tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:42:17 +0000Me...thinking out loud. Still a brain dump, but since my brain is now almost always full of the same stuff, at least it's thematic.http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Elise)Blogger404125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-3411503588666175511Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:58:00 +00002009-04-11T17:02:59.365-04:00Easter egg n. 1. A dyed or decorated egg, traditionally associated with Easter. 2. A hidden feature in computer software, a DVD, or a video game.So, for anyone still hanging in, here is a special treat. My engagement ring and wedding band, together.More to come. Really.http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/04/easter-egg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-4437387788763382602Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:57:00 +00002009-03-03T23:30:53.869-05:00wedding planningDIYcakenon-floralAs tempted as I was to learn to sculpt sugar gum into tiny birds, as I mention here, there was no place for birds on our cake.But wintry, twiggy, and DIY, as mentioned here, it was indeed.Naked in full view:In the wild:Under attack:Going to the big bakery in the sky:Pound cake with raspberry preserve filling, after significant discussion. I wish I'd documented it, but back in October we got a http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-twiggy-wedding-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-4064435144852975282Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:09:00 +00002009-02-22T13:13:37.876-05:00I learned during my brief stay at Zen Center that it is considered un-Zen to cook with a microwave, because you're supposed to appreciate every step in a process... every thing you do. So, thought experiment: if I really enjoy using my food processor and appreciate its quick efficiency (it is a better chopper than I), is it a Zen experience, even though it's technically a short cut?http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/aside.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-2946878013945658418Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:17:00 +00002009-02-20T23:22:58.970-05:00wedding planningcenterpiecesDIYdecorvenuenon-floralBuckle up, mouseketeers. I think I'm going to take this time to wrap up talking about the decor and other visual elements. It will be fun. I promise. Though now that I look at all the photos, I think this may take two posts.Centerpieces:My little sister stayed with us for about a week back in early September and in addition to helping with the invitations and finding my mom's (lovely) dress, http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/embellishments.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-172739548960784425Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:58:00 +00002009-02-15T17:01:21.733-05:00We are both oldest children, and the significance of that cannot be dismissed. No matter how slight the expectations projected onto us by our parents, it has been our (spoken or unspoken) responsibility to set the bar and be an example since before we can even remember. Whatever the success metric, we pressure ourselves to meet it. I wonder whether I would be as free-spirited and brave as theyhttp://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/we-are-both-oldest-children-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-81527003025735029Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:21:00 +00002009-02-09T08:21:01.168-05:00wedding planningDIYhair-and-makeupI had always intended to do my own makeup and, through my own (gasp!) bad project management in failing to properly secure my fantastic hairstylist for the wedding, also ended up doing my own hair. So a couple of weeks before the wedding, I did a test run.The photos below are from before my stylist gave me a lesson in how to do the tiara myself, but you'll see those results soon enough. This http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/hair-and-makeup-diy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-4898106869394021944Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:54:00 +00002009-02-09T08:12:01.495-05:00wedding planningvenuescheduleI'm not sure how many of these we brought with us, but I know it was a lot. Most of the wedding party had copies, the photographer, the day-of coordinator, we definitely had a copy for the DJ (though he didn't arrive until most of the way through cocktail hour, so I'm not sure whether he received one), and of course many spares.The Alex and Karen optionally called at 5pm were our fabulous first http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/day-of-schedule-and-other-day-of-info.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-1795394677585741052Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:17:00 +00002009-02-07T20:17:17.564-05:00how it all happenedreadingsUs and MaggiLet me share with you the fantastic readings done by our dear friend Maggi, who Peter and I have known since our days at Drexel. We gave her some general guidelines (no God, marriage-equality-friendly, less than 2 minutes, etc.) and asked her to select for herself. The results exceeded any of our hopes. I had started to tear up when I first walked down the aisle, but then I got my http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/02/our-surprise-ceremony-readings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-6577115622852522903Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:56:00 +00002009-02-04T13:08:24.420-05:00wedding planningprogramshow it all happenedboutonnieresMoBDIYnon-floralscheduleIf things get slow (which they haven't...I think only Americans run around Paris like crazy people trying to fit a zillion activities into their scheduled stay) or when I get home, I will blog the following:-hair and makeup trials and DIY-the completion of the boutonnieres-the card box (which was a "DIMP" or "Do It Mom, Please?" project)-table numbers and what befell our centerpieces-final http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/coming-soon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-2904439004960209708Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:22:00 +00002009-01-26T18:26:58.521-05:00how it all happenedvowsWhile it's probably not entirely true that the atoms in the human body turn over into new ones every seven years, if it were, there would not be an atom in my body that hasn't known you it's entire life. We've been through so much and learned so much about ourselves that it's almost like being an entirely new person. Our love is not a storybook story. It is richer, dynamic, and thoroughly http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/saturday-january-17th-620pm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-1639637981388414454Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:02:00 +00002009-01-21T08:27:45.603-05:00Obviously, we're married. And aside from the wicked double-boob I've got going on in this photo (which appears to be absent from the other photos we've seen, but this one is otherwise the cutest) this photo gives a pretty good idea of what the day was like, for us.The venue and staff were fantastic, my minimal decor and gung-ho helper team worked beautifully in the space, the cake looked just ashttp://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-to-even-begin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-5991741732824620025Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:57:00 +00002009-01-10T20:22:09.092-05:00wedding planningboutonnieresDIYvenuenon-floralI guess it's about how you'd expect, with 8 days to go. People who accepted are canceling, bridesmaids are attempting to get themselves kicked out of the wedding, but overall we're very excited. I have just one significantly outstanding project, which is...pretty much anything that would sit on a table, other than consumables. Centerpieces, table numbers, card box. In theory, those were to http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-is-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-1903346541706074813Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:36:00 +00002009-01-04T13:05:52.767-05:00boutonnieresbouquetcakenon-floralOh-kay. I still, sadly, am not finished with the boutonnieres, but here are the latest in the series:I'm hoping I take to compulsively making boutonnieres as a form of stress therapy, over the next two weeks.I did finish up the bouquet. I mention in my original post about the bouquet that I was having trouble bundling it without it getting sort of crushed-together and indistinguishable. I was http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/pseudo-florals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-7196378986746067774Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:36:00 +00002009-01-01T16:01:58.283-05:00wedding planningprogramsseatingguestsThere are, unbelievably, just over two weeks to go. There's a great lot going on, but let's take a deep breath and catch up on a few things I've been sitting on.Final seating chart:Also, first program prototype. Two pieces of vellum printed on one side each:Then die-cut and nested like so:Resulting in this two-sided wonder of translucency:I thought it would be amusing to provide our guests withhttp://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/surreal-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-3605811385147926470Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:37:00 +00002008-12-24T12:39:54.407-05:00Dear Obese Mass-Transit Passenger,First, let me say that I do not hate you for being obese. Perhaps you have a thyroid problem or perhaps you have made a conscious decision to prioritize the enjoyment of food over your physical well-being. Or perhaps you are the fourth South Philly man I have seen that could be 8.5 months pregnant. With twins. Whatever the case, I do not hate you for being http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/12/open-letter-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-8549471938265265341Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:30:00 +00002008-12-10T01:36:27.903-05:00wedding planningprograms-you haven't even considered that you could be crazy.-you can draw a perfect circle.-you hatch a plan to die-cut your programs.This has been a public service announcement from the bell jar.Thank you.http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-might-be-crazy-if.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-6054959391144702851Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:42:00 +00002008-12-08T00:02:58.125-05:00wedding planningringsguestsI've been seriously slacking here, and a lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. When last I posted, I was waiting to be whisked away for bachelorette weekend at a shore house, which was 36 hours of Rock Band, karaoke, wine, cheese, tax-free outlet shopping, and movies with some of the bestest people in the world. They = awesome.Thanksgiving was interesting as Mom agreed to give up her "&http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/12/and-were-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-2369458169211010314Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:48:00 +00002008-11-21T18:05:56.614-05:00wedding planningAs we enter the home stretch (less than 2 months to go!), I feel increasingly as though everything is under control. And also as though it will come crashing down into a pile of twitching nuptial rubble at any moment. With me at the bottom.I'm sure part of this has to do with my amazingly fickle partner in crime who, despite any decision we might have collectively made months ago, could on a http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/11/eustress-distress-we-all-stress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-4141539376053720980Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:33:00 +00002008-11-16T11:52:43.879-05:00wedding planningAs we approach the T-minus-two-months mark, I feel like I haven't crossed so many things off of my list since the 4 month mark. My dress alterations - with seamstress; final fitting scheduled.Fiance's tux - initial foray with solid results completeAttire for male attendants - initial foray with somewhat less solid results completeThe rehearsal dinner - um.... we think it will be the Thursday http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/11/random.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-6191227826226236470Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:48:00 +00002008-11-01T17:38:23.391-04:00wedding planningwebsiteguestsI take my job a bit too seriously. It's probably true in many senses, but the one I mean to use is that I let it flavor my thinking and strategy in many other areas of my life. So naturally, our wedding would need to have an online destination associated with it, full of useful content and social networking for our guests while giving them answers to wedding FAQs (how do we get there? where http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/11/wedding-destination.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-6069879389838494405Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:32:00 +00002008-11-01T17:39:55.218-04:00wedding planninginvitationsguestsA quick update for anyone interested (and you know you are):-There have been a total of 9 postal delivery days that we could possibly have received responses.-On one of those 9 days, we received none.-Today, day 9, we received the first RSVP from someone biologically related to either the bride or the groom.-Of 62 invitations sent, we have received 17 responses, equaling just over 27%-32 of 104 http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/11/guest-list-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-6614498665162983858Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:09:00 +00002008-11-09T22:29:07.353-05:00wedding planninginvitationsThe final week of invitation assembly was, I won't lie, grueling. It was still loads of fun, and really not much work in relation to the value of the product, and I don't regret a minute of it. But yes, it was hard.On Monday night, when we first got back from Vermont, I put the finishing touches on files for printing. That's pretty light lifting. But the second night, I stayed late at the http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/10/hardcore-diy-invites-part-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-9105818449269569022Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:47:00 +00002008-11-09T22:28:46.716-05:00wedding planninginvitationsWhat's new:-the invites are done after a grueling and family-assisted push that lasted from Monday the 13th through Saturday the 18th-most of them went in the mail on the afternoon of this past Monday-they weighed in at exactly 1.00 oz. allowing me to send them with 42 cent stamps-many arrived at their destinations on Tuesday, including the one I sent to our house-we got our first RSVP http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/10/hardcore-diy-invites-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-373729499190717911Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:06:00 +00002008-10-25T19:10:03.170-04:00wedding planningseatingI photographed one of my best friends' wedding in Vermont, this weekend, and a lot of the last couple of weeks have been prepping for the trip (including getting lots of other stuff out of the way). With her permission, I'll be posting some of the results here.For starters, though, please see this photo of Fiance in his "traveling hat" outside of our B&B, the morning of the wedding:Meanwhile, http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/10/who-sits-where-and-why.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3362266.post-1299180919317419753Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:28:00 +00002008-09-27T22:34:17.312-04:00wedding planningringsOkay, I've been on a quick vacation from wedding-land for the last 10 days dealing with health issues, birthdays, and generally scraping my life back into a more cohesively shaped pile of goo after the whirlwind that had been the past month (or more) of late nights at work. Envision this like the making of scrambled eggs.So without further ado, if you didn't note my engagement ring from my "http://tamrissa.blogspot.com/2008/09/bling-fest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Elise)0