Old Photos

I have so many old photos with Punchline. These are two that were at my fingertips today. They are from September 2008. Enjoy!

"Seventy" from "Delightfully Pleased"

I've seen friends become successful and then be a friend no more

What a Wonderful World

I like the song. I like the cover. I like the content. That probably won't surprise you. Although Larry would scold me for saying so in public. I've had plenty (a majority?) of clients who I don't think voted for Obama. We had a great time together, and their weddings were fun and fabulous!

Birthday Party Photo

This is the only action shot from my birthday party. And I love it. Thanks Wendy!

I love: A B-Side

Pretty Petty was always one of my favorite songs by Punchline. I think Steve put an early recording of it on a mix cd for me once, because I had it years before they released it on "Besides." Chris made this montage in 2005, which I love because you can see Asbury Park in it.

I love: a punk song fit for a wedding

This video is not by the band, just a fan. But I adore this song. I used it at my wedding.

I'm going to be promoting Punchline all week, leading up to the release of their new album on iTunes. Get ready!

I love: a birthday song

Punchline played my 30th birthday party last year. It was one of the best days ever. They played this song. And dedicated it to me. It was awesome. Here are a few of the photobooth photos:

I love: A Grand Gesture

At the 18 second mark you will see Steve, lead singer of Punchline, my most favorite band in the world. You can see more clips from his Mobbed experience here. January 4th cannot get here soon enough.

Warning: A Takeover

There is about to be a Punchline takeover in this space. I am so excited for their new ventures and network TV debut! It's about to be all Punchline all the time. The good news is they make awesome music, so you will love it.

I love: Repealing DADT

This photo could make me weep with joy. Read the story here.

Photo by: Associated Press, Brian J. Clark

I Adore: Zinnia Films

Check out my 10/8/11 Wedding video, courtesy of Zinnia Films!

Katie and Travis from Zinnia Films on Vimeo.

12 by 2012

Updated 12/21/2011

My friend Kelly Lanza of Studio DIY and Breakfast in Bed encouraged me to write this post about 12 goals I want to accomplish by 2012.

1. Book 3 more weddings for 2012 Booked 2 - Just need ONE MORE!
2. Go to the gym 24 times I am failing brilliantly at this one!
3. Participate in an ornament swap and a card swap DONE
3 (a). Organize a cookie swap DONE
4. Visit with my cousin Katherine
5. Finish our bathroom remodel - piece of art and a new door
6. Submit the bathroom remodel photos to Design Sponge
7. Properly write about the Shower In A Box
8. Get new speakers for my car (ok this is turning into a to-do list now) DONE
9. Get some video on my website
10. Purge the closets, cabinets and drawers DONE
11. Take inventory of my "wedding stuff"
12. Work on my 2011 taxes (blech) DONE

What are your goals for the rest of 2011?

Bridal Market: Anne Barge 2012

My 9/24/11 bride Kate wore an Anne Barge dress that I adored, so I was excited to see what Anne Barge was showing at Bridal Market. And I was not at all disappointed. These two new designs, Waverly and Garner, are smoking hot. Again, see my love for the geometric lines on Waverly. But also check out the awesome sequins on Garner - so interesting!










Awesome photos by Thomas Iannaccone; terrible photos by me.

Bridal Market: Claire Pettibone Fall 2012: Toile Francais

I fell in love with this blue toile dress from Claire Pettibone at Bridal Market last month. It is not very "me" but it is so innovative and interesting, that I can't help but be drawn to it. I was also lucky enough to meet Claire at her booth at The Piers - such a kind person!




Nice photo by Thomas Iannaccone; ugly phone photos by me.

I love: Punk Rock Bride

I love that Washington DC can boast that it is the home of Punk Rock Bride. I love Stephanie Ward and being able to chat with her at local functions. And I am really in love with the new line. In particular, the two dresses you see below, Meagan and Rachel. The simple silhouettes with the geometric embellishments are so my style.














Terrible phone photos by me, awesome pr photos from Punk Rock Bride.

Waiting on a Woman

So this song had me in tears earlier this week... the first minute of this video is pretty terrible, so try to get past it. And I might get slammed for this, but I could also live without Andy Griffith :-)

I went to this party...

Here we are!







10th Annual Martha Stewart Weddings Bridal Market Party in New York City. Photo by Readyluck. Copyright 2011.

Behind the Scenes: Martha Stewart Magazines "Prop House"

I was recently in New York City and was lucky enough to attend the annual Martha Stewart Party held at the end of Bridal Market weekend. The first thing Nole (my travel pal and NYC tour guide extraordinaire) and I did when we arrived was take a tour of the offices. Here are the photos I snapped of the "prop house." First, a look at the linen selections. Next, all of their cake stands and plates. Third, the entrance to the prop area with assorted items, and finally a cart with items pulled for a March 2012 piece in the upcoming Living magazine.

Considering what an impact this magazine has on my industry, and how it can make or break a wedding professional, the offices didn't seem overwhelming - although very tidy and inspired. The TV studio was in a different building across town. We also got a peek at the photo shoot studios and the test kitchens - however I was too shy to snap a photo there, where Ron Ben-Israel was painting sugar flowers while we looked on with awe.

Just putting it out there...

As hokey as it may sound, I believe that if you verbalize your desires and goals, they have a better chance of coming true. Example: In January I started telling anyone who would listen that my foster dog Prince would be adopted in 2011. And after 14 months of foster care, he was adopted in early February.

Side note - I began writing this list in May, and put it aside. It is now October, and time to start thinking about 2012. Here we go....

So here are some other things I've been thinking about...
I want to plan a lobster bake wedding or rehearsal dinner
I want to plan country wedding complete with boots and a band
I want to plan a rock n roll wedding (yes I love music - did you see my bio?)
I want to work at AVAM again (and again and again and again)
I want a client to hire Euphonism for their wedding
I want to plan an upscale picnic wedding with awesome boxed lunches
I want to help someone plan a kick ass marriage proposal
I want to plan a Pink Flamingo wedding
I want to plan a Rat Pack wedding
I want to learn from Jesi Haack
I want to work with Jennifer and Saundra and Ashley and Amber (for a week/weekend - I'm not moving!)

A Marriage Proposal

I think I must have snapped this picture in June during my NYC trip to see Sasha Souza. Can you spy why I took a photo of graffiti?

Lobster Love

I am currently obsessed with the Red Hook Lobster Truck serving lunch across the DC area on weekdays. Not only are the lobster rolls totally amazing, but you can also get an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade half tea), kettle chips and whoopie pies from Whoopsies. So far I have had 2 meals from the Truck, and I hope to have many more. I hear that in the winter they also feature clam chowder and hot cider - yumm!

So when I recently found the lobster costume at Wylie Wagg, I had to have it for Tammy's Halloween adventures. We have Bark For Life on 10/29, and then candy distribution at home on 10/31, of course.

I love an awesome wedding reading

A Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton

The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage.

Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur's cage with kind words and loving thoughts.
I like this Dinosaur thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny.
He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.

I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur. She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice.
She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.

But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
He is also overly fond of things.
Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of things?

But her mind skips from here to there so quickly thought the Dinosaur. She is also uncommonly keen on shopping.
Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping?

I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for things, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. For they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual.

I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping, thought the Dinosaur. For she fills our life with beautiful thoughts and wonderful surprises. Besides, I am not unkeen on shopping either.

Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are old.
Look at them.
Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs.

And that, my friends, is how it is with love.
Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together.
For the sun is warm.
And the world is a beautiful place

Meet Chloe 24951

This is Chloe. I rescued her from the Orange County Animal Shelter on 9/10/11, along with her brother Jiggs. They are both 13 months old. They were turned into the shelter because their owners could not afford even the most basic of vet care, including any shots, spay or neuter.

As a result, we suspect Chloe is 5 weeks pregnant. This was likely her first time in heat, and she was likely impregnated by her own brother. She is only 8 pounds, so she will probably need a C-section in order to survive labor.

Please, please, please spay and neuter your pets.

All of Cher's Outfits in Clueless

Just as I was telling a friend last night that I think I am blogging too many videos, I have to share this 60 second video that shows the 50 (yes, 50) outfits worn by Alicia Silverstone in Clueless (a 90 minute movie). This video is almost as brilliant as the movie.

I love a dachshund cabinet handle

Larry and I have been working on renovating our only bathroom since January. Well, that is when the planning began. Demo and rebuilding began in late March (while we were in Hawaii - that was a dumb idea). Yes, it is now 9 months later, and yes we are still working on it. Left to do is buy a piece of art and order a new door along with chrome door hardware. While I love a lot of things about my new bathroom, my favorite has to be the drawer knobs that I found. Weiner dogs! From Habitatter! (terrible photos by me)

Please do something for the starving children

• Mercy Corps
• International Rescue Committee
• Kenyas4Kenya Initiative

I should apologize in advance...

Thanks to all the chatter today about Abercrombie & Fitch and possibly the worst TV show of all time, The Wedding Bee reminded me of this awesomely horrible song... it takes me right back to Myrtle Beach in June, 2000.

I love a Mini-Warbler

I saw Glee LIVE at the Verizon Center in June. And I saw the 3D movie this weekend. The movie reminded me of this video, which is just fantastic...

Awesome commercial

I love this song and I LOVE this show...

I assembled and it was... decent...

I made these Rice Krispie treats that I thought would be awesome. But I botched one thing, and there is an ingredient that I would pass on in the future. Those who ate the treats never complained though - but I am a perfectionist :-) Thanks to Elle's New England Kitchen for the recipe!

In error, I bought marshmallow topping (for sundaes) and not marshmallow fluff. The topping was too thin. It seeped through the rice krispie treats and didn't offer much in the tastiness arena. And I have decided that the graham crackers are unnecessary. They take away from the impact of the marshmallow and chocolate. Maybe next time I will add peanut butter.

I cooked... and it was good...

Larry and I had a few people over this past weekend and I made a few appetizers. The mini twice-baked potatoes were a huge hit. Time consuming to make, and I wish I had microplaned the Parmesan cheese, and not bought it already shredded. Thanks to Laura's Best Recipes.

Do I dare... color my hair

What do you think Larry would do if I came home with this color? I found it on Become Gorgeous via Pinterest.

I love... Carrie Fleck's Studio Savvy business card

Over the past six months or so, I had come to realize that I needed to pump up my business cards. I have very few pieces of marketing collateral, so I felt that the ones that I had needed to pop more. But I did not want to do a total rebranding. So I wasn't sure where to begin. Then I found Carrie's business card floating around Pinterest. Not only did I find something that really spoke to me, but it was a card of a designer! So I sent her an email - where I was practically begging for her help. See, her company Studio Savvy, typically does much much larger projects than my itty bitty business card design. Thankfully, she agreed to take on my little project. And soon I hope to be able to share the final result with you!

I love... a Jack and Ginger dress

I saw this dress in the Nordstrom catalog and I had to have it. Unfortunately, I was not the only one who felt this way. I left my shopping until the last minute, so I had to drive to Towson (75 minutes from my house) to get the dress in my size in time for a baby shower that I was attending the next day.

I knew I wanted to pair the dress with some strappy gold wedges. I had a hard time finding a pair that I liked. I finally bought these Jessica Simpson wedges from Zappos. I did not realize they were 5 inches tall. So while I do wear them, they cannot be tolerated for more than a few hours at a time.
I also wear this with a long Juicy Couture gold necklace, but I can't find a photo if it, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

I love: a Kate Spade dress

I never thought I would be someone who owned a Kate Spade dress, much less raving about it. But after following my friend Kurstin Roe into a Kate Spade store (he was buying a swank purse for his wife's birthday - lucky lady!), I saw this dress and immediately fell in love with it. I wear it all the time. Sometimes I swap out the navy ribbon belt for a brown leather belt. You like it? It's on sale now!

I love: The Help

I just finished reading this book. OK, I listened to it on my iPod. But nevertheless. It is a wonderful story. I laughed. I cried. And I cannot wait for the movie to come out! Check out my friend Kevin McCarthy as he interviews the cast, including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Sissy Spacek, Mary J Blige, Octavia Jackson, Jessica Chastain and Allison Janney.

trampoline photos, part 2

As promised, here are the second batch of trampoline photos from Kurstin Roe. My dress isn't the most flattering of shapes to be jumping up and down!

I love: Trampoline Photos

My buddy Kurstin Roe had the brilliant idea to bring a giant trampoline to a wedding and take wedding party portraits. I am going to share some now! I'll share more later too!

I am a dork...

My life can end now... Harry Potter on The Daily Show

The Daily Show - Daniel Radcliffe
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

I love: awesome flowers

I had so much fun planning the floral decor for this 24 person seating table at Oatlands Plantation. Barbara from Growing Wild made my vision of low arrangements of green and white flowers come alive!

And Kurstin Roe took the wonderful photos!

I love: a wedding that feels like a dinner party

This photo is from a wedding that had 55 guests, an exquisite menu and carefully selected beverage pairings. It really felt like an over-sized dinner party (with an awesome swing band). The guests were totally thrilled to be at Strathmore Mansion that evening.

Thanks to Joy Lyn Photography for this picture!

In all my glory!

My glamorous job as a wedding planner includes getting to bustle a lot of wedding gowns. And so far I've been able to figure them all out!

Thanks to Andrea from The Observatory for documenting this!