A Lovely Affair

I recently enjoyed the most beautiful Bridal Shower on March 27th... my aunt Lynne did an amazing job putting it all together and my Grandma Taylor, my Mom, my sister Kirstie, and my Aunts Janet and Susie also helped so much. I can't explain how loved I felt that Saturday and what a lovely and incredible party they put together for me.


It was held at my Grandma's home in Glendale and they had been fixing it up for weeks before the party - it looked amazing! Our family has had so many memories at that house. My parents and all of my aunts and uncles had their wedding receptions there and I had many a birthday in the backyard. It is definitely a special place.


I was so blessed to have all of my friends and family there with me. My soon-to-be Mother in Law came all the way from Rhode Island! One of my bridesmaids came from Utah! These women are so special to me - every one of them.


Ninny (my aunt Lynne) made me "Coronation Chicken" since it's fit for royalty - hah! We also had deviled eggs, fruit, candied pecans, yummy rolls, and all kinds of goodies. Delicious.


Beautiful ranunculus!


My sister and my Grandma Ruth, so cute.


Love my Grandmas. Love them.


Then the gifts started. I've rarely been in a situation where I opened presents alone while people watched. At least not for a long time... it was a little odd. But fun. :)


My friends put together some very pretty packages. I am blessed.


I love this picture... It completely tells the story of what was going on... You have me looking at Kirstie with a "you didn't" face and Kirstie with her pretty little head cocked in a "oh you bet I did" response. Classic picture Heidi, thanks.


My beautiful Mom.


My stunning sister and Maid of Honor.


Admiring my gorgeous cake!


Seriously! Look at it! It's perfect!! Ninny had it made for me at the Cakery Bakery.


I still can't believe how gorgeous everything was. It looked like a magazine! Truly amazing.


My precious soon to be Mother in Law and Sister in Law! They are the sweetest people and I am so blessed to have them in my life.


Getting ready to cut!


Delicious.


Amy and Kirstie dear friends, sisters, and bridesmaids. Amy is actually getting married in July and Kirstie and I will be bridesmaids in her wedding! I tell you, something's in the water around here...


Mom with my first-cousin-once-removed (or my cousin's baby) Jack. What a doll.


Me and Ames.


The incredible flowers by Jacob Marse. A gift from my mom and SOO beautiful. I have to admit... I am a little nervous that this shower was TOO beautiful. People are going to expect the same level of perfection at the wedding and I may not be able to deliver! Oh dear...


My sweet sister-in-law Heidi (and the photograper of the day). I love her. Scott picked me out a great new sister.


All in all a lovely day, in a beautiful home with all of the women that mean so much to me. I am so blessed to be surrounded my strong Christian women. I love the tradition of showering the Bride before her wedding, not just for the presents but for the support and love and encouragement of it. It felt like I was taking part in something so ancient and important. Every culture has their own way of preparing a young woman for this new phase in her life and I find it fascinating to see how God uses these cultural traditions to really build bonds and fill a very real need. Sorry for the anthropological tangent... not sure where that came from. All I wanted to say was Thank You to everyone that came and everyone that was a part of making my shower happen. Especially Ninny. It was perfect. Love you guys!!

Our First Place...

Brad and I started looking around for an apartment probably about a month ago and before we visited the first one we prayed together in the car that the Lord would give us discernment and that we would know instantly whether the place was right or wrong for us. We didn't want to make a mistake!

We are both drawn to historic buildings, hardwood floors, lots of light, quirky details, and most importantly, safe areas. One after another we visited apartments and scratched them off the list for one reason or another... a couple of times we almost jumped on a unit but were held back for some reason.


One night we went to take a second look at a place we'd been thinking about - it was historic, in a good area, and had CRAZY good views (top floor corner in that picture). But it was also tiny and the rest of the building was pretty run down... still, we needed a second look. Well, we got there only to find out that the apartment had been rented along with every other one bedroom in the building. Brad was crushed.

All that was left were the studio's... should we try that until a one bedroom opens up again? We decided it might be a good idea so we got the paper work, took out $30 each for the credit check, and filled everything out over pizza. Just we were filling it out I got a call from another property manager who had a space that was opening up... two blocks away! He wondered if we would be interested in seeing it. The timing couldn't have been better so we took it as a sign and hauled our hineys over there!

We looked at everything they had available in that building and, though we really liked them, felt like we needed to see more. I glanced at the available units sheet he was holding and asked him what that other building was at the bottom of the page, "Oh, that the Catalina, cute little building... you want to see it?" at this point it was nearly 8pm, "Are you sure you don't mind?" I asked. "Heck no! I've got the keys right here! Hop in my car!" Normally I wouldn't suggest hopping in the cars of strangers but desperate times call for desperate measures! Besides he was a sweet old man!


The second we pulled up I knew. This was our home! It was perfect! Somehow it just resonated with me...


We walked through the front door and I saw the dark wood paneling, then I took a deep breath... it smelled like England. Like an old English B&B. I was falling fast. Up the winding stairs to second floor (of three)... down the short but wide hallway to Apt. #5. He turned the old key in the antique brass lock and the door swung open to reveal the most amazing apartment I could have imagined for us.


It is simply amazing. From the hardwood floors to the quirky turn-of-the-century details it has everything we wanted and more.


It's even in a really nice neighborhood! If we had been trying to buy the place I would have ruined the sale for sure. I stopped myself just short of kissing the leaded glass doors... I did get a little teary eyed... and I maybe have done a small dance in the bedroom... Needless to say we handed him the $60 instead and immediately filled out the paperwork. When he looked at Brad's application he chuckled, "Oh, you guys are fine, you'll be approved no problem." "Why is that?" Brad asked quizzically. "Well, says here you work for that Miles McPherson. The owner of the building goes to that church!" ...Thank you Lord! :)


That was about two weeks ago and now Brad has the keys and is starting to move stuff over. He'll be moving in on the 1st and I'll move in when we get back from the honeymoon... I can't wait! We already bought a darling rug and picked out our couch and that is really all we needed! I have a kitchen table, nightstands, and another little table, Brad has chairs, a bed and a dresser and that's pretty much all we have room for! Hah! He is building a bookcase/ media cabinet for the "living room". Oh man. It's going to be so cute. Every little thing we bring over gets us more excited.


On Sunday we made a little picnic on our new rug. Our first meal in our new apartment! We felt it was a momentous occasion. It will be so much fun when we get everything set up and can invite people over! Yay!!

One Month to Go!!

Wow... how time flies! Sorry I haven't been a very good blogger lately. It seems like I never stop from the moment I get up until late at night... and yet my to do list never seems to shrink! The second I cross one thing off something new is added. Here are a few of the projects I've been working on...


I finally finished the invitations, which was a huge project, but I think they turned out pretty well!


Brad and I had our silhouettes done at Disneyland one day so we put those at the top. I wrote out our names and scanned them in to Photoshop.


I found antique wallpaper and scanned that in and re-sized it for the envelopes. Brad figured out how print them in the shape of an envelope.


I collected antique stamps for the postage (which Brad thought was a little crazy at first but now admits is one of his favorite parts of the invite). Brad and Kirstie helped me apply the stamps.


I drew out the response card... and last, but not least, I addressed them all! Phew!



Oh, and the lovely flowers were a present from Brad in my darkest hour... when the invites HAD to go out and I was so so sick... and he then sat up with me and helped me until they were completely finished. What a guy.

My next project was the boutennieres... I visited the famous Tinsel Trading Co. while I was in NYC and the owner was sweet enough to help me put together some ideas.

Heaven.

I knew I didn't want fresh flowers because I wanted them to last forever as a keepsake. I love boutonnieres too much to see them wilt.


Once I was home and the invitations were done I was able to start in on my pet project!



I put together different combinations until I found something I liked and then I taped them together and wrapped the stems with ribbon! I still need to figure out how to attach them to the boys - safety pins? Straight pins? Duct tape??


Golly, though, I love them... Now on to the next project!