The Night Before...
Goodness, this wedding planning never ends. To make it worse, between plotting table signs, ribbon colours, custom menus and snap stations, I think I could continue planning ad infinitum. Well, at least one last thing was ticked off the list today - our invitations for the night before... Made with the very worst of Powerpoint skills, hopefully they will do the job. Particularly as I come to realise my quest for wedding perfection will remain exactly that - a quest!
![]()
Trying to get Organised
With less than six weeks to go until our big day, it's time to get organised. Now all I need to do is fill this out...
Pom Poms!
So today I recruited my friend and chief bridesmaid extraordinaire for a spot of pom pom making. I have quite literally been looking forward to this day for at least two years, after insisting that pom poms just had to be a part of our big day decor at a very early stage.
After surveying the internet to find the best tutorials (at the Yuppie Lifestyle here and courtesy of goddess Martha Stewart here) I purchased a stack of tissue paper from Viking Direct (here), some beading twine and sheer nylon from Hobbycraft and got to work.
Having built this project up for some time, I was certain that it would be nightmarish. But alas, it was anything but. Ok, so it was time-consuming and we quickly realised that if we wanted to transport these babies we would have to keep them in their consertina shapes and transform them into 'pouffs' at the venue. Nevertheless, a few hours later, Fiona and I had made 50 pom poms and our only worry was where to put the damn things on the big day as we may have about 20 too many.
Anyway, for any brides out there considering this project, I would encourage them to go for it at a heartbeat. DON'T waste money on pom poms at £3 a pop and DO make them at home with a bestie :)
For evidence of my project and the stash of consertina pom poms ready to be pulled into their full glory in seven weeks, see below...
After surveying the internet to find the best tutorials (at the Yuppie Lifestyle here and courtesy of goddess Martha Stewart here) I purchased a stack of tissue paper from Viking Direct (here), some beading twine and sheer nylon from Hobbycraft and got to work.
Having built this project up for some time, I was certain that it would be nightmarish. But alas, it was anything but. Ok, so it was time-consuming and we quickly realised that if we wanted to transport these babies we would have to keep them in their consertina shapes and transform them into 'pouffs' at the venue. Nevertheless, a few hours later, Fiona and I had made 50 pom poms and our only worry was where to put the damn things on the big day as we may have about 20 too many.
Anyway, for any brides out there considering this project, I would encourage them to go for it at a heartbeat. DON'T waste money on pom poms at £3 a pop and DO make them at home with a bestie :)
For evidence of my project and the stash of consertina pom poms ready to be pulled into their full glory in seven weeks, see below...
Sod It
I'll admit it, I've struggled to get into this blogging lark. Mainly because I've found it difficult to find my voice on the blogosphere. There are so many blogs out there that I love, that I am regularly inspired by and would love to emulate. But, try as I might, I can'adopt someone else's voice.
What I've also come to realise over the past year is just how much I love to write. Since law school came to an end I went back into communications, but within a law firm, trying to straddle my past with my future. But as much as I love some of the people and the values of the firm, I hate my job. I hate my boss (strong but mostly true), I hate my boss' boss and I feel like such a failure for having to revert to career I had moved away from. BUT, working for a controlling Canadian has its bonuses - it has made me realise how much I love the freedom that comes with writing and how, when I come home after a long day of being beaten by a stick, I can say quite frankly anything I like un this space.
Next, I'm also sad not to have recorded all the adventures of wedding planning. Now, just seven weeks away from the big day, I'm just bursting with stuff to say but don't want to bore my friends with my endless wedding chat.
So, the reason why I write is to say that, well, I'm back! I'm going to write about whatever I like, probably in an inane and uninspiring way. But it will be my voice. It will cover all the wedding stuff I have been desperate to share. It will provide a platform to practice my writing. And it will be me.
So watch this, possibly quite dull but wifelette-shaped space. xx
What I've also come to realise over the past year is just how much I love to write. Since law school came to an end I went back into communications, but within a law firm, trying to straddle my past with my future. But as much as I love some of the people and the values of the firm, I hate my job. I hate my boss (strong but mostly true), I hate my boss' boss and I feel like such a failure for having to revert to career I had moved away from. BUT, working for a controlling Canadian has its bonuses - it has made me realise how much I love the freedom that comes with writing and how, when I come home after a long day of being beaten by a stick, I can say quite frankly anything I like un this space.
Next, I'm also sad not to have recorded all the adventures of wedding planning. Now, just seven weeks away from the big day, I'm just bursting with stuff to say but don't want to bore my friends with my endless wedding chat.
So, the reason why I write is to say that, well, I'm back! I'm going to write about whatever I like, probably in an inane and uninspiring way. But it will be my voice. It will cover all the wedding stuff I have been desperate to share. It will provide a platform to practice my writing. And it will be me.
So watch this, possibly quite dull but wifelette-shaped space. xx
The Wifelette...Bakes!
Of late, my new vocation in life has not been law, but baking. And as such, I thought it about time to share my very favourite carrot cake recipe by Nigel Slater. It is genius and works every time. But before I introduce it, here are a few gratuitous shots of my cake baking success to date!
Self-raising flour - 250g
Bicarbonate of soda - half a teaspoon
Baking Powder - a teaspoon
Ground cinnamon - a teaspoon
Salt - a pinch
Sunflower Oil - 200ml
Light muscovado sugar - 250g
Carrots - 150g
Juice of half a lemon
Walnuts - 150g
For the Frosting...
Mascarpone Cheese - 250g
Philadelphia cream cheese - 200g
Unrefined icing sugar - 150g
The grated zest of a medium orange
Walnut halves - a handful
Set the oven at 180 degrees. Lightly butter a cake tin and line with a disc of baking parchment.
Separate the eggs. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Beat the oil and sugar with an electric mixer until creamed, then introduce the egg yolks one by one. Grate the carrots into the mixture, then add lemon juice. Roughly chop the walnuts and add them too.
Fold the flour into the mixture using the electric whisk on slow. Beat the egg white separately until light and stiff, then fold into the mixture using a large metal spoon (a wooden one will knock the air out).
Scoop the mixture into the tin, smooth the top gently and bake for forty to forty-five minutes. Test with a skewer. The cake should be moist but not sticky. Remove from the oven and leave to settle for a good ten minutes before removing the cake from the tin.
To make the frosting, mix the mascarpone, Philadelphia cheese and icing sugar with an electric mixer. Beat till smooth and creamy (there should be no lumps). Mix in the orange zest.
When the cake is cool, cut the cake in half and smooth approximately 1/3 of the frosting. Then sandwich the halves together. Use the rest to cover the top of the cake. Finish with walnut halves. And ta-daa!
Recipe for carrot cake heaven as follows...
Ingredients...
Eggs - 3Ingredients...
Self-raising flour - 250g
Bicarbonate of soda - half a teaspoon
Baking Powder - a teaspoon
Ground cinnamon - a teaspoon
Salt - a pinch
Sunflower Oil - 200ml
Light muscovado sugar - 250g
Carrots - 150g
Juice of half a lemon
Walnuts - 150g
For the Frosting...
Mascarpone Cheese - 250g
Philadelphia cream cheese - 200g
Unrefined icing sugar - 150g
The grated zest of a medium orange
Walnut halves - a handful
Set the oven at 180 degrees. Lightly butter a cake tin and line with a disc of baking parchment.
Separate the eggs. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Beat the oil and sugar with an electric mixer until creamed, then introduce the egg yolks one by one. Grate the carrots into the mixture, then add lemon juice. Roughly chop the walnuts and add them too.
Fold the flour into the mixture using the electric whisk on slow. Beat the egg white separately until light and stiff, then fold into the mixture using a large metal spoon (a wooden one will knock the air out).
Scoop the mixture into the tin, smooth the top gently and bake for forty to forty-five minutes. Test with a skewer. The cake should be moist but not sticky. Remove from the oven and leave to settle for a good ten minutes before removing the cake from the tin.
To make the frosting, mix the mascarpone, Philadelphia cheese and icing sugar with an electric mixer. Beat till smooth and creamy (there should be no lumps). Mix in the orange zest.
When the cake is cool, cut the cake in half and smooth approximately 1/3 of the frosting. Then sandwich the halves together. Use the rest to cover the top of the cake. Finish with walnut halves. And ta-daa!
Chanel-lo!
So, what better way to start than to fess up about my most recent splurge. After having been locked away studying law for the past year, last week I treated myself to a post-examination splurge on some new skincare. But not just skincare; Chanel skincare. I had previously been a Chanel sceptic, but having read so many fantastic things about their wares on the amazing Makeup Alley, I relieved my savings account of any money and donated it to Chanel. What I received in return has thus far been fantastic.
After finally coming to terms with the fact that I have reached a point where I now need foundation, I initially indulged in Chanel's dewy, gorgeous Vitalumiere. As a bona fide bronzer gal, I also had my first foray into the world of blushers, which has been made incredibly stress free by Chanel's Tweed blush in Coral. Indeed, I would even go so far as to say I'm now a convert.
But as every girl knows, makeup can't perform miracles if you don't have the skincare to match it. So, not only did I invest in Chanel's Precision Cleansing Milk and toner, but the super-luxe Hydramax Active Moisture Cream.
But as every girl knows, makeup can't perform miracles if you don't have the skincare to match it. So, not only did I invest in Chanel's Precision Cleansing Milk and toner, but the super-luxe Hydramax Active Moisture Cream.
I'm sure I also purchased a couple of other items, but for now that's quite enough to report on. Needless to say however, I am very happy with my splurge. I have also given my other half details of the items I didn't buy so who knows, hopefully they will make their way to me sometime soon...
Welcome to The Wifelette
Welcome to The Wifelette, home to the ramblings of a wannabe wife.
As you can see from the posts below, this is not my first dalliance with blogging. Indeed, this blog used to be known as Chez Gracie. However, whilst I loved dipping my toe into the blogosphere, I found myself trying to model my blog on other, more successful blogs. Blogs that had captured the attention of publishers and had subsequently been turned into books. Blogs that had become the darlings of editors and whose authors had gone on to become members of the full-time editorial staff. Blogs where the bloggers are invited to fashion shows. Blogs where the bloggers were invited to anything. And blogs with an audience of, well, more than just me and my other half.
And so there it began. My blogging despair turned into an idea. I decided that rather than morph myself into another blog I should really find something to be passionate about. And no, it's not weddings (although I L-O-V-E these), it's not fashion and it's certainly not beauty. No, my blog would be based on the lessons I'm learning as a wife in training.
You see, I'm on the brink of embarking upon wife-hood. But 28 years and one fiance later, I'm none the wiser about what I have to do to become this nobel creature known as a 'Wife'.
Wives are grown-ups. Wives are wise. Wives can cook. Wives are...scary. And I'm soon to become one of them. Eeeeeek!
So, rather than go it alone, I thought I would share my lessons with the blogosphere. Whilst I doubt my blog will boast the Nobel Prize for literature, it may well boast a few of the humbling lessons and triumphs learnt on the way to wife-hood. So, in my new incarnation I am the Wifelette; a girl becoming an grown-up and studying the art of Wife.
As you can see from the posts below, this is not my first dalliance with blogging. Indeed, this blog used to be known as Chez Gracie. However, whilst I loved dipping my toe into the blogosphere, I found myself trying to model my blog on other, more successful blogs. Blogs that had captured the attention of publishers and had subsequently been turned into books. Blogs that had become the darlings of editors and whose authors had gone on to become members of the full-time editorial staff. Blogs where the bloggers are invited to fashion shows. Blogs where the bloggers were invited to anything. And blogs with an audience of, well, more than just me and my other half.
And so there it began. My blogging despair turned into an idea. I decided that rather than morph myself into another blog I should really find something to be passionate about. And no, it's not weddings (although I L-O-V-E these), it's not fashion and it's certainly not beauty. No, my blog would be based on the lessons I'm learning as a wife in training.
You see, I'm on the brink of embarking upon wife-hood. But 28 years and one fiance later, I'm none the wiser about what I have to do to become this nobel creature known as a 'Wife'.
Wives are grown-ups. Wives are wise. Wives can cook. Wives are...scary. And I'm soon to become one of them. Eeeeeek!
So, rather than go it alone, I thought I would share my lessons with the blogosphere. Whilst I doubt my blog will boast the Nobel Prize for literature, it may well boast a few of the humbling lessons and triumphs learnt on the way to wife-hood. So, in my new incarnation I am the Wifelette; a girl becoming an grown-up and studying the art of Wife.
Oh...
Hello! I'm back after a good month of hard legal labour. It was incredibly painful and my brain is so sore I can't even read a non-law book now. But it's over - hurrah!
So, I thought I would start off by introducing a shift in direction. I started another blog last week based on an idea that had hatched quite a few months ago. But Blogger have changed their template and I'm just not happy with how it looks. So, I have been considering changing the name of this blog and steering it in a new direction instead. I'm still umming and ahhing about it, although if I do go ahead, all will be revealed shortly.
Another thing I just wanted to say is that even if I don't change the name of this blog, I will be changing the direction. As an ex-PR whose clients were always desperate for coverage my colleagues and I were all encourage to start writing blogs so we could provide our clients with coverage instead. Sounds desperate. And it was. Nevertheless, my view as a PR is seemingly very different to that of the lovely people in blog-land and where I have previously copied images from websites and gushed about how brill a brand or photographer may have been, I have discovered that this isn't quite what you do on the blogosphere.
So, it may sound incredibly naive, but apologies if there is anybody out there who has had a little read (unlikely!) and noticed their creative wares on here. It has certainly not been my intention to offend, but I guess where my PR mind has been trained to believe that anyone is grateful for coverage, it just doesn't work that way. Seemingly on the tinterweb what I may think of as coverage is classified as, er, 'liberating' shall we say?! So apologies chaps, and I won't be doing it again.
Finally, as it seems that only my parner and I actually read my blog, I'm not going to keep the theme of writing from a faux-commercial point of view. Instead, I'm going to write about stuff I like. Who cares if no one reads it (please read me, please read me!!), at least it will make me happy :)
So here goes, a whole new blog...
So, I thought I would start off by introducing a shift in direction. I started another blog last week based on an idea that had hatched quite a few months ago. But Blogger have changed their template and I'm just not happy with how it looks. So, I have been considering changing the name of this blog and steering it in a new direction instead. I'm still umming and ahhing about it, although if I do go ahead, all will be revealed shortly.
Another thing I just wanted to say is that even if I don't change the name of this blog, I will be changing the direction. As an ex-PR whose clients were always desperate for coverage my colleagues and I were all encourage to start writing blogs so we could provide our clients with coverage instead. Sounds desperate. And it was. Nevertheless, my view as a PR is seemingly very different to that of the lovely people in blog-land and where I have previously copied images from websites and gushed about how brill a brand or photographer may have been, I have discovered that this isn't quite what you do on the blogosphere.
So, it may sound incredibly naive, but apologies if there is anybody out there who has had a little read (unlikely!) and noticed their creative wares on here. It has certainly not been my intention to offend, but I guess where my PR mind has been trained to believe that anyone is grateful for coverage, it just doesn't work that way. Seemingly on the tinterweb what I may think of as coverage is classified as, er, 'liberating' shall we say?! So apologies chaps, and I won't be doing it again.
Finally, as it seems that only my parner and I actually read my blog, I'm not going to keep the theme of writing from a faux-commercial point of view. Instead, I'm going to write about stuff I like. Who cares if no one reads it (please read me, please read me!!), at least it will make me happy :)
So here goes, a whole new blog...
My Good Friend, the Midnight Oil
Yes, it's exam season, hence the late night posting and absence of late. There's not much to say really as my life currently consists of an impossible amount of dull revision. As a result I am try (but failing) to put the wedding planning on pause. Whilst it's a wonderful distraction, it has to be put into context: exams in one week, wedding in one year. There's a clear winner here.
So, whilst all this goes on I may be a bit silent as I'm purposefully restraining anything that's remotely inspiring in favour of hitting the books. What a dull existence. Roll on the end date, holidays, spending time with my other half, having a life and forgetting all the legal nonsense I've been filling my head with! x
So, whilst all this goes on I may be a bit silent as I'm purposefully restraining anything that's remotely inspiring in favour of hitting the books. What a dull existence. Roll on the end date, holidays, spending time with my other half, having a life and forgetting all the legal nonsense I've been filling my head with! x
The U.S Equivalent of US
Wow, this wedding has really caught my eye. Shot by the very talented photographer Jill Thomas, I just love the colour scheme and whimsical feel. This is, without doubt, how I imagine our wedding to be...
Via The Bride's Cafe
The Twitterati
I love a spot of social networking. Facebook? Love it. Forums? Fab. Twitter? Ummmmm...
You see, I'm rapidly finding that as a bride-to-be Twitter is getting me into a little bit of trouble. Whilst I think it's great that suppliers can gather together and network amongst themselves in a way that was never before possible, it's not so great for indecisive brides-to-be like me. Suddenly, getting in touch with 30 different stationers about the same event becomes embarrassing, particularly when your wedding becomes the subject of mortifying Twitter banter between suppliers.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a champion of small, independent businesses and the tools that help them become a success, but what about the customer? I've had a horrifying experience where, struck with yet another moment of indecision, I changed my mind about the first photographer we booked. So, after much (international) research, I finally booked another and got h2b to make our excuses. Thing is, the new photographer has mentioned our wedding at least three times on Twitter. Unbeknownst to me, she is also very good friends with one of the other photographers I got in touch with and nearly booked, and has subsequently had conversations with her online about our wedding. THEN, I discovered that our previous photographer follows her on Twitter. Eeeek!
Whilst I'm sure I'm over-dramatising the whole situation, I feel like my anonymity has gone and the suppliers are in charge. I am now Twitter-stalking our photographer to make sure the ex-photographer doesn't twig, realising that our polite excuses were just another way of saying 'we found someone who we love more than you'.
I know it probably doesn't matter as it's business after all, but I can't help but feel it somewhat detracts from the VIP status of brides to be. Suddenly, seeking and securing coveted suppliers whilst secretly revelling in your bridal neurotocism isn't as much fun as it initially seemed. Particularly when you're worried that people are sniggering at your expense. Hhhmmmm... perhaps refraining from supplier stalking is the way forward, or at least the way to preserve my sanity!
Don't get me wrong, I'm a champion of small, independent businesses and the tools that help them become a success, but what about the customer? I've had a horrifying experience where, struck with yet another moment of indecision, I changed my mind about the first photographer we booked. So, after much (international) research, I finally booked another and got h2b to make our excuses. Thing is, the new photographer has mentioned our wedding at least three times on Twitter. Unbeknownst to me, she is also very good friends with one of the other photographers I got in touch with and nearly booked, and has subsequently had conversations with her online about our wedding. THEN, I discovered that our previous photographer follows her on Twitter. Eeeek!
Whilst I'm sure I'm over-dramatising the whole situation, I feel like my anonymity has gone and the suppliers are in charge. I am now Twitter-stalking our photographer to make sure the ex-photographer doesn't twig, realising that our polite excuses were just another way of saying 'we found someone who we love more than you'.
I know it probably doesn't matter as it's business after all, but I can't help but feel it somewhat detracts from the VIP status of brides to be. Suddenly, seeking and securing coveted suppliers whilst secretly revelling in your bridal neurotocism isn't as much fun as it initially seemed. Particularly when you're worried that people are sniggering at your expense. Hhhmmmm... perhaps refraining from supplier stalking is the way forward, or at least the way to preserve my sanity!
Pale & Interesting
Heaps of revision means...more blogging! Yes, I'm happily avoiding the mundanity of law ('Tracing' today - yawn) and looking up pretty things online. And today's delights come from a lovely little boutique called Pale and Interesting. A place where very simple is very beautiful, this gorgeous site is packed with household must-haves.
Rent Your Rocks Ladies!
Well, the first revision day in my long haul journey towards exam season may have been pretty disastrous, but it hasn't been a complete washout. In fact, I've discovered something that will TRANSFORM my wedding (yay!). Rent Your Rocks is an online treasure trove of glitter, suddenly made accessible.
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this genius site allows you to hire delectable diamonds for your wedding day that would otherwise be out of reach. So whereas a necklace may have a retail value just short of £4000, it's available to hire for the week of your wedding at a snip for just £250. A-ah-mazing. What's more, there's a specific bridal gallery allowing busy brides to get straight to business. So, red carpet style wedding day jewellery on your wedding day? Check.
Kong
I'm just catching a re-run of the final episode of Sex and the City and it's reminded me of just about the best bar I have ever been to. Kong, at 1 Rue du Pont Neuf is a sensational place, seething with the Parisienne gliteratti. I went there with my mum a few years ago, in homage to SATC, and it didn't disappoint. If like me you're a die-hard Sex and the City fan, you must go. Or scrap that actually - GO!
Headband Love!
I'm a total sucker for a headband and these ones from Rockstar Diaries writer Taza's shop are just the ticket:
It's times like these I wish I suited dark hair...and yellow...and red lippy. At least I can buy a headband!
SATC 2
I am unbelievably excited about the new SATC movie. One word says it all: AIDAN!! I've been giddy with delight for the past few days. Check out why for yourself...
Weddings and the City
Having booked a countryside wedding venue I am now of course eyeing up city spaces instead. My current favourite is the Haymarket Hotel.
Have I said 'WOW' yet??
Office Stationary
The Office: An American Workplace is my favourite show of all time. So imagine my hysteria when I saw these phenomenal wedding invitations for Jim & Pam, one of the very best couples in TV history:
LOVE them!! They're from a great stationary find, The Future Mrs. Darcy, a super-talented designer who I will definitely be in touch with for our wedding stationary
1707
Yesterday, my other half and I stumbled upon what has to be one of the very best bars in London. 1707 is nestled in the basement of Fortnum & Mason and is an absolute treat.
After a busy day's shopping we propped ourselves up at the bar with a stunning glass of vino and a scrumptious cheese board, all accompanied by the sounds of an accoustic guitar. There is something very special about being in Fortnum & Masons after hours, so we will definitely be returning, particularly seeing as we escaped without sampling their amazing wine flights...yum!
Westwood Wellies
OMG - Love, love, love these Vivienne Westwood Anglomania wellies:
And while I'm at it, I'm also head over heels with her Hearts and Heels range, which is just perfect for brides-to-be (although my mum doesn't approve so they're out for me). At the very least, I'm going to have to treat myself to her simple black heels, which as per all the aforementioned shoes, are a collaboration with Melissa Couture. What's more, not only are they absolutely to die for but are very purse-friendly too. Perfect combination I say!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
