Leafy Greens

Four days until the wedding and I just can't talk about it anymore. So instead I'll write about leafy greens...

Last night, after a week entirely bereft of vegetables, BB and I lost it and devoured any greens that crossed our path. I cooked up a gigantic batch of spinach sauteed with garlic, golden raisins, currants and pine nuts. It was gone in moments. Next up, steamed broccolini. It never stood a chance.

And the first thing I see this morning, after starting up my computer, is the absolutely glorious looking recipe for Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts on Seven Spoons. Now my mouth is watering for Brussels sprouts at 10am.


*picture from seven spoons

What the Fluff?

My very favorite Cambridge festival is going on in Union Square this weekend!



Maybe I'll see you there. I'll be the one sipping a flufftini.

More Make-up

I continued to test my make-up mojo and picked up a bottle of Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Red Dahlia and I must confess that I'm delighted again.



I wish I'd figured out that "you get what you pay for" applied to make-up years ago.

Wedding Make-up

I don't believe that I'm actually writing a post about make-up, but now that I've been converted I feel compelled to testify.

I wear very little make-up most of the time, although I do wear make-up every day. I use a Clinique tinted moisturizer, blush and mascara. And although I enjoy experimenting with more on special occasions, I do generally stick to the same brand. So when it was suggested to me that I purchase "nice" make-up for the wedding, I took umbridge, fully believing that all make-up was pretty much the same.

On the advice of a friend, I tried Chanel's Tient Innocence foundation and Inimitable mascara and am never going back. It is so easy to apply, feels so good and looks so perfectly natural. I didn't think that make-up like this was possible!





I was feeling so good about this make-up discovery that I picked up the new YSL Gloss Volupte. I'm a card carrying lipstick hater, so I can't believe I'm writing this, but I love this lip gloss. It's light, sheer and not at all sticky like most gloss.



I can't believe I'm turning into a make-up girl. But I also can't believe that I get to look and feel like myself at my wedding.

Wedding Readings

It's a lot more difficult than I thought finding wedding readings that aren't overly poetic, sentimental, religious, etc and that will please two picky book nerds.


Here's what BB and I are going with:

First Reading - Colossians 3:12-14

Second Reading - "Song of the Open Road" from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Prayer - "Wedding Prayer" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Also, Peonies and Polaroids has posted a beautiful reading today from Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer that I highly recommend.

Cozy

I woke up to such a crisp, gorgeous autumn morning and couldn't resist picking up the newest issue of Donna Hay magazine while heading to the subway.



Apples, plaid, coziness...what's not to love? I may even pick up the old knitting needles tonight.

The Train is Rolling...

The wedding is awfully close now and it seems like every day we're accomplishing something major. BB and I applied for our marriage license this morning. When we raised our hands and took the oath about not being related and whatnot I said, "I do" rather than, "Yes". I guess I jumped the gun.

BB ordered our favors yesterday, which are a pair of Burdick's almond-citron macaroons. They'll look like this, but paler, with white backing and a black ribbon:



The wedding/almond kitchiness still delights me. I may have a small bowl of almond dragees next to my guest book. I associate them so strongly with the Long Island weddings of my youth. At least I refrained from ordering an ice sculpture of a swan. See? We learn and grow.

The program is at the printers. The menu tasting is early next week. My gift for BB is in the mail. The train is rolling, people. It's rolling.

Venice Shoes

I may have found my sturdy, honeymoon walking shoes:



As much as I like the idea of spending the whole trip prancing about in va-va-voom heels, I realize that in certain cities this is less than practical. I'm looking at you Venice...

Tempest

As per usual, Rita Konig is creating a s-c-a-n-d-a-l by implying that a cocktail tray is a fun and welcoming addition to ones home. I agree and actually picked up a silver tray at a garage sale a few weeks ago ($1!) that I've been meaning to use for that very purpose. But then again, I'm a depraved member of the urban liberal elite, so what do I know?


photo by Rita Konig

I have a great deal of respect for her (and Tom Delvan's) graciousness in response to nasty commenters. It's so easy when online to let bad behavior be the standard. It's refreshing to see people working to raise the bar.

Sunday Suppers

If you haven't already seen it, I highly recommend heading over to the Sunday Suppers blog for your daily dose of pretty.


photos by Karen Mordchai

I'm currently obsessed with their instructions for preserving lemons. No more Whole Foods preserved lemons for me!

VeeVee

BB and I stopped for a somewhat impromptu dinner at VeeVee in Jamaica Plain last night and I'm so glad we did. It's a great neighborhood place with a good vibe and a menu that pleases both vegetarians and omnivores. In short, it's my holy grail restaurant.

Flaming Lips

I forgot to mention that I saw The Flaming Lips this weekend at the Bank of America Pavilion. The tickets were my birthday present from BB.



We were right in the third row and I touched Wayne's hamster ball twice!



Now I can finally stop being jealous of my little brother for getting to record them in one of his media classes at Fredonia. OK, I'm still a little jealous. But he's such a good egg, we're square.

For more Flaming Lips goodness, I highly recommend The Fearless Freaks, a really well done documentary about the band. And the Embyonic Digital EP, which will make your heart go pitter-pat.

Stodgy

As I often do in times of stress, I find myself turning to life's stodgier comforts. I've been toting a collection of P.G. Wodehouse novels everywhere I go and reading a biography of the man himself before bed.



A darling student of mine just stopped by and gave me a tin of biscuits from Harrods (she studied in London over the summer) and I'm over the moon. All I want is a nice cup of tea, a biscuit and my book. And quiet. Oh please let me get some quiet time soon!

The wedding is closing in. There's really only a month left. It feels like every moment of our time between now and then is booked up. We're meeting with the planner at the restaurant tonight and the officiant tomorrow. My final dress fitting is on Saturday. My Mom is coming up for the weekend to help with some last minute details. Maybe I can have tea with her...