My Aunt Diane

Diane Lee Danehy passed away on June 16th, 2011.
Their are no words.  But I'll give it a shot.
She was beautiful, funny, sarcastic, intelligent, thoughtful, generous, elegant and clever.  She was a mother, or a "second mother" to at least a dozen people, including myself.  If I myself have humor, intelligence, generosity or cleverness, it is most likely because of her.  I love her so much and, frankly, I'm quite pissed that she's gone.
A few interesting and wonderful things have happened since - or because - of her passing.  I've gotten the chance to reconnect with family members I haven't seen since the '90's.  I've been jolted into a world of clarity in regards to all things related to fitness and nutrition.  And I've decided that, like it or not, we have to spend even less money on this already-on-a-shoe-string-wedding of ours.  Needless to say, we've made some big changes - just check out the new and improved budget column!
I want to try my very best to be happy and healthy.  And part of being happy and healthy is being free of debt and financial worries... or at least as free of debt and financial worries as life will let me be.  It makes no sense for us to max out credit cards - or worse yet, have our family members max out credit cards - for "the big day".  A day that will be special and lovely even if we get married in a backyard instead of a chapel.  Or if we have baby's breath in the vases instead of roses.  Or don ring pops instead of platinum.  A wedding is supposed to symbolize a new chapter.  I'm in a broke chapter right now, and I want the next chapter of my life to be better for me, my family, and my future unborn and hopefully soon-to-be-born (but not too soon) family.
What do you want the next chapter of your life to be like?
~ the green/green bride

Nom Nom/323

Press for success!
Photo courtesy of Sara at CrossFit 323.

There isn't much to report on the wedding front this week.  No napkins made.  No garlands strung.  No white dress purchased.  So I figured that this week is a good week to talk about what I'm doing to get as svelte and lovely as possible for the big day (and for the rest of my life).  Two words: CrossFit, Paleo.
CrossFit is a style of exercising that has a super long definition, but basically consists of Olympic style weight-lifting, gymnastics and cardio, among other things.  It's constantly varied which means you never do the same workout two days in a row - in fact, I've been going for about six weeks and I've yet to repeat a workout.  It's all about going as fast and hard as you can in a short amount of time. That means that in twenty minutes of CrossFit I sweat more, hurt more and curse more than I ever did in an hour of running on a treadmill, gliding on an elliptical or grape-vining in a dance class at a gym.  It hurts so good.

Homemade meatballs and marinara with zucchini noodles from Nom Nom Paleo.

I get my hurt on at CrossFit 323 in Atwater Village. It's quite a trek from my Santa Monica abode, but it's worth it.  Everyone who works and plays there is kind and supportive.  And although I'm often the slowest and/or weakest in the group, I never feel judged.  I struggle.  A lot.  And it's okay.  I highly recommend any Los Angelenos out there to head on over and check out a class, especially if you're on the eastside.  First class is free!
Paleo is an eating plan recommended by the CrossFit world.  After doing a little research, I found that it was worth a try.  It's basically "caveman eating".  Meats, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, veggies and fruit.  That's it.  No grains, no bread, no sugar, no dairy, and... wait for it... no beans! This was a shocker for me as I

Nom Nom Paleo super cute tee.

consider beans and legumes to be one of nature's perfect foods.  It's a protein, it's a vegetable, it's a carbohydrate and it's delicious.  But I'm saying 'no' for now.  Saying no because I'm really trying to get sober from sugar, and I'm willing to cut all starches to do so.
If you're thinking to yourself "there's no way I could eat like that", then check out Nom Nom Paleo, a food blog created by a working mom and CrossFitter who makes the most amazing looking dishes composed of whole, natural, caveman eats.  She's a true gourmand and she has inspired me!
Happy eating - and sweating!
~ the green/green bride

How to Succeed in Napkin Making Without Really Trying...

I decided months ago that I wanted to sew the napkins needed for the wedding.  I began collecting fabric, got a tutorial from my extremely talented Aunt Diane, then, froze with fear. I was so intimidated by the process - mainly the number of steps - that I've been procrastinating on the matter. 

Finally, I sat down yesterday and forced myself to commit to making one napkin for better or for worse.  And, as it turns out, it's really not that hard.  Really.

Start with a sewing machine and two 18x18 squares of fabric (I like using
contrasting patterns to go with our rustic, homemade theme).
Optional: a cup of coffee and a pair of sunglasses*.
*I almost lost an eye from a rogue broken needle, so I wear
my shades while I sew.  Nobody wants to be the bride wearing an eye patch.

Pair the fabric back to back and "inside out".  You're going to turn it "outside in" later.  You can pin the fabrics together, or not.  I started to, but got lazy almost immediately, so I stopped.

Still life with pin cushion.

Sew about a quarter of an inch from the edge.  My fabric pieces were way off (my bad) in terms of measurements, so, though it looks like I'm sewing a seam that's almost an inch from the edge, just know that if you flipped the fabric over, it would make sense.

Go all around the edges of the napkin, leaving a few inches not sewn so that you can flip the insides out.

Flipping, and what not.

After you've flipped, trim your scraps.  If you're anything like me you'll notice that your 18x18 napkin is now more like 17x16.5.  No matter.  Rustic.  Homemade.

Once it's flipped, the edges look a lot like a pillowcase.  Hey!  Now I know how to make a pillowcase!

Press.

If you like, switch your straight stitch to a ...

zig zag!

Sew a top stitch all around the four sides of the napkin.  Be sure to sew together the edges of the space you used to flip the napkin.  I missed it, so it looks funky.  Who cares?  Rustic!  Homemade!

Give it one final press, and relax in the knowledge that it doesn't have to be perfect.  After all, we're talking about something that will soon be used to wipe salsa and guacamole from hands and mouths.

~ the green/green bride

Happy. Sexy. Beautiful.

The Beverlywood (sans sleeves).  That's my dress.
This model is gorgeous, but the photo doesn't
do the bust line justice.  It has a slight curve
as it travels towards the shoulder.  So pretty.
dollycouture.com

It was almost too easy.
I was expecting a dramatic, tear-filled whirlwind of events, complete with several trips around southern California and countless disappointing moments consisting of dresses that didn't fit and price tags I couldn't afford.
Instead, after searching for months and months on the net (I guess that was the hard part), I found my way to Dolly Couture in Tarzana.  It was the first bridal salon I visited to try on dresses, and it will be my last, because I found my dress!
Making an appointment was easy.  Trying on the dresses was easy.  (In fact, though I'm a size 18 jean size, I was swimming in the size 18 dresses because I'm considerably smaller in the waist than I am in the hip.  What a treat for this plus size girl! )  My consultant, Nicky, was sweet, knowledgable and knew exactly what dress to put me in - a dress I would've never chosen myself because it has sleeves, and since we're getting married at the end of summer I was looking for a sleeveless or strapless gown.  Turns out, you can customize any of the dresses at Dolly Couture.  So, I'm going with the Beverlywood, an ivory, taffeta, cocktail dress with tulle and protruding lace  - no sleeves, with an a-line waste (instead of ball gown) and a truly flattering neckline.  I'm also adding Chinese buttons over the zipper in the back. I've had a rack since I was ten, but my girls have never, ever, ever looked this good in a dress.  Really.  It's kind of ridiculous.
I asked Adam a few weeks ago to give me three adjectives to describe what he'd like me to look like as I make my way down the aisle.  His first adjective was "happy", which is pretty sweet, if you ask me.  His second was "sexy".  (Men.  Tee hee.)  And his last was "beautiful".  I think the Beverlywood gives both Adam and I just what we're looking for.

But, as they say, a woman's work is never done.

The one I thought I wanted.  I was wrong.
dollycouture.com

Now that I've found the dress I spend a good hour a day searching for the perfect shoes, jewelry and veil.  I don't fancy myself a girly-girl. I own about a dozen pairs of shoes, of which I cycle through three on any given day: the sandal, the sneaker, and the fancy sneaker (read: black, low-top Converse).  But I've been lusting after heels the last few days.  Particularly the Dreamer by Kate Spade and Frilly by Charles David.  I have no intention on paying for shoes that are as expensive as these - especially since I tend to last about ten minutes in a pair of heels before I throw a feminist fist in the air and declare them sexist tools created by a patriarchal society determined to distract women from ruling the world by physically disabling them... but I can still drool over them, right?

The Dreamer: the kind of shoe you want to marry.

Frilly: the kind of shoe you want to take home and well, you know.

Hooray for finding things!

Next week: DIY napkins.
~ the green/green bride

Plus Size Bridal

David's Bridal Dresses
stylemepretty.com

I am
s  l  o  w  l  y
accepting my (plus-size) body.  Some days I wake up, look in the mirror and think to myself 'You're okay'. After all, I am. My muscles move, my brain thinks, my organs work, my bones hold me up. What more could a girl want?  Other days I wake up, look in the mirror and think 'You're not okay.    You are too young, too smart and too short to be at this weight'.  Whichever scenario greets me these days, I know one thing for sure.  I'm 139 days away from my walk down the aisle and I'm a size 18.  That means I'm a plus size bride.  Which means I'm in the market for a plus sized bridal gown.

Up until last Friday I thought my only hope for finding a dress was David's Bridal.  They have one of the largest and most affordable selection of dresses for a girl with extra junk in her trunk. However, I've been specifically looking for a vintage inspired tea-length dress, and they have only a few.  Nevertheless I made my appointment last week and began slowly coming to terms with the fact that I was going to be a big girl in a mass-produced dress... not that there's anything wrong with that.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Dolly Couture, an online bridal salon with two store fronts (one in LA and one in NY) that specializes in vintage inspired tea-length bridal gowns.  And imagine how doubly surprised I was to find out that they carry sample sizes from 2 through18!  Now imagine me rolling around my couch clutching my laptop with glee once I learned that the dresses ranged in price from $395 to $995!  Is there a gown god?  Yes. And her name is Dolly.

Dolly and a few of her dresses.
happyhullaloo.com

I cancelled my appointment at David's and scheduled one for the same day at Dolly Couture.  By this time next week I'll be able to give you a first hand review of the shop, the dresses, and whether or not I've found "the one".  Wish me luck!

~ the green/green bride

p.s., Long time readers will remember that I bought a wedding dress at the end of last year.  It was a simple, v-neck, a-line, silk tricotine number from JCrew that I found on eBay for $75.  It was also a size 6.  Though I may be a size 6 one day, I won't be one on September 17th, 2011, which is why I began the search for a new dress.

Anyone need a petite 6, simple, v-neck, a-line, silk tricotine, ivory wedding dress from JCrew?

"I've been one poor correspondent...

I've been too, too hard to find, but it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind". ~ America

It's been almost three whole months since I've blogged about all things green and wedding. Apologies.  I had my very first bout of family related wedding drama and found myself uninterested in the whole thing.  There were tears, and it sucked.  Turns out, even small, casual weddings can be complicated.  I thought about throwing in the towel, but I've thrown in the towel in a lot of ways over the last few years and I'm regretful of almost every towel thrown.  So I'm in it for the long haul, drama and all.  And I'm reminding myself daily that it's all about celebrating love, and nothing else really matters.

Here's what you missed while I was off pouting...

I increased my dessert plate collection thanks to the goodwill of the Goodwill.

I seriously contemplated the idea that I peaked at the age of five.  Think about it, I had an agent and a healthy BMI.  Maybe my ship has sailed.

I increased my linen collection for the napkins I'm supposed to make for the wedding but continue putting off the task even though my Aunt Diane was kind enough to teach me how to sew because I'm afraid of losing an eye to a rogue piece of broken needle... plus, I'm lazy.

I've noticed that looking Deadwood serious is a new trend in wedding photography.
www.stylemepretty.com

I made a Spice Cake with Pear and Caramelized Buttercream as a possible contender for our wedding cake.  

The Caramelized Buttercream was delicious.  But I won't have time to stand over a stove tempering sugar with a candy thermometer the day before my wedding.  I'll be too busy at the spa getting a spray tan and a Brazilian wax.  One of those is a joke... which one, pray tell?

I made cake toppers out of felt.  (Inspired by Martha)

And garlands of hearts... three, to be exact... and I need at least fifty.  It makes me tired just thinking about it.

We ordered this invitation sample.  We love it, but we're going to change the name font and the colors.  I'm thinking purples and blues, or blues and greens.  We ditched the whole 'color palette' thing, so there's lots of freedom where that's concerned.

Experimented with bouquet making while wine drinking.

Not too shabby.  They need to be at least twice as full though, right?  The good news is, these puppies lasted a week sitting in little buckets of water on my patio.  A week!

Now that we're all caught up you can expect weekly updates on the process.  The wedding is September 17th, which gives us lots of time together to vent, celebrate, freak out, laugh, cry and break things. Join me, won't you?
~ the green/green bride
* be a dear and follow me, please... and tell your friends... and eat your veggies.

BHLDN

zankyou.com

What could it possibly stand for?
Be Happy, Love Donuts Now
Blue Hens Love Denim Nickers
Because Hussies Like Dark Nights
I don't know what it stands for, but I now what it is. It's Anthropologies' brand spanking new wedding line that launches February 14th.  Can you stand it?
It won't be cheap, and it's probably not eco-friendly, but it'll definitely be interesting.
~ the green/green bride