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Cee Lo's new single "F*** You" is just dang catchy.  So, please excuse Cee's French, and check out the lyric video below.... you won't regret it.



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Saying yes to the dress...

This past July, my mom and my future mother-in-love came up to NYC to go wedding dress shopping with me before the big move.  The first day was wonderful!  The second day was frustrating... but I eventually found the perfect dress and I can't wait to wear it next summer.  And no, you will not get to see it in this post - so keep dreaming ;).  BUT I will show you some of the other beautiful gowns I found on my shopping journey.

I knew I wanted something with texture and a splash of uniqueness that I hadn't seen on anyone else's wedding dress - and I've been to a lot of weddings.  Nothing too sparkly. Nothing too poofy.  I was a Texas debutante.  So, needless to say, been there. Done that.  I also didn't want anything too heavy since we were having an outdoor wedding.  I was actually leaning towards a short dress, so that I could keep costs down and also get some rad shoes.  However, I was definitely one of those brides who ended up with a dress that was NOT expected.  But it's beautiful and sophisticated, and I couldn't be happier.

So, here's how it all went down...

We started at Amsale.  One of my best friends from college had an Amsale dress that was beautiful.  They also carry a whole line of "Little White Dresses" that I wanted to check out.  A lot of the dresses (like the ones below) at the showroom were gorgeous - I guess their prices have gone up with their popularity. So, it seemed like a lack of unique design for the price.

Next, we headed down the street to Pronovias, a spanish brand known for its beautiful lace and european style gowns.  I found so many dresses that I loved here.  And the prices seemed so much more reasonable for what you were getting!  Here are a few that I looked at...

Our final stop on Day 1 was a new bridal boutique in the West Village called Lovely Bride.  Lovely carries a lot of smaller designers and most of their dresses have a similar aesthetic to what I was looking for.   I highly recommend this "lovely" little place.

Day 2 was the more frustrating day.  We started out the day at Kleinfeld's - you know, the "Say Yes to the Dress" people.  It's a lovely salon... a lovely HUGE salon.  That was one of the difficulties here - you really had to rely on your consultant to understand your criteria and pull the right dresses.  The problem? My consultant did not understand what I was looking for.  Also, I don't think Kleinfeld's really specializes in the style of dress I was looking for.  They have so many more options if you are looking for a big glitzy ball gown. Sorry, Pnina Tornai, I'm just not that into you.

The final stop on my wedding dress journey was the brand new J. Crew bridal salon on Madison Avenue.  It is a great boutique!  They don't quite have their process down yet.  And as much as I love the simplicity of the J. Crew dresses, I was looking for something with just a little more panache.  But here are a couple that I tried on....

I am going to remember their jewelry though!  So unique - it's over-the-top, but in a good way!  Check it out...

The next couple days, I slept on everything I saw and eventually came to a decision.  It was a tough decision because going into my dress search, I was thinking I would end up in a more casual dress.  However, I ended up purchasing a beautiful dress from Pronovias that is more on the fancy side.  It will still fit in our rustic mountain theme with its delicate, vintage details. And I'm so excited to marry the love of my life in this dress!

Vacation Recap by way of food.

Sorry friends for being so MIA last month!  I went on vacation, had visitors in BK, and moved halfway across the country to Kansas City.  I promise to return in full force now that we've settled in here. And I'll catch you up on the past month bit by bit. Here goes..

I've decided to share the Southern road trip we took in July by illustrating our many local food destinations.

First, in Virginia Beach, we found a lovely fish taco spot called Pelon's Baja Grill. If you ever find yourself in the VA Beach/Norfolk area, you must hit up this little surfer joint just off the boardwalk!  The fish tacos were to die for - as were the shrimp tacos, the homemade salsa, and the guacamole.  G and I also got to share this lovely dining experience with my old NYC friend, Lauren, who know lives in the area.  She's also 20 weeks pregnant with a precious baby girl!  But, of course, you can't even tell in this photo...

Next, we made a pit stop on the road at the famed COOK OUT! Garrett had told me stories of this place.  He told me about how everything you order here tastes just like your dad just pulled it off the grill.  And man, oh man, was he right.  Not only can you get a made-to-order burger, you can also get a pretty damn good shake.  Just choose from the 40 umpteen million flavors!  Sadly Cook Out can only be found in North Carolina - good thing we are going back there for Alex and Barry's wedding in August!

When we finally reached Asheville, NC - which is gorgeous, btw - we found a lovely Mexican/Caribbean place called Salsa's.  Have you ever had a curry sauce with your guacamole?  Well, let me just assure you that it's pretty delish.  Also, the pineapple margaritas weren't so bad either!

The following morning, we happened upon a wonderful brunch spot in Asheville called Mayfel's.  Crab Benedict with about a pound of butter in it? Yes, please.

I think that about sums up the highlights of our vacation food.  We were pretty successful!

Stay tuned to hear about wedding dress shopping in NYC!!!!