What a beautiful piece of paper you have!

Another part of wedding planning that I was totally clueless before I started planning myself is invitations.  Who knew there was 1 ply and 2 play paper, archival inks, and letterpress vs. raised ink?!  The list goes on and on!  The invite says a lot about your wedding.  It sets the tone for the event.  In our case, it needs to be modern yet still funky, interesting and sophisticated.  After plenty of research (I am an EXCELLENT researcher) I have found the most perfect company to produce our invitations.  Now, you might be saying, "Why don't you just do the invitations yourself?  You are artistic!  Go for it!"  I see your point friends, but after doing the Save the Dates it is quite a lot of work.  And frankly, I don't need the added stress!  You see, I am a perfectionist and if I am going to take on a project I gots to take it on full force!  There will be tons of stuff to do, and once you see how gorgeous this site is you will understand the beauty of the professional invitation! 

Here is http://www.bellafigura.com/

Awesome right?  Here are a few of my favs!

Sleep Talking Man

"You are not into this jungle... you want OUT"  

My fiance has a tendency to talk in his sleep.  He is constantly making me laugh with what comes out of his sleepy mouth!  As I lie awake at night trying to fall asleep, I almost always hear him mumbling something worth hearing!  He also laughs a lot in his sleep.  I find all of this so endearing that I want to just wake him up right there and tell him what he has said!  But instead, I am sneaky.  I try to egg him on to make sure I have gotten all of the story out of him!  This game is quite amusing no matter what time of night.  My favorite thing he has ever said was after we had watched an episode of "Jon and Kate Plus 8".  He had fallen asleep right after the episode and in his sleep he said "No thank you.  Way too many kids."  I mean how funny is that?!  I have to remind myself to keep a notebook by my bed, because sometimes I forget the brilliant sayings that happen in the middle of the night and I don't want to forget any of these gems!  

I recently came across this blog http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/

This woman was so smart!  This blog has now made the news and has a huge following!  They even sell t shirts with his sayings on it!  How funny!  

Fashionable Friday

For a housewarming present my mother got me a subscription to W magazine.  I know, an unusual housewarming present.  But I love it!  January's issue was so incredible!  It had this photo spread that really made me inspired!  I could look at it for days!  Here are a few of my favs.  Aren't they lovely?!

Wedding Wednesday!

So I have decided to devote different days to different subjects!  For example, WEDDING WEDNESDAY! I know, I know it's pretty exciting... wait until you see what Friday is going to be!  For my first Wedding Wednesday post I would like to talk about a little thing called the veil.  I have gone back and forth about veils for a long time.  I originally thought I didn't want one.  But then I saw my beautiful fiancé's sad face.  Ohhhhhh Sad Sad Panda....

I have no idea where I found this picture so if I need to site this source please let me know!

Also, when I was trying on wedding dresses, the veil always added an extra sense of "I am a BRIDE" opposed to "I am going to a red carpet event in white".  So I began to rethink the veil.  I am still not a fan of huge veils that overpower.  To me they look very dated.  But I find most traditions in weddings to be pretty dated.  

Which brings me to the birdcage veil.  I love love love the birdcage veil.  It's modern, but vintage at the same time.  Just my style!  Modern + Vintage = ME 

 But to take the birdcage to the next level, I think I am going to go with a veil that is in a tulle opposed to open net because it will complement my dress more.  And wait until you see the dress! I know, the suspense is killing you!  So I am thinking about going with a veil like this pretty lady.  

This is from Sara Gabriel.  Isn't it pretty?  I like that it is still dramatic and elegant without being very long.  Hopefully with a veil like this one, there will be no more sad panda face.

A True Love Song

I am currently trying to find a few important songs for our wedding.

1) The song our bridal party will walk down the aisle to.

2) The song I will walk down the isle to.

3) The song for our first dance!!!!

Now, I am planning on hiring a string trio or quartet to play during our ceremony and cocktail hour so the first two songs need to sound beautiful when played instrumentally.  I really like the idea of playing a modern song that people will recognize so it is also important that the song be about love.  

Here is the dilemma.  Most songs I love that meet most of my requirements (and I admit that I have a quite a few) turn out not to be about love but about heartbreak.  Or, aren't about love at all.  For example, how amazing would it be to walk down the isle to Coldplay's Viva la Vida.  Such a great song right?!  Yea, but totally about a King who is ruined.  Awkward.

Then I started to look into U2 songs.  My fav U2 song is All I Want is You.  Which I have always sung at the top of my lungs, and never really thought about what I was saying.  The lyrics convey that the woman is materialistic but the man doesn't want anything but her.  Now, it is a romantic love song, but I am not that person!  And I also sort of think its kind of messed up, but whatever.  Which leads me to a song that definitely conveys a lot of what I want.  The Beatles "All you Need is Love"   Finally a song that is actually about the true, pure meaning of Love.  Maybe we will use this song for after my love steps on that glass and we are officially married!  There are plenty more songs that I thought of using that really conveyed the wrong message.  Believe me when I tell you, I gave you the short version!  Either way, I still have a long list of songs I need to find.  Suggestions anyone?

How about this song?

Pants On The Ground American Idol

Golden Globes 2010

Charming Creativity's winner for best dressed Golden Globes 2010 is....

Drumroll please...

Lea Michele!

I am sure her life is now complete!  What would she have done without my fake award!?   I happen to love Spring Awakening as well as Glee so she holds a special place in my heart.  She looked incredible from head to toe.  Of course it is Oscar de la Renta.  I love everything about this dress.  Especially that sweetheart neckline which pretty amazing.  She really took the fact that this was her first Golden Globes seriously.  And I appreciate that!  Also, it is hard to tell from this picture, but her earrings are also amazing.  She also had flawless makeup and she has incredible eyebrows.  Ok I am done now.  

I also have two runner ups.  And they both win for most attractive couple.

Thanks to Greenweddingshoes for posting these pics!  

Emily Blunt looks so fantastic here in a Dolce and Gabbana gown.  I love the drama of her dress without going over the top.  She is also glowing.  Which I think has to do with the fact that she is engaged to John Krasinski.  Enough said.

I know Diane Kruger's Christian Lacroix dress got mixed reviews.  But for me it was seriously gorgeous and a fashion risk.  What a great color!  Love the ombre effect as well as the ruffle detail.  I am always a sucker for fabric detail and chiffon and organza..as you can tell from all three of my winning dresses!  Haha!  Oh... and she is dating Pacey...um cough cough I mean Joshua Jackson, so naturally she gets a few extra points.

I just totally dorked out and admitted I loved Dawson's Creek... ok whatever moving on.

I should also mention my worst dressed.  Sigh... Lady, put those things away.

source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/01/18/article-1244083-07E6660B000005DC-870_306x727.jpg

Listen Mariah.. I have big boobies too, so from one big boobie lady to another, you are at a classy event and everyone knows you got them.  So you don't need to flaunt them at this particular occasion.  Thank you.

Can't wait to see the next Red Carpet!  

A Rug made out of old belts!

How cool is this?!?!  I love when people repurpose things in such away that make them even better than before!  What once was a raggedy old belt is now a part of a pretty awesome rug. 

This and many other cool ideas can be found on 

http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=278 

Why I need to learn how to knit

Jemma Sykes knit this for a Breast Cancer Awareness charity event.  I mean... really?  How cool is this?  New Years Resolution number 35 : Learn to Knit!

How did I JUST find out about this...

I love Natalie Portman and I love shoes.  I remember hearing she was thinking about doing a Vegan line of shoes and I was so excited... So it turns out it happened and ended before I even knew about it!  The store was called Te Casan I believe and I keep on trying to find their website and it no longer exists!  There was a store in Soho and it closed!!!!  

All of this came about when I found the most INCREDIBLE WEDDING (that deserves its own post) on http://www.stylemepretty.com/ 

They posted this amazing wedding that took place in my new home of Connecticut.  She based the wedding off of a pair of Natalie Portman shoes that are just INCREDIBLE.  I mean, incredible in ALL CAPS.  I can't find them anywhere.  But, I will take this moment of inspiration and begin my search for the shoe that speaks to me.  Because we all know how I love shoes! 

As for Natalie Portman's shoe that sparked this post... 

This fabulous photo of the beauties is by Robert and Kathleen Photographers that are based out of Connecticut as well as the Bride who happens to be the event planner of Jubilee Events.  As I discussed this wedding is so amazing it deserves it's own post.  With a wedding based on shoes like this, you can see why!

I wanted to take this moment to remember my fabulous engagement shoe.  I needed to find the perfect shoe!  Here is a reminder of that hot, fun and flirty engagement shoe

The wedding shoe has to top these hot tamales!!!!  That is a lot to live up to!