Meh.

As a lover of blogs, I feel that I have to say something more here. I didn't want to leave all 2 of my readers in a lurch (if even you 2 are still left...) but I just haven't felt very bloggy in a while. Not sure when the feeling to blog will come back, but I thought there should be some closure.

Ok, enough 'blog as verb' usage. I think I'm stuck because part of me doesn't want to share our wedding. Our feelings and emotions that day now feel very private (even though we were surrounded by 132 of our nearest and dearest) and I have been living in my head a lot lately, feeling like I need to shield myself for some unknown reason. It feels safe here, so I think I'll stay for a while.

So, farewell internet friends. At least for now.

Kara's Cupcakes

image found here

Kara’s Cupcakes

3249 Scott Street (at Chestnut)
San Francisco, California 94123
P 415 563-CAKE (2253)
www.karascupcakes.com

First things first: the cupcakes are tasty. The cake is moist, the frosting is buttery and in generous proportion. These are better cupcakes than many out there, and you can’t go wrong with the lemon.

If I could just shut off my brain and enjoy them, I totally would. Or if magical cupcake elves dropped them at my door and I never had to step into the shop, I wouldn’t complain. However…

Kara’s was a brand new business back in 2006 (I think…) just around the corner from our apartment. I had been stalking the bright pink storefront for quite some time, just itching for it to open and love me. I had very high expectations, let me tell you. I needed a weekday cupcake fix (Chestnut Bakery only makes cupcakes on the weekend…. WHY?), and Kara’s was sure to solve all my problems.

So, B and I walked over to Blockbuster one fine evening, and while walking back, what did I see? A bright shiny and OPEN Kara’s Cupcakes. Delight! B and I were drooling. We walked in the door, proceeded to the counter, and I (somewhat embarrassingly) started rifling off all of the flavors I wanted to the person behind the counter. I got halfway through “Rasberry Dazz…” when I was cut off. The salesperson, who with the feigned accent of Heidi Montag, pronounced “WE’RE CLOSE FOR A PRIVATE PARRRRTYYYYYY!”

No “So sorry”. No apology whatsoever.

I’ll admit it, I started to get indignant. I am a stickler for customer service, and won’t tolerate being treated badly in a store. I responded, “Oh really? Says who?”

Evil Heidi spawn, “Huh?”

Me: “If you are closed, you should have a sign on the door. No one should have even let us walk through the door.”

She: “Ummmmm… OKAAAAAAAAAAAY”

So, very very dejectedly we left Kara’s cupcakes, and I cursed all the way home.

I will admit that I was lured back to Kara’s once after that (months later, after I regained some of my dignity). The buttercream siren song was just too much to bear. The ‘cakes were good, I’ll admit. But the whole time I was there, I thought of the evil spawn, and it kinda effected the whole experience, you know? Funny follow up: was recently waiting in line at Magnolia Bakery in NYC next to a woman who was going on and on about Kara’s and how fabulous they are. I looked at her, said “Eh, they’re OK. Kara is a bitch”.

Pros:
• Cake’s are good

Cons:
• Service is the worst ever.
• Parking is a nightmare

Bottom Line:

Go here only M-F. If you’re jonesing for a cupcake on the weekend, trek a few blocks down Chestnut street to the Chestnut Bakery and treat yourself to some real honest delicious bakery goodness. The people there are lovely.

Cupcakes Anonymous: Magnolia Bakery

Magnolia Bakery

401 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 462-2572
www.magnoliacupcakes.com

Many believe Magnolia to be the Holy Grail of cupcakes, and I mostly agree. B and I never fail to make the pilgrimage to Magnolia every time we visit (it’s not tough – they are open until 12:30 AM on the weekends!) We always buy way too many cakes, try to shove them in our carryon bags, and then eat the mashed little wounded soldiers when we get home. Still good!

The cake is tasty (if a little dense sometimes) and the buttercream frosting can’t be beat (plus there is always A LOT of frosting). The shop itself is super cute (vintage mixers and retro kitchen gadgets abound) and the neighborhood couldn’t be better. There’s even a park across the street to sit and commence the sugar shock.

Pros:
• Really excellent frosting. My favorite, by far.
• Red Velvet. Best flavor.
• Cute shop and surroundings
• Easy hours
• Featured in one of my favorite SNL Digital Shorts, Lazy Sunday (google it) SNACK ATTACK!

Cons:
• Cake sometimes dry/dense
• Lines often long
• Tourist attraction

Bottom line:

If you have the time, absolutely go there. Realize though that on the weekends you will probably stand in a line that snakes around the corner. It moves pretty fast, but it can be excruciating standing there with the smells just taunting you.

For sale!

Oh my.. such a tease

I promise I didn't forget about the cupcakes, heavens no.

This weeken has been dedicated to reclaiming my home from the gobbling wedding monster. Cleaning, Ebaying, and Craigslisting is so fun.

Katie the Lady, Cupcake Expert

I’m considering adding an official title. I have spent the past few weeks traveling around the US, and realized that somehow and someway, I always end up at these fabulous cupcake joints. So, I was thinking a series of posts was necessary to review my faves.

Of course, there are entire blogs devoted to cupcakes, so hop over for some instant gratification Cupcake Takes the Cake Blog

Why I heart Etsy. part 2.

Image from Littlekittysville's shope - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14148657

Alex P. Kitten needs this now. The kitty in the photo is practically his twin, also.

Yours for a mere $49. And would fit in with our decor so well...

Married!

Ah! So it actually happened. All of the obsessing and kvetching worked out. I was the most blissfully oblivious bride in the whole wide world. Apparently a toddler trailed me down the aisle, but I have no memory of that (though, I hope the photog caught a good shot!) Apparently the bluegrass music was incredible. Nope, didn't hear it. At some point my shoes became untied. Didn't notice until we got to the hotel at the end of the night. I just kept telling anyone who would listen "Best Day Ever!" and it was so true.

Anyway, I don't have many photos to share (yet) - but I do have this:



Photobooth - awesome. With it's own frustrations as well, but I'll save that for a later date.

It's good to be back! So... what do I obsess about now?

Manzanita update..

They are so ready for their big debut..

oh ps: the hanging votive holders and lcd tealights are from flowersandsupplies.com. woohoo!

Greetings from Craft Central!

Six days to go, people! Only limited amount of crafting left.. but you know I'm going to pack as much in as I can :)

Registry? Nah.

Guests, take note. Non-registry gifts are not so bad. We have received gifts of:

1) A Wii
2) Beef Jerky

'Nuf Said.

mailbox stalking

Can you guess which is the "no" pile? So much for the small wedding... :)

Manzanita pics!

Some inspiration...

(image here: http://www.cupidsarrowweddings.net/image_uploads/DSC01333.JPG)



The real thing coming soon!

I heart Manzanita

So I posted a while back about how to cozy up the reception space, and my caterer had suggested renting trees. It just didn't do it for me (plus it was darn pricey). I racked my little brain, and I found some inspiration:

Manzanita branches! And not just some wimpy small ones, no sir. With the help of my dear internet friend Amanda, I have 6 huge "branches" that are over 60 inches tall!

Pics to come...blogger is having some trouble loading photos at the moment. These are like sculpture, I'm so impressed. I'm still debating exactly what to do with them, but I am for sure hanging some LED votives off of them. I might include some flowers.. but B is not sold on that. He thinks they will look great with just the candles, and I worry that they will look like something from the Haunted Mansion without some added "softness". Anyway, potato potahto. I'm just happy to have them.

Invites.. better late than never, right?

Life has kinda crashed lately. Lots of work travel. Stomach flu/food poisoning. Cat personality disorders. Whew. Calgon take me away.

Anyway, here are some shots of our lovely invitation suite. Which I love dearly. And plan on framing and gazing adoringly upon daily.

So where did you draw the line?

Something that has been weighing heavy in my mind lately (and creating a big pit in my stomach): when it came to invitations, where do you draw the line?

Early in the planning, B and I drew some very arbitrary lines, and firmly agreed to stick to them (however flimsy they may have been). One rule: no children of cousins are invited. I have A LOT of cousins, and most of them have kids. The exponential growth was astounding. So that was one line.

Second: no one we don't know, or haven't spoken to in years. Seems to be a no-brainer, right?

Insert parents and kid-clinging cousins.

First, B's mom gave us her list. I didn't question it, because I didn't think it was my place to do that. Turns out she included her cousins, and their children. She also included neighbors from 10 years ago. She also included her personal friends. All ok and fine with me, as her numbers weren't huge. But, there are some people on the list who B has never met. There's just something wrong about, "Nice to meet you! Welcome to my wedding!" Anyway. It is OK.

But, my parents are not inviting their cousins, nor any of their friends. Gulp.

So the lines have been significantly blurred, but I still had to go back to one of my relatives (my dad's aunt) and tell her that no, her adult son's are not invited. That was tough.

I think the real lines are lines of relationships. If you are close to someone, you actually talk to them or have seen them in the past year. You feel some sort of bond with them. But the problem with these emotional lines is that you get into the sticky area of "oh so you just don't like me as much as Susie". Double gulp.

I sincerely wish that I could include everyone under the sun. I really really do. But at what point do you give up your vision and your level of comfort (our desire for a small intimate gathering) to please everyone else?

Bad Blogger

So, I have been very busy with the aforementioned invitations, but that's really no excuse. I'll be back soon with updates and new projects and other fun stuff. In the mean time, I just have to say that I never ever ever thought that I would be worrying and debating the guest list this close to the wedding, but we are. For the record, I have caved and we are letting kids come to the reception. I'm kind of pissed at myself for giving in to the drama that certain people in my life created, but I'm not gonna dwell. That's all for now. More soon, I promise!

Invitation sneak peek!

(photo credit: Tara, Ephemera Custom Letterpress)

They're fabulous. They're vintage-y. They have birds.

That's all I'm gonna say for now ;)

I heart makeup

Click here to go to Benefit's website. Click image for a bigger view.

I just love Benefit's new spring line.. Prettier than the Bride. I happen to have gotten a freebie of the silky finish lipstick in "Bouquet Dive", and it is an awesome wear with anything shade. Just adds a tint of "put together", but not, "I'm trying to hard." That's a hard line in lipstick, you know.

How could I have forgotten?

I'm on peyote, I swear. I can't believe that I forgot to post our engagement photos! Well..we had an excellent session with our wedding day photographer, Francis Baker http://www.francisbaker.com/weddings/. Basically, Francis rocks. I'll let his art speak for him.

Here's one..



click HERE to see more!

Ordered my band!

Oh the excitement is mounting every day...



I've been having trouble with bands because (a) my engagement ring was modeled after an antique, so it has a unique shape that doesn't really "go" with the typical bands that are out there and (b) I am really really cheap (errr frugal).

Apparently the cost of platinum is skyrocketing as the value of stocks and bonds are plummeting (I have no idea what I'm talking about here...does it sound like I do?) so rings have gotten noticeably more expensive in the past year. Lame. Thar goes thy budget.

So I found my lovely above when I was in NYC last week. It looks perfectly eclectic with my e-ring, not matchy and not clashy. I figure that if I was going to bust the budget, it might as well be on something that I love. Agree?

Tag? I'm way too lazy to play tag.

Seriously. I might be the laziest person you know. Anyway. Alissa over at
Grace's birdcage wedding
has tagged me, and it has taken more than a few days to respond... whoops. I am really just thrilled that someone other than j.ro is reading my posts. I mean really, who knew?


RULES:
1) you link back to the person who tagged you.
2) post these rules on your blog.
3) share six unimportant things about yourself.
4) tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5) let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs

Here are my six:
1. I have extremely large hands and feet. I am a petite person, small in most other ways, but for some reason these 4 body parts had some strange growth spurt that did not translate to the rest of my body. I wear size 9-9.5 shoes (10 if they are italian). I'm 5'2.5"! It's very perplexing.

2. I had a pet chicken as a child. Her name was Rainbow.

3. I have a commanding knowledge of mid-90's alternative rock.

4. I was 17 when I had my first kiss.

5. B and I have pet names. We call each other booty or boot. It evolved from him calling me "beauty".

6. I have an unhealthy love for Triscuits.

Time to Tag back. You are supposed to tag 6 people, but I don't even know 6 people who read my blog. erm..
-of course, there's jaime over at Formerly Rojo
- The lovely Elizabeth Anne of Elizabeth Anne Designs

Ok, I'm tapped. A little sad...

Update: fabulous beautiful slip

Well, hello friends! Just thought I'd give an update on the slip. It arrived on Friday, and there is some freaky-weird universe karma kismet something or other thing going on. It fits perfectly. I was sure that I would have to shorten it somehow (because I am 5'2.5". I have to shorten everything.) It is all that I ever wanted... swoon. The bummer: my alterations person had to reschedule my fitting that was supposed to happen today. So... now I have to wait until 5/4 until I can see my two lovelies together. Oh well...

I'm feeling under the weather, so I'm in no mood to take pictures... but if I happen to rally later today, I'll try to snap a few to share with you all.

Resistance is Futile

I have been equally laboring over and procrastinating over one particular wedding-related project: my slip.

I've been fairly obsessed with this photo even wayyy before the wedding was even a glimmer in my eye:


image found here: models.com/oftheminute/?p=1288
(you might not be able to see well, but there is a layer of sheer dotted fabric)

Oh the many layers. The lace. The dots. Oh the glory of it all.

I couldn't find anything like this anywhere, but I lusted after it so. And, I actually needed some sort of slip, because my dress is fairly sheer. The industrious person that I am, I thought, "I WILL SEW IT MYSELF!" as if it was that easy. I found some really fantastic antique net lace on ebay... picked up some charmeuse at Joann's...I even bought a vintage pattern for kicks. The result...eh. It was not all the glory of Estee's add. It was cool, because I made it, but it just didn't do it for me. Plus, I didn't leave myself quite enough fabric at the bottom, so I think my dancing might have been inhibited. Anyway. I tried.

I happen to be traveling for work right now, and so while sitting around with nothing better to do, I hopped over to the danger zone: Ebay.

A few clicks. An innocent browse. Here's what I found:


(click for a larger image)

An audible and embarassing squeal popped out...



And then an even louder one... DOTS people DOTS! The underlayer is a sheer dotted fabric!

So, even though it was very expensive, and I'm sure my grandma will be very disappointed that I didn't see my craft project through, I don't think that my sewing skills can compete with such an amazing skirt/slip. From France, and perhaps from the nineteenth century.

Just incredible. The seller, French-at-heart has many other fabulous things. I just can't wait to try it on with my dress (on Sunday! BaH!)

Oh how I love a bargain..

It just takes a little creativity



$15.99 original price, Safeway. Marked down to $4.00




So whilst shopping for Life cereal and mozzarella cheese, I found these beauties in a corner of the grocery store, with a bunch of easter related junk inside of them. Came for food, and left with wedding program/ paper fan holders. After almost a year of planning, this doesn't even surprise me anymore.

A little sneak preview..

I've been working on programs... yay! I love all things paper.

Heinous..

I am equally attracted and repulsed by the miscellaneous wedding crap that is out there.

Take this for example:



Truly heinous, right? I really wonder about the person who buys this, cause there have to be people who buy these things! Is it solely the people I watch on "Bridezillas"? (as I cover my eyes halfway in shame for my bride kind) I guess someone out there might LOVE this hat and think its the best thing ever. Maybe I'm just not a hat person...

Introducing... Loverrific!

What is Loverrific? Well, first it's a word that I made up to describe things that make me very excited. Things that I covet; drool-worthy items seem made just for me (see my post on crochted candy corn).

And, Loverrific is also the name of my Etsy Store!



Loverrific... Fashion for Your Fridge

Click HERE to go to the Loverrific Store on Etsy

A few of my creations:







The inspiration behind Loveriffic came from my huge collection of fabric scraps. Some vintage, all FABULOUS. There really isn't a lot you can do with little squares of fabric, but I couldn't bear to part with it. I had been to a craft fair a while back where I purchased some really great refrigerator magnets that were made from great magazine clippings. I thought, hey! Why can't I do that with fabric? So, Loveriffic was born. I love doing it, and each set comes straight from my heart. Most are made from fabric, but some are made from magazine clippings (I currently have a wedding series, surprise surprise). Check out the stock early and often, as I'm constanly discovering new fabric (My fabric stash is a bottomless pit. I'm serious.) Or, if you are looking for a particular color or design scheme, purty please let me know. I'm sure I can hook you up.

xoxo,
Magnet Girl

Underpinnings

I'm not calling them undies or lingerie anymore... it's all about underpinnings.

This might fall into the TMI category, but here are my wedding underpinnings:

Corset bra thing


btw, this is not me.

This is not my actual bra, because I found mine on sale at Loehman's, but these are so generic, you get the idea.

Here's the real pizazz:


Honeydew Rumba Panties (can be found at Nordstrom, Herroom.com, or if you're in SF, Red Dot)

I bought these lovelies a loooong time ago, because I thought "something blue" and they certainly will make B laugh. The pictured version is gingham, but mine are actually tiny blue hearts and polka dots. PERFECTION, I TELL YOU! Hearts, polka dots and ruffles. Really, could a girl ask for more?

Working On My Fitness

I am a very goal-oriented person. If I can visualize the postive outcome, I can get through the grunt work effort. The wedding has been a perfect catalyst for getting in better shape, because as my a$$ is shaking and my arms feel limp, I simply picture my rockin' bod in my wedding dress and I can power through.

This will power of course does NOT cross over to food and dieting, but I'm trying. Eating less Cheetos counts, right?

Anyway, along with one of my fab bridesmaids, I am now committed to attending Bar Method classes (see www.barmethod.com) at LEAST 3x per week. For anyone out there in SF, LA or Chicago -- you must check it out! If you want quick turnaround kick it into shape kind of stuff, this is for you. Your muscles will ache. You will feel as if you can't go on. But you can, and you will feel amazing. Coming from someone who does NOT like to exercise in groups, this is high praise. I have been taking the classes on and off (mostly off) for the past year, and I instantly notice a difference in my body (and weirdly, my skin) after I start up again.

Anywhoots, that's my rant for the day. Hope yours was a good one.

EDIT: The Bar Method is an exercise class that combines ballet, pilates, yoga, etc etc. Basically, you are using your own body weight as resistance. Crazzzy.

I'm a-scared of my hair

It's about 6 months until the big day, and what is my latest obsession? Guest lists, eh. Menu, whatev. Bands, welp, almost done deal.

Lately it's all about Hair Hair Hair.

Mostly, I have nightmares that it will look like this:


no no no.. Amy Winehouse

This deep-rooted fear dates way back to 1997. It's the homecoming dance. I have an awesome dress, sweet makeup, and some fab acessories. I had an image in my head of an elegant french twist, very simple and clean.

There were two things that went horribly wrong on this important night in my adolescent life:
1) My date was awful. He went down in history as The Wet Mop. And he strongly resembled a monkey. (It was a semi-blind date setup. Because I was that lame.)
2) My hair was RIDICULOUSLY LARGE.

I think all of the evidence was destroyed, but for posterity, I will look and see if I can find a pic and post it later.

I already have a large head. You might say, wha? Not its fine. Seriously people, doctors have commented on its largeness. I can't wear normal hats. So large hair + large head = badddd.

So, after I left the salon teased and sprayed to high heaven, I went home and cried. Cried and Cried. Cried because I was too shy to say I didn't like it. Cried because my mom had to shell out $30 for it. Cried because that's what you do when you are 15 and you feel like everyone is going to laugh at you (which my brother did. And then I cried again.) I think I ended up trying to tame it with some water, but it didn't help much, and there wasn't much time.

Enough "My Diary". So everytime I think about my wedding hair, I worry that I'll end up with something terrible. In my mind, I'd like to end up looking like this:



Or this:



Perhaps this:


So lets all cross our fingers. And if anyone has some east bay stylist recommendations, PLEASE send them my way!

It's just one day, right?

I'm baaack...and a whole lot more grounded.

I tend to get into "modes" that are tough to escape from. Cleaning mode - I won't stop until the whole house is gleaming and free of every last dustbunny. It is so bad that I will look at the clock and say, "It's 3:53?!?" and I haven't eaten lunch.

Sewing mode: won't stop until the garment is completely constructed and the sleeves are set just right. Once I do finish, sometimes 4 or 5 hours later, I get up and realize that my back is killing me.

Wedding planning: the worst mode of all. I can be online researching and emailing and poring over blog after blog, and not realize that it is 2am and I have to be at work in 6 hours. It had to stop. Sensory overload. I became so sensitive about my choices that I had invested so much time into, I admit that I snapped at B, something to the effect "well if that's what you want, then DO IT YOURSELF!" I think the conversation was about cheese. Definitely a low point.

I tend to pile on tasks and responsibilities and goals without much thought to if I actually have the time and energy to do all of these things a) to my standards and b) while keeping my sanity.

Sometime right before Christmas, B brought some much needed perspective: It's just one day. It's just 6 hours. It's not that big a deal. Let's just have fun.

Sounds simple, but I really just needed to hear it. I now realize that I was taking on way too much and putting completely unnecessary pressure on myself, and sometimes, projecting my stress onto people who totally didn't deserve it.

I have a new attitude. I'm keepin' it in perspective. And if you see me falling off the deep end again, please dear friends, reel me in.

From now on, I am making time for myself. I am giving my complete attention to my loved ones (not just the blank stare while the planning list ticks in the back of my mind).

I know that our wedding is going to be a totally awesome and totally "us" day. I don't need Martha Stewart's candy buffet or those escort cards strung from birch branches. I've given myself a pass for perfection.

So, moving on. Stay tuned for those exciting new developments I hinted at last month. Some are wedding-related, and some aren't. <>