Beau-Coup Giveaway from Manolo Brides!

Anyone who knows me well, understands that luck is on my side.  I have a knack for winning things, just not $100K ultimate wedding contests, but oh well, that was a fluke. 

In elementary school I won a $500 "shopping spree" to Toys R Us for a Letter to Santa contest.  My parents had an easy xmas that year.   A TV station displayed my name on the screen and I called in to win a remote-controlled car, which became a favorite toy. In middle school I won a trip to Space Camp by putting my name into a box in Target.   Amongst my various other winnings include: a giant Easter basket, a Barbie limo, and recently $100 worth of wine.

Now I want to win this Giveaway:
Manolo Brides' latest Giveaway is a $75 gift certificate to Beau-Comp favors.  Beau-Comp has the cutest, personalized wedding (and other various celebrations) favors ever.  Aside from the embossed, personalized napkins and the must-have matchboxes are some of the most unique favors out there.  One could do it up 'eco-friendly style' with their personalized, plantable seed cards, or even plaster your face on a personalized chocolate lollipop, if that's what you're into.

Manolo Brides blog is a wealth of information with tons of idea resources.

But don't knock my odds.  Let me go ahead and have this one, k?
We don't want to jinks fate, here.
Seventy-five dollars can get me a lot of napkins!

Off topic....

But still on the topic of weddings (just not venue-centric)

You might know I teach the future of America, in our nation's capital.  Well, DCPS posted their 2010-2011 school calendar today. While not an official posting, they seek feedback for this beta schedule. My feedback is this: WHY did you NOT put SPRING BREAK in MARCH 2011?  Every time someone asks for my wedding date I say some round-about answer detailing how DCPS has not published a calendar but we are aiming for March 2011.  Then, of-course, DCPS comes out saying LATE APRIL 2011.  Not even early April... late.

I read this date change while my students were in class*.  "What's wrong Ms. W?" one student prods.  "Oh nothing [nameless student]. I just can't get married when I want to."  I reply.   "Why not?  Why not just do it?"  At this point the rest of the present students chime in, "Sometimes you just hafta do it when you want to, like at recess."  I'll ignore the recess part of this, because I simply did not want to understand that part - but rather go with the obvious... to paraphrase the inspirational quote of the 26th prez**: these cards dealt to me are horrible, I'm making lemonade.  (We were playing Uno.)

All in all, now that DCPS announced the next school year calendar, did it solidify a wedding date for me? NO -it confused me even more.  Let's just hope we WIN this contest and our lives become simpler.

*I know I should not check these things while students are in my presence, however in an after-school enrichment class, things are different...slightly.

**"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -- Theodore Roosevelt

Top of The Town

The day we visited Top of the Town's (TOTT) open house was a crap-tastic day at work for me.  This clouded my judgment entirely, but it really doesn't matter because we are too big for this place.  I do not intend that in a snooty way, I just mean our guest list is too large for this space.....that and we are too cool for this joint. :)

The caterer was nice and mentioned that they understood Kashrut (keeping kosher) for Mike's family members that observe, but nice in an over-explainatory way.  That aspect aside, the open bar was meager and the vendors gave me no free cake.  I want my free cake.  I got a plastic, light-up cup that we left behind.
To focus on the venue, TOTT lies at the penthouse of some big condo building in Arlington, VA.  [I promise I am trying to give you the basics but I just don't care about this venue].  The breathtaking view features the National Mall with the Memorials showcased. 
The pro's:  priced fairly (do not recall exactly how much), indoor venue for March's unpredictable weather, and that's all
The con's:  small space, the switch-a-roo between the ceremony and dinner would be painstakingly ugly (although we were assured no one would notice the pre-set tables shoved to the side that they lift into place and move all the chairs around), interior not all that beautiful, no live music on Sundays or after 11, in Virginia

Sorry, no pictures because this place is not for us, and I came directly from work.
TOTT, you're out.
But voting is STILL ON!

Decatur House

The first time we visited the Carriage House at the Decatur House I was not sold.  Mike called for rental information and we were immediately invited to their open house that night. Arioth, the Director of Special Events, comped us 2 tickets without thought.  As our first open house, we were overwhelmed.  Special props go to Mike who arrived thirty minutes before me and held his own.  In fact, many people complimented him on attending solo, saying things like, "You never really see that in a groom-to-be."  That's right ladies - that's my man!  Mike is really interested in the planning of the wedding and is oh-so-helpful, seriously.  He even created our Excel spreadsheet, which I still don't understand - but at least he does.
Anyways, Decatur House is a historic house built in 1816 and the home of some dead guy who died in a dual, but had presidential hopes.  Death will definitely squelch those hopes.  The Carriage House is just that - the old site of the stables and the garage.   The high ceilings give it an open feel and the adjacent courtyard shines in spring. 
So Decatur House was decent, nice, okay - on first review.  Maybe all those preferred vendors and crazy traffic crowded my brain because the only appealing detail was the open bar and free cake samples.  However, Arioth came through again and took the time to talk business with us, discussing details of a 150+ attendance and assuring us it works in their space.
The things I'm not keen on:  renting a tent for the courtyard ceremony ($!),  having to do a switch-a-roo post-ceremony by having cocktail hour inside then heading back outside for dinner/dancing, the bathrooms need a facelift (2 stalls), small bridal room (TINY)
Intriguing mind-changers:  cost is on the high-end of decent ($6,000), Arioth is on her game, it is RIGHT NEXT TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- they could be neighbors (think pictures! and ease of transport!)

Overall, we were not amazingly impressed - but we will revisit this place again.
However, Bridal Open Houses are wicked-awesome.  We learned to bring a bag to all future open-houses.
I am currently working on my wedding-ideas binder where I will house all these business cards.
(Sorry, no pictures as I came directly from work.)

So Stinkin' EXCITED!

Why? Because one of the MOST awesome women in the world is coming to visit me.  She's super successful, highly likable, tres fashionable, and a vegetarian to boot.  Some, well most, people say we look alike.  We should, she's my sister.
I love my sister, Marlo, so much.  With 7 years  and 9 months separating us, I grew up wanting to do everything she did.  I'm sure she loved this at times.  So maybe she hung my stuffed animals out the window of a moving car while on road trips, at least I didn't mean to kick her when we shared a bed on those trips.   I can even forgive the countless times she forced me to clean up a bug while babysitting me;  I now know how to trap, catch and release a roach without having to smush it.  From fashion to musical influences, I thank Marlo for introducing REM to me in middle school. In high school I turned to her for advice, and she helped me cope with many boy-situations successfully.  By my college years, we were the closest ever - it's true what they say about age and siblings, the older you get the closer you become.  I absolutely love her family, too: my brother-in-law is a great guy and my niece is the best kid I've ever met (might be a little biased here).  Even her animals are cute!
She proved to be a great role model (still is), and now I can't wait to share the experience of dress-shopping with her!  Next weekend we shall shift through satin and lace to begin the search for my perfect wedding gown. 

Aaandd, help us reach 300 by voting!

Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo Park is a magical place situated on the edge of DC, in Maryland.  Once an amusement park, now it houses art classes, dance competitions, childrens puppet shows, acting and theater classes, glass-works studios, calligraphy, and more artistically fun things.   All of the old buildings are refurbished and available for rent.

I love the feeling from this space.  It says casual, yet fun;  unique, yet not too out there. The Bumper Car Pavilion nicely accommodates our 200ish-person guest list.  Taken straight from Glen Echo's site, here are the spec's:

"The Bumper Car Pavilion was built in 1923 during the amusement park era of Glen Echo Park. This versatile facility offers great views of the Park and is a unique setting for small to medium-sized wedding receptions, bar/bat mitzvahs, and corporate events. The Bumper Car Pavilion is available to rent throughout the year, but as the Pavilion is neither heated nor air conditioned, peak rental times are from April through June and September through October.

• The Pavilion can hold up to 200 people for a dinner and a dance and up to 350 for a standing reception.
• Stage with sound system
• Adjustable clear plastic side curtains"

Also worthy of note, because Glen Echo is a National Park, you cannot have hard liquor.  Yes, you heard right.  Only beer, wine, and champagne permitted in this fine venue.  We have dreams of great Sangria served in lieu of dirty martinis, but still....no shots.  I asked for ways around this, but alas, no hard liquor.
On the plus side, Glen Echo runs CHEAP!  We're talking $2,500 for the whole day, including ceremony.  However on the down-side, we need shuttles to allow our friends to really enjoy themselves -- so at  the end of the night they do not drive home on the little one-lane road.
At that rental price, shuttles are affordable.
Time to do some math, but not before a ride on the carousel.

Some of you might know of my dad's affinity for carousel horses.  He spent his summers at Rocky Glen Amusement Park near Scranton, PA, painting the horses to prepare for the fall season.  My grandpa ran the 'Guess Your Weight' game, and the antique scale still resides in our family garage.
Vintage amusement parks have a special place in my heart.

VOTE for us:  250 and counting!

The Great Venue Search, Charlie Brown

Except no cute, bald-headed, awkwardly dancing cartoon characters...
(unless you count my dad... just kidding, Daddy!)

We are planning on having The Big Day here in DC.  After living here for 5 years, we now call our nation's capital our new home.  Plus, our close friends are here and family will travel anywhere.

The hardest thing about planning a wedding in DC will be not intimately knowing the area.  You could ask me where to go for great jazz music, the best dive bar, the wine-bar with the most ambiance, the most favorable place to catch a cab, the newest bar in Adams Morgan, the restaurant with the hottest waiters, the pub with the least-smelly bathrooms, or really anything involving food and/or alcohol and BAM, I would have an answer.  But where to get married?  Alls I gots is: The White House.  And I have a feeling no amount of money would get our party in that door.

I am, however, blessed to have Allison Jackson (Owner/Creator/Goddess of Pineapple Productions) as one of my Roommoms and parent of a student in my class (obvi).  How lucky am I?  Allison has not only come through with answers to several random questions (ie: What is considered the "normal" size for a guest list?) but also a list of 10+ quality venues for our wedding.  Thank G-D!

And so it begins.  I look at the websites, write down the info, groan over prices, mull over what they include (and who knew you had to pay for table cloths? *Ahem* Linens), and commit my next 4 to 6 Saturdays looking at empty dance halls as if they were mine.

We will start our virtual tour, commencing next post, with the lovely Glen Echo Park.
Don't forget to VOTE!  We are working on 250 votes!

The Bling

I mean, the ring...

Interesting little story here.  Did you expect any less?
So Mike and I both get our hairs-cut  at VSL Salon in Dupont.  A colleague recommended David to me and my hair has never seen a bad cut.  He does amazing things with my hair, knows it and me so well.  David, my stylist of 5 years, has graciously agreed to do my hair for TBD (The Big Day). But I digress.  Mike sees Eve, who happens to be David's BFF!  The two are inseparable as far as stylist and friends go, and Mike and I are so lucky to call them 'ours.'
Eve recently got engaged too!  As I understand it, Eve had a big say in the her ring and found her rock at a locally owned/operated store.  She told Mike of this place, gave him a name to drop, and they had some good quality haircutting-conversations leading up to Mike's purchase.  A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Eve for her guidance to Mike.  Because of her, I have this:

 

Is it tacky to mention that my Dharma is bigger than a carat?   Because she is.  And yes, you read that right.  I named my diamond.  Dharma the non-materialistic diamond.

 I luuuurrve her.

And you bet she's insured!

Please VOTE for us to win!

Top 20 things I said/thought soon after getting engaged...

(In no particular order)

1) Finally, new pots and pans (registry)!
2) I wonder what my Exes will say?!
3) I made it past the teenage AND dating years!
4) White or Ivory (dress color)?
5) Do I HAVE to wear ivory?!

6) I wonder if I qualify for prenups.
7) I'm not giving Mike complete-shared-custody of Penny Lane. (49%/51%)
8) Ohhh, a KitchenAid Mixer! (registry, again)
9) My niece will be sooo super cute as a flower girl!
10) Will I hyphenate?

11) I want a Mandolin! (registry...)
12) Hell, no, I'm not hyphenating! Wxxxxxxxxx-Sxxxxxx? Please!
13) What will my colors be? I HATE pink!
14) How will I get around my pink-aversion with flowers?
15) I must buy a wedding magazine, stat.

16) I could buy 2 more cars for the price of a wedding!
17) What would Mike have done if I said no? (not likely, at all)
18) Do people try to steal engagement rings?
19) So that's how you slap-a-b!tch, engagement-ring-style. OUCH that would hurt!
20) I get to be with Mike for the rest of my life!


AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR US, please:
http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/32658

Panda, Precipitation, and a Proposal

Here's how it all began...

On January 30th, 2010, the forecast of a "light dusting" of snow began falling heavily.  It was at this point that the National Zoo, in Washington, DC, decided it was necessary to close early.  The impending storm threatened the farewell celebration for Tai Shan the panda.
Mike and I first visited the National Zoo just weeks after our move to DC, on the day that Tai Shan was born.  We became attached to the little cub and visited him on our jaunts through the park.  Then on the day of his sendoff party, marking the end of the sweet panda's time in DC,  Mike decided to ask me to spend the rest of our lives together.
Mike contacted the Zoo earlier (unbeknown to me!), to see if they could help him out by placing a sign in the habitat or something along those lines.  For the bear's safety, they were unable to complete that request - but offered instead local media coverage, who were there to report on the celebration anyways.   As the Zoo announced its early closure, The Washington Post report thankfully called Mike to inform him of this. (Picture me wondering who Mike was talking to on the phone and yelling at him at the same time, "Are we going or what?")  Mike was able to convince me to leave the house early and trek over to our favorite spot in the zoo, despite the bad weather. After all, this would be our last chance to see Tai Shan.
Once we finally found parking (special thanks to Diana and Karl for driving and going along with the plan!) and squeezed past security closing the park gates, Mike wandered off at the habitat.  I happily continued to shoot picturesque photographs of my favorite panda, sleeping in the snow.  Our friends that accompanied us on this adventure seemed to disappear, as well.  (It was at this point that Kathryn and Eric were escorted in by the Zoo Chief of Police.  This confused me, a lot.  Apparently Kathryn told him of the goings-on and he lead them in, but told Kat she would be arrested if she was not telling the truth!!!)
After Mike shuffled around a bit, the Washington Post reporter with a camcorder kept bumping into me, and the Chief of Zoo Police told Mike he better hurry up, the plans finally came to fruition. 

Tai-Shan sleeps peacefully under a blanket of snow

It was then that Mike pulled me over to an area where the snow was falling lightly on our shoulders.  He announced he had a special question for me, since they were here to mark the occasion of Tai Shan's  departure.  He got down on one knee, while The Washington Post reporters began filming, and asked me to marry him.  (Actually, I had to ask Mike what that special question was... we'll let it slide since he was so nervous!)  Shocked and thrilled, I said, "Yes!" and hugged and kissed Mike.  Our friends in attendance all cheered, as well as everyone else there.  It was a great way to mark the end of a time period for Tai Shan - with the beginning of another for us!

Click on the link above to see the video footage of our proposal!