On Writing & All That June Will Bring

Ladies (and gentlemen?), June is going to be an exciting time, both for me, and for this here little blog. Has anyone noticed that I'm back up to five posts? Yay! And I've gotten into a good rhythm, too, so it's been a lot easier. It also forced me to focus on what this blog is, what it can be, and what I do here. Around April/May, I feel like I snapped it into focus. Now, I'm excited about what the year will bring.

I have some things to announce, and I've been reluctant to do that type of post, so I've decided that I will give you a sort of two-in-one post today! First, I'll wax poetic, and then make my announcements. Don't worry, I'll segue nicely.

So, let's start with the waxing. I want to say that I loved this post from one of my favorite blogs, Avoision. Felix wrote about the process of writing, and how it's important to find the time to write. Not just find it, but make it. This is something that has taken me years to learn. In fact, it wasn't until I made the goal to write five times a week that I really understood this idea. I wrote a really long comment on Felix's post, but it's not showing up, and I can't remember if I submitted it or accidentally lost it before hitting submit. Anyway, I'd like to talk about what I wrote there because his post hit me pretty hard.

Ever since I can remember, I've been good at writing. Grammar, style, organization...it has always come easilyy to me. In high school, I could get away without reading a book, and write an A paper on it. And I went to one of the best high schools in the country. In college, I cranked out my honor's thesis in 1 night (30-some pages total) and got an A minus. When I had to take the GRE, I'm ashamed to tell you I completely bombed the math, but did well on reading, and got a perfect score on the writing. Writing is, I believe, my strength and my talent. And sometimes it really bums me out that I didn't pursue it. I tried. God knows I tried. But I don't feel like I ever tried hard enough and then, for various reasons, it became harder and harder for me to try at all.

Now it's 2011 and I haven't written a piece of fiction since 2009. In fact, around the time I started this blog, I stopped writing fiction. (That's a coincidence, but an odd one I only just realized.) I got busy, and I never set aside time. I kept waiting for that "magical, big block of time" as Felix put it. It's funny how I used to think I was busy. There's a reason young 20-somethings can go out all the time. It's because they're not busy. I used to go out on Wednesdays people. For fun. And I used to stay out late. I can't even imagine doing that now. I also used to dick around all day Sunday. Now, I dread working half of the day and then work the other half. So lame. The point is, these past couple of years, writing seemed like a luxury and one I could not afford. And the rejection of past attempts made me reluctant to try again.

Years ago, I set up an email address for a pseudonym I came up with. I think I'd submitted under this name, but had mostly forgotten about the email account. Until this blog. I set up Not The Marrying Kind under a pseudonym because of the nature of my profession. I try very hard to keep a low internet profile and I don't share this blog with anyone in my real life. There are a handful of people who know my real first name, even fewer who know my whole name, and two that know who I am and my personal email address, and of course A.P. I set up this little blog as a way for me to vent about weddings and sort of store ideas for my own wedding. I never intended for it to be anything more. Though, once I sort of realized the thing a blog could become, it crossed my mind. Still, it wasn't something I entertained seriously. A little over two years later, this blog has become something else entirely. It's not some huge powerhouse in the wedding industry, and I certainly don't consider myself a "big" blogger. However, I have some regular readers, and I get some decent traffic for someone who didn't really take blogging that seriously until a few months ago (despite two years of doing it!) and the numbers climb a little, tiny, wee bit more every week.

I'd like to think it's because of what Bill Roorbach, the writer Felix was writing about in his post, is advising. I started treating this like work. I even told someone I couldn't talk to them on the phone once because I was "writing." I started calling it work, too. As Roorback says, first, to myself. Then, to A.P. Then, to one family member. Then, to two coworkers. And slowly to some other people. It's sort of like I've been outing myself as a blogger. I still have to blog under a pseudonym, and I've only shared the site address with a couple of people, but I'm more comfortable with telling people that I have a blog, something I was too scared to do two years ago.

I put a lot more effort into it, too. I started to take it seriously, and it started to take shape. At a time when I felt really shitty and contemplated stopping blogging altogether, some good things happened. I submitted to A Practical Wedding (and appeared on the site as a Wedding Graduate) and I was picked as a featured post on BlogHer. See? Exciting things!

The thing is, I really believe none of this would have happened if I had continued to treat writing as something I did as a hobby. Yet, even if all this blog ever amounts to is a fun, little hobby where every once in a while something cool happens, I think I'd be okay with that. What was important was for me to take it seriously as a form of writing (something about which Felix and I don't agree), making sure to get posts up no matter what (even now it's past midnight and I'm exhausted), and meeting that goal of five times a week. It's turned into an important lesson for me.

That being said, it's also opened up new possibilities for me, and for this here little blog. And so, a few things have shifted and changed and a few things are on the horizon. First up, the changes...

1. I have some new features that I've been trying out the last few weeks, that seem to be getting good responses, and I like 'em, so...they stay! First is Marriage Mondays, where I muse on marriage-related topics. The other is Wedding Wednesdays, where I offer some pretty inspiration/suggestion for various aspects of a wedding (e.g. dresses, centerpieces, invitations, etc.). And then of course, there's always the dance.

2. I'm not just on blogger anymore. I still refuse to join Facebook (or even link that shit. Take that, Facebook.), but I am on Twitter, Pinterest, and Polyvore. You should follow me on all of those. If you're on twitter, I say random funny stuff sometimes, show pictures of the ugly shirt that I can't bear to throw out that I wore when I first asked out a boy who I REALLY liked, and I also constantly remind you that there are new posts up. I'm awesome like that. If you're on Pinterest, I've said it before, I'll say it again. I give good pins. And if you like the fashion boards that I've been posting here, you should check me out on Polyvore. You can get the preview before I publish!

Now the horizon...

1. Sometime in June/July, I'll be hosting a giveaway. It's going to be a test of many things, namely a business idea that A.P. and I have been batting around. And so in order for me to work on the business idea this summer in my downtime, I must do a little shopping. And what I don't end up using will be a (hopefully) cool giveaway. I'm psyched. You should be, too.

2. Since I occasionally blog about television, I was invited to preview of a couple of new TV shows that will be airing on ABC this fall. I love fall premieres. It's almost like that new year of school when you were a kid. It's a bunch of potentially awesome new friends and you get to see your old friends and have new adventures with them, too. I know it's not related to weddings or marriage, but because I love all things television and movies, I'm going to give you guys a preview of one of the new shows (a new friend, I hope) I got to sneak a peek at. Keep your eyes peeled for that in June.

3. Finally, I've been asked to introduce you to an awesome new bridal website and offer a pretty sweet discount to my readers. I'm excited about this and you should be, too. Especially since I would have loooved a site like this when I was getting married. That will be coming this month, as well.

That's pretty much it. I hope you guys are enjoying warm, summerish weather. It's finally warmed up in Chicago and I can't tell you how happy I am, even though the building I work in isn't completely air conditioned. See you tomorrow for the dance! I'll be showing a sweet engagement shoot that might just serve as inspiration for our own "engagement" shoot.

Book Geek

A.P. made fun of me A LOT the other night because I became obsessed with this site after finding it on Avoision. Better Book Titles tries to summarize a book with a new title. The result is hilarious! Here are some of my favorites.

Macbeth

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Great Gatsby

Beowulf

(All Photos via Better Book Titles)

Happy News from Blogland!

Good things are happening to some of the bloggers whose blogs I read...


Felix at Avoision is one of five finalists for The Museum of Science and Industry's Month at the Museum. Check out his profile here. The voting has ended and the winners will be announced this Wednesday! Let's keep our fingers crossed for him!

And after a tough summer and some ups and downs (with more of the latter), Drea of The Maiden Metallurgist fame is expecting her first child with her husband, Josh!

Congrats to both! I can't wait to see how both plots develop!

How About a Dance to Get Your Week Started?

My peeps, I know I've said it before, but this summer has been insane. And because of that, blogging has not been my biggest priority. Which is unfortunate, because I love it so. This past week I was training for my new job, getting my email account hacked (especially fun when your old bosses and ex-boyfriends and people you haven't talked to in years get emailed) and hanging out with my nephew one last time before he goes back to college. I heart that kid so much. One of the greatest pleasures of my life so far has been watching him grow up. Anyway, I spent time with him on Friday and so, the Friday dance did not happen. Then, yesterday, I woke up early and A.P. and I went and got our hair cut. (My treat to him and myself. We look fancy now.) Then I went to Joann Fabrics to get craft stuff, and then to Target, and then I met A.P. and we went to see District 9, which was most definitely one of the best movies I've seen in a long, long while. Phew! Anyway, it has been a weekend packed with activity, but because of that, the dance got postponed. Tragedy, I know. But though I may be a procrastinator, I don't blow things off. So without further ado, I give you the Friday dance...on Saturday, er, Sunday.

First of all, Liz has done it again. Seriously...go look. Also, thanks to Liz's fiance, Felix, I now know about this awesome site, which (and as Felix pointed out) ranks up there with Found, Postsecret, and that other site I always mention, Awkward Family Photo.

Second of all, based on this article, A.P. might very well be a dog...but that's a good thing.

Third of all, this is vulgar, but hilarious. Found it via Bloggity Blog. Probably NSFW, not because of nudity or anything, but because of content.

Fourth of all, don't you wish you had a craft closet like this???? Color me green with envy! Damn you Field Journal!! Is everything you do magic???

Okay...now on to the wedding stuff.

Want to see a close approximation of what our centerpieces will look like? Go check these out. We'll have less greenery though, but the terrariums and apothecary jars holding objects and plants is right on.

How cute is this idea? Get ready...it features birdies. Why am I so drawn to birds???

Style Me Pretty featured a really beautiful "Shabby, Super-Chic Wedding" this past week. Go check it out here (the link is just for part one). But really, focus on these pretties:

Photo via Style Me Pretty

Aren't they just the most dreamy, romantic shoes ever? Normally I hate the shoes brides wear, but these are so beautiful. They're so light. They're what wings for your feet should look like. I heart shoes so much. My brother's latest girlfriend came over to our place the other week and she was blown away by my huge walk-in closet full of clothes and the insane amount of shoes I have. Good thing we didn't even get to the boatload of jewelry and coats! (I'm not exaggerating. When my grandmother passed away she left me all of her jewelry, which was 99% costume, but vintage and awesome. It also amounted to about four suitcases full.) : O ) God bless A.P. for putting up with my closet overload! Seriously.

Okay, tangent over, now on to the photo blitz!

First up is this lovely, 1940's inspired engagement session. Here's a peak. For the rest go to Vintage Glam Blog!

Photo via Vintage Glam Blog

And for more engagement bliss, go check out this engagement shoot at Wedding Cabaret! I'm soooo digging the dramatic sky photos (even though I suspect some of it was photoshopped)!

But for real dramatic lighting, look no further than Feather love. I have mad love for Feather Love Photography, and I have to say I was so bummed that A.P. and I didn't win this contest. And I suspect we came close to getting picked, because we did get mentioned in the cool weddings that she didn't pick when she announced this couple, Emily and Royal, as having won. I told A.P. later that I almost wish that hadn't happened, though, because it makes me think we were so close! Anyway, after seeing the results, I have to tell you, they so deserved to win! Their wedding was beautiful, and though East Side Bride already did a nice recap, I had to feature this

one photo. It made me wish (for the millionth time) that Feather Love was here and not in California. Sniff. Sniff.

Photo via Feather Love Photography

I fell in love with this country wedding over at the Wedding Chicks. Though I'm a born and raised city kid (I grew up in a condo and started riding the bus by myself when I was 7 years old!), country weddings speak to me so much. If my grandmother was still alive, I would ask to have the wedding at her house in the country. But since I can't do that, I have to live vicariously through all these lovely wedding posts, like Katie and Morgan's below. Here's a few of the photos shot by Allyson Magda Photography, but make sure to click that link above and go check out the rest.

Photos via The Wedding Chicks

Finally, since you all know I love stop motion, how could I not love this video, A Year of Lex, that I saw over at Thoughtful Day? This is such a great idea, too! If I thought I could do it, I would. But since I tried a photo of myself everyday for a month and failed at that, I figure, best leave these types of projects to the pros. Check it out!

Invite Envy

So, Nelia asked me a question the other day via comments about whether or not I was still planning on silkscreening our invitations. Truth be told, I really, really want to, and believe I can, too. However, since buying that silkscreen, I haven't even cracked the box open. I've been working so hard this summer, and savoring it since I still don't have a job lined up past the end of this month (despite a hardcore job search). Anyway, this job ends in a week and a half, and then I will have more time, because while normally I have spare time on the weekends to do things, this summer we've been hella busy. I bought some small tote bags at Target, and want to sketch out a little something and then practice silkscreening those. Once I do, I will post pictures here.

I'm not going to lie, though, a few weeks ago when I sketched out our potential invititations out of nothing else but sheer boredom, I was getting really discouraged about how making our own invitations would work out. It may take only a weekend or so to print them all (thank goodness we don't want to have a big wedding, otherwise I know I'd be screwed!), but it will take a good, long while to get my image finalized, burn the screen, etc. Oi! Right as I was getting overwhelmed though, I decided to take a blog break and head over to one of my favorites in the blogerhood, Avoision. Liz and Felix are no strangers on this blog; I've posted about them once or twice. Anyway, they are getting married very soon and are now officially my wedding heroes! Not only is Liz making all these awesome favors (click on those links for details), but they made these fantastic invitations. Look at the RSVP cards! They have a vespa, and I have to say, they worked in that detail nicely.

photo via Avoision

They glued the RSVP card to the back of the postcard. Can you believe they made these using fancy paper and a Canon iP4300 color printer??

photo via Avoision

Finally, because Liz and Felix have a bunny, Baxter, they affixed this adorable little paper band and seal with a bunny on it that says "Hoppily Ever After." [Insert collective awwww here.]

photo via Avoision

So while a final decision can't be made about my own invitation making until I do a trial run in August, I am in awe of Liz and Felix and their phenomenal work! Their invitations turned out gorgeous and they most definitely serve as inspiration!

Wow. Just. Wow.

“Hey, can you grab me a tofu dog? I’m kind of busy live-blogging this picnic.”

Apropros Picture and Caption via Look at this Fucking Hipster!

Remember Awkward Family Photo??? This is way, way, way better than that! Look at this fucking hipster!! Hilarious! Nothing at all to do with wedding planning, but good internet nonetheless. I know at least one of you will like it. This one is my favorite...for the caption alone. A.P. found this one! Thanks, A.P.!! This is one of many reasons why I heart you so very much! You too love to trash talk the hipsters!

Dance All Night

photo by me!

As promised, here's a Dance Friday post for you! This includes stuff from last week, too, since the FILs were here visiting. But some stuff is just too good to not post even though it's a little, tiny bit old. Like Liz's chocolate mustaches and noses:

photo via avoision

Liz is Felix at avoision's fiancee and though I've posted about her awesomeness before, she really has gone above and beyond this time. Check out the latest favors she made! Chocolate mustaches and noses for her candy bar! How cool are those? Plus how freaking adorable is that picture of the two of them with their little chocolate face accessories? Liz=kitchen genius!

Speaking of genius, I'm loving Miss Bunny at Weddingbee's homemade place card holders. She's got a great attitude about not spending money and she fashioned these out of old cookie cutters and wire. And though that might sound a little too MacGuyver-ish to you, they totally rock. Check them out here.

Little details like the place card holders are my favorite thing about wedding planning. I know when people show up to my wedding eventually most of them probably won't notice, but I know there's always those two or three people who appreciate the little quirky details, like my friend Mimi's post about this totally unique cake topper. Although A.P. isn't the tall one, I am. I'm thinking we'll need a bride ostrich. Haha! Mimi was really on a roll, too, because she also posted these pictures of her arrangements from her own wedding. I'm loving all the different white vases. Fantastic! But I expect nothing less from someone who came up with such an awesome guest book.

I'm loving all the Save the Dates that Brooklyn Bride has been posting lately. But I adore these and those. These because I love photobooths, and those because I heart The Little Prince! So much so, I've been trying to figure out a way to incorporate him into our invites! No such luck yet, though. And though Brooklyn Bride also featured these, I saw them first at Once Wed.

So, as many of you know, I'm a city girl. A big city girl, born and raised. And with the city life comes the train. If you're from Chicago, it's the "L". Anyway, as many of you also know, I heart me some Jeremy Lawson Photography. And if you live a hop, skip and a jump from Logan Square, then these pictures will make you swoon. I've told A.P. a million times that I want to take train photos on our big day. He doesn't get it at all, but I'm hoping these photos will convince him. Look at that train rushing past behind them as they kiss! I love it! (Btw, go check out the original...my polaroid doesn't do it justice!)

photo via Jeremy Lawson Photography

Speaking of wedding photography, you heard it here first: Fuck balloons, shopping carts are the new trend. Seriously.

Good God this is a long post! That's why you don't ever stop blogging! But it's worth it, right? Especially if you didn't already catch these weddings: Bowen & Brett at Green Wedding Shoes, Emily & Chris at Snippet & Ink, and Wren Handmade's wedding as featured at Once Wed. Part of what drew me to all three of these weddings were the clothes. Chris gives good suit, and I'm in love with Laura from Wren Handmade's dress!

photo via Once Wed

photo via Snippet & Ink

Finally, since A.P. and I will celebrate our three year anniversary in a month, this post with all it's sparkler fun reminded me of our first date, when we made a cake and lit sparklers on my back porch. It was fantastic, and I, like Something's Hiding in Here, am looking forward to the next set of adventures!

photo via Something's Hiding in Here

Have a greet weekend, everyone!

Come Dancing!

photo by me!

It's that time again! Can you believe how fast this week went? I have been seriously pounding the pavement dropping off resumes! It sucks. I went to seven places this week, and I'm about to go to three more today. But before I do...let's do a little dancing.

It seems that this was the week of video invitations, save the dates, and thank yous. The funniest was definitely from DIY Wedding Girl, who featured The Broke Ass Bride's video. You can see it here. My favorite part is when he says, "I was doing stuff you do in 2002," and you see Friendster in the back! Classic!

There is also this save the date, via Brooklyn Bride, and this invitation which is awesome and must have taken FOREVER to make via A Cup of Jo. A.P. saw this on one of his econ blogs, which means it must be making the rounds big time!

There are several beautiful weddings making the rounds. One of my favorites is this one from The Wedding Cabaret. I love the intimacy and the last picture where it looks like they're trying to hail a cab is classic. If that were my picture, I would frame that bitch right up on the wall!

These two, both via Rock 'n Roll Bride, are amazing as well. I love the bride's hair in this one, and I think these two might secretly be making a Belle & Sebastian album cover.

This engagement/wedding comes from The Wedding Chicks. I just love the picture of them in the restaurant.

This wedding was referred to me by Liz, Felix's fiancee from Avoision, one of my favorite everyday blogs. Liz is awesome! She makes yummy food, and is making all these cool wedding favors like homemade vanilla extract and rock candy!! Anyway, she is much faster around the internerd than I am, and she found this surprise wedding on 100 Layer Cake. It's nice to read/see how another surprise wedding played out. I'm telling you, ladies (and gentlemen), this is going to be the new trend!!

Finally, check out all these wonderful little things you could buy/make/add to your own wedding! You could get this charming cake topper (found via A Splendid DIY $10,000 Wedding)! You could turn these toothpicks from Party Perfect into more than just food labels. Hello! Place cards!

And finally, given my recent photo project, is it any wonder that I wouldn't love these engagement photos from Steep Street photography??? Just fantastic!

photos via Steep Street

Stay tuned tomorrow...I usually don't post on the weekends, but I'm going to post on a giveaway I've spotted!!

Nothing Left for Me to Do But DANCE!

photo by me!

That's right...it's the return of Dance Fridays. Not that I'd really gone that long without them. This one is short and sweet. First of all...look at this photo:

photo via Awkward Family Photos

Isn't it awesomely hilarious?? If you follow my twitter at all (and you should, in fact, just click here and make yourself feel better), you would know that at around 2:30 in the morning, I couldn't get enough of Awkward Family Photos. Entertainment Weekly featured the site in this week's issue, and then one of my favorite blogs, Avoision, had a post about it yesterday. Anyway, it's freaking hilarious. I could post so many more that had me dying laughing, but then this post might as well be a part of Awkward Family Photo's blog. So just go there...and die laughing. It'll make you rethink your shot list for your wedding!

Then for a more grounded photography experience, check out these two beautiful weddings. I love Jeremy Lawson's beautifully shot wedding (at University of Chicago! I love it!), and Green Apple's lovely hued wedding (via The Wedding Chicks).

Finally, in order to prove to A.P. that wedding planning is intensive and requires lots of time and discussion (that can't be done at the last minute), I made a list of all the things we will have to deal with. OH. MY. GOD. It's five pages long, SINGLE SPACED. I'm in over my head...I know I am. After all, even though our wedding will be our own, wouldn't it be nice if it were as dreamy and as beautiful down to the details as this fake wedding as featured by C. is for Charmed (there's that pesky blog crush again!). Who doesn't want a tree filled with memories??

photo by Tec Petaja via C. is for Charmed

Happy weekend, bloggers! Dance it up!