Vino.

I am going to go on a posting frenzy tomorrow morning. Write the 4+ posts that I promised myself I would complete this week.

Until then, enjoy this bottle of wine that I just picked up at the grocery store. Just lovely. I hope it is a good as it sounds. :)

Bitch, a provocatively named 100% Grenache from R Wines, achieves the potential of this difficult-to-grow grape. Winemakers Chris Ringland and Lisa Wetherell use fruit from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Yields from the 25-year-old vines grown in sand over clay are modest, 3 to 5 tons an acre. Fleshy and round, with tons of jammy strawberry and raspberry fruit, this is neither shy nor light in the alcohol department, but it's so darn hard to bitch about the heat, when there is so much lip-smackingly good fruit!

Bitch (please...)

SUNDAY NIGHT 11.15.09 UPDATE: This wine was delicious. Light and delicious. Fruity. Tasty. Wonderful. I'm not a huge fan of red wine, I am just starting to explore and appreciate...and this was nice for me.

I melt.

I guess being engaged and having a plethora of upcoming events (showers, parties, etc...) is the perfect excuse to start going on the hunt for UBER CUTE outfits.

Case in point: Amanda Archer's dresses in her Etsy shop.

Is this dress not one of the most wonderfully sweet things you've seen?

I am sure that if you were to go with the white, it could be dyed to another color later... maybe? Not sure.

All I know is that her dresses are divine.

ffffound

FFFFOUND!

Mind-Change: Jewelry

Trevor and I have been engaged since August 2008, which means I've been taking mental wedding planning notes since August 2007. :) I have not strayed far from my original concepts, but recently made one change.

Jewelry.

I have a very soft spot in my heart for Sorrelli Jewelry. Chandeliers for the ears. Gorgeous heirloom pieces. New with a vintage spin. They have TONS of options. Simple. Elaborate. Charming. Daunting. Statement pieces. Accent pieces. Probably just about anything and everything you could think of, in just about any color combination.

My thought was, I could get each of my girls a Sorrelli necklace and earrings. They'd all be the same style, just different colors to compliment their shoe color or their individual personality. Just a little special touch. Like this: And that I could wear something a little more true to bridal form, but still on the funky side: Sorrelli

...And then we started working and reworking and revising the living, breathing, walking, talking document I like to call my nemesis...and WE like to call the BUDGET. The more and more I think about it, the more I think I would appreciate a piece of jewelry that I can wear after the wedding. As gorgeous and amazing as the Sorrelli piece is, I won't be able to wear it to work or to a girls night dinner. That Sorrelli piece is something for special occasions. Period.

Which brings me to my decision...the all time, Audrey Hepburn classic: Pearls. They never go out of style. They're always appropriate. Each and every girl in the world should have a set of real, simple, classic pearls. It's the perfect gift.

Pearls Only

I am pretty pumped about the pearls. My mother has a beautiful set of pearls that she was given when she was young, probably around my age. Last year she brought them to a local jeweler who restrung them, taking the time to tie a small knot in between each perfect little natural freshwater pearl.

So...the jewelry and the dress have been the two areas so far that I've strayed from my original concept. (But........they both still have a very vintage feel.)

Are there any areas in your planning where you've changed your mind time and time again?

Peanut Petunia, You're a Sweetheart!

Peanut Petunia is pretty much awesome. (I think I've said this before...) And now she's a little more awesome in my book (is that even possible?) because she's given me "The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award."

So the deal is, I tell you 10 interesting things about myself and pass the award on to 10 other bloggers.

1. At work we pass around an "Action Figure Jesus", complete with packaging. (click here to see...he comes complete with "poseable arms and gliding action!") If it's your birthday, you get Jesus. I've had Jesus for a few weeks since my birthday was last month. Ever since I've had Jesus in my life, good things have been happening. I get to give Jesus to my cube-mate next week because it's HIS birthday. Thank goodness we have a double wide cubicle, because that means I still kinda have Jesus.
   
2. I don't like to use the restroom on the same floor that my co-workers use the restroom. I go down a floor. What? I'm weird like that. Shh!
3. I had the best sandwich of my life at a hole in the wall this past Saturday in Tacoma called Magical Sandwich Makers. It was truly magical.
4. I've decided that I love having an old-school planner. I've had too many issues with technology. Don't get me wrong, I loooooooovvvveeee my Outlook Calendar, but it's always nice having stuff on paper. I recently purchased this awesome planner from "My Lavender Cottage" and I love it.
5. I am a sucker for Choral Christmas Music and a Capella ANYTHING.
   
6. I have a bobble-head Ingemar IKEA dude on my desk at work.
   
7. Embarrassing fact: when I am driving home with my iPod on shuffle and a sappy love song comes on...I imagine what part of our wedding the song would be appropriate for. I usually end up tearing up. I am a sucker.
8. I found my last roommate on Craigslist. She's now one of my best friends and she's in our bridal party! Her amazing husband is super close with my fiance...and their little baby will be our ring bearer! He took his first steps last week!!!
9. I like the way my hair smells. It must be my shampoo.
10. I have a little container on my desk with Zipfizz. It used to be full. Someone has been stealing my Zipfizz. Not cool.

...and the award goes to....

With this ring, I thee blog.
A Girl in Pearls & A Boy with Toys
Le Love
One Month Off
Sarah Rhoads Photographers
...etc
She walks in beauty
Primadonna Bride
yes, please.
Diagnosis Deferred
:)

p.s. Peanut Petunia has an awesome contest right now. Click here and enter to win a galvanized key cabinet from Pottery Barn.

I am horrible.

Yup. I am horrible. I haven't been posting. I've been around....stalking blogs in my reader. But, I've been bad. Even Trevor asked me, "What about Grace? Why haven't you been hiding out in the wedding-room working on your blog thingy and wedding stuff?"

I have plenty of reasons... life, work, wedding projects, family outings, dinners, happy hours, cleaning, laundry, blah, blah, blah. But, I should really make time for this blog. I love writing and I love swapping ideas.

So here I am. I am making a commitment. Let's see if I can do one post per day, Monday through Friday, for the rest of the year. It'll be a challenge, what with the holidays approaching so quickly and everything... but I'm up for it. (This post doesn't count.) This means I'll be writing about 40 new posts before the year is over.

Quick updates on things:

• Officially booked our caterer, Smoke a Fat One BBQ. They just got back from the Jack Daniels BBQ competition in Tennessee. If you know BBQ, you know that even going to the Jack Daniels competition is a HUGE accomplishment. Out of 80 international teams, Smoke a Fat One earned 11th place. Their brisket won 5th place overall. Our guests will be craving this BBQ for YEARS after the wedding.
• Met with Erin and Kristi (old High School girls!) of Lindeman Weddings and Events to talk WEDDING!!! So much fun. I love these girls, and I am so excited to be working with them over the next (GASP!) 8 months! We talked linens, life, flowers, work, details, men... I think we sat and talked over two hours. Yes - we weaved in and out of wedding talk, but that's okay. So in love with these girls!
• Trevor and I finalized our guest list and budget. It was a daunting task, and I am sure there will still be revisions. But this is the closest I have ever felt to it being "done."
  
• I am falling in love with Super 8mm Film. I hope that my dad (who works in the videography biz) has friends that work with this awesome medium! My heart melts every time I see a video featured in a blog...

So...that's it for this morning. I will post something else by end of the day. Because I made a promise. :)