In 2010 I ... shot a wedding with my Dad

Weddings are a ton of work, and as just one element of that day, wedding photography is a large, time-consuming undertaking in and of itself. My dad and I have collaborated on a few weddings in the past, being that photography is really his thing, but I do enjoy photo styling quite a bit and am happy to lend a hand when asked. The usual hold-out is that my dad takes care of the people/action shots while I handle the stuff shots - rings, accessories, decor - generally, things that don't move unless I move them.

So, without further ado, a rundown of some of my better shots of the day:





It's exhausting, honestly, to keep track of what you've photographed, what you can't forget to photograph, and trying not to miss any in-the-moment shots along the way. Before this, it had been 3 years since my dad and I last did a wedding together, and I'm starting to think one every 3 is just about the right pace ...

In 2010 I ... saw letterpressing in action

I'm downright fascinated by letterpress. The texture it adds feels like a lost art among all the digital printing we encounter every day. So it's really exciting to see a letterpress resurgence of sorts going on lately. And to show support, Diana, Liz and I swung through Lunalux in Loring Park for Stationery Saturday this weekend.

With stacks of pre-printed cards to choose from, we had the choice to mix and match 3 styles of cards along with any phrase pressed while you wait/watch. The waiting and watching was the best part, since we were surrounded by other gorgeous prints, cards and paper treasures (and because we snuck off for a drink next door at Nick & Eddie).




A truly lovely final product. I highly recommend checking out Lunalux for really original paper goods, and a Stationery Saturday - what a perfect personalized gift!

In 2010 I ... bought a bicycle

It's true - I am now the proud owner of this vintage beauty:

$20 well spent, right? Having not ridden a bike since I was maybe 12 or so, I'm excited to take my new one for a spin soon!

In 2010 I ... had an Italian feast

Food I Wanna Eat is back up and running in full swing. Last week at Beth's suggestion we participated in Dining Out for Life and enjoyed an incredibly delicious (and affordable!) Italian meal at Carmelo's in St. Paul. Feast your eyes on this:

Alex's Seafood Cannelloni - amazing.

Beth's Rosemary Chicken delight.

Seafood heaven - Carissa's scallop and crab fettuccine.

My treat, Carmelo's signature dish, Chicken Carmelo with crab, parmesan, cream and just good goodness.

Last but not least, Morgan's scrumptious pesto pasta.

And I can attest to the deliciousness of each of these, because when you go out under the guise of "food club" you get to try everyone's everything. Yum!

This was also a mini belated celebration for Carissa's birthday, complete with candle-lit tiramisu:

C's b-day treat

M chowing on a perfect chocolate cake ...

... with Beth's help.

Up next: Sea Salt Eatery. Suddenly, I'm starving again.

In 2010 I ... attended a Moustache-querade!

This post is definitely overdue, and I have no excuse for why something so memorable has yet to be jotted down. A couple weeks ago, the Books & Bars crowd celebrated Dan's birthday, moustache-style. First step: crafting the 'staches. As you can see, these were a complex blend of downloaded art expertly trimmed by moi and then adhered to cuticle sticks (courtesy of Ivy Spa Club):

Because ladies wear moustaches on sticks only. Hopefully.

Modeling my faux 'stache.

A few short hours later the Moustache-querade commenced at McKenzie's where I modeled several of my moustache varietals:

I also taught Jesse how to drink beer with a 'stache. Straw required.

With my birthday almost visible on the horizon, I got to thinking about possible themes too. Lawn games are lovely, and a bar gathering is fun, but I'm really beginning to lean toward party ball races (read: outdoor bar gathering with lawn games and racing with party balls - important distinctions). Currently accepting ideas, so help me plan a b-day celebration that can at least attempt to hold a candle to Dan's -querade!

In 2010 I ... started an Etsy shop

This is very exciting. I've been a HUGE Etsy fan for quite awhile. Purchasing art and gifts a lot. Envious of the gorgeous shops and handmade gifts. Wishing I was more creative like all the artisans out there.

And suddenly I had an idea that might be worthy of a shop. So I figured, why not? (Plus, it's a reason to bring the amazing vintage flashcards back again!)

So far there are just a few listings, but I have several more in the works. A sampling:








I hope that others will find these as fun as I do, but if not, prepare to receive one (or more) of these as gifts soon! Last, and most importantly, if you'd like to avoid being the recipient of one of the flashcard lovelies, share the shop link with someone who might just make a purchase.

In 2010 I ... revamped the patio

My dad can make/repair/install anything. I'm not exaggerating - this is just a known fact in our family. Plumbing, check. Electric, no problem. Construction, sure why not? So naturally when I decided I wanted to explore the possibility of adding a built-in bench to my patio, my dad was my on-call laborer of choice, and he kindly accepted the task.

I've been longing to do something to take best advantage of the unfinished half of my patio, and my dad assured me building this bench would be no big deal. Surprisingly, he was right. Here's the process in action:

My mom and I escaped to Common Roots for one hour and returned to this - a bench!

After a quickie paint job with whatever random paint was leftover in my storage unit.

Trimming down 2" thick foam so this now cushy bench would fit perfectly.

Summer comfort! A bench with a cushion and color.

The Breakdown:
Bench building supplies - $30 (with free labor)
Cushion foam - $55 (ugh, I know!)
IKEA Duvet turned cushion cover - $15 (including pillow case)

Total: $100

In my mind, $100 for a custom bench is completely reasonable. I guess I would have rather seen the materials cost $55 and the foam cost closer to $30, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter, does it?

My last tasks are to wash the pink rug, replace the white extension cord with a brown one (and secure it to the back wall) and find some storage baskets for added utility under the bench. I might grab a few additional throw pillows, as well. In the meantime, anyone up for a patio cocktail?