I’m so excited to write a post for you lovely What the Frock readers while Dana is off on her honeymoon frolicking with polar bears! (That’s what you’re doing, right Dana?!)

So I guess it’s introduction time:

My name is Tabitha and I write a little blog called Ms. Awesome, where I ramble on about style, crafts, food, and weddings. Not necessarily in that order. I also do costumes for a TV show called Parks and Recreation, which means I spend A LOT of time out in the world shopping, and can attest to the fact that you will always find what you are looking for when you no longer have need for it. (And then you should probably get it anyway!)

For example, a few weeks back I was looking for the perfect clutch to take to an event, and just couldn’t seem to find one in my cheapy, cheap price range. I just wanted a giant, floppy, neutral(ish) clutch, with a little something fun going on. Tall order?

Guess so, and cue the sad trombone, because I didn’t find it.
I settled for a g/old Coach from my closet, and it was fine.
But it wasn’t perfect.

And so my giant floppy clutch fantasy stuck with me.

Then this past week on my 14th trip to American Apparel (oh my, we used A LOT of AA in this past episode), inspiration struck. I snagged a Large Leather Carry-All Pouch with a 30% discount, and used some Jacquard textile paints I had lying around the house to make it awesome.

I’ve been dying to paint a purse for forever (strange, but true) and this project was so easy/satisfying it almost doesn’t need a whole DIY post.

BUT that’s what I’m here for, so let’s do it!

Gather your supplies: Leather Pouch, Brushes, Painters Tape, Textile Paint

Tape off the area you want to paint with gentle painters tape. Do a test somewhere inconspicuous to make sure the tape/leather are friends.

Paint inside your guidelines.

Remove tape and use a small brush to make your lines less perfect (I heart a little mess). Retape to create new lines, or just go freehand. C’est Tout!

I painted multicolored stripes on one side.

And a solid gold stripe on the other side.

I let it dry for a few hours, and then I took myself (and my new bag) out for some celebratory cocktails. It’s not perfect (or ahem, neutral) but I’m kind of in love with it.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your bag, your brush, and get busy already!
And, pretty please, do share your creations!

Amazingly, just a few sips down, and at my favorite DTLA coffee shop too (where dog love and amazing walks of shame abound), I finally felt ready to share our fantastic readings. Amazing what coffee and a little *silent* people mocking can do to jump start the imagination.

Nevermind that today is Friday, and rather late in the day at that. Let’s get back to it, shall we?

Stephanie introduced each reader/reading and then they stood up and read from their spot in the circle. Now we were surrounded by love, joy, laughter, and words, delicious words. Told you. Big nerds.

Carla (my high school friend, LA roomie, and wedding day hairstylist extraordinaire) stood up and read I Like You, by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. All four minutes of it! Total rockstar.

Here are a few of my favorite parts:

I like you because,
When I tell you something special,
You know it’s special,
And you remember it
A long, long time.

I like you because if I am mad at you,
Then you are mad at me too.
It’s awful when the other person isn’t.
They are so nice and hoo-hoo and you could just about punch them in the nose…

and my most favorite part:

I would go on choosing you,
And you would go on choosing me,
Over and over again.

Because that’s what this marriage business is really about right? Choosing your partner in a million little ways (and a few big ones) day after day.

Next up, Sujey, W Stripes’ friend from her brief stint in SF (where I lived at the same time! where we could have met!) read love is a place, by e.e. cummings

love is a place
& through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places

yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
(skillfully curled)
all worlds

Life (and married life at that) is a whole lot nicer if yes is your go to response as often as possible.

Then my super-fantastic friend Nona (also my fellow monday night bonne vivante and amazing pre-wedding esthetician) read one of my most favorite pieces of literature ever: an excerpt from Still Life with Woodpecker, by Tom Robbins.

Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won’t adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as its accomplice. Instead of vowing to honor and obey, maybe we should swear to aid and abet. That would mean that security is out of the question. The words “make” and “stay” become inappropriate. My love for you has no strings attached. I love you for free.

See? Sigh. Just perfect for us.

Nerd alert: During one of our readings I noticed a far-away guest (Janell? Cindy? Not sure) and waved. Ha!

And finally (I can’t decide it if felt like forever or like a tiny blip in time) it was time for Shabrena to read And now you’re mine (Love Sonnet LXXXI), by Pablo Neruda:

Now you are mine. Rest with your dream inside my dream.
Love, pain, and work, must sleep now.
Night revolves on invisible wheels
and joined to me you are pure as sleeping amber.

Already your hands have opened their delicate fists
and let fall, without direction, their gentle signs,
your eyes enclosing themselves like two grey wings,
while I follow the waters you bring that take me onwards:
night, Earth, winds weave their fate, and already
not only am I not without you, I alone am your dream.

Four readings in, with flags at the ready, our guests eagerly (in my mind anyhow) anticipated the BIG STUFF. You know- vows, kisses, broom jumping, that sort of thing. You too?

Then stick around (or come back) because the BIG STUFF is next!
Anyone else go a little crazy (we like crazy!) with the readings?

Catch up on all the little stuff here:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty
Love & Stripes: Our Smug Mugs
Love & Stripes: Bridal Details+
Love & Stripes: Team Awesome
Love & Stripes: Mass Transit & A Prayer
Love & Stripes: Laughter

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Tabitha and Cynthia were at my wedding and blessed my commitment and love to my husband. They were both there in spirit when my daughter was born, and I swear Cynthia was so excited, it was like she just had a baby. Cynthia has a love for babies.

It is also a moment that reminds me of why Cynthia and Tabitha are together. I have known Cynthia since the beginning of their relationship, and I know that they share in that fun, loving, child-like manner. You can see their playfulness and loving intention.
This is what a marriage is.

Score. If our slap happy grins and spontaneous outburst of laughter are any indication of our loving intention, then we are going to be damn good at this marriage business!

Also, I know in my last recap I said readings were next, but I *think* I was wrong and this lovely bit was first. I think. Truthfully, even after cross-referencing our timeline, ceremony outline, and Stephanie’s script, any linear memory of the day is completely gone, and it’s just one big love mush from here on out.

That said, readings really are next.

Did you laugh your way through your ceremony too?

Catch up on the laughter:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty
Love & Stripes: Our Smug Mugs
Love & Stripes: Bridal Details+
Love & Stripes: Team Awesome
Love & Stripes: Mass Transit & A Prayer

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Let’s get to it already: the (veggie) meat, the grit, the heart of the day. Yes, I’m talking about our ceremony. It was my favorite part of the day and by far the most magical outpouring of love I’ve ever felt. They (who?!) say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I certainly hope so, because I have trouble coming up with any that accurately capture, contain, or recreate the magic. But I’ll do my best.

Our first few guests to arrive caught us off guard, and it was just a little awkward- you know, *shy wave, yup, this is me in my bride clothes, okay, I’m just gonna mosey on over to the “bridal chamber” and hide from you guys now type of awkward. And exciting. Our guests were showing up for our wedding which was mere moments away from really happening. It was totally surreal.

We stayed sequestered in the bridal chamber (really the storage room for our excessive decor) with Team Awesome and family. We indiscriminately slapped bow ties on a whole bunch of people. We realized our pink flamingos hadn’t been used, and my nephews went on a last minute mission to find them a home (thanks guys!). We nervously called for beer, but I’ll be honest, a shot would have been just about perfect.

And then it was time to go (get married!):

We proceeded en masse down the dirt road and towards our lovely circle of guests.

It was pretty magical walking towards this. Just pretend we’re not there yet, as it wasn’t quite literally that magical.

BM J took charge of passing out giant balloons to Team Awesome.

Love Gets Sweeter Everyday, by Finley Quay, started and my family headed for their seats. Despite her hours of practicing with her super special Here Comes the Bride flag, my little niece fell asleep pre-ceremony, and had to be carried down the aisle. She later said, “Auntie, auntie, when do I walk down the aisle with my flag?” and my heart melted/broke just a little. Poor kid.

Team Awesome went next giant (Heart shaped! Can you tell?) balloons in hand.

And suddenly it was our turn! Hilarious and true, when everyone stood up W Stripes started shrieking (okay, maybe whispering) Why are they all standing? Why are they all standing?

But before we could walk, we had one small (and very confused) little boy to deal with. Poor Elijah stopped midway down the aisle, his mom (W Stripes’ sis) in front of him and his dad (waiting to walk W Stripes down the aisle) behind. He was torn. I don’t honestly remember which one he chose, but crisis averted, our music, Take My Heart, by Soko commenced.

We took a deep breath and took our first steps towards being married ladies. If you don’t count all those steps we took to get to this point of course.

I kissed my dad on the cheek and continued on to meet W Stripes in the center of the circle. Getting married in a circle surrounded by your loved ones is seriously the BEST!

Welcome Friends & Relatives. It is my honor to welcome you to the ceremony that will unite Tabitha and Cynthia as a married couple.

We are all blessed to be here and witness the union, commitment, and love between Tabitha and Cynthia. They have asked us all to bless their commitment to one another today as they embark on oneness.

Marriage is one of the happiest gifts in life. When one finds someone to share their love and life with, they are giving themselves freely and openly. As their community, we are here to relish in that love and to support their union. Marriage is a friendship, a partnership, and the togetherness of two individuals that birth oneness.

Today they will take on a new form as a married couple, and in that new form, they become a part of their community in a new way. And we are all here to bear witness and join in that new community.

Suneel sang our opening prayer in both Sanskrit and English:

that is perfect, this is perfect
out of perfect only perfect comes
after removing perfect from perfect
that is perfect which remains

And baby Anjali hung out while her dad sang, using her magical baby powers to make sure everything went just perfect.

Next up: We reveal more of our uber nerdiness… We had not one, not two, but four readings during our ceremony!

Need to catch up:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty
Love & Stripes: Our Smug Mugs
Love & Stripes: Bridal Details+
Love & Stripes: Team Awesome

All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Following a rough week last week, I thought it only appropriate to pick up our recaps with a post dedicated to the lovely ladies who surrounded us (with LOVE) on our wedding day. They’re rock stars.

Meet Team Awesome:

I’ve thought long and hard about what to say about these eight women.

I could wax poetic about all the amazing things they did for us on our wedding day (and leading up to it). Or I could bitch a little about the collision of bridal expectations with the reality of busy lives. Both ours and theirs.

And this is what I’ve realized: It’s a lot more fun to appreciate all the amazing (crafts! music! crane hanging! hanging cranes? dancing! love!) things our ladies did for us, than it is to begrudge them the things they didn’t do. I think Oprah would call it an Aha! Moment, actually.

So that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Not just where BM’s are concerned, but for every aspect of our wedding day. Sure it’s a little Pollyanna, but it makes me damn happy.

Just like our wedding.

Have you had an Aha! Moment while wedding planning (or recapping)?

Do you need a little more context for just how happy our wedding made me:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty
Love & Stripes: Our Smug Mugs
Love & Stripes: Bridal Details+

ps. I hope this doesn’t read as cryptic or ungrateful! There is no crazy back story, drama, or heartbreak where Team Awesome is concerned. Our ladies were just that, awesome. This post just really slammed me in the face with the importance of celebrating the good, and letting those silly, petty, or lingering wedding day annoyances fade away.

pps. I am still annoyed at the way the lemons were cut.

ppps. All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

In my last recap I mentioned how I was starting a pilot, and would be just a little teeny bit busy for a while… Um, you guys- that was a serious understatement. Or a total lie. That was March 7th! Our last recap was two weeks ago?!

I am a shopping machine. If it’s pink, sparkly, extremely short, or otherwise inappropriate and located in Los Angeles, I’ve bought it. It’s a little fun. A little hellish. And a lot exhausting.

But oh well. Who cares right? Let’s look at pretty pictures okay? You know, those pictures. The (lowers voice) detail shots. Yup. The kind I ranted, raved, and ridiculed.

It’s funny, because in the end it was all true.

The detail shots are definitely not the most important pictures, but your wedding day DOES go by far too quickly, and it IS fun to look back and see what your rings were up to while you were getting pretty!

You’ve already seen our smug mugs, but how about a closer look at some of our bridal accessories?

Not really a bridal accessory, but very very true!

The rings that started this whole crazy wedding adventure!

Our “other” rings. You know, the super official wedding ones…

Two brides = Loads of Jewelry!

Our wedding gifts to each other: W Stripes’ Ganesha & my feather.

Um. Hangs head in shame. Remember ohsolongago I wrote a little post about the most perfect wedding earrings ever?? Well, Emily, the incredibly gracious designer behind Larkspur & Hawk, made me a pair of earrings. Custom, tailored-to-our-budget, drop-dead gorgeous earrings!! I got to marry W Stripes AND wear these earrings you guys! I’m the luckiest girl in the world. And I owe Emily a whole post of gratitude. Seriously.

Shoes. And veils. And flowers. Oh my!

More shoes. With hearts. Sigh.

Yup. Another pair of shoes. Aren’t two-bride weddings the best?!

Our ever watchful (shoe) guardian.

Satisfied that all was in order with W Stripes shoes…

Oh! Were you wondering where W Stripes’ bracelet went?

Yeah, me too. Glad to know it’s just hamming it up with my gorgeous little niece and her yellow balloon.

Do you have a love/hate relationship with “the details” too? Did your opinion change after your wedding?

Just feel like you’re lost in our jewelry box?

Catch up here:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty
Love & Stripes: Our Smug Mugs

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! It was pretty busy around here…

I worked way too late on friday night. I styled a fun photo shoot for the always fabulous Mrs. Meatball (and hubby) on saturday.

And I did absolutely nothing on Sunday. Well, I did dishes and found new blogs. I showered well after 3pm. I made the most delicious mushroom sauce EVER, courtesy of that genius Julia Child.

And today I start a pilot. So I figure I’d better give up the goods now, because it could get a little crazy around here for the next few weeks. Oh! And the goods are good. Like bridal portrait good…

So I’ll just shut it, drink my coffee and show you, mkay?

                 Love, Los Angeles style.

                 We played with our giant balloons.

                 We played with leaves. It was a fall wedding after all!

                 We cuddled.

                 And cuddled some more.

                 I kept that silly grin plastered on my face.

                 We relaxed in a dirty old amazing claw foot tub!

                 We practiced jumping the broom! It looks like I’m slightly higher here…

                 Cynthia showed off her ink.

                 No regrets…

                 The barn! My favorite! We used this one for our holiday cards!

                 Oh! How I love a good barn door…

                 And that was it. We were ready to get married?!!

Are you planning to take pictures pre-ceremony? A first look maybe?

Are you lost? Catch up here:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty
Love & Stripes: Getting Crafty

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Luckily we had just the friends & family to blow, sew, tow and tie up those ends for us. And they did so with bakers twine, love, champagne, grace and a lot of laughs:

And yes, I really did bust out the paint in the midst of getting ready…

Meanwhile BM Nami attempted to tie up our giant and unwieldy heart balloons.

I’m sure she is laughing in disbelief that she flew 5500 miles for this…

Lil’ Stripe was a brave woman to man the the helium tank. That thing scared me! Oh! And remember our crappy rental company? They didn’t fail us on our wedding morning either- after blowing up 2 balloons, the helium tank was empty. No joke. The girls had to drive over and pick up a new one, which they tried charging us for. Real winners those guys…

My handsome nephew, Michael, wrangled the balloons…

which quickly took over our living room and mesmerized my little niece.

BM J (& bump) sewed elastic on the bowties I’d whipped up in some lastminutesleepdeprived frenzy. Obviously I’d lost my mind, because it didn’t occur to me to just get bow tie clips from the fabric store. Duh.

We were boring, so the bow ties went and hung out with W Stripes’ bouquet, which I’d tossed together first thing in the am. Maybe even pre-coffee…

Our cat Piper stood watch over W Stripes’ shoes.

Then we posed for our paparazzi (Hi Mom!)…

And got a few touch ups. (Thanks Andre!)

And then our amazing photographer got in on the action and helped transport some of the aforementioned unwieldy balloons off to our venue to take Bridal Portraits! (!!)

Did you craft on your wedding morning?

Are you wondering what the hell is going on here:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before
Love & Stripes: Getting Pretty

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Our wedding day dawned grey and misty (not to worry it turned blue and beautiful) and we lay in bed for a few minutes marveling over the fact that this day was finally here. Then we got up, threw on our grubs and headed to get coffee. I will admit that for the first time ever I ordered that giant size Starbucks (Vente?!) because I just really needed it, ya know? I think I ate oatmeal too. Maybe. Then because our rentals hadn’t arrived on friday, we headed over to our venue to meet rock star bridesmaids Lil’ Stripe and Nami, and check that everything was right with our wedding world. It was. The rentals had arrived and the girls had totally taken charge of hanging lights and cranes in the trees. *Huge sigh of relief.

Confident that it all was going to work out beautifully, we headed back to our house to commence getting ready:

We were really (really, really) lucky to have our friend (and awesome professional make-up artist) Andre agree to do both of our faces, and my dear friend Carla came over to do my hair. Their dedication was pretty amazing- at one point Andre touched up my lips on the dance floor and Carla stashed some hair products in her handbag.
But I get ahead of myself…

You’ll notice from here on out that I pretty much have that slap happy grin plastered across my face at all times…

Maybe I get it from my mom? I have no recollection of the (apparently amusing) story she is telling me here, btw. Total bride brain.

The girls tried to shove a bagel down Wifey Stripes throat, and her sister gave her a funny/sweet something borrowed.

Then we headed outside (really!) to get dressed. My mom, niece and pup were all equally excited about us getting into our dresses en plein air…

Okay, my niece may have been the MOST excited. (Even if she looks ohsoserious here)

As a professional stylist, I definitely recommend putting on your shoes first!

Then we got into our dresses!!! How awesome is W Stripes’ back in these photos? OMG. And of course Tallulah is standing by in case we need any help whatsoever.

Um, I think I liked loved what I saw. And no I’m not just staring at her chest!

I helped W Stripes put on her fascinator and she fastened my bracelet.

We shoved our engagement rings on to our toofat right hands.

I put on my rudraksha and my wedding present from W Stripes- a beautiful ceramic/gold feather. And we were almost ready to go…

But wait, are you wondering what our bridesmaids were doing this whole time? What else we got up to besides being pampered and prettified? Because of course there were last-minute crafts…

What did you do/do you plan to do on your wedding morning?

Stay tuned! Catch up:

Love & Stripes: Nice to See You (Again)
Love & Stripes: The Days Before
Love & Stripes: The Day Before

*All photos by the amazing Kirsten Ellis

Happy Friday!

Whoa. I can’t believe another week has gone by so quick!

And I don’t know about you guys, but Tuesday’s recap made me want to escape to a light & beautiful crafty world where craptastic wedding vendors don’t exist.

A world strung with mini-pennant flags in pale delicious golden colors. I’ve actually gotten quite a few inquiries about where to buy the (bright) mini-pennant flags I used in our STD’s photo shoot, so I figured I’d show you guys how to make them today. A quick and easy DIY for your Oscar Party and/or wedding.

It’s super easy! The perfect mindless American Idol watching activity (if you do such things!) Ready?

And that’s that.

I guess I should mention that I actually wanted to escape to this world two days ago (and take you all with me) but then my internet starting acting funny… Cue extreme panic. Luckily an extremely awesome Bee friend worked some techie magic and here I am again!

Thanks Lemon!
Happy Weekend Everbody!

Any other wedding crafts planned for this weekend?

ps. I promise I’m not shirking my recapping responsibilities, but merely didn’t have enough time + internet this week for the extremelyphotoheavy posts that are coming your way monday! Still friends?