The Wedding Hat

Who says a bride has to wear a traditional veil. Check out these beautiful vintage and classic wedding hats. I can just hear Louis Armstrong blowing away to "La Vie En Rose" while I dance around my family room. Tres chic.

twigs & Honey

I love, love, love the one in the middle.

Photo credits: Tag7
For Elizabeth Messina's A Lovely WorkshopHeadpieces: Twigs & Honey
Dresses: Kirstie Kelly Bridal, Sarah Seven for Lovely bridal shop, and Claire Pettibone
Shrug: Elizabeth Dye
Hair & Makeup: Erin Skipley & Lauren Napier
Models, Julie, Gina, Myra

I am going to make myself one of these and when I figure it out I will tell you how it is done.

Where can I wear one of these now that I have already been married? Anyone know of a ball going on anywhere?

The PB&J

I love peanut butter and jam sandwiches or lovingly called the PB&J. Eating one is a nostalgic experience bringing me back to my elementary school years. I prefer to use only the best ingredients: Whole wheat bread, crunchy peanut butter (I like Jif), and homemade strawberry or raspberry jam. The crunchy of the peanuts and the sweetness of the jam mixed with the heartiness of the bread is so yummy! It is also very important to cut the sandwich diagonally.

When Paul and I were first married, he had to leave for work pretty early, around 6:00 am. We had been married about a month and I felt like I should be a sweet little loving wife and make him a lunch to take to work.

I am not a morning person.

I stumbled out of bed and deliriously headed to the kitchen. I had recently purchased a gigantic jar of jam at the store and I thought I would use it to make him a "made with love PB&J". Well in the process of grabbing the jar out of the cupboard, the jar slipped through my fingers and shattered all over the ground. I was devastated. Paul was in the other room and asked what happened and I yelled back "nothing" and then I continued to spoon out jam from the top of the pile of shattered glass ( I figured if it didn't touch the floor it must be safe). I searched my jam selections for glass and it seemed okay. I made Paul's sandwich, threw in some treats, a hot love note (remember we were newlyweds) and packed it up in a brown paper bag and felt like I was just the best wife.

Around lunch time I got a call from Paul thanking me for his lunch and kindly asking "did you put glass in my sandwich cause I took a bite and it was a different kind of crunchy and I pulled out a big piece of glass from my mouth."

The moral of the story is that I don't make Paul's lunches anymore and will probably never have to make lunches for my future children. Yeah to the PB&J.

Interesting PB sandwich that I saw at a restaurant the other day and want to make.
Peanut butter and bananas and agave nectar on wheat bread

Does anyone have a better recipe idea?

Celebrity Crush-Zooey Deschanel

What is not to love about this quirky, ECCENTRIC, beautiful and Unique woman? I find her enchanting and exquisite and elegant. Many of you have seen her in movies like:

• Failure to Launch (SJP roommate who hates the mockingbird)

• Yes Man (lovable singer and moped driver)

• 500 Days of Summer (emotional and adorable Summer)

For a fabulous wedding shoot inspired by 500 Days of Summer click HERE

She is also in a band called She & Him and I really love her light and breathy voice.

Here is a song of hers called Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him. This video is cute and is made to promote the movie 500 Days of Summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtVh8kVZ_XM

Zooey was also in Domino magazine back in February 2009 showing off her sweet digs. The space has a lovely vintage and classic feel and I love the contrast of dark blue and white. Just another reason I love her--- she has great taste.

I also love Zooey because she dresses so fun and has great STYLE and sings and is in a band and is always such an adorable character in movies and I feel like if we could meet I would want her to be me friend and we could jam out together.

Check out her great clothes with the vintage collars and the high waist skirts and the great bow belts and the cute red hat.

Lately I have been thinking about starting a band. Is that way to cliche? I realize there are like a million bands out there, but hey what is one more, plus my band would be amazing (i hope)---I wouldn't have it any other way. I saw this great performance by my singing teacher Wendy Parr, teacher of Regina Spektor, and I was really inspired. So I want to do an all girl band and I need someone for keys, cello, drums and violin. If you know anyone who is 1. cool 2. talented and 3. female that can play any of these instruments and lives in the DC area please let me know.

Maybe I should do my own woman and man band. I'll see if I can recruit Paul for the taking. Today we were riding in the car and the Fugees featuring Lauryn Hill came on the radio singing "Killing me Softly" and Paul said he would like to be my back up rapper who says things like "sing it Leah" in the open spaces of my music and "what?" and maybe have a solo rap section. I like that--maybe we will debut such an album.

Thanks Zooey and Wendy for being cool and making me want to be in a band.

So there is my celebrity crush. Love you Ms. Zooey.

Cupcakes for Dinner

In my fantasy life I am Julia Child with the ability to whip up the most decadent of treats and meals with ease and pleasure. Alas, as many of you many know, I am not a chef, or a baker or even a cook. I really hate doing it. I am not sure if it is that every time I try the food seems to not taste as good as when Paul makes it or that sometimes my cooking just really tastes horrendous.

So last night Paul wanted to make red velvet cake from scratch (honestly who makes anything from scratch) but it was kind of late and we were at the grocery store and I insisted on buying the Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Frosting, as well as, all the ingredients so he could make red velvet cake from scratch another night.

So my fabulous husband makes me red velvet cupcakes last night before going to bed and all day I have been eating them. So tonight for dinner Paul was busy at work and like I was going to cook anything, so instead I had cupcakes for dinner!


Mom, please don't be mad-- I did at least put a raspberry on top so I would get my fruit food group.

Happy Weekend! Eat a cupcake!

The Kids Are All Right

Before moving out to Washington DC, Paul and I would volunteer for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah every year. We were lucky enough to volunteer for 3 years in a row. The opportunity to see so many great movies and meet so many talented actors, producers, and musicians was inspiring. I really hope I can volunteer this January, because I missed the excitement of the 2010 Festival.

For those of you who have watched Sundance movies before, you may know that sometimes these movies can be a bit, dare I say, raunchy. I should have remembered this from my Sundance volunteering experience.

Paul’s mom was in town the past week and since my job of owning my own music studio affords me a very flexible schedule, I was able to play with her. So me thinking this would be a fun time took her to see the movie “The Kids Are All Right”, which had rave reviews and was considered the talk of Sundance 2010. So I was really excited to see it. Plus it has a stellar cast with Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in the new Alice in Wonderland), and Josh Hutcherson. I really love Mark Ruffalo-I think he is smokin’ hot and talented, but mostly just fun to look at.

I personally really enjoyed the movie and I think my ma-in-law didn’t mind it, but I will say that this is not a movie to bring anyone to that you may feel uncomfortable watching very vivid sex scenes with. I kind of wish there had been a disclaimer, “Rated R due to lots of crazy sex scenes that may make you feel more embarrassed than ever if you bring your mother-in-law to the movie.” I think I kept trying to cover her eyes more out of my own shame then my worry that she would be offended.

I do recommend this movie though, just be prepared for some adult content. I found this movie painted the struggles of marriage very believable and it was nice to see a non-traditional family depicted, since the movie is about a lesbian couple.

Here is the synopsis from the Sundance 2010 website.

“A couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore), live with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), in a cozy craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles. As Joni prepares for college, her younger brother pesters her for a big favor—help him find their biological father. Against her better judgment, she makes a call to the sperm bank; the bank, in turn, calls Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and asks him if he’s willing to meet his daughter. He agrees, and a complicated new chapter begins for the family.”

Check out the trailer and then go see the movie if you want and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgwjTy_cohg

vintage and classic weddings

I have a brother in law who is getting married soon and we have dear friends who are getting married in a week and a half, so I have been thinking a lot about weddings. I really loved my wedding and I dare say it may have been a perfect wedding, for Paul and I. We were married on March 5, 2005 on the beautiful north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Our wedding was simple and elegant, with only immediate family present (we were missing a couple of members and if I could do it over I would have made sure they could have been there) and my dear friend Jo.

all my wedding images are by Retrospect Studios








After the wedding and a week long honeymoon in Kauai and Maui, Paul and I came home to start our new life together and I started planning a big party celebration/reception. Now since I had a beach theme, I obviously stuck to it with shells and tropical plants and food.









But the reason I post this is to show images of things I would do if I was planning another wedding. I kind of want to renew my vows with Paul just so I can do this kind of wedding too-my other dream wedding. A vintage wedding.

Here is the dress I would wear

or maybe this one (image by poshgirlvintage.com)

And I really think I should have taken my mom's wedding dress, which was a teal high wasted 1960s dress with a lacy empire waist and I wish I would have worn it and added a bit more lacy to it on the bottom and on the sleeves. I will find the photo and post it. It was so classic.

And I am pretty sure I would have worn one of these bird cage veils

image from ruffledblog.com

image from ruffledblog.com

I really love this handmade bouquet made of ribbons, I wish I would have thought of that because then you could keep it forever and it is totally vintage chic and hip.

image from ruffledblog.com

and I would totally do a bird theme with tons of bird cages hanging from trees and cool nests on the table.

image found on confettiweddings.co.za/blog

And all my vases would be mason jars like this

image from ruffledblog.com

image from ruffledblog.com

and I love this clever way of leaving a little note of congrats and best wishes

image from ruffledblog.com

image from blushevents.blogspot.com

How fabulous is this save the date card? Love it.

So there are some of my "other" wedding ideas. If anyone is getting married and wants my help-- just let me know. I did have a beautiful wedding and would do it the exact same way in a heartbeat, maybe I just need to plan a big party.

Please share your "what I would have done different" wedding moments with me, I would love to hear it.

One Year Older and Wiser Too

July 14

Today Paul turns 28-or as I like to call it... Twenty-GREAT!

Here are some of the reasons why I think Paul is so Great...

Paul is...

1-Handsome
2-Handy (he can honestly fix or build anything)
3-Always good to laugh with me or at me
4-Funny and makes others laugh
5-Hardest worker I know
6-Honest
7-Smart (All A's in Grad School-Nerd)
8-An amazing artist
9-Amazing chef
10-Lover of dogs
11-A terrific cyclist and athlete
12-Strong (has passed over 4 kidney stones now and hasn't even milked the pain at all. If it was me I would be taking the week off of work and making Paul wait on me hand and foot!)
13-Disliker of people talking with their mouths full of food and other bad manners
14-Motivated
15-Silently Stubborn
16-Supportive of others
17-Lover of travel
18-A fabulous listener (he would have to be to still be married to me)
19-Dependable
20-Movie Buff
21-Continual seeker to better himself
22-Patient
23-Adventurous
24-A Dreamer
25-A Believer
26-A lover
27-Genuine
28-Looks more attractive every birthday (lucky me)

Paul baking some amazing strawberry dessert filled with most amazing sweet goodness!

My favorite drawing of Paul's.

I love you. Thanks for being you. Happy Birthday.

Not Paul's Week

I have been told by those that have passed kidney stones and have had babies without drugs, that passing kidney stones ranks right up with giving birth drug-free.

Paul passed these 3 stones this morning while I have been playing in NYC! Sorry babe.

An escalator eaten toe and now giving birth to triplets is no way to spend the week.




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Attack of the Escalator

What do you get when you cross a slippery step on an escalator in Eddie Bauer with A flip-flop sandals wearing Paul?

A whole lot of blood and a five hour emergency room visit in Chicago General Hospital --that's what.

I have never known anyone to cut their toe on an escalator.

5 stitches later and an accident report filed at Eddie Bauer retail store and we were on our way home from a fabulous birthday vacation with Paul's parents and
Lil' sis Annaliese and hubby TJ.

TJ, Paul and I all have birthdays within about a week of each other.

I really love Chicago, I would consider it on my top ten list of places to live if I could vanish in the winter. The architecture was amazing. The pizza amazing. The Cubs playing was not so amazing but the game was great! Dinner at the top of the Hancock building was so delicious and the view incredible.


I am already ready to go back- Paul just needs better Karma before we go. Thanks Ma and Pa Stone we love you!

Go Cubs!

Happy 4th of July! We are having a fabulous time in Chicago with Paul's family.


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Texas Girl-My Niece

I would like to think I was this fabulous when I was her age and I hope that maybe this carried over somehow through my family genetics since she is my niece and all.

Please watch-you will definitely enjoy!

Surprises

Well first off, I am home. I made it safe and sound and tired. Berlin was fun and fabulous and I will post all my photos to share, but I wanted to say that my husband is a sneaky little bugger with a sensitive heart.

I came home to find this.



The two pink bands are an addition to my wedding ring. The bands are rose gold with light pink diamonds inside. The original ring is the main ring in white gold.

I didn't take my wedding ring to Berlin because I was afraid I would lose it. The problem with my wedding ring was that it was a bit top heavy (that blasted diamond on top-what's a girl to do) and so it always spun around on my finger and I had to take it off when I was sleeping, playing piano, or exercising. While I was in Berlin, Paul had this fabulous wedding band set made for my ring. It is like a little pocket that my ring sits in so that it doesn't spin anymore and I can wear it all the time.

A thoughtful husband is splendid. Everyone should get one.