I am so annoyed- Typepad hates my website again and won’t let me comment on people’s blogs.

This happened a while ago and I can’t remember how it was fixed…

So anyway, I have not been ignoring all you Typepad folks! I have stuff to say but I just can’t get it to work.

wah.

As promised, Casey took a few “before” pictures so that we can try to document the tanning process. I don’t know if it will work out but we tried!

I did a little shopping today. Ahem. Just a little.

I found a dress for our rehearsal dinner and it was on sale. FATE! I even got it on extra sale because the dresses were 25% off at Ann Taylor- even though I think I wasn’t supposed to get that extra discount since I think it applied to full price dresses only. Oh well, works for me… I guess. (I do feel a tad guilty about that one…)

It is in my favorite color- lime green! yay!

(click to make bigger)

I also got these beautiful shoes… I may end up wearing them for my wedding because I love them so much! (even more than the shoes I have to wear- I still have the receipt for them… hmmm…)

Those were not on sale- unfortunately… They are sooo pretty though!

Hi!

I am still alive… just in a bit of a stupor / pre-wedding craze is all.

Had a nutty weekend where we discussed ivy vs ficus trees (reception centerpieces), learned how to do the “cuddle” and the “peekaboo” (dance moves, you dirty people!), and had a lovely dinner where Casey almost ended up on the floor (one of his chair’s legs broke off).

This week has been more of the same… with wedding activities filling up every moment not at work. I met with a sweet woman, Veronica, who will be making my wedding necklace and bracelet tonight. Very exciting! It will not be exactly the same as this one, but hopefully a bit more delicate…

I will have a proper update very soon. 18 days and counting! yay!

You know a guy loves you truly when he whispers it in your ear, softly and sweetly.

You know a guy loves you truly when he goes on one knee in the cold sand of a Canadian afternoon and asks you to be his wife.

You know a guy really freaking really loves you when he has you permanently drawn on his skin so that he can have you with him always.

Yes, Casey got a tattoo done tonight. It is something that he has been talking about for ages… he wanted a pin-up picture of me with our wedding date. (Casey talks about it better than me on his site.)

Awwww…

Here is Casey getting it done. So brave…

Here she is- introducing the Tropical Jessica Wedding Tattoo!

He is never going to forget our anniversary.

I just cast off my Flower Basket Shawl! woohoo!

Next: blocking. gah.

So back to the shower…

I got so many gifts but I will not bore you will all of them- don’t worry. Everyone was soooo generous- it just amazes me.

Casey’s sister made us a dvd with pictures she had gathered from our families- from when we were little to now. It was really sweet.

My mom and dad gave us a lot of presents- my mom went a little out of control! It is not every day you get a thong and nightie from your mom. They both say “Mrs” on them. Cute!

Speaking of cute, here’s my mom.

Moving along with the lingerie theme, I also got this gorgeous lace nightgown:

And this stripey set. (I call it my prisoner of loooove set. haha Not really.)

(Don’t be fooled by Casey’s Nana’s expression! She is the one who bought that set for me!)

The best piece of lingerie was definitely the thong that Carolynn knitted for me. Yes, that is right, Carolynn knit me a thong. It was the hit of the party. They are still talking about it.

And something I didn’t think I would see in my lifetime: Casey’s proper Grammy reaching for a thong. haha

Carolynn has the pattern and Casey and I snapped some pictures of it last night. I will post a link to it as soon as she says the word. Just think of the faces of your happy gift recipients!

Then, of course, they had to put the ribbon hat/ bouquet on my head for the (necessary?) embarrassing photo.

There was so much more and it still overwhelms me to think about all of it! Gotta get back to the thank you cards…

My bridal shower was seriously incredible. I am not saying that just because my best friend and my family planned it… it was really the most amazing thing.

I have to split it into two posts because there are so many pictures and things to tell! No one will probably make it all the way through but I want to have it down here so I don’t forget it, you know?

A little background: my friend, Julie, moved to Germany a few months ago. She planned this entire shower from Germany- brought craft supplies there, assembled and planned everything, and worked with my very loving and involved family to give me the most beautiful shower that ever was!

(all the pictures can be made bigger by clicking on them!)

First, the invitations.

They were in these adorable boxes, which were all painted by hand.

The theme of the shower was my name. So inside the box there was the invitation itself, folded like an accordion and written on it was my full name and a word describing me for each letter. (my favorite was “allergic” haha) It also encouraged guests to bring gifts starting with a letter in my name.

Also in the box was a little bag of Jordan almonds with a tag explaining why they are a traditional wedding favor. (clicky-clicky!) So cute!

It just amazes me that while Julie was preparing to move across the ocean (!) she was painting boxes and assembling such complicated invitations. They are the coolest invites I have ever seen! see!

Julie also made beautiful crepe paper flowers and strung them onto green ribbons to make these gorgeous garlands. I didn’t get a picture of the garlands themselves but here are the fleurs:

She also made this pretty tree to decorate the guest book table. It has the crepe paper flowers on it as well and also has beaded ornaments in the shape of the letters in my name. It was sooo cool. I have it on my fireplace right now and looking at it makes me so happy.

Here is the guest book/ favor table at the party. See the pretty tree? My mother bought a gorgeous white quilt and there were green and blue permanent pens for people to leave a note on it for Casey and I. It will be a great keepsake.

The guest book itself was, again, all handmade by Julie. She incorporated the crepe paper flowers again and designated a page for each day from now until our wedding day. Every page had an envelope and everyone was instructed to write a little note to Casey and I. Plus the book is just darn good-looking!

But wait! There’s more! Ya still with me?

All of the food had these beautiful little signs:

The food was soooo good. I was so busy though that I barely ate anything! Good thing there were leftovers.

All the glasses and cups had little boxes attached to them and inside there were little charms with fortunes. (click pic to see them)

I was just so touched because everyone did so much work to prepare for that one special day. Not only was everyone planning for months but the day before and the day of, Julie and my cousin Liz were cooking up a storm and my mom and aunts put together the favors. (even after they had traveled extremely long distances to be there!)

Here is mom- and mom and my aunts:

The favors were different varieties of tea in little bags and spoon tea strainers:

Beautiful cake. Beautiful Julie. Beautiful Liz.

Here is Julie, smiling for the camera just before I arrived. She doesn’t look like she has been working her butt off non-stop, does she? What a trooper!

Okay, I am going to save the rest for the next installment…

But a promise is a promise! Let it never be said that Jessica did not follow through! (even if it was a good 4 days later… ahem.)

Without further procrastination, here is the makeup that I bought during my sanity lapse the other day. (If there are any boys who read this blog, sorry. Maybe there is a game on or something?)

I am going to go in order of application because I am anal and it just makes sense that way. Hold on to your wallets, here we go!

Nars Makeup Primer

I must say I was very skeptical about this product. What on earth do I need that for? I am not a wall, darnit! I take back all the poo-poo’s though- I am a changed woman! This stops the gray/ pale face phenomenon that comes after I have worked all day and my makeup has run for the hills. I look, dare I say, FRESH after a whole day of working. I may need a little dab of powder in the nose region but that is it! Look, my blush is even still there!

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Amazing Cosmetics- Amazing Concealer (ultra-light)

Sephora Professional- Concealer Brush

Next comes the concealer. Oh the concealer! If I didn’t love Casey so much, I would marry this concealer.

I have some serious under-eye circles (allergies and genetics…*sob*) and every other concealer I have used seems to really dry out my skin and/or does not match my skin tone. This one is perfect. (and it should be for $40!!) It will last me a really long time too because I am using this fantastic brush to apply it. It does not pull the tender skin under my eyes and then I blot it carefully with my fingertip. Goodbye, bride of frankenstein!

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Nars Balanced Foundation (deauville)

Sephora Professional- Foundation Brush

The foundation I already owned (wee! something I didn’t have to buy!) and I really like it. Good match to my skin and it is very silky.

This brush rocks my world. Seriously. I recently read Amalah’s Foundation Brush Photo Essay and she talks about how you use less product with the brush, it is a smoother application, and the possibility of germs is reduced because you can wash the brush afterwards, etc.

You know what? She is sooo right. I thought that it would leave little stroke marks on my skin but it doesn’t and it just blends the foundation onto your skin so evenly! And I don’t have to worry about the grossness living in the sponges that I used to use. (maybe I will have fewer blemishes now?)

Once I allow myself to touch my bank card again, I am going to get a little pump for my foundation so I don’t have to pour it onto the back of my hand.

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Shiseido Loose Powder

(not available on Sephora’s website for some reason… I did buy it there though.)

This powder is amazing. I had no idea that my old loose powder was so drying to my face until I felt this stuff. You cannot feel it on your face and at the same time, your skin is so soft! It is very transparent and doesn’t look cakey at all.

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Nars Blush (orgasm)

Nars orgasm. hehe I feel so naughty!

No seriously, I love this blush. The color is so beautiful- peach and pink and shimmer.

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This is when it started to get complicated.

Smashbox Single Eyeshadows

(Smashing Design and Smashing Flatscreen, lid and crease)

Stila Eyeshadow (wheat, used as shimmery accent over the pupils)

Cargo Eye Shadow (in toronto, highlight under brow and inner eye corner)

Sephora Collection Natural All-Over Shadow Brush

Sephora Collection Natural Crease Brush

Fresh Eye Contour (just an eyeliner! what is this “contour” business? in chilean hazelnut)

DiorShow Mascara (black)

Becca Brow Powder (fair)

Lotsa eye gunk, huh?

I really did like the way my eyes turned out. The shadows were neutral enough not to look unnatural but it did give them a bit more interest than everyday. The Cargo “toronto” one is my absolute favorite. You can’t see the color very well in the picture but it is just awesome- shimmery happiness in a little tub.

The brushes were a bit silly but it does make it all easier to apply. The eyeliner was the one other thing besides the foundation that I didn’t have to buy… I own it already. It is a cool color… almost a taupe/ gray mix

Dior’s Mascara is magical- my eyelashes were hitting people every time I blinked.

I have no idea why I bought the brow powder… do my brows need enhancing? I don’t think so. I might bring that back actually.

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Still here? We are almost done!

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Pout Lip Pencil (34C, smooth dark taupe)

Nars Lip Gloss (sweet dreams)

This lip gloss makes it seem like I actually have lips. No need to say more.

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Okay, I am exhausted.

The end.

The Sephora makeup artist took advantage of me in a very fragile moment! I accidentally spent a week’s salary on makeup.

Um yeah.

Julie and I spent hours at the bridal shop this afternoon doing her fitting and my fitting. The woman kept ignoring us and talking on the phone so appointments that should have taken 20 minutes took hours. We were so frustrated and exhausted by the end of it all.

When we got to Sephora for our makeover appointments, it just felt so refreshing to have someone actually nice to us! My makeup artist (Sarah at the Prudential Center store) did an amazing job and I loved all the products she chose.

I will update this entry tomorrow with the stuff she used, if anyone is interested.

Casey was a really understanding too- you know somebody really loves you if he just laughs when you spend that much money on something so silly.

Sigh. I am a ridiculous person.

I put the pictures of Mom and I at our fitting on Saturday up on our photo site.

Click here.

I know what you are gonna say: “Where did those boobs come from?”

It is just a GREAT dress, people. haha

I will have a real post later on, with pictures from our fittings this weekend. I just didn’t have the energy to upload the pictures yesterday. (iPhoto sucks)

I did find this awesome necklace to wear at the wedding- click here. (no, casey!) It is from this place.

Isn’t it gorgeous? It is $500.00 so I will not be getting it.

I am trying to get a friend of a friend to create a similar necklace but I haven’t heard back yet- keep your fingers crossed! Maybe a matching bracelet? I just love the sparkle and the mother of pearl… and the vine-like look of it. Something a little different, I think, than your typical wedding jewelry. I wonder if I could make it myself? (I am insane.)

Later on I have to ask opinions about the most important thing in the world (besides yarn): SHOES. Kidding, of course.

Happy Monday! Blech!