Modern White Weddings

One of my best friends has given me wedding fever. I had significantly slowed down with stalking wedding blogs and tearing pages out of the latest BRIDES magazine.  Then Ashley had to go and send me a photo of a gorgeous bride and a dramatic wedding....so for the last couple of days all I can think about is my dream wedding. Nighttime with a million candles. No, high noon on the beach. All dramatic reds and black accents. On second thought, maybe an ultra modern color palette of white on white. Ughhh.... there is just so much to decide!  It is enough to drive me bonkers, which is why I had put the wedding thoughts on hold!! Needless to say, I have been browsing and I love the light colors of the wedding below...

So I know that usually the bride is the main focus of the wedding day (imagine that), but I was immediately drawn to these white & cream bridesmaid dresses. I love how each maids' dress is different! Its crisp and unique, since usually the bride is the only one wearing white. Perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Here's the bride. And the groom. Love the black ribbon around her dress, it makes it a bit rock n' roll.

How cool is this lighting? Its very rustic and simple. The bride designed and did this with the help of her family. I wish I was this creative. I would have to hire someone to do this for me.

Another shot of the genius chandelier.

Love this chair treatment. I think even I could do this. Maybe.

 Here are few more photos from white weddings that I am loving!

Absolutely stunning. Love this. If I knew where this was, I might get married here just for this photo.

White-on-white with green accents on the coast. 

So many choices, it is enough to drive a woman insane. Hope this post was inspiring, even thought all these lovely weddings just make me more and more confused about what I want..sigh...

Love quote #1

I love to read. You can usually find me with my nose in a book. Likewise I love quotes...I have this old, super ragged folder full of random quotes that I have been filling since 2006!! Ok, here comes the point: before I left for the states, Lance and I started to send each other little love quotes, and song lyrics back and forth via email...and I had the brilliant idea (conceited much??) that we should save all them and use them in our wedding somehow. Each day, I really look forward to what he has discovered that reminds him of our love, and simultaneously I feel so close and so far from him, sigh. Anyways here are a couple of gorgeous ways of incorporating text into your big day, underneath are some quotes that Lance & have exchanged.

"Suddenly I found you and the spirit in me sings, don't have to look no further, you're the soul of many things" -Bob Dylan 

This was the 1st quote Lance sent me (good job babe!), so I typed this in + wedding and this wedding

invitation popped up. I love that the colors used are black, gray and red versus the standard pastels. The rest of the paper goods from this wedding can be found here.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) e.e. cummings  Ok, so this is perhaps my favorite piece of written work. Ever. It is a poem about love but unlike most love poems, it encompasses many types of love. I wrote this in a card to Lance long before we started the quote sending. I write this in emails to my mom. This poem is inked in Carter's baby book. This is one of those poems that you have to read over and over and say the words, and turn them over in your head...I know, I know super dramatic but thats what this does to me. It really took on new meaning when I got sent to Korea, and just love how it sounds "I carry your heart, I am never without it". I will probably try to put this in my vows somehow. "The sweetest thing I've ever known, was your kiss on my collarbone.  I wish I didn't get so weak, oh baby just to hear you speak. Loving you is the sweetest thing." -Lauryn Hill These were just a very few ideas. I know that lots of brides-to-be want unique ways to make their day special and personal, so I hope this was inspiring! "To Infinity & Beyond" -Buzz Light Year  We look so young here and it was only a couple of years ago.

Style Saturday 2

I have slowed down a bit with wedding planning until I get to Arizona, however Lance and I are still on a strict budget so we can pay for the wedding in cash. Unfortunately, this means I haven't been able to shop as I would like but that doesn't mean I can't look. And drool. And save up. For clogs! I was not really sold on them as they started popping up BUT there are some really cute versions out. They are ultra-modern and sleek-ified :) I envision them paired with cropped boyfriend jeans or with skinny jeans and a chunky sweater for the fall....sigh...I want to shop. Anyways, below are the pairs I'm coveting right now.

These are the ones I so desperately want!! They are by Diane von Furstenberg and oh so sexy. So I have to decide if I want to save a few months "allowance" and get these or buy a cheaper pair and get a few other things....budgets suck. These are available at Shopbop.

Carter's First...

Since Carter not too long ago had his 1st birthday, I thought it would be cool to do a post on some of his other firsts!

Carter's 1st day in the world! May 29th, 2009

Carter's 1st 4th of July (we spent the weekend in Tuscany, Italy)

Carter rolled over for the 1st time ( 2 months 2 weeks)

Carter's (and Lance and my) 1st trip to London!

Carter's 1st Halloween! He was a police officer..lol... 

Carter's 1st trip to Germany...we are at the Swarovski Factory in this photo

Carter's 1st Christmas! So many good pictures...maybe I will make a separate post about this.

This on our way to the states for Carter's 1st time. 

Can't wait for all your 1st baby boy.

CARTER is ONE!!!

Carter celebrated his actual 1st birthday (May 29th) in Italy with the control clique. However, since I was not there I planned a party for him to celebrate while we were in Seattle. It is crazy how grand kids' birthday parties are these days, but we decided to just have our close friends and family over for a BBQ type bash. While planning, the theme of trains stuck out so we ran with that and I started ordering things before I left Korea. Carter was a little cranky at the beginning of the day, but was perfect once guest started arriving, and the weather could not have been better so it was a great day.

I ordered this train birthday banner from Etsy.

Shot of the train detail...so adorable!

What's a party without cupcakes?? The toppers on these matched the banner, with trains and some said Carter and others had the number 1 on them. No detail shot unfortunately. If you need personalized extras for your party, check out this Etsy sellar, Ciaobambino.

Thomas the train balloon! One of Carter's favorite things, he was banging on this for days after the party.

Carter did not like his birthday hat, he absolutely refused to keep it on for more than 2 seconds, I had to hold his hands/arms in an attempt to get photos of him with it on. Little stinker.

Trying to rip it off his head.

He might not have liked his hat, but, he LOVED these balloons. They reminded me of the movie UP.

Ash is trying to sneak the hat on him...lol... I dont know why we were so set on him wearing the hat.

Yay! He is wearing the hat and smiling :) Success!

Carter and his cousin Kaylah, she loves him so much and likes to hold him. And feed him. And push him in his stroller. She takes over anything that has to do with him, well, unless its changing a diaper :)

We video recorded Carter eating his jumbo bday cupcake, so this is the only picture I have. He started trying to feed everyone once he had demolished it. He was hyped up on sugar for a bit, but after opening presents (also only on video) he passed out and so did I.

Happy Birthday my love! 

(This was what inspired the train theme, saw this shirt available on Etsy and had to have it. (I am obsessed with Etsy by the way...)

Carter & Mommy bath time

Carter and I both LOVE baths... I have loved them for as long as I can remember and loved taking them when I was pregnant (not too hot of course :). When Carter was a baby and too young to splash about and play, our nighttime routine included him taking a bath with me and listening to Lynyrd skynyrd (haha, I dont why them). I really miss that time, because more often than not, he would be very sleepy and calm and just lay on me while I sang to him. Even though he is older now, we still have lots of fun at bath time!

I love you Pumpkin Pie!!

Carter's Baptism (1st bday celebration)

We took the opportunity to get Carter baptized while we were in Nebraska. I thought it was especially cool because it was in the same church that both Lance and his younger brother were baptized in, as well as the church where Lance's parents were married. It was a beautiful ceremony, and Carter just ate up all the attention from the congregation!

           Four generations of Christensen men! This is one of my favorite pictures from the day.

         Carter, Lance, grandpa Tim & great-grandpa Dean

This is me with both of Carter's great-grandfathers'; Dale (left) and Dean.

This is another of my favorite photos from the day. Being around family makes everything better.

After the baptism, we headed over to the local diner and had brunch. We were also kind of celebrating Carter's 1st birthday, which was in the end of May. We discovered that Carter does NOT like ice cream (this was a Dairy Queen ice cream cake). It was a wonderful day and Carter and I both got a chance to meet quite a few of Lance's family and friends.

Back Again (updates)

So I know I said I wouldn't be taking any more month long breaks and technically, I didn't... I took a three month long break...lol... Anyways, I have re-devoted myself to the blog. So in my hiatus so much has happened. I went back to the states on leave to see Lance and Carter!!!! It was such an amazing month, and leaving the second time was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Enjoy a couple pictures below, there is no way I can post even half of all the pictures we took but most of them are on my Facebook!

This is the day I arrived in Nebraska, we were all a bit tuckered out because we spent the day in Omaha which is about 2 hours away from where Lance's family lives. I was so happy to be with them again!

It was amazing to me how big Carter was, and how many things he did that he was not capable of in February, which was when I saw him last. He loved this truck, anytime we came outside, he would point and have to get on it for a minute or two.

It was my first time meeting Lance's brothers and I was a little nervous...but they are so amazing. Oh, and did I mention hilarious? I had such a good time being around his family and cant wait to go back.
From left, Grant (Lance's older brother), Lyndsey (Grant's fiance'), Lance, Ann (Lance's mom), Shane (Lance's younger brother), Tim (poppa Christensen), and me.

Wedding Wednesday!!!

Hello all! It's Wednesday and you know what that means.... wedding talk. I wish I could say that I had made progress since my last installment of WW, sadly, this just isn't the case. I might actually be even more confused! There are just so many beautiful weddings that inspire me... I could get lost in the countless wedding blogs and sites. That being said, I am convinced that I need the help of a professional (NO, not a shrink!). I have recently been looking at Las Vegas wedding planners and am really excited about the two agencies that I will choose from. First is Green Orchid Events, I get a really good feeling about this company. They always email me promptly and with detailed information The pictures of previous weddings they have coordinated look amazing. Check out the link to see them, I wasn't able to copy them here. Next is the Las Vegas Wedding Concierge, which likewise has some to die for photos of past galas! I am going to get more information from both and hopefully make my choice so I can meet with one of them in June!! In the meantime, here are some photos of wedding inspiration that I was able to post....

So I know I said I wasn't a flower person... but how can you not loves these? Carnations are so versatile and another huge perk is they are cheap!!! 

More ways to display them at your event.

I love the white ones with the black ribbon! So modern. Hopefully you enjoyed todays installment of WW (wedding wednesday). 

Style Saturday

"You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes" Vivienne Westwood

In keeping with my tradition of themed post, I thought I would deem Saturdays as style days. I am not sure if I agree entirely with the above quote but I do know that fashion has always been a big part of who I am, I love getting dressed and putting things together that reflect my mood. I have been doing a lot of online shopping to get ready for summer and just to update my wardrobe. Its difficult because my husband has put me on budget (a strict one!) because of the wedding. My favorite stores are pretty expensive so I am trying to find a balance of high and low priced items without giving up the WOW factor. Internet shopping is a great way to price compare and find styles you like and then find cheaper alternatives. There are so many styles that I am really loving right now like bohemian inspired fashion, and super high wedges. However in Korea we cannot have cars so my clothes have to be fashionable and functional.

I really love jeggings (jeans+leggings) because they are comfy and cute. I just bought two pair (on sale) from Lindsay Lohan's line 6126. I got the ones shown below and some blue and white ones. Super excited to get them and try them, I hope they fit.

More often then not you will find me in heels, but since I have to walk everywhere I have been looking for cute flats and there are some really hot choices right now.

I love the splashes of bright colors on these. I think they would be super cute with a bright romper or jean shorts. They are affordable too! By Chinese Laundry

These are a flat version of the crazy popular caged shoe trend. I love them. Also by Chinese Laundry.

I have always loved handbags and just snagged a HOT one from Deux Lux. I love their bags because there is no brand name print all over them and they have amazing detailing work. Here is the one I got...

Happy Shopping!