photo editing

I'm not great at photo editing.  I have photoshop on my Mac for work, but it's not completely user friendly.  I've googled tutorials but haven't put enough effort in to really learn it.

So I usually end up using iPhoto for most of my editing. Even without being a seasoned pro I can tell it's very limiting.  I use "Enhance" and then I play around with the adjustments, particularly the contrast and definition.  I know, it's very technical.

But no more!

One of my favorite blogs, lark & linen, recently posted photos from her trip to the amalfi coast (my next dream vacay).  Her photos are gorgeous!  Like I want to move right in.

This week Jaclyn so graciously did a tutorial post on our she edits her photos in photoshop, complete with a link to free actions from WishWishWish.  I feel like it's Christmas! 

I followed the tutorial on a few of my Paris photos and they turned out beautifully!  Since I'm not great at photoshop, I did have to google a couple things in her instructions, but it was fairly easy even for a beginner like me.

Here are the before and afters.

Straight from the camera:

{no laughing! - I have trouble holding the camera straight. I need to stop using the screen and use the viewfinder more.}

iPhoto edits:

Definitely better, but still dark.

Photoshop edits {by lark & linen} :

Amazing.  It's the Paris I dream about.

Thank you Jaclyn and Carrie!  You've made my life so much prettier :)

LMF

Dessert bar

Starting the week off right with dessert!

When Dan and I started planning, we each picked something that was really important to us for us to have at the wedding.  Dan wanted to be married in the catholic church and I wanted a dessert bar. No, seriously. I think it says a lot about us. 

Now that we're not having a traditional sort of wedding day and reception, the dessert bar had to go.  But I decided to incorporate it into the bridal brunch.

I wanted to do some sort of favors for my friends as well, but since I'm currently moving, I've come to discover how much stuff we can accumulate.  I decided edible favors would be much for fun and wouldn't take up any lasting space in anyone's home.  Plus I love to bake.

bags - from shop sweet lulu

The day before the brunch, we made four types of cookies and some candy. 

Peanut butter dreams (a secret family recipe).  It's pretty much peanut butter chocolate heaven - 100 times better than a reese's peanut butter cup.

Cookies

1. Salted toffee chocolate chunk (aka crack cookies)

2. Miette's chocolate sables    3. Miette's graham crackers

4. French macarons - almond with vanilla buttercream 

Cookie recipe from here. We tripled it twice (I don't know how else to say six times.)

Vanilla buttercream from Miette's recipe book.  Can you tell I love the Miette book?

Note - it was hot outside when we were making these so the batter was a bit more runny than usual - which is how we got some pretty large ones there. After refrigerating the batter for a bit, it was much easier to use with the pastry bag.

Amanda was pretty sure we had way to many cookies (she's not a baker).  She thought we had too much champagne too, but my friends proved her wrong on both accounts!

LMF

Brunch for the girls

When Dan and I made the decision to stop planning our large wedding and instead have an intimate 14 person celebration, I knew I wanted to make sure and do something special with my girlfriends to celebrate.

I figured that I wouldn't have a bridal shower since our guest list is so small, but instead decided to throw my own bridal brunch at my house, with the amazing help of my maid of honor (and best friend of 17 years!) and my mom and aunt.  When you want to throw a party, these are the women you call!

The guest list wasn't too large.  I invited 20 of my most favorite people in the world, literally,

from all around the world.

I knew not all would make it, but I wanted them all to know they were wanted there and would be missed (I'm talking to you, Lo!).

We had a lot to celebrate - two friends have babies on the way, five of us are getting married (or got married) this year, and two engagements this year.  There are a few other causes for celebration, but those are still under wraps ;) Plus any day that we can all find a few hours to get together is cause for celebration.

I am not the best hostess.  I get stressed and nervous and want everything to go right and everyone to have fun. I love planning everything and I love having everyone over but the hours just before a party, there's always butterflies in my stomach. 

With the help of my amazing mother and aunt and my best friend, the day was everything I had hoped for.  I've been teary-eyed every time I start thinking about it.  I honestly can't believe that I'm lucky enough to know such wonderful people.

We were so busy eating, drinking and chatting, I never picked up my camera.  I have just a few photos while we were setting up.

  

I feel so blessed to have such amazing women in my life. 

I've known both these girls for 20 years.

 (I can't believe I'm old enough to say that.)

I got the sweetest cards from everyone and even though I told them not to, some people brought gifts.

The sweetest gift:

Two years ago, my friend received these slipper/shoes as kind of a joke gift at her bridal shower.  I loved them! And may have even tried them on right there in the middle of her shower. She thought they were absolutely ridiculous.  Apparently, she boxed them right up and has been saving them for me ever since.  

These may be my wedding shoes. 

(I'm not kidding.)

My perfect weekend: 

Saturday - arranging flowers and baking all day with my mom, aunt and best friend

Sunday - sitting in the sun all afternoon, drinking a mimosa with some of the most amazing women I know.

LMF

Monday morning reading

Happy Monday!

I've had a few links bookmarked that I've been wanting to share:

via

When we started thinking about our honeymoon, it was definitely a tough decision for me between relaxing on the beaches in Bora Bora or exploring the Amafli Coast.  Jacquelyn's photos, featured here on Style Me Pretty have me already planning our 1st anniversary trip to Italy.  Seriously, I want to move into this gallery. 

Love this list! It could also be titled "things to stop doing in general"

Hilarious article by David Sedaris on middle age and guest rooms.

Such a beautiful letter from a mother to her son.

A too true video on being 32.

A little inspiration for my bridal brunch here and here.

the privilege of growing older - true story

I am 32 years old today.  

I actually had to check.  I wasn't sure if I was turning 31 or 32.  I think that might be the definition of being old.  If you can't remember how old you actually are.

I used to lie about my age.  I started really early, like right out of high school. 

I figured if I started early people would never catch on.

On my birthday people would ask how old I was turning.  One year I'd tell them 25, the next year I'd tell the same person 24.  I figured I'd confuse them early so that when I was turning 40 or 50 down the line, no one would ever know.

It's not that I had a problem with getting older.  But whenever someone asked my age, there was always some judgment that went along with it.  Some behavior to age ratio they'd be trying to figure out.  It bothered me, the labels and judgements that went with some ages.

Then one day I flipped over this bottle cap:

Around that time a friend of mine had recently passed away.  She was 28.  

I instantly thought of her when I read this.  

And I realized how unappreciative it was for me to be so self-involved to lie about my age. I really should be incredibly grateful for each day that is given to me. So I stopped - cold turkey.  (It wasn't easy.)  

People know how old I am now.  I'm actually quite surprised how many people still ask me. But I answer.  

And I don't care what they end up thinking.

Maybe that's the definition of being old. :)

LMF

a couple of days

On Wednesday morning I was going to post about how we had booked our honeymoon and Dan had booked his bachelor party, but we had yet to confirm any other wedding details.  

We really have our priorities straight with this whole wedding thing. :)

But then Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the church, confirming our date and time. And last night I got the proposal from the venue.  

Tomorrow we have our all-day extensive pre-martial counseling class.  

In just a few days, everything fell into place.

Looks like we're really doing this.  

I hope everyone as a wonderful holiday weekend (and a bit more patience than me).

LMF

image via

wine country wedding venues {st. helena, napa, healdsburg}

We shopped for wedding venues last weekend.  I'm thinking Northern California may be one of the hardest places to do this.  

Everything is so gorgeous!  I feel like we can't make a wrong decision.  

Not a bad problem to have. :) 

Last weekend's wedding planning crew:

At possibly my most favorite restaurant.  

Seriously if you're ever anywhere even close to Napa, go here.

The prettiest little church:

We accidentally looked at one venue.  The site fees looked deceivingly low by Napa standards so I booked an appointment.  Turns out there were a few little "extras" that weren't accounted for in that number.

This is one of the "cabins" you are required to book during your wedding weekend.

 Quote from my mom: "now this is my kind of camping!"

I think here he was saying: "venue shopping is so much fun!" :)

We have a few more appointments in Sonoma this weekend and then some tough decisions will have to be made.

LMF