Purple love

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!