DIY Bride is a Second Full-time Job!

I'm definitely one of those "why buy it if you can make it" kind of girls, and my wedding has been no exception. I've been crafting like a crazy woman for months, with the help of my bridesmaids and family. It's kind of unbelievable how being a DIY bride can take over your life! Every free evening and weekend seems to be now dedicated to scrubbing the labels off of empty wine bottles, teaching myself how to make fabric flowers, playing travel agent for my friends and family, and on and on. It's a second full-time job!

The most recent DIY hurdle was invitations. All of the invitations I was eying online were going to run between $5-$10 each, and I just couldn't stomach paying someone else to create paper goods that I was fully capable of doing myself. It was a lot more stressful and time consuming than I imagined! Trying to get the fonts just right, then the printer margins for the paper just right, and of course the printer jams every few pieces, then make sure you've got the addresses and number of guests just right, then assembling them in a way that is fun but not too far from traditional wedding etiquette... good grief! Thankfully, my mom and sister were willing to give up their Saturday to help, and we knocked out the entire batch in one day. One very long day.

I can't show you the invitations yet because they just went out yesterday, but here's my first stab at DIY bouts for the groomsmen. I haven't decided what I want them to look like just yet, whether I want them to be entirely burlap and lace, or perhaps a mix of fabric and flowers. My sister, mom and I are all brainstorming and plan to dedicate another Saturday this summer to get these done. Thank goodness for my creative family!

Skydiving in Santa Cruz

Last month I surprised the beau for his birthday with skydiving in Santa Cruz! He had been saying for months that he desperately wanted to do it, and I kept insisting he wait until after the wedding, but I started to feel guilty for being such a downer when I've been twice before. 

The place I jumped in Lodi was only $100 a pop, but that's largely because you're jumping over farmland and they get a higher volume of jumpers. The jump in Santa Cruz ran me nearly $300 for the highest possible altitude and photos. We were disappointed to find that they haven't been allowed to do beach landings in a year, but regardless, the scenery is mind blowing - ocean on one side, forest on the other - and it was a great way to experience a first jump!

The beau had never been to Santa Cruz, so after skydiving we headed to the boardwalk and had beers and burritos at a little taqueria. I'd say he was a very satisfied birthday boy!

 

 

 

Camping in Big Basin

Last weekend the beau and I spent two nights camping at Big Basin with a few friends. The two of us left mid-day Friday and made great time, getting to the campsite in under two hours even with a stop for gas and snacks. We set up our tent, went for a walk and got the fire going, so that when our friends arrived around dusk we could get straight to grilling.

If you follow the directions on the website, which are the same as what most navigation systems will give you from San Francisco to Big Basin, you'll wind up on a one-lane, windy road from the 280 through Saratoga and on up to Big Basin. Don't do that. There are two better options - exit 280 at Woodside and take the 35 down to the 9. This will get you out of some of the windy mess but not entirely. Here's the route we took and thought was the best option - 280 to 85 to 17, the same way you'd go as if you were going all the way into Santa Cruz. Exit Bear Creek Road and go left. Follow that until you reach Boulder Creek, and make a left on the 9 South into town. Drive a couple blocks down and just after Johnnie's Market, you'll turn right on Big Basin Way. That takes you right up to the park. I'd also suggest doing your grocery shopping at Johnnie's Market. We ended up buying our wood there too, which seems pricy at $15 a box (6 pieces to a box) but the roadside stands cost more in the long run because they give you smaller pieces of soft wood that burns more quickly. 

The campgrounds have quarter-operated hot showers; $1.25 for 10 minutes. The bathrooms are clean with flushing toilets and have toilet paper. If you want to set up multiple tents on your site, avoid the sites designated for RVs because they tend to have a small area around the fire pit and picnic table for one tent but the rest of the site will be sloped and have more trees and shrubs. Also avoid a site near the tent cabins, as it tends to be a bit loud (read- lots of kids).

For a good afternoon hike, try Sequoia Trail with a stop at Sempervirens Falls, a small waterfall about half way into the five-mile hike. It's pretty but not too remote, and the trail is wide enough to be comfortable for a casual hike. There is also a 12-mile hike to a bigger waterfall but I haven't done it myself. The front office sells trail maps for $5 each.

 

Wine Cork Board

When the beau and I booked our wedding venue, the owner was gracious enough to give us a massive bag of unused wine corks! For months I tossed around wine cork craft ideas, trying to decide how to incorporate them into our wedding. A couple of weeks ago, we were driving home from brunch when out the window I spotted an old, wooden frame at a neighbor's garage sale. I knew just what to do with it!

First, I detached one side of the wire hang on the back of the frame just to get it out of the way. Then, I attached a trimmed down piece of poster board, gently hammering in small nails every few inches all the way around the back of the frame. I glued the wine corks in rows to fill the frame. It's near impossible to find a frame that will fit the exact measurements of your corks, so either cut down corks to finish off your rows or, the much easier option, find a way to cover the gap. I used burlap and lace to create a runner around the end where the corks didn't fill the frame and topped it off with a bow in the corner.

I'm not sure exactly how I'll implement the cork board into my wedding decor just yet, but I'm absolutely in love with it!

Favorite Things

Here are a few things I've been majorly crushing on lately that you should probably be aware of. 

How did I not hear about The Skimm until last week?! Kind of amazing. I always enjoy receiving in digest form anything I don't have time or patience for, and appreciate when it can be done in a humorous way. If The Skimm can make me chuckle about the DOJ violating the AP, they're worth a shout out. The only mistake I've found so far was their questioning why Bea Arthur posed for a controversial topless portrait, when the very article they linked to stated that she didn't actually pose for the painting. I'm not sure who spends their time imagining what old ladies' boobs look like, but to each their own, I suppose, and I'm not mad at The Skimm for such a tiny oversight.

I bought my Ray Ban Folding Wayfarer sunnies last year, but am still appreciating them to the fullest this year. I swoon for the big Jackie O throwbacks as much as the next girl... they're just so chic! But they come with massive cases that are only portable when carrying a massive purse, which I also swoon for, but recognize as impractical in certain situations. Have you tried to go on a sailboat or to a fair or on a bike ride with a tote large enough to be confused with carry on luggage? Sometimes you need something more like a small cross-body messenger, and if you also need sunnies, you need small sunnies. These fold up. Twice. And fit in a tiny case that also fits in your tiny bag. It's love.

I'm forever discovering wonderful services, places and things on Living Social, but this particular discovery was via Gilt City. I paid $40 for $80 worth organic groceries from Luke's Local, and it was worth every penny! Orders are placed through Good Eggs, where you can purchase goods from a variety of local suppliers. I got the seasonal veggies, fruit, salad greens, herb mix, honey, gluten free sourdough bread, pizza dough, cheese of the month, lunch and breakfast burritos, and a meal kit for chicken enchiladas. While some of the produce wasn't stuff I'd normally choose, it was all fresh and beautiful. My favorite was definitely the gluten free sourdough warmed up and smothered in the honey... so, so tasty. I opted to pick up my goods, but for just a couple bucks they deliver as well. Pick up sounded more practical but trying to park on Mission Street to pick up groceries from a bar was not ideal, especially considering the fender bender I endured. Not Luke's fault. Just not ideal.

Celebrating the Moms in my Life

Mother's Day has always been a really special holiday for my family because it's flanked by my parents' anniversary and birthdays for my dad, sister, nephew, uncle and now my fiance as well. It's kind of our mid-year "Christmas;" a do-not-miss gathering of loved ones to lump all our festivities into one. 

I'm beyond blessed to have been surrounded by incredible, inspiring, beautiful women all my life. My mother is straight out of a story book - loving, gentle, always level headed, a grade school teacher and Sunday school teacher, endlessly dedicated to the happiness of two daughters, two grandsons and her husband of over thirty years. Then there's my dearly missed Grama Moe, my dad's mom, who was as spunky and fun as they come. I treasure childhood memories of dancing like crazy to "Great Balls of Fire" and playing card games on her bed while sipping Cherry 7-Up. I can't tell you how grateful I am to still be enjoying daily chats with Grams, my mom's mom, who has been my biggest champion. She's strong, independent, capable, and has always made me feel like I can be invincible too. Then there's my sister - if you've met her I guarantee you instantly just got a smile on your face when I mentioned her. You'd never know she's had a hard day in her life, because her energy lights up a room and her laughter is infectious. Her love for her family is endless and even when people wrong her she continues to look for the best in them and want good things for their lives.

I could go on and on and tell you about all of the girlfriends I have who constantly awe me as genuine women and mothers but I think you get it. I'm lucky to have so many mothers in my life to celebrate this Mother's Day, and I certainly hope that you take the time to recognize those in your life as well.

My sister, Grama Moe and I at Easter two years ago

My sister and I at Easter this year

Family photo, Thanksgiving 2011

My mom and Grams

Mom and I on Mother's Day last year

Wedding Planning Update!

The beau and I spent our weekend in Amador County meeting with potential wedding vendors. Now that the sticker shock of these sort of appointments isn't quite so nauseating, we're beginning to enjoy the process a bit more.

Saturday we met with a few caterers and were reassured that our front runner is definitely still our front runner. We also dropped by our venue to take photos of the grounds and ask catering, rental and DJ related questions of the owner.

 

I haven't gone to any local wedding faires since all the vendors are likely to service only the greater Bay Area, and the faires here are generally too pricy to attend just for the heck of it. When I heard there was going to be a small wedding faire at Preston Castle in Ione while we were in town I couldn't resist!  

The entry was only $5 per person and benefited the Preston Castle restoration project. It certainly wasn't your average wedding faire packed with all sorts of vendors doing raffles and sampling - think small town, haunted castle, local vendors - but that's just what we needed. Our preferred caterer was there, a DJ we're really interested in, and we met a backup photographer just in case our current plans fall through. 

The best part of the faire had to be wandering around the haunted castle! That place is seriously cool... Maybe a happy alternative to a "trash the dress" after the wedding since the mere suggestion of partaking in the photo sesh trend sent my grandmother into cardiac arrest?

Engagement Photos

There is a misconception that photographers know what to do when being photographed because they're used to posing people for portraits. I used to be a photographer, I did it for eight years, and I can tell you this is so not true! I've only been on the opposite side of the lens twice - once for college graduation photos back in 2007 and more recently for an engagement shoot. Both times I found myself feeling incredibly awkward and at a total loss for how to look natural and comfortable. Thank goodness for good photographers who compensate for my awkwardness. My graduation photos were taken by Sarah Linda Gossett Raderman at an old cemetery in Oakland (way less creepy than it sounds - think old stone walls covered in vines) on black and white film, both 35mm and medium format. The beau and I went with a more modern shoot for our engagement sesh, posing all over Baker Beach for Jordan Murphy. I wanted to avoid anything San Francisco-cliche, but considering my fiancé is from the Midwest, thus half of our wedding guests will be from the Midwest, we decided some good ol' Golden Gate magic would be appropriate for our save-the-dates.

Here's a sneak peek!

Exciting Update!

I've entirely abandoned you all the last few weeks - I'm sorry! It was an action packed holiday season for me and I just never found the time to sit down and write. 

The biggest update I have for you is... I'm getting married! The Saturday before Christmas my beau took me to dinner and 'Twas the Night at the San Francisco Symphony and then got down on one knee in front of the lobby Christmas tree. Being the proper gentleman he is, he'd already been sneaking out to spend time with my family the month before and asked my dad's permission. He's a keeper!

 

Happy Birthday, SFBay.CA!

Last night SFBay celebrated their first year of publication at Salle Piano & Events with the help of an overwhelming number of contributors, readers, friends and sponsors. 

If you haven't checked out their website yet, please do! SFBay's coverage of Bay Area news, events and interests is impressive, and their staff happens to be stacked with some of my favorite professors from my good ol' days at San Francisco State's school of journalism.

Restoration Hardware Sale

I absolutely adore Restoration Hardware, but being the savvy bargain hunter I am, I don't wind up swiping my credit card there all too often. I mean, honestly - $500 chairs and $100 slippers? Give me a break. Well, for the holidays, that's exactly what they did.

A couple of weeks ago I found myself fingering through the RH winter catalog and about fell out of my chair when I saw the markdowns. So while I was in Walnut Creek doing some shopping with a girlfriend last weekend, of course I popped in to grab a few more stocking stuffers.

I can't tell you exactly what I bought since some items are Christmas gifts, but here are a few deals you can still get on their website, in case there isn't a location near you. I will tell you though, I regret not snagging one of those travel Scrabble sets, and if one showed up in my stocking on Christmas morning I wouldn't be upset about it... ;)

 

Slippers: $19, Throw: $79, Scarf: $29, Wine Bag: $9, SF Stamps: $13, Travel Scrabble: $24