Heart Bling + Target = All Good

Remember that bracelet I told you about? Well, I bit the bullet and ordered it! As soon as it got here, I immediately opened the box and tried it on - I had to see it on my wrist. It is so sparkly and those are definitely blinged out heart shapes. Here are some pics I took just for you (because I love you just that much):

{the topside}
{and the underside where you can really see the hearts}
Please excuse how dark the photos are (and that trash that needs to go out). It is SO sparkly (I know, I keep saying that), I had to turn the flash off to get a decent pic. I am so glad that ya'll encouraged me to order it. I absolutely love it. Waay more than anyone should ever love a bracelet. Even one with blinged out hearts - lol.

However, seeing the heart bling in person has made me seriously reconsider the remainder of my accessories. I still wanted to wear earrings with some type of sparkle, but maybe not on the level of the essence of pretzel earrings we all loved. Then I remembered that I had some earrings that I got from Target ages ago. Here's a (halfway decent) pic of them in my ear:


The earrings are pearls, clear crystals and rhinestones. Simple, elegant and a lovely accompaniment to my blinged out bracelet. At the time, I liked their elegant simplicity (and $8.99 price tag), but over time I had stopped liking them quite so much. Yesterday, while tidying up the apartment (before the cable/internet came back on) I ran across them and saw them in a new light. Whereas before, they were a little too understated, now they were just what I needed. Dangly, with some sparkle.

That $8.99 price tag ain't half bad either.

Normally, I'd end the post with brilliant piece of take-home advice. Ya know, something to inspire your own wedding or accessory shopping, or something to encourage you to look for bridal accessories in unexpected places. I'm going to break up the pattern and leave you with three (fairly obvious) words: I love Target.

♥

My Ears Need ♥ Too

The other day I showed you my swoon-worthy bracelet. I haven't ordered it yet, but thanks to your feedback, I probably will.

So I'm back for more. I've been shopping for earrings. As a refresher, here's what I wanted from my wedding day jewelry:

As far as my personal accessories, I'm only planning to wear my e-ring (of course), earrings and a bracelet. Dangly earrings (maybe chandelier) and a cuff bracelet to be exact. I want them both to be sparkly. If the right non-cuff bracelet came along, I'd be willing to give it a shot. Oh, and the accessories will get extra credit if they manage to have hearts.

In addition to the aforementioned criteria, I also want the earrings to be on the long side - between 1.5 and say 2.75 inches long (yeah I know I could have just said 3 inches...but doesn't that seem long? 2.75 seems more manageable.). So here's what I've come up with listed in order of obviousness:

Option #1

Yup, these are almost like the earrings that showed up in my wedding day look board. I've been looking for them ever since (becuase of course I didnt save the link), and I found these that are actually a little better! I love that they are simply sparkly hearts dangling from my ear. And that they scream Patti in an obnoxious tone. But are they too obvious?

Option #2

I like these earrings, mostly because they are still hearts, but they aren't just hearts. Like someone tried to design a look around hearts. But they also look cheap to me. And I happen to know that of the three, they are the cheapest, which is normally great. Unfortunately, in this case, I'm pretty sure "cheap-looking" outweighs any of their other more redeeming qualities.

Option #3

I just like these earrings. I can't really explain why. They have what I'd call essence of heart - like if you flipped them upside down. Okay, maybe they're more like essence of pretzel. More importantly, I know the fact that they don't scream "I'm heart earrings!" appeals to me. Alot. Plus, don't they seem sophisticated?

As you have probably gleaned, Options 1 and 3 are my faves. My head knows that #1 would fit the bill, but I'm drawn to #3.

Perhaps a better question is, which pair (if any) go best with the bracelet? Should I choose Door 1, 2 or 3? Or even if there is one you think I should definitely opt out of. Whatcha think?

♥

I'm in love with a bracelet

Found it here.

Is it in the budget? Probably not.
Is it worth it? I'm thinking so.

As far as my personal accessories, I'm only planning to wear my e-ring (of course), earrings and a bracelet. Dangly earrings (maybe chandelier) and a cuff bracelet to be exact. I want them both to be sparkly. If the right non-cuff bracelet came along, I'd be willing to give it a shot. Oh, and the accessories will get extra credit if they manage to have hearts.

Geez, the more I look at it, the more I like it. And those hearts are making me swoon.

Whatcha think? Worth it for a (kind of expensive but) fab bracelet? Think I can sell it after the wedding?

♥

Look What I Made

Row 1: Hydrangea bouquet from theknot, lime-ish green crinoline from Google, dangly heart chandelier earrings from eBay. Row 2: my wedding band from Kay Jewelers, Bridal updo (dont remember where I got this from), lovely yet mysterious gown - side view. Row 3: Hair accessory from Etsy, cathedral length veil, ivory pumps from JCrew

This is the working draft of my wedding day look. And yes, that-is-what-you-think-it-is is at the end of that second row...a sneak peek of my gown(!). PHI, if you are reading this post, lo siento - next time I'll put a warning at the beginning. Fab readers, some of this stuff you already know about, but I'm sure you've peeped some stuff I hadn't told you about yet. See, we still have so much more to discuss. Happy Monday! ♥

Bride's Hair Revisited

I've started to give a good bit of thought to my wedding day hair. Not the style per se but what going in/on it. In addition to veils, tiara's or hair combs are the typical wedding hair adornment. I'm definitely wearing some kind of veil (type TBD), I'm COMPLETELY against tiaras (like seriously, its a rant-worthy topic for me) and hair combs are okay....as long as they don't look like mini tiaras (lol). Flowers are also an increasingly popular choice. They kind of add a dainty romantic feel to wedding hair, and can be silk or live depending on your tastes and price points.

The other day at the bridal salon I tried on a hair comb that was covered in pearls, rhinestones and crystals and I was pleasantly surprised. So pleased that I vowed to find something with a similar feel but at a much better price point - the one in the salon was $95 - to wear in my own hair.

Last week I blogged about a brooch, and how I never really considered one before I saw it, AND how it could work in my hair. Well, after talking to some of my friends I was completely convinced that a brooch would work. However, I wasn't quite ready to let go of my flower idea and vowed to find a way to work it all in together if I could (and if it wasn't too expensive).

Well, on Sunday, I found this:


I not-so-randomly popped into Kohl's that evening (I'd been wanting to go all weekend) to look around and randomly found it...on sale. It a flower...in an abstract rhinestone and pearl brooch packaging. Like a 3 in one hair accessory! I also found some serious contenders for earring choices too, but I only bought this brooch. And the best part? It only set me back $12!

Another idea is to attach the brooch to a silk flower (or part of a silk flower) kinda like this one I found on Etsy:


Minus those feathers of course. In fact, I think I have a ivory rose sitting in my bathroom left over from my "flower in the hair" days. Maybe I'll play around with that later on today.

Perhaps when I'm older I'll be the type of lady that wears brooches on my lapel or to hold a scarf or something, but right now this thing only has a future in my hair. The current hair plan is to wear it pulled back off my face and neck with some texture and body - think: curly low updo. I think my new brooch, I mean "hair accessory," will be lovely perched on the side, providing a little bridal bling underneath my veil.

...and what's better than bridal bling? Bridal bling on sale.
♥

Jewelry Contenders

I'll be quick today. Last night, I found some serious contenders for wedding day jewelry:

source
I hadn't planned to wear a brooch, but I ♥ this one. Think I can wear it in my hair? source
All of these pieces are available for sale or lease (yes, you heard me correctly: lease) at I'm Over It. They're the newest sponsor over at Darci's blog With This Ring...Seriously people, I am swooning. And (now) not so secretly plotting to acquire these for 10.3.09.

♥

So Fresh and So Clean Clean

Wow, completely off topic: I'm watching Style, and MelB has (what I believe to be) a SoapNet commercial for All My Children. Now, I cant guarantee its all my children because once I realized it was her, and how fab she looked, I kinda stopped listening to her. I did stop long enough to know it was the black couple from that soap mom has watched since before I was born (seriously, she's watched it that long), and the groom's name is Jesse...which makes me think it was All My Children.

Sorry, that was so not the point of this post.

The point was I'm sitting here on the sofa extremely sleepy. Like, I'm so sleepy that the idea of getting up, slapping some rollers in my head and proactiv-izing (yes, I made that up) my face seems like waaay to many things to accomplish before falling into my bed. But I will do them because if not, my head will look like a mop (the nasty kind that instead of throwing in the washer you just throw away) and I'm in the process of overhauling my face. A girl has to be engagement photo ready in a couple of months (were shooting for November...pun not intended).

Anyway, I'm sitting here in a state of increasing dilerium and I happen to glance down at my ring. Despite what most people think, once you get some of that 4th finger left hand bling, you really dont spend all of your waking moments staring at it. Now, dont get it twisted, I spent a large part of the first month just getting used to wearing the thing and staring at it. And occasionally I still nik the PHI with it (he doenst want me to ever take it off...so he suffers its wrath mwha ha ha). But now that I'm a few months in, I have the requisite ring tan, my ring is definitely one of my homies. She knows that if its her against a wall or any other material she'll win everytime (diamonds are super hard which makes my ring super durable), and that she will come off when its time to put on lotion.

Why you say? Because lotion makes her extremely dirty.

I dont spend very much time talking about her specs...I know them because I was there when she was purchased from my friends at Kay, but I will tell you this: she's completely colorless...like a D. And when she's fresh out the jewelry wash clean, she's absolutely breath taking.

And that is when I find myself ring-gazing.

Like tonight. I got her cleaned on Saturday and have been taking her off for bath's, hair washing, etc. Its almost like she's turned into a whole other ring - on a regular basis. One day I'll post her before and after pics. She even looks bigger. Maybe its that light moving all up and thru her when she's so fresh and so clean. But anyway, because of that metamorphosis, I take every opportunity to get my ring cleaned. If were walking past a Kay, I'm goin in and letting them clean my ring.

If she lived on your finger, you would too. Trust me, the sparkle is worth it.

I'm a glutton for sparkle!!
♥

I Like My Man Tall Dark and Handsome, and My Jewlery Classic

This post started out as one of my numerous sidenotes, but after awhile, I realized it deserved a post all its own.

Prior to starting the ring shopping experience with the PHI, I never really considered myself to be a "classic girl." Yes, I like to think that I purchase some things that are frivolous and trendy, but generally purchase things/shoes that I can continue to wear for years to come. Not classic per se, practical, stylish, timeless...etc. However, when I stepped into the jewelry store and fell in love with arguably the most classic engagement ring like ever, I was just shocked.

Here's a pic of a similar one just like it (believe it or not, I dont have any great pics of my ring):

(Image courtesy Kay Jewlers)

Yes, mine is a Leo Diamond, but still....its a round solitaire! A round solitaire?!? Was I serious? Was I really going to parade around town in the purported most popular engagement ring style?

....it was a hard pill to swallow. Really hard. Somewhere down the line, I had turned into this classic girl. Infact, when I was discussing the ring selection with MJ and Dani, neither of them were shocked. It seemed to be perfectly acceptable and within the realm of what they could see me liking that I would select such a classic and sparkly ring. Secretly, I think its the sparkles that drew me in. Well, that and its gorgeous. I seem to have re-integrated that word into my vernacular, but sometimes things (including a suspiciously large number of wedding-related things) are best described as gorgeous. No other words.

So, I know you are wondering what Classic-Girl went and did when it was time to pick out a wedding band. Yes, Jase and I are all over the jewelry purchases. He loves his ring and can be spotted around town wearing it...I know, I know - we arent getting married until next October. But he loves that thing, and hell, I'm not going to argue with a man who loves his wedding-band. I've read horror stories about brides to be having the opposite problem..their man is allergic to wearing a ring. Now, I dont judge, but its suspicious. Throw convention out the door all you want, but I'mma need people to know you are married. Now, if you dont want to wear a ring, there are many other options available. How 'bout a T-shirt in the wedding colors? A hat? Your wife's pic permenantly attached to the husband's forehead?

I could go on and on, but without further ado, I pick this out:

(Every Kiss Begins with Kay)

And again, couldnt be more in love with it. Now, this is a departure from my diatribe on my not so newly-found classic-ness, since the most classic band is probably yellow gold and plain (ech), but its definitely not modern. I like to describe it as dainty (not classic), and when the two are together they are [say it with me] gorgeous! Like I have no problem with the idea of sporting a sparkly left ring finger from here to eternity. And (probably because my rings are so gorgeous - lol), I am okay with them being classic. I like to think of them as something that will always be in style, eligible to be passed on, and loved by me for many many many years to come. Okay, truth be told, I'm not exactly okay with the classic designation...but I know it was a compliment. I'm the friend with the good taste, which extends to my selection of jewelry. Considering were talking thousands of dollars worth of diamonds, I'll take classic/dainty/gorgeous any day.

No wedding ring story is complete without mention of the PHI's ring. So, for your enjoyment, here's PHIs ring:

(Again, image courtesy Kay Jewelers...like seriously, I should get the PHI some stock)

Whereas my rings are both white gold (and blinged out as I like to refer to them), PHIs ring is Tungsten. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, you can find more info about it here. As you can see, it looks like stainless steel, but its kinda indestructable. Of course I dont mean that literally...its not like he's walking around with Superman on his ring finger (lol), but its a very durable metal (think: resistent to scratches, dents, and normal man-ish wear and tear), and they can do something to the inside that makes it very smooth on the inside and very comfy to wear. And I can vouch for the smoothness - it feels good...on my thumb. The PHI can vouch for its comfort too since like I've already mentioned, he loves that thing and has been wearing it to work and around town. All I know is it better be there in October 2009, because I AM NOT buying another one. Technically, I didnt buy this one either, but still...

Because its so durable, its hard if not nearly impossible to engrave it. And my engagement ring and bands are esentially too narrow to be engraved. So we'll both be walking around town with un-engraved rings. Not really phazed about that. One less detail to figure out.

Can you just imagine how I'd go on and on between now and September 2009 about ring engraving?!?

You're very welcome.
xoxox