Shower Me With Love

My oh-so-lovely loved ones weren't totally hating me for wanting my shower not to be a surprise, nor were they mad about me wanting oh-so-badly wanting to craft the invites.

I shared with you, the hive, about our adventures in registering - including at the home improvement superstore - Home Depot.

My shower day is a day that goes down as one of my favorite days in the history of my life.  I know that it sounds silly - after all it is just a party to shower me & Mr. Sweets with nice things... but to me those things weren't things, they were kindness, love & true all-out-soul-sharing from friends and family that gathered at our house on a recent Saturday to show us how much they care.

Since I was hoping for a non-surprise, I got to help pick the date.  And I was obsessed with the theme "We Go Together." And I was so happy that it was at our house so that everyone could stay as late as they wanted and we didn't have to worry about dragging packages back & forth.  But that is where me being "in the know" ended.  

There were secret meetings (that I somehow knew happened) and lots of fun planning behind my back.  That day I was forced to retreat from me & Mr. Sweet Cream's humble abode & I got another trial (hey! I didn't have anyone to hangout with since everyone I would normally hang out with was at our house prepping for the festivities!).  Needless to say, my idea of the trial taking up the whole morning, didn't happen & I fled to the local Rite Aid to by fun new nail polishes to entertainment myself with at Mama Sweet's house.

About an hour before the shower was to begin I got the phone call it was time to come over.  So off I went!  In my brand new dress I made with this amazing Michael Miller fabric to boot! (Know that I originally had planned on making a romper without a pattern and the craziness of work & wedding plans didn't allow me to take on that challenge!).

Michael Miller "Dear Damsel" fabric / via eBay's QuilterAlice

After I got to soak it all in of what my backyard had become, guests showed up and I was able to greet them and chat.  There was homemade lemonade & vodka to add.  There was a delicious menu (& a cookie & milk bar!!!).  There were little tags on all the food -- BM Sweet Cream actually tried to find the font I used on the invites to surprise me.  There was also a bonfire with smores!  And all those near & dear put together a giant scrapbook of our history with each person that is beyond beautiful.  And the heartfelt gifts.  Sigh.  I still get all tingly thinking of my shower day.  

I can't wait to share the favors that mean the world to me, the menu & the details!

Until then... enjoy some of the teaser pics from a day that I will always remember I felt like my heart was going to burst it was so full of love.

 Is a shower a shower without some TP wedding gowns? 

I LOVED my cake!!

 Mr. Sweet Cream's Aunt is FAMOUS for her cakes!  I was SHOCKED!

You might remember some of her inspiration from our engagement pics... 

Cuz Sweet Cream made a game with vintage kitchen finds

that she shipped all the way from Portland!  Guests SIMPLE LOVED IT!

If I had to pick just one part of my shower that was my favorite -- I couldn't even decide.  I felt asleep late into the night & a severe strike of thunder woke me up in the wee hours.  I kept Mr. Sweet Cream up telling him every last detail of the day.  

What was your favorite part of your shower? Were you overwhelmed by all the love that knocked you off your feet? 

RING-a-ding-ding: A Story about What's Written Inside

So I told you about Mr. Sweet's band & then I shared the details about mine.

But before talks of wedding bands even began, me & Mr. Sweets both knew we wanted beautiful words to each other written inside of them.  I loved the idea of having some sweet language carved in the bands that would remind us of our feelings for each other that are bound to grow throughout our marriage and life.

I know that I've shared with you the idea of having the cinema serve as inspiration, and while I might not having any "movie" idea woven into our big day, I did get a little idea from a little picture from the big screen I'd like to call "License to Wed."  (I promise I don't just watch silly romantic comedies... but my love for thrillers don't exactly fit into inspiration for weddings -- although I am sure that it's been done... and probably been done beautifully!).

In the movie "License to Wed," John Krasinski's character gets an engraving on Mandy Moore's band to surprise her on the big day, but as many of you know, a little sloppy handwriting turns a sweet sentiment into something silly that Mandy Moore winds up telling him never to change...

{Such a cute pair in this chick flick!} via IMDB

So while I was in love with the idea of me & Mr. Sweets surprising each other with engravings that we would be so excited to slip off our bands the minute we left the church to see what the other wrote, this wasn't something Mr. Sweet was equally excited about.

Mr. Sweet Cream has a way with words and always writes the most beautiful things in cards or notes to me, but for whatever reason these words being carved into a band that would be on my finger forever made him more stressed than it should.

So while I knew what I was putting in his (and knew he'd love it), he begged me to give him small hints.  Then one evening after a relaxing couple wines (wedding planning is stressful, hive! As I am sure you all know), Mr. Sweets begged again.  And I gave him a hint.  Then he tried to guess.  Then I just came out and told him.  I don't know why I did... the boy obviously was dying to know.  And let's face it, me & Mr. Sweets find it so, so hard to keep a secret from each other.

{We try to keep surprises from each other -- but it's hard!!!}

via fotosearch

I reminded Mr. Sweets the story about the recent time he scored amazing tickets to a Phillies game since one of his clients and his buddy couldn't make it to the game and threw my mister the tickets. Instead of taking anyone else, he called me at work and asked if I could make the game that night, to a seat behind the dugout with him.  I was honored that Mr. Sweet Cream could pick anyone to go with - but he picked me!  At the game I told Mr. Sweets that I couldn't believe that he'd pick me and he looked at me all puzzled and said, "Sweet Cream, I pick you every time."  I told him that I know, but this was amazing seats to the Phils.  Mr. Sweets said, "Sweet Cream, if I had 1 extra ticket on space rocket to the moon, I'd pick you!" We went back and forth a few times saying the things we'd pick each other for -- even though these amazing situations we were trying to top each other with would never likely happen.  I'll tell ya, Mr. Sweets still knows how to make a girl's heart skip a beat.

{Me & Mr. Sweets would have such an amazing time together on the moon!}

via cartune land

That little story stuck in my head a few months & when we talked about engravings I just knew that I had to have that inside Mr. Sweets' ring.

So when I told him that, he looked and me and smiled and said, "Wow. You're good."  He thought it was such a great idea, he was going to steal that inscription for for my band.

Now my ring will have "I pick you, every time" and Mr. Sweets' will have "Every time, I pick you."

So much for surprises, huh?  But I love it & so does Mr. Sweet Cream and although it's not the surprise I had in mind, I think that it's just perfect!!

Did you have anything sentimental engraved in your rings? Were you able to keep your lips zipped to make it a surprise?

RING-a-ding-ding: A Story about Her

So when we last left off, I told you about Mr. Sweet Cream's band that he chose during our trip to Philly's Jeweler's Row... a choice that will live on his finger for years to come.

But what about lil' ol' me??

Well, I might have shared my pretty bling one here once or twice...

A refresher you might ask?  Well, I am happy to oblige.

So while it's totally unique and something that I was almost in tears (silly me!) after Mr. Sweets told me it was sold before he could get to it -- what a trickster -- it isn't something that is easy to match a band to.

I was told by friends and jewelry sales people about making it a right-hand ring and heard stories about girls who wore their wedding band without their engagement bling.  That's all well and fine for other girlies, but it didn't sit quite right in my heart for whatever reason.  I know that my left-hand ring finger would feel totally naked if it left.

I realize that I could just get a band to shape around it, like I've seen so many Almost Misses do.  I love that for them... but not for me.

So, after Mama Sweet Cream showed me her Ciocia Mary's (remember... half of me is Polish! It's all fancy and Polish for "Aunt") wedding band that Ciocia Mary's sweet hubby, Lou gave to her, I knew that it had to be something like this.

I then had in mind something simple that could just slide right on under the unique shaped ring that Mr. Sweet's just knew I loved... Someone out there could make something like this... right?

So on our first trip down Jeweler's Row I talked to Joe at Lynn Jewelry who said that it was totally doable.  And sent me to Unique Settings to get an idea of what I wanted.

So after eye candy like this....

...we decided on and idea that wasn't like all of the others.  We would combine the dotted look of the last picture, with rows and rows of dots with something like the second to last shot -- a whole new ring that would match right up to the details of my 1920s bling.  And I got it wide enough and flat enough that it should work -- well for me, that is!

Me with my inspiration pics -- ready to chat bands with Lynn Jewelry, Joe.

I must admit that I am a little nervous that I am not doing as Mr. Sweets did and ordering something that I could see live and in person  -- but Joe promised that I'd leave happy, even if that meant reworking it.

And what could be better than picking our bands, grabbing some lunch in the city & then taking in a Phils game? Mr. Sweets was pretty content the whole time, knowing that we had a game to go to later...

I love that instead of acting like it was a chore to cross off the list (although we totally understand the madness that is wedding planning...some things are very "chorish")...that we made a date of it and have memories of our day picking out our bands.

Did you have an usual engagement ring that you worked with to pick out the band?  What was your solution??  Did you make your band selection a "date" with your SO or did you just cross it off and move on?

NOTE: All pics of the bands are from Unique Settings of New York.  They have amazing rings all over that site and it was a great tool to find just what I wanted!

RING-a-ding-ding: A Story about Him

One of the things that we knew had to be crossed off the list was getting our bands.  After all the dances were danced, pictures were taken and kisses were kissed at our wedding, isn't this what would last as reminder of our commitment to each other and the day that made us "man & wife?"

So, we decided to make a little trip to Philly's-own Jewelers' Row.

For those of you unfamiliar with this street, it's a little part of Philly that is dedicated to, you guessed it, jewelry shops. 

Me & Mr. Sweets made a date of it on Valentine's Day in February to stroll around, get some ideas and actually had the most delicious brunch to ever grace our lips at Smokin' Betty's (Mr. Sweets had country biscuits and gravy with homemade biscuits, sausage gravy & potato hash and I opted for the "waffle of the Weekend" which had delicious strawberries right in the waffle. So. YUM. I might have almost bit Mr. Sweets' hand off when he offered me a taste of his...it was THAT good).  

We went home with business cards and notes from our Vday Romp Around the City and didn't really think about it again until months later.  Just around 4th of July I looked at our list of to dos and noticed that wedding band wasn't even crossed off!  So we made a trip the day of an evening Phillies game to the one-and-only Jewelers' Row.

We need bands & we need 'em now!

So with our notes & idea in mind, we went back to a little place called Lynn Jewelers, who promised that custom work could be done & that deals could be had.

Let me tell you about Mr. Sweet Cream's band first.  The mister practically picked out his band on our February trip and immediately after carousing the jewelry cases knew that he wanted tungsten.

Mr. Sweet Cream, who is involved in the tool business & is a tool freak, had sparkles in his eyes when he first heard that there are such things as rings made of this type of stuff.  I guess it just so happens that they use this metal in tools too?

For those like me who weren't familiar with tungsten, I refer to Wikipedia who says:

Tungsten carbide is an inorganic chemical compound containing equal parts of tunsten and carboncarbide.  In its most basic form, it is a fine gray powder, but it can be pressed and formed into shapes for use in industrial machinery, tools, abrasives as well as jewelery.  Tungsten carbide is approximately three times stiffer than steel and is much denser than steel or titanium.



So with the fact that it a darker metal, was tough, shiny & that it could be used in tools, Mr. Sweets knew that he had to have a tungsten band.


And he knew that he loved a beveled edge.  

via tungsten rings blog

But then got thrown for a loop with a concave version.

via Brent L Miller

So with the Phils waiting for us, Mr. Sweets remembered what he liked about each.

Mr. Sweets trying them on for size.

And then he decided on something different!  Mr. Sweets hadn't seen this tungsten beveled edge band before with a stripe of silver going through the middle. 

I am madly in love with Mr. Sweet Cream's choice of tungsten & silver!

 

So just like that he picked out his ring.

Now for me, it wasn't so simple...


What type of band did your guy decide on to sport his finger?  Was he super picky?  Did his choice surprise you?

*All pics personal unless otherwise noted.

Please Mr. Postman

Just as I get ready to share the final final versions of the invites that I teased you with I just had to put something out there to make sure that I didn't cross the super-crazy-yes-I-know-that-I'm-a-mad-psycho line in wedding planning.

As you will soon see, our invites wound up needing a bit more postage than the typical invite.  This was A-OK by me and I kinda had a hunch this would happen.  That's why I took my first one to the post office to get weighed before buying any postage.

Now I realize that some things like stamps can send some brides into freak-out mode and others (count yourself one of the lucky ones) to not care so much.

I originally swooned over the whole idea of using vintage non-canceled stamps.

via Martha Stewart

via pomodoro papers

via Paisley Quill blog

That is something that I just KNEW had to be a part of our wedding plans.  But as the wedding got closer I realized that there were many other things higher on the list of importance and that idea was scrapped, just like other really good (but not practical due to time or cost or probability) ideas had got axed before it.

So thank heavens, like many other brides gone before me, I discovered artist, Jeanne Greco's 18th century French playing card inspired, King & Queen stamps.

via Design Scouting

After some digging it turns out many a bee has mentioned these pretty little things before me, like Mrs. Bee, Miss Seal, Mrs. Scissors, Mrs. Hippo... the list goes on & on.

So I, like many before me, went to the post office and bought all the King & Queen stamps out... but sadly there wasn't enough.  I should've knew trouble was ahead when the nice lady at the post office couldn't scan the stamps and needed to perform a whole mess of operations to allow me to take the home with me that day.  "Strange," she told me.  "This never does anything like that."

So you can imagine my surprise when just days later I went to another post office to hoard in on some more lovely little stamps and was told that they don't have any.  

"Hmmmm..." I thought to myself.  "I'll just call around to neighboring post offices."  But nobody had them.  The bride in me began to let panic set in.  

And then on the call to the third post office I was told the most horrifying news.  The King & Queen stamps have been discontinued.  The gentleman at this post office told me that they were all told to send them back...and even at that time, they didn't even have any to do so.  He told me to keep trying in hopes to find the office  who might not have gotten word yet.  

via Poster Gods

Just in case there is a reader or two whose heart is beginning to rapidly race, let me tell you the story ends "happily ever after."  After some freaking out and getting really really scared --over stamps.  Yes.  stamps -- it turns out Mama & Papa Sweets' post office had 40 left.  

"Phew!" I thought.  But then the crazy took over & since things couldn't be left to chance, I called Papa Sweets from work and begged him to run and get them before some other bride who is short 40 King & Queen stamps snatches them from my grips.

"They are just stamps Sweet Cream," Papa Sweets told me.  That silly, silly man.  Obviously he has never been a bride.

So - Am I crazy for going a little insane about stamps that are just meant to get invites from our door to our guests?  Did you too have a panic attack over silly stamps? Or did you not really care all that much?

What stamps adorned your invites?

NOTE: I later found out that you can still buy the stamps online at USPS.com.  But I don't know for how long. So if you love those stamps, don't take them for granted.

Dry-Run Chow Down: La Decisión

I've told you how I've bounced around everywhere from a cool little Mexican BYO to a Polish place known for their pierogis for the locale of our rehearsal dinner.


While life was still in Part Uno, Cousin Sweets decided that she'd love to be in charge of the margaritas.  This lady is someone who loves food, cooking, experimenting & planning just as much as me, so she took her task pretty seriously researching some yummy tequila-laced infusions.  And then I think I broke her little heart when I told her that I thought that we were going to try out Rosmaryn.


She loved the idea of it all.  After all, she's 50% Polish too and thought that everything from the traditions to the potato vodka would be a hit.


But as I told her that I wasn't sure if people would get lost along the way and that I wasn't sure of the neighborhood or where people would park she told me the nicest thing.  Cuz Sweets said that she would be honored if I let her cater our rehearsal dinner.  She said of course, not to feel any pressure.  But just play with the idea in my head.  You see, me & Cousin Sweet Cream could Facebook message each other back and forth until we are blue in the face about different recipes we were trying and ideas for entertaining, among other things.  I loved hearing about her ideas as she started to cater parties with a friend in Portland.  


But when she suggested the idea of her catering I immediately thought "No! That's way too  much work to pull off."  But she assured me that I could be as involved or not during the cooking leading up to the rehearsal dinner.


She has worked at an uber-trendy Mexican restaurant in Philly and knew her way around some Mexican choices that could be prepped ahead of time.  Then she began a list of Mexican restaurants in the area that she knew she could get some of the key ingredients at and then knew that our local market would have the rest.


Let me tell you a thing or two about the ladies in my family. We love planning -- even if the event itself never, ever takes place.  Call us crazy.


So before the green light was given, Cousin Sweet Cream sent me an email.


As far as the rehearsal dinner, let me know how the Polish place works out. If not, I of course already have a menu and classy cantina DIY decor ideas lined up. 


Mexican spiced chocolate cupcakes would work awesome with the theme and churros with fruit and chocolate sauce choices for dipping or even mexican wedding cookies?  ( I've made them all before, so recipes are at the handy and I have a pastry piper for icing and the churros.) I'm also envisioning tin cans with the little holes to create a design and to work as candle holders. Below I have included some taco ideas. I'm thinking a few different types of guac and salsas, as well as black beans with pickled onions, refried pintos topped with tortilla slivers and cotija cheese, plain rice, a serrano chile rice, and I just found an AMAZING recipe for tortilla chips with an option for some chile tortilla chips as well. 


If you want apps, a ceviche could be an option, gorditas or flautas? Also, mexican corn on the cob is GREAT! Grilled corn (with braided husks, you just insert a skewer into the bottom end and braid the peeled back husk around it) the corn then has a chile crema, chile salt, and shaved queso fresco. Beverage wise... coronas and negro modelas, melon margs, maybe a mango melon, watermelon basil, strawberry hibiscus, pomegranate, cranberry, and lime, apple and prickly pear (I love seasonal things. :) oooohhh and maybe that green tea zen sangria (it has pear which is perfect for the season) ? I have a list somewhere of ones I have been saving for you, and for non-alcoholic there could be horchata, fresh fruit juices, and a hibiscus tea?   


Ok... I'm done... Just wanted to throw some ideas your way to give you more of an idea of what I was thinking. Let me know what you think and no pressure my dear, this took me all of a few minutes to come up with in my head. ;)  If anything you will enjoy my ideas and for that alone... I love you!!!! :)


Carnitas
Crisp & juicy braised pork topped with salsa verde, onions, cilantro & queso fresco 
Pollo Asado
Spicy chipotle rubbed grilled chicken topped with crema, salsa roja & pico de gallo
Pollo Verde
 chicken braised in tomatillo salsa & topped with salsa verde, onions & cilantro
Carne Asada
chopped steak, served traditional-style with grilled onion and topped with salsa roja, cilantro & onion
Barbacoa
beef brisket braised inside banana leaves in a Yucatan-style three chile barbacoa salsa, topped with onion, cilantro & queso fresco
Verduras 
Delicious mix of seasonal vegetables
Pescado
Cornmeal encrusted Alaskan Cod topped with crema, cabbage, salsa verde, onion, cilantro & pineapple
Calamari
Wild squid & bell peppers sautéed with chili seasoning & topped with crema, salsa roja & pico de gallo
Camarones
Wild shrimp, sautéed with chili seasoning & topped with creme, cabbage, salsa verde, onion, cilantro & pineapple


And just like that the whole gang was on board with having a home-based rehearsal dinner where we could relax, stay as long as we want, wander around, linger and sit around a fire.


Cuz Sweets already is envisioning lights like these, which she's packing in her suitcase:

String Lights / via Amazon

And these for some low light:

Soup Can DIY Punch Hole Lights / Image & Tutorial via CraftZine

I'm envisioning using Mr. Sweet Cream's Grandmom's tablecloth circa 1950s that is "Mexican" themed to serve as additional inspiration!  We love the seafood green with bright blues, yellows & reds.

And then we got to chatting even more and began to think about things like...


Vintage Mexican Postcards...

Via Cafe Press

...Papel Picado...

San Francisco Street Photography by John Agoncillo / via Alapan

...And Mason Jar Margaritas...

Via The Yummy Life Blog

So Cousin Sweets is DIYing all kinds of things that she plans to either ship across the country or bring with her when she comes.  She's putting together lists of things we need and we plan to get down-and-dirty with prepping and cooking when she gets in the day before the dinner.  We can do this.  I love that it will not only be a totally amazing rehearsal dinner...but wonderful visiting time & memories with Cuz Sweet Cream.


Did you wind up having an at-home rehearsal dinner?  Did you DIY that too?  Did anyone throw an amazing wrench into your original plans that you are so stinkin' excited about?