The blog has moved to Wordpress (just think they have better blog options plus I can easily update from my Iphone!)
New link is http://futurephillymissus.wordpress.com
Friday, October 17, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Our first registry gift
A couple of weeks ago we got our first registry gift from my former boss and coworker. (I recently transitioned to a different business unit). I can't tell you how exciting it was to receive that big black and white box from Crate and Barrel.
Doesn't it look lovely on our dining room table.
Doesn't it look lovely on our dining room table.
The Candle Saga Continues
So as you know I got a great deal on candles last week. They came and HOLY COW its a lot freaking candles!!!!!!!!
In this photo each box contains 40 candles and there is still another box underneath with another 40!
I had to check with my florist to see if she had glass containers for this quantity of candles, which duh, she did not have enough for in her existing stock. (Plus I am adding 24-40 more candles.) So she would have to order new glass. Since my florist is a small business owner I didn't think this was fair to her and would be an extraordinary expense, which would eventually get passed on to me. So in her and my best interest I started to hunt for a cheap solution. (Most venues do not allow you to have free standing candles, they either need to be in a container or sit on some type of dish).
Well the internet hunt was on! I love trolling the internet in order to find a great deal.
First up is Save On Crafts. I found that they had some really spectacular prices. Here is a sampling of their deals I am considering.
Clear glass cylinder 7-7/8" tall floral vase $2.36 each
Order 12 for just $1.49 each
Regular price $2.99 each
7.825" tall x 3.25" wide (diameter at the top) glass cylinder vase. Measures 3" diameter until it tapers at the bottom to 2-1/4" wide.
Quality Glass Cylinder Vases at Discount and Bulk Discount Prices
Clear Glass Cylinder Vase 6" tall X 3¼" diameter $2.69 each.
Order 12 for just $2.29 each
Regular price $3.99 each
Excellent for shorter stemmed flowers, floating candles and tea lights.
Quality glass hurricane shades and bases at discount and bulk discount prices.
6 clear 4" Diameter glass bases will hold pillar candles up to 2.9" wide - You get 12 bases for $10.20/ $.85 each
Reg. price $19.08/ $1.59 each
Candle is not included. Pillar candle holders. It has a thick outer lip. Holds up to a 2.9" pillar candle.
Then in a random Google search (search words candle wedding centerpiece) I came upon this lovely idea utilizing glasses from IKEA as candle holders (courtesy of Mrs. Lemon on Weddingbee). What a wonderful and resourceful idea.
IKEA has great prices on their glassware. (I've priced their candles and even with shipping and handling the candle vendor I went to was cheaper. But that is not to say that you can not get a steal on their floating candles and votives. Just be wary of burn time.)
Also check her post for a great deal on plumeria flowers. From my recent trip to Hawaii I can attest to their loveliness from first hand expereince.
So my question is now: What will I do with all that glass after the wedding?
Better start researching how to burnt candled from glass containers.
In this photo each box contains 40 candles and there is still another box underneath with another 40!
I had to check with my florist to see if she had glass containers for this quantity of candles, which duh, she did not have enough for in her existing stock. (Plus I am adding 24-40 more candles.) So she would have to order new glass. Since my florist is a small business owner I didn't think this was fair to her and would be an extraordinary expense, which would eventually get passed on to me. So in her and my best interest I started to hunt for a cheap solution. (Most venues do not allow you to have free standing candles, they either need to be in a container or sit on some type of dish).
Well the internet hunt was on! I love trolling the internet in order to find a great deal.
First up is Save On Crafts. I found that they had some really spectacular prices. Here is a sampling of their deals I am considering.
Clear glass cylinder 7-7/8" tall floral vase $2.36 each
Order 12 for just $1.49 each
Regular price $2.99 each
7.825" tall x 3.25" wide (diameter at the top) glass cylinder vase. Measures 3" diameter until it tapers at the bottom to 2-1/4" wide.
Clear Glass Cylinder Vase 6" tall X 3¼" diameter $2.69 each.
Order 12 for just $2.29 each
Regular price $3.99 each
Excellent for shorter stemmed flowers, floating candles and tea lights.
6 clear 4" Diameter glass bases will hold pillar candles up to 2.9" wide - You get 12 bases for $10.20/ $.85 each
Reg. price $19.08/ $1.59 each
Candle is not included. Pillar candle holders. It has a thick outer lip. Holds up to a 2.9" pillar candle.
Then in a random Google search (search words candle wedding centerpiece) I came upon this lovely idea utilizing glasses from IKEA as candle holders (courtesy of Mrs. Lemon on Weddingbee). What a wonderful and resourceful idea.
IKEA has great prices on their glassware. (I've priced their candles and even with shipping and handling the candle vendor I went to was cheaper. But that is not to say that you can not get a steal on their floating candles and votives. Just be wary of burn time.)
Also check her post for a great deal on plumeria flowers. From my recent trip to Hawaii I can attest to their loveliness from first hand expereince.
So my question is now: What will I do with all that glass after the wedding?
Better start researching how to burnt candled from glass containers.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Cake Tasting II : I'm the greedy one for once
(via Starling fitness blog)
Roe and I had another cake tasting yesterday at a famous cupcake place here in Philly by the name of Brown Betty's. And as you know from the last post I am somewhat of a cake snob. However, I entered into this tasting with high expectations. A couple of weeks ago Roe and I had sampled their wares at their new Rittenhouse location and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was so anxious to get at all that cakey goodness into my mouth that I actually bit into part of the cupcake paper!
Now we had originally planned to go with a more traditional cake and I had foo-foo'd doing cupcakes as too trendy for the longest time. But when we had their cakey goodness we changed our mind. One they have one of the most kick a** cakes out there. Period end of discussion. Two we are always looking to support African American business owners in whatever we do. And three we saw how creative we could get with the display and how it could really add to the decor and feel of the wedding.
Well we were greeted by Norrinda and I must tell you she was the most pleasant woman. Her and her mother, who is the owner and prime baker were working the shop that day. I love the fact that all the recipes are a reflection of their family history and they demonstrate such a love and passion to preserving their memories through baking. You can see this by all the family photos decorating the wall of the shop. Its like walking into your great aunt's house and being treated to afternoon snack.
We had already tasted their carrot cupcake and lemon and were sold on those, but we wanted to try some of their other flavors, particularly the red velvet. Now as someone whose family comes from down south I did not have a tradition of eating red velvet and I have heard raves about it for the longest time. Therefore it was top on the list.
Roe and I tasted the red velvet, buttermilk pound, chocolate fudge, and regular vanilla. They were all great but the red velvet was TO DIE FOR. I wanted to push Roe away and have it all to myself. We both agreed that red velvet had to be served at the wedding. To quote one of Roe's favorite expressions "I gots to have it!"
Needless to say we settled on lemon, red velvet, carrot, and vanilla for the cupcakes and red velvet for a 6" cake for cutting. And we have decide to do two shades of a soft pink for the icing on the cupcakes and a traditional chocolate fondant icing for the cutting cake.
Going with cupcakes also helped in saving us money since we have a smaller wedding and usually bakers will add a surchage if under 75.
Now for the display, which I want to partly be a surprise. Just know that I am on the hunt for lovely pink milk glass cake stands like the following.
Deal on Candles
So as you may or may or not know one of my design elements is candles. Partly because I love candlelight and partly because it is a cost effective design alternative to flowers yet still classy, elegant, and striking.
I have been trolling the internet to find bulk candles as a great rate. In my inital design consultation with my florist we agreed that I would provide the candles so as to cut down the cost and she would provide the glass containers they are to sit in (check with your vendor because a lot of places have rules against open flames - plus I think the glass enhances the effect of the candles.)
I started out by doing a Google search and found a number of vendors that sell candles as good rates. By far I found that Dining by Candlelight a wholesale internet seller had the best prices. They sell votive/tea light and pillar candles as well as containers.
I was most interested in their pillar candles, which can be costly else where. They sell the traditional 3" wide and also a 2.25" wide one known as a chamber pillar. I went with the chamber pillar since they are a little less costly and just as effective. They burn anywhere from 30-70 hours depending on the size.
(source diningbycandlelight website)
And as you can see they were even discounting them below normal price. Off course I got the sale sizes (2.25", 4", & 8"). Still need to get some 6" which I am hoping they discount and tealights which I have seen for better prices than Dining at other vendors.
I was a little freaked out when during the check out process they asked for a tax id and company name in order to preceed, however, I filled in dummy values and my transaction went through.
Can't wait to receive them. And candles store well for years so no need to worry that there are almost 11 months to the wedding.
We plan to use them on the alter during the ceremony and lining the aisle, as well as on all the reception tables.
My question is what the heese am I going to do with all these half burned candles after the wedding?
I have been trolling the internet to find bulk candles as a great rate. In my inital design consultation with my florist we agreed that I would provide the candles so as to cut down the cost and she would provide the glass containers they are to sit in (check with your vendor because a lot of places have rules against open flames - plus I think the glass enhances the effect of the candles.)
I started out by doing a Google search and found a number of vendors that sell candles as good rates. By far I found that Dining by Candlelight a wholesale internet seller had the best prices. They sell votive/tea light and pillar candles as well as containers.
I was most interested in their pillar candles, which can be costly else where. They sell the traditional 3" wide and also a 2.25" wide one known as a chamber pillar. I went with the chamber pillar since they are a little less costly and just as effective. They burn anywhere from 30-70 hours depending on the size.
(source diningbycandlelight website)
And as you can see they were even discounting them below normal price. Off course I got the sale sizes (2.25", 4", & 8"). Still need to get some 6" which I am hoping they discount and tealights which I have seen for better prices than Dining at other vendors.
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I was a little freaked out when during the check out process they asked for a tax id and company name in order to preceed, however, I filled in dummy values and my transaction went through.
Can't wait to receive them. And candles store well for years so no need to worry that there are almost 11 months to the wedding.
We plan to use them on the alter during the ceremony and lining the aisle, as well as on all the reception tables.
My question is what the heese am I going to do with all these half burned candles after the wedding?
Late summer garden
I know its fall and everything but I wanted to post pics of my garden from late summer.Enjoy.
Craigslist Finds
Since I am addicted to wedding internet porn, I come across a lot of wedding stuff during my time surfing.
The one place I am finding that has potential great deals from smaller vendors is craigslist. In my search for wedding vendors I started with theknot (internet and print), friends, and my planner. I just wish I had known about all the blogs and craigslist. There is some great talent out there who may not have the exposure as some of the bigger names or are trying to build up their business.
I came across Mhari Scott Photography and was really captivated by her images and style. She does photojournalism, which my fiance and I decided to go with since we wanted a real life record of the day. And to top it off to boot her prices are AWESOME. 8 hours for $1550 (according to her website).
The second find was Kimberly Noel and she had a style that was a little more vivid than Mhari Scott, yet still great photojournalistic style and once again reasonable prices (packages starting at $1295 woohooo!). Check out her blog to look at her work and more info.
The one place I am finding that has potential great deals from smaller vendors is craigslist. In my search for wedding vendors I started with theknot (internet and print), friends, and my planner. I just wish I had known about all the blogs and craigslist. There is some great talent out there who may not have the exposure as some of the bigger names or are trying to build up their business.
I came across Mhari Scott Photography and was really captivated by her images and style. She does photojournalism, which my fiance and I decided to go with since we wanted a real life record of the day. And to top it off to boot her prices are AWESOME. 8 hours for $1550 (according to her website).
The second find was Kimberly Noel and she had a style that was a little more vivid than Mhari Scott, yet still great photojournalistic style and once again reasonable prices (packages starting at $1295 woohooo!). Check out her blog to look at her work and more info.
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