Thursday, December 30, 2010

Two thousand what?




Can you believe it's going to be 2011 in just two days?  I can't.

We're still figuring out our New Years Eve plans, which may or may not include skiing, movies at the theatre, staying in, going out, and either wine, beer, Cava or Champagne, or all three.  Decisions!  I hope my fresh-squeezed pink grapefruit mimosa idea tastes as good as it sounds.

Hope you are surrounded my good people and have a great time this New Years.  Thanks again for reading and for all your nice comments.

Love, Sarah.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Custom stationary



Today I ordered my first set of custom stationary!  Flat, 5 x 7 inch, name-emblazoned notecards, to be precise.  

A recent goal of mine (a life goal, really) is to continue writing hand-written notes to important people in my life.  Cute paper always seems to help inspire that process.

The design is based on the row-houses in this wedding invitation. Since our home in Baltimore is a row-house, I thought it would be fun to have stationary that reflects this specific place and time in my life. The designer is based in South Carolina and was really friendly and helpful.  

I'm so excited to see them and to get scribbling!  

Good question


Monday, December 27, 2010

Wedding Photos: TUBS


After taking a few nature shots with our wedding party and families, we headed to a slightly unusual Seattle locale: TUBS, an abandoned hot-tub spa that has become a local canvas for street artists.  Anyone who has driven past this infamous 50th and Roosevelt corner would be hard pressed to forget such a sight (whether you like it or not). 






The idea to take photos at TUBS came when we first met our photographer and were discussing location ideas for our outdoor photos.  When we mentioned TUBS, Yvonne and Ryan and I were mutually thrilled at the idea of the bright colors and graffiti as a contrast to the elegance and tradition of typical wedding motifs. 




The sun was shining perfectly on our wedding day, which gave Yvonne the chance to capture the light in different ways. Some, bright and striking as you can see the detail of the graffiti in the background, while others feel romantic and airy as the sun washes out the color.  




One cool thing about TUBS is that the graffiti is constantly changing.  When we lived in this neighborhood last year, much of the images and designs captured in these photos weren't there and will most likely be painted and covered up by another artist sometime soon.   



Next up, the wedding! We have some special photos backstage with our friends before the ceremony, teary-eyed moments with our parents, awesome laser-dance party shots, as well as some detailed images of the decor.  Thanks again for indulging me and letting me share with you!  xo 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

A few of my favorite things...


Lots of time with the one I love


Trips to the beach


Dewy succulents



Orange houses


Flowers in December 


Palm trees


Christmas colors in the City


Tasty treats


White poinsettia's


Views from the lookout at the de Young Museum 


His and hers


Today we are headed back to Charm City after a lovely week in the Bay Area with Ryan's family. We ate great Italian food, walked all over the city, drank delicious cappuccinos, went to my favorite bookstore, City Lights, wrapped presents, ordered room service, slept in, visited old friends, went to the movies, enjoyed some sun (and plenty of rain), made our favorite tag-team meal, 5 cheese macaroni, watched Christmas specials on TV as a family, took major breaks from Facebook and the internet (hooray!) and all around enjoyed ourselves immensely.

We're pretty bummed to be going home, but I suppose Christmas can't last forever.  At least we all have New Year's to look forward to, right?

Do you have any big plans for the New Year's Eve? My big plans (and goal to incorporate into life in 2011)- one word: mimosa.

Hope you had a great Christmas week, too. Sending love and joy to you and yours for 2011.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Merry Christmas Week!


Wishing you a cheerful week of last minute shopping, office parties, overindulging, social anxiety, sugar comas, deviled egg eating, laughter with friends, joy with family and all around good times.  Really- enjoy it!  Take care and soak it all in. 

Friday, December 17, 2010

Wedding Photos: Cowen Park


The second stop for our wedding photos was one of our favorite neighborhood spots, Cowen Park, in Seattle's Ravenna/U-District neighborhood. We were sooo lucky to wake up on Saturday morning to a gorgeous, sunny day, which really made the photos.  Since the wedding was indoors, we really wanted to capture a sense of nature and greenery by taking some photos outside.  I'm so glad we could do it.    

Ryan and I used to live in a house just blocks from the park, so we have loads of memories wandering there on rainy day walks and going on short, but well intended runs that turned into existential musings on everything from our own relationship, to our jobs, our goals, our dinner plans and how we needed more sunshine in our lives. 



Cowen Park is really nothing super-special (other than the fact that is big and beautiful, like much of Seattle) but it just felt like the perfect place to commemorate on our wedding day; a place that represented so much of our journey because of how pivotal our time in that neighborhood was in the development of our relationship.  I feel like we took something ordinary and normal, a place some people might not even pull over and take a walk through, and made it unforgettable.   Not just on our wedding day with these photos, but through all the moments we spent there journeying through the up's and down's, turns and corners of our relationship that slowly but surely led to our marriage.  



I love seeing this shot from the two photographer's perspectives.  


Our beloved friends were so happy, joyful, supportive and not to mention so EXCITED!  They made taking these photos such a blast. 


One thing I've always looked forward to when being a bridesmaid was getting to take a few shots with just the girls.  I couldn't wait to do the same at my own wedding.  Here's one with my bridesmaids and Ryan's groomswomen. 


Here's one with my bridesmaids, my best friends... all in one place. 


Ryan and his par-tay (minus one who couldn't be in photos due to security reasons, arg). 


My DIY bouquet. We did all the flowers ourselves (not sure I would recommend it!). 



Yvonne, our photographer, kept yelling out, "Cylops, cyclops!  Get your faces so close that you can only see one eye!"  We laughed and promptly squished closer together upon her command. 


Our wedding party left for the venue while we took these lovey-dovey photos and headed off to our next destination (which I plan to share STAT).



If you're reading, I'd love to hear a comment to know you're out there!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas mixtape giveaway!


December 16, 2010

Dear Reader, 

My husband and I are in the process of finalizing our super-awesome Christmas mix.

Our plan is to give a copy to our friends/neighbors who aren't such big fans of the holidays.  We are both convinced all this will change upon listening to our mix.

I am expecting it to be such a hit that I would like to pass a copy along to you.

Please leave a comment and enter to win.  We'll draw names out of a hat on Monday and send it out ASAP!

Yours, 

Clementimes

Brilliance



Would you guess these women are wearing bike helmets?  It's true. 

Swedish designers .hovding have designed a bike helmet air bag that magically inflates upon impact.  It's worn around your neck like a scarf, so as to be inconspicuous and fashionable.