Save the Date

I made these really quickly one night a few weeks ago when I started to panic about people having information about the wedding. The idea came from an idea in Martha Stewart Weddings a few issues back. Martha's was made to be a postcard, however I was a bit nervous about the little envelope making it all the way to the recipients houses with the rest of the card. I decided to adapt it a bit and make it an enclosure. I really like how it turned out, and had a great time hand stamping all of them.

Put Your Stamp on It

custom stamps from stamps.com

After I had applied all of my stamps to the rsvp envelopes and they were nice and secure in my sealed and addressed outer envelopes I realized that I had heard the price of stamps was increasing sometime in the near future. And then I panicked.

It turns out that we are in the clear, stamp prices will be raised once cent to $0.42 on the 12th of May 2008. Our rsvp's are due in before that, but for anyone who will be purchasing stamps for use after that date be aware of what you are purchasing and make sure to ask questions, not that you always get great answers at the post office. Also, you can save some money and purchase some of the 5 billion, according to the USPS web site, forever stamps that I have been put into circulation to prepare for the great money hike.

Also, you can purchase customized stamps for various wedding mailings. There are a lot of sites out there, on of which is stamps.com, who offer this service. Make sure to have the post office weigh what you intend to use the stamps for so that you order them with the correct postage. Use your engagement photos for invitations, or a landmark where you will be wed. And for the thank you notes, choose your favorite portrait from the wedding, or event. This would also be so cute for birthdays and baby showers, or birth announcements. I have to also mention that this could go very wrong and be really cheesy, so walk the thin line with this and make sure that it is done tastefully and not tackily.

All in One Place

the mini binder by Russell and Hazel

All of the wedding books tell you that you have to have all of your wedding information with you at all times. What if there is an emergency table linen disaster and you need to make a decision that cannot wait until you get home? The world could end. And lord knows, people do not have enough to carry around with them without taffeta swatches.

I decided to take this advice with a grain of salt, but knew that I needed to step up my daily planner and information storage system. And, as my parents tell you, I love a good binder, always have. Anything that is organizational I can't get enough of. A few years ago, I came across Russell and Hazel, the ultimate affordable, fun, durable organization company for all things desk related. Their products can be hard to come by, at least a good variety in their product line, so I quickly went on their web site to see if there was a local retailer in Baltimore. Luckily, there was, Chelle Paperie, where we then had our invitations designed and printed.

mini filler paper by Russell and Hazel

I decided to go with the Mini Binder, in gold, of course, and all kinds of great inserts. I loaded up with lined paper, a calender, an address insert and folders to place those little things that seem to disappear into your purse. I cannot recommend this company enough. I am still using binders that I purchased over 5 years ago, and that is saying a lot for me! So check them out you will be glad you did.

month table by Russell and Hazel

Family time

It has been about a week, well exactly a week since our last entry. We have been busy with family and wedding arrangements. My Mom came into town on Tuesday afternoon and we were off and running on Wednesday at Hitched in DC, our first bridal salon. We had a wonderful experience there and found a dress that we both loved.

Wednesday morning we also picked up all kinds of goodies as Atwater's in Belvedire Square. We love this place and could eat there for every meal. They make wonderful breads, all from certified organic flours ground at a family mill, and with great additions like grains, nuts, fruits and seeds, all organic as well. They also make splendid soups that are different each day. While I was enjoying my lunch there a few weeks ago they had order forms out on the counter for Thanksgiving treats that they would be offering. Let's just say that I might have gotten a bit to excited and ordered a bit to much for the four of us, but we are moving through it all quite well and it should all be gone by the time that my parents leave tomorrow morning. Just in case you were wondering here is the run down of what we got. One quart of lobster butternut squash bisque, amazing but rich. One quart of roasted fall vegetable minestrone, i heard it was good, but there were a few to many veggies in it for me. A brioche, huge, we are still plowing through that, I might cut it and freeze it for french toast on some lazy Sunday morning. There was also a round of cranberry and walnut bread which was a great hit and we are going to pick some up for my parents to take home with them. And the finale were three pies. The first was a sweet potato, second was an apple pie with cheddar cheese crust, and the third a pecan pie, not to gooey or sweet, just right and the first pie to be finished as well.

On Thanksgiving we went to JP's grandparents house for lunch and my parents were able to meet his family. We had a really nice time and enjoyed being with family and friends.

Friday we had the misfortune of going to a bridal salon in Pikesville, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. The place was horrible, very uninviting, overall really creepy. My Dad said that it was like being at a used car lot. The sales woman was trying to pressure me into buying from them and did not listen to anything that I was say in regards to what I wanted. Needless to say we left quickly and without a dress.


Saturday was much more productive. We all went to brunch at Golden West in Hampden, a neighborhood in Baltimore that JP and I really like. JP lived there for two years and I am currently working at a store there, but more about that later. We then went to Chelle Paperie, and met with Katie about our invitations. We all loved what she had come up with and are really excited about the finished product. I know that I have mentioned the store before, however I just found there blog and it is really nice so that is the link that I used for this mention of the store, I suggest that you check it out.

After the the invitations we trekked down to DC to go back to Hitched to show Dad the dress that I am in love with. He put his stamp of approval on it, we did measurements and in a few months, well about 6 we will have a dress! I am so excited and cannot wait to see the finished product.

Today we are cooking the turkey that my Dad transported from Missouri here on Thursday. It is a heritage Red Bourbon turkey, they are very tasty and we are all excited to sit down to a turkey dinner, again.

Cheers

Share it with the world

JP and I went to Chelle Paperie, in Hampden yesterday to start the process of designing our invitations. We are really excited to be working with a locally owned store. The woman Katie, who we are working with to design the invitations also went to MICA. This is where JP and I went to school in Baltimore for any who might be wondering. And when I say working with to design the invitations, I mean that we came with an idea, some photos and some suggestions about packaging, colors and a few graphics and she is really doing the rest. We will meet with her when my parents are in town next week for Thanksgiving and we cannot wait to see what she has for us to look at.

The inspiration for our invitations comes from this amazing press, Mr. Boddington's out of NYC, of course. The image above really has nothing to do with what our printing will look like, but I did not want to give everything away. In any case, you should check out their site, it is very inspirational, and keep an eye out in great stationary stores for their pressed cards.

Great custom press in Baltimore

Recently, I have been on the invitation hunt. There is a lot of ugly out there, and trying to find something that has a hand touch and is still elegant has proven to be a bit of a challenge. I did find and fall in love with a press out of New York, of course. However, it is important to JP to try and find a local printer to create our invitations.

While I was out the other day looking for some Russel and Hazel products and I found the greatest little gem in Baltimore. Chelle Paperie has been open for just over a year now and has a very thoughtful selection of office organization goods, stationary, notions and inspirational custom creations. I am really excited to go and work with them on our invitations. And, also like a sign that we should have our invitations printed there, I saw some small note cards printed by the press that I love out of NYC. I purchased one for Curt and Bonnie for their shower, I am really excited about it.