Grey Gardens Costumed Viewing Party (Blogger Meetup Success!)

Good morning!

Whew, what a weekend it was, this weekend past! What did you get into? I spent mine in a flurry of activity as I hosted my second blogger meetup on Saturday night. Watch out, Elsa Maxwell, I'm still vying for the title "hostess with the mostess." Themed parties are even more fun than regular wingdings, so I made good on a promise elicited several months ago between Kimmie, Rae, Eartha and myself to have everyone over for a showing of Grey Gardens. I am always down to watch this movie for the 1,000,001 time, and wouldn't it be fun to see all the girls for a good reason?

If you haven't seen the Maysles's seminal documentary of East Hampton eccentricity (or the HBO tv movie based on the real life characters, which is ok/not too bad), I strongly urge you to get to the library and grab a copy. Or if you have Hulu, both the original Grey Gardens and its semi-sequel The Beales of Grey Gardens are available through their Criterion collection. The movie is a must-see! It presents an indelible portrait of Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, Jackie Kennedy's aunt and first cousin, respectively, who live in relative isolation in a falling-down New England mansion filled with cats, raccoons, and memorabilia from their halcyon days as members of high society. The real star of the show is Little Edie, whose eye-grabbing improvised wardrobe choices are truly some of the strangest/most inspired things you'll see this side of a fashion runway or mental hospital. Edie wears a series of scarves/bathtowels as headwraps and combines swimsuits, upside-down-pinned-together-skirts, turtlenecks, and an iconic brooch into what she deems "the best costume for the day". 

I knew if I was going to do a viewing party, a big part of the hype should be the "come in costume" portion of the invitation. And yours truly did spend the better part of a whole evening a week or two ago throwing together tights with headwraps in an attempt to get as close to Edie as I could. Was my room ever a mess! My first attempt, which involved an actual-sweater-as-headgear in a gesture of true fidelity to the original, ended with me looking like some kind of hijab-wearing chorus girl. Fail. I eventually settled on this much less severe, hugely oversized kerchief, and finally figured out how 1970s girls tie those dadblasted things to look like Rhoda (tie two ends tightly at the back, shift gently to side, keep in place with a bobby pin or two). See below: muuuuch better on the second try.

From Sharif he don't like it  to a staunch character S-T-A-U-N-C-H

With the headwrap locked down, I added my Esther-Williams style actual main bathing suit, a wrap around skirt I purposefully gathered the bottom of and tied at the hip, a black turtleneck, black tights, and, for the kicker, white sandals for about as-close a Grey Gardens look as I could pull together from my own closet:

Cheesecake shot of me which only serves to remind me to eat less cheesecake :p

Next, I sent out invitations via email with this image:

My favorite Windows-paint created format: ransom note chic.

And started thinking of how I wanted to do the table. The most important party planning to me involves what the table will look like and what we'll actually do at the party. I get excited to try and pull in creative ideas that will make it memorable (and give me a challenge in the meantime of how to pull it off). In this case, I knew I wanted stacks of newspaper, empty cat food cans, and a raccoon of some kind, along with a portrait of Edie and maybe some tiny American flags in homage to her third-act Fourth of July dance. I put in a call to my cat-owner friend Kelsey to save clean cat food cans she would otherwise recycle and put on my thinking cap for what else I could do.

Voilà the finished product! I made a sign like the one of the two Edie had made for herself and her mother (her mom's says "The Great Singer Big Edie Bouvier Beale" and hers, as you see below, omits the "r" on "dancer" but touts her prowess at an old soft shoe or waltz), spread a parcel of ads I got in the mail earlier that week all across the table, printed off a life size raccoon on cardstock at Office Depot, and arranged the cans into a little pyramid about the faux critter's feet.

As for activities, I was stumped. I knew we were going to watch the movie, but in googling "Grey Gardens party", I couldn't find any suggested activities other than dressing up and watching the movie (both of which I had covered). So I went back to my teaching resource days and found a Bingo generator. The OTHER best part of the movie, besides Edie's clothes, is definitely how memorable a lot of the dialogue is. So I went through and copied down some of my favorite lines in the movie and made them into a series of unique bingo cards-- if you use a site like this, you can scramble the order of the spaces so each card is individual. Also, imagine if you haven't seen the movie before and you're reading through this card like, "Uh...is this what I'm in for?" I was really happy with the finished result!

As before any social event held at my house, the biggest nail-biting part of the party-throwing is not making the devilled eggs and the cake and cleaning the house (which are practically rote at this point for me), but worrying about whether or not anyone will show up! Real talk: about an hour before any party, I'm always stricken with a pang of self-doubt and an internal monologue of "Oh, God, why did I plan a party, what if like two people show up, I should never do anything" before Matthew eventually talks me down from the ledge (or I get cheered up by my outfit, lol). A few people sent their regrets, and 14 people RSVP'd over the mass email chain I'd sent out to lady bloggers of Nashville. "Hm," says I, "I figure that means I should plan for 10 and actually expect about 8." Well, color me surprised/shame on me for being pessimistic, but each and every of those fourteen people showed up! I should have known with the caliber of kiddies I was talking about that they would come out in force!

Group shot minus Sarah and Rory and Quincy

I stole an idea from a friend of mine's Halloween party (shout-out, Kate McC!) and passed around a selfie-stick with Matthew's phone on it to ensure lots of (albeit blurry) photos! Cast of characters included:

Eartha from Ranch Dressing With Eartha Kitsch and Rae from Say It Ain't So... Eartha knocked it out of the park in her movie-quality Big Edie costume and Rae was part of the pantsless swimsuit and tights club with yours truly:

Jamie and Kimmie from That Girl in the Wheelchair, showing off some patriotic pride with a tiny flag-- Kimmie also wins the prize for "most brooches":

1) Aubrey from Adventures in Aubreyland, Amanda from Junebugs and Georgia Peaches, Jenna from Kitty Cat Stevens, and another appearance from Jamie and Kimmie; 2) the aforementioned minus Jenna, Jamie, and Kimmie but PLUS Quincy from Qsdayream (you can't see her polkadot skirt but it was super cute). Check out Aubrey's spot on headwrap and Amanda's magnifying glass (nice touch!). Jenna came from another event, so we can't hold it against her she didn't want to show up to a non-Edie-Beale-themed-party in Edie Beale attire, lol.

Lauren from Lladybird.com and Devon from Miss Make, lookin' fabulous:

Rory and Sarah from sarahcomo.com (they should get a shout out for being so color coordinated/ adroit at taking selfie stick selfies):

And last but not least, Quincy gave Matthew her phone to take a few group shots, and ended up with Bub taking like 10 selfies after he took the desired group photo. He cracks me up.

Most everyone brought something to eat or drink, but a special shout out to Eartha, who brought this cake with a message. I about died. The quote is (duh) from the movie and perfect:

Verdict? We had a ball! At one point, I think every chair in the house was in the living room for the actual screening, but every one of the guests were real troupers and put up with the sea-of-people squeezed into my front room! The first three winners of Grey Gardens Bingo were Kimmie, Sarah, and Amanda, respectively, and there were some honorable mentions passed around along with certificates of achievement (who doesn't like to win?). We finished the movie and watched clips from Documentary Now!, where Fred Armisen and Bill Heder do a pretty accurate spoof of the Beale ladies (minus the New England accents! I don't know why they decided not to do them when they're such a big part of the movie!), and then just sat around and caught up. The cheerful, high decibel din of people having a good time is about the best you can ask for from a party, and overall, I thought it was a success! I'm so glad to know so many fun and interesting gals in the Nashville area and happy we could all get together even during this busy holiday season!

I bid my last guests good night around 11:30 and promptly went to bed, lol. But I still had cake and hummus to eat Sunday, and a clean house to enjoy, which is the SECOND best part about throwing a party. :)

The lady of the hour, Miss Beale

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate! And we need to do it again soon! (hint hint, nudge, cough, *karaoke party Rae* cough).

How about you? Are you a Grey Gardens fan? What would you wear for an Edie inspired costume? Had any great themed parties to attend lately? Let's talk!

That's all for today... but shame on me, I'm going to try to be better about updating this space! Have a fantastic week and I'll talk to you soon. Til then!

"How To Be a Party Girl" (Pat Montandon, 1968)

Good afternoon!

I am up against the wire, AGAIN, with an Interlibrary Loan book...How to Be a Party Girl, by Pat Montandon, was supposed to go back to The University of  Georgia last week, but I am only three quarters of the way through the book! It's too good to send back unread, so I've been speed reading most of yesterday and today through San Francisco's #1 Party Girl's instructional on how to be the hostess with the mostess you always dreamed of being. That is, if you're like me and secretly cling to an ambition to become a maven of social event planning. Pat Montandon appears in the first chapter of her cocktail hour self-help book in a pink bra, half slip, and "mink colored eyelashes" making herself ready for "a...party, La Bohème, and Trader Vic's"...um, SIGN ME UP?

Though the book is bursting with chapters that make me sigh an envious sigh (while I'm also taking notes...who wants to come to my rainy day picnic luncheon or Spanish brunch? IT IS HAPPENING), I was most intrigued by a chapter 3, entitled "Baker's Dozen: Dos and Don'ts for Hostess and Guest". Say it with me, class: indispensable. Want to look through some of PM's helpful hints towards making your next soireé a night to remember? Let's talk brass tacks and look at some of her suggestions, along with my mile-long commentary on how I see her opinions on the subject (along with my own):

LISTS. ARE. KEY. I keep a little notebook in my purse to write down directions-to-places, Matthew's work schedule that week, books I'd like to look up when I get a chance, a funny thing Frances Marion said in her autobiography, where I left off in Better Homes and Gardens' 1946 bound periodicals, the name of that album I need to check out,  etc. It's a far cry from actual organization (live in hope, right?), but it helps me keep on top of things in an otherwise near constant state of disarray, and looks much classier (and less se7en-like) than the Rolodex like collection of back-of-Panera-receipts notations in the zippered portion of my pocketbook. I think in terms of parties, lists are especially helpful-- what we're cooking and what we consequently need to grab from the grocery store, who all is coming, what's done and what needs doing. One thing I've always wanted to do was keep a "log book" of dinners and parties, kind of a diary of what worked and what didn't at specific shindigs at the homestead. 

One thing I make ABSOLUTELY SURE OF is to schedule enough time, built into the event prep, to make up my face and change into a party dress out of my schlepping around the house mopping the kitchen floor or throwing a casserole in the oven clothes. One, it puts you in the party spirit to have some seventies' sheath dress with angel-wing sleeves and your eyes cats-eyelinered out to your ears, lipstick just so; two, the magician's changing act of throwing on clothes and maquillage as the first arrivals trickle in puts you and your invited guests off on the wrong foot. How am I going to greet someone with my best hostess smile after I literally just spent the last five minutes in a dervish of activity...slip over head, tights shimmied into, boots zipped up, eye-hooks at the nape of my neck always just a fraction of a centimeter out of reach...I'm frazzled beyond being frazzled before I've even opened my mouth! And heaven help me if I answered the door like Pat's friend, I would have just actually just died of embarrassment, right there on the spot. Let the ground open up and swallow me rather than you see my poor bare derrière when I spent thirty minutes trying to decide between the lamé dress and the taffeta and somehow missed the crucial last step of not having my skirt tucked into its waistband. 

How many times have you walked into a party and realized there are literally not enough places to sit down? Or your host/hostess has kind of just thought "Well, I'll put out the chips, and people will just find their way!" as you stand awkwardly in your winter coat and people you don't know fish-eye you from the limited seating I think a lot of folks in my generation really think all the "planning" aspect of party-giving is too fussy and overwrought to undertake but "winging it" only truly works for like 2% of the population. It doesn't have to be Ringling Brothers three tent circus, but SOMEONE needs to think about the guests having the basic essentials-- somewhere to sit, something to eat, and somebody to talk to. I like to have some nine hour playlist of a basic "theme" (all girl group Motown, all sixties' French pop, all Brazilian bossa nova, all thirties' dixieland bands, whatever) playing in the background to set a mood, and now that the Lord has seen fit to bestow the human race with such technology as iPods, iPads, the Spotify app, etc, there is no reason to have dull, dead silence in the background. I often forget ice at the last minute but in recent times have bought like half a freezer full of five pound bags, and then just chipped away what we needed come party time. NEVER. ENOUGH. ICE. Plus, how fancy does it look to have chipped ice sitting in a little signs-of-the-zodiac ice bucket (I think very fancy, but I am biased).

Tiny print, sorry-- right click and open in a new tab to supersize!

I have been to about two too many parties where I showed up, walked in with my best "all right, let's give this the best we can" in spite of a socially anxious little heart thumping in my chest, tacked on a brilliant smile, and been greeted by a host who threw a quick "Hey!" over their shoulder before they went back to whatever was literally on fire in the kitchen. My patented defense to this was to try and wade into conversation with a  "Oh, really, I live over in Inglewood" butted in here, or a completely non-partisan "You know, that's the same thing they said about so-and-so!" there, and been met with a sideways glance, the stony silence of the grave, and return to topic, as if I'd never spoken. Ugh! Post college keggers, I think it's just this side of the height of rudeness not to engage your guests as they show up or at least buddy them up to somebody so they don't end up checking their phone in a corner like a forgotten piece of furniture. I'm probably too "Oh, hello! Oh, Frank, have you met Jill? Jill's a real estate agent, and Frank just bought a house in Bellevue" in that June Cleaver way for people's tastes, but I still think it's better than making the conversational pit of your party a free for all á la Beyond Thunderdome. This also puts you in danger of re-introducing people...I've actually introduced a person to the person who introduced them to me in the first place (if that makes sense), but better safe than sorry! This guest of honor business is intriguing to me, too; I might have to try crowning someone king or queen for a day just so I can buy a gold tablecloth and partyware for the occasion!

I cut out the part of this that I liked best...or maybe it was in the "don't's" section... part of that taking care of the guests includes improvising if you don't have something, or not apologizing when things don't go exactly according to Queensbury rules. "A smooth performance is essential" doesn't mean that you have to be  the world's most perfect hostess-- you just have to keep up the illusion of being an effortless, Donna Reed like creature from birth, possibly before. I come from a long, long line of explainers (can you tell?), and while we're good for giving directions or telling you how to make a cake from scratch, step by step--one of our worst traits is the peremptory apology. "I'm sorry I'm just dressed in these work clothes, but I came straight over from work, and I knew you guys were coming at eight, and you all are all so done up, I hate to be the one who looks like something the cat dragged in... We would have been able to stop and pick up the wine if it wasn't for the traffic on the interstate, which was backed up to Charlotte, we just..." STOP. RIGHT. THERE. By "explaining" why the queso's burnt, or the curtains are hung crooked, or there isn't any more tonic water, you're implicitly forcing your guests to assure you that item x, y, and z are ok...reassuring the host of their adequacy is one of the least attractive things a guest can be asked to do in someone else's home. Matthew's Memaw, a seasoned hostess, said it most beautifully in an anecdote Deb shared with me once. As my future mother-in-law was fretting over this, that, and the other to serve during a beautiful dinner she was throwing for some important guests back-in-the-day (note: Deb is an excellent dinner party thrower now, so it's hard for me to think of her in this state of panic, but she assures me it happened), her mother-in-law-at-the-time offered, "Just serve what you have, and lots of it-- and if you run out, order some pizzas." Huh! Because IT'S NOT THAT CRUCIAL. Out of all the things you should take seriously at a party, the guests having a good time should be #1, and your crazy-making mood effects how crazy-making the mood of the party is. So there.

I haven't quite figured out the balance of seeing to the guests in the party and not hovering too long with one group, but I sure have been trying in recent times to "play like Pat" and make sure everyone feels welcome and included. NOTHING WORSE ON THIS EARTH than people clicking up at a party and you're the last gal left standing. Is there anything that puts you closer to your fourth grade self on the playground, trying to interest someone in a game of four square, the failure of which is somehow inextricably linked with your wrong-kind-of-sneakers? Second to that, how about when you mention the president was in town the week before as small talk and someone flays the very skin from your bones over what an incompetent so and so such and such is and this country wouldn't be in such a mess if blah de blah-- yeeks! I go from "nice party!" to "how much longer do I have to stay so it doesn't look weird when I leave?" in about point five seconds. "Which way to the bar?" Preach, sister Pat, for telling us about not leaving people a) fighting each other or b) all on their lonesome! It's the party girl's prerogative to have everyone comfortable and having a good time, and isn't this a good way to ensure it!

From last year's post on Pepsi's Sociables campaign-- also, what I want my life to look like.

Well, I've jawed on for way too long today-- can you tell I have some opinions on party giving? As important as the theme and the guest list and the food are these philosophical underpinnings to making a party "go" and guests feel welcome and at ease! And aren't I glad Pat Montandon put them down so beautifully so I could have something to reference in my head when I wonder where my place is as the lady of the house.

What do you think? What are your hard and fast party rules, if you have any? What's the last successful cocktail party you threw? What are some of the things that make you hesitant to throw a party or make you social event calendaress of the year? Let's talk!

I have to go finish this goldurn book (there's more magic where that came from!), but you guys have a great Tuesday, and I'll see you tomorrow. Til then! :D

How Good is Your Taste? (Clark's Teaberry gum, 1947-1948)

Good morning!

Oh, how did Monday already raise its ugly head! I had a very busy weekend, kids-- our wedding rings came in the mail on Saturday (we only tried them on about twenty times), my bridal shower was Sunday (so many laughs over mimosas and vegan chocolate cake), and here I am on Monday with a bleary little head and mounting anticipation towards the big day-- we're in the home stretch!! Yeeeeeeeah!

While I was whiling away the morning on Google Books, trying to think of non wedding related stuff to throw at you this AM, I came across a series of ads for Clark's Teaberry gum. It's no Wrigley's, but the ad campaigns for the years 1947 and 1948 challenge the Life readers to exercise good judgement and taste in eliminating the chaff from the wheat! Let's take a look at how fine our own taste is, in the following cases:

1) Figural Sculpture Edition:

Discussion: 
Now, I spent some time examining the above photo to note the difference between figure A and figure B. In spite of the opposing savanna wildlife presented in each, there's not a while lot of difference to the way these little sculptures are presented. While the one on the left is slightly more distinguished looking, it's in that T.J. Maxx housewares "eccentric" way-- you know what I mean? The way Brentwood or Hendersonville housewives decorate their foyers and orthodontists their waiting rooms? I was more into the whimsical look of the giraffes-- they're sweet!

Spoiler alert, I was not on target with this one. Nooooot at all (at least according to 1947 people!!)

Correct Response:

Oh my God, it's like they can see me. It IS seventy-five years from the year 1940, almost! And I DO want the "awfully quaint lamp base" portrayed in the second panel! The well-known sculptor's work looks like a lot of bunk to me! Well, maybe I'll do better at this next one:


2) Coed Hairstyles Edition:

Discussion: Ok, ok.....smartest and most appropriate. Which of these hairstyles is the smartest AND most appropriate...well, "A" looks too bizarre to be wearable in a host of different situations, even though I like it-- now, in evening wear, and with a Lana Turner level of star power, it would make a hit, but just perched upon my sleepy little head first thing in the morning at work..not so much. "B" is probably my favorite, because it takes a simple ponytail to the next level with that large bow and the soignée look of the pinned queue of hair. "C" is super glamorous, but I don't know if I want to run around with a giant hydrangea on the side of my head all day, especially when paired with just a sweater...I don't know, I say "B".

Correct Response:

Did I fall for...DON'T PATRONIZE ME, CLARK'S TEABERRY GUM. Now, "A" really was too nutty, but you're telling me "C" is more appropriate than "B"? I respectfully voice my dissent, CTG. Let's see if we can do any better in the photography department on the next question.

3) Vacation Snaps Edition:

Discussion: 

Now we're talking! 1940's bathing suits, oversized rubber ball (do you notice how often beach balls crop up in vintage photographs? It's weird  because while I can see bringing goggles, sunscreen, towels, any number of beach essentials, I wouldn't think to bring a ball!)...I elect "C" as the best. Mainly because "A" features that guy-in-the-background's posterior more than the subjects of the photo, and "D" looks hackneyed, and "B" makes that one dude look like a full-on woman (this may be what he's going for, but if it's not, it's REALLY not working for him).

Correct Response:

 Well, of course I did! Look how well I'm doing with this taste racket!! I love "as worn-out and tired as a Joe Miller joke" in the description.

Ok, 1 for 3, let's see how I do on #4:

4) Leave the Dog out of This! Edition

 Discussion: 
What...is the thing...in the first panel? Is that a wookie? A wookie dog? A dog wookie? Or what are those little dudes....ewoks! This dog is way closer to an ewok than an actual dog. I don't know what it is, but I want one. This is the only one of the 5 of these I just went ahead and looked at the answer...I wouldn't know a pure bred dog...well, if it bit me! Haha. Let's look:

Correct Response:

I love the insinuation, in the tone of the text, that the dog's trying to  get one over on us. I bet he could care less if he were purebred or not. Also, let me write down "Brussels Griffon" in the hopes of getting one of from the Forest Moon of Endor some time in the near future.

5) College Prom Edition:

Discussion: 

Ok, finally! Something I know something about! Clothes! Unfortunately, I'm just as jammed up on this one as I was on the others...I feel like it's a trick question! "A" seems way too racy, unless you have Ava Gardner's own figure and face to  fill it out, but I am secretly drawn to that emerald sash, though I wouldn't wear a cut out like this. The striped dress in the middle seems like it should be a day dress and about 10 inches shorter, if that's the case. Also, I hate the red head's hair! Not the hue, but the plastered-down poodle bangs of it. Even though it looks like an enormous chiffon cupcake, I vote for "C", as the most appropriate to wear to a formal occasion in year of our Lord 1947. Let's see how we did:

Correct Response:

 What! I feel gypped! They're all acceptable!

At the end of each of these "better taste" advertisements, Clarks gives a shout out to the inspiration for this series, a popular book:

Best part? THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN FULL TEXT ON THE INTERNET ARCHIVE! I need to get to reading this so I don't feel so 1947 gauche!! A cursory flip-through makes it look like it's probably a fun read, so if you enjoyed these quizlets today, be sure and check out the real deal on the archive.

So! Do you vehemently agree or disagree with any of these responses? How closely did yours line up to mine or the arbiters of taste from 70 years ago? Any indispensable style manuals you've had fun reading lately? Let's talk!

I gotta get back to work, but I'll see you here tomorrow! Have a great Monday! Til then!

Engagement-a-palooza Party

Good morning!

Well, somehow I survived-- my three day weekend is at an end! It was a heckuva busy one, too...we threw our engagement party at my house on Friday, had a get together at my mom's house on Saturday, and spent most of Sunday hanging around going through the gift bottles of wine from Friday like they were going to expire first thing Monday morning. I AM A TIRED, TIRED HUMAN. But I did manage to remember to take a few photos to show you all what the party looked like! Wanna see?

I woke up Friday morning, briefly contemplated hitting at least one estate sale, and wrote my Photo Friday blog entry about my great-grandmother on my dad's side. After having some coffee and oatmeal, I sat at the kitchen table making a list of grocery items that I'd need to pull off the party food spread. We ended up having vegan strawberry cupcakes, white bean dip, and lentil Sloppy Joe sliders as far as the "actual cooked by me" part of the menu, and chips and dip, olives, strawberries, cookies, and candy as a "oh, this table looks lonely with just semi-healthy stuff on it!" last minute addition. All the vegan foods came from the Skinny B---- in the Kitch and Skinny B---- Everyday Cookbook, which I'm telling you, are i-n-d-i-s-p-e-n-s-i-b-l-e to my day-to-day cooking. To add to the vegan fare, Rae and Travis brought a chocolate vegan cake with the word "WERK" written in purple icing...this was a sight for sore eyes on Saturday morning, at which point most of it was consumed by Matthew and me over coffee for breakfast. BEST. BREAKFAST. EVER. Thanks, you guys!

 I made these little paper doll standouts last week on my lunch hour, carefully tracing the outlines of some thirties' paper dolls and adding our features to their pre-existing bodies. They stood on the window sill above the kitchen table two by two.  I love how these turned out! I didn't remember to give everyone their own as a souvenir, so if you left before you got one, remind me and I'll give you one of the stack of them we have left over, haha!

For punch, I just made up a huge batch of palomas, which is diet grapefruit soda, lime juice, and a whole bunch of tequila. Our friend Brian got to the house and went "Palomas! How could I have guessed!" because I seriously do drink these every freakin' chance I get (citing the likes of Ernest Hemingway as a fellow devotee of the margarita-like cocktail, by the way!). We had sodas on hand for the non-booze-drinkers, and a box of Franzia white zin (naturally, because we're classy like that).

I also put in a place of pride this framed drawing that usually sits on my bedside table. When Matthew proposed in February of 2011, the ring hadn't arrived on the day he made big reservations at a fancy restaurant, so while he did get down on one knee and the whole shebang in a public place, this little folded sheet of paper stood in for the ruby and diamond ring I've worn every day since it arrived the next afternoon. How sweet is this?! I love having little us-related artifacts all over the house.

Here's the man himself. Please note that his hair does not have any product whatsoever in it, nor has any styling past a quick shake of his head. It "just does that", no joke.

I was fed up with my own hair by Friday afternoon, so I just clamped a hat on over a braid. I love how this outfit turned out though! Very eighties' pop star.

I was so happy so many of our friends could join us! We played Motown all night (you really can't go wrong with a six hour playlist of sixties' R&B and soul) and had a lot of laughs. It's always slightly surreal to have more than four people over to your house, and I think at one point we had something like twenty-five! It was wonderful to see so many people as excited as we are about us gettin' hitched. :)

Matthew asked that his high school friend Robbie and I look like we'd just heard the funniest joke in this picture, so that accounts for our goofy expressions.

Here's a paparazzo picture of our friends Ruthie, Boo, Anna, and Brian. 

My friend Jesse from work and his wife Kirsten (in yellow) and sister  Drew (in blue). I don't know what Matthew told them to look like in the picture, but the thumbs down from Kirsten is my new favorite go-to pose.

Here's newlyweds-themselves Emily and Orion, who are moving to this side of town! I look forward to playing more horribly-wrong card games with them in the near future. Alyx and Brian brought Cards Against Humanity, and probably my favorite part of the night was a fifteen-people strong series of rounds of this game, with the ensuing groans and giggles over HOW BAD some of the card selections can be! How bad were they, you might ask? Check out the pdf you can download for free on their website! THAT. BAD.

It was a fabulous night! I had a great time and remembered why it's so important to try to get together social events like that more often...all the people I like in one place! With food and drinks! Isn't that the very soul of convenience? I have to start being better about throwing ragers, obviously.

So! What did you get into this weekend? Find any great stuff at the sales? What are your must-have party foods, drinks, or games? I'm always looking for good suggestions!

I guess I have to get back to work now....ho-hum. Hope you guys have a fabulous Monday, and I'll see you tomorrow with more vintage tips and quips. Til then!