huzzah

Huzzah!

We have pictures!
Check out Dan Chen's blog. Our amazingly talented photographer has posted some photos from our wedding-stravaganza and interlaced them with a reading and some words from our program. The effect was... well, it felt like Josh and I got married all over again! To say the effect was powerful is an understatement.

Is there a word stronger than honored? Josh's and I were embiggened to have Dan's talent at our wedding. We are honored that Dan chose us to be one of his RENT weddings. He's such a cool guy, an artist, a poet, a time traveller. Thanks, Dan, for hanging out with us on Halloween.

It feels the same but with more cake

Thank you to everyone who helped with the wedding and to all our family and friends who made it a great day by enjoying your fantastic selves!

Here's a copy of our wedding readings and the "Irish wedding vows" (click to embiggen)

papel picado

.... or punched paper!

wedding shoes

There are only 101 days until the big day. My bachelorette party is on Satudary. I'm having a petit-panic attack. There is so much to do. Planning long distance is...challenging. Have I communicated enough with my vendors? Why haven't I heard back from my guitarist? Have we been approved for a Parks permit?

Well, the part that isn't challenging in the least is shopping. Is it a trend? Is it a cliche? Is it a new classic? Yes, folks, I'm talking RED WEDDING SHOES!

Gabriella Rocha Neve at Zappos.com


Perlina Luxury Comfort Footwear Pebbles at Zappos.com



Gabriella Rocha Ginger at Zappos.com

Wedding Makeup Tips for Women of Color: Video Series | eHow Videos

Due to the tight budget, I will be doing my own makeup on my wedding day. I have been scouring the webiverse for good makeup advice. You see makeup and I, we have this love-hate relationship. I love the pretty colors. I can walk into any department or drug store and be fascinated to distraction by the shiny sparkly creamy display of the makeup counter.

Oh, how I love and fear it! The actual choosing of colors! The exchange of hard, cold cash for promises to transform me into a softer woman. "Perhaps," I muse,"This lip gloss will launch my acting/modeling/singing career."

As a friend of mine says, no matter where you go, there you are. That being said, here are some foundations and primers that--I'm hoping-- will surely get that novel finished:

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer

Boscia Skin Perfecting Primer

MakeUp For Ever Camouflage Cream No. 5
BareMinerals Discover Introductory Kit
Valana Minerals Stardust Foundation

I found this informative series that gives makeup tips for women of color. Very useful for all of us ladies who've gone to a makeup counter and walked away an ashy, frosted mess! Martha Stewart Weddings and Real Simple consistently have inclusive beauty tips for achieving a classic, feminine look. They won't make you look like a clown!

For great advice on products for everyone, check out:
Afrobella
The Makeup Girl
Pretty by Nature- for great planet-friendly beauty advice
Shake Your Beauty

Love Songs, Part ii

Continuing the theme of love songs-- the good, the bad, and the unexpected-- I found an article on About.com's Wedding Blog listing the worst wedding songs. Author Nina Calloway even breaks her Do Not Play list into three distinct sections of "no." Here is her "Cheesy Group Dance Numbers" list:

* Chicken Dance
* Macarena
* Conga
* YMCA
* Hokey Pokey
* Locomotion
* Cha Cha Slide
* Limbo Rock

For my part, I thoroughly cosign on all of the above! You can read the entire list here, including the remaining sections, "Strange Break-up Songs and Other Mood Killers" and "Just Plain Bad."

What would go on your Do Not Play list? There are some great ideas here, and also some songs I have never heard of, considering I don't listen to much country music. Also, I really like the song "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang!

Of course NPR's music blog, All Songs Considered, weighs in on the subject here. Their list of the least appropriate love songs include:

• Send in the Clowns: Judy Collins
• You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin': The Righteous Brothers
• Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobodyt: Louis Prima
• Verdi: 'La donna e mobile' (Rigoletto): Carlo Bergonzi
• The Lady Is a Tramp: Frank Sinatra

Lesser-Known Love Songs

Sometimes I catch a whiff of what the kids are listening to these days and I start to feel old. Then I remember that I didn't like the music that was on the radio when I was in school (Candlebox anyone???).

However I do like NPR's blog "All Songs Considered." Check out their list of lesser-known love songs. They vary from the downright funky-sexy (Betty Davis' "Anti Love Song") to the sweetly plaintive (Magnetic Fields "Book of Love") and everything in between. I spy some great first dance songs!