Charming Creativity

Our wedding in a nutshell...

2010-08-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

It has been about a month since our wedding. And I must say, it actually was worth all the planning and stress! Who knew?! I have a word of advice to all of you planning brides out there. No matter what, it is going to be incredible. So have faith in that ok?
Since I never thought about what I wanted my wedding to be until I became engaged, I found the wedding planning process a bit daunting in the beginning. But I threw myself in, head first, and I actually really enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, I certainly had my fair share of family drama, as do most brides and grooms. But as for the actual design and planning of the wedding. The designer in me sort of thrived in it.
If you would have asked me the week before our wedding if I loved planning it, I would have said "Absolutely not." But once you see your vision come to life, and you are about to marry your soul mate. It makes the day literally perfection. Even if stuff goes wrong (and inevitably something will) it is still total and complete PERFECTION. My wedding day took my expectations and blasted them into the New York Harbor. It was so beyond what I thought it ever could be. I knew it would be amazing... and that I would be happy. What I did not know, is that it would be the best day of my life thus far. Seriously folks, enough gushing. Here are a few fav pics for you to enjoy.

All of these photos were taken by the incomparable Barnaby Draper Studios.

My bridesmaids are the some of the most amazing women I know. They were so attentive (as can be seen in this picture) and incredible that day. And they all looked like super models to boot. I am one lucky lady.

We didn't just enjoy our ceremony. We ENJOYED our ceremony.

And last but not least... our awesome Bridal Party.

Rent heads

2010-08-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

So I am costume designing Rent for an amazing new theatre company called Bridgeport Theater company and I couldn't be more excited. When designing a show that has become so iconic in our culture, it is definitely tricky. "What items seem to be staples in the show (aka Mark's sweater) and what can we do without?" becomes a question I ask myself often. Last weekend there was a huge production done at the Hollywood Bowl starring Vanessa Hudgens (WHY?!), Wayne Brady, Tracie Thoms, Skylar Astin, Aaron Tveit... just to name a few. But the one character that stood out to me was the way they portrayed Maureen. Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussy Cat dolls was an interesting choice to say the least. And since she was so miscast, she made some interesting choices. Which was surprisingly refreshing. And as much as I think her acting could use some work, her singing was sort of ridic. I mean, she does not sing that well in The Pussycat Dolls! When I say she was miscast, I just mean she is not the kind of person that Jonathan wrote the character of Maureen for. So, once you put that aside, you can enjoy the performance more.

Her costumes were completely different from the originals and you could tell she wanted a lot of input since Vanessa wore EXACTLY what Mimi did in the Broadway version and Maureen wore some weird chinese brocade corset. So.... note to self when designing Rent: be consistent with your choices. Ok this rant is over now... go watch this video... the two of them together.. it's pretty awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQvU9MCUr0Q&feature=player_embedded

A Cheese Wedding Cake?!?

2010-08-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

All my dreams have come true! Check out these wedding cakes made out of cheese wheels by The Cheese Shed! Yes please!

Thanks to Cup of Jo for enlightening me!

When in doubt, and it's raining...

2010-08-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

You can always get a BIG ass umbrella to make it better!

found on the wonderful blog: http://apartment34.blogspot.com/

My friend Brianne is pretty awesome

2010-06-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

First things first.... Our RSVPs are in! And we got some pretty fantastic sketches. Here is one by one of my amazing, fantastic, lovely friends Brianne. She also blogged about it here , which makes me feel special.

The shoe search comes to a wonderful end

2010-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely an accessory lady. Hands down! Maybe that's why I had such a hard time finding the perfect shoe! I have tried on more shoes than I can count! I am single handedly keeping Zappos in business!
Some contenders included these

But, I didn't like that they were Ivory and not a color. also they weren't that comfortable on my ankle.

So then I tried these...

And let me tell you... these are really amazing in person. So comfortable. Makes your legs look great. But they aren't the right purple. And as much as I think that ball of joy on the front is cool, I think it might get in the way of my dress. So THEN....

I started thinking about how cool it would be to do a silvery gray shoe. Enter inspiration photooooo NOW

So after finding out that these precious shoes were custom made, I was beginning to lose hope! Then my amazing bridesmaid Dina checked on Zappos AGAIIIIIN. And low and behold, Badgley Mischka came out with new shoes! Here is the final shoe choice!

In the mist of all this love of accessories business I came across these! Should I put these heart stoppers on the bottom? Cute right? Cheesy? A little, but that's me!

Thoughts??

Ummmm My best friend will be married this time next week!

2010-05-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Big news folks! This gorgeous lady will be walking down the aisle to marry that handsome man in less than a week! I am trying to contain the excitement but it's not working!!!!!

I am heading up to good ol Waltham, MA to get even more excited about the future nuptials of these fab folks. Love to you both! Let's get this party started Riiiiiiiight!

I have an incredible Fiance

2010-05-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

Which makes me one lucky lady. To all of my friends out there that are with someone that doesn't make you happy. Don't waste your time. I PROMISE there is something better out there. Happy Birthday to the man that makes me believe in true love.

Weirdly obsessed with honeymoon attire

2010-05-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the deal. My brain works like this:

"You are going on a honeymoon therefore you must wear nautical items."

Now, I know you are probably thinking "Your brain is looney!" but I really do think there is an explanation. When I think honeymoon, I think of a few things. I think cruise wear, navy and white, straw hat, big sunglasses, sophisticated dresses and lots of stripes. Nautical stripes. I know it is seriously weird and doesn't really explain anything. Especially because I have never been on a cruise, and I am not going on one for my honeymoon.
Also, I had no idea (when I started planning a wedding) what I wanted to wear for it. But, I know exactly what I want to wear for my honeymoon. That is so bizarre!!!
This has recently become a problem when I am shopping. For anything... really doesn't matter. Could be pillow cases or a dress either way I walk right by what I am supposed to be buying and head right to the white linen blazer and say "This would be great for my honeymoon!" I don't buy it though, I just like to admire it's honeymoon capabilities and dream about being in Italy.
Enough about my crazy, rambling, honeymoon brain and now onto some examples!

These earrings are pretty awesome and scream nautical! I know... I know.. I've lost my mind. But aren't they cute! I found them on http://www.oldsoulnewheart.com/product/sailing-beauty

Hi cute striped dress with great sailing possiblities! I believe my wonderful friend Sarah has this dress... I wonder if she wore it on her honeymoon...

It was found here : http://spoolno72.com/item_65/MacIntosh-Dress.html

Look how much fun she is having on her honeymoon!

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/i/shoppingdiary/passionateshopper/stripes/_I0X3737.jpg

I digress... this could go on for hours. But I will say it is pretty fun to think about how relaxed I will be in 2 months whether I am wearing navy and white or not!

Walking all over the city

2010-05-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Literally...

Image - Caroline Tran via http://bklynbrideonline.com/

Welcome To New York

2010-04-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

I found this post today on http://100layercake.com/blog/ and got so excited! This blog is always fantastic, but lately the guest posts from http://theindigobunting.blogspot.com/ have been so helpful and creative!
I think this is exactly what should be in a New York Welcome Bag. Don't you think that the New York Mag (or even a Time Out NY) is a great idea? I also love putting in some N.Y. signature food, like a pretzel, apple or something made in N.Y.! But, my favorite part of this idea is the NYC Map with personalized labels!

I think this makes it seem like a personal gift rather than a bag thrown together at the last minute. This Welcome Bag is exactly how I like to give any gift I give. Thoughtful, personal and quirky. I'm a fan!

Check "Buy Ring Bowl" off the list!

2010-04-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

When I set out to find the perfect ring bearer bowl/ pillow I knew it was going to be tricky! I wanted it to be handmade and not traditional. But other than that, I was quite open! So when I found this bowl from Paloma's Nest . I knew it was perfect. When A proposed (in the most amazing way I could think of) one thing stuck out from all of the incredible things he said. He said "I want to grow old with you." So when we saw this ring bowl we both got so excited! It says :

Grow Old Along With Me

7.10.10

Now, here is my concern. Our ring bearer is the cutest 2 year old you have ever seen, but he probably won't be gentle with this piece of ceramic goodness. He will probably pick up this delicate bowl of beauty and throw it on the ground. So I have a solution. We will take a cute stuffed animal, tie the rings around its neck. Then the bowl can be kept as a keepsake and used for some pretty ring pics. I love this bowl so much I want to keep it forever and ever!

I can't help it...

2010-04-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

If the second movie is as good as the first.... I am SO there!

Image from Sex and the City 2

http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/sex_and_the_city_2_15-535x356.jpg

Image from Sex and the City.

http://www.imogene.org/blog/2008/06/06/friday/

Color

2010-04-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Jessi Arrington threw a rainbow birthday party where she changed colors every hour! She also made everyone who came dress in one color. So creative! Made for some great, graphic photos too!!!

Letters to my children that don't exist...

2010-04-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

image from http://www.merakoh.com/
Dear future child (in the far far future),

I promise that we will make blanket forts. And couch forts. And Teepees. Whatever you want!

Your Future Mommy (who will hopefully be a really attractive older woman)

Is that Dana from the L word???

2010-04-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Why yes! Yes it IS Dana from the L word. She sure had a pretty wedding! www.stylemepretty.com always delivers! I love weddings that are super intimate and personal.

Also, aren't succulents, cockscomb and lotus pods such an interesting touch in flower arrangements?!

I have to mention her incredible ring. I am a little obsessed with this gorgeous ring!!!!

And to top it all off, they had MY FAVORITE type of dog in their wedding! I don't have a flower girl so I might stick this little bugger in a tutu and make him walk down the aisle!!!

The Satorialist is the best blog ever

2010-04-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

This girl walked out of her house that morning and said "These shoes will totally be great for walking in Paris."

LOVE HER FOR THAT!

For never ending Fashion inspiration go to

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

the little details

2010-04-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Late night etsy searching is dangerous! I just had a late night, impulsive wedding purchase. I bought this amazing handmade hanger for my wedding dress from lilafrances. It's gotta hang on something right?! Might as well be a really cool, personalized hanger! I didn't want to put mrs. "insert future last name here" because I won't be married when I first put the dress on the hanger. So I decided on our first names instead. Now I need to add "buy wedding dress hanger" to a list so I can cross it off!

DIY Place Cards - Part 1 - The Idea

2010-04-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

With the wedding officially 99 days away, it is time to kick some of these projects in my head into high gear. To start: Escort Cards.

I just showed you this fabulous wedding. Look how cool these escort cards are? I am so inspired that I am going to attempt to do my first real wedding "DIY" project. I am going to start with different black and white graphic prints and see where it takes me. Hopefully, somewhere half as good as these babies. With paper found at stores like Paper Presentations and Michaels and wrapping paper I hope I have enough different kinds of paper! Here they made a chart

Though I am not sure if this will be necessary for me. I think if I can fit the name of the person and the table, then that should be enough no? What do you think of this project?

Oh! I forgot the best part. Our florist is going to be doing something pretty fantastic involving big white gerber daisies with black centers. That will add to the amazingness of the whole look! Get excited folks! I will keep you posted on the process!

Wedding Day Style...how to get some

2010-04-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am officially obsessed with this wedding photographed by Tanja Lippert

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/02/24/san-francisco-wedding-by-tanja-lippert/

This is everything I want my wedding to be. Modern, sophisticated and graphic with a little bit of whimsy. I love how confident the bride is in her style.

Whenever I am designing a play, and an actress is not self confident in what she is wearing, I know right there. She will not look good on stage. It is the same thing with weddings. You need to have your wedding style and you need to OWN it. Self confidence is key in life. Now, this is much easier said than done of course. But I think we should all take a cue from this bold bride. Because I gurantee you everyone fought her tooth and nail on anything she wanted to do that was different. "Red shoes?!?!" they said. "Short dress with a BIG head piece?!!?!" They exclaimed! And when they all saw how gorgeous this wedding was they all shut their mouths!

So thank you Style Me Pretty and Tanja Lippert and this gorgeous bride. You have all inspired me to trust my instinct!

A long long time from now...

2010-04-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

One day I will have a baby. And I hope that baby will have a nursery with stripes on the ceiling.

That is all I know. Oh and that he or she will be a break dancer. And be really, really cute.

What to Post

2010-03-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a week or two because I have so much going on that every time I sit down to write a post... I have TOO many thoughts in my head. haha I am learning on focusing on one thing at a time and I would like to share that info with you brides to be now.

Since I have been feeling overwhelmed with the amount of tasks and decisions ahead, I have made a week by week list. This way, when I feel overwhelmed I can look at that list and say "Don't worry about the favors this week, that is for the week of May 3rd." I have to apologize to anyone who has gotten married before I was engaged. I had NO idea how much planning goes into this stuff! People don't give brides and grooms enough credit! This is a full time job! Maybe it is the designer in me, but I have so many ideas in my head that it actually can be a detriment to planning! Don't get me wrong, it is fun planning it all. It is just A LOT. So I promise (to you and to myself) to post more, focus more, and ENJOY more! This goes for all things in my life, not just weddings! I definitely think that I am learning many life lessons through planning! Haha Who knew! Here is to the future!

The perfect shoe...

2010-03-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

Accessories are my thaaaang. I get a lot of joy over a new necklace or scarf. I also have really been into shoes lately. With my wedding EXACTLY four months away, it is time to start on the accessories search! Here are a few different styles and colors of shoes I am thinking about. I am definitely going to have to narrow down soon! You will definitely notice similarities between all of these shoes. For example, they mostly have some sort of embellishment on the front. I want to make sure these shoes are special!

I have really been feeling the colored shoes lately. I think it is such a fun way to add a little funk into your wedding style. Here are a few of my favs.

Claudia Ciutti Bella Pumps... I can't find you in my size and color, but I love you...

I have mentioned these Natalie Portman shoes before... but I still love them even though they don't exist anymore.

Are you noticing a trend? I can find plenty of perfect purple shoes, but none of them are actually available!

These are pretty fun, a little too out there for me. But I love any bride that can rock these! I also love how Angelica Glass photographed them. Making them look even more fantastic!

Here is another example of something blue. This totally became a trend after the "Sex and the City" movie for obvious reasons. Getting your something blue and being like Sarah Jessica Parker are both prerequisites for any wedding. Haha!

I also could go the way of grey shoes. Thanks Zappos! Best shoe website ever! Love these!

The thing that makes me nervous about these Nina Shoes is that they don't look very sturdy! Very pretty though. But, I need to be able to dance the night away! Very important!

Asheville

2010-03-01T08:12:00.001-08:00

Some of my favorite pictures from the last time I was in North Carolina. This is where I am going tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited about it. I have the best sister ever.

Ladies and Gents, We have Bridesmaids Dresses

2010-02-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Before I begin to tell you about the most fantastic black cocktail dress you will ever see I should mention that the above photo comes from this uber cute Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleLadyCompany

So, there have been a few posts about Bridesmaids dresses on this here blog. The most important thing to me about these dresses is that they 1) need to be flattering 2) need to be chic and cute 3) need to not look like a bridesmaid dress. I love my friends a lot, and I really want them to look fantastic. I have gone to pictures like this for inspiration:

Cute black cocktail dress that makes everyone feel good.

For accessories and hair, I am going to these two photos to be inspired.

I love how in the above photo all the bridesmaids have different hair and accessories. So even though it is the same dress, they still look like themselves and have individual style.

I love the glam in this photo. And I really like that necklace... I wish I knew where it was from. First picture is from GreenWeddingShoes and the second is StyleMePretty.

We actually did go to Priscilla of Boston (see previous post) and tried on a lot of those dresses. We all really liked them too. If it wasn't for the fact that Bridesmaid O and Bridesmaid DL were in Connecticut with me having a fun sleepover we would have never ventured into White House Black Market. In fact, we were pretty sure we were going to forget about shopping altogether and instead we were going to get Mani/Pedis. I am not going to say manicures and pedicures because they are not called that.... they are called Mani/Pedis.

Back to White House Black Market. We strolled in and decided to try on a few dresses. Low and behold this adorable dress was on sale for $50 bucks! I wouldn't mention the price except it was such a steal! Both Bridesmaid O and Bridesmaid DL looked amazing in it! I knew the rest of the ladies would too! Now, the new challenge was to find all the dresses in the right sizes. Something I now know, that everyone should know about this store is: THEY SEND THEIR DRESSES ANYWHERE IN THE U.S FOR FREE. This is very important if you need to ship a size 2 and a size 4 to Kansas City for one bridesmaid and ship a size 8 from Vegas to your house in Connecticut! Even though the dress looks much better in person, here it is!

So, to conclude, not only did we find the perfect black cocktail dress, but we found it for a great deal and were able to get all the sizes we needed. I can't wait to see them all together looking amazing. Makes me so happy! Now it is on to accessories for me and for them! Oh and I guess I have to figure out what Andrew and the Groomsmen are wearing, and my sister..ok so I have a lot to do. But in my mind, the two most important parts are done. That is definitely the designer in me that thinks Bridesmaids dresses and my wedding dress are the most important parts. Ok, maybe it's my shoes. ;p

Iain Crawford rocks my socks off...

2010-02-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

This man is a genius... Thanks to my lovely friend Brianne over at http://coolbreez.tumblr.com/ for filling me in on these incredible images. How have I not heard of him before?! Check out more of the brilliance here http://www.iaincrawford.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

photo by http://www.joeelariophotography.com/
I know there are Valentine's day skeptics out there. But I think anything that celebrates love in any way can't be a bad thing. For all of you "haters" out there. There ARE ways to tell the person you love them without going to Hallmark. I say we celebrate love all the time. It doesn't need to be on February 14th. And it doesn't need to be someone you are in a relationship with. Tell your best friend, your sister, or mother, anyone you love, how special they are to you. Ok, I know I am in a mushy, lovey mood. But anyone who knows me that I am just that mushy, lovey person.

As for our Valentine's day celebration, I made homemade chocolate truffles (seen above and taken on my Iphone camera), a painting, and a homemade card for my love. And I think it made it even more special, because any gift given with love is the best kind. Andrew whisked me away to Boston this weekend. And the act of someone showing you how much they care, and how much they want to spend time with you is really special. I am very grateful to have the kind of love I have in my life. And maybe that makes me a romantic, or maybe that makes me a sucker. But I would like to think we celebrate love more than once a year, and I suggest you do the same. =)

Purple love

2010-02-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

If I have not discussed it before, purple is the main color in my wedding. White, black, grey, and PURPLE. Vibrant, luxurious, and just plain lovely. Love me some purple. Have for quite some time! Here are a few pretty, pretty pics of the color in all of it's glory.

From Junebug's best of 2009: http://junebugweddings.com/blogs/what_junebug_loves/

Pretty Pretty Bouquet from Style me Pretty

Lucy Liu in Zac Posen... LOVE

Natalie Portman looking sophisticated as always in this Lanvin dress. She is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation...

It's a snow day!

2010-02-10T09:41:00.001-08:00

Inspired by the snow:

This was found awhile ago on http://greylikesweddings.wordpress.com/

Anthropologie made snowy little creations... Oh Anthro... I love you

Here is a pic of me, all bundled up in the snow. I was mid fall, about to make a snow angel! Haha! I have very fond memories of this weekend. It was about 3 years ago, and my love and I went to a house up in the Poconos and had a romantic snowed in weekend. Great memories...

Enjoy your snow day everyone!!!!

Cheese is the best stuff on earth!

2010-02-04T12:17:00.001-08:00

Boy do I love cheese. It is probably my number 1 most favorite food ever. Since I am trying to eat healthy, I have had to cut down slightly. Now, don't get me wrong, I am still eating it. I have tried to cut it out before and it is just torture for me. But I have decided that maybe I don't need Brie in my fridge at all times. I know, it is pretty sad. So being the masochist that I am, I was on https://www.murrayscheese.com/index.asp torturing myself by looking at delicious cheese. While browsing I found this baby!

Epoisses is so stinky that it has been BANNED from being on public transportation in France because of the smell. That is some stinky cheese! So naturally, I can't wait to try it!

Almost checked off the list

2010-02-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

On this Wedding Wednesday by brain is exploding. There is so much to think about. So many decisions. I have to focus on the positive and on the things I have accomplished or that I am in the process of accomplishing. One of these tasks that is in the process of being checked off the list is Bridesmaids dresses. It's funny how these lists work. You would think the list would read something like this:

Get Engaged

Find place to have wedding

Find clothes for everyone

Find food for everyone

Find music to dance to

Get married

But the list ends up having to get so much more detail oriented in order for things to actually get done. Don't get me wrong, I am a list maker to the MAX. I love it! I find deep satisfaction in knowing I have the ability to cross something off of a list because I was productive. But, in the wedding planning process, there are so many things on that list, that you end up crossing things off, but not feeling nearly as accomplished as you would like. For example, if I were to make a list for Bridesmaids Dresses ( a smaller part of the bigger Wedding To Do list) it would have to read something like this:

Decide style of Bridesmaids Dresses

Decide color of Bridesmaids Dresses

Decide on same dresses or different for each Bridesmaid

Find time to go shopping with as many Bridesmaids as you can

The list would go on and on, but I don't want to overwhelm you. I would like to be laid back about this, but I feel like the more laid back I am, the less that gets done. And ultimately, I don't want to be super stressed last minute. I hate when things become last minute! I know it is kind of inevitable, but I am still trying to avoid it at all costs!

That all being said, on the positive note, after talking to my Bridesmaids and getting some feedback (check it off the list!), we are going to go to Priscilla of Boston to check out their Vineyard Collection, as well as the Melissa Sweet Collection. I have been eyeing their dresses since I got engaged. I think they really have one of the only lines of Bridesmaid dresses that are affordable and cute and don't look like ugly, plastic dresses. I am very excited to go there with two of my BM's in a few weeks. If it doesn't work out there, we will hopefully have enough knowledge to lead us in a new direction! Here are a few of my favs.

Aren't they all so cute?! I know they are very different. I clearly need some focus! I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel though. You will hopefully see a post with a decision on some fabulous Bridesmaid Dresses soon!

I want to be Giada when I grow up

2010-02-02T13:52:00.001-08:00

Ok, so that first picture is a little much. But Giada de Laurentiis is seriously perfection. I don't know if it is because I am Italian, or that I love to cook, but I think she is so fantastic. Every recipe she makes I LOVE. Also, when you watch her shows on the Food Network she has a way of teaching her recipes that is very friendly and calming. Although, she does sort of make everything slightly more sexual than it needs to be. But hey, that is sort of a good thing too! I think the number one reason that she is so fantastic really is her demeanor and how much love she has for the food she makes. I of course am watching her show "Everyday Italian" as we speak. Because I DVR it everyday. I know, I have a problem. I love her!!!!! I could seriously go on and on about how awesome she is, but I understand the obsession is slightly embarrassing so I will stop now. Here is one of her recipes that my fiance and I make all the time for Thanksgiving or any holiday where we want to have a delicious, juicy, fresh turkey. Thanks Food Network, for this recipe, and many others... and mostly thank you for Giada...

Cook Time: 3 Hours

1 (14 to 15-pound) turkey, neck and giblets reserved
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 onion, cut into wedges
6 fresh rosemary sprigs
6 fresh sage sprigs
6 fresh oregano sprigs
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
6 cups canned low-salt chicken broth (approximate amount)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

To make the turkey: Position the rack in the lowest third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.

Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a large roasting pan. Place the orange and lemon wedges, onion, and 2 sprigs of each fresh herb in the main turkey cavity. Tie the legs together to hold the shape of the turkey. Stir 2 tablespoons of butter, the herbes de Provence, oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of each the salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat just until the butter melts. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey and between the turkey breast meat and skin. Place the turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Recipe can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting.)

Cover the turkey breast with foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Pour 3 cups of broth into the pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan. Roast the turkey for 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the foil from the turkey; pour 1 more cup of broth into the pan. Continue roasting the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 175 degrees F or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour and 30 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey to a platter and tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes while preparing the gravy.

To make the gravy: Strain the turkey pan juices from the roasting pan through a sieve and into a 4-cup glass measuring cup; discard the solids. Spoon off the fat from atop the pan juices. Add enough chicken broth, about 1 to 2 cups, to the pan juices to measure 4 cups total. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth. Simmer until the gravy thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the turkey with the gravy.

What a beautiful piece of paper you have!

2010-01-27T18:48:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

"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

2010-01-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-20T19:47:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-18T12:13:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-18T11:42:00.001-08:00

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!

2010-01-14T12:43:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-07T11:17:00.001-08:00

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...

2010-01-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

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!

If only it were spring

2009-12-22T13:27:00.000-08:00

During this crazy snow we are having here in Connecticut, I would like to give a little spring inspiration. Doesn't this photo just scream sunny, spring day .... in a fashionable sort of way. Something tells me I am going to be wearing a lot more winter coats and a lot less cute yellow dresses with grey belts in my near future...

Oh Penelope...

2009-12-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

If the world was a high fashion, spanish runway at all times.. I would walk around like this... Oh, also I would like to look like Penelope without having to go to the gym or cut out cheese from my diet.

Hmmm Since this is a black dress, and the shoes are purple.. I know its super short but couldn't I convince my bridesmaids that this is appropriate? haha

I also must point out that she is wearing a fabulous cocktail ring.. sort of like the fabulous cocktail ring in a previous post...

Penelope has some SERIOUS sex appeal. I bet you she is this hot in PJs too.

New Obsession

2009-12-22T13:15:00.001-08:00

I can't help it... I LOVE Marc Jacobs. I also am a little bit obsessed with this ring. It just represents the most perfect fun, whimsical, fashionable cocktail ring. AND, to make it even more fabulous... it has perfume inside it. And it comes in a cute little pouch. I obviously need a new perfume.. and I obviously need a new ring to compliment my new engagement bling don't you think???? ;) LOVE THIS...

It's all about the styling...

2009-12-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

Ok.. call it a guilty pleasure, call it New York/Upper East Side nostalgia but I love Gossip Girl fashion. Ever since a good friend of mine (Thanks Kel!) got me hooked, the costume designer in me can not get enough of the clothes on this show. The first image is from the fantastic designer Lorick and since the show aired in Season 1 this designer has blown up. It takes more than just a great dress to complete a look. It's the styling, each accessory, the makeup, that really makes this show the new Sex and the City... for a younger audience of course...

Hmmm all of these looks would make great bridesmaids dresses too.

Oh Chuck Bass...

Ok! Ok! My teeny bopper moment is over... back to reality.

Save the Dates

2009-12-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

Save the Dates are a fun way to say

We are getting married! Don't forget to put this date in your calendar for our wedding!

Here is one of my all time favorite save the dates! I found it on http://bklynbrideonline.com/ Enjoy!!

http://www.joshdickphoto.com/data/web/savethedate.mov

Oh! So you want to see more engagement shots!?

2009-12-15T12:02:00.003-08:00

OK!

Engagement Shots are in!

2009-12-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

I have to take a minute to gush about our wedding photographer. Not only in Barnaby Draper one of the most talented photographers I have seen, but he also happens to be a lovely human being! He was so much fun to shoot with. He made Andrew and I feel so comfortable as we went around the meatpacking district to take our engagement pictures. He really was able to capture the love that Andrew and I have for each other as well as our love for our favorite city. Here are a few of my favorites.

To see more of Barnaby's incredible work go to http://barnabydraperstudios.com/

The short wedding dress

2009-12-08T01:29:00.000-08:00

These images from the talented photographer Ashley Rose made me smile. I love love love the idea of wearing a fantastic pair of shoes in a different color. But I really like the idea of actually being able to see those fabulous wedding shoes! I already have my beautiful dress, but, in another circumstance I would be all over it! Maybe a dress like this one from Sarah Seven

Hmm this could be worn to a rehearsal dinner couldn't it???

I also can not get enough of what this Manhattan bride did!

I mean.. it's Oscar de la Renta people... This wedding also happens to be at a gorgeous hotel in NYC. The Gramercy Park Hotel, Love it! As if wearing a short dress wasn't different enough, she changed into a hot little red number. Totally stunning. This was found on one of my fav blogs http://bklynbrideonline.com/

I don't think I could do it.. pay that much for a dress and only wear it for half an hour and then change... but I admire those women who do!!!! =)

A Jew who loves Christmas time and isn't afraid to rant about it!

2009-12-07T22:43:00.000-08:00

Back story... I have grown up celebrating Hannukah and Christmas. I am jewish and had a bat mitzvah, but I also celebrate the traditions of Christmas with my mother who is not Jewish. Since I grew up celebrating both, I think that is why I love this time of year so much. I would like to take this holiday cheer and bath in it for approximately 6 months. Ugh, I love it! And this year... in our new home...we have a fire place!!! I mean, really? What says Holiday Cheer like a fireplace? NOTHING! What brought on this sudden burst of excitement for the holidays you ask? Well maybe it is because we picked up our Christmas tree todayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! I am stating here, that my favorite smell of all time is the smell of a Christmas tree. I must say though, that we do not have a Christmas tree at the moment, we actually have a Hannukah bush! A lovely melding of two holidays, the Hannukah bush is a Christmas tree decorating with blue, white and silver. Holiday excitement is in full effect, which means if you are looking for me, you can find me

1) Holiday Shopping

2) Making a Holiday Feast

3) Spinning a Dreidel

4) Singing about Reindeer

5) Hanging out with my friends in the above picture at Macy's (The lovely Elf on your left is a Bridesmaids in the wedding.. maybe she could just wear that costume down the isle.. done and done)

Now.. onto the bridesmaids...

2009-12-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Now that I have my dress... it is time to focus on one of my favorite parts of wedding planning... THE BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES! I have many opinions on bridesmaids dresses. I don't understand why they have to all be so HIDEOUS!?! For some reason, if you are a bridesmaid you are supposed to wear a polyester, hot pink dress. In my opinion, it is a huge honor to be asked to be a bridesmaid in someone's wedding, and as the bride you should want them to look fantastic.

Now that I am on the hunt for the perfect bridesmaid's dress I see the challenge that they pose. Your want to love it yourself, but you also want all of your bridesmaids to love it too.

The criteria for the bridesmaids dresses...

1) Chic cocktail dress

2) I must love it

3) They must love it and feel confident in it (I know... this is a hard task. But I consider myself a good friend. Also, I know I will be in a few of their weddings and hope they will repay the favor!)

4) It must be black, purple or gray. I have not decided what color I want them to be in. But, I do know it will be one of those three

5) It can be either one dress that looks great on all of their body types, or the same color and fabric but different styles.

I was thinking something along the lines of this...

Haha! Gotcha!

In all seriousness I have been on the search! If anyone has any ideas they are much appreciated!

I originally wanted grey chiffon dresses. But, now that I am starting to imagine what the wedding might actually turn into. I have changed my mind. Now I want them to be cocktail dresses that are really cute and chic. I think in this post I have mentioned the words cute and chic 20 times!

I found this fantastic new bridesmaids designer the other day.

www.qisforquail.com/ bridal/

Look how fantastic this is??

I love the sweetheart neckline and the styling is so different. I am using this as inspiration! That is why black is back in the running. I like the idea of 5 different little black dresses that really look great. Hmmm... The search continues...

Alice in Wonderland

2009-11-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

With the new Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland coming out I thought I would get us all excited and inspired by taking a trip down memory lane.

In 2003 there was the most memorable photo shoot I have ever seen in Vogue Magazine. They did this incredible version of Alice in Wonderland with Natalia Vodianova as Alice. Not only did she then become one of my favorite models, but this photo shoot is part of the reason I became a costume designer.

Not only was the fashion BRILLIANT, but the people who posed with her were all famous designers. I mean, really??! It doesn't get better for me than this! I am still blown away by the awesome styling, concept, and attention to detail. Of course Annie Leibovitz was the photographer. She is one of those photographers whose style is so apparent and unmatched. You can see more at vogue.com but I wanted to share a few images with you that have always stood out in my mind. Enjoy!

I want to be Giselle...

2009-11-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

I found this image on tv.yahoo.com
Now that I have bought my dress (whoo hoo!) I have started to think about what kind of hair I would like for my wedding. I am often saying in life "I want to look like a Victoria's Secret Supermodel." I know, I know so does everyone. But really, I think what makes them so hot has a lot to do with the hair. Ok, and maybe their incredible bodies too. But the hair is so glamorous!

So I was pretty sold on having my hair long and wavy when I became practical...

I am getting married in July and I have frizzy hair!!! Also, I will probably have to get extensions for this look. Which doesn't seem very practical either. I would like to say, that I am a VERY practical person. I am always that person who is the voice of reason. I mean, I am the annoying friend who says "Ok, I know this sounds like fun, BUT..." So does this mean that I should take the practical route and do an updo? Maybe a modern updo that is still modern, glamorous and wavy?

I just don't know the answer folks. There will be more on this topic I am sure of it...

I went to Kleinfeld and "Said Yes to the Dress!"

2009-11-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

Yup! That's me and my beautiful mom after buying my wedding dress at Kleinfeld!
I was very nervous about the idea of going to Kleinfeld. My mom and I watch the show religiously and it looks very hectic. I am not the kind of bride who can go to one of those crazy sales and trample over other people to find the best deal. Maybe for a pair of new heels... but not for a wedding dress. I need to be in a stress free situation. So I started my search elsewhere. One of my first stops was Priscilla of Boston. Which was fantastic, but we didn't have such a great consultant and even though I loved one of the dresses I found there, I wasn't ready to commit. I then went to a few more stores and ultimately realized that I was PICKY. I am a costume designer, which means I know fabric and I know details. So I needed something that would meet my criteria. What was my criteria you ask? Well, I will tell you.

1) FLATTERING

2) Flowy yet structured. This sounds complicated, but ultimately, I wanted a chiffon or organza dress that had a lot of movement but that still gave me a fantastic shape

3) I didn't want to be Cinderella Barbie. It is totally cool if you want to be that.... It is just not me.

4) I wanted something a little different, but still chic and modern

SEE! I told you I was picky! But, in the end I decided I had to go to the store with the most amount of dresses in the world. Kleinfeld.

Our experience was phenomenal and I ended up totally having that moment when I looked in the mirror and pictured myself walking down the isle in MY dress. Do not underestimate that moment people. Even for someone like me, who never thought about what her wedding would look like until it happened. Even for me, that moment was pretty magical. I cried, my mom cried, then two of my bridesmaids cried.... then another bridesmaid who was also there handed us all tissues. It was priceless.

We did not have a consultant who was on the show, but she was very attentive and she listened. The customer service there is incredible. There is a reason they are successful.

Ok.. so I am VERY sorry to not post the dress on here. But I really don't want my fiance to see it. And trust me folks. He will if I post it. I have very bad luck with these things! But I will put a few pictures up of dresses that I liked so you can get an idea. And in 8 months you will get to see a pretty gorgeous dress!!!

This first dress is Romona Keveza and it is so beautiful. Don't you love the sweetheart neckline and the tulle skirt.. hmmm this looks a lot like the Christos Gown I spoke about in a previous post. Funny how this was not the silhouette I ended up with!

Oh Monique... how I love thee. I love love love almost anything Monique Lhuillier does. Please, if you don't believe me .. go here http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/

I mean really she can do very little wrong. This model also happens to be gorgeous. This dress is a much slimmer silhouette, but still flattering and flowy. See what I mean?

In the end.. I bought a wedding dress! There at plenty of dresses that I loved and that looked good on me. But, when it comes down to it. There is only going to be one wedding dress. Well... unless you have a different dress for the reception. But that is a whole different post!

Bridgewaters

2009-11-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

So, I am one lucky lady. Not only am I getting married to the love of my life, but I get to do it here:

Isn't it beautiful? This picture and many more can be found on the Bridgewaters website

http://www.theglaziergroup.com/restaurants/bridgewaters/index.html

Bridgewaters is in South Street Seaport in NYC and if you haven't been to this part of the city, you MUST go. I love it there because it is so authentic, historical New York. It has cobblestone streets and lots of shopping and delicious restaurants. The venue is so fantastic because it has gorgeous hardwood floors, a wrap around terrace for cocktail hour and a view that (as you can see) is pretty awesome! Every time I think about the wedding I think about this picture. Oh... and then I think about the incredible food. Chris Siverson is the executive chef which makes us very lucky indeed! I can't wait!

Here is another picture of a wedding at Bridgewaters taken by the fabulous photographer Jen Huang.

I mean really... Can you handle that view???!!!

Gorgeous Rustic Wedding

2009-11-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

So, I have sort of been obsessed with this one wedding dress. It is a Christos Gown and the style is Julianna. I love the fabric detail at the top matched with the romantic tulle skirt. It is not in my budget but a girl can ogle can't she? The one thing I always said about the dress was "I wish it was strapless". Well this beautiful bride did just that! I can't get enough of her impeccable style and wedding glow. I hope I can look this gorgeous in my wedding photos! Once you see this dress you will totally understand my obsession! I found this wedding on my favorite wedding blog http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/

Everyone should go there who is planning a wedding. It is truly an incredible resource and inspiration. These photos also happen to be from Tec Petaja again! Wow, I didn't realize how much I loved all of their photos! Her belt is from J Crew and I love the pale peach color. I almost used that color as one of my wedding colors. Maybe I should rethink things a bit and add an element of peach in my bouquet.... hmm lots to think about. Again, love everything about this wedding dress and this bride! The Groom also happens to look fantastic in his three piece suit. I just might have to go convince my loving fiance to go that route as well.

If I had events to go to...

2009-11-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

I would wear this...

That is of course, if I could pull it off. But how gorgeous is this dress???? It is Rodarte and it is fantastic.

This is my first post ever!!!!

2009-11-19T08:52:00.001-08:00

Hello! Welcome to my blog! I hope to inspire others in the worlds of fashion, cooking, weddings and anything else that tickles my fancy! Since I am getting married this July, there will probably be a lot of wedding posts but really the world is our oyster everyone! The above picture is from a fantastic photographer Tec Petaja.

Check them out here : http://www.tecpetajaphoto.com/

Here we go!