Frances and Co.: 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Traveling!

We head HOME for Christmas joining the other 96,000 crazy travelers daily that will be in and out of Seatac airport in the next 2 days. YOWZA. Let the travel gods bless us with an easy boarding! As we all know I am cursed when it comes to traveling!

Since I will be flying from coast to coast at least 5 times in the next year I knew I NEEDED this Audrey Brooke Paramount satchel. It fits all my airplane necessities and will keep them organized!

This is such a huge upgrade from my usual carry on bag! It would take me AT LEAST 10 mins to locate my dramamine, there was legit like 80 pockets in that bag.. no mas!

Inside the NEW and improved bag you will find MOST of my necessary plane ride items a few things are missing..
Here's the rundown..

1.wedding binder
2. TJ's trail mix
3. new Hobo rachel clutch (early xmas present from the man!)
4. Roller Ball perfume in Twirl by Kate Spade
5. JUST IN CASE girly items!
6. macbook pro my lil pink baby
7. Eos lip balm
8. sunnies
9. Spec K meal bar to curb any desire to hit up the on board food!
10. Rick Steves Rome & Amalfi Coast, I plan to have these books highlighted through and through.. wait did I not announce that yet?! ITALY HONEYMOON IS BOOKED! :)
11. Sony E-Reader.. which I am in desperate need of a good book to read! Suggestions puhlease!

Closer look at my wedding binder you ask?

This pretty pink binder contains all our wedding contracts and is packed with tons and tons of inspiration for our day!

We have a redeye out on Friday, I'm tempted to throw on some fun xmas PJ's for the ride!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Am I still talking about bridesmaid dresses?!

Is it just me or are these days/months just flying by!

We just passed the 6 month mark, holy crap 6 months... till I'm MARRIED!

Ed & I were talking the other night and we now realize why MANY of our friends advised against long engagements. They just plain stink! We are SOOO ready to be married.

ANYWAY.

I went back to Nordstroms to try on the Donna Morgan BM dress that I thought was the one. This time they had the color & size I wanted to try on so I was pumped... too bad it only took 2 seconds for me to catch the fabric in the zipper which ruined the dress.. it had to be CUT off me! ... WHOOPS.

So I didn't get to see the dress in the color and size I wanted...

but I tried on this color, which is purple but looks more purpley-gray in the pic.

I likey but after talking with the saleslady she advised me against this style since its not very flattering on the bustier.

Oy, back to square 1.

(i still love it..)

Discouraged, I made a fall back appointment at JCrew. I know, a lot of brides go the JCrew route, and some may argue its played out.. buttt I ended up finding some dresses and colors I REALLY loved in the silk taffeta material..

Sorta really loving the bright coraly color. It's a new color for JCrew and I'm currently waiting on the swatch, I can't quite remember the exact name.

Chiffon to Taffeta whats a girl to chooose?!

At least my 2 girls whose wedding I'm in which are AFTER my wedding picked their BM dresses out... <head held low>..

My good friend Kim getting married in July decided on Alfred Angelo dresses. She picked a silk material, cocktail length in a pretty purple. We had a few dresses to choose from and I chose this pretty one shoulder style which I LOVE!

I ordered 2 sizes down from this so it will be much more form fitting!

My friend Kendra who is getting married in September decided on Mori Lee dresses in a silk material, floor length in black with a few styles to choose from.

I tried on these 3 and am having a terrible time deciding which one to order..

Before I start to panic on my bridesmaid dresses, I still have one shot left on the 27th when I'm home in Mass. My girls and I are going to my bridal salon to check out their selection of dresses. FINGERS CROSSED I CAN MAKE A DECISION!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Christmas Wish list!

Dear Santa,

I've been a REALLY good girl this year, I probably deserve everything on my wish list! :)

The orig Toms.. even Eddie has a pair of Toms and I don't, not cool!

Kendra Scott "Danielle" earrings

Hobo "Lauren" I NEED this and can't believe it has been on my "want" list for sooo long without me buying!

Burberry Classic perfume.. I've been searching high and low for a new scent since I drained my current bottle of Burberry Classic. Nothing compares, and I'm sticking with what I love, my "signature" scent! Time to restock!

Winter sweaters/tops. ANY will do. My closet is full of tanks and pants. I am in DESPERATE need of some cold weather tops!

Starting with this pretty little Gap sweater! XS please :)

Stylish ear and hand keeper-warmers! I may've tried this headband on at the JCrew outlet and Eddie may've told me I looked ridiculous but I DON'T CARE its cute and I NEED it!

and these gloves.. easy access to texting while out in the cold!

Thanks big guy! I will be sure to leave you extra cookies this year!

Sincerely,

Frances

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Dressing the MEN!

What a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend in our household!

I was a bit cranky in Seattle since we were not to be able to spend the holiday with our family back in Mass BUT we definitely made the best of it, enjoying a LOT of down time from the madness of our lives!

We went to a friends house for a lovely Prime Rib dinner on Turkey Day. Yah no Turkey was had here!

We walked Russ a bunch, hit up the gym a few times, ate Chinese and swung by Mens Wearhouse to pick out Eddie's and the Groomsmen's tux!

Hey, at least we got one thing accomplished this weekend!

Check out my fine man..

OK a few things... We decided on Men's Wearhouse because they make it SO easy for the men, since there are literally a bagilion stores around the country and they are REALLY affordable. BUTT the whole experience with the picking of the tux and accessories wasn't all that great. First off they don't have any Tux's for you to try on nor do they have any of the other rental pieces so it is extremely hard to get a good visual. I did also feel like they were pushing buying suits rather than renting tux's. I knew what I liked going into the appointment so I was getting very frustrated when I was trying to be lead into a different direction.

I love our final decision which is similar to the above picture of Eddie. He's wearing a similar suit to what the Tux will look like with an ivory shirt, black tie, and charcoal vest. The Groomsmen will wear everything the same as Eddie but with a black vest.

BAM! another check off our to-do list!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tan in a can amazingness

So, when I'm not spending all my dough on a Versa Spray Tan...

I am spraying myself down with this wondrous self tanner.

I am giving this the tan-aholic's 2 thumbs up. This stuff is redic and is totally fool proof. I spray every few days after I get out of the shower just to give myself a little glow. You legit just wave this little bottle over your body and you are a bronzed goddess, and it smells pretty darn good too for a spray tan!

Its pricey but worth it, I really am FINALLY putting my foot down and kissing the tanning bed days goodbye and St. Tropez has helped wean me off my faking and baking ways.

Ok I know this post is a bit redic, I mean, am I REALLY talking about a spray tan changing my life. YUP sure am ;)

Run don't walk to Sephora!

Here I am sporting my St. Tropez Spray Tan on my Bday! Not the best pic of me but HEY you get the picture!

disclaimer: I think the Seattle November weather (RAIN, DARKNESS, and MORE RAIN) has REALLY gone to my head as I may've just done a double coat of spray tan all over my body.. my co-workers tomorrow are probably going to think I rolled around in mud before work.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

a ring to wear FOREVER

I never thought I was going to find a wedding band I loved. I LOVE my engagement ring that Ed had custom made and I didn't think I'd find anything that would fit along side it perfectly enough.

UNTIL I randomly walked into a Ben Bridge all by my lonesome one Saturday morning and met Saleslady Laura. Who is now my favorite person ever. She was SOO patient and helpful. I really wanted just a simple band straight diamond-y band, I was DEAD set against the curve type bands. DEAD set against. I'm not quite sure why but I had a serious vendetta on that style from the get-go, Laura slowly eased me into the idea since a straight band would not lay flat against my ring.

And now here I am with a new contour wedding band ring sitting on my dresser that I can't touch for 7 more months.

so here it is the shiny sister to my engagement ring!

It's only a slight curve so I can actually pull off wearing it without my engagment ring, which was one of the things I wanted in a wedding band. We ordered Eddie's band as well but that won't be in for a few more weeks.

In other exciting news..... I just made an appointment for MY FIRST DRESS FITTINGGG!! :) I called my bridal salon in Mass yesterday and was told my dress WOULD NOT be in in time for my visit home in December and that it wouldn't be in until FEBRUARY! That woulda been 8 whole months after I ordered it! I just about lost it and had a mini panic attack while talking with the girl on the phone. I think she sensed my urgency as she called me this morning telling me they'd have it in before Christmas and scheduled me in for an appointment! Allegria Bridal- you are my hero!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Dressing my pretties!

I ventured downtown today to check out bridesmaid dresses.

I must admit not being able to make a fun day of trying on dresses with my bridesmaids really gets me down.. in a major way. BUT decisions need to be made so I need to make my situation work.

I headed to Nordstroms to look for this Donna Morgan dress for my girls..

and putting my Maid of Honor in this one..

They are both Donna Morgan dresses and although the shades look different in the above pics they are actually the same color.

Nordstrom's only had the dress in a size 10 so here's the best pics I could get with holding as much of the dress back as I could.

Awkward length right?

I still LOVE this dress and I'm thinking if I was actually wearing the right size it may not be as awkward of a length OR if need be we could hem it up a bit.

They had the same dress in a smaller size in this bright blue color that which I LOVE but it is SO not the color scheme we have in mind for our wedding.

I also like this Monique Lluiller dress

They only had it in a size 10..which again gave the awkward length..

this was a 4.. which fit much better and hit right above the knee.

I liked all of these dresses a lot. When showing Ed he preferred the first one.

Opinions please!!!!

I really think finding a dress for my girls has been a harder decision than finding my wedding dress!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Happy 2-7 to me!

So, I turned 27 over the weekend.. to say that aging scares the crap outta me is an understatement! And to think this time next year I will be an OLD married lady! ;) YIKES!

Anyway. paranoia of old age aside, I had an amazing birthday in Seattle with some of my very best friends!

I even indulged in some birthday cupcakes, sorry wedding diet!

and bday jello shots!

Jello shots which lead to a photo shoot in my kitchen with random items around my apt...

and then dancing with werewolves!!!

The big 2-7 did me good as I was pretty spoiled..

Exhibit A, what my lonely right hand ring finger now adorns, a Mr. Yurman beauty, thanks to my fiance!

My girlfriends also spoiled me with a gift card to my ALL time favorite place to spend $$ Sephora! OHhh they know me too well! Along with gifting me my new favorite makeup obsession

Touche Eclat, face highlighter perfection.

Spoiled I tell yah!...Mom & Dad sent me my face's new BFF the Clarisonic Mia! I have used it for just a few days now and my skin is thanking me already!

27 was a bday for the books and I have all the amazing people in my life to thank for that!

Especially this guy... because as much as it sucks to grow old, at least I'm growing old with him!

outfit deets!!! target boots w/ an H&M dress

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

why couldn't we have moved to cali?! ....

Two weekends ago we spent a quick weekend in Southern California to attend Eddies' Cousin's wedding. We headed to Seatac after work on Friday set for our 2.5 hour (nothing compared to our usual 6-7 hour flights back East!) flight to LAX.

This was my 2nd time in California. The first time I stayed in San Francisco, which I LOVE and can't wait to venture back there! This time though, I must say I fell in love with Southern California! I think I would be a 100x happier person if I lived in that sunshine all year round (may be a bit of an exageration but whateves!)!

We got to Camarillo late Friday night and pretty much called it a night. Saturday morning we were up and at em ready for high 70 degree temps! HEAVEN!

We headed straight to Santa Monica Pier with Eddie's family.

Eddie's mom & I basking in the sun!

We only had a few hours to explore before the rehearsal dinner but we managed to make a stop on the way home in Malibu to join up with some more of Eddie's family!

Particularly new addition Patrick. He is the cutest stinking baby ever.

Moving on to the rehearsal dinner! It was held at a delish Italian restaurant which I was more than pumped about, Italian happens to be my favorite food everrr.

It was so nice to spend time with Eddie's family. He comes from a VERY large one. His dad is one of 13 (my dad is also one of 11, YIKES!)

.. some of my new future cousin-in-laws! :)

I may or may not have had a LITTLE too much wine too drink and spent the majority of Sunday morning laying by the pool recovering.. Hey thats what you get for feeding me endless amounts of wine!

The wedding was held on Sunday the views were gorg everywhere you looked!

As you can see by the golf bags, the venue was a golf course!

My second family & I :)

Oh wait you want a close up of the fia and me?!

The night ended with some drinks by the hotel fire pit. I was a GENIUS and booked our flight for 6:00am on Monday morning so I could go into work. - DEDICATION to Pacific Advisors right there!

Well that GENIUS idea pretty much left us to get NO sleep on Sunday since we had to leave around 3:30 am to head to the airport! FAIL.

At least we enjoyed our quick trip to the FULLEST.

I'll be California dreamin' until the next time!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

My Recent Splurges

2 weekends ago we hit up the Tulalip Outlets, Ed needed some new things.. I allow us to spend money on clothes for him once a year and he was over due ;)

While we were there of course I had to shop around for myself. I quickly found myself in the Joe's Jeans Outlet aka Heaven. Joe's Jeans legit rock my world. I found myself a sweet new DISCOUNT pair of the rocker fit and made myself on my merry way.

Next up I happen to see Kate Spade in my peripheral vision, it was like a gravitational pull that drove me towards the SHOES. I had been eying the Kate Spade "Shelby" for my wedding day shoe... you can read about that here. Once I walk into the store I see the shoes! but not MY shoes, the same Shelby but in Fuschia, I try them on they fit amazingly so I knew.. the sister golden Shelby's had to be in my possession. I was in luck because Zappos had them ON SALE as well, although I did have to anxiously wait a few days until they had my size back in stock.

and now here they are, right where they belong on my feeties!

I love them and want to sleep in them!!!!!!! But no, they will remain in that hot pink box until June 9th, 2012.

I didn't stop there.. I also happen to have this beauty hanging in my bathroom right now...

Since I began planning my wedding it wasn't even an option, I was 100% wearing this Plum Pretty Sugar robe as I got ready for my big day. It's just so LOVELY.

and wait there's more loveliness!

I adore Kristin at Love, Lipstick, & Pearls and she recently posted this purdy Etsy find. I tend to wear jewelry only on nights out and was looking for a simple day time piece, this Tiny Gold Puffy Heart was just perfect for what I was looking for! AND she's from the good ol' state of Washington, LOVE supporting local businesses!

I wore it out to Eddie's cousins' rehearsal dinner this past weekend in Cali along with my Gathering Breeze Anthro dress.

until the next shopping spree.... :)