My apologies

I apologize for the lack of posts -- things have been crazy. Right now I'm trying to organize the hundreds of non-professional photos that ppl have snapped (haven't heard from the pro we hired yet). It's even more difficult to blog when I don't have my own computer (still at my parents' place) and the computers that are here have issues, the least of which is the lack of Photoshop. On top of all that, there is much to do at work so I can't do things during the day. And it takes me forever to get to the boondocks of Queens (yesterday it took me two hours just b/c it was raining -- ppl do stupid things on the road when it rains -- that never happens on the subway!!). And another thing to worry about after you get married (besides the name change thing, which I haven't decided on) that no one ever talks about is the combining/relinquishing of benefits, like health insurance (whose plan is better?) and flexible spending accounts (do I need to increase or decrease the amount I set aside based on my spouse's needs) b/c you only have 30 days to decide.

So if you're expecting a thank you note soon, don't.

Mini-moon: Cape Cod

We are barely recovered from the wedding and back from our mini vacation to Cape Cod. We hope to plan a bigger trip around January or so when things calm down at work (I dread to think of what awaits me when I return) and at home (more to come on that). Coming soon will also be a wedding recap plus vendor reviews, but for now, a quick synopsis of our travels.

It being off-season, things were quiet on Cape Cod (quite a few places were closed), relaxing and quite peaceful. For those unfamiliar with the area, the Cape consists of an elbow-shaped piece of land (think Popeye flexing his muscle) that wraps around a body of water, Cape Cod Bay, and there are towns (each with distinct sights and feels) spread throughout the elbow. We mostly stayed in Chatham (at the crook of Popeye's elbow) and on one of the days we traveled to Provincetown, all the way at the top, like at Popeye's fingers.

Based on the recommendation of a friend, we stayed at a nice little inn that served really good breakfasts. And since that's my favorite meal of the day, I gorged myself every morning! Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera downstairs, so I don't have pictures of the eggs Florentine with panchetta, French toast with fresh strawberries on top, and eggs with sausages. They also had a buffet everyday of freshly baked muffins (ranging from apple cinnamon to pineapple), three kinds of juices, yogurt and granola with dried berries, fruit salad with fresh strawberries and melon, fruit, and cereal. I loved the muffins since they were moist and had a nice sugary (but not very sweet) top. And during the afternoons, they also set out a small spread of cookies and brownies with tea and juice for an afternoon tea. So yummy!! Besides the delicious food, I liked the inn because it was very clean and quiet. It was decorated in an old-fashioned style, complete with exposed beams, antique furniture, and a large vase of giant, long-stemmed roses in the reception area. Our room had a vaulted ceiling and fireplace as well.

DAY 1
On our first full day in the Cape, we drove up to Provincetown (aka Ptown), where it is kinda bohemian, kinda artsy-feeling. It reminded me of a Greenwich Village transplanted to a beach setting with its somewhat busy streets, colorful little art shops & galleries, and the abundance of same-sex couples. Ptown is definitely the younger and hipper part of the Cape.

Our first stop (by accident) was the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. We didn't really have much of an itinerary but we saw a big sign for the monument and its towering presence beckoned us in (plus the need to really use the bathroom).

the phallic Pilgrim Monument -- most appropriate for Ptown

We walked up the 252-foot tower (not as difficult as I imagined) and got some pretty nice views of the area. I think these pics are a good representation of Cape Cod -- you can see how beach resortish it is, but at the same time there is a small New England town feel. If you look really carefully, you can see some of the trees in the distance changing color.

We stopped for lunch at Clem & Ursie's and had a mediocre crab cake sandwich and lobster roll.

We were really waiting for their happy hour, which promised $1 oysters and clams from the raw bar and giant shrimp but we had to come back after 3pm. So we drove around a bit and explored some beaches. One of them, (called Herring Cove Beach, I think) at the end of Commercial Street, had this pile of rocks that led out to the water. The day was gray and a bit windy so walking on it was kinda scary, especially when the water splashed onto the rocks and made it slippery. Some guy was out there was brave enough to be fishing though. (Notice the calm waters on one side and rough surf on the other -- freaky!) Back at Clem & Ursie's, we had a bunch of the oysters (so fresh and good!), clams, shrimp, and a seafood casserole for an early dinner. Everyone around us was oohing and aahing when the casserole (a variety of seafood, from lobster to cod, to scallops, in a Gruyere cheese sauce and covered with mashed potatoes) was brought out. It was quite good, but since we had just eaten our lunch a few hours before, I wasn't able to fully enjoy it on a stuffed stomach.

DAY 2
The following day, we strolled (more like drove) around Chatham, buying some souvenirs, and happened upon a few thrift shops. We bought a bunch of junk and ended up at Brax Landing in Harwich (the next town over) for lunch. We had lunch on their patio overlooking the water and it was quite pleasant under the bright sun. I had fish and chips (the fish was really light, crisp, and juicy) while Dear had some fried oysters.

We went back to the inn after lunch for some brownies and cookies, then napped before dinner. Lunch and tea were so filling, it was difficult to think about food even at 8:30, but we had to, since every place closes before 10pm in the off-season. For dinner, we returned to the Chatham Squire (we had take-out from there the first night so that I could stay in and watch Gilmore Girls) and had just enough time to eat a lobster salad (lots of lobster meat!) on a croissant and mussels with linguisa sausage.

DAY 3
On our last day, we went to an estate sale in Hyannis (home of the "Kennedy compound") that Dear found while surfing online. I've never been to one and it was kinda creepy and sad -- think of a bunch of strangers looking through a dead person's stuff, like a garage sale. What was even sadder was that a lot of the stuff wasn't that nice and it grossed me out to see cobwebs over everything and weeds in the backyard. We saw a kinda nice little black bench that we contemplated getting but it wasn't antique (could've been Target for all we know) and in the end we thought it wasn't worth it. On our drive back, it got noticeably cooler and it was nice to see all the fall colors (I truly love this season!).

Overall, it was a nice little relaxing vacation. I think I slept close to 12 hours one night, finally catching up on all my lost sleep! Unfortunately, Dear got a little sick since he wasn't prepared for the change in weather. :(

BM goodies

It took me a while to decide what to give my BMs and I ended up assembling a bunch of orange items (some handmade, some not) and other stuff together that I hope they enjoyed receiving. I intended on giving out the packages at the rehearsal dinner but it was so noisy and crowded there (plus I was so tired and in such a pissy mood) that I ended up giving it to them at the hotel the night before. We were all busy working on last minute stuff (one BM was re-doing my nails and also helping my mother do hers while another one was doing last minute ironing) that I didn't get to see their reactions but at least they used some of the stuff on the day of....

LAVENDER EYE PILLOWS (made in orange to fit in with the color scheme): I started by making the middle one and realized it was a tad too short (but still functional) so I made the other ones longer. After all was said and done, I realized I also overstuffed these babies... oh well.

taken with flash

taken w/o flash


all wrapped up with some tissue paper, tied with leftover sheer red ribbon and a tag with use instructions, including putting in the freezer or microwave for cool/warm experience

FLORAL FACE CLOTH: knit up a long, long time ago (before I came up with a color theme, otherwise I'd have made all of them orange)

taken w/o flash

the washcloths after blocking (you'll notice these look more finished & flatter)

washcloths all wrapped up with a tag to explain use and care (excuse the weird background -- I had to hide the mess of my desk)

Aside from these items, I also included a pair of giant pearl earrings with a sterling silver setting, an orange scarf/shawl, a pair of Old Navy flip flops in maroon, and a bottle of papaya body lotion from Missha (in orange bottle).

I put all the things in an orange bag I found at H&M. It has lots of pockets which came in handy for holding all the various items. I then put the filled bags in a red paper gift bag and put the scarf on top since it was fairly hard to wrap everything.

Thanks for all your help (and patience in dealing with my Bridezilla moments) ladies!

See you on the married side!

This is probably going to be my last post as a singleton. Much madness in the past few days & hours. Wish I had time to write about it all. This is what I'd like to cover when I get the chance:
- getting marriage license
- program printing (totally asinine experienceS with Kinko's -- yes, that's plural b/c we had to visit that place on more than one occasion), assembly, etc. (not my best work, so prepare to be disappointed at the end result)
- housing situation
- placecards & table stuff
- rehearsal & rehearsal dinner
- vendor review (and downgrade!)
- flowers

I *heart* Hilton hotels!

I love Hilton hotels (despite the relation to that obscene Paris woman)! Ever since I stayed at the Embassy Suites, I've been hooked and I joined their rewards program. Having a suite the night before will be great to house all the BMs, plus my parents, if they so choose. My only regret is not booking a second night as well. So I was worried about having to check out at noon as the website indicates, but after calling them I learned that as a Hilton Honors member, I can check out at 2pm, more than enough time to get ready in the room since the ceremony is at 2. And the downtown location should make it a relatively quick trip between Ctown, so it's very convenient. They also serve made-to-order breakfast, my favorite meal of the day! Bacon and eggs, here I come!!

Something old, something borrowed

The other day (probably weeks ago), my FCIL let me borrow the vintage Gucci clutch that she found at a rummage sale. It's perfect for the wedding day and is so classy.

I think it needs to be cleaned though, and I'm not sure how. Any suggestions?

Looks like I have a lot of old & borrowed stuff. Not sure if I will have something blue....

It's raining in the office

I have so much to update, so much to do, so little time. I'll begin with my last day at work before the BIG day. My group of co-workers threw me (and Dear too, but he couldn't make it) a shower. It wasn't a surprise at all, since they asked me when I was free (this is a very busy time for us) and what theme I would like. Not knowing much about showers and feeling very odd about planning my own party, I told them I really like board games like Cranium for the competition (and trashtalking) aspect and I left it at that. Well, the work they did for the party blew me away.

They printed out large Scrabble letters saying "Congratulations R____ and J____", complete with the correct point values for each letter. (Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, but my co-worker took pics.) They also decorated the conference room with all sorts of board games, from Boggle, to a game called Compatibility, to Scrabble, Candyland, Checkers, Cootie, and of course, Cranium! They also got two crazy delicious cakes: chocolate marble cheesecake (so creamy, so good, and I think someone trekked all the way to Brooklyn to get it), and a German chocolate cake from Mangia. It was the best German chocolate cake I've ever had, and I can't believe I hardly ever order it (not that it's usually on the menu) since I love chocolate and I love coconut! There were a dozen long-stemmed red roses (gigantic sized heads -- so pretty!) and other snack foods, including a single serving of juice, which I had requested, under the guise of being healthy. :D

the beloved Cranium!

the cheesecake -- YUM!

the German chocolate cake -- double YUM!

There was also a rumor circulating that we may not go on a honeymoon just yet so they collected suggestions from the office about things to do in NYC, to "rediscover" it. There are some neat ideas that I got and the creative, somewhat-newly-married girl put them all into a nice little album for me. She designed the pages with little images and interesting layouts and printed them in color -- I wish she had time to do more!

album cover

sample of pages

The primary party planner introduced the event with the description of "bloodthirsty competition" and presented me with a set of fake rubber knives (we once bonded over our "violent" extracurricular activities, me with kung fu class, he with stage combat class) -- the type that he used in his class.

After all the non-fun-loving jerks got their slice(s) of cake and left, a few ppl stayed behind and played Cranium with me. It was so fun to win three times(!) but also fun to see different sides of people that you work with everyday. (My boss went so far as to snap one of the rosebuds off the bouquet, and then to stick it in my hair in order to win a round.) What I love about Cranium is how you need to work as a team and use different talents in order to win, so it was good to play both with ppl I don't usually work with, and also with my group. Other ppl also stayed behind to play Candyland or Scrabble on their own. :)

Someone said it was the "best office party" she's been to (I completely agree!) and I can't believe I had doubts about inviting them to the wedding (I hope I don't regret that later :P). (Unfortunately the two slices of cake I had are wreaking havoc on my waistline!)

Lower boroughs traverse

This past weekend, we scouted out some photo locations, beginning with the SI Ferry. We had just missed one, so we waited in the new terminal for half an hour before the next one arrived. The day was very windy and it started to drizzle/rain as we boarded the boat so we stayed inside for the ride to SI. I think we stayed on the right side of the boat (I've forgotten all my boating terminology -- is it starboard?) to get a view of the Statue of Liberty. Once we arrived in SI (about 20 minutes later), we had to get off, walk around, and wait to go back on the ferry for the return trip. This time around it was no longer raining and we went up to the top deck, where I think it'd be easier/nicer to take pictures uninhibited by the roof on the deck below.

On our way back, we passed by the other ferry (the older one, which doesn't have a deck along the sides of the boat, just in the front and back, hence not optimal for many photo ops).

close-up (sorta) of the Statue of Liberty; I think the ride to SI gives you a closer view

returning back to Manhattan

closer view through the glass of the Brooklyn Bridge

As we approached Manhattan, I also noticed that the view on the other side of the boat is of Governor's Island, which provides a quaint background, something unexpected for New York.

Then we drove to DUMBO, in search of a nice cobblestone street to take pics with the cab (didn't really find any). We also located Brooklyn Bridge Park after much turning and driving through bumpy one-way roads. The park has awesome views of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge (too bad my camera decided to malfunction at this point). Next to the BBP is Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, which has the remains of an old tobacco factory (and now used for parties) and other interesting old structures. However, if you were to take wedding pictures in that park, it costs over $100. After many phone calls to the NYC Parks Department, the consensus seems to be that taking pictures in a city-owned park is free, if you're in a group of 25 ppl or less, and so long as there is no special setup required.

So it's decided -- we will take pics with the bridal party in DUMBO, with the cab, and at Brooklyn Bridge Park after the ceremony (I think we can get some fun, interesting, playful pics there). Then just the two of us will go on the SI Ferry (the wind and all will mess up our hair and such, so best to save for last) and by then we'll have spent maximum time with the cab (rather than letting it sit, waiting while we ride the ferry for an hour).

After the arduous day, we went to Red Hook for a late lunch at Schnack. The burgers & fries are comparable to the Shake Shack (definitely less greasy) but unfortunately I don't think I'd ever go back. It took a while to get my food due to a mistake (for which they apologized and gave it to me for free) but the worst part of the experience was the dead roach floating in Dear's lemonade. They claimed a true neighborhood experience or something like that, in which case, that's a pretty gross neighborhood. My "Best Deal" burger was not bad (very filling -- I couldn't fit dinner that night) and I thought the height and composition of it made a good pic:

Extra cake?

If you are the groom, stop reading! (though the chances that he is actually reading this are very slim.) I had always thought that the idea of a groom's cake (which are supposedly making a comeback) was just another wedding industry excuse for brides to spend more money so I thought I'd never even consider having one. The idea behind a groom's cake is that it is a gift to the groom from the bride (I once read that the traditional wedding cake is sometimes called the bridal cake or something) and it is often made to reflect the interests and tastes of the groom. Traditionally, the groom's cake would be sliced up and packaged for guests to take home. There are some superstitions about single women sleeping with it under their pillow and some variations on how a future husband would be in store for them.

Unlike the tiered white cakes that are often seen in weddings, the groom's cake is more casual and fun. So, for instance, if I were to get a groom's cake for Dear, it'd be the face of his latest watch (also the wedding gift I got for him a while back). The thing is, I think the idea and first glance at the cake would garner oohs and aahs but then afterwards, it's just a tiny detail that most won't appreciate. And Dear, being the practical person that he is, would probably rather save that extra money for some gadget that he can play with for longer than five minutes, rather than the extra calories the cake would be. However, I am also concerned that there isn't enough cake for everyone (we were going to supplement the existing tiered wedding cake with a dessert bar). So should I bother with this (somewhat expensive) detail? Any brides out there doing a groom's cake?

Here are some groom's cakes I thought were interesting:

And if I were to have a groom's cake, it'd be like this. But instead of a poker chip design, it'd be like this watch face.

Great lengths

It's funny what a wedding will do to you. For me, I've gone DIY-wild. For the mothers, they've both permed their hair (old Chinese women with wavy/curly hair -- phenomenon not often found in nature but oh so prevalent). FMIL dyed her hair... twice. The first time it came out purple (I really don't understand how this happens -- is the chemical composition of your hair more skewed to be the color purple as you age?) then supposedly she dyed it to a more natural shade. I'll know for sure tomorrow when I see her. My mother bought a whole bunch of makeup b/c she thinks she will apply her own makeup, even though she's never done so in her entire life. (I tell her my makeup artist can do her too but she wants to save me money.) And for my uncle, he will travel from Indonesia all the way here!

In other news, I am plagued with mosquito bites both old and new. The old ones have left unsightly bruise-like marks that everyone says looks like Dear beats me (when the opposite is more true). The new ones are itching like mad and I'm hoping won't leave a scar.

I'm also half way done with my veil! It's a bit tedious to do all the sewing but it's really not that difficult and I love watching it come together. Woo hoo! There's no way these things should cost upwards of $100.

The guestbook

Guestbooks have always baffled me. I never know what to sign besides my name, and that always reminds me of how I feel when I am visiting someone's office and the security guard stops me at the front desk to sign in. At the banquet, there is the red cloth (which I've always liked the idea of b/c you can actually hang it afterwards, as opposed to putting away like a regular guestbook b/c I really can't imagine anyone having the desire to pull it out to read through). For the ceremony, I thought I'd do something like Martha's idea of using iron-on transfer paper to customize a plain sketchbook.
I even got a red sketchbook from Borders, but I couldn't figure out what I should put on the cover. Plus Dear forbade me to do any more DIY projects.

Then I read about using photography books on Weddingbee, akin to how ppl create photo albums with lots of white space for guests to sign on. I loved the idea of not doing something traditional. So since we're having a fall wedding and there is a fall theme going on, Dear suggested we do a book of fall photos. We ordered this from Amazon, and it finally arrived today (after I got a notice of delay that it wouldn't arrive until a month after the wedding).

Since there wasn't a "Look Inside" feature with this book and no bookstores carry it w/o being special ordered, we took the gamble that there would be enough pictures and white space to sign on. And I think there is, plus the pictures are really nice. The colors are so vibrant and it reminds me of why I love autumn. The pictures also remind me of the times we've hiked Bear Mountain in the fall and also of the leaves we gathered last year. I can see actually putting this book on my shelf and occasionally taking it out once in a while to look at the pretty pictures and to read guest comments along the way. And under $15, this is a very inexpensive guestbook alternative!

Much to do + transportation

Remember that feeling of having a huge project due when you were in school but being totally unprepared for everything b/c you've been procrastinating? I wish I could say I had that feeling when I was doing my thesis but I was actually quite ready for that. This wedding thing, I'm not. Come to think of it, this is more like a project at work b/c I can handle the written word, the research, the hours of reading and writing for a school project. But I can't make decisions and I dislike dealing with ppl (which is why I'll forever be a peon on the corporate ladder). Oh, and you know those nightmares ppl have? I don't have those b/c I can't sleep!

Anyway, things I have to do somewhat soon:
- finalize program (then print it, cut it & assemble)
- contact bartender
- get liquor
- find out what's up w/ the ceremony musicians
- guestbook
- compile must-take photos
- finalize flower selections
- lose a few pounds
- shape eyebrows
- pick our first dance song
- decide which cab to rent for the day

That's right, I have to decide between cabs. Today we went out to the Dyker Heights area of Brooklyn to meet this guy who showed us two models of checker cabs to choose from. The guy is super friendly, gave us brief histories of the cars, gave a little run through of the two, and even gave us a neat suggestion of decorating the car with a garland of flowers across the front of the car (by the windshield), which I think would be really nice.

I think the cabs are the coolest thing (so classy and different), especially the two jump seats in the back (which I didn't know about), which allow us to seat up to 4 ppl in the back (or more, I imagine). I think we can even fit 6 altogether, plus the driver.

the jump seat, folded out

view of the two jump seats, the one in the foreground is folded up into the back of the front seat

view of the full-replication dash, complete with original air conditioning, meter, and a bensi box tape deck (for easy removal when authenticity is important)

Anyway, these are the 2 choices. Which one do you like?

1965 two-color checker cab, which appeared in "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "The Producers" and other films

1968/69 checker cab which appeared in "When Harry Met Sally", "Ghostbusters II", "Catch Me If You Can", among others

Both are really roomy with the jump seats in the back. I'm leaning toward the one-color b/c it has the taxi meter of old (you flip something to start it and it spins around, he said) but I kinda like the uniqueness of the two-color one, though it isn't as memorable as the other one. Someone decide for me!

Construction

This was the site last month. Will it be ready in time?