Wednesday Wedding: Pearls

I kind of have a thing for pearls. I have a pretty unique pearl and diamond engagement ring, something I knew I wanted since I was little. For our wedding, I thought it would be nice to work in pearls somehow, to tie back to my ring. So far the only way I've really done that is with the wedding cake; there will be sugar pearls on the cake (I can't wait to see it!). Another obvious way to work them in is through accessories for both me and my best ladies.  Last summer, the lady at the jewelry store where my ring was being fixed (replacing a diamond and tightening the rest) told me basically that I should never ever wear my ring because just about everything it touches will ruin it. Sure lady, I'm just not going to wear my engagement ring. I know they are more fragile and susceptible to the elements than other jewelry, but pearls are just so classy and pretty, I can't think of a better way to accessorize a wedding. {I also think that the jewelry store lady was exaggerating a bit. She wore a bunch of pearls herself, and I think if they can handle the rough and tumble atmosphere of a jewelry store, they will be OK at a wedding/ worn on my hand all day every day. Am I right?}

my rings

my pearl necklace from my in-laws

I really love this ring, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. 

I found a similar at BHLDN, but it is not quite as pretty.

The BHLDN ring matches these earrings:

Again I am linking up to Joelle at Something Charming, who is also helping me out by answering a wedding question I had, on how we should work our atypical vow renewal ceremony. I can't wait to hear her suggestions!

And as a side note, we've started collecting mason jars for our wedding! I'm excited to plan exactly what to do with them, and to get crafty in the process! I also had a stroke of genius and came up with the perfect table number idea this morning! :)

- From the desk of Mrs. M

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Read All About It

My favorite author is Bill Bryson. I first discovered him during my Obsessed with Australia phase in high school, when I found his book "In A Sunburned Country" on one of the Barnes & Noble travel shelves. Now I've got a whole shelf dedicated to his books (plus LOTR and a little Hemingway; keeping good company), and even two copies of one. In 11th grade English class I led a lesson about him and his writing. Bryson writes about travel, science, language, and his own childhood. He is hilarious, especially his traveling stories. He has a new book called "At Home" that I'm going to order, perhaps on husband's kindle.

My three favorites:

I have read this one several times. He went a lot places I did on Euro Tour (Parts I and II), and I brought it along and read about the places I'd soon be visiting. He even went to a place in Finland called Muonio, way way up in Lapland, where I also visited!

I suggest you make a cup of tea and settle in to read one of these.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Coming Home

Cats do not like to travel. Cats do not like to do anything that they do not want to do, exactly when they want to do it. Considering this, Darwin and Huxley did quite well when we shoved them in their kennel and forced them to ride in a car for two days.  Huxley made an escape attempt from the hotel room and sprinted through the parking lot.  They both meowed a lot and looked really sad. But we arrived home and they immediately resumed their usual habits and routine, jumping on every surface and crowding to sleep on me.

The route we took this time, with a stop for the night in Memphis. 

As a side note, it is nice to come home to a full mailbox and a house just the way you left it. My Finnish family sent me this pretty gift, and the license plate for Kyle's motorcycle arrived. 

 Mostly, though, it's just bills. :)

- From the desk of Mrs. M

A Few Days in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a special place, I've said it before. Kyle and I have a history here, and gosh if my close friends here don't steal my heart every time I see them. We first visited Kyle's grandma and great-grandma, going out to the Silk Road for Chinese New Year and helping navigate some new technology. The next day we headed in to Oakland in the afternoon, wandered around campus, met up with friends, and went to Hofbrauhaus for dinner and drinking fun. It happened to be contest night, and four of our group participated in the strudel eating contest (hands behind your back, first to finish wins), which Tracy won, beating all the boys. The weather was nice and grey and rainy, classic Pittsburgh. We went to Pamela's for breakfast before heading back to State College. Yum!

 the strudel eating contestants-  Toby, Kyle, Jake, Tracy

 Cathy in the distance.

 Pam-Pam's. French toast.

 gifties from my friends. I love them.

We are heading out early tomorrow morning to drive back to Texas. It's been a nice trip back up to where there are mountains and snow, but I am definitely ready to be back home in our little house, go back to wearing flats and flip flops, finish up my last grad school application, resume wedding planning, and really get into figuring out life in Texas. 

- Mrs. M

Looking for Leather

I do not know much about motorcycles, but I do know that I will not be riding on the back of Kyle's motorcycle like this: no helmet, no protective attire, and side saddle. 

Husband has been on a quest ever since he got back. He has been scouring the internet to find me the perfect leather jacket, that will serve to both protect me when riding behind him on Bonnie (the motorcycle), and be something stylish I will actually wear even when not on the bike (and don't have to sport a giant helmet that makes us look like we're expecting to ride to the moon). Kyle even has a whole Pinterest board called Jacket for Her, which I find really super sweet of him. Kyle found his jacket before he deployed to Iraq, actually, but hadn't completely settled on getting it until he found it in a store in Austin and tried it on. Finding one for me has proven more difficult, because the style he thought I'd like, and I do like, is European and hard to find in this country. Also, we like brown instead of black, which also makes our options more limited. Oops. But here's the sort of style and look we are going for. Kyle has looked into some custom leather makers, but it has been difficult getting in touch with anyone. We'll keep looking and hopefully find one by the time Kyle is a proficient motorcyclist!

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What do you think?

- From the desk of Mrs. M

About Me

I know this blog is All About Me mostly, but sometimes the easiest way to share some facts about me is to just tell you. In list form. With some accompanying pictures. Like so.

- The Office is my comfort show. I tend to not fall asleep easily, and especially fall semester when Kyle was at basic training, I formed a habit of putting on The Office and letting it lull me to sleep on the couch over a few episodes. Needless to say, I am quite familiar with the show (though I can't say it is my favorite NBC comedy anymore- yeah Parks & Rec!).

via

- I could eat an endless amount of yogurt with granola. Not true, because I'm pretty sure I'm at least a little bit lactose intolerant, but I love the stuff. This probably started somewhere back in childhood when I would eat a scoop of yogurt with sprinkles for breakfast, and grew in Finland where (up until lately) that was really the only time/place I ate yogurt+granola. I would like to try to make my own granola soon.

pumpkin pie granola

- I think it would be cool to write a book someday. I do not know what about!

- I don't easily make new (and lasting) friends. But I sure have some great ones here in Pittsburgh!

- I think water chestnuts are the worst. Why would you include them in an otherwise delicious vegetable medley?

- I think I like girly, pretty, romantic things. Sorry, Kyle.

- I prefer things a little messy and outside the lines. Mostly, "lived in."

- I eat my popcorn with olive oil and salt. I make it on the stove in a pot.

- I am working with Kyle to figure out my future tattoo! We finally have a solid idea. :)

- When I was little, I used to play "Vet" and I would actually cut into my stuffed animals and perform surgeries, then sew them back up. My poor big stuffed tiger had many surgeries, and the cut patches of hair and sutures to prove it.

- Also when I was little, I was (briefly, I think) afraid of leprechauns and the Easter bunny.

- Freshman year of college my nickname (mostly in joking, but mostly true) was The Ruiner (lovingly), because I would point out flaws in peoples logic or correct people when they would otherwise not wish to be corrected. I think Kyle has this same quality. And together, we shall ruin the world. Er...

- From the desk of Mrs. M