Monday Blues

"Monday blues - missing my beautiful bride-to-be"
This is the email I just got from Fiancé at work... my Monday blues are nowhere to be found and there is a big smile on this girl's face. (Ignore stack of papers and long to-do list on my desk.) Isn't it amazing how the little things can make all the difference? Hope everyone else is having a happy Monday!

mJa

When Wedding Week and Photo Friday Get Married

Today is Friday, which marks the beginning of the weekend (hooray!) and the end of wedding week (weeeh). Who am I kidding - everyday is a wedding day in the world of a bride-to-be, so there will be plenty more wedding chat in the next 6 and a half months. Not to neglect Photo Friday or the final rendition of this glorious week devoted to the wedding of yours truly, I present you with a combination of the two.

Meet my Traveling Wedding Tote. TWT and I go on every wedding-related trip together, from venue-shopping, to menu-tasting, to florist and photographer meetings and beyond. (And I mean this in the nicest way possible, but TWT you are getting hea-vy! You might want to watch your pre-wedding diet to keep that in check.) Here is where I keep my wedding binder (created immediately the Monday after our engagement weekend - you can spy the green grosgrain ribbon bow at the top left), a library of wedding magazines for inspiration, and the wedding bible - Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette. Not visible, there is also my wedding planning calendar which keeps track of all appointments - coming up soon we have:
-bridesmaid dresses with the girls 2/6 (can I try one on too just for fun?)
-bridal expo for bff's wedding 2/7 at noon (did I mention my best friend and MOH is also getting married this summer? twice the excitement)
-cake tasting 2/13 at 1
-pick up wedding bands following (diamonds = smiles)
-Priscilla's accessories appointment 2/15 at 2

Farewell Wedding Week - it sure has been fun. Date to chat about veils soon? Good.
Have a fabulous and sparkly weekend!

mJa

Wedding Week Installment 4: Making a list and checking it twice

Yes, I know the Christmas season has long passed, so I apologize for the cheesy Santa reference in the title. Today is all about the list. As I logged into the knot today, I was informed:
-there are 205 days until our wedding day is here (silent squeal of excitement/slight increase in blood pressure)
-checklist = to-dos on list: 134, completed to-dos: 55 (more rapid increase in blood pressure)
... wait, this has not been updated for a little while... check off some things that are complete, click update, and cross fingers...
-checklist = to-dos on list: 123, completed to-dos: 66 (slightly better)

The reason the knot checklist has not been updated in a little while is because frankly it just doesn't do it for this bride-to-be. So many little details that are floating around in my soon-to-be veil-wearing head that just aren't included on their list. What about ring bearer pillows? What about the new bikinis and dresses that must be purchased for our Figian honeymoon? What about selecting the perfect shades of pink and green paint for our mini sailboats being made as place settings? On that note, what about compiling a list of themed table names??? Not trusting the knot to keep track of these essential extras, I turn to my own devices and compile my own unique wedding to do list. Since the entire list is far too long, I present to you the items that must be done this week.

1. Try on bridesmaid dresses at J Crew with the girls - to be done Saturday before our girly get-together.
2. Reschedule cake tasting with the bakery.
3. Reschedule accessories appointment with Priscilla's - shouldn't they have notified me that next Sunday at noon was not just any Sunday, but VALENTINE'S DAY? Most brides-to-be will be spending this day with their fiancés, yes?
4. Call florist to inquire about follow-up appointment - I want to start nailing down some details!
5. Finalize guest list in order to be able to complete number 6.
6. Speak with designer, select paper, and plan to print Save the Dates!
7. Pick up wedding bands - these beauties will be in our possession next weekend. Three cheers for more diamonds.
8. Announce engagement in local papers. Who doesn't want to be a local celebrity for the day and appear in the society pages (even better, the wedding pages)?

Wish me luck! There is no better feeling than making that line through a completed task on your list (other than slipping your foot into a brand new flowered peep-toe heel, of course)...

mJa

Pretty Preppy Pink Package

was successfully mailed yesterday and is now enroute on its cross-country journey. Enjoy, Princess M!

(note: this is not the actual package being mailed, but it certainly trumped an image of the US Post Office box traveling as we speak. Pink stripes and polka dots beats white cardboard any day.)

mJa

Brand Baby

If my love of Lilly Pulitzer and Fiancé's love of LeSportSac had a baby...

Shop the new collection here (and think of us when you make a purchase).

mJa

Wedding Week Installment 3: Shoes

Greetings from Wedding World! Since I am a firm believer that the shoe is one of the most integral pieces of the outfit (and since I can't talk about the DRESS which is absolutely killing me), today my bridal shoe will get a post all its own. Why? This shoe will surely get its' own photo in the wedding album, and it will surely make many guest appearance in multiple photos throughout. You know when you find the perfect shoe and you are so excited you cannot wait a moment to share it with someone? This is what happened to me when I discovered this shoe during my daily online shopping browsing routine. I immediately called my mother and told her about my wedding breakthrough. Sent out a group email to my bridesmaids/bffs to share the shoe love. Did a small dance and sang very loudly (and out of tune) in my car the entire drive home. Heck, I almost called the wedding specialist at J Crew as I knew she would be equally thrilled about my find. (Seriously, if you ever feel the need to gush about your bridesmaid dresses to someone, these are your girls. Their heartfelt "Congratulations on your wedding!" and affirmation of how beautiful your dress choice is always does it for me.) Without further ado, I present my wedding shoe:

If your little heart desires to zoom in even more, you can see this beauty here.

The silk flower, peep-toe, perfect-height-heel, silver metallic... sigh. It was love at first sight. Since I couldn't say it any better myself, I defer to the queen that is J Crew (or J Crew's copywriter).

"A touch of tattered silk - hand cut and gently frayed - looks simply brilliant with all things dressy, like this gorgeous metallic leather peep toe. The look is whimsical and chic (a perfect pair in every way). 3" self-covered heel. Man-made sole. Made in Italy."

True love in the form of flowered footwear.

mJa

Fashion Faux Pas: Fur

Perhaps my double fur collar choice this morning (both my sweater AND my coat) was a tad bit overkill considering the temperature of our office today. What can I say? I saw snow and went into ski-lodge snow-bunny mode.

mJa

Pack (your Lilly!) for Paradise

I want to eat here:And sleep here:That's all. Enter to win here.

mJa

Wedding Week Installment 2: Wardrobing

Happy Wedding Day Number 2! (Any wedding day is a happy day, right?) Today the topic of discussion will be the three words that plague women every. single. day. What to wear? Well, when it came to wardrobing and my wedding, I instantly became a stylist with a vision for the event. Think: pink and green, preppy, nautical, classic, elegant, and pure bridal bliss. While THE DRESS will not be revealed until after the big day (207 days to go - silent squeal at my desk), here is what the rest of the wedding party will be wearing.

Bridesmaid dresses: J Crew Cotton Cady Madeleine dress in azalea. Check out the bow behind the neck - adore it.

Groomsmen: navy blazers, "Nantucket greens" (you know, Nantucket reds but in green), white shirts, and pink and green Vineyard Vines ties. They are going to be hand-some.

Flower girl: you knew Lilly Pulitzer would make an appearance in the wedding party! The adorable Julia dress will look darling on our lovely little flower girl.

Ring bearers: navy blazers, khaki shorts, and pink and green ties. They will be the most adorable little boys to ever walk down the aisle - trust me.

THE SHOES: these beauties will be on my little tootsies under THE DRESS. I love them so much they deserve a post all their own, but for now consider this a little sneak peek.

Disclaimer: this is not my actual engagement ring, but it is a princess cut diamond set in white gold and I needed to add a little sparkle to my inspiration board.

mJa

Wedding Week

I hereby declare this WEDDING WEEK. For all the time I spend daydreaming about the big day that I will become a Mrs., I have not given this event enough blog love. So this entire week I will eat, sleep, and blog weddings. Today, here are the basics to get you up to speed on the blessed day on which mJa and mMd will become mMm.

Rehearsal Dinner:

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Church

Reception: the harbor directly behind, the beach to the right - we heart the ocean.


Flowers: pink and green hydrangeas

Transportation: yachts and trolleys

Music: 7 piece band

Cake: tasting this weekend!

Dress: TOP SECRET.

Until tomorrow... (I can't give away TOO much on the first day!)

mJa