July 29, 2009
Dress day for real
My dress came today! Since it is a bit of a secret, I won’t divulge all the design details other than it is stunning!!
One issue, though, it doesn’t fit. RUH ROH!! My dress designer in Melbourne did a fantastic job but it’s just slightly too big. Ok, that’s an understatement. If I wore it as is I would probably scare small children but despite it not fitting (yet!) it is beautiful. My dear friend Franziska is going to Melbs this weekend and she offered to take it back down there after pinning it to size. But I think it would just be easier in person so I’ll either take a sneaky trip down there or Anna may be coming up to Sydney next month for a shoot.
Tonight I’m going over to Courtney’s with Franziska and Bec (who are all coming to the wedding — yay!!) to watch Project Runway and have the first round dress viewing…
April 17, 2009
dress
probably wont be exactly like this
May 6 will be the “dress day”. I’m flying to Melbourne to go to my dress designer’s showroom. So exciting!! I’ve already talked to her about the dress and I’ve sent her photos of the fabrics from Mom’s wedding dresses and the lace from Great Grandma Sarah that Brenda sent me. I got a super cheapo flight and thought with only 5 months left until I leave, it’s go time. Excitement!
March 22, 2009
Or I could write
two feets
What do I write after you haven’t written in a while? Maybe I could write about my business soft launching but if I do then my blog will rank on google search.
I could write about how busy I am with all my freelance projects that I’ve been busy with. But I make a point not to blog about work stuff because I think it’s bad form.When I have employees I would appreciate if they didn’t blog about professional stuff. What I can say without naming names that I’m working on some amazing new projects and have just gotten another contract through June. I’ll be doing little books helping kids learn to read. And because the books are translated for emerging markets, little kids all over the world in many different languages will see my design when we trick them into reading with fun pictures and graphics. Doesn’t’ that just make you feel warm and fuzzy?
Or I could write about how even though I’ve been super busy I’ve still been resolute about surfing as much as possible and running or doing pilates 3-4 times a week. Unlike running which anyone with two feet and a heartbeat can do, I am still a kook at surfing but I love it. I can say without hesitation that I have finally make a small upward stride past the frustratingly long lull I call my “Just happy to get wet” phase. This morning I went for a surf and soft sand run with Stringles (one of Mike’s best mates). And even though it was Sunday morning and any dooley with two feet and a heartbeat grabbed a plank of fibreglass and were in the water with me, I managed to not run over anyone and not get tun over.
Or I could write about how excited I am getting married to the most amazing guy in the world in a short 6 months!
March 10, 2009
Algonkian Park September 26, 2009
We have a venue and a date!! This blog is long overdue.
Date: Saturday Sept 26th
Reception Room
Place: Algonkian Regional Park,
Reception: Algonkian Events Center:
It’s a brand new building that all my parents think is just perfect. It’s nice, modern, clean, accessible, and close enough to DC. And one of the best features are the cottages in the park along the river to stay at to avoid transport issues.
Accomo: We wanted to do something a bit special for the week leading up to the wedding so it’s not just everything on one day, especially for the travelers making the journey from Oz, woohoo! We have reserved cottages on the river in Algonkian Park. The cottages have boat ramps for boating, fishing, they’re right on a golf course (including mini golf!), and right off Route 7 so it’ll be easy to scoot into DC for some urban action as well. All the cabins have big decks and BBQs, fireplaces, full kitchens, and some have hot tubs. We’ve already organized kayaks that we can take along the river. And dad said you could pretty much cast a fishing line from the deck, ladies I know you’re pumped about that.
I think it seems like a perfect setting and it will be beautiful in late summer.
March 8, 2009
Dresses
Yesterday was my first official day of wedding dress shopping. Franziska and I went into the city and did some looking around and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be 🙂 We tried a couple on and then it was really weird!! We looked like real brides!! One we both loved and tried on was raw silk and scrunchy at the bottom almost looking like paper, very simple but gorgeous.
After seeing my Mom’s wedding dresses that she sent I realize how much the styles have changed. I don’t remember seeing a single dress in the shops that had sleeves. A few have light straps of some sort but even straps are pretty rare.
My challenge with the dress to use the beautiful fabrics Mom and Brenda have sent me (which are different colors of course) in an interesting, unique, and flattering dress design. Another hurdle will be to find a dressmaker who doesn’t laugh at a 6 month deadline.
February 24, 2009
One photo so far
the happy couple
This is the only photo I’ve seen so far but it’s a good one! Thanks Rodger!! He was roaming around taking photos and Stringles and Courtney had set up a photo booth kinda thing and took everyone’s photo with this big red heart balloon as they walked in. So sweet!
It was a great night, it was so nice to have all of Mike’s fanily there and so many of our close friends in one place together. Mike made some yummy food and the night ended up with a So You Think You Can Dance-off. haha..
The next day was Franziska’s B-day so I managed to get out and go to TropFest – a short film festival with her. Epic weekend..
February 21, 2009
Engagement party
The party will be on this balcony
Today is engagement party day, YAY!!! We’re one coffee deep cooking away. I’m about to head out to pick up a few things and get some photos printed out. Stringles gave me 4 CDs of images yesterday that he had of mike and I and has beautifully edited, cropped, and truned them into black and white. Not exactly sure yet how I’m going to display them but I’ll think of something 🙂 I’ve recruited 3 girlfriends to help me set up the surf club at about 2. Dianne and the rest of the Newcastle family are coming at 4 so they can help with food setting up stuff, and then party starts at 6. Yay!!
February 15, 2009
apple pie for dinner
Sometimes you just have to do something a bit naughty like eat apple pie for dinner! It’s been a rainy lazy snackin-around kind of day. Right now while I’m watching Dance, working on my wedding monogram, shopping for a dress for next weekend, looking at Etsy (i’ve had a renewed obsession with necklaces lately), and salivating over how amazing the apple pie smells that mike is making. Tonight we’re the guys that all our neighbors are jealous of as soon as they walk in the building.
For valentines day we played Midi’s Wii all day and then watched a movie at home. He and Stringles came over on Friday night and the 4 of us played Wii until 2am and Midi left his Wii for us in thanks for him crashing on our couch a couple times lately. Score!
February 11, 2009
I want a dog!!!
I want a dog!!
Maybe not this one although I do think Boston Terriers are cute and hilarious. Lab (my faves) or a Staffordshire terrier (mike’s faves) would do or we may end up getting a Ridgeback. But we’d have to move out of our place first and we can’t find anything comparable for what we pay so we’re here still for a while.
Wedding planning is going well. I’ve mostly been working on the engagement party planning so far but they’re both coming along. We’re THISCLOSE to nailing down the venue spot – Algonkian Regional Park in Virginia. It had a brand new events center and accomodation right there as well in the form of cottages along the river. There are lots of activities there such as boating, kayaking, golfing on the golf course, swimming in the pool, and it’s right off route 7 to easily scoot into DC for some urban action as well. Big round of applause to the parents who have done such a great job alread in helping sort all of this out. Yes!! It’s gonna be rad!
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