Vendor Spotlight: Dingbat Press

Dingbat Press, a letterpress company with an Etsy shop, is hosting an amazing giveaway... a full letterpress wedding suite! How amazing is that? Check them out here for more information. If that's not enough, you can get a discount in their Etsy shop by using DP10 as a discount code when checking out this month. Without further ado... some of their eye candy.

Things I Would Register For

We are not to the point when we're ready to wield the fun department store guns... but I can start my list now, right? I hate to say where I've found most of these items because my mother happens to work for a different department store's corporate office. Many of these items you can find at several different stores, so I'll let you contact me if you really can't find the item. How's that sound?



And finally... I would put this in my closet.
Do you see the running theme here? I seriously have an obsession. Did you mainly register for kitchen items or focus more on the home goods?

Blog "Followers"

Erin, of Blue-Eyed Bride fame, recently blogged about a new feature on Blogger. You can add the blogs that you subscribe to by importing your Google Reader into the new Blogger "Following" function that shows which blogs you follow. This feature allows the blog's author to see that you follow their blog. I think it's kind of a neat feature. As Erin mentioned, it does seem a bit redundant to upload and follow blogs within Blogger and Google Reader. I do like the idea of finding out who is "following" my blog, so I can check out theirs. I've stumbled on many wonderful blogs through seeing who comments on the blogs I love, so I'm open to more options to discover blogs that I might have missed before.

What do you think about the new feature?

Things I Love Today

These are a few of my favorite things... (a la Sound of Music)

^Urban Outfitters
^Fossil

^Urban Outfitters

^Anthropologie
^Anthropologie
^Anthropologie
^Anthropologie

Fabulous Shoe Friday

While we were in WI, we made a quick stop at Shopko. I had never been there before, but apparently they sell Payless Shoes there. I don't shop at Payless often, but every once in a while I find a steal that will actually work.

They happened to have a deal going on: buy one get one half off. I don't really own any sneakers that aren't actual running shoes of some kind, so these puppies caught my eye. Imagine my surprise when they were on sale for $10! They definitely came in handy when it decided to rain most of our trip.

I was even more delighted when these lovelies were on sale for $7... but because I bought the other pair, I got these for $3.50!! Oh my goodness... I could not pass these up. LOVE THEM! Aren't they gorgeous? Perfect for attending a wedding, too.

This pair of Steve Madden red flats is what I'm wearing today. Love them. I am somewhat on a flats kick this summer.

Here are a few shoes that I don't own but am certainly lusting after... all Anthropologie today (of course). Can you tell I just got their catalog in the mail?

How gorgeous are these red ones??
Do you have a fabulous shoe you've been drooling over? Leave me the link in a comment. I'd love to see your ideas!

A Day to Remember

While I was out for a run today, the song "Where is the Love" by Black Eyed Peas came on. It made me forget about my WW grumblings and reflect on what was more important today.

Many bloggers are posting about this day seven years ago and how so many people were affected by the horrible tragedy, and some are abstaining from posting altogether. In observance of September 11, I will save further posting for another day as my "moment of silence" if you will.

Take a moment to remember those that were lost and hug those loved ones that are still here.

Weight Watchers Update

Well, I had hoped that I would have the willpower to survive the weddings, showers, bachelorette parties, and traveling... but I'm just not that good.

First, I should give you a little background. Based on my current weight and weight loss goals, a points value is assigned for my food intake each day. I have a total of 18 points per day that I can eat, with an extra 35 for the week in case of an overage. The goal is to not eat the extra 35 points, but they are there if you happen upon a moment of weakness. Obviously if you eat the extra 35 every week, you're not going to meet your weight loss goals very quickly.

Jen's wedding day-- I ate not 18 points, but 38. That is right... not a typo. 3-8. I used 20 extra points in that one day!! I think it can be summed up in two words: mimosas and vodka. I have to admit though that was spread out through an entire 15 hours and helped me surviving coordinating the wedding for her. (Please note that I do not sit around and drink myself into a stupor on a regular basis!)

Last week, when we went to WI, I wasn't much better. I might have eaten/drank the following in a span of three days:
cheeseburger
fries
cheese curds
cheese
cheese
more cheese
pizza
pizza again
Butterburger with cheese
wine X 6 (which tends to happen if J's mother has anything to say about it)
Mike's Light Hard Lemonade x 2
Vodka soda x a million
blueberry pancakes
breadsticks
garlic bread
more bread
rolls
wedding cake x 2
and butter... lots of it

And the list goes on.... what's worse is that I only got 3 exercise points in (which can cancel out extra points you eat). For some reason, I don't think that did the eating any good.

Now that I'm back, I'm having a lot easier time keeping to my willpower. I'd like to make the excuse that other people were shoving this stuff down my throat, but I honestly could have made the decision not to eat what everyone else was having... and I didn't. Oh well.... it's another week!

What does this week have in store? Molly (my WW buddy) is getting married on Saturday to our great friend, Pete. These two are just as perfect together as two people can be, and we can't wait for their wedding! Knowing that she's been on WW too, I am a little more confident about my willpower holding up this go-round. We'll see....

.... to be continued

Wedding Wednesday: Departure Dresses

I don't know if we are going to make some big departure at the end of the big night, but if we do, I certainly plan to change into something short and fun! Most of our guests will come from out of state, so we will probably go out for a bit of fun before retiring for the evening. I've stumbled upon a few dresses that could make the cut.

This Henri Bendel dress is very "fun". While I LOVE it, it's probably too fun for SkiTownUSA.

The Julianne Dress from JCrew is very prim and would probably be pretty comfortable.
This Morgane LeFay dress is gorgeous.
This Nicole Miller was one I had my eye on... alas, it went on sale and is no longer available in my size.
This Ristarose dress is dreamy.
For some reason, I am drawn to this Alvina Valenta bridesmaid dress (in white/ivory, of course). It would be great for a courthouse wedding, too.

Wedding Wednesday: Shower Favor Ideas

While I don't have any more showers to plan any time soon, I can't help but stash ideas for future reference. Maybe I'll meet someone that's not yet married who will want me to plan their shower! You never know... it could happen.

Wouldn't these monogram favors be so cute? (All images found via Martha Stewart, of course.)
The first two are DIY. J and I were thinking of going this route for wedding favors, but I think we're moving in another direction.

Here is the link to the vendor information for the last picture. LOVE IT!

She's BAAAACK.... but Not with Bells On

We are back from WI, but I'm extremely tired. Look for uplifting posts to start tomorrow. Until then, I'm resting my eyes.