Boy picks girl ... Boy picks dress

If you recall, recently my little brother and his beautiful fiancé said "I Do".  But, what we didn't discuss was The Dress.
It all started with a phone call.  Before you find out about the call, you should know, I didn't know Katrina.  My brother called me to tell me he'd met a girl (which of course led to phone calls to and from my sister and mother about said 'girl').  Things turned quickly to serious.  And I knew the wedding planning was beginning before I would even get a chance to meet Katrina.
So I called her.
I asked if she needed any help to let me know.
I casually throughout there that in Austin there are a surplus of vintage shops. all with vintage wedding dresses.
and that I could shop around for her.
She took me up on my offer. Not knowing me from Adam. (I'd like to call her 'crazy', but really she's just crazy-easy-going).

The following week my brother flew into Texas, and I had the privilege of picking him up from the airport.  I'm not sure if it was his idea or mine, but either way, we decided to go vintage wedding dress shopping.
Yes.
You have it right. The groom and the Sister in Law were shopping for the bride's gown.    He scoffed at many a dress I loved as we dragged my poor 5 month old from shop to shop.  Until we found this (dress below).
I wasn't impressed.
But, he, knowing his bride, said "yes, this would look beautiful on her."

I have attached the phone picture (below) that we sent to Katrina to check out. And go figure, she trusted her groom!!! (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my man, but I don't know if I would ever trust him to pick out my wedding dress!)   and thank goodness she did, because the vintage wedding dress turned out absolutely lovely and just looked perfect on her! (ahem! eighty dollars! ahem, cough cough!!!!) wowza!

The pictures are from here and here.  

OH, and yes her Wedding dress cost eighty dollars.  

You don't even want to know what the wedding budget was (amazingly cheap).  That's right... happily ever after does not have to cost that much y'all! (for more cheap wedding ideas you can look at this and this).

love love love

<3

andrea 

Just Adorable

It's just adorable, that's all. And sometimes at the end of a long day you need to hear that.

<3

andrea

favorite things

Favorite things this week:

1. Big Star.  

A 1970s band who's leader was Alex Chilton... I doubt you've heard of him, actually.  But, you've probably heard a few of their songs which have been covered (some more notably by Cheap Trick).  But I love this band.  There are not only very soulful songs but also fun dancing songs.  I will embed a song at the end of this post- my favorite big star song that is always a huge encouragement to me.

2. A boyfriend who brings home flowers ... even when I'm not crazy about that particular flower, I'm always (always) crazy about the boyfriend.

3. Expensive candles from Anthropologie. I can't help it. It's my weakness.

4. A Visit from the Goon Squad

A pulitzer prize winning novel, from 2010. Genius. The book is compiled of many short stories, each one being connected to the last, until of course, you come full circle.  Egan somehow manages to develop every single character so well that in each you become full engrossed in the story, only to disappointed with the chapter ends and you have to move on to the next character.  Only to have it happen again.  What really blows my mind is how many different voices she has- for example when I write, it always sounds like me.  But, she somehow manages to have each chapter sound like a completely different person. Does that make sense? OH well, just read it.  It is somewhat heavy though.  Not sad or depressing ... just heavy (insert back to the future joke here).

(notice someone ripped off the cover of my book while I was sleeping... I'm not going to mention any names, but it was not John). :)

Thanks for all the encouraging words on the last post(s)

I haven't been able to respond to each comment individually yet, but I do read and appreciate them. Y'all are awesome!

<3

andrea

craft-time (beware of the F-Bomb) ...

You know, pinterest is full cute 'I love you' banners, and these would work great for my mom or sister or girlfriend. When it comes to my man, however ... I need something a little more to the point. (Notice I decided to not even make it a banner, but just taped it straight to the mirror).

You might find this incredibly vulgar, and if so I deeply apologize.  This is just what we say to each other in difficult moments.  And this whole week has been one difficult moment after the other.  I had to make it quickly on the sly, so forgive me for any sloppiness.

again. stop now if you are offended by the 'f-word'

stop. 

stop.

ok then...

Have you told your person that you love them lately? And in a way they would want to hear it?

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.  We have some sad business to take care of, but on the upside of that we will get to see family, which is always (always) wonderful.

<3

andrea

one can dream

I assume you've figured out, since I haven't written about it since, that we didn't get the house I wrote about last week. I was actually (incredibly) depressed about it. So silly, isn't it to get so upset about something that was never yours to begin with... but in my mind it was! (my therapist has told me I have a very vivid imagination...) :)

I have made a few decisions about the house though.  I need windows. and a place to put a rocking chair. That's it.  Give me old (or, even worse: new!).  Give me linoleum. You could even give me travertine (please, no). I just want cheap so we have extra money to do the things I really want (see first picture below).

However, this is the internet... and therefore we can dream. So, here are a few pictures of dream homes houses: (oh and yes, that house 5 down, is totally from Anne of Green Gables! ;)

The first and last houses are definitely my absolute favorites ... and I wouldn't call those 'dreams' but rather 'goals' :)  

<3

andrea

p.s. I take back the travertine thing.

7 months old

Well, we are about a week late on taking these 7 month photos.  I just kept on waiting for the happy-getting-photographed-mood.  That, however, never came.  So instead we just finally did his little photoshoot while he was sad.  Oh well, it really captures the way things are in my house these days. (how can one be so gosh-darned cute, even while so upset!?) 

Well my sweet little guy is seven months old, and oh man! The sh*t has hit the fan!  Is this normal? My happiest and most easy going baby has developed separation anxiety.  We are talking separation at any level.  I eat all my meals sitting right next to him.  He won't happily play unless we are physically in contact.  And lord help my back, because I just can't wear 24lbs (ish) of him all day long.  

Not to mention both his top teeth came through a day apart (ouch!) 

And, poop. There just isn't any.  We are not anywhere near where I thought we'd be by now with solid foods, because everything just causes constipation (poor baby!) and gas! oh oh man. 

We are not sleeping.  

Therefore we are definitely not blogging (incase you haven't noticed the lack of posts).

But, amidst all this frustration (oh, did I mention the constant teeth grinding?) He is learning amazing new things.  He rolls around for hours (and yes, he has fallen off the bed three times... please tell me I am not the only one!)  His vocal development and experimenting is too precious for words.  Although there are no 'baba''mama''dada' he does have theses great sighs/screams/singing noises that just crack me up.

I know crawling is just around the corner and I can't wait! Until then we will try to survive on this little amount of sleep and just keep loving this precious child.

<3

andrea

busy in Tejas

One of my best girlfriends is in town. She is actually my cousin and perhaps you remember her from here or here.  I absolutely adore her and as you can see my son does too. We've been busy over the past few days showing her all around Austin as well as our beautiful Hill Country (perhaps you've heard of Luckenbach Texas?)

Well, my guests are still in town but I thought I'd post a few pictures from our day today.

I hope your weekend is also going fabulously! 

<3

andrea 

my closet: dope summer purchases

Y'all, I made some serious new purchases this summer.  Maybe I should regret spending the money (eh?) But, sometimes it's worth it to have clothes that fit you well.  Honestly, I've almost fallen apart editing every outfit post i've ever done (poor john thinks I'm complaining about his photography and really it's just I am so critical of my own body. stop that andrea!)  I'm definitely feeling excited about this outfit though (obviously as I have uploaded one million pictures).  And there is just something that makes you shine when you feel good in your clothes, am I right?

Jeans: free people

Shirt: anthro (on sale! wooop!)

Belt: vintage

Bracelet: handmade by a friend of mine

earings: dope crochet  (they are so incredibly rad! Definitely check it out! I met the owner/artist rollerskating, fell in love with her earrings and within a few hours had ordered myself some on etsy). love love LOVE them!

Wait, what? cute outfits even look good with a baby? (you ask).  They sure do! (I respond) although cute babies help an awful lot:

lovin' that baby. lovin' that ergo. (which by the way, I'll have a post on the ergo-blog soon!)
<3 (love!)
andrea

psssst, again, you can find the earrings here

today's favorite things:

1. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - here.  

I bought this album last week at 'End of an Ear' record on s. first st (Probably my favorite austin record store).  

Being completely honest, I had really low hopes... because, let's be honest, I loved (L.O.V.E.D) their first album, 3 years ago when it came out.  Since then though, they've kinda-sorta (really) sold out.  I mean, I'm all about a band being successful and making a living, but it feels like they have songs on multiple commercials, movie trailers etc ... (oh oh while on that subject, wanna read something super cool? read this !)

Regardless of all this 'sell-out' business, I can't help loving them and their music, so I purchased the record.  And totally love it and didn't find it disappointing at all.  Go get it gurrrrrl! 

2. The time Travelers Wife

How is it that no one told me about this book before? There has even been a movie and I still remained clueless. Well, now I am telling you, so that you're not in the dark here. It's a Fabulously romantic, hard to put down, easy to pick up read (the last thing being incredibly necessary when there is a baby in your house).

Every evening when I would regretfully place the book on my night stand, I'd just clutch on to john for fear that he might vanish too. Well, I won't go further into the plot incase you haven't read it... but goshdarnit, it's just so sad ... in the most satisfying way. 

Are you reading or listening to anything new this week? Do share! 

happy happy monday!

<3

andrea

mid-century modern ... a search for 'home'

Even though we all know 'home is where the heart is' (I have a tattoo on my chest to prove it), your 'home' (so to speak) needs a place to rest it's head at night.  John and I have been in search for just that.  

We are buying our first home!!! (whooops and hollers inserted here).  

... or trying to anyways, it has been such an emotional roller coaster!  I won't get into the details but if you've been through it then you also know.  As soon as you get all adjusted with your furniture moved in and arranged (all mentally of course), something turns up wrong with the house/your offer/etc, and it's time to vacate and start the search all over.

Well, today I think we found our house.  I've been excited about a couple other homes, but with reservations.  This one is perfect ... or will be after some work.  But it's a midcentury house on a humongous lot (room for playing/farming/dogs/chickens/goats/ ...a someday swimming pool (ha?).

And although it needs new floors (yuck brown 70's carpet! eeek) everything else is in good condition and the bathroom tile is original and simply dreamy! (*sigh, oh how I love pink bathrooms).  Of course I immediately got on pinterest (duh) and started  to look at midcentury furniture to make my dream 'home'.  (which will just lead to a further drop on the roller coaster if they don't accept our offer).  Oh well, but for now let's look at gorgeous rooms :

all the sources can be found here

Ten points if you know what that last picture is from! :)  (hmm, just looking at it makes me want to turn on some instant netflix tonight and watch some reruns).
lots of love honeys!
<3
andrea

(sidenote: the house we want hasn't been on the market 24 hours yet and our realtor just called to tell us they've had two other offers... so we're having to jump up our game. shhheeesh, sometimes you have to hate -be so frustrated with- austin tx).