Martha Agrees

Yes, I get daily emails from Martha Stewart.com (several in fact).  Yes, I read them.  Yes, I like them.  And yes, I get daily emails from Martha Stewart Weddings.  In one recent email, Do's and Don't's of Wedding Registries were presented.  I logically had to read more, hoping that my opinion would be confirmed that it is (slightly) tacky to tell people where you are registered in your wedding announcement/invitation.  It's like saying, "I really like these stores, and I really think you should buy me THIS."  While the concept is nice, there must be a better way of presenting the information.  And so I give you this from Martha:

Don't Tell Guests Where You're Registered in Your Invitation

Once you have registered, give the information to immediate family and the wedding party, and let them spread the word. If you are asked where you have registered, it is fine for you to tell, but it is not proper to include registry information in a wedding invitation. Registry information can be included on a wedding website, as long as the actual name of the store is not included on the same layer; organize your website so that guests must click down one level to find the details.

Thank you, Martha Stewart (er, your staff) for coming out and saying what I have always thought; may many brides-to-be read your website and follow your advice.

School Days

When I was growing up, and then even through my last year of college, summer was always a cherished time, free from homework, papers, and most importantly, tests.  And then inevitably, every year, it happened.  Stores would send out their ads, featuring new backpacks, sharp pencils, shiny pens, and crisp notebooks.  The beginning of a new school year.  A growing angst would form in the pit of my stomach.  Who wants to go back to school?  I never did.

It happened again.  The ads started coming.  Commercials on TV.  The angst.  But then, suddenly, miraculously, my brain started to form around a new idea, "I don't have classes starting in a month."  Wait, what?  After being in school for 20 years, I don't have school?  How can this be?  The angst dissipates.  My mind relaxes.  A sigh of relief.  I don't have school.  I'm free.  No homework.  No term papers.  Tests?  Well, yes.  There's the GRE  looming in the future.  And maybe the LSAT.  And those of course will bring homework, and term papers.  But for now, I will enjoy the bliss of not being a student.

Duvet, Finally

At the beginning of the year I mentioned that I was going crazy and in need of a project.  Well, I finished the project quite awhile ago, and have been in the process of finishing other projects that have been sitting for the last six months to a year just waiting to be finished.

After picking out some pretty awesome fabric, in a color scheme I wasn't even planning on, I began the several month process of making a duvet.  I was pretty proud of myself to get those mitered corners to turn out so well.  I still need to make a bed skirt to match, but I'm thinking that will have to wait until I get a place of my own.

When the bed was finished, the next part was curtains.  I debated.  I wasn't sure what accent colors I wanted to throw in.  Pink?  Green?  Blue?  Purple?  I finally settled on a royal purple (eggplant, anyone?) and a subdued lime green.  The curtains ended up being cream and eggplant.  And while I didn't get pictures, I have green and purple flowers around the place - it's pretty fabulous.

With so many new things going on, I rearranged a few furniture pieces and decided I finally needed to get myself a chair.  After being converted (it was a long conversion process) to Ikea (thanks Brandon and Felicia) I opted for an upholstered dining chair.

Lastly, I had this picture project going for the past year or more.  I had them hanging and everything, in these frames, but the middle quote portion was printed on four sheets of computer paper taped together, and there was cardboard backing showing on the sides.  It was quite the site to see.  But I finally broke down and finished it (thanks Jessica!).