Welcome to Bellwether Thoughts, a blog by Janice Carnevale, owner of Bellwether Events. Janice uses this space to convey her random likes and loves to the tens of people who may be reading. This is not a wedding blog. This is a blog that will allow you to get to know the woman behind the weddings.

Bellwether Events is a wedding planning and coordination firm serving the Washington DC metro area. Bellwether Events strives to be honest and sincere with engaged couples to create clever and unparalleled weddings.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Obsessed: Comedian Daniel Tosh

There is a show on Comedy Central called Tosh.0. And it is brilliant. Daniel Tosh, stand up comedian, shows clips of videos from the internet and makes fun of them. And it makes me LOL for thirty minutes straight. I recommend you check it out. Some of it is gross, but now you've been warned.


Tosh.0Weds 10:30pm / 9:30c
Kid Clocks 12
http://www.comedycentral.com/
Tosh.0 VideosDaniel ToshWeb Redemption

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Tuesday Shoesday: Coach Flats


I am not a girly girl. Bows are definitely not my thing. But color is my thing. I absolutely love these Cambria Tartan flats by Coach.





For more Tuesday Shoesday goodness, head over to Landlocked Bride, Life in the Superburbs, Simply and Forever, Meant to be Sent, Swatchbook Weddings, Jan Schill, The Demoiselle, Postcards and Pretties, A Realistic Wedding, and Magnolia Rouge.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Obsessed: The Daily Show

Needless to say, if you read yesterday's post, I also love The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Admittedly, I was way late to this party, so don't hold that against me.


The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Meghan McCain
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Tuesday Shoesday: Wedges

Recently a client (mother of the bride) of mine was lamenting how she could not find comfortable heels for the wedding day, and was resigning herself to a pair of flats. I suggested a pair of wedges, but she didn't think there were wedding-appropriate wedges out there. So I now present exhibits A, B and C.

Exhibit A: Farfalla by Bandolino
These are totally mother-of-the-bride appropriate, I think. Don't you?

Exhibit B: Alesta by Black Rooster
OK so maybe these aren't "MOB" worthy, but when I found them, I fell in love with them. These are ideal for a wedding guest who wants to feel comfortable all day and still look stylish.

Exhibit C: Buffy by Kate Spade
Again, not necessarily right for a MOB (although I've known a few who could pull them off) these are absolutely fabulous shoes and I might buy them to wear to weddings myself!

All images from Zappos

Join the Tuesday Shoesday fun by checking out the picks on Simply and Forever, Landlocked Bride, Gwyneth Paige, Swatchbook Weddings, Meant to Be Sent, Weddings & Pretty Things, Life in the Super Burbs, Postcards and Pretties, Swoon Over it Photography, and Jan Schill Photography.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Obsessed: Goody Spin Pin


My friend Sherril recently tipped me off to the Goody Spin Pin. And I am completely obsessed. See, I grow my hair for 2 years at a time; ending with a 12 inch hair cut and a donation to Locks of Love. It's around the 18 month mark, when there are still 6 months to go, when I start to get really really sick of my long, super thick hair. Which is right now. So my hair frequently ends up in pony tails. Which results in a lot of breakage. This is why the Goody Spin Pin is so awesome. It's not cheap but it keeps my hair out of my face without using a rubber band! Yay for small pleasures!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Love: Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tuesday Shoesday: Marc Jacobs


Ok so this flat is more than a tad out of my normal shoe budget, but it is freaking adorable. I have a client who wears Marc Jacobs flats similar to these and she always looks brilliant.
Join the Tuesday Shoesday fun by checking out the picks on Simply and Forever, Landlocked Bride, Gwyneth Paige, Swatchbook Weddings, Meant to Be Sent, Weddings & Pretty Things, Life in the Super Burbs, Postcards and Pretties, Swoon Over it Photography, and Jan Schill Photography.

Images from Zappos

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Obsessed: Kevin Smith Movies part II

So obviously if I went to Asbury Park, I also visited the Quick Stop (from Clerks, in case you did not know) and other locations seen in the Kevin Smith movies. There is also a retail store called Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, where we spent some time shopping. It was fun to be able to visit these places!

Photos by me...

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Obsessed: Asbury Park, New Jersey

Due to the obsession with Kevin Smith, I have also developed an obsession with Asbury Park, New Jersey. I wanted to explore the places I saw in the movies, and the place Bruce Springsteen made famous with that iconic album cover. The first time I visited it was the Summer of 2001. I was shocked to discover a ghost town. So I did some actual homework (not just movie-watching) on this once quaint seaside town.

Originally developed in 1971, the 1920s gave Asbury Park a drastic change on the original (but successful!) boardwalk with the development of the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall complex, the Casino Arena and Carousel House. The Berkeley-Carteret Hotel was also developed during this period. Asbury Park was on it's way up. But not surprisingly, the Great Depression and World War II were not kind to Asbury Park. In the decades following the war, the seaside town lost it's surrounding farming community and suburbs popped up. In the 1950s the tourism industry was nearly booming again. But then a confluence of events (Garden State Parkway development, creation of a nearby Six Flags, opening of the Monmouth Mall) pulled visitors and their disposable income away from Asbury Park again. Riots (spurned by civic unrest regarding municipal mismanagement) in 1970 led to the destruction of many aging buildings. By the time I arrived in 2001, many of those buildings had not been repaired or torn down. So it was an interesting and unique vacation. We stayed at the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel, feeling as though we were the only guests there, and exploring dark and dank ballrooms with peeling paint and unclean carpets. It was right out of a horror film.

When I returned in 2006, I was thrilled to find some retail open on the boardwalk and the Casino walkway open. There were high rise condos under construction, and there were actually people on the sand and in the surf. We stayed in a B&B this time, but we visited the Berkeley-Carteret and there seemed to be a decent amount of guests there, including a wedding party. I've since learned that it was purchased in 2007 and will be restored to it's original four star glory. I am very excited for Asbury Park, and I believe it should be a destination for vacationers, and I look forward to returning soon!

All photos taken by me in 2006.The Boardwalk!
The Casino!The Fifth Avenue Pavilion (previously home to one of the last Howard Johnson restaurants)
The Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall complex

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tuesday Shoesday: Piccolo by Roxy

These shoes look so comfy and perfect for Fall and yet I know I am not cool enough for them. I think @superburbs could rock them, but not me. But a girl can dream!

Join the Tuesday Shoesday fun by checking out the picks on Simply and Forever, Landlocked Bride, Gwyneth Paige, Swatchbook Weddings, Meant to Be Sent, Weddings & Pretty Things, Life in the Super Burbs, Slice of Lime, April Foster Events, Postcards and Pretties, Swoon Over it Photography, and Jan Schill Photography.

Image from Zappos

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Obsessed: Tulips


Continuing a floral theme this week, my other favorite flower is the tulip. I love all colors and versions of this flower. Those pictured are parrot tulips, which are especially sexy. If I had a garden, and any semblance of a green thumb, I would plant tulips.

Image from Southern Accents

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Obsessed: Forsythia


One of my favorite flowers is the forsythia bush. They always seem to bloom in the very early Spring, so not only are they a beautiful and vibrant color in a generally gray landscape, but they also a signal that warmer weather is approaching soon. I'd really love to do a wedding with forsythia.

Images from Fantastic Plants