tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60083828117533803762024-02-18T19:56:57.186-08:00Eco Thrifty WeddingCan a wedding go light on the earth and the wallet? We think so.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-61664982858930379072011-01-30T14:56:00.001-08:002011-01-30T15:55:15.453-08:00Peas and Carrots: Pre-Marital PrepPre-cana? Nah. FOCCUS test? Nah. Any sort of marriage preparation reading material? Nah. Although, now being almost six months into marriage, I can see that any of those would be very, very, helpful.<br /><br />This is marriage prep Veggie-style.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1jrfhDw67NtmIJ1ChGSnAzi4GxApjs5e5OcAHb98C0cjltPv3L4pCVCUdYd-YAW2d6648DBBAdjTIEj1iNAyu-4PaM32g9-8Al7cZfVuBpZ0kCSH4VLDyYVBWN-kLcvCuHG55DJvwqYI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.26.35+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1jrfhDw67NtmIJ1ChGSnAzi4GxApjs5e5OcAHb98C0cjltPv3L4pCVCUdYd-YAW2d6648DBBAdjTIEj1iNAyu-4PaM32g9-8Al7cZfVuBpZ0kCSH4VLDyYVBWN-kLcvCuHG55DJvwqYI/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.26.35+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568126928418158434" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday, amid decorating, welcoming guests, eating some scrumptious food, swimming, and boating, we took some time out for playing on the ropes course. Everyone got pretty into it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhX05G6AeOVfLf1BWKO-jeMo-27-wDBy_s0ZBv_dLJYBMVTjMy_vOYsXhFMiudpcvvAHxbFvHwlcZsgh3lQ0yBVsmtjmacquu8s16jDxMmc_6bXsz1wt47DzBAGyVbXOA3l_8laQKm1S_/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.17.26+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhX05G6AeOVfLf1BWKO-jeMo-27-wDBy_s0ZBv_dLJYBMVTjMy_vOYsXhFMiudpcvvAHxbFvHwlcZsgh3lQ0yBVsmtjmacquu8s16jDxMmc_6bXsz1wt47DzBAGyVbXOA3l_8laQKm1S_/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.17.26+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568126916448187954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Most surprising entries?<br />72 year old FFIL Veggie. Re-discovering youthful zest on the zip line and flying squirrel.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp-QdygBrn_2ynQx7YoMnotwSgkD3jklk1D6c4zGNVDFwVgBo3DCEGX4sfGqIDcc_tkCfMfvaY00RPsv-DPHRivapMYgSMsRLvVZ7fOkY4xbm9PMkWnhWUHq3pVQYqrpWdM9D5rCPFt_/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.13.15+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp-QdygBrn_2ynQx7YoMnotwSgkD3jklk1D6c4zGNVDFwVgBo3DCEGX4sfGqIDcc_tkCfMfvaY00RPsv-DPHRivapMYgSMsRLvVZ7fOkY4xbm9PMkWnhWUHq3pVQYqrpWdM9D5rCPFt_/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.13.15+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568126897825739218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />6 year old Veggie Sprout Ringbearer. Not scared at all of the 40+ foot multi-stage zip line.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9yNqr_qhO7xACVyEGSSTPmx2VyBZnuqWo_7TDiAQVi1oAD_-FKcnoDTCNcWijoy5OuxGMnbY0yZVEIVKKuiaXinyoCuX3o0-1-upeW0_HIjJbEI_NSZUUTXU4xJwWl6GkSsdwNd0e79J/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.20.56+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9yNqr_qhO7xACVyEGSSTPmx2VyBZnuqWo_7TDiAQVi1oAD_-FKcnoDTCNcWijoy5OuxGMnbY0yZVEIVKKuiaXinyoCuX3o0-1-upeW0_HIjJbEI_NSZUUTXU4xJwWl6GkSsdwNd0e79J/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.20.56+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568129540842336418" border="0" /></a><br />Not to be outdone, Momma Veggie and the Veggie siblings got in on the act.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PdCU9XOROb5DA7Rb6In6ltX6TGDO7CPwqd74gNHOJJ8zDTWHVnwPBKGRc2op4OQveUpF0JlpBX1rVNiVsNR97bw6QTC2qZzWsbo-Bw27sy0QITNEDpOgvqwyANUEdnbq-IlpfiiR1JG-/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.27.12+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PdCU9XOROb5DA7Rb6In6ltX6TGDO7CPwqd74gNHOJJ8zDTWHVnwPBKGRc2op4OQveUpF0JlpBX1rVNiVsNR97bw6QTC2qZzWsbo-Bw27sy0QITNEDpOgvqwyANUEdnbq-IlpfiiR1JG-/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.27.12+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568128803363090274" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTJygzchHFcrQlYp6OsEmLaTQttf3veAHmo7SavtVPrJRkj7ViuB9wcd9eNe30swIkwJABN-2y3rciF0hcn9J4MJFmvsGw3zdmI8dVYiuyDQcGk_auYwFGhnHfkmlHutX9eAcjL9vEb-e/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.19.26+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTJygzchHFcrQlYp6OsEmLaTQttf3veAHmo7SavtVPrJRkj7ViuB9wcd9eNe30swIkwJABN-2y3rciF0hcn9J4MJFmvsGw3zdmI8dVYiuyDQcGk_auYwFGhnHfkmlHutX9eAcjL9vEb-e/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.19.26+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568129548418435218" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tmnw329P2neEbkV6j7c_BXiKK9JvBwtHo1KVDIgj2uvyFmFUAfAunZY36t8LKtR5gN28RNqV0jL9ceWbD2sZA511-2h0cjh5o5UY_31As-WNXJwuBniFWnRxXGwgc5ws4syccwJ_WBYk/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.17.49+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tmnw329P2neEbkV6j7c_BXiKK9JvBwtHo1KVDIgj2uvyFmFUAfAunZY36t8LKtR5gN28RNqV0jL9ceWbD2sZA511-2h0cjh5o5UY_31As-WNXJwuBniFWnRxXGwgc5ws4syccwJ_WBYk/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.17.49+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568128784504888386" border="0" /></a><br />And this is definitely one of my favorite series of photos from the entire weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnW0nwIAWdG2tJ59cLLSV3AlR6aYY7mqGrQeiJQp_kB34PF9jcHeGjYSdn9zzjAjCUAjdKJQDrEIp22UjtAnEFwwQnqGixVmRqdkJh907lb0oad9uBqeBX1UKGF3GkQcM7TR06WS4-ALP/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.34.30+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnW0nwIAWdG2tJ59cLLSV3AlR6aYY7mqGrQeiJQp_kB34PF9jcHeGjYSdn9zzjAjCUAjdKJQDrEIp22UjtAnEFwwQnqGixVmRqdkJh907lb0oad9uBqeBX1UKGF3GkQcM7TR06WS4-ALP/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.34.30+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568126889656025986" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePsO4_wD7d4CoUssanj240pQC_ZmOWTnSkS-pnywJufXJofGKPRs1sQGCLt_WJoebpRBSMlbJOdYToUZhzJSGORaMkqgsszizG3Kmayq0QgIFQxPf-qL4qU2wWtjbjTByy6KEbQ_LRsqP/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.19.48+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePsO4_wD7d4CoUssanj240pQC_ZmOWTnSkS-pnywJufXJofGKPRs1sQGCLt_WJoebpRBSMlbJOdYToUZhzJSGORaMkqgsszizG3Kmayq0QgIFQxPf-qL4qU2wWtjbjTByy6KEbQ_LRsqP/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.19.48+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568126918163235090" border="0" /></a><br />Now that's teamwork. What's your favorite dish? (Any Tenacious D fans out there? Anyone?)<br /><br />Your family might not be as crazy as ours, but I seriously recommend finding some way of having a relaxing fun time with both sides all together at some point before the wedding. Because we live so far away, and our families live far from each other, it isn't often that we are all in the same place. Doing the ropes course all together is one of the first memories we created with our new family...all 20+ siblings, parents, and nieces and nephews. Here's hoping there will be many many more.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-65656782706803351072011-01-09T02:38:00.000-08:002011-01-12T17:09:24.065-08:00Peas and Carrots: Bachl-ARRH-etteHow do you know if a pirate is coming to your wedding?<br />They send an AAARH-SVP.<br /><br />What will a pirate eat at your wedding?<br />AAARH-d'ourves<br /><br />OK, I'm done, I'm done. Maybe.<br /><br />One more. Where does a pirate go for her bachelorette party? A BAAARRRHH.<br />True that.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-Zhr8-yAu9tmuB0Rmnz1mAfiOBWGN2G4fQ0RvbycDRxFE0Mmk-4eaWRL5Zonzd6GjNPWLWKv3txC9zq7u70HqD0l44GtUiF3BvEHxNWDkQSs-VCIQjavYjinpQE8CsD2fC5yD3SJKyJb/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+10.58.02+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-Zhr8-yAu9tmuB0Rmnz1mAfiOBWGN2G4fQ0RvbycDRxFE0Mmk-4eaWRL5Zonzd6GjNPWLWKv3txC9zq7u70HqD0l44GtUiF3BvEHxNWDkQSs-VCIQjavYjinpQE8CsD2fC5yD3SJKyJb/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+10.58.02+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560135895151022850" border="0" /></a>I should have been worried when I got a pirate-themed invitation earlier in the summer, but I really had no idea just how far my sisters would take it. Pretty far, it turns out.<br /><br />Once we arrived at camp and had a wander around, we spent Thursday afternoon doing all sorts of wedding prep as our families arrived. After a yummy pizza dinner and birthday cake for my nephew and FIL, I was whisked away by my bridesmaids and bridesman for my bachelorette party.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifObZ15ttSkwhuKx4IsTlyvxeXA9_UgXKSIK1Zxx1UFOluLYHy5NoZWrxSFsEsfaVq_TkV1PNiFfC9Wy-WHWhXfeGcEz_pnDsa8LHUf4MoVw5u4gqoh3Dic_NxKG3iE3rlTdAjJbQxze9/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-08+at+5.22.20+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifObZ15ttSkwhuKx4IsTlyvxeXA9_UgXKSIK1Zxx1UFOluLYHy5NoZWrxSFsEsfaVq_TkV1PNiFfC9Wy-WHWhXfeGcEz_pnDsa8LHUf4MoVw5u4gqoh3Dic_NxKG3iE3rlTdAjJbQxze9/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-08+at+5.22.20+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560135871757979906" border="0" /></a><br />It started off innocent enough at a secret bonfire where we played a panty game, to the utmost discomfort of Little Veggie Bro. I was presented with panties galore and this fantastic pirate outfit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0f4wK21PE_tjr4jcDnaVdgmnmBwr-LeXGbfLiUQg7N05y18ozLnXZHRuGLqz4Y-4LkDvUUevArQDgMx5xQ8uau_hSfY9qx-gb8-dowU_byrHZ4GQIby2qGHl4p6_EckbLbdUc6IIICIs/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-08+at+5.22.52+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0f4wK21PE_tjr4jcDnaVdgmnmBwr-LeXGbfLiUQg7N05y18ozLnXZHRuGLqz4Y-4LkDvUUevArQDgMx5xQ8uau_hSfY9qx-gb8-dowU_byrHZ4GQIby2qGHl4p6_EckbLbdUc6IIICIs/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-08+at+5.22.52+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560135883644574978" border="0" /></a><br />My birdesmaids convinced me that I should go ahead and put on the outfit. I wouldn't be alone. They were going to dress like pirates too. Ummm...yeah, they had eye patches, swords, and cute little black dresses. I had a freaking pirate's costume. Unfair? Perhaps. But you're only a bachelorette once. I felt like Lindsey Lohan in that scene in Mean Girls, a gnarly pirate amongst cute pretty pirates.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZU-3XRW9hlND2hOrP3zi9lRFxDT30pc8c0K4XFvwVTCLpHlWcllGALNleXJff4wWBOtUTHXVH0Y45OREi0belVt1naLhTYrEmCdjx_NOnHqtBrPlk8sdeF-KIbfE4mKk6a0E_gjlEZNc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+10.58.20+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZU-3XRW9hlND2hOrP3zi9lRFxDT30pc8c0K4XFvwVTCLpHlWcllGALNleXJff4wWBOtUTHXVH0Y45OREi0belVt1naLhTYrEmCdjx_NOnHqtBrPlk8sdeF-KIbfE4mKk6a0E_gjlEZNc/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+10.58.20+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560135901983683474" border="0" /></a>After a not-so-brief limousine ride and copious amounts of beverages, we painted the town.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQACS-UJwULjMgT5MzWzY6TEVJzZXZ5Gq5If9eDFQqujnL1DLxRjXFU-a1w9wT1eBXQCVgebtU4HjES1oUHhlgrOw2vZptgzRKdsNBt3NN-dZRM70hXVCkcKdFyDh03cqdn6eewCER_fok/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.08.51+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQACS-UJwULjMgT5MzWzY6TEVJzZXZ5Gq5If9eDFQqujnL1DLxRjXFU-a1w9wT1eBXQCVgebtU4HjES1oUHhlgrOw2vZptgzRKdsNBt3NN-dZRM70hXVCkcKdFyDh03cqdn6eewCER_fok/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.08.51+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560138784560210770" border="0" /></a>Safe to say that the Scranton locals were not accustomed to a band of merry pirates frolicking in their fair city. They didn't take to us too kindly. We were actually turned away from the only bar in Scranton that we could find that might be classed as a nightclub because they wouldn't let us in with our "weapons". Um... we're not real pirates dude. And these aren't real swords.<br /><br />Oh well, all the better for us, because we found a local dive somewhere between Scranton and Honesdale that had kareoke. Have I told you how much I love kareoke? A lot.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzr32ToRWNZsdHEy3FsWivGcTl1EQfkDtMqLuNSHIDCWI207gsd5y2UzfNdECXjZKS1HJ7XCVx5qOubrSSAdM5vHmHkH5gEthdIS_QpnTQ66qgymmSHbKXJ3HwJZbBzTn4VztODene8A3/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.05.26+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzr32ToRWNZsdHEy3FsWivGcTl1EQfkDtMqLuNSHIDCWI207gsd5y2UzfNdECXjZKS1HJ7XCVx5qOubrSSAdM5vHmHkH5gEthdIS_QpnTQ66qgymmSHbKXJ3HwJZbBzTn4VztODene8A3/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.05.26+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560138819474375842" border="0" /></a>Apparently it runs in the family. This bar was everything you could ever hope a local bar would be. Fellas who look like they had been on the same bar stool for weeks. Ladies who could very likely beat Mr. Veggie in an arm wrestle. Honestly, I didn't know that there were still bars where you could smoke inside. Not only did we get cheap drinks, and maybe a free round or two, but I even got a wealth of unsolicited marriage advice. I think some of the Veggie Sisters may have gotten marriage proposals. And on and on the night went...<br /><br />...and so that's how I ended up slightly tipsy in downtown Scranton trying to storm a castle with Veggie Sister Carrot (using a beer as a weapon?).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfMNDzHziNMifIx5HfhUhFKOP2kxEpomOvg9KH35gEtBPC-l7AbMzG5rGv75n_SbJi3PmGDS4hHLD3PPsXicAeztSs9zk_Ul1dHSYQ-sLKUhdPY8yGItTPt-cgqkZAc44IIaQT1MTo_i8/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.05.06+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfMNDzHziNMifIx5HfhUhFKOP2kxEpomOvg9KH35gEtBPC-l7AbMzG5rGv75n_SbJi3PmGDS4hHLD3PPsXicAeztSs9zk_Ul1dHSYQ-sLKUhdPY8yGItTPt-cgqkZAc44IIaQT1MTo_i8/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-09+at+11.05.06+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561466565374663250" border="0" /></a>Those Veggie siblings sure do know how to have a good time.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-80010487083005488102011-01-03T11:58:00.000-08:002011-01-03T12:54:01.116-08:00Peas and Carrots: Location, Location, LocatioWhen I first started planning our wedding I was torn between a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/09/farm-wedding-v-camp-wedding/">camp wedding and farm wedding</a>. We <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/12/wedding-farmers/">nixed the farm idea</a> when we couldn't find a farm that would actually grow our food on-site without costing us an arm and a leg. After some <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/16/double-booked/">turmoil</a> and a lot of research, we ended up at <a href="http://www.indianhead.com/">Indian Head Camp</a>. Are you ready for some knock down gorgeousness?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHoXfFzvGCZgUd_EiZfMBdGgq-ne7ozUG8uTugbGpNUrvQP3Kl-UI9pqgYDv4O-st5FVPEor6GO9LI9yhsnqu_BbeC9HLiIUoe5XA9-565JC-FoKS2_8XVLlqBPDR5VYKZkluMsU_KyEk/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.16+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHoXfFzvGCZgUd_EiZfMBdGgq-ne7ozUG8uTugbGpNUrvQP3Kl-UI9pqgYDv4O-st5FVPEor6GO9LI9yhsnqu_BbeC9HLiIUoe5XA9-565JC-FoKS2_8XVLlqBPDR5VYKZkluMsU_KyEk/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.16+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558053324272560994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">All photos family photos unless otherwise noted.</span><br /></div><br />And here comes a huge bridal blogging fail. I like to think it is a testament to how much fun everyone was having, but I hardly got any pictures of the venue from anyone during the whole weekend. Lots of pictures of the wedding. Lots of pictures of us having fun. But hardly any of the camp itself. I didn't even get a picture of the cute sign they made that said "Dani and Nelson's Wedding" that was waiting for us when we arrived. Sigh.<br /><br />Well hopefully this hodge-podge will give you an idea of what we saw when we arrived on Thursday afternoon.<br /><br />The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and an army of staff were waiting to make our weekend incredible. There were cabins waiting to be filled with our guests.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-eJLnjjzzAmNtJi4OskQib0KZI78dSs-NBFP9ob7xTRTLB6xGyAQvLrX1xn9Xk8GXD4balTu1mR9_PMxhU6CIDoeAiTRaqGfa4JTunpQ3nTvjzfRj3pd4fI7wDqOSbrpRbsLYSAfoLnl/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.47+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-eJLnjjzzAmNtJi4OskQib0KZI78dSs-NBFP9ob7xTRTLB6xGyAQvLrX1xn9Xk8GXD4balTu1mR9_PMxhU6CIDoeAiTRaqGfa4JTunpQ3nTvjzfRj3pd4fI7wDqOSbrpRbsLYSAfoLnl/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.47+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558053304732401298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>And that one, just there on the lake shore, that one was for me and Mr. Veggie. They had turned it into a cute little honeymoon suite, with a double bed and linen and a minibar with snacks. Of course I didn't get a picture. Grr.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5ci0dd_lfTZo36S3agqiwzTczaPfaUWfBsaMlOz474pksYpVNAHiemMlWnbIZj9qxaBHbOVlIn6FV_In1s-6KM11DJTUqo6YHbfAcdVVWyj86Uwnv6bY8gzx9Dh5Eoe_q06t7cbyvTvv/s1600/cabins+lake.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5ci0dd_lfTZo36S3agqiwzTczaPfaUWfBsaMlOz474pksYpVNAHiemMlWnbIZj9qxaBHbOVlIn6FV_In1s-6KM11DJTUqo6YHbfAcdVVWyj86Uwnv6bY8gzx9Dh5Eoe_q06t7cbyvTvv/s1600/cabins+lake.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558059447660419762" border="0" /></a><br />There was a lake ready to be skied on, canoed on, and swum in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH8ONf7Bvg2hUyLoMwFnx75Gwikj5n6nTb_xM1jEQ1UAQSqgGHluWDd0pjERa7wD6G3E4jvhcVbdzhsLr612e4psE3TWdsIXJnwx-SDbMWKkd2UCukRyLOuan095-rRpNwV46mPCnbZVt/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.04+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH8ONf7Bvg2hUyLoMwFnx75Gwikj5n6nTb_xM1jEQ1UAQSqgGHluWDd0pjERa7wD6G3E4jvhcVbdzhsLr612e4psE3TWdsIXJnwx-SDbMWKkd2UCukRyLOuan095-rRpNwV46mPCnbZVt/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.02.04+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558053336396700498" border="0" /></a><br />A field ready for softball.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZx_4ETDjREn4i2NEnTrD_k3dM-tQtuvQrNG_tlrkqdjXOkAMY9hcT86NEFYxZlgWzbuPixhU1-J2HJzL7tKjQBRTqd0tv7LX-YxG_dAc55eM88r7_fKeuJgimIAbECvqlBzKwKV9K8dC/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-02-10+at+4.08.54+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZx_4ETDjREn4i2NEnTrD_k3dM-tQtuvQrNG_tlrkqdjXOkAMY9hcT86NEFYxZlgWzbuPixhU1-J2HJzL7tKjQBRTqd0tv7LX-YxG_dAc55eM88r7_fKeuJgimIAbECvqlBzKwKV9K8dC/s400/Screen+shot+2010-02-10+at+4.08.54+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057910118392850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photo: Indian Head Camp</span><br /><br /></div>And another one ready to become our ceremony site.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ABJlLixDaSbig4JKf5Pk4NeZ9AIuKeOslAci7aC8TxWSPjZFuNNjyIbgouAJA-LLu885OxDQa1IHBlaqZDPADNE8gLO2rZsuYOPsiIijKBf3Jp99FL6K87DfK1gTabmSss8tW1AuSq-i/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.07.21+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ABJlLixDaSbig4JKf5Pk4NeZ9AIuKeOslAci7aC8TxWSPjZFuNNjyIbgouAJA-LLu885OxDQa1IHBlaqZDPADNE8gLO2rZsuYOPsiIijKBf3Jp99FL6K87DfK1gTabmSss8tW1AuSq-i/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.07.21+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057169369874674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photo: Indian Head Camp<br /><br /></span></div>There were ropes ready to be climbed.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc8ULsTnyEnnMXW_mDpD3Vz1FjtTwNnFKk7zfyTgfbdtQqKeebZMQlLWsxnTtdsNoUV1H4a7s1mCh08iEebAlgoRPUecj2YN29iq0jQRIXm5AyEQWyIkBi4n0sqP44I2zm3i03pXk69Nr/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.03.26+AM.png"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWBkh0BwhB0riG-AqwMIqt-7GPRVcc8ah7j3zMxmymmDO2afsM22-2g8XGsakXdTjtolBNz3sdId26M4ltRxYI1HN3BkiA5U7-SMCCoC4rqa9fXR2zMfBFR2wUxmnTtSt8Ve5f6bm8wYh/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.19.30+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWBkh0BwhB0riG-AqwMIqt-7GPRVcc8ah7j3zMxmymmDO2afsM22-2g8XGsakXdTjtolBNz3sdId26M4ltRxYI1HN3BkiA5U7-SMCCoC4rqa9fXR2zMfBFR2wUxmnTtSt8Ve5f6bm8wYh/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.19.30+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057183108598818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photo: Indian Head Camp<br /><br /></span></div>And a dining hall and canteen to decorate.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG7xzbMHYBM-mYXqjzU6jWu2b5fT1-oozQTneyWEMIo50vd6sOKqDp0nUUsTNLvPPq42vl12rt7kodKXFtIRnsD1w_EwxuaOVXnoiNlw7xaGPHIy6QValqCx1o9cpoVqo4QiB1HjLColL/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-02-10+at+4.06.58+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG7xzbMHYBM-mYXqjzU6jWu2b5fT1-oozQTneyWEMIo50vd6sOKqDp0nUUsTNLvPPq42vl12rt7kodKXFtIRnsD1w_EwxuaOVXnoiNlw7xaGPHIy6QValqCx1o9cpoVqo4QiB1HjLColL/s400/Screen+shot+2010-02-10+at+4.06.58+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057905866568578" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ-uprEt3y96RK0AntOO1v_BfRUozAcmb4bbdIv3XUU9i7Loyt9X3-O01mfF3Rv2So0OzpIfdq_dn6tbT9lLuJGBfjMJpK-vHUPlpjdw1lFF3IY8kwPEttWAmQ30xEk8TFPFQ8kzSvffY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.07.50+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ-uprEt3y96RK0AntOO1v_BfRUozAcmb4bbdIv3XUU9i7Loyt9X3-O01mfF3Rv2So0OzpIfdq_dn6tbT9lLuJGBfjMJpK-vHUPlpjdw1lFF3IY8kwPEttWAmQ30xEk8TFPFQ8kzSvffY/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.07.50+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057176960177858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photos: Indian Head Camp<br /><br /></span></div>There was even a wee little tipi and fire pit awaiting some late night shenanigans.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X83jUcvG1pIKdTfpiTqW49xM4G29wfEEJXy5wbI23kKydbw8fIYXHfM5h7T-nuyMSLVK58xBk29eKpbEokJjFWou532mPmAqUrFJICLBwWSIrBKj_IEbO6cavYZ3DAVihFRZnb6arRPu/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.06.14+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X83jUcvG1pIKdTfpiTqW49xM4G29wfEEJXy5wbI23kKydbw8fIYXHfM5h7T-nuyMSLVK58xBk29eKpbEokJjFWou532mPmAqUrFJICLBwWSIrBKj_IEbO6cavYZ3DAVihFRZnb6arRPu/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+9.06.14+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558057163077309570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photo: Indian Head Camp<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">This was the first time Mr. Veggie had ever seen the venue, and only my second time. Before our families arrived we took some time to walk around and get a feel for the place. It was then that we saw people there from the other group. Ummm what?!? Other group?<br /><br />Yeah, turns out that because we were having very small numbers on Thursday night the camp decided that another group could be booked for that night through lunch the next day. Without letting us know. At first I was annoyed, really annoyed.<br /><br />But then I just thought, "Whatever. We do have a really small group here tonight, only our immediate families. They wont care that there are other people here. And there's nothing I can really do about this". So, I just let it be. And I chose to be happy and indulge myself in the beauty of the place and the fantasticly good vibes that the staff were sending our way.<br /><br />Were there any unexpected hic-ups when you arrived at your venue?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-797254528476093452010-12-30T12:34:00.000-08:002010-12-30T13:25:31.614-08:00Peas and Carrots: Our Eco-Thrifty WeddingWay way back, at the beginning of this whole process, over nine months ago, I wrote about how our goal was to have an amazing wedding that celebrated us. By celebrating us, I mean celebrating who we are, what we stand for, how we live. Our lifestyle. A lifestyle of living simply and lightly on the planet. <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2GjX0LvR1EpKq9CACaGq7RiaBOjBRREcuFJ7qQDzQgRaxxWtNyrk1KA9OPZtJ1dKONu-E-Ivxr4icBorjGTGx9cX7pVQn4xKxlqBQDOTPYY3O5aSGcHBHNSNOG2aA6AyH-nCV-Vfq_HW/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.43.45+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2GjX0LvR1EpKq9CACaGq7RiaBOjBRREcuFJ7qQDzQgRaxxWtNyrk1KA9OPZtJ1dKONu-E-Ivxr4icBorjGTGx9cX7pVQn4xKxlqBQDOTPYY3O5aSGcHBHNSNOG2aA6AyH-nCV-Vfq_HW/s400/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.43.45+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578999835507746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">The Veggies on 350 day last year (personal photo).</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’d like to pretend that this was easy, but the pull of the wedding industry is strong. Actually, maybe that’s unfair, because it’s not just the wedding industry. I am a girl who grew up in a state known for its highways and malls, in the highest consuming nation on the planet, during an economic boom. I was given Barbie dolls, and movies starring Disney princesses, and cassette tapes of Debbie Gibson and told by society, that like them, I too could have it all, especially on the biggest day of my life, my wedding day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqKjI_pA1WOvFVbxLgMq7yNYnovtM667cCXZOF0o9Mrq7L5kNRM3KYdzqeTmNP_GU7wiLMWKvFLB0uCctRJUKzcAarHv46V_Jgq8G8q1AJA2JshgMG1AEifin0WZbvxEQYQp8mBfakxzw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-30+at+1.14.25+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqKjI_pA1WOvFVbxLgMq7yNYnovtM667cCXZOF0o9Mrq7L5kNRM3KYdzqeTmNP_GU7wiLMWKvFLB0uCctRJUKzcAarHv46V_Jgq8G8q1AJA2JshgMG1AEifin0WZbvxEQYQp8mBfakxzw/s400/Screen+shot+2010-12-30+at+1.14.25+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578664588216498" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">A princess bride? (Oh Darling Photography)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So, yes, even though my heart and my head knew the boundaries that I wanted to play within when planning our wedding. And even though I created those boundaries, not anyone else. Even though deep deep down I wanted simple, and thrifty, and eco. Somewhere even deeper, laid a girl ready and waiting to buy into all of the hoopla.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAWxkfY1Ej2qZ2JDOxnYEjPD-UGWCWvgwrObUZNV8UBWMP7s0cf87ODKhRkq1m4_qRUP6ue2kvUYnKGaISz5PUY1x0rLtwrNVVwkUmiaTKUTi1rHFNUKk9YxKmbRH5MUVQBm5iGdS5RIT/s1600/4920975505_61fa6197e8_o+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAWxkfY1Ej2qZ2JDOxnYEjPD-UGWCWvgwrObUZNV8UBWMP7s0cf87ODKhRkq1m4_qRUP6ue2kvUYnKGaISz5PUY1x0rLtwrNVVwkUmiaTKUTi1rHFNUKk9YxKmbRH5MUVQBm5iGdS5RIT/s1600/4920975505_61fa6197e8_o+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578695681767394" border="0" /></a> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Beautiful hoopla. (Personal Photo)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So, if my recaps seem a bit schizophrenic… If you wonder why we were so staunch about non-paper invitations, and then printed out eight page programs… If you wonder why my dress is re-used but my flowergirls are wearing new Chucks, all I can say is it was a struggle. It was a struggle between us and what we thought our families wanted, between us as a couple, and between myself and my inner diva.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSeihQUKpqmrKhfFo101I0yORUMKA_Oh56JFTTWEHiB5juAkgU2EvCExPTgVSTTq6pv3Se94BU4K9YMIAfaopmXtCq_gAMd2lsZaMVqUW6pDeUf_NvfBvCTtc5b1o70rMPTGtjfvn60JS/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.40.04+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSeihQUKpqmrKhfFo101I0yORUMKA_Oh56JFTTWEHiB5juAkgU2EvCExPTgVSTTq6pv3Se94BU4K9YMIAfaopmXtCq_gAMd2lsZaMVqUW6pDeUf_NvfBvCTtc5b1o70rMPTGtjfvn60JS/s400/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.40.04+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578688421499282" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">The Veggies de-stress the day before the wedding. That's some good teamwork. (Photo by Mamma Veggie)</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And as I sit here in my gumboots, wiping the baby duck pooh off my workpants, sorting through wedding pictures to put with this post, I am happy with the balance we struck. In the end, I think we came out on top. We didn’t end up with the thriftiest or eco-iest of weddings ever on the whole planet, but we sure gave it a go. And we did end up with a very eco-thrifty wedding, one that was also very us, and made us very happy. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvws82YvGWIq4pJo9XdfI54Il6ZT3aqrJk5DJo4dPf-O_I5Kpn5_NMhyphenhyphenjzYmrYW5jUAxyy94H5x11G2pr50Qx1tkTRhg2teretmC503e1ltNsUpTSw7vOgdO_Z0RR2UIR7XNZQGqFWafsb/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-30+at+1.15.05+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvws82YvGWIq4pJo9XdfI54Il6ZT3aqrJk5DJo4dPf-O_I5Kpn5_NMhyphenhyphenjzYmrYW5jUAxyy94H5x11G2pr50Qx1tkTRhg2teretmC503e1ltNsUpTSw7vOgdO_Z0RR2UIR7XNZQGqFWafsb/s400/Screen+shot+2010-12-30+at+1.15.05+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578672380659810" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Happy Veggies. (Oh Darling Photography)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I will try to give out any eco and thrifty tips that we picked up along the way as I go through my recaps, and I will definitely give you both and environmental and financial tally of the event at the end.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">P.S.- Wanna see a picture of our new baby ducklings? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPrY8q7Ftuj5xD3n2TEzXW4xc9Z2dm-5wS3SthIvPtQg39bsq3v_OS2Vshq08PLb_mgeIhtsVfoeK-UcoXIyiN2RF9sYlL-go8FoARVAla8EIgZZDw35QbAbbldfGSPtWqA07qZf00OYy/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.31.34+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPrY8q7Ftuj5xD3n2TEzXW4xc9Z2dm-5wS3SthIvPtQg39bsq3v_OS2Vshq08PLb_mgeIhtsVfoeK-UcoXIyiN2RF9sYlL-go8FoARVAla8EIgZZDw35QbAbbldfGSPtWqA07qZf00OYy/s400/Screen+shot+2010-12-31+at+9.31.34+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556578678761225490" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">I thought you might! (Personal Photo)<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"></span>Did you have battles with yourself or your SO while wedding planning? What were some of the things you got pulled into that you wish you hadn’t? What are some things you were happily able to resist?</p>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-68909979569131554912010-12-28T01:36:00.000-08:002010-12-30T13:20:53.432-08:00Peas and Carrots: The Veggies Get HitchedHi…<br />My name is Veggie…<br />And I am a recap slacker.<br />It has been 85 days since my last post. It has been 129 days since my wedding.<br /><br />129 days!!! What?!? Come on Veggie. Get crackin'. What are you waiting for, anyway?<br /><br />Well it's not like I've been slacking. The Veggies have been on the move. Since the end of our stay-cation-moon we have: flown back to New Zealand, moved out of our housetruck, and moved into a 100-year old <s>villa</s> <s>shack</s> work-in-progress about 6 hours down the coast. Oh yeah, and we've launched a <a href="http://www.ecothriftydoup.blogspot.com/">new project</a> for our non-profit, rebuilt our <a href="http://www.theecoschool.net/">website</a>, and ran six workshops. Phew.<br /><br />But hive, I've been missing you.<br /><br />And so, as one of many New Year's resolutions, I've decided to get going on my recaps. I wonder if there might be a few other bees thinking along these lines too.<br /><br />I leave you today with a little peek and a promise to be writing on a regular basis in the weeks to come. So get ready for some summer campin', barn dancin', softball playin', compost makin' good times.<br /><br />Happy Solstice, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCF00syH8XQhoxboS33Jqb2UYTvip0ECqlatRh8wHQCDB4kd9lzqqVg8ZWB4IjO7ik8d_DnPOLDzLDCkLY4DaVofMFfrroX6ZNI2FcW-RJcXlZNPQiwZv7_yd5BcWo0T5OSeRj6lffPlc/s1600/4940213214_277f84363a_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCF00syH8XQhoxboS33Jqb2UYTvip0ECqlatRh8wHQCDB4kd9lzqqVg8ZWB4IjO7ik8d_DnPOLDzLDCkLY4DaVofMFfrroX6ZNI2FcW-RJcXlZNPQiwZv7_yd5BcWo0T5OSeRj6lffPlc/s400/4940213214_277f84363a_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555668050469538066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo: Liz Gallo. (Momma Veggie)</span> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUId6uvzXQrim-C-e7U5d83s5ve4hdeSHWfUrZGP6d1xmRPH3yBHNnQl-djjA-HgohhjRD0p_-srqKyG9uJrOhW2pgbfDh2kLvfJ9D78GbYb9ZbpV05nV-ngznthku_MCSrfQ3w9FqRSK/s1600/D33.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUId6uvzXQrim-C-e7U5d83s5ve4hdeSHWfUrZGP6d1xmRPH3yBHNnQl-djjA-HgohhjRD0p_-srqKyG9uJrOhW2pgbfDh2kLvfJ9D78GbYb9ZbpV05nV-ngznthku_MCSrfQ3w9FqRSK/s400/D33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555668060848419634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo: <a href="http://www.jenlebophotography.com/">Jen Lebo Photography</a><br /><br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJo2h7l7mbKebFN-EQYWXDxJRK5KKZFFeXskHMMYhIs8ADM8kiKdNDfJ16HEeRn194RIdH14nf1TE0pG6oEpM42h2YjPZkdFaQMjF0DdP5enDwMb30z-nnDWkQ4HvmIVZTbRG1hiUBR5X/s1600/Wedding119.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJo2h7l7mbKebFN-EQYWXDxJRK5KKZFFeXskHMMYhIs8ADM8kiKdNDfJ16HEeRn194RIdH14nf1TE0pG6oEpM42h2YjPZkdFaQMjF0DdP5enDwMb30z-nnDWkQ4HvmIVZTbRG1hiUBR5X/s400/Wedding119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555669264793858546" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo: <a href="http://www.ohdarlingphotography.com/">Oh Darling! Photography</a></span><br /></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-6562340973523093002010-10-04T17:35:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:21:32.776-08:00Veggie-mooning: Our Family HistorySo we spent some weeks meandering through the every-day experiences of our families. Waking in the homes of our sibling, parents, and friends. Sharing, playing, and snuggling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8t4m1a4PERMA8Nln6qjIz3n14BR2eioiC01Vs5rA8suGvmeFIjojrZGOj-ecd5b0i1ndF0kxkwl0TPFfJhqHgAOWeixrxmKCoOqMTREeBsfsvj7oJrguxlTMu-zFfhNOUwyqvrRcwST5/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+4.17.24+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8t4m1a4PERMA8Nln6qjIz3n14BR2eioiC01Vs5rA8suGvmeFIjojrZGOj-ecd5b0i1ndF0kxkwl0TPFfJhqHgAOWeixrxmKCoOqMTREeBsfsvj7oJrguxlTMu-zFfhNOUwyqvrRcwST5/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+4.17.24+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524396144037436226" border="0" /></a>Eating and laughing with them and catching up on all of the happenings we've missed while we were away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRwZim5nCUhHEQIDMW3LdgJZHvolcMRZdhJQXL2PbnGR6xQAJ7ZEyJqRJI5OgEIz3AAV0hH2G5LKuOzGYovJmNYj0ymItjitOOgo-cPqgjaGTwgLUmlFnjQquJ0FG4QBdds3zXIwrFzOl/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+4.33.18+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRwZim5nCUhHEQIDMW3LdgJZHvolcMRZdhJQXL2PbnGR6xQAJ7ZEyJqRJI5OgEIz3AAV0hH2G5LKuOzGYovJmNYj0ymItjitOOgo-cPqgjaGTwgLUmlFnjQquJ0FG4QBdds3zXIwrFzOl/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+4.33.18+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524400295818239682" border="0" /></a><br />Helping out with projects.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt_wA_MC2hgssFjfJ0KdfgJdKFFprY7pnmgkDytQEDd-7S4QfayBuHbHaBkqy_aMAsnAOVLtg5QPmnjhYINmaKoW8_xfzEefgetKOMunIwnj2UfD9f-u_WOWocPuE_J1dBwuEqTLVN83w/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt_wA_MC2hgssFjfJ0KdfgJdKFFprY7pnmgkDytQEDd-7S4QfayBuHbHaBkqy_aMAsnAOVLtg5QPmnjhYINmaKoW8_xfzEefgetKOMunIwnj2UfD9f-u_WOWocPuE_J1dBwuEqTLVN83w/s400/IMG_6064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524417088335225970" border="0" /></a><br />Celebrating momentous occasions (Happy 30th Veggie Sister Kale!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKPny5W6bqiDNNTDobOf6A7QDwijQbo3HXc-XoxE5b4dvGg0rRbqKCRebjELRdY2vKmFoKAsVz92V6wRwST5ccKHkn4WdR5EVjIImyw2P-kbYBJ2n_z8kAbkVaVtvojARB751BmORTCF0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+3.45.16+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKPny5W6bqiDNNTDobOf6A7QDwijQbo3HXc-XoxE5b4dvGg0rRbqKCRebjELRdY2vKmFoKAsVz92V6wRwST5ccKHkn4WdR5EVjIImyw2P-kbYBJ2n_z8kAbkVaVtvojARB751BmORTCF0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-05+at+3.45.16+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524387998044588386" border="0" /></a><br />Witnessing the first day of school.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguggZ3Lj6f-pUfBOYz5yHWSzIIVaeuLPPc42RIqN4R02LkdsL9dzi1_pG_chNW2qyf6jT9fyJK_ZP6l76hJkOhh2AQuhfQBCgXv7JApsYkdHzqMAgSvihkZtRwysgTWYdFnKLIi3AwWYLT/s1600/IMG_6541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguggZ3Lj6f-pUfBOYz5yHWSzIIVaeuLPPc42RIqN4R02LkdsL9dzi1_pG_chNW2qyf6jT9fyJK_ZP6l76hJkOhh2AQuhfQBCgXv7JApsYkdHzqMAgSvihkZtRwysgTWYdFnKLIi3AwWYLT/s400/IMG_6541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524355492562508018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And, in so many other ways, reconnecting with our families’ living histories.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fyS6oMVnMyClh13vNHpuClppByL0LR56vFcbPomMCBW1MpDZrdr2BDIzAMiNSq7S757vyQR6D2OkubXnY6v4MKkciQMGzywPFdBSxGwS5PJEKFoLwcmGTqpDDeJtTEeWeN6KY3IPDuwq/s1600/IMG_6084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fyS6oMVnMyClh13vNHpuClppByL0LR56vFcbPomMCBW1MpDZrdr2BDIzAMiNSq7S757vyQR6D2OkubXnY6v4MKkciQMGzywPFdBSxGwS5PJEKFoLwcmGTqpDDeJtTEeWeN6KY3IPDuwq/s400/IMG_6084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524417079197466690" border="0" /></a><br />We sat with my grandfather at his house on the shore of Lake Winnepesauke and he showed us albums of photos detailing his life, my heritage. He showed me the first date that he ever went on with my grandmother, a woman who passed away before I was even born. He showed us the displaced person’s camp where they lived in Germany, after fleeing Latvia during World War II. He showed us the General S.S. Sturgis, the ship that they sailed to America on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcBnMCnuLWDtHrbhk_2IBUlV8dO9JycYm-if37U7IU_zFAx6u40CdiXVRicDRFQPG67r8S48ca0bzWqeD5m_eyt68TxwlNo_veJvkx20GJzetPE9akswYJx8FT3eDNTUPe3c1S1h6oW4Z/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-10-06+at+10.34.09+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcBnMCnuLWDtHrbhk_2IBUlV8dO9JycYm-if37U7IU_zFAx6u40CdiXVRicDRFQPG67r8S48ca0bzWqeD5m_eyt68TxwlNo_veJvkx20GJzetPE9akswYJx8FT3eDNTUPe3c1S1h6oW4Z/s400/Screen+shot+2010-10-06+at+10.34.09+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524678763202706066" border="0" /></a><br />Being newly married, with a new last name, I began to think of about our history. The Veggie family history, that will weave together all of the strands of these incredible people and places. And suddenly I felt very underprepared.<br /><br />Did I have proper documentation of early Veggie Family history? One day will my granddaughter be sitting by my side asking me about our first date? Sorry kid, we were all far too inebriated at the end-of-year faculty party that year to take any pictures. Luckily the final stop on our tour of New England was the very place where Veggie love blossomed many moons ago.<br /><br />So here you are, Veggie grandkids. A glimpse into the start our family history.<br /><br />Here's the 200 yr. old, off the grid, farmhouse that Granddad Veggie restored and was living in when we first started dating. He stole my heart when he brought me here and cooked me a stir-fry of veggies that he grew himself.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtZ8kK1safbbeqnKQLlSAQ8uGl5nTn9OWfwx-QXPjACbhs6EODqqOoHoTf_tCh-HKbmFe38PIQRbQmLZOoNO0YwIB3voDKWROR2v7dHk62EOTu0tAlTIcSg7QE4lf4GWDTGU6jW86jFWC/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtZ8kK1safbbeqnKQLlSAQ8uGl5nTn9OWfwx-QXPjACbhs6EODqqOoHoTf_tCh-HKbmFe38PIQRbQmLZOoNO0YwIB3voDKWROR2v7dHk62EOTu0tAlTIcSg7QE4lf4GWDTGU6jW86jFWC/s400/IMG_6496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524680457748691522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's the dormitory that Grandmom Veggie lived in, and around the back is the creaky and dangerous fire escape that Granddad Veggie used to secretly climb up to visit her.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp4q9dDYui4MmzytHoM3XubrjuoNJgZS2_wr61yuSJXteRyd__2jMX7rx2Rye6045CZ53cmf6aaFHk3NfBg9fXJaJAqgGpw_1tr91W9gnKazNOzJt96fXXp2hK8TFqf4A5j2HcYwdlkKB/s1600/IMG_6516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp4q9dDYui4MmzytHoM3XubrjuoNJgZS2_wr61yuSJXteRyd__2jMX7rx2Rye6045CZ53cmf6aaFHk3NfBg9fXJaJAqgGpw_1tr91W9gnKazNOzJt96fXXp2hK8TFqf4A5j2HcYwdlkKB/s400/IMG_6516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524680458780978306" border="0" /></a>And here is Grandmom Veggie, dressed in her Salvation Army finest, the night that she wooed Granddad Veggie and stole his heart.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OB4NjYKZBP2fQ0CXTewLCMVvs03NXYOTO92dGZh7Tz99iD1Ez3-WKKRg5I1t9fxb3QDWnSpUgzTDEnxKrN9PCg8ysccsg63IUg462bzCrbsZIQR0wrMhYcfDhO576NwU9ey10gVpppyR/s1600/DSCN0764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OB4NjYKZBP2fQ0CXTewLCMVvs03NXYOTO92dGZh7Tz99iD1Ez3-WKKRg5I1t9fxb3QDWnSpUgzTDEnxKrN9PCg8ysccsg63IUg462bzCrbsZIQR0wrMhYcfDhO576NwU9ey10gVpppyR/s400/DSCN0764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524680463712549202" border="0" /></a>What stories will be part of your new family history?The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-70080380264305316072010-09-24T13:44:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:21:32.777-08:00Veggie-Mooning: A Little Slice of Americana<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So there we were: me, my new husband, a few cases of wine and beer, and a pick up truck. We were free to go and do as we chose, no obligations, no reservations, spontaneously deciding each evening where we would lay our heads.</span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Well, that’s about half true. There was, in fact, quite a bit of spontaneity in our travels. And we did, in fact, not make many plans on where we would sleep. We did, however have a lot of people to visit in a very short time who were inconveniently spread over 7 states. So we had a tight schedule to stick to as we wandered through the most perfect time of year in the northeast.</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">There really is nothing better than New England in the late summer. If you haven’t had the pleasure, let me fill you in on this little piece of heaven.</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOj0cz6V0ppbQksy1zKRId-fTeLAZrONCza9stSgaloasXLkWdcxT4PRFubLLXJZAhPsLVWfoavw4NIRlSr4zI41bwEljk98pfi4mqOwj9lF5DKYwGUPNg5aDiVdKe8iYwjQBDobcdRML/s400/IMG_6419.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520590766504071650" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AKnJB6ZtHpeBeSL3HhLtBP_CA-kZfVVYxmtNE1iNTI3wtWmh1rgsBPc-j3uM48IqQlcPMUZ_bSPrUHZ-kJa-KWiqfIyodqHKhUsDE86LR3-THSxEmiO78g8V8og3M5eSTPuWeGR46cnL/s400/IMG_6079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520589617851542386" /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGXGOAAzBRm-boEWSjSE6zdxM2hfIEEXvET7sTny51errz__-6EjkbcCAxg3kWN8mEK2Uh3JEgdJ8RxBcvMJFEw6aSfcrAJHjdrd1lF91N2-ErhknrC1Gg70yjGx8w9-nFHWeqIWPdE4y/s400/IMG_6075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520587593323426578" /></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The beauty of New Zealand, our new home, is astounding. The vast rolling hills, expanses of wild coastlines, and the greatness of the fiordlands are overwhelming. When you drive through NZ you can practically feel the landscapes shouting at you. “Look at me! I am beautiful”. </p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">But the humble beauty of New England does not shout.</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsQpzrYSHgPXngJH5QcxsooeW5h24ggm2z-EPuinrHWsaquhMHKYNK4mVgqtdxf8KbFJVr_nqQmZVNhf3Aku6-bGqipby9vIePE7jymgVZWpkc2e4klntzfGquma4EpEMKmLouj-LKufO/s400/IMG_6048.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520585268238901730" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MyNY_bcdnQaMjDOn2H-PrqrAPujojlAjwiNQCvhf4wGimoyeh6orRCfPyGF6mi0LAhdpunS7fcABogEFUIFwKS3Vop09b7-tdhdioj52m3Lh3fnaLrkvEAB66cC7dUa7DplrVdn1JUEU/s400/IMG_6081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520589617266712786" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYbJr1e04FUrw_jQjTNwfRFvc_U9sdvrCSCDRuUrzRi_w_f9dGvgHi0jliboGEHLtVxbSSl4HCYf3E9HzU74tMJk8bk45wZFGNHGEh0E7cnWNDnKbWPaIolotDBFCsFFwHd4uav0SeC3/s400/IMG_6513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520589629344339394" /></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">It is hidden in crumbling rock walls and tree-covered hills. It is hidden in weathered barns and covered bridges. It is the beauty of a well-made chair crafted the 1800’s and the man who sits in it, his familial connection to this place stretching back even longer. For me this simple, subtle beauty is comforting.</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3wsTnyLOtXQZSdvQ-K6ShP3z70BvMQzhPSryU3Van9NxsUbpdIxvSv9m-vSRg8622MJRpAiGlMaVTjhDX5yWKo1MDU7a04Qikbd1fROc0Pc-EQiKonPSnKzR2tE3TWn3paGkIBvF7Sjv/s400/IMG_6062_3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520587588164569810" /> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mOW9pbPmm5Ic63Fgn_Gl2_3jajnc25wQPTLzjwBfXDKO6ZHlO-yyTt_LfKBfcn5IJAyrEKsd091rk1zd5Ec94U-K-VbbFrmNX1eOJVdx4A6KtPwSA1KZYjo-q8pSsO_Deyl-9rbDBedB/s400/IMG_6168.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520587580268983618" /></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jQ9kDL4KaiqVWMXfiqQRC3yv0bp_YefghUOhtIVQK4GMHouLUNsOesY0za3cJjv7QQB10Cu_0ydCZKbcTlRqli7cd4REPoAEpsv1fgSol34V3CgoHCm0y9O_9TSfFr5oQY3X5KJnZkm8/s400/IMG_6078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520585281410073858" /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">But it is also bittersweet; a reminder that for everything gained, something is lost.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2KOy6THYgg3Dpwkiam2xiEP5HZJ-A05U7uLdECWMFEAPuEiy9OUT3mBow_dZeofHjkd1mCW5iiE41zXkpgjzzKi1Xuzr4zi6foZ3ffuVMyklTCyHGbk7NQdrJfdZJ8b3TeCV3nQmXLKh/s400/IMG_6512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520585275855504722" /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><br /></p>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-44828081230666207192010-09-22T16:14:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:21:32.778-08:00Veggie-mooning: Our Stay-cationWell hello there hive. Exactly one month into married life and I just stepped foot on terra firma after a 49-hour journey home to beautiful Aotearoa (more on that later). Perhaps I owe you an apology for my prolonged absence. But you didn’t really expect me back too soon did you? We had a lot of newly-wedded bliss to absorb. And absorb it we did, in nearly every state north of Virginnie. I’m not quite ready to share wedding recaps yet, but I did miss you. So, I hope in the mean time you wont mind if I share a bit about what we’ve been calling our stay-cation-moon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODZHE2N5kgWIYH7E_KrPQznG1UgtraQobNiXpoC7L1m0f2_6wWoD9_pUJy1H32rMuVVkLTK9qGMA_JTqBxh9AZH-4ijg78yt2EA8DVT-hwJ92OWbnyXPI5UBZlGxp6jioZSTaj2fe6QgT/s1600/IMG_6508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODZHE2N5kgWIYH7E_KrPQznG1UgtraQobNiXpoC7L1m0f2_6wWoD9_pUJy1H32rMuVVkLTK9qGMA_JTqBxh9AZH-4ijg78yt2EA8DVT-hwJ92OWbnyXPI5UBZlGxp6jioZSTaj2fe6QgT/s400/IMG_6508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519881532532302226" border="0" /></a><br />Mr. Veggie and I had given very little thought to how we might spend the weeks following our wedding. Planning for the wedding itself was so all-consuming for me that I really couldn’t think beyond eight.twenty-one.ten. And Mr. Veggie? Well I think the thought of being married was so alien to him, that he really couldn’t even ponder planning something that would happen once we were on “the other side”. So we didn’t plan.<br /><br />Lavish vacations to exotic locales aren’t exactly our style and PhD research, a new house, and spring veggie planting were calling us back to NZ. With our return flight scheduled for Sept. 17th, about 4 weeks after the wedding, the only option we had even remotely considered was going to Nicaragua for two weeks while we were still in the western hemisphere.<br /><br />Do any of you have a place that just grabs your heart, and even though you have no particular cultural-familial tie there, it just speaks to you? Nicaragua is my heart place.<br /><br />It pains me that since we moved to New Zealand, over 2 ½ years ago, I haven’t been able to make it there. We have both done quite a bit of work there over the past 9 years, and it is where our non-profit (and us) will be located eventually. A post-wedding trip there would be more of a volunteer/ visiting friends/ networking trip than honey moon.<br /><br />But alas, once we were both in the States, and realized how precious our time was with our friends and family, a Nicaragua trip just seemed excessive. “Hi family, hi friends, yeah we know we haven’t see you in a year or two, and we know we’re only here for a few weeks, but you wouldn’t mind if we ducked out to Central America for a week or two, would you?”.<br /><br />Of course they wouldn’t mind. Because that’s how awesome they all are. And it is precisely that awesomeness, the sheer overwhelming awesomeness of our friends and family, that led us to decide that the best way to spend our free time was with them. And thus our stay-cation was born.<br /><br />A borrowed pick up truck, some camping gear, and the left over cases of wine from our wedding and we were off.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhyvzj8Qb3bSU5aJYwyeYl33jIO0_6tWJLc2ggxU0qFOBWguvDdFN_2HHbEPh7_DVPlgvHNuAPSytzUy9tLJPxprK0P0CBKcNJlwm_pvWT6dGaAGUgcGtnWWJ0SeAYDmQwVZCDZABsW2D/s1600/IMG_6115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhyvzj8Qb3bSU5aJYwyeYl33jIO0_6tWJLc2ggxU0qFOBWguvDdFN_2HHbEPh7_DVPlgvHNuAPSytzUy9tLJPxprK0P0CBKcNJlwm_pvWT6dGaAGUgcGtnWWJ0SeAYDmQwVZCDZABsW2D/s400/IMG_6115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519881552971346178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You might think that 4 weeks is a lot of time to spend bummin’ around the northeast at the end of summer. Let me tell you something, my friend. It is not. Fastest four weeks ever.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1Z-a-pSTEcRnv9R1GSKwX0NNO1QyUQ2ef0UCxOT9A_pfsMWAlWysRqtwYVqOE4fSx4SvcFjtaI9FAbW86RpC16-urqlluE6uVFlNEcAErL3VAb6_xToWSpApZlHwQvpqSnlGNRtZtaIl/s1600/IMG_6424_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1Z-a-pSTEcRnv9R1GSKwX0NNO1QyUQ2ef0UCxOT9A_pfsMWAlWysRqtwYVqOE4fSx4SvcFjtaI9FAbW86RpC16-urqlluE6uVFlNEcAErL3VAb6_xToWSpApZlHwQvpqSnlGNRtZtaIl/s400/IMG_6424_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519881544286134818" border="0" /></a>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-60164300312475069012010-08-24T05:43:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:53.436-08:00We did it! - A Veggie Teaser<div style="text-align: left;">I'm back! After a three-day long extravaganza that was everything I could have hoped for and more I am left with a ring on my finger and a strong sinusiti-streptococal-flu-cold.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh well, can't win them all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> We won't have our pro pics back for a little while, but I thought I could give you a little taste of our joy with some teasers from my SIL, Jen Lebo. How gorgeous are these shots?!? I can't wait to see more of them, and of course, can't wait to get our pro pics back.</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, I'm off to bask in my own snottiness and enjoy the rest of this sudafed-enduced semi-coma. I'm every man's dream wife right now.</div><div> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzO1Ev_nVvmKvcKUFE3As6tTaCNvVIQyPSAIQxZVYNwkZjYndKaxNfjqc5BT3QHVwqfe99l8WvpGYzcX18Eqo9crQE2X7Yx_LACnuVN0R40NLuGYy1mD35u5oKWRpzc__3rFLcCwcH_D7/s1600/D8a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508958299616478354" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiE6IPPb9usUj2KrAKuLdfubGlMyUzhIUqbLuuMP0-DprZxZS4zjOi5Czg2nmybVIBm75j2KLVT_31hKtEeuUeyN1CwKViqnShzT6ATwtw7cYA-KLBCMbfr1uSkwPFCLsw4ZBx2T6ebH1/s1600/D1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508958321043713282" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>During.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2SdxuwGz3bn_bCN44Jd808XLj1nq0NSuWrZQlHB96mUTvBQ_3HdzHxTSFRQalvUxekBomxkTI-GxegCDgbRuPtH3WEdZRajMPU0nprJGQ5yyUHTTs-tcf1poZXm7NPO7xIEy2BAKV_pK/s1600/D10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508958308344806818" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>*All photos taken by the gorgeous and talented <a href="http://www.jenlebophotography.com/">Jen Lebo</a>.</div><div><br /></div></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-15877050590526532082010-08-21T06:19:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:53.437-08:00Holy Moly<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; ">Today is the day that I marry the love of my life, my best friend, Mr. Veggie.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">I am feeling excited, happy, and a little nervous. But mostly just happy. Being surrounded by our family and friends this weekend has been an incredible joy. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrTVBYqu3CnH-TtcyrI3yB6sDPNFfgvRckk78GVVt3-nOu2krET1fj3Y3EEFVqLmH4TN6cajRa1luBOrUup-kt4-Q7Fcv21M-YPsebUUz4fRJFhMgz4IBw5S5rEC-WWxsuZfvYsVVd_lP/s400/IMG_6003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507853041315718882" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP3pyNpnuzZ0dVY0gmMjFbxTg0_E8MgQxqIxbFd7QDsWg-CZceAB08gBDbTXA6rocFalOthY8JXJNac42QqtVCdZBFLFxYmZYxenUuWPX17dMOkovMAU4AraUYJyLHLNO4ecmvXLqVwzE/s400/IMG_5994.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507853036884161074" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_rLYdv_uDMY4qS-pzI0EudXp_pZKcA526nF8u0Gv_mxBA3jt8LL0P87RucRcnXGgMc22dD7Xs1AhRmgsIL3lnEXFebtyf7RgDrJGiBpAzxvWs-7kgydsWR8aBK8hTVMAMf-lPg01LZLm/s400/IMG_5982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507853025696837746" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_dTH0xDl2uCrUbLHaD01sv00gBjBr7yUTT5Zjx4xpWg1xzCbFU4KaVJ3bLtoICLKqs9LAuoc2IeCLhdtXPx4C_sxyDtmNqKYCS5Y7tI0wCrsqUvNoa-68PqWgmsFyviiIKqKlxwWDzhw/s400/IMG_5980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507853022230821474" /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">I don’t have much time to post, because I am getting ready for the big bride v. groom softball game, but I wanted to take a moment to thank this amazing community for your words of support and advice.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">See you on the flip side.</p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-70385828626454884432010-08-10T13:30:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.790-08:00Grow With LoveUpdate on my life: Mr. Veg and I had a romantic reunion at our friends' Dave and Heather's lakeside wedding, I passed my written test at the RMV and am now allowed to drive in the USA (with a licensed adult), I have scoured FMIL Veg's house and barn for wedding items, and thanks to the Salvation Army Mr. Veg finally has something to wear to the wedding.<br /><br />And now I find myself with a few minutes of down time so I thought I'd keep good on my promise to delve into more detail about our seed packet favors. I'll let you read the story behind them for yourselves, but I'll give you a little background on the steps involved.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyq8efCGtakvU823r2TiSdfHefNk9sOUcpAa8sXwwqzydkkq7DIiuo17UplKMhM6ySk1KVKgdOMmVl7c3oGJ2ik5yq5V3c9GntCJH84iH8xUMLDcCl5tiJfktJWgYnTnmtB6LI_O_BaKHX/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-08-11+at+9.44.18+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyq8efCGtakvU823r2TiSdfHefNk9sOUcpAa8sXwwqzydkkq7DIiuo17UplKMhM6ySk1KVKgdOMmVl7c3oGJ2ik5yq5V3c9GntCJH84iH8xUMLDcCl5tiJfktJWgYnTnmtB6LI_O_BaKHX/s400/Screen+shot+2010-08-11+at+9.44.18+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504147920532103538" border="0" /></a><br />We bought all seeds in bulk from <a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/">The Territorial Seed Company</a>. They were very friendly and helpful on the phone. The seed packets from Territorial are so cute that I contemplated using theirs, but buying the seeds in packets is substantially more expensive than buying them in bulk. Like 10x more expensive. So, of course, we went the DIY route.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzlNJEm4QZMJXPBhyphenhyphen0EKV5A38j-XUq5NQVp428mUs9k-fpcQGgIUfK-s6LZNhqPi0JPD25-LhJMkFPpR9CkNhYErjA-oPrK1eosgwPZqQEjMnMlI2ZmxhwDSK5z4a785zmYI0tFGgFfAL/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+4.20.36+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzlNJEm4QZMJXPBhyphenhyphen0EKV5A38j-XUq5NQVp428mUs9k-fpcQGgIUfK-s6LZNhqPi0JPD25-LhJMkFPpR9CkNhYErjA-oPrK1eosgwPZqQEjMnMlI2ZmxhwDSK5z4a785zmYI0tFGgFfAL/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+4.20.36+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504147530353836978" border="0" /></a><br />I designed the packets on good old trusty MS Word with fonts downloaded from DaFont.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ1HQG_6Wf60IrTad2-UocV_nEXIcwmLCWv6YYEj8A0IIUhoK_PtTgv3tr_lljaaK-Kj-CdVHzdVmYxsuqJqaFYyXmQHaBYVGWb_vqAwQV5_Emm8S6qpIblX85A1VuIka_UnY_gQUuFcN/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+2.42.06+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ1HQG_6Wf60IrTad2-UocV_nEXIcwmLCWv6YYEj8A0IIUhoK_PtTgv3tr_lljaaK-Kj-CdVHzdVmYxsuqJqaFYyXmQHaBYVGWb_vqAwQV5_Emm8S6qpIblX85A1VuIka_UnY_gQUuFcN/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+2.42.06+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504147527185282450" border="0" /></a>I then went on an odyssey to find the right paper. It was important to me that the paper was 100% recycled and bleach free, but also that it was thin enough to fold and glue easily. Trust me, if you're thinking about folding and glueing 160 envelopes, find the thinnest paper available. So I looked in every office supply and craft store I could think of, but kept coming up empty handed. The best I could find was Paper source paper for about 30 cents per sheet. That seemed awfully expensive.<br /><br />Finally, I stopped in an art supply store near where my sister lived and found handmade paper that was 100% recycled for only $8 per pack. I bought two packs and the lady gave me a 40% discount with a coupon she had behind the counter. Woo hoo! And the best part was that it was already cut in half vertically (hot dog style, not hamburger), so it saved me a bit of time. When do you ever find 4 x 11 paper? Perfect. I love when things like that happen.<br /><br />So anyway, I know you've already seen this picture, but here is the end result.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgk1xbXV8vzyg_dMIvllTr9N74BDMcOCV3kivqIWzqNRobVYgLttWq6SOQvW0IeCrkcRePqP0LtzfaFij31Itjo59MmGpMzOdM3Uln6zhmUjNZ08jP6hmyqiOHNc8lSwt1fEOMVBz0rsK/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgk1xbXV8vzyg_dMIvllTr9N74BDMcOCV3kivqIWzqNRobVYgLttWq6SOQvW0IeCrkcRePqP0LtzfaFij31Itjo59MmGpMzOdM3Uln6zhmUjNZ08jP6hmyqiOHNc8lSwt1fEOMVBz0rsK/s400/IMG_5931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504147541786616034" border="0" /></a><br />10 days out now. Yee haw!The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-71044892543046092892010-08-05T21:49:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:08:19.814-08:00No time!Two weeks to go. No time for a real post right now, Mr. Veggie flew in to the US two days ago and I am on my way up to see him for the first time since mid-June. (Pucker up Veg!, I'm-a-comin'). Then we have a wedding to go to, a conference to present at, family to visit, a driver's license to renew, a bank account to open, oh yeah, and a few minor details to hammer out before the big day. Marriage license? Yeah, that one should probably get moved up to the top of the list.<br /><br />So, sorry for the lack of witty and insightful commentary, but the least I could do is give you a sneak peek at some projects I've been working on this week.<br /><br />Vegetable Escort Cards made from recycled craft paper cardstock and fabric scraps from Veggie sister Kale's quilting room.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzyIiBY5gr4iJ-3EfZaVPKa4LyWDpx6MqKKRJnosoHZZHg1GP37EaBWmz3Fo_IIUnHYfy2xJqblo8Jkp5AI3YDNc9QvRlx8QYgzSLtvwiSmupG5M9sjFuUZLOyxAqjtVBfu-JOXqYfpp9/s1600/IMG_5939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzyIiBY5gr4iJ-3EfZaVPKa4LyWDpx6MqKKRJnosoHZZHg1GP37EaBWmz3Fo_IIUnHYfy2xJqblo8Jkp5AI3YDNc9QvRlx8QYgzSLtvwiSmupG5M9sjFuUZLOyxAqjtVBfu-JOXqYfpp9/s400/IMG_5939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502157054469150994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcbcsRn4c7Yx21n_TGPep0bY2sQQTxw7r4Dkob9eGgKB5tJ5CN9jV_ktDOonYFWbQto072EEOzTGOz0DXMSlC4vy0PRL5q7vhYXPUmDO_zz2N-0HGN79XTHn3UE-GuxOlDPW2FxibNRPq/s1600/IMG_5943.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcbcsRn4c7Yx21n_TGPep0bY2sQQTxw7r4Dkob9eGgKB5tJ5CN9jV_ktDOonYFWbQto072EEOzTGOz0DXMSlC4vy0PRL5q7vhYXPUmDO_zz2N-0HGN79XTHn3UE-GuxOlDPW2FxibNRPq/s400/IMG_5943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502157059343848946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf0JDaZz_D0GvK8ELI37ReEOoNvtguuIlcdsObaijeZ_ZsNLJk2NywEtj0pFRsue3uCgye16OLgC2ROS2bIcF1JSubRvexAZ1PJZFhq8SGHyeBlJKc1AnhpCuWWUGjH8GLk7PwewArqbU/s1600/IMG_5937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf0JDaZz_D0GvK8ELI37ReEOoNvtguuIlcdsObaijeZ_ZsNLJk2NywEtj0pFRsue3uCgye16OLgC2ROS2bIcF1JSubRvexAZ1PJZFhq8SGHyeBlJKc1AnhpCuWWUGjH8GLk7PwewArqbU/s400/IMG_5937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502158921035359650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Seed packet favors. I should do a whole post on these because the story behind them is really sweet. We'll see, I'll try my best.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzDYy8ifCnP3wxo1v8PwK4qn0kfJzBgJ-TuF9KEIJKsZnSgvtB-pKN1zvf4E1UrspxZHiY8irvqyvs_ltWIuaz-ln6Pvg7DqSLqL8bUeqx-9DjS2xBXpi48X8mHcCEOPkobcvzuKQRw7B/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzDYy8ifCnP3wxo1v8PwK4qn0kfJzBgJ-TuF9KEIJKsZnSgvtB-pKN1zvf4E1UrspxZHiY8irvqyvs_ltWIuaz-ln6Pvg7DqSLqL8bUeqx-9DjS2xBXpi48X8mHcCEOPkobcvzuKQRw7B/s400/IMG_5931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502157044745441634" border="0" /></a><br />Birds for garlands. Made from cardboard gathered from our rubbish (pizza boxes, beer boxes, two-year old flowergirl's birthday presents) and vintage sheets/ fabric scraps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XyLnjwLTax1aeSA6D4T8R9fwHKJRoV1tG15-qqouw9YCP1UzoVX5BkTEndn1CcopMw7ch7GXmUY7UIYmRB18yc_VFU-GT2W_DVnq8CDeDYgAY5dA0aG56TwfnwjpWffF3uwvuNOqAkNv/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XyLnjwLTax1aeSA6D4T8R9fwHKJRoV1tG15-qqouw9YCP1UzoVX5BkTEndn1CcopMw7ch7GXmUY7UIYmRB18yc_VFU-GT2W_DVnq8CDeDYgAY5dA0aG56TwfnwjpWffF3uwvuNOqAkNv/s400/IMG_5946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502158931772479442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSm3Il21kXnmdFGsqqOb6bnTTQKQ_lG2XrrzidId-AyrWelfJYAFVz0FPF_UhA42QkpV8lQbPdOwHmhn08FJ7JKWv_x4KzXpQsn07opIrzeTvgClyKRfER5jWf1dbON3hyphenhyphen70ZNRmwc9Iq/s1600/IMG_5947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSm3Il21kXnmdFGsqqOb6bnTTQKQ_lG2XrrzidId-AyrWelfJYAFVz0FPF_UhA42QkpV8lQbPdOwHmhn08FJ7JKWv_x4KzXpQsn07opIrzeTvgClyKRfER5jWf1dbON3hyphenhyphen70ZNRmwc9Iq/s400/IMG_5947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160476138760882" border="0" /></a><br />This shindig is starting to come together. I can't believe I'm going to be a wife in two weeks. I can't believe I get to see Mr. Veggie tonight. Have a great weekend everyone!The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-62401590110298281112010-08-02T11:25:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.791-08:00I get by with a little help from my...<div style="text-align: left;">...newly-found-internet-acquaintances. Such a catchy tune.</div><div>Last week I was the recipient of some major bee love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>There once was a girl so nice that she volunteered to help with cutting and glueing, the two most evil most dreaded wedding crafting jobs. Who is this saint? This happy little crafting elf? This magical crafting fairy-godmother? Why she's EAQ219, (A.K.A. Em) wedding bee afficionado. We met at the D.C. Bee meetup two weeks ago and she volunteered to help me finish up some projects. You know I wasn't going to let an opportunity like that slip by. So I invited her over for an afternoon crafting session while my nieces were supposed to be napping.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wfEQhfGhPXcGKNnku-It6UpDffoWgFw2oKL10TZC2j-bEcQPtc247vYtJzJLlK6hyQZWrwTZId-m_1PoRmydcMd2qwrDQQLhbXjzLLGZgWRVmObVztfTY7ocIN0SH5h1bkzYCvtVe84r/s400/P1120175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500915318254452658" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Still smiling even though her fingers are blistering.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Let me tell you something about Em. She is hardcore. Some people might head for the door when greeted with a pile of 160 envelopes to fold, glue, and stuff. A lesser woman might have balked at cutting corrugated cardboard when the only scissors I could find were hot pink kiddie safety scissors. Not this girl. She is epic. And, not only did she show some mad crafting skills, she also passed on some good words of advice, as only a recent DIY bride could.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEVmKUSTc5xrhqzIszUW25T4bSXZ-lPHxg4L9jPADT8J0-FENPHLqT3-UydrTTnPSRQBAE25ObJtmWSXsKNmgVnb4BDeWjvunNHh_UG938fiTRqHEPqdwoIBh4iDexSCnnv_fq-qwM_TD/s400/P1120177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500915332232714034" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Trace. Cut. Glue. Repeat.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Also, on the way back to DC from my bridal shower I swung by Mrs. Trail Mix's house. While my nieces fought over who would get to walk her ah-dor-a-ble little puppy, her and I loaded my trunk with boxes of café lights. 500 feet of gorgeous little beauties, all in two nice nest-like bundles. If you enjoy rubix cubes, do I have a good job for you. Then, because she really is so super sweet, and was about to move into a new apartment in 3 days, she threw in some paper lanterns too. Nice! Gotta love the leftover wedding goodies. After a mere two nights of So You Think You Can Dance, I had those babies untangled and ready to hang. I am so excited about them. Like really really jazzed. Pumped, even.</div><div><br /></div><div>Three weeks to go and I am loving the bee love. Thanks Trail Mix, thanks Em, I will be sure to pay these favors forward.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-33548682095624949902010-07-30T06:32:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:17:19.015-08:00No sugar plums hereT minus one month till the wedding and I'm having some pretty weird wedding-related dreams. O.K., maybe more like wedding nightmares.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOt2XTSKuVF9Z5e6ThnuWKauJugdP6rk1umpea6kVaE2V5qmLQJZw0HQszk7Slg4a94AzDFdSmHMT7lQ0bri-p0aK4ykX8Dwzc46iQuBd4alD-jiRMddYSDcXY3RlAsSKArF-uR2tvidA/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-30+at+10.25.56+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOt2XTSKuVF9Z5e6ThnuWKauJugdP6rk1umpea6kVaE2V5qmLQJZw0HQszk7Slg4a94AzDFdSmHMT7lQ0bri-p0aK4ykX8Dwzc46iQuBd4alD-jiRMddYSDcXY3RlAsSKArF-uR2tvidA/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-30+at+10.25.56+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499706403332531762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Want to know how you can tell this is a dream? 1) That is the kind of perkiness you can only get in dreams. I mean let's be serious, my boobs haven't looked like that <strike>since 10th grade</strike> ever. 2) There is a giant dream bubble above my head.</span><br /></div><br />Two nights ago I dreamed that I picked up my dress from the cleaners and while it definitely was the dress that belonged to me, it was a totally different dress than the one I have and didn't fit at all. It was a halter dress and was so big that pretty much my entire boobs were showing. This is a ridiculous and impossible dream for many reasons. First, I already have my dress back from the cleaners and have tried it on repeatedly. And second, there is definitely not a possibility that it will be too big. American snack foods are doing their part to ensure quite the opposite in fact.<br /><br />Then two nights ago I dreamed that I had to get a haircut, which is true. But somehow my sister was the stylist and she cut my hair into a chin length bob. All I kept saying was, maybe it will grow out again before the wedding.<br /><br />I wish I would just have really wackadoo nightmares because these ones were just realistic enough that when I woke up in the morning I thought "Man, I really need to find someone to alter my dress soon" and then again the next day "What am I going to do about my hair?".<br /><br />Last night I was dream free. Thank goodness.<br /><br />I can't be the only one having weird wedding dreams. Come on, let's hear them.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-74102301001031567782010-07-27T21:14:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:15:40.288-08:00Shower for a Dirty HippieI feel so special and loved and supported and excited and happy. This weekend I was showered.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Nl8TYWXLSoVzExbNTo4qV2mVBYLiDsmrCr-FdC58WY-KK4PbaLgqdxx525sL0oCjOecRDEjkrGFSLbLB9L-nAT19uthRdIiCSaX2yMzgmZJKOTJzgF3l_WIWdOqxCjJNY58SO2DZW2N/s1600/D6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9Nl8TYWXLSoVzExbNTo4qV2mVBYLiDsmrCr-FdC58WY-KK4PbaLgqdxx525sL0oCjOecRDEjkrGFSLbLB9L-nAT19uthRdIiCSaX2yMzgmZJKOTJzgF3l_WIWdOqxCjJNY58SO2DZW2N/s400/D6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499044759763098914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Every bride needs a wedding bell and candle, right? Thanks Great Aunt Veggie.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">**All photos in this post my my amazing FSIL, Jen, from <a href="http://www.jenlebophotography.com/">Jen Lebo Photography</a>.</span><br /><br /></div>My bridesmaids (Veggie Sisters Kale, Eggplant, Carrot), Momma Veggie, and little brother Bridesman Veggie threw me a fantastic bridal shower at the Veggie parents house in New Jersey. We missed Veggie Sister Tomato, who couldn't take time off of med school in Arizona to join us, but I got to see so many wonderful women that have been a part of my life throughout the years. Friends from elementary school, grad school, and even one from NZ managed to find their way to the party. And the Veggie ladies did not disappoint. They cooked the most amazing most drool worthy food. They are clearly not doing their part to make sure I fit in my wedding dress in a few weeks. Veggie sisters, we have about 1/16 of an inch in wiggle room in that dress. If it doesn't fit, I blame the stratta from the shower.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsfGswtF_2nW4VdXxkqH13V34GLm4Gf1T0bsznYHcPtUxMPL28JxWcavG9f5KnFMxkCihYt8uVX2vkGpBsB59so_K8rhZI5VbtfQg3JP696OAVR9hq8nRJqz9KlhqDn1Xo2_0LaLy80RJ/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.20.39+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsfGswtF_2nW4VdXxkqH13V34GLm4Gf1T0bsznYHcPtUxMPL28JxWcavG9f5KnFMxkCihYt8uVX2vkGpBsB59so_K8rhZI5VbtfQg3JP696OAVR9hq8nRJqz9KlhqDn1Xo2_0LaLy80RJ/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.20.39+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499032899445635602" border="0" /></a>Momma Veggie's cupcakes, which will also make an appearance at the wedding got rave reviews:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2GUEZRvh9IXxZpYgiUs7-h1YukLBqs0RFASLECwYWTfTbcmNUQfBJ4XNxZfG0UshKHCkLFW4gjY2gVZwthBDtCrMcco7DlEVHs1XJp4SVKAoUVI-pHCc9mTtD_U9XESClhC3GgUZBoAB/s1600/bradytilda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2GUEZRvh9IXxZpYgiUs7-h1YukLBqs0RFASLECwYWTfTbcmNUQfBJ4XNxZfG0UshKHCkLFW4gjY2gVZwthBDtCrMcco7DlEVHs1XJp4SVKAoUVI-pHCc9mTtD_U9XESClhC3GgUZBoAB/s400/bradytilda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499032904461955010" border="0" /></a>Unbeknownst to me (well, actually pretty knownst), the Veggie sisters interviewed Mr. Veggie via Skype and recorded it so we could play a "how well do you know your groom?" game. Veggie sister Kale read the questions and I tried my best to give answers that wouldn't embarrass either of us too badly. I was doing well until they asked about our first kiss, which may or may not have been in the middle of a crowded party in a bit of a drunken stupor. Sorry mom! Veggie sister Eggplant played back Mr. Veggie's responses to the joy of the crowd. They particularly enjoyed this response by Mr. Veg.<br />Veggie sister Kale: What is the first thing that Miss Veggie will want to do after the wedding?<br />Mr. Veggie: Blog about it.<br />You know it!<br /><br />Then we played a game that was really all about embarrassing me... it was kind of a roast where guests wrote down their favorite Miss Veggie moment. Then they were read out loud and I had to guess who wrote them. I'm just thankful that my friends used good judgement and censored a bit.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEkMNfhy2enQ1OOCACAKD94DZhpfjyW9rUGwwQlX6vaWPlhqiVxFopjKQOSKRvLoUVDldykQyInThcbeNYuaycjpYk3iOm9VRLOx3z2npodoZ9SqgeE9RZ5q4APVSxOYaQkDDXg35Vu6j/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.39.18+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEkMNfhy2enQ1OOCACAKD94DZhpfjyW9rUGwwQlX6vaWPlhqiVxFopjKQOSKRvLoUVDldykQyInThcbeNYuaycjpYk3iOm9VRLOx3z2npodoZ9SqgeE9RZ5q4APVSxOYaQkDDXg35Vu6j/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.39.18+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499032873583874434" border="0" /></a>After games it was time to get serious. There was a pile of treasure waiting with my name on it. I was a little nervous about this part of the party with some <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/20/registration-hesitation/">registration hesitations</a> still lingering. All week I was practicing my "Gee thanks, this is so thoughtful of you, even though it weighs 50 pounds, is breakable and bulky, doesn't work with NZ electrical outlets, and is a totally ridiculous item that we would never buy ourselves"-face. But I should have had more faith in our family and friends. They totally get us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzhlkv_QLFnS0a01IHsX3Y4jQqjN5b9ZAP4We2hiJwLOpcccqNcDatJLJmSWuGbnentI_OKcsVePzsDkz40XjbliepCYF7CC_Dfv9A_mhrLWY2GOCOHPxFj8V2CYWq949mjPUZ8pjgHbC/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.52.30+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzhlkv_QLFnS0a01IHsX3Y4jQqjN5b9ZAP4We2hiJwLOpcccqNcDatJLJmSWuGbnentI_OKcsVePzsDkz40XjbliepCYF7CC_Dfv9A_mhrLWY2GOCOHPxFj8V2CYWq949mjPUZ8pjgHbC/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-28+at+2.52.30+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499032883590057954" border="0" /></a>Veggie Sister Carrot diligently recorded names and gifts while I tore through handmade wrapping paper of one kind and another. Our guests were so thoughtful in their choices of wrapping, keeping in mind our desire for a low footprint wedding. We got gifts wrapped in magazine pages, new dishtowels, and recycled fabric. Most of the gifts really fell in-line with our lifestyle too, being light, nonbreakable, and recycled or eco in some way. And the best part was that we got a lot of donations for our non-profit and really generous contributions to a "travel home to visit" fund. I know I sound ridiculous and snobby right now, and should be thankful for any gifts that we received, and I totally am, but it really just felt nice that people understood us so well to pick gifts that worked for us. I did get three bars of nice soap. Is that a hint? Because I really tried to clean up nice and leave my dirty hippie-ness out on the porch for a day.<br /><br />So, thanks Veggie Fam. You rock.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzpzy2QvOiMPqqg8qq8PtslDOc4jnrdjaMkOH3gBcSnEpYctY3ACD5lH4dp-khpcLVVS8W238msI8lmYkjUVVQS9UKaFkB0ISwKyzaTZ-wkodw0J4H-BhTDSVPIofx6HXUHwuffpVeXH6/s1600/D34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzpzy2QvOiMPqqg8qq8PtslDOc4jnrdjaMkOH3gBcSnEpYctY3ACD5lH4dp-khpcLVVS8W238msI8lmYkjUVVQS9UKaFkB0ISwKyzaTZ-wkodw0J4H-BhTDSVPIofx6HXUHwuffpVeXH6/s400/D34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499044762488221186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Momma Veggie, Veggie Sister Kale, Me, Veggie Sister Eggplant, and Veggie Sister Carrot.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">**All photos in this post my my amazing FSIL, Jen, from <a href="http://www.jenlebophotography.com/">Jen Lebo Photography</a>.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Did anyone have any embarrassing moments at their bridal shower? Anyone else have any gift-induced nervousness? Did it turn out for the beter or for the worse?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-60989134087380655192010-07-26T08:36:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:15:19.162-08:00Washington Bee-CTwo weeks ago some fabulous D.C. bees organized a nice quaint get-together for a few readers and bloggers. You know, just a small gathering to share wedding ideas and advice. A few girls thought it would be a good idea, and then a few more, and then I hopped on the bandwagon as a D.C. summer resident, and by last week it morphed into this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtg8kL5OQ7D5WVcrTSwmzLqZUtL-zKVDSbQ9QdMVOPsEqKGFTA3aMgPX4IboxHVtnv9Eb15WFHYvbnDGl-FXXURwgSeu0URBCpbBltX-C_g3x-Bz1VUunY_PWp4Y9r-T5FbwKjsqPPYwT/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.14.20+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtg8kL5OQ7D5WVcrTSwmzLqZUtL-zKVDSbQ9QdMVOPsEqKGFTA3aMgPX4IboxHVtnv9Eb15WFHYvbnDGl-FXXURwgSeu0URBCpbBltX-C_g3x-Bz1VUunY_PWp4Y9r-T5FbwKjsqPPYwT/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.14.20+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265484241759666" border="0" /></a><br />Look out D.C. the bees are taking over! Yep, that's right. All those gorgeous gals are bees.<br /><br />Last Thursday about 25 of us came out for a night of dimsum and drinks at <a href="http://www.pingpongdimsum.us/">Ping Pong</a>, a flashy restaurant downtown. The combination of the 100 degree heat and hours of wedding crafting all day, every day must have made me slightly delirious. In a ultra-crafty daze, I thought it would be a good idea to put together some fabric-covered bee pins as favors and wedding bee inspired table toppers.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLvH8oMs5IRETaJVr-2OJZRXQBdBdOMm_DvkoMkiWwcoYZWFIDxMRvUfu53IIQ96zUWon0neQUX0gdT3jBvPUAUdmrFVz4faWQF9dTk5jAbGdJeFzuqKZZzltxaiG4yMWsTl1ZJJF_bU_/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.11.25+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLvH8oMs5IRETaJVr-2OJZRXQBdBdOMm_DvkoMkiWwcoYZWFIDxMRvUfu53IIQ96zUWon0neQUX0gdT3jBvPUAUdmrFVz4faWQF9dTk5jAbGdJeFzuqKZZzltxaiG4yMWsTl1ZJJF_bU_/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.11.25+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264000880742930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Counter-Clockwise from top: Two bees proudly display their bee pride behind a steamy dumpling foreground; Pretty place settings at the beginning of the night; A few conversation starters on the back of the table toppers; Place settings at the end of the night, You can tell how good the food was, not one bit left; I just couldn't help myself with the signs, I blame Martha.</span><br /></div><br />I had never been out for dimsum before, but let me tell you. Dim Sum = Yum Yum. The food was so good. I can vouch for a nice selection of on-tap beers too, and I hear from a very good source (cough, cough, Ribbons) that the Tenessee Tea Tingle is worth a try.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S1vYitC4DB17-fZXZXIlxCHHRrQtJV05MYd-wqpTA_s2Ml9laHXj87BwovVwXtaMWI-z7BK9P8LMXEzo8yLTQ2zHsioIWgpOujA4NOxxmFOdpT26JASmBkVfVH-Zi26mb1lPFSA1Gjj6/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+12.12.44+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S1vYitC4DB17-fZXZXIlxCHHRrQtJV05MYd-wqpTA_s2Ml9laHXj87BwovVwXtaMWI-z7BK9P8LMXEzo8yLTQ2zHsioIWgpOujA4NOxxmFOdpT26JASmBkVfVH-Zi26mb1lPFSA1Gjj6/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+12.12.44+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498249074047198450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Food as high and as far as the eye could see.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We may have caused a bit of a scene, as 25 newly-engaged/ newly-wed ladies would do. One guy at the bar asked me what kind of club we were and if he could join. "Of course you can join", I replied innocently, but once I explained that we were all wedding bloggers he didn't seem quite as enthusiastic. Hmmm. Go figure.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1R0ZIs-RwgGklK5EYfEqth_eWdgjMAJTgJqKfDIh89iquwCl3Xz8VqSQaI1Tq3qZBRJCahfRoU233orzfclY27kMdFhMw8vFeyo1JSuBSAlZ0bZNqVr43Nfd8HgVIKkvSgAb7FYF1l1r/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+12.29.26+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1R0ZIs-RwgGklK5EYfEqth_eWdgjMAJTgJqKfDIh89iquwCl3Xz8VqSQaI1Tq3qZBRJCahfRoU233orzfclY27kMdFhMw8vFeyo1JSuBSAlZ0bZNqVr43Nfd8HgVIKkvSgAb7FYF1l1r/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+12.29.26+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498253140293419762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Clockwise from top left: Mrs. Dorsay double fists her way through happy hour; Daniellemybelle gives a big bee smile; A sweaty Miss Veggie and Veggie Sister Kale enjoy a cool drink after a hot metro ride; and a group of bees get their drink on.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Thanks to DaydreamWanderer for her fabulous organizational and photography skills and to Daniellemybelle for making the reservations. It was such a great evening. It was so nice to share in everyone's pre and post wedding enthusiasm and put some faces to names I see on the bee all the time. I met some great ladies, some of whom were even crazy enough to volunteer to help me craft a bit. I hope I am in town for the next one!<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtg8kL5OQ7D5WVcrTSwmzLqZUtL-zKVDSbQ9QdMVOPsEqKGFTA3aMgPX4IboxHVtnv9Eb15WFHYvbnDGl-FXXURwgSeu0URBCpbBltX-C_g3x-Bz1VUunY_PWp4Y9r-T5FbwKjsqPPYwT/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.14.20+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtg8kL5OQ7D5WVcrTSwmzLqZUtL-zKVDSbQ9QdMVOPsEqKGFTA3aMgPX4IboxHVtnv9Eb15WFHYvbnDGl-FXXURwgSeu0URBCpbBltX-C_g3x-Bz1VUunY_PWp4Y9r-T5FbwKjsqPPYwT/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-26+at+1.14.20+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265484241759666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm not even going to try to name all the girls in the picture, but I'm pretty sure that these girls are in there somewhere: the futuremrsjewell, daniellemybelle, veggie sister kale, msterrapin, spaganya, septcabride, mrs. pencils, eaq219, lolo7835, sali2011, scarletjwl, onbecomingmrshall, sea glass, grits, msjeep23, miss boot camp, junebug12. I know I missed people, so sorry.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Gold star for anyone who can pick out the four blogger bees tucked in there and super gold star for anyone who can find a hive hostess.</span><br /></div></div>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-35223884980264943742010-07-20T11:47:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.792-08:00Why My Sister is Awesome<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpqqyDc2gnw3_w9n2v9tU_GFVlH-V-J60TlKyUy8MkfAvL38YNpysWKjewzO11armC0uVPvShmpk2oZjMWmVXnroJw_It-myCZWjf-qFf2GEsZrZjgDLgE1CLw5E5Y7gIu3JvRkGaz-Wo/s1600/IMG_5547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpqqyDc2gnw3_w9n2v9tU_GFVlH-V-J60TlKyUy8MkfAvL38YNpysWKjewzO11armC0uVPvShmpk2oZjMWmVXnroJw_It-myCZWjf-qFf2GEsZrZjgDLgE1CLw5E5Y7gIu3JvRkGaz-Wo/s400/IMG_5547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496062830313740338" border="0" /></a>After a hard day's work she's not too tired to come home from her very professional job and walk through her super nice neighborhood with me and rummage through her neighbor's recycling for tins cans for the centerpieces. Sure it might be embarrassing, but what are sisters for? She's great!The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-87194571582759757392010-07-16T10:27:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:08:19.819-08:00Paper Galands - Help Me DecideI have had <a href="http://www.oncewed.com/7167/diy-wedding/decor/babys-breath-garland/">this project</a> on my radar screen for a long time now. I think may even be on the original inspiration board I made about a year ago. So, with 5 weeks until the wedding, I guess its time to get going. Which means its time to decide what shape I want to make the garland. Want to help?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.oncewed.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/acf1387.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 399px;" src="http://www.oncewed.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/acf1387.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.oncewed.com/7167/diy-wedding/decor/babys-breath-garland/">Source</a><br /></div><br />I will be making my garland out of salvaged cardboard boxes and vintage sheets my sister has gathered from Salvation Army and Value Village. One side will stay brown and the other side will be one of these gorgeous patterns. They will be strung from jute twine or hemp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lizH28nbi-QMAsf87V-x8-g2NJaILS6tIkuMMGKnAiI7Pu9bz6DoSxIowMPqE89OaiDrj9a3sk2Vs5SLrOsE0LS6j_wqAQNd6lM_hW2lORQ8A3OSA2pohOy2hpFqfYIFH_ur_ZNjw_5D/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-16+at+1.38.11+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lizH28nbi-QMAsf87V-x8-g2NJaILS6tIkuMMGKnAiI7Pu9bz6DoSxIowMPqE89OaiDrj9a3sk2Vs5SLrOsE0LS6j_wqAQNd6lM_hW2lORQ8A3OSA2pohOy2hpFqfYIFH_ur_ZNjw_5D/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-16+at+1.38.11+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494560162270501154" border="0" /></a><br />And here's where you come in. I can't decide what shape to make my garland. Originally I thought I would do birds, like the original project. I made a mock up out of paper and baker's twine and this is how it turned out:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB_KqvRPgnoMBEIFR9dvs_w-FHN0jEYfHumjA46PlTiNvUN-Fp3miQ43DPp0aBZNJ09JmWxzkqBIn6CN1A5NDPQna5V_kShXFD7UMyxFTUxI0TWNU7ryGH0tJpbWyWZCTSE6e14UBSpT4/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB_KqvRPgnoMBEIFR9dvs_w-FHN0jEYfHumjA46PlTiNvUN-Fp3miQ43DPp0aBZNJ09JmWxzkqBIn6CN1A5NDPQna5V_kShXFD7UMyxFTUxI0TWNU7ryGH0tJpbWyWZCTSE6e14UBSpT4/s400/IMG_5568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558412922510834" border="0" /></a><br />Then I started thinking that even though the birds are super cute, maybe they are a little trendy, and maybe there is something that represents Mr. Veggie and I a little better. So I made a garland made of leaves:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIeWgqIFGjmDjYfY2lUK28DaXWkNPAJS1ehUYopFkRwaHYQvMqHje40c9kVkH3tycdExVDOQgsCUD4f7jzs1WskrI2eVEREv-MfkZa-j-Wf2lxkI1rjxHNrH7VYfu12_gmp3vbHromDA_/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIeWgqIFGjmDjYfY2lUK28DaXWkNPAJS1ehUYopFkRwaHYQvMqHje40c9kVkH3tycdExVDOQgsCUD4f7jzs1WskrI2eVEREv-MfkZa-j-Wf2lxkI1rjxHNrH7VYfu12_gmp3vbHromDA_/s400/IMG_5569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558445398192210" border="0" /></a><br />And then once I got going, I thought maybe I could make something a little more "veggie"-ish for us. So I made a garland of beans and beany leaves:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84go8iOrhnnB1zPKr2EDfKaBFeazMHh45-NX8ssnRPRPs71i7m4uIJztOX3q10nOhHQxEycq_NklNo018sPDwJsrbmn_9zq1N4y4mocrEjKSfVGYT5yABQV58gqdJUf5hytSvWkHoFxGU/s1600/IMG_5567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84go8iOrhnnB1zPKr2EDfKaBFeazMHh45-NX8ssnRPRPs71i7m4uIJztOX3q10nOhHQxEycq_NklNo018sPDwJsrbmn_9zq1N4y4mocrEjKSfVGYT5yABQV58gqdJUf5hytSvWkHoFxGU/s400/IMG_5567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558401956684642" border="0" /></a>Here are all three mock-ups hanging together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G3aw-AU7ffnhQueAKEAkHTUCLGI9huIPQ0bDy4YgvjiQQfBiqFhZlmLBJX7BqSrt_OGDYMIqE-PkQXaxDVSY5ZaGTrwOKq5EDq60zOVQgR0FxOBC3JFxx5V0T92AY8sf1TDi6LMCsttg/s1600/IMG_5570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G3aw-AU7ffnhQueAKEAkHTUCLGI9huIPQ0bDy4YgvjiQQfBiqFhZlmLBJX7BqSrt_OGDYMIqE-PkQXaxDVSY5ZaGTrwOKq5EDq60zOVQgR0FxOBC3JFxx5V0T92AY8sf1TDi6LMCsttg/s1600/IMG_5570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494558461399053618" border="0" /></a>So what do you think? Should I stick with the oh-so-cute birds? Go with the pretty and natural shaped leaves? Keep it real with the beans? Can you tell what everything is? Does one stand out more than the others? Let me know.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PENGY: Can you please add a poll to this post with the following choices? -Thanks<br />Which shape should I choose to make my cardboard garland?<br />Bird's The Word<br />Leaf it up to Me<br />String Bean<br /><br /><br /></span>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-81543691557591138692010-07-15T08:05:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:21:59.713-08:00Boutie-liciousI crack myself up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkD_LMcyiYj7dobdIr11hnnmFiZA98MdaNT4SGHNltZOWP8D9_QIaow1eEoeuERnalR-feYwrQbX-Zt5WuE6CBWEL92mswUhfSuXg1rW8XH8iG0gzuOMPeI4nlvZ8rjXFWeyN3JthocOVt/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.26+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkD_LMcyiYj7dobdIr11hnnmFiZA98MdaNT4SGHNltZOWP8D9_QIaow1eEoeuERnalR-feYwrQbX-Zt5WuE6CBWEL92mswUhfSuXg1rW8XH8iG0gzuOMPeI4nlvZ8rjXFWeyN3JthocOVt/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.26+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494152325657581394" border="0" /></a><br />I'm writing this post while my nieces are down for a nap, so it's going to be short and sweet with lots of pics. Hope that's ok. Getting anything done with a two and three year old around is pretty much impossible. Don't even get me started about the disaster that was "helping" Aunt Veggie plant the centerpieces yesterday. That's a whole 'nother post.<br /><br />OK, so I've been knocking off wedding projects left and right this week and last night was boutonniere night. Supplies: 2 packages of feathers (pheasant and quail) for about $2.50 each. One bunch of dried yellow flowers about $5. One stem of fake pussy willow about $2.50. One role of floral tape and one spool of floral wire, which will both get used again for bouquet making.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirON0_a-bGrj-GDUOJUJRvKCdptUg2T5PTMgO9RzQqpm-PUXUJmPXf_wm1BHIzTYChZaXOnJ06aacM7abVfGBrORo1OJZyL_OU1Z3Aw6hEFEoUZScAJmWI5Oysflm943Gc5LoKfoAtvQe5/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.12.03+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirON0_a-bGrj-GDUOJUJRvKCdptUg2T5PTMgO9RzQqpm-PUXUJmPXf_wm1BHIzTYChZaXOnJ06aacM7abVfGBrORo1OJZyL_OU1Z3Aw6hEFEoUZScAJmWI5Oysflm943Gc5LoKfoAtvQe5/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.12.03+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494152303423114034" border="0" /></a><br />I have no prior bout-making experience, so I kind of just went for it. Here was my first attempt:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5Iu14VRqaK7DGi-FCxbB5qYb9AABF7bj11OcebR5gOnDFvsCQWoBx3Dh_diLTODL4kHKWHbCIVtRdzdwwv69ODR3Nzi8TmyqJgxw3nt_PRrEueo1fpEwLFPka7poWleSRrxOtJGPSR52/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.12.55+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5Iu14VRqaK7DGi-FCxbB5qYb9AABF7bj11OcebR5gOnDFvsCQWoBx3Dh_diLTODL4kHKWHbCIVtRdzdwwv69ODR3Nzi8TmyqJgxw3nt_PRrEueo1fpEwLFPka7poWleSRrxOtJGPSR52/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.12.55+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494152316750056242" border="0" /></a><br />I liked it, but it was a bit poufy at the bottom and the feather stem wasn't quite long enough to stay in well. So I made some adjustments including trimming the down off of the feathers a bit, and wrapping a piece of floral wire around the base of the feathers. I didn't get any pictures of these steps, but when trimming the down poufy bit at the bottom, I tried to just follow the natural line of the feather. You can kind of see what I mean in the left bout in this after photo.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbY_TuXdPnGk-z_fv9FVg-nK8sYVONIoFkWPBYrt2mXWK0kmFTF-h1wT9QSfBmb36j9dl12AR3TsbtSP3UowGwVro4wGf8HKFnf5blb4p9WJccGcJQ42zmhDIGu6inbANc7Tu-ZtTEP5_/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.51+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbY_TuXdPnGk-z_fv9FVg-nK8sYVONIoFkWPBYrt2mXWK0kmFTF-h1wT9QSfBmb36j9dl12AR3TsbtSP3UowGwVro4wGf8HKFnf5blb4p9WJccGcJQ42zmhDIGu6inbANc7Tu-ZtTEP5_/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.51+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494154233962932082" border="0" /></a>I twisted about 2 inches of floral wire around the stem of the feathers and crimped it closed with a pair of pliers. This really helped me have more length to wrap the tape around and made them bendable, and easier to position at the end. I read about adding toothpicks or other hard bits in with the stems to make them stronger, but the dried flowers were sturdy enough, so I didn't need to add anything.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojhXYii9CVAxROq8dlrALKn8WAJRXP52sTOApHBh_DiqRvofpJtDIHT8s-JQC5v9PgQNILzGYnbN2nhJrGTv9MQ6scZh_cvBn8Abl-vXSF5pwex41bIydxCZpX-0raAWcq65b6xEVpdBe/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.39+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojhXYii9CVAxROq8dlrALKn8WAJRXP52sTOApHBh_DiqRvofpJtDIHT8s-JQC5v9PgQNILzGYnbN2nhJrGTv9MQ6scZh_cvBn8Abl-vXSF5pwex41bIydxCZpX-0raAWcq65b6xEVpdBe/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.13.39+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494152293900157058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf96BGm2vKzJE3biyxEegBk2BqxidBr6ICx3vwsjOZxcCWoS4erE9DTpjQB20Fq_XcF1WrBfcv_RhTrSE9neSA42r_9lThOcFj803N6M18V3IYztzuAw3lxaNhyphenhyphenUNl2r_I5bGV_UxOwvW/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.14.03+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf96BGm2vKzJE3biyxEegBk2BqxidBr6ICx3vwsjOZxcCWoS4erE9DTpjQB20Fq_XcF1WrBfcv_RhTrSE9neSA42r_9lThOcFj803N6M18V3IYztzuAw3lxaNhyphenhyphenUNl2r_I5bGV_UxOwvW/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-15+at+11.14.03+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494154243413002082" border="0" /></a>I made 10 total, for groomsmen, ringbearer, and dads and it took me about two hours. The only thing I have to do now is wrap some nice ribbon to cover the tape and find long pins. With each completed project I feel just a little more relieved.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-89717810671279828652010-07-13T21:18:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:21:32.779-08:00Team SpiritOur camp wedding is going to involve lots of fun and games and a fair bit of friendly family competition. While my side might have the advantage in sheer numbers, Mr. Veggie's side has quite a few good athletes, so its looking to be a good match up. We have several events planned for the weekend. The morning of our rehearsal dinner the camp is going to set up a multi-event relay for our immediate families and bridal party involving silly stunts and heroic athletic feats. At the rehearsal dinner itself we are having a chili cook-off and microbrew competition. A few rounds of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_cup">flip cup</a> and <a href="http://frisbeer.org/">frisbeer </a>might also find their way into the evening. But the main event (besides our wedding) will be the bride v. groom softball game, to take place at 10am the morning of the wedding. Yes people will have to choose sides. For some it will be an easy choice. For others, it will be heartwrenching.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question:</span> How will we know what side they chose? How will I know who to heckle (and possibly sabotage) and who to cheer on?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Answer:</span> Team uniforms.<br /><br />As soon as I mentioned the idea to the Veggie Sisters and Momma Veggie they were 100% on board. Aren't they great? They suggested some websites where we could have shirts made. But, you know me. Ordering new shirts just isn't my style. We are going for eco and thrifty after all. So I came up with a plan to make them. Luckily Momma Veggie was still on board (did I mention how great she is?).<br /><br /><br />One trip to Salvation Army and Michael's later and we had everything we needed to make the uniforms. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCeEr3PlyRqpZoYJWD25IUvnTusXhyphenhyphenEAl8z9rmtNGc9noPamZfFrGu91mIqSb7mAKXANxq21tJN-wkBKc-unICx6jyDxWEG1sP4neundT695k7HbXUtILufjgBleAqCQ188p8hO5niKOd/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.22.29+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCeEr3PlyRqpZoYJWD25IUvnTusXhyphenhyphenEAl8z9rmtNGc9noPamZfFrGu91mIqSb7mAKXANxq21tJN-wkBKc-unICx6jyDxWEG1sP4neundT695k7HbXUtILufjgBleAqCQ188p8hO5niKOd/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.22.29+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493613745851394690" border="0" /></a>We went with pink for Team Bride and blue for Team Groom. I know, I know, so cliché. I don't even like pink. But obvious is good sometimes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9ktGbZtAiKWIn-pPzdH-sAvzccUvOSC2Vsxxagt-e5Nqmx9kRhHGIN_OlV941n_oux810-oPLDtlhXMi0-b8yuVahNBNrZD1F3hsdM2ReqUKXLw0m8KFx0OTi4rUzNImspuBR6YgEX11/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.28.07+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9ktGbZtAiKWIn-pPzdH-sAvzccUvOSC2Vsxxagt-e5Nqmx9kRhHGIN_OlV941n_oux810-oPLDtlhXMi0-b8yuVahNBNrZD1F3hsdM2ReqUKXLw0m8KFx0OTi4rUzNImspuBR6YgEX11/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.28.07+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493614642392460482" border="0" /></a>All of the shirts were blank except for this one, which is especially for Veggie Bro bridesman. It has ruffles. And says "Sweetie Pie". Sweet. We only bought shirts that were half off so we spent about $1.50 per shirt and bought a total of 22 shirts. At Michael's we picked up some white and black paint and sponge brushes. We couldn't find the exact stencils we wanted, so in a moment of crafting naievety we decided we could just make them ourselves back at home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JCs4b0gCTIrtdO3twQa-v1vtWBUWsJ-20s3XWf49ZbcVYPtLRObQCUCQQcm-dVOnnUHLBZD4fl5ieSWdyDj5LPElNnM0JrHkoTbDWN1Mgvce1-nTyLm2eXFegA-coaTXcmU_xZCKv_n_/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.24.08+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JCs4b0gCTIrtdO3twQa-v1vtWBUWsJ-20s3XWf49ZbcVYPtLRObQCUCQQcm-dVOnnUHLBZD4fl5ieSWdyDj5LPElNnM0JrHkoTbDWN1Mgvce1-nTyLm2eXFegA-coaTXcmU_xZCKv_n_/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.24.08+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493614662867823842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv-B2ueeVoGuW85DShUvrDGg8RtJlUP45IMSlnWaoNdWWY-vxOKsC7DYtFhVEfV0dGq91sQIUzb6dDiiFFy9pqwr0tALRhelT4ZcHPGT1LhYvnmzxQntCL2qilq-pe9F7zq-uS7CgyEtf/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.39.20+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv-B2ueeVoGuW85DShUvrDGg8RtJlUP45IMSlnWaoNdWWY-vxOKsC7DYtFhVEfV0dGq91sQIUzb6dDiiFFy9pqwr0tALRhelT4ZcHPGT1LhYvnmzxQntCL2qilq-pe9F7zq-uS7CgyEtf/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.39.20+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493613763589788610" border="0" /></a>Note to all budget savvy brides: Buy. The. Stencils. Printing and cutting them out is do-able, but it takes for-ev-er. This is me exact-o-knifing my little heart out. I think I have early onset arthritis because of this project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm9-_Qn1bberHxF0Zc5NvNeic6i4DfxVAi0jpK6LmT7IqoFT9G3zKWWiRpAZxbK3HnkfiaB8waTVbmuKGrHxLPmHMrYT76-fOp_pzLfdku_w3keH0d10Eg5e1qJiV_fSrpQe1QwPSstOz/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.39.40+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm9-_Qn1bberHxF0Zc5NvNeic6i4DfxVAi0jpK6LmT7IqoFT9G3zKWWiRpAZxbK3HnkfiaB8waTVbmuKGrHxLPmHMrYT76-fOp_pzLfdku_w3keH0d10Eg5e1qJiV_fSrpQe1QwPSstOz/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.39.40+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493613770509536706" border="0" /></a>And here's Momma Veggie doing some touch ups after spreading, stenciling, and sponging. And what was the rest of the Veggie family doing while we were working so hard in our maquilladora? Sitting on their tooshies. Watching t.v. to be exact. Watching America's got talent to be more exact. (I know I'm embarrassed for them).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW1Yl7gvMDrbPPwCrUyIy2Cf0y-gY8JyfQjCTZrw1VH9j2WAlwmy3Oa3nh5EwqPJajXqfPLAW3uk5u_LlVT8-1NcZPzCnsWF8FsNDUCfFZ2bDGQbdoXd1I7FP-pf4gb54u1FZadECrOjU/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.43.01+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW1Yl7gvMDrbPPwCrUyIy2Cf0y-gY8JyfQjCTZrw1VH9j2WAlwmy3Oa3nh5EwqPJajXqfPLAW3uk5u_LlVT8-1NcZPzCnsWF8FsNDUCfFZ2bDGQbdoXd1I7FP-pf4gb54u1FZadECrOjU/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-09+at+10.43.01+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493614653673894466" border="0" /></a>But after some prodding Veggie Sister Eggplant and Stepdad Veggie pulled through in a major way. They went out and brought back some red cows from the gelato store up the street. Sweet!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kPe0I_4vAoTI2V_IlpdgNH2LQkCxdAasvxcVHSRglywhi8CMB4FYbpXhoEQ3Ty-QRd4cxcLeUzkFhzMovi9abWwpPctm1LQcI3_y87ZT6VaadBnZXrAGN9LHBRVA8vZfqTD-185L0Pw4/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.24.31+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kPe0I_4vAoTI2V_IlpdgNH2LQkCxdAasvxcVHSRglywhi8CMB4FYbpXhoEQ3Ty-QRd4cxcLeUzkFhzMovi9abWwpPctm1LQcI3_y87ZT6VaadBnZXrAGN9LHBRVA8vZfqTD-185L0Pw4/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-14+at+12.24.31+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493614671538231874" border="0" /></a>And here is a small sample of the finished product. Veggie Guests, you better be ready to bring it!The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-46926286118126260452010-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.793-08:00ArchaeologieOn my recent travels up and down the east coast I stopped in Baltimore to hang out with Veggie Sister Carrot. During my visit we went to a nice big Anthropologie store, a special treat for me since they have yet to expand to New Zealand. (Anthro- If you're looking for a kiwi store manager, I could be convinced to take on the job). I wasn't really looking for anything particular, but if a dress happened to fall into my arms that could work for one of two upcoming friends' weddings, my bridal shower, or our rehearsal dinner, I wouldn't turn it down.<br /><br />Going into that store is a huge excercise in self-restraint. So, before going in I had to give myself a little motivational speech. I reminded myself that between my four sisters and the superbly fashionable Momma Veggie, I have five closets worth of dresses that could work for these events. I reminded myself of the US-Kiwi exchange rate, which is not that favorable for purchasing yummy frocks on my meager NZ salary. I reminded myself of the things in my life that make me truly happy, and make me feel beautiful. And then I tried on about a dozen dresses. :)<br /><br />I ended up with two contenders:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHladmF4FxoZrmb3jhUyiPrpJtG5gDpHkPIBw2RGbZc3pZMdU5A6sWxO7uLt4XIPyIMSmsbCQG3MPy7kxhHQHKTK77wu3MP89k1aUEmcCkZdkD6KNmSXz2OUvIKHp6qBK6LpCihxY1Kd/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.04.31+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHladmF4FxoZrmb3jhUyiPrpJtG5gDpHkPIBw2RGbZc3pZMdU5A6sWxO7uLt4XIPyIMSmsbCQG3MPy7kxhHQHKTK77wu3MP89k1aUEmcCkZdkD6KNmSXz2OUvIKHp6qBK6LpCihxY1Kd/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.04.31+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493118401533813762" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com">The Compeer Dress<br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dEgjy2ihngd-auiae5rD4GABWLCtFCPernFF-D0imY_s2Juz6LZApEccC_Fwaw3tMkgVyNjcDIIFHJtQhpazNco-Ki6KlDFdSN-xqRF391EztPPFAI3EFpxTQlYbfDiBFflj1_liyl-Q/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.08.23+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dEgjy2ihngd-auiae5rD4GABWLCtFCPernFF-D0imY_s2Juz6LZApEccC_Fwaw3tMkgVyNjcDIIFHJtQhpazNco-Ki6KlDFdSN-xqRF391EztPPFAI3EFpxTQlYbfDiBFflj1_liyl-Q/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.08.23+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493118410743515154" border="0" /></a>and <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com">The Two-Wheeler Dress </a>(which has very little arm holes that would have needed some tailoring to fit these Veggie guns).<br /></div><br />Sorry if these are old news for you, but they were brand new for me. Turns out that Anthro doesn't put everything on their international site that they have on the US site. So you lucky ducks have access to some exclusive items that us Anthro-philes abroad never even get to see. I liked both of these dresses, and could see either of them working for at least two of my upcoming wedding events, but I walked out of the store empty handed. I thought I would just think it over a bit first. Good Veggie.<br /><br />And good thing I did, because when I got up to Momma Veggie's house in NJ she took a look at the pictures and said, "Oh I have something like that in my closet". My rehearsal dinner dress hunt went from an anthropologic expedition to an archaeological dig through the depths of Momma Veggie's closet. Turns out that "something" was a vintage dress that belonged to my Great Grandma Veggie. Doesn't it look weirdly similar to the orange anthro one? Sweet!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwVQCJMhcxstMr9gdGJcJ0Uqi_Z8P1YAvT5gadd2a8Yv0MEx_BsLmjXR7rbPlZFz25AjORjRZH75c95jqpvqxV5udpE5EL72QBJxM4PM3kXi8oxUditYsROM7OPInlttl16JsRNN1Vrbn/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.23.38+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwVQCJMhcxstMr9gdGJcJ0Uqi_Z8P1YAvT5gadd2a8Yv0MEx_BsLmjXR7rbPlZFz25AjORjRZH75c95jqpvqxV5udpE5EL72QBJxM4PM3kXi8oxUditYsROM7OPInlttl16JsRNN1Vrbn/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-12+at+4.23.38+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493118376091374402" border="0" /></a><br />Add a black grosgrain ribbon around the waist and pin the lapels open and I am all set. Woo hoo! One more family treasure that is making its way into our wedding. Hooray for free recycled beautiful things.<br /><br />Have you been on any archaeological expeditions into your parents' attics or basements for wedding goodies? Were you pleasantly surprised or did you find some things that are better off staying in the past?The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-18971328274271186942010-07-08T18:45:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:18:38.372-08:00Veggie Goes GlamToday was a big day. Not only did the heat wave gripping the east coast finally start to drop off a little, but I also finally got to make a trip to Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The site of veggie wedding bliss just a few short weeks from now. Its about time I saw the venue, don't you think? Since we were going up there, I figured I might as well try to squeeze in a hair and make up trial. So Mama Veggie and I hopped in the car, on only the second hottest day of the year, and took a short road trip to make me G-L-A-M. O-R. OUS. (yes, I'm singing right now, aren't you?).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD_gOLNFmg7eh16W2Zv4GpP1OYPNvcG-YEuHbCj6xOq3UgmbSnLNoV4BqeXr6aEgoaFk1KPNOsxAML2Wcntvp_bOB7WctP-K6eZlWMnB-Y_cAWxKIpNPTFQ2StMDofR-XmtzeqevXSkHt/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+10.38.09+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD_gOLNFmg7eh16W2Zv4GpP1OYPNvcG-YEuHbCj6xOq3UgmbSnLNoV4BqeXr6aEgoaFk1KPNOsxAML2Wcntvp_bOB7WctP-K6eZlWMnB-Y_cAWxKIpNPTFQ2StMDofR-XmtzeqevXSkHt/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+10.38.09+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491730396627151250" border="0" /></a><br />First stop was our venue, <a href="http://www.indianhead.com/">Indian Head Camp</a>. I'll spare you all the details, but we were greeted by a charming Brit named "Porkchop" and then chauffeured around camp in a golf cart, slaloming hundreds of kids while they chanted songs telling us why we should come to camp next year. I'd love to kids, but I don't think they accept 28 year olds. The visit was great. I saw the cabins, the lodge, the field, the fire pit. It all feels so real. Were getting married!<br /><br />While that stop was really exciting for me, I have a feeling you all might be a bit more excited by our second stop, <a href="http://www.utopiasalonanddayspa.com/">Utopia Day Spa</a>. I have to admit I was a little nervous on our way to the salon. Mostly because even though I have an idea of what I think looks good, I hardly ever wear makeup, and don't know anything about doing hair. A dangerous combination. Also. How do I put this? Honesdale is not known for being the styling and fashion mecca of Pennsylvania (that honor definitely goes to Lancaster). Would this stylist know how to convert my un-informed ideas into reality? But I was armed with 25 pictures each of hair and make up styles I liked and a smile. A hot, sweaty, just-spent 2 hours at a camp, smile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfzdeYP6pJCByHsO6V8hlmQmw9JEoX9ADU0JGvdUS2ukVK6L_ODl5GA9VodZz02PForYQNbKF6nc5qMIA-sAUoKoV4C5CkY7EWzseTrCOX_H6BDJPs8XXmvu7emvFfoVgw0FWv1K9nmWG/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.34.48+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfzdeYP6pJCByHsO6V8hlmQmw9JEoX9ADU0JGvdUS2ukVK6L_ODl5GA9VodZz02PForYQNbKF6nc5qMIA-sAUoKoV4C5CkY7EWzseTrCOX_H6BDJPs8XXmvu7emvFfoVgw0FWv1K9nmWG/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.34.48+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491717113436504626" border="0" /></a><br />Soon enough I was sitting in a chair in the capable hands of Cindy. She ironed, curled, pinned, and tucked. For a minute I might have looked just a little bit like the cowardly lion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5Qgq9G_Xq25407DG_D6GmdsMccGV-wOSjgf8MpiogbnIotlRqhym0au1cnYFOsOhH5B332utsxdOqSXnpukZxdSAayM0-XFOHeMLD-P0ry7L3c3JgQo6FzcHdyyZU5etla5G0ioES0eN/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.35.50+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5Qgq9G_Xq25407DG_D6GmdsMccGV-wOSjgf8MpiogbnIotlRqhym0au1cnYFOsOhH5B332utsxdOqSXnpukZxdSAayM0-XFOHeMLD-P0ry7L3c3JgQo6FzcHdyyZU5etla5G0ioES0eN/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.35.50+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491717125045709090" border="0" /></a>But, in a surprisingly short amount of time, my ginger locks were transformed into this sideswept low-do.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaWaMGehtZlhQoUpVMXq1a0UOxGE55Rh1TSsXU6PbjB9ghnXVvpJDmVdC2m7oNL5pTsqxF6FXv8719eZp3drjKNkdCADcgzGAa82C6dINdFZBeRJpNxTYeCI2UMNsskXHO82JdcEtBL8n/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.40.12+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaWaMGehtZlhQoUpVMXq1a0UOxGE55Rh1TSsXU6PbjB9ghnXVvpJDmVdC2m7oNL5pTsqxF6FXv8719eZp3drjKNkdCADcgzGAa82C6dINdFZBeRJpNxTYeCI2UMNsskXHO82JdcEtBL8n/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.40.12+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491717682300161730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWMBkIcBB_ca9jZey7QU-X4zluiVPrzWTl2mlhHdq5aHeUPDDIkT4ApyM-Nb7OhLS0GDxA8LGgpu0GoqEsKWsYc2orPZWX9FkcTWwr2vlVMGhTfK-p42_oMLUeiPfVikrxyXionHdP6t/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.38.26+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OWMBkIcBB_ca9jZey7QU-X4zluiVPrzWTl2mlhHdq5aHeUPDDIkT4ApyM-Nb7OhLS0GDxA8LGgpu0GoqEsKWsYc2orPZWX9FkcTWwr2vlVMGhTfK-p42_oMLUeiPfVikrxyXionHdP6t/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.38.26+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491717663082019410" border="0" /></a>Um wow. I felt so glamorous I just had to give a little Blue Steel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS72eRU8Om8lL5WCzOpVx-ESJqKN1XnLPR3-orc_qUTu8oCJYSrNfJSI3X-KRWVuPngcict1CwS0CvvyisOor4Wg9vML0WyZEWNREsa8aOAIpicXSunX6cB9TB8IPbm_541Sov7M46Z0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.38.36+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS72eRU8Om8lL5WCzOpVx-ESJqKN1XnLPR3-orc_qUTu8oCJYSrNfJSI3X-KRWVuPngcict1CwS0CvvyisOor4Wg9vML0WyZEWNREsa8aOAIpicXSunX6cB9TB8IPbm_541Sov7M46Z0/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.38.36+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491717674013219874" border="0" /></a>Then it was time for makeup and some nice after shots.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeedBau5x1_iNISBZliTWDEUCUDW_BelPBMvvvEaT5TPXVhW34_nRT7F8djLqq0bT4vrI0KhMYpzFDiNv6ncsslv-BOcDPVgMaNRnz2A8Fla7cIrhpfAPO0lEEg1MuohyphenhyphenRbeD1zRb0WI-q/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.41.44+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeedBau5x1_iNISBZliTWDEUCUDW_BelPBMvvvEaT5TPXVhW34_nRT7F8djLqq0bT4vrI0KhMYpzFDiNv6ncsslv-BOcDPVgMaNRnz2A8Fla7cIrhpfAPO0lEEg1MuohyphenhyphenRbeD1zRb0WI-q/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.41.44+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491719389302303218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86L9O9VTF6EyF3-ZSwxFUCQH-28jDHjVyUgcYMZFHQUnckTbzw2VUNmY11lsdGT09b18ua34l3irjNHlO3efxgEr-IqvF_Gl71Rt2a6G4EPOZ4heq07r0C10Eaf1J-VrQxYPsRhXKPDWo/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.41.29+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86L9O9VTF6EyF3-ZSwxFUCQH-28jDHjVyUgcYMZFHQUnckTbzw2VUNmY11lsdGT09b18ua34l3irjNHlO3efxgEr-IqvF_Gl71Rt2a6G4EPOZ4heq07r0C10Eaf1J-VrQxYPsRhXKPDWo/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+9.41.29+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491719382022325378" border="0" /></a>I need to examine the pics a bit more, but there are already some things I know I want to change for the big day. I was hoping for low side chignon, instead of big poof. I wanted more messy and natural on top, not so sleek. And, turns out that even though I thought I wanted to use a flower, I really liked the headband look, so now I need to make a more wedding-y one (with flowers, of course).<br /><br />For makeup I absolutely hated the super sticky shiny lip gloss she used. I felt like I had just eaten a melted cherry lollipop and had it all over my mouth. I also wasn't a big fan of the way my cheeks looked, I think the blush could be a little higher (I don't even know if that makes sense). What I do love is the natural looking makeup and smoky eyes. I feel pretty confident that we can work these things out on the wedding day.<br /><br />So all in all, today was a good day. I look like a bride. I have a venue. In 44 days we are getting M-A-R-R. I-E. DDD (Yes, I'm singing again. Yes, I know there aren't enough letters to make it work). Are you other August brides starting to get excited?<br /><br />Also, wondering if anyone has any suggestions for my wedding day look? And did anyone else have a trial that didn't go perfectly? Did you have a second trial or did you just fix it on the day of your wedding?The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-87708292577520021442010-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.794-08:00Map Maker, Map Maker, Make Me...A map! Or two or three.<br /><br />So on a 13 hour flight you have a few options. You can watch 7 movies, listen to one of 12 pre-programmed airline radio stations repeat the one hour playlist 13 times, play a few thousand rounds of video games, or make maps for your wedding guests.<br /><br />What would you choose?<br /><br />Before my NZ-LAX flight I went on mapquest and downloaded some maps that I thought would be useful to our guests. Then I did a little MS Word artistry at 30,000 feet and this is what I came up with.<br /><br />A far far away map.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wHiAISl5N8hmro4r_fsSZqkuFydZBJ-pXg-zpvC9uzKP3oYyuK5qCZjItt6-KGLhhaeKtmiUwbvfbbSlWl_9waF0lMntdSXL4GiC1RBLII9sSBa8Ieo4UbRHdcDsMo1yITKmCWiizu_r/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+1.32.05+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wHiAISl5N8hmro4r_fsSZqkuFydZBJ-pXg-zpvC9uzKP3oYyuK5qCZjItt6-KGLhhaeKtmiUwbvfbbSlWl_9waF0lMntdSXL4GiC1RBLII9sSBa8Ieo4UbRHdcDsMo1yITKmCWiizu_r/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+1.32.05+PM.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A bit more detailed map.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy1lw0b5-aNxjoliB_8K9NO4jGru-cQha3s90qo79rHatGBsAOO7STHty8cC1FohXP14wuoK9h0gmqMKBq3kFPldO94_-_G9oAFzB-anDN3j5up8DygEvvnRRV5kqAdIBm6fOY4wqDq0p/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+2.52.08+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy1lw0b5-aNxjoliB_8K9NO4jGru-cQha3s90qo79rHatGBsAOO7STHty8cC1FohXP14wuoK9h0gmqMKBq3kFPldO94_-_G9oAFzB-anDN3j5up8DygEvvnRRV5kqAdIBm6fOY4wqDq0p/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+2.52.08+PM.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And a very detailed map.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio8tiu8uThjvrAHoitqf65w39g1zFIQ_7tPFpj-M9HTCc8M7E98dAXwInj43Xwc8ZRrqASQUJv8Xt9UiX74MUba2Ha6AWIUxM3BHXmDsmo5mK36pSnMB7LHuDdb6Le3ob-ZS9LPrzp-ct/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+3.08.51+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 575px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio8tiu8uThjvrAHoitqf65w39g1zFIQ_7tPFpj-M9HTCc8M7E98dAXwInj43Xwc8ZRrqASQUJv8Xt9UiX74MUba2Ha6AWIUxM3BHXmDsmo5mK36pSnMB7LHuDdb6Le3ob-ZS9LPrzp-ct/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-23+at+3.08.51+PM.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>The process was fairly simple, if a bit time consuming. But like I said, I had some time to kill. First I took a screenshot of the mapquest map (on a PC you could use the "print screen" button) and then inserted the image as a picture into a word document. I then traced the roads that I wanted with the line drawing tool, labeled them with text boxes, and labeled important points of interest. I then deleted the original map and added a rectangle behind the lines and filled it with a texture I liked.<br /><br />And now I have three maps to put on our wedding website. I don't know that they're the absolute most useful maps, but they sure are pretty.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-14799810642735153702010-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:002010-12-30T13:20:00.795-08:00Since You AskedWhen I first wrote about our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/03/online-wedding-invitations/">decision to do e-vites</a> and then posted the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/28/e-wedding-invitations-eco-friendly/">final product</a> many of you asked what we would do for relatives that didn't have email. It's not super glamorous, but I thought I'd take a minute to show you the seven snail mail invitations that went out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1ElGSS4-PTTfiDufwMPRbC0twieHqGXlZdr2anjzv68K_2_m8uWhpQPmldOrQUHS5DXAQkY-WsLqt0XQCeZetVteM4JaYbJFSOK0GEaTeBCBNhwM9nK0eP10j1Llmq40bmM18xevPaQz/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.34.06+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1ElGSS4-PTTfiDufwMPRbC0twieHqGXlZdr2anjzv68K_2_m8uWhpQPmldOrQUHS5DXAQkY-WsLqt0XQCeZetVteM4JaYbJFSOK0GEaTeBCBNhwM9nK0eP10j1Llmq40bmM18xevPaQz/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.34.06+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488963437678689250" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, that's right. Seven. Out of 200 invited guests. Turns out our families are all pretty email savvy. The five paper invites I absolutely needed to send out went to my paternal grandparents, a great aunt on my mom's side, my maternal great grandmother, long-time family friends of Mr. Veggie, and my dad (he has email, but doesn't really have a good handle on the internet yet). Then once I got going I thought that Mr. Veggie's parents and my mom and stepdad would probably like to have a paper invite too, so I made each of them a set to keep.<br /><br />A warning: we spent lots of time and energy on our e-vites so, I have to admit that I didn't have much remaining enthusiasm for the paper invitations. These are definitely low-quality, low effort paper invites (but grandmas and grandpas wont care, right?). And really, in the end I think they turned out kind of pretty, considering I didn't actually buy any supplies and just used what was laying around Veggie Sister Kale's house (my U.S. home for the summer).<br /><br />Here's a step by step tutorial on how I made these fabulous-impromptu-home made paper invites:<br /><br />Step 1: Print out e-vite onto cardstock.<br />Step 2: Try to use Veggie Sister Kale's rotary cutter.<br />Step 3: Fail at rotary cutting.<br />Step 4: Allow Veggie Sister Kale to take over rotary cutting and watch her complete the task about 100 times faster and better than I could.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-S7z__jH0YWTkURRWKSesROKfX4yXBg6DwNyG1OPN2SD-OzGJtMtm_mnZG18vKZ-pJDWfxWfjb2FnETZ4zknXDPBeaQqJyGmPhWBXWXulOCdVj2yn1WXyAy9lsbtUy4S203h_tRnzABi/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.08.18+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-S7z__jH0YWTkURRWKSesROKfX4yXBg6DwNyG1OPN2SD-OzGJtMtm_mnZG18vKZ-pJDWfxWfjb2FnETZ4zknXDPBeaQqJyGmPhWBXWXulOCdVj2yn1WXyAy9lsbtUy4S203h_tRnzABi/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.08.18+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488962728836027378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Veggie Sister Kale workin' the rotary cutter in her PJ's. Aww yeah.</span><br /></div><br />Step 5: Ponder why the craft gene seems to be absent from my DNA.<br />Step 6: Print out engagement photos to add in the envelope. Grammies do love photos. Cardstock + home printer= bad quality pictures. Grammies wont mind, right?<br />Step 7: Dig through Veggie Sister Kale's craft room to find envelopes. Hmm... red or green?<br />Step 8: Green.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vhqwjLhqRe2cIAPmN0SgzO3wTAsfLRusgGozm7BQEiye7Y3hqdwYEfX4lQ4OUdIlDPMd9xJhKpGe_XJPKGHFp-FZofkMkTM8-pkh40HlN48MrvMPEmxRGAvLpuvzuRQv5GJB1bYGHr0n/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.09.08+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vhqwjLhqRe2cIAPmN0SgzO3wTAsfLRusgGozm7BQEiye7Y3hqdwYEfX4lQ4OUdIlDPMd9xJhKpGe_XJPKGHFp-FZofkMkTM8-pkh40HlN48MrvMPEmxRGAvLpuvzuRQv5GJB1bYGHr0n/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.09.08+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488962738301706226" border="0" /></a><br />Step 9: Tie with grosgrain and stuff into green envelopes. Lick and Seal.<br />Step 10: Call Veggie Mamma for addresses.<br />Step 11: Realize it would have been much easier to address the envelopes before they were stuffed.<br />Step 12: Have your hopes dashed when you find an empty packet of beautiful king and queen stamps in the junk drawer, and hope no one notices the Christmas stamps you are forced to use by your strong desire not to have to bring a two and three year old to the post office.<br /><br />A Thought: When I am married will I finally be grown up enough to have things like a craft room and a complete list of family addresses?<br />Probably not.<br /><br />So there's the quick and dirty low down on the paper invites. We also assigned an internet savvy friend or relative to set up a lunch date with each of the paper invite recipients to show them the e-vite, video, and website. This way they wont miss out on the full experience and will get to have a lunch date with someone fun. I think this will all work out really well. Worst comes to worst, I can always give them a call to make sure that they received their snail mail.<br /><br />By the way, apologies for not posting more for the past two weeks. I arrived in the U.S. one week ago today and have been quite busy making cupcakes, singing songs, tickling, and giving raspberries to bellies. Life is good.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RJ6bPmC0jalvJg9d8l8gxfrj3OaFcUyyuRqHjssLY_iRjKQ8EvQ_C3b6Na1HN1E_1TDXa45saYVXa0tLnsCxU9jjCqIJmqgIMT5RVY6HL2YXRNudW2WmdwReIHs9c-IeiPdOB3Lct3Hg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.31.16+AM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RJ6bPmC0jalvJg9d8l8gxfrj3OaFcUyyuRqHjssLY_iRjKQ8EvQ_C3b6Na1HN1E_1TDXa45saYVXa0tLnsCxU9jjCqIJmqgIMT5RVY6HL2YXRNudW2WmdwReIHs9c-IeiPdOB3Lct3Hg/s400/Screen+shot+2010-07-01+at+11.31.16+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488962767335688594" border="0" /></a>The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008382811753380376.post-82269630157180830612010-06-26T20:18:00.000-07:002010-06-26T20:55:01.244-07:00Invitations: CheckWhen we decided to do e-vites I mourned the loss of pretty paper, the loss of receiving snail mail RSVP's, and the loss of dwelling on tiny details like ribbons and stamps. To be honest, the period of mourning lasted for a long time. To be really honest, it only finally ended yesterday when we sent out our slightly tardy invitations. I just simply cannot be sad about the above losses when I see our final product. It makes me so happy.<br /><br />So without futher ado I present you with the Veggie Wedding Invitation Video. Thus far, it is the crowning achievement of our brief cinematic career:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wrRAcNKBZow&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wrRAcNKBZow&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />And of course our <a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/">Paperless Post</a> invitations:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CjZMNrPdoCYKbw1EEFZ7ABOjgx_NXvljiD4M221hwWzHB6BF13tx2HDppnUbUJ-gWr9S7SwqchTgCJfWy2ax1Lsf8VPWR0GSDq4HDsW3HbDYZKSlpOvQusIxIcpE2SVIShba7kMIbCT0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.16.05+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CjZMNrPdoCYKbw1EEFZ7ABOjgx_NXvljiD4M221hwWzHB6BF13tx2HDppnUbUJ-gWr9S7SwqchTgCJfWy2ax1Lsf8VPWR0GSDq4HDsW3HbDYZKSlpOvQusIxIcpE2SVIShba7kMIbCT0/s400/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.16.05+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487291424733513218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstSeGA5QwWnKXeVJCw0cMW72Ny2al32PwcDJZZNgUEBtPI6qO39LKofKT5Vv9VfXYro8kwGgHOMhJdvBnZg8VnJCuwrUJWMZO7e4Vu8Pvv4tI0Wcc0rnoh-l2TuNR_CYlBPi1OGue3SdO/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.30.13+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstSeGA5QwWnKXeVJCw0cMW72Ny2al32PwcDJZZNgUEBtPI6qO39LKofKT5Vv9VfXYro8kwGgHOMhJdvBnZg8VnJCuwrUJWMZO7e4Vu8Pvv4tI0Wcc0rnoh-l2TuNR_CYlBPi1OGue3SdO/s400/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.30.13+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487291411053635890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8laVz4CDPhqL79tiAi-GZVuYioPd4dijvSZ4vt_3peJCSuEMuEJ3ksrblqwv5iDMK8XAWNYB9Bmh0weSSjo3KaEk1-U9w4dRRGEynJ1ZUs5nAJQ-7eAl9TKZDkU6gnEMz2xGspVV13gxR/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.32.00+PM.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8laVz4CDPhqL79tiAi-GZVuYioPd4dijvSZ4vt_3peJCSuEMuEJ3ksrblqwv5iDMK8XAWNYB9Bmh0weSSjo3KaEk1-U9w4dRRGEynJ1ZUs5nAJQ-7eAl9TKZDkU6gnEMz2xGspVV13gxR/s400/Screen+shot+2010-06-26+at+11.32.00+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487291419808910370" border="0" /></a>I really wanted to embed the video on the actual invitation that people received in their in-box, but wasn't able to find a company who could do that (definite business opportunity for some techno-savvy person out there). So we ended up embedding the video on the front page of our wedding website. Not ideal, but since people will need to go to the website to figure out their accommodations and to get directions, we figure everyone will see it at some point.<br /><br />I am so happy with the way the video and e-vites turned out. I just couldn't contain myself. The first thing I did when I got to the US (after sleeping for approximatel 13 hours) was iron out the final few details with our venue so that I could confidently send these puppies out. And guess what? Only 15 minutes after we sent out our invitations we got our first RSVP. One day later we've received 24 responses out of about 200. Oh my gosh. People are coming to our wedding. Like definitely coming. It's all beginning to feel very real.The Eco Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00232075869965789269noreply@blogger.com0