volume.

After you fan out all of the layers, you end up with this:

I am making a bunch to try and make a pomander. All you need for this is a bunch of flowers with very short stems and a floral foam ball. Here's how far I've gotten:

Polyvore- An Inspiration Board

2008-12-12T14:04:00.005-06:00

Find me on Polyvore

This website is fantastic!
I want to go through and make an inspiration board with things I have actually already created/bought/booked (flowers, save the dates (STDs from now on), one of my gma's broaches that I want to wear in my hair, my DRESS, majestic metro photos etc).
This website is just fun to play on.
I think it is intended to be used to put together outfits...why not wedding outfits? If we pick an outfit for the lovely BMs, maybe I will make them an inspiration board also!

Photoboth vs Fauxtobooth

2008-12-12T08:51:00.004-06:00

I have been playing with the idea of having a REAL photobooth brought in for the wedding. I think it would be fun and playful and semi-movie related.

Apparently the world of photobooth rentals is huge. They have digital photo booths~ check out PartyBooths.com or full service photo booths where a "professional" comes to man your photo booth! LoneStarPhotoBooths gives you the pictures on two DVDs, an online gallery, and props!
I do worry about the practicality of a photo booth however. If you have it for the whole reception it can cost a bundle! If you just get it for two hours, someone would have to come and dismantle it in the middle of the party. I think you could maybe get away with this if you put it in the lobby though...

BUT recently on www.oncewed.com they showed a faux-to-booth that was manned by a professional photographer. Now, you may not know this but additional photogs seem to run $200/hr so that is NOT an option for us, BUT, just look at these photos! I bet I know someone talented enough to man a faux-to-booth! Photography: Lucida Photography - Melia Sorenson
Pictures from www.oncewed.com Amber and Jeff III

These people had a school theme and it was ADORABLE! They included all of these cute props for people to pose with. I have been wracking my brain trying to think of appropriate props to make a similarly adorable faux-to booth but am coming up short...

Any ideas?

A list of probably dumb ones:
Old video camera (this one is ok)
Film reels (What does one do with these?)
Something indian...Duputtas?
A "Cut" thing from the movies

Help!

Pomanders! I love Pomanders!

2008-12-11T20:31:00.010-06:00

So most of my floral inspirations come from these pomanders. Beautiful, right?

I think if Bridesmaids are wearing sari's a pomander is perfect because it dangles from the wrist and allows you to hold the hem of your sari just right.

The "globes" of paper flowers discussed for centerpieces obviously found inspiration somewhere...

One of these pics is of paper flowers. I bet you can't guess!

Do you like them?
Are they too weird?
Let me know...it is a big decision and I don't want to be too artsy fartsy!

Paper Flower Bonanza

2008-12-11T18:20:00.005-06:00

So most have you have seen my adventures in paper crafting:

All of these flowers were created with either crepe paper (roses) or regular gift tissue paper (mums). There are a few other random things from my house and garden in this bouquet (crystals, feathers, greenery).

See:
wedding bee paper flower adventure
martha martha martha

For the centerpieces for the reception I am hoping to create a modern, funky, bollywood vibe without breaking the bank or using real flowers.
I am dreaming up big globes stuffed to the brim with the mum style flower (if you can tell the difference) made of a cool paisley print tissue paper. Here's my latest find:
I bought 100 sheets of 20' X 30' off ebay for what I consider a reasonable price. That should make 175 out of this $20 pack of tissue paper, if I never mis-cut or rip one. (So, lets shoot for 150!)

How many will I need? How big are these globes gonna be???

We'll have at least 20 tables and then rows upon rows of bar tables for the younger folk!

Hoping to do a trial run and make one globe before I head to DC. Julie, send this blog link to Sara and then tell her to come over and make paper flowers!

Not too matchy-matchy

2008-12-11T16:03:00.001-06:00

(First off, I am not yet in the swing of naming these posts, but I'll get there)

So, Julie and Andrea ventured to Hillcroft to look at Sari Sapne and all that little India has to offer.
For those of you that don't know, let outline the weekend wedding:

Friday 8pm ~ Mehndi Ceremony
Saturady 11am ~ Wedding Ceremony at Ray Garden at Rice University(that's right, outside!)
Saturday 8pm ~ Reception at the Majestic Metro

So, I have three dresses:
Lengha
Traditional Indian Bridal Sari
Traditional WWD

You all will need some sort of outfits as well. For the sake of money, I think we all agree that one outfit for Saturday should suffice. The matron of honor (Julie) and blondie bridesmaid (Andrea) (I like this nickname stuff) think it would be fun to wear matching outfits on Friday and I agree!!! Do you? Post below.

This would also be a fantastic way to get Sam and all his friends into some Indian clothes (just kidding Sonia). (Sort of.)

We looked at many styles and decided the Churidar style would be the most economical, universally flattering style out there. This is a type of Shalwar Kameez that has skinny legs that are scrunched up a bunch. We are thinking a super decorative sleeveless top with flowy georgette fabric from the empire waist to the knee-ish. The colors will be bright and you could be matched two-by-twos. How does that sound? Post below. (I would really like a discussion!)

Here's a couple photos of some failed outfits:

Now I found a man who will custom make us some Churidars for $150 each. This seems like a pretty sweet deal since we can get Saturday's sari ridiculously cheap (It's just 6yds of fabric afterall). BUT more recently I found churidarsuit.com They offer free shipping over $175 so if I order everything together, then we get free shipping! Here are a couple options:

The website organizes by price. Maybe ya'll are interested in venturing to the site and picking out somethings that YOU like. I am completely NOT PICKY about the Mehndi outfit.

Julie and Andrea both liked the Anarkali style. Anarkali was the most beautiful (prostitute?) in Lahore during some period of decadence. I am sure there is a better description available on wikipedia...
Here's a peak of those, they seem to be in the $100-$150 category on the website. (See left.)

So what do you guys think? Here's a recap:
1) Do you want to match?
2) Everyone in their own color or 2X2's?
3) Do you like a churidar or prefer a more traditional loose pant? (Google: Shalwar Kameez)
4) Do you like the Anarkali style?

Welcome my lovely ladies!

2008-12-11T15:55:00.002-06:00

So, I am SO DEEP in this wedding planning and somehow seem to have only scratched the surface. I wanted to just post stuff to update you guys on my progress and make it feel like we are always right around the corner from one another.
Here is a list of recent events:
1) Bought two pairs of wedding shoes. We need a vote. This is half the reason for the blog!
2) Plunged Sam into the wedding abyss.
3) Picked out my White Wedding Dress (WWD from now on) and it has ARRIVED. Though it is a size too small so I am doing a bit of gymming before going to try it on!
4) My Japanese print making machine arrived! It's a Gocco!
5) Have become completely obsessed with all this DIY (Do it Yourself). There is a paper-flower-making bonanza going on in the Saleem household currently.
6) Found a photog at $800 over my budget...keep looking, I guess!

The list goes on and on and on...
I currently have ideas or concrete plans for one million aspects of this wedding but I would like it if I could share ideas with you all and get feedback. I am open to suggestions and just want to feel like part of a sisterhood as I plan my wedding.

I will invite non-bridesmaids to read the post also and you can invite anyone that wants to see a wedding come together, start to finish.

If it gets too crazy, this thing may not survive. But I sure hope to make it through!