Ten years later...

and I finally got around to properly storing my dress this weekend! When I got married ten years ago, my mom, as many other mother-of-the-brides do, didn't even blink when my dream dress was three times what I had originally planned on spending and generously opened her checkbook. I fell in love with the silk dupioni skirt that had the most beautiful natural shimmer in the sunlight, and the heavy guipure lace on the bodice just felt so thick and strong (I'm a person that often selects clothing for how the fabric feels--it's a little strange probably!). The style seemed timeless and elegant, and just a little different (a flattering front bodice with a modest neckline, but a fun and dramatically low back).

After the wedding, I took my dress to an archival cleaner, but couldn't stand the thought of putting my dress in one of those horrible boxes printed with magenta swirls and forest green leaves and the words "My Wedding Gown" above the little flap you lift to see your dress through a little plastic window. I think of them as dress coffins; after embalming, your dress is laid in it's final resting place of this awful little box. Me? I wanted to be able to put mine on once in a while, to feel that lace, to swish the silk skirt around a little...

So, it hung for ten years in a plastic garment bag. It haunted me sometimes when I couldn't sleep at night; I knew it was in the closet turning yellow at that very moment. It bothered me whenever I went to a wedding; as I watched the bride in her beautiful creation, I knew the threads in mine were weakening from the plastic bag. But every time I tried to find a storage solution, I found plain acid free boxes for $200, custom monogramed embroidered muslin bags for $300, or I ran back into the dress cofffin.

But dress salvation has arrived! A few weeks ago, while wandering around The Container Store, I saw their soft blue acid free boxes, and knew my problem was solved. The boxes come in several sizes, are very affordable ($30-$45), come with acid-free tissue for packing, and can be opened up whenever you want to try the old frock on. And the boxes are exactly what I had in mind...plain, simple, yet as timeless as I like to think my dress is.

Ten years later...and my wedding dress is still my favorite piece of clothing I own. I'm confident I'll never feel as beautiful as I did that day. And yes, the skirt of my dress has yellowed a little. But...ten years, a lot of afternoons in my kitchen baking, a love for great restaurants, and two babies later, it still zips up perfectly!

Sun, tulips, a nursery, and SNOW!

We had a little of everything in Seattle this weekend as we broke our "late in the year" snow record. And it wasn't just a few sprinkles; a few people I know had 8"! But I should start at the beginning...

On Friday morning, my little family headed north to the Skagit Valley to check out the beautiful tulip fields. We knew it was still a little early in the season, but we had a free day and the sun was shining.

My little guys spend so much time around flowers that I've had to teach them early to smell--no touching!

Really, I just use the annual tulip festival as an excuse to get up north so that I can go to my very favorite nursery; Christianson's Nursery in the Skagit Valley, between Mount Vernon and La Conner. I couldn't resist taking pictures this weekend to share.

Besides beautiful plants and beautiful paths and beautiful displays, Christianson's has some great old outbuildings to explore. This is the original schoolhouse in the Skagit Valley, and dates back to 1888.

An old red barn and ironwork aviary...

Other scenes from the nursery...

There is a great little antique shop in one of the barns, filled to the brim with European antiques, garden art, and amazing little soaps and candles. They always have a couple of antique Italian chandeliers hanging in the windows to catch the light.

The plants at the nursery are watered from this mossy, damp, stone rain collection trough.

And then...after a great lunch at the Skagit Valley Brewery, we drove south to head home, and the rain started. And then got thicker. And then turned to slush. And was a downright blizzard by the time we arrived home.

And our own poor tulips? Covered in ice and snow!

The week in review...

A couple beautiful interiors from Nate Berkus via Urban Grace Interiors. Yes, you probably could describe these as masculine as Erika did, but they are certainly a lot more beautiful than anything my husband would have come up with!

Antique doors as an innovative wedding backdrop. Photo from Vallentyne Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

I'm so in love with these shoes and this dress from Peonies and Polaroids. There are no words to describe their perfection. Dress from Marchesa, shoes from Christian Louboutin (of course).

This week, Kathryn from Snippet & Ink (have I mentioned this blog before? It has SO many great ideas!) put together inspiration boards for weddings on a budget, and followed each with some great ideas on how to save a few dollars (and what to really splurg on!). A few of my favorites were the lobster feed and the cocktail party in shades of champagne.

And last week, Martha completely annoyed me with all her talk about washing donkeys

and horses' teeth,

but this week, she really moved me with her tribute to Paw Paw (Ok, I'll be honest. I'm totally hormonal and started crying when I read it). I'm sure you've seen him; he was often featured on her show and in the magazine. I always thought he looked like a fuzzy copper teddy bear rather than a dog, and just seemed so sweet and calm. I'm just glad he had such a peaceful and happy last day!

And now to make you laugh...Fold your own Candidate!

From How About Orange. This cracks me up because I always love anything that makes politicians look ridiculous (especially these).

Have a great weekend!
--Alexa

green-fabulous!

I promised my friend Johnny I'd spread the word a little about his new blog...and then, when I went to get some pictures off of it and started reading, I realized he's actually doing me a favor. There is some really good stuff on there!

Johnny is the owner/founder of GreenFab, a sustainable development company working to achieve a balance between the natural and built environments. They focus on health, community and environment, and are also a portal of awesome ideas and new developments going on in sustainable building. I know I have a few readers currently building new homes--his site is a must see!

One of my favorite finds are these leaves, currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. The leaves are beautiful in themselves, but what they do is even better. You attach them to the side of your home, and they capture wind energy as they flutter in the breeze and sun energy through their photovoltaic cells. This is one of the neatest innovations I've heard about in a long time!

I also love the pictures of Johnny's garden, maybe because they bring back fond memories of many summer barbecues with great friends, but most likely because it really is an amazing place and Johnny's amazing photography really makes it shine.

Johnny designed and installed the entire garden, including the cute little shed with the green roof shown below, and the metal sculptures you can see to the side.

I love this Irish moss path and all the other beautiful little details. The pond? It has brilliant orange tumbled glass (from Bedrock--a really cool recycled glass place in Seattle) surrounding the base that you can just get a peek of in the last picture.

Check back with GreenFab often for all the latest innovations (and cool gizmos) in green development!

I know...the picture isn't very sexy...

I'm sure you've heard of this before, but if you are like me, you might have thought "Great idea! I'll do that soon". Well, a few weeks ago I finally got around to filling out the on-line form to opt-out of credit card offers through the mail. And even though the site warned that it could take several months to notice a difference because so many firms print or plan these offers quite a ways ahead, I've noticed a huge difference already!

Less waste AND less chance of identity theft; its a winning situation. And it only took MAYBE 45 seconds to do it. Yup, this is your homework assignment for the weekend. Get to it.

No ordinary Joe!

Don't forget to tell me your favorite song(s) by midnight tonight!

Joe Yamada is donating an autographed copy of his really wonderful CD "Heartfelt" to one of my readers. Right now, your chances of winning are REALLY good!

Real Weddings: Roland & Leann

The wedding that followed yesterday's rehearsal dinner pictures. I love that the two events had such different designs--I don't think the wedding should ever look like a "The Rehearsal Dinner...continued". You don't want to give everything away the night before!

This wedding was held at a darling little church in Medina (no pictures, I was setting up the reception), and the reception that followed was at Canlis, a Seattle institution with an amazing view and even more amazing food. (I heard from the staff at Canlis that Peter Nordstrom had his wedding here last December, with shimmery navy blue linens/dresses etc. and white birch branches everywhere. Doesn't it sound incredible?). Leann asked for flowers in light spring shades of pink, green, and soft blue; and she loved a looser free-flowing look for the designs.

There were two table designs. The first had heavy glass squares with a mix of hydrangea, fringe tulips, callas, lilies, chocolate fiddleheads, green orchids and roses. The other design was a set of four glass vases in various sizes of rectangles, each have a single flower type: hydrangea, callas, delphinium, and more fabulous green orchids.

A large statement piece arrangement for the entrance into the space...composed entirely of green and white orchids.

Little details...

chocolate fiddleheads, which formed a perfect natural heart

A green orchid was tucked into each guests napkin--which adds so much more color to the table and makes each guest feel special.

Don't forget to have your photographer get a shot of the bride and groom's place cards. It's always a very sweet picture!