Eco-friendly Valentine's Day

Alright, I realize I should have posted this last week, but for all of you Valentine's Day procrastinators, here are some Eco-friendly options.

First, I know that roses are the traditional Valentine's day flower. But they are totally out of season. Instead, ask your beau for some anemones, daffodils, and in some areas tulips, they are a cheerful way to celebrate in Season Flowers. I highly recommend checking out California Organic Flowers.

Yet if you have your heart set on roses, check out Organic Bouquet. They grow most of their flowers in South America, but they are a social responsible business, and I believe, they purchase carbon offsets to make up for the flight to Northern America. Plus, you can still order from them today to get flowers tomorrow!! These majestic roses are gorgeous!


If you aren't a flower person, chocolate may be your answer. Mr. Peep and I are personal fans of Green and Black Organic Chocolate!! And D'Orsay- it looks like they sell in the UK! The website even gives options for wine and chocolate parings. Can we say yum!

Speaking of wine, here's a pretty great list of Biodynamic Wines. I very highly recommend Unti, Quivera and Preston. And you can most likely find Benziger at your local grocery store.

Finally, if you want something a bit more romantic, make sure you light up your night using soy based candles to get you in the mood. Or if spicy is more you speed, this toy is re-chargeable and made with safe silcone and metal and this one is eco-friendly. You can even recycle your old toy!!

Just thought I'd give you some eco-friendly options to spice up your V-day!!

What are you up to tomorrow?

Oh, Diane!!

For the last few weeks, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for the perfect Rehearsal Dinner dress. I wasn't looking for that perfect white mini Rehearsal Dinner dress, but a dress that looked phenomenal- and that looked like me. I've been to all the usual suspects- Anthro, J. Crew, BCBG, Nordstroms, Macy's, and Bloomingdales- I've even been to multiple locations of each to see if they have different merchandise. And yesterday I finally found the perfect dress.

I've had issues with dresses for years. I even spent a few years skipping the dress thing all together and wearing skirts with a cute top instead. Last summer I faced my worst fear, I needed a dress for the FIVE upcoming weddings I was scheduled to attend.

I forced Mr. PT to go dress shopping with me. I tired on one dress, and he fell head over heals for it! Then I looked at the label and the price tag- it was Diane von Furstenberg and more than I had ever paid for a dress in my life. What was a girl to do?

I couldn't ignore Mr. Peep's reaction. The dress was simple and fit perfectly. I took the plunge and bought the dress. And true to my word, I wore it to all five weddings! It was a major hit. Here I am at wedding number four, cheering on the Bride and Groom:


Ever since the day I bought that dress, I have fallen in love with all things Diane. It's like a curse. I see a dress I like and it's a DVF!!

Yesterday I had the goal of going to one last shop to look for the dress. I tried on over twenty dresses- either they were frumpy or showed wayy to much cleavage. And of course the only one I loved happened to be a Diane. Oh Diane- how much do I love you. You are so simple, but you fit a women's body like no buddies business. If only I could afford you!

Then I remembered that I had a sizable Nordstrom's gift card. While I hadn't seen the dress at Nordstrom, I went in and asked the sales women if they sold it. She looked it up online- and low and behold- they had it, and they'd ship it to me for free!

So I put down my gift card and my credit card and I bought a ridiculously expensive dress. It should be here in five to seven days, and even Mr. Peep is anxious to see the dress.

It's as simple as it gets, but to me, it's worth it. Her name is Peyton; I bought her in Black; and I love her:

source.

For the first time in my life, I can say I am a proud owner of a the perfect little black dress! Anyone else agonize over finding a Rehearsal Dinner dress? Anyone else wearing a LBD the night before the wedding?

Inspiration and Invitations: Home Town Style

So I have mentioned the Reception that my parents are hosting in my home town, but Mama Peep and I are just now starting to plan it.

When Mama Peep said that they wanted to throw a home town reception, I knew immediately where she wanted to host it. Way before Mr. Peep and I were engaged, whenever we went to my parents house we would always conveniently end up hiking around the Interpretive Center. I even have photo proof- Christmas 2006:

Poppy Peep even started to drop very obvious hints, "you know they host weddings and parties here!! But they book out two years in advance!"

Surprise, surprise, in January of 2008, Mama Peep called and said they had booked the Interpretive Center for our Home Town Reception to be held in July 2009. Here's a picture of the center itself:


Those windows are sliding glass doors and just behind them is the reception room. Those folks are checking out this view of the light house:

And for all you South Bay LA Brides that are still looking for a venue, here's a shot of a wedding. This place is affordable, and it has a ridiculously fantastic view.*

Source.

So now that you have seen the venue, let's talk about inspiration and invitations. The room itself is navy and blue and we want the overall feel to be beach casual. Last week I hopped over to Style Me Pretty and found some navy inspiration boards, and then I went to Wedding Paper Divas to find some matching invites. I put all of it in a nice little power point presentation and sent it to Mama Peep to get her input.

This one is classic, clean and keeps with the beach theme. But it might be just a bit too formal. Mama Peep saw this and asked if we needed to get a vespa?

This invitation would go perfectly with it:

I saw this and immediately thought it exuded casual home town party. I even tried to find the white dress in the picture, but no luck.

Here's my idea of a matching invite for this board:

And I have been swooning over lime green and navy together for ages- totally fun, hip and modern.



I think the colors in this invite go perfectly with this board:

And I think this invite captures the casual atmosphere of the party well:


In the end, I think we are going to do a bit more of a combo of one and three, blues and lime green. But we are going to focus more on the casual beach theme. I'm digging this inspiration board:


And Mama Peep thought these invites truly evoked the setting of the event and the causal nature:


Other than the inspiration and the invites, I am pretty much giving Mama Peep free rein in the event itself. Now I just have to figure out what I am going to wear???

Anyone else having a home town reception after the wedding? What's your inspiration?

*Just in case you don't want to go down the street and pay 10 times as much at Trump's Golf Course.

You've got to have a game plan!!

Last week I found myself in a conversation about Brides that get their drink on. I heard a few stories about brides being hungover after the Rehearsal Dinner and having a horrible wedding day, or worse- getting too drunk at the reception to even enjoy it.

This got me seriously thinking about a wedding weekend drinking game plan. I shamefully have to admit that I got a bit too tipsy at our engagement party. To the point that I totally embarrassed myself. I claim that I was just so stressed out about the whole thing and that Mr. Peep wasn't around too check in on me (too many people to talk to- lead to no time to talk to eachother), but that's neither here nor there. I got out of control.

Back in the day, you could easily classify me as a party girl. Not a clubbing girl or a drunk, but a girl who just loved to go out and have a great time. I have to admit that being with Mr. Peep has reduced my partying ways (which is a very good thing), but sometimes when we go out, the old party girl comes out, and I still think I can hang with the best of them.

Here's a classic picture of me at my friends Bachelorette. As I walked into the third bar of the evening, I ordered 9 Bud Lights- there were only 8 of us- because I am classy like that. And then they gave us maracas (EXACTLY what we needed). I can't really show any more pics from this evening, but I can assure you this picture was the tip of the ice burg.

My few recent attempts at partying have resulted in Mr. Peep promptly taking me home. The next day he relentlessly talks about how I was swaying and being all love-y, while I am nursing a disaster of a hangover. At least I am a happy drunk, right??

Here I am the night before the same friends wedding. As you can tell, I am trying to love Mr. Peep, but justifiably so, he is having none of it. Please note that some of my lip gloss is on Mr. Peeps lips- that's right- I get drunk and I love a good smooch. Mr. Peep this picture is for all the times you have made fun of me the next day!!


Back to my reason for this post. While I may have been a self proclaimed party girl, I have realized that being wasted on your wedding day doesn't sound attractive.

I realized months ago that I actually don't want to drink at all on the big day (other than for a toast), so I realized after getting way too tipsy at our engagement party that I need a wedding day game plan.

I have to say that I tested my strategy at the weddings I went to this summer (sans the one shown above- I was just going with the crowd people- you should have seen the bridesmaids!), and I had a fabulous time at each wedding!!

Here's my problem- I always like to have something in my hands, and while I totally support drinking as much water as you can, sometimes water just doesn't seem- what's the word- fun. Especially when you need it the most- after a few cocktails. So, I started drinking soda water with a lime. It eliminates the question of- why aren't you drinking because it looks like a cocktail. And the worst follow up question ever- are you pregnant? Which is a favorite question to ask in my group of friends. Plus, it's more fun than holding a glass of water. Finally, I love the stuff and usually end up drinking at least two full glasses before I want another drink.

So other than a glass of bubbly to calm my type A nerves and a glass of bubbly to toast to my new marriage, I plan on drinking soda water all night (with a lime of course). And maybe I'll loosen up for the after party, but probably not too much. I want to remember ever moment of the big day- or at least as much of it as I possibly can. I also plan to stay sober at the rehearsal dinner. Like I said, I want to remember everything.

So there you have it. My wedding day game plan. And now that you have all read it- I'll make sure that I stick to it. And it'll make drinking cocktails on the beach in Panama that much sweeter!

Anyone else planning to stay sober for your wedding weekend?

Paging Dr. Abbott?

I've noticed a lot of talk about names on the boards and rather than just comment, I thought it was about time I addressed the name issue in a post.

My last name is one of those super complicated Polish names. It's long, hard to pronounce, even harder to spell, and begins with the letter W. It's dreadful. I can honestly say that the only reason I ever thought I wanted to get married was to trade up and get a better last name. Women's lib aside, I want a new last name.

I even have a favorite list:

3. Kennedy.

2. O'Neil, O'Patrick, well anything that starts with the letter O and then an apostrophe or anything Irish.

and my all time favorite:

1. Abbott

Why Abbott? Because it's as close to the beginning of the alphabet as you can get. Growing up I was short and because of my name I was always at the back of the class. I hated it.

I feel like I made a promise to my eight year old self to find an Abbott and marry him, and I thought while I was reaching for the stars wishing for an Abbott, I might as well make him a doctor, right?

Wrong. My mister wonderful has one huge glaring problem. His last name begins with a W too!! Yep, that's right, my initials will stay exactly the same and my eight year old self is still sitting at the back of the class cursing me- BIG TIME.

The good news is it's shorter, easy to pronounce, and super common. All things that should make me happy. Yet I wasn't prepared for the side affects of a super common last name. Right now I can google my name and I pop up.

My new last name- let's just say I'll never make the top 10 or 100 list when I Google it. And for some reason this has kinda made me sad. I know I will change my name, but (I can't believe I am saying this) a part of me is going to miss the individuality of my maiden name. Less than four months before I change my name- and I am just now learning to appreciate it!!! Ugg. The irony of life.

So tell me, are you trading up in a last name? Trading down? Or not trading at all.

PS A good friend of mine married a girl with the same last name. Anyone else share the same name as their spouse or fiance?

In love... with fog?

The weather in San Francisco is unpredictable at best. 

source.

"Mark Twain once wrote - the coldest winter he ever spent was the summer in San Francisco." or at least that's what Clint Eastwood said he said in Escape from Alcatraz.

Living along the California Coast for almost my entire life (sans my time in Seattle), I am all too familiar with what is coined as 'June Gloom.' The even more unfortunate problem with June Gloom is that it is also called May Gray. And of course, we are getting married in May.

Last year, on our pre-wedding anniversary, Mr. Peep and I met at our venue for some sparkling wine and delicious cupcakes as a pre-celebration. It was gray, dark and drizzling. Ugg.

The next day, it was a clear beautiful day. And if anyone knows San Francisco- this City rocks with the weather is nice out!

That said, I feel like I need to prepare for the inevitable possibility of FOG on my wedding day. The good news is that I have recently fallen in love with a few weddings sporting the gray drizzle that I so fear. 

I first fell in love after seeing these pictures on Weddingbee Pro by Punam. Seriously, Punam- you make fog look better than a blue sky!!




This wedding has been everywhere recently, and I L-O-V-E it. I know I am biased as the first picture was taken at the Venue where we are getting married, but seriously, I love that she wore a blue dress. These pics are taken from the uber talented Joel Flory:









These pictures to me just scream San Francisco.

These next two are from a fun photographer with a cute blog. (and it looks like she works in Chicago and St. Louis too if you need a photographer). 

This one is yet another picture from a wedding hosted at our venue. Are you seeing a trend here?

Good thing I love it! So I say bring on the May Gray! I can take it.

Anyone else have extreme weather concerns for their big day?

The Hardest Decision To Date

Yesterday I posted about our decision to have a Rabbi officiate our wedding.

Soon after we made our decision last Fall, Poppy Peep called to express his concern: our Family's "faith" wasn't being represented in our ceremony. He asked if we would consider a co-officiant.

I took his request very seriously, as this was, and has been, Poppy Peep's only request regarding anything wedding. And without my parent's support financially (and emotionally) we would not be having this beautiful wedding.

At first I thought "of course, we'll get someone to co-officiate." But after our conversation, I immediately though, "what did he mean by 'our Family's faith?"

Yes, we grew up going to Church, but what sect of Christianity that church represents I am nowhere near sure.

I felt lost. For the first time in my life, my father expressed to me how important his "faith" is to him. But at 29 years old, I can't even tell you what "faith" he was talking about!

Mr. Peep and I discussed Poppy Peep's request at length. I came to the realization that a co-officiant from some Christian Church would only represent my Dad's "faith," not mine or Mr. Peep's.

Seeking advice I called my Brother, who converted to Catholicism for his wedding almost 7 years ago. He suggested talking to Poppy Peep to pin down exactly what his concerns were- find out which part of the ceremony my dad believed was most problematic. My Brother said that in the end it is OUR decision, not my Dads.

We then called the Rabbi, who patiently listened to our situation, spoke to both of us individually, and asked us, again, if our original decision was still what we wanted to do. Answering yes, the Rabbi asked to speak to my Dad, wanting to decode and understand his concerns, and figure out if they could find a middle ground (Remember our Rabbi won't co-officiate a ceremony).

For the first time in my life, I called my Dad to specifically discuss religion.

Unlike many of Poppy Peep's and my typical political disputes, I was open to hear what he had to say. Yet Poppy Peep couldn't tell me what he wanted out of a co-officiant. To this day, I believe what he wants is a figure head representing "our family's faith." I explained to him that I didn't know what that meant, that I didn't identify with a faith like he did; I think this crushed him just a little.

I asked him to call the Rabbi, believing the Rabbi could best explain how we were incorporating both faiths into our ceremony. Poppy Peep said OK and we hung up.

Over a month went by. My Dad didn't call the Rabbi.

During the holidays, Mr. Peep and I had an opportunity to discuss the situation with him in person. Again, we got nowhere. I repeatedly asked him to call the Rabbi; he asked to postpone the conversation until he was over laryngitis. Fair enough.

Finally, over the long New Year's weekend, Mama and Poppy Peep talked to the Rabbi. I don't know what was said, yet with the lack of immediate response we thought all was well, the Rabbi swayed his fears and concerns. It was not until a couple of weeks later that I received a call from my Dad. He said we should just go with the Rabbi -- he said that if Mr. Peep's family was put in the same situation, they'd be upset too. It felt like a jagged knife to the heart. Again, I asked if there was anything we could do during the ceremony to incorporate his faith; he replied there was nothing to be done.

I asked Mr. Peep if he'd consider a non-denominational officiant, thinking maybe we could disappoint both families, equally. Yet the reality was still apparent: Mr. Peep would be disappointed.

I've labored over this decision. I've agonized writing this post. And I still don't have peace over upsetting my Dad.

However, I do have peace about our decision. It was/still is the hardest decision regarding our wedding.

This wedding is about US. Coming together. And I couldn't imagine one of us disappointed on our wedding day. So we have decided to have the Rabbi marry us; he has been there for us as a couple, throughout this long drawn out process. He has let us figure out exactly what we need, and helped us identify what my Dad is looking for.

This Sunday we are meeting with the Rabbi, for the first time since we made our decision. He has promised to work with us, insuring that we both feel represented in OUR ceremony. And he's promised to call my Dad again to keep the dialog open and continuing.

I can only hope, and pray, that on the day of the wedding, my Dad is pleasantly surprised by the inclusiveness of our ceremony. We've decided to ask my Dad to say a blessing before the meal, and for my brother to perform a reading during the ceremony. I promise to keep you informed about our path to an inclusive interfaith ceremony.

Have you run into an issue that just can't be tied up in a cute package with a neat little bow?