Must-Have Monday: The Newlyweds' Cookbook

{image via Amazon.com}

When I was growing up, one day a week we would order in Chinese.  One day a week we would call-in for our favorite Italian food.  The rest of the time?  Chicken.  All types of chicken.  

Cooking, as you can tell, was not something my mom liked to do.  Or my dad.

So while I love to eat, I don't love to cook.  And neither does my fiancee.  A slight oversight of mine when picking a guy :) 

Which is why we are vowing not only to have and to hold, but to also learn how to make a meal.

The Newlyweds' Cookbook by Ryland Peters & Small is an ideal addition to our currently bare (but hopefully soon-to-be abundant) kitchen.  It not only lets you know what items you should have on your shelves - it tells you which shelves they should go on.

As for the recipes, the book seems to cover all the bases - from family gatherings and quick week night whip-ups to desserts and drinks.

All the ingredients for mealtime success?  Sounds like a big Bon Appetit to me!

Must-Have Monday: Oval Oak Wine Carafe

{image via UncommonGoods}

I had always heard that when I turned 28, I would have to partake in "wedding season" - bridal showers, engagement parties, ceremonies and receptions.  At the age of 26, I scoffed at this idea. As a New Yorker, most of my friends were still single and my mailbox remained void of invites.

Turns out, 28 IS the age that everyone gets engaged.  We have six weddings this summer and are already planning for a whirlwind 2011 wedding year (including our own).  

This means gift giving has become the norm.  And while I can usually count on a registry to save me from having to think of what to buy, sometimes I actually do need to send an engagement gift - well before the couple has used their scanner gun.

So in my search for an affordable, but relatively unique and practical present, I found the Oval Oak Wine Carafe at one of my favorite gift giving sites - Uncommon Goods.

I have always wanted a carafe, gazing enviously at my sophisticated friends that poured their wine from these wonderfully designed glass containers.  And since I always wanted one, I figured my friends did too. Which is why I have purchased this perfect product in bulk.  I'm not joking - I bought three of them at one time.  

The carafe is described as having an "organic teardrop shape" and "topped by an elegantly sparse oak sphere that protects the liquid inside from oxygen while offsetting the sleek glass carafe with rustic warmth." 

Ummm, just writing that makes me want to unwrap the box sitting in my hallway, waiting to be given to an engaged friend, and pour a bottle of wine into the carafe. And it's only 9am.

And if you feel that this one item isn't enough to impress the happy-almost-married-couple, pair it with a great wine book.  I recommend The Wine Trials 2010: The World's Bestselling Guide to Inexpensive Wines, with the 150 Winning Wines Under $15 from the Latest Vintages. 

{picture via Amazon.com}

Elegant, affordable, functional... all I can say is, Cheers to That!

Must-Have Monday: Not-So-Cheesy Knife Set

{image via Delight.com}

I have been roaming around Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy's and Crate & Barrel recently, registering for all the things I think I'm going to need for my future home.  

Will I actually ever host a dinner party for 12 people?  

Will I really ever serve a Martini or mix up a Cosmopolitan?  

And is it even feasible I will ever have a need for fine china?

The answers are all... maybe...

But one think I KNOW I will do (since I currently do it) is have friends over and set out a cheese platter.  Because I love cheese. All types.  Brie, Gouda, Goat... I have really never found a type of cheese I don't like.  

So when I stumbled on the Not-So-Cheesy Adorable Knife set on the quirky, yet oh-so-cool site of Delight.com, I didn't think twice.  I ran over to my wallet, ran back to my computer and purchased this product immediately.  

Now I am anxiously awaiting the knife set that will turn me into the cheesiest hostess with the mostess in town!

Must-Have Monday: RoC Eye Cream

I've noticed things... changing.   


Where I used to be able to eat whatever I want without consequences, I now have to workout 5 days a week to ensure that I just maintain where I am.  


I can no longer drink a bottle of wine and wake up relatively refreshed.  I now have two glasses and spend the next day with a pounding headache.


And those smile lines?  They're rapidly becoming permanently etched into my once wrinkle-free skin.  


I know I know - I JUST turned 29.  But I swear, on the day of my birthday last week, I felt my metabolism slowing and crows feet forming.


So in preparation for wedding pictures (and the impending doom of turning 30 in 12 short months), I've decided to purchase eye cream.  I've always been pretty low maintenance on the skin-care front, but it's time to take some preventative measures.


After much research online and in magazines, I have decided to invest in RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.  The company claims that this miracle cream, "Smoothes wrinkles around the eye; visibly reduces crow's feet; and improves skin's elasticity."


Not only that, it won an eye cream Oscar - the Allure Best of Beauty Award!


And for $19.99, I can smile without wrinkle (or budget!) worry :)

Notes of Thanks

We've started to receive some engagement presents, which, I'm not going to lie, is really fun.  It feels like an ongoing birthday.  And I love that other people want to give us gifts for being in love!  

But with the presents, comes the need for thank you cards.  And with that, comes the need to PICK OUT the thank you cards.  And as with everything wedding-related, what we pick is a reflection of who we are as a couple.  Which is sort of a problem, because we aren't really particular about these types of things.

Luckily, my mother-in-law to-be has been so helpful.  After I stumbled on FineStationery.com (obsessed!), we emailed back and forth about some of our favorite picks.  

If I was going to write you a thank you card for an engagement or bridal show gift (or, you know, for reading this blog :) which would you like to receive in the mail?

Vera Wang Chime Notecard

Bonnie Marcus Glittery City Notecard

SanLori Designs Sky Damask Notecard

Toccare Design London Notecards

A Caffeine-Free Energy Boost

{picture via CNET.com]

I'm slightly (read: very) addicted to Starbucks; but unfortunately I can't feed it to my iPhone, to which I am also slightly (read: extremely) addicted.  And while those coffee beans power me through the day, my poor phone is sucked of energy by 9pm at night.

Especially when I'm traveling.  Of which I'm doing a lot of for work.  And now for the wedding, which is taking place on Long Island. And I'm based in DC.  So you can imagine, between airplane delays, down time on the Amtrak trains, waiting for the metro and sitting in cabs... I have to find ways to keep myself (and my antsy fingers) occupied.  Great for my twitter feed, not so great for my phone's battery.

I thought I would have to monitor my iPhone activities, limiting the amount of time I spent on the apps so as not to totally drain the life out of the device.  But then my fabulous, former boss sent me the Energizer AP1500.  

This accessory has changed my life.  Oh. My. God.  It is so incredible.  I just plug my battery-depleted iPhone into the USB-equipped, lightweight case and let it go to town.  Soon, I'm back to tweeting, texting, typing and scrolling without worrying about a battery death. (Blackberry users - they have one for you too!)

My former boss has been elevated to saint status.  

And my iPhone app obsession remains happily intact. 

Getting Weddy

This past Saturday was my birthday, but really it was more like a chance for people to bestow wedding paraphernalia on me. Which was awesome - since I need all the help I can get.

My favorite bride-focused present was the Our Wedding Journal book by Elizabeth Lluch.  I love it!  It's not telling me to pick colors, think about seating assignments or register for a range of household gadgets.  It's just about... US.  Which, in the frenzy of planning, many of us brides-to-be push to the side.

It gives you spaces to fill in all the what's, where's, and when's of your entire relationship - from the time you met to the time you jet off to your honeymoon.

I've already purchased a few more to give as gifts to friends who are preparing to walk down the aisle. It's truly the perfect way to record all the important details of how got swept off your feet and landed in holy matrimony.

I have said "I DO" to this book!

Must-Have Monday: Cha Cha Pitcher

 

Maybe it's the unseasonably warm weather, but for some reason I've been jones-ing for a cool pitcher to serve fun beverages.  Even if I'm just serving these drinks to myself.  So when I stumbled upon the Cha Cha Pitcher at Crate and Barrel, I felt I had met my summertime drink soul mate.

It has an awesome name, a sleek and modern look, and is described as "perfect for everything from sangria to lemonade to ice water."  

Love Love Love!

An APPle a Day

I have never been on the cutting edge of technology - but that doesn't mean I didn't gaze with envy at every person who had an iPhone.  That doesn't mean I didn't WISH I had "an app for that."


And then... I did.  Have an app for that, I mean.  In fact, several apps.  Because recently, I was given an iPhone.  And it is everything I had hoped it would be.  From the GPS function (a necessity for the directionally challenged such as myself) to the Weather at my finger tips - I now don't know how I lived without this coveted piece of technology that connects me to the world.


So, although I might be late to the game, that doesn't mean I haven't grabbed some free apps (and purchased the ones that I really really needed!)  After much research (I'm nothing if not thorough) and endless hours of scrolling and searching, here are my most favorite - wedding and otherwise:

iXpenseIt ($4.99) - Since we just set up a joint bank account, are saving for our wedding AND our future, we needed to start monitoring our expenses (turns out, we eat. A lot. And we have a pretty strong Starbucks addiction). You can set a monthly budget, track everything and then download it into excel.  Compare, contrast, be shocked - but basically, be happy for this app. It will help you figure out where your money is going and how you need to modify your spending habits.

SoundHound ($4.99) - I'm tone deaf, but that doesn't mean I don't love to belt out a few tunes every now and again. Now when I hear a song and I want to know the title, the artist or the lyrics, this app saves me. I just hold up my iPhone and wait to be enlightened. It works most of the time. It can even recognize a song I sing into it - that's pretty impressive.

Bejeweled 2 ($2.99) - I love to stare at my engagement ring, but it's also fun to look at at other beautiful baubles. Especially when I can line them up and blow them to bits. Such great stress relief! Be aware - this is highly addictive... but worth every pretty penny.

CheckPlease Lite (Free) - I don't do numbers. Neither do most of my friends. So you can imagine, when we all go out to brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks, we're pretty much dumbfounded about how to split the bill and then add in tax and tip. That's why I have to give a big WOOT WOOT to this app. It has made it possible for me not to count with my fingers under the table and remain a math moron.

Gilt Groupe (Free) - My tres trendy boss introduced me to this; and whether it's because she knows I need to update my wardrobe or is aware that I'm deal obsessed... I don't really care.  Because now I have designer wares and fabulous sales at my finger tips.  And honestly, being the first to grab the best garb is always in fashion.

Wedding 911 by The Knot (Free) - I whole-heartedly admit that I'm a pretty clueless bride-to-be. Which is why I love the "AskCarley" section where all my wedding woes and wonders are addressed.  To be honest, I have never posted a question (which I have heard is finicky at best) but this app is great for on-the-go help.

Brides Dressing Room (Free) - I'm about to start dress shopping and lugging around magazines everywhere I go is starting to hurt my back (although it is a great workout). I haven't used the appointment booker yet (seems pretty cool) but I am addicted to browsing through bridesmaid dresses and wedding gowns and marking my favorites.  I get to have "Say Yes to the Dress" moments daily from the comfort of my metro seat!

It's Polite to Gawk

 My name is Kim and I have a staring problem.  I don't even realize I'm watching people until someone (fiancee, friend, family member) yells at me to stop being rude.  I honestly can't help it - I get invested in strangers!  I love imagining what they're talking about and creating crazy scenarios (once, I saw a couple at Starbucks and decided that they were in the midst of a breakup. I had a whole soap opera type plot line developed over the course of one soy latte).

Which is all to say, that when my friend (and bridesmaid) Wendy sent me a link to WeddingGawker.com I became obssessed. Immediately.  I spent an hour staring at the beautiful wedding photos and ideas submitted by people across the world.  It not only satisfied my staring, it has given me some great ideas for my future nuptials.  Thank you WeddingGawker.com - I can now embrace my addiction without guilt.

Here are a few of my favorite photos (and creative ideas):

 

via inspiredbride.net

via 100layercake.com  

via Merci New York

Must-Have Monday: Hunter Rain Boots

If I could register for Hunter Rain Boots (in Navy) I would do it.  In a second.  I'm obsessed.  I NEED to have these - especially after the winter we've had in DC.  But Zappos AND Piperlime are sold out of my size.


Sigh.

A To-Do List Junkie

Two days after we got engaged my mother asked me where we were registered.  

No joke.

And five days after that, everyone started asking what kind of wedding we wanted, where we wanted it, what was our color scheme... it was a never ending barrage of questions.

For someone who really thought she would just get engaged and then many months later just show up to a ready made party - this was relatively overwhelming.  And by relatively, I mean extremely.

My first response?  Run to Barnes & Noble (my happy place) and get a book that would answer all my questions.  But as I looked at all my options for over an hour, I got overwhelmed. Again.  And left empty handed.  

So when my friend Wendy gave me the Knot Book of Wedding Lists I almost cried. From happiness.

This book is AMAZING!  Who doesn't love ready made to-do lists, broken down into easy-to-read sections?  I've bookmarked pages, I've made the fiancee look at it with me, I've even kissed the cover in gratitude.

And when we finally do go to register?  I'll have a scanner in one hand and the Knot Book of Wedding Lists in the other.