Wordless Wednesday: Cabbage Rose

{Amazing photography by Studio Juno}

(Wedding Recap) Putting on the Dress

We headed downstairs to the lobby of our hotel, with my wedding dress in hand. I previously arranged (and by arranged, I mean double-triple-checked with the hotel manager) for their Escalade to take us the 3 blocks down the street to our venue. My bridesmaids already wore their dresses and heels. Who wants to hoof-it 3 blocks in the mid-summer's heat, in fancy dresses? Not us. So you can imagine our surprise when the Escalade disappeared to run another errand, leaving me pointing at the scheduling book where it said "Bride plus 4, 2p." Luckily they called us a cab. Do you know what 4 girls in bridesmaids dresses looks like in the back of a cab?

 (picture phone quality apology)
Now that's a bridesmaid's shot if I've ever seen one.

Unfortunately my sister is behind the headrest and got cut off.

The 5 minute ride passed with lots of laughter.

At any rate, we made it to the venue & upstairs to the bridal ready room: the Library.

Special thanks to Lila Frances for their lovely gift of my personalized wedding wire hanger! I simply love it & look forward to passing it down to someone else, someday.

 

 I really love the simplicity & meanwhile complexity of this shot.

It says "Here we go!" to me...

But then, right as I stepped over to my dress, almost ready to go, I thought, "Oh my, I should really use the restroom one. last. time...since we all know how complicated that can get..."
I looked down at myself:
veil, button down shirt, special underwear, garter, heels.
I looked like something out of a pin-up catalog.  Which elicited these reactions from my mom & sister:

 

 Clearly, my sister thinks I'm hilarious.

My mom shakes her head and says "Oh, Vicki."

Typical. 

I love it.

 Here's a censored version of what I looked like:

 

 Thank goodness for caterer's napkins.

Although I will admit I did run down the back hallway of the venue with out said napkin....

But once I came back, it was time.

(suck it in, Vicki)

And in a matter of minutes, I really felt like a bride.

My wedding day finally arrived.

Butterflies tried fluttering in my tummy,

but I overcame that nervous energy with thoughts of seeing my

soon-to-be husband at our first look!

{amazing photography by Studio Juno, phone pic aside}

(Wedding Recap) Getting the Guys Ready

While us girls were busy primping over in the honeymoon suite, some of the gentlemen met up in a junior suite to don their tuxedo's and whatever else it is that men do to get ready.  (Really, shower? put on some cologne? they have it so easy.)

Then groomsmen all wore Sean Jean ties I bought during the 2010 winter holiday sale at Macy's.  I purchased them for a mere 70% off full price.  Win.

Mike wore spectators (aka wing-tips) for an added special touch.

I call this his "shitting himself" face.

But it's a great shot, non-the-less.

Brothers.  I love it.

There really is something special about bro-mance.

I'll never get it, but it really is special.

{Again, these spectacular images were all captured by Studio Juno}

Wordless Wednesday: Flower Girl vs. Bride

{pics by Studio Juno photography}

(Wedding Recap) Getting the Girls Ready

My bridesmaids are wonderful women.  I promise these words come from an honest place deep down inside me.  Mostly they deserve such complements because they put up with me for a year-and-a-half of wedding planning and then my sharp orders on the day-of the event.  I tried my utmost best to not turn all bridezilla.  But let me tell you, if you've never gone through it before, there's no preparing for the rush of emotions.  I swear any woman who gets away without even a hint of bridezilla must be hiding something.  or holding it in.

Of track.

My bridesmaids deserve a medal.

or a gift.

On the day of the wedding I gifted them each a different Coach clutch.

Thanks to the a shopping-angel's coupon delivery, I purchased these babies for a *very* competitive price.

Always be on the lookout for a good deal, even 6 months before the wedding!

And so the readies began.

Curlers and button downs (no hair mess-ups!) and patience, oh my!

Meagan makes being athletic & beautiful look easy.

Tell me Kathryn's beauty doesn't astound you?

One day (soon) she'll make a beautiful bride.

She'll also kill me for typing/publishing this.

(But Kat, it's not like Eric reads my blog!!!!)

 My sister rocks the mom-card, and the big-sister card, and the cool card.

She makes me feel better about one day "going there" as a parent (being all pretty and in control even though she might not really know what she's doing... but you'd never know that.)

Diana wins for most favors-cashed-in.

You know that friend you can always turn to when you need something? trip to the ER? ride home from Target when you just bought a bicycle and it's now snowing? advice and just a general ear?

Yeah, Di's got my back.  I hope she knows I've got hers, too!

They were all there, and then some, for me on my wedding day!

Love. These. Ladies.

{All beautiful photographs by Studio Juno}

Steppin' Out Saturday 8.20.11

This Steppin' Out post is again brought to you by my hair and my most awesome stylist.
It seems I happen to schedule most my hair appointments on Saturdays.

Now that highlights are a "regular" part of my hair, I decided auburn low-lights should too be welcomed in my locks.  And feathers.  And why not add a random red streak on the underside (not to be confused with ombre).

My girl Veronica celebrated her upcoming wedding with a non-shower bridal brunch.  I finally had a chance to wear my new, fun dress & accessories from Forever 21 (with my new, fun hairs).

Also? Bottomless mimosas are good in theory.  Hence taking the pictures inside this time.

Tomorrow, it's back to school for me!  Cheers to a great 2011-2012 school year!

Review: Jockey Stay Cool

We all know about the new wicking technology which keeps you dry and cool while you sweat your butt off.  I feel like I can recite the commercials verbatim.  But when my favorite under-roo company, Jockey, shared samples of their staycool line, I knew this was the real deal.

Available for both men & women, Jockey's staycool is line is made with Outlast technology to keep you cooler by regulating your body temperature!  Taken from their site, "Our new women's Jockey® staycool collection is engineered with Outlast® technology to help your skin feel up to 3° cooler. The cotton-spandex fabric blend offers a soft, breathable feel and a flattering fit. Styles include a reversible tank, reversible t-shirt, bikini and modern brief underwear silhouettes."

staycool reversible tank

 The very soft fabric is so light.  I wore the reversible tank to yoga class where I found it perfect for stretching and moving.  I agree that it does really keep you cooler, which is nice when the studio heats up.  I also liked that the tank didn't cling to me, but still fit nicely without riding up during inversion poses.  The same can be said for the reversible Tshirt.

Here I am getting excited about my staycool Jockey tank.

I also totally dug my bright colors, hence the sunnies.  

Since we're talking about these awesome outter-garments by Jockey, I should also mention the under-garments.  Yes, I'm talking about underwear.  I have to say, at first I was a little wary of trying briefs.  I'm a bikini girl (and btw, their staycool bikinis rock).  And now my newlywed husband has a new, realistic fear: granny panties.  Jockey's staycool modern briefs are anything but granny-panties.  They do provide more coverage than I'm accustomed to, but hey, change isn't always bad.  And yes, I'm still talking about underwear.  However, I loved them.  Without totally creeping you all out and risk loosing followers by continuing to talk about my underwear, I'll just say this:  you won't regret buying Jockey's staycool modern briefs.

For those of you who made it this far through a post in which I discuss my unmentionables (rather ironic, no?), you deserve a prize.

No really, email me for a 25% off + free shipping code* on any single Jockey staycool item.  I know I'll be ordering more!

You can be pumped like me.

But can you get your toenail polish to match your staycool top and sun glasses, like me?!

We can't all be so cool...

(staycool)

*only 10 codes available on first-come-first-serve basis

These rambling thoughts about my underwear and exercise clothes are 100% honest opinions and the heartfelt truth.  Jockey supplied the products, I just tell you how I feel.

(Wedding Recap) Getting Me Ready

Many ladies shared with me that they didn't sleep the night before their wedding.  I wasn't going to let their horrible night's sleep get me! I totally took a Valium and slept like a baby. (<--take this advice)  My bestie (& bridesmaid) Meagan and I shared a junior suite the night before the big day.  Thank God for her, because she totally kept me sane.

That morning, when I woke up, I saw something on TV about a huge triathlon going on in DC.  It didn't phase me as a problem until our hair/makeup girls were 30 minutes late.  Cue a little anxiety.  However we changed plans about a week prior to have them arrive earlier.  So basically they were late to arrive early.  We were fine with time.

My bridesmaids arrived at our honeymoon suite with the makings for great mimosas.  They even had the little aluminum bottles (like mini coke cans) of champagne we had when first trying on wedding dresses!

champagne-death-grip

While I put my final post up as a single lady & my girls finalized their hair plans, I chatted with my mom, niece, brother-in-law, dad, and anyone else who took my mind off the fact my marriage was around the corner.

my niece, my salad, and me

This is me freaking out.

At one point I had to put on headphones and removed myself from the reality surrounding me.  

(I was listening to KT Tunstall, for those of you curious)

Mah hairs

By the way, don't eat a salad before your wedding.  I nibbled on it like a bunny, then scarfed down half of my niece's cheeseburger.  

Finally, the finished me!

THIS is one of my favorite pictures!

Veil me!

Grabbed "my things" and ready to go!
(note what's important to me here...)

{all photos courtesy of the wonderful Studio Juno }

Wordless Wednesday: Chincoteague & Assateague Islands