So you need more stuff for your registry?

Looking over her registry the other day, a friend of mine asked me for suggestions on things she could add. I came up with a list of things some people don't think to add and a couple things Mr Frenchie and I love to use.

1 - Tools - Right now, any tool I want is at my disposal in my parents garage. My dad is a contractor, so I pretty much have my pick of screw drivers, drill bits, hammers and pliers. Target sell this great 133 piece Home Project set by Black and Decker. I'm really excited at the possibilty of having my very own power drill!2 - Step Ladder - Another item I use frequently at my parents house, that won't be so accessable when I move in with Mr Frenchie. I'm 5'2" and he's 6'2", but I he wont be there to reach stuff for me all the time and I'd like to avoid hurting my chairs as much as possible. This 3-step ladder by Wagner Steel can also be found at Target.
3 - Compost Pail - My Frenchie and I are big Foodies and just signed a lease on an apartment with a large paio. We can't wait to start growing our own herbs and some veggies. I found this compost pail at Crate and Barrel. The design is nice enough to leave out near the sink so I'll remember to use it.

4 -Charcoal Grill - Growing up Mr Frenchie used to help his Dad out on their Weber Grill. About a year ago his father gave him that grill and ever since I've been a DIE hard charcoal fan. Trust me, nothing beats a burger off a charcoal grill. Target carries this Weber 22.5” one.

5 - Raclette Grill - We discovered this item while wondering around Sur La Table one afternoon and it has made for some great entertaining. Basically it is a griddle top that is raised up so you can metal cheese in spatulas underneath. We chose this, Swissmar Raclette Grill, because it opened options for breakfast. The griddle flips over with a circle to make crepes and you can use the spatulas to make your own mini omelettes.
What are some less than common items on your registry you would recommend to a friend?

Napkin, Napkin, Napkin

Based in the title, you're probably thinking this post is going to be about my linens, but it's about calligraphy. As you learned in my fruity shower post, BM F and I met in college and that is when I learned, she would sit and practice her handwriting when she needed something to do with her hands. I can't tell you how many times we'd be sitting in the cafeteria and I'd look down to see "Napkin" scrolled across her napkin (natch) a bazillion times in the most beautiful handwriting you've ever seen.

My handwriting isn't bad, it worked great for our Engagement Party invites and STDIs, but it is more casual. So, naturally, I asked BM F if she would do the calligraphy for our Wedding Invitations.
Here are the sample she gave me today...
Option A:
Option B:
Option C:
Option D:
Option E:
Option F:
Options A & C are a little too fancy for my taste. Personally, I like the whimsy of the others more and it they will go better with our invitations.

Sneak Peak of our Proof

So Hive, what do you think?
[poll]
Option A
Option B

Option C

Option D

Option E

Option F

Thanks for your help!

Blah... such a waste

I'm sure what I'm about to blog about is a common problem among those honeymooning out of the country. I'm talking about the new passport that will be good for about 1 month (if that is how long it takes me to get my name changed).

It had the potential to be really easy though, my current, which may or maynot still be good, is renewable by mail.

Source

But, I just can't find it... and I looked EVERYWHERE. I did find my passport from 16 years ago, when I was 12, but it was "cancelled" when I got the newer one.

Hence, the holes... I think that counts as "damaged", but I could be wrong. So, I need to "Apply in Person" and get another passport.

Source

Luckly, because I still have the cancelled passport, I just need to go to take that to the Post Office and I don't have to locate my Birth Certificate. I'm pretty sure my mom still has my Birth Certificate, but if my luck finding my current passport is any indication, I wouldn't put money on it.

While I was reading through the list of "or's" I read that last one "Your name has changed since your U.S. passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change". To me that means I will be getting another passport when Mr Frenchie and I decide to to travel abroad in the future, post name change. However, in that case I will be able to mail it in... I think.

The upside? The upside is this means I will have to get my picture taken and, if I remember correctly, I get to keep the excess pictures. Excess passport pictures is exactly what I need to get my Student ID. Movie discounts here I come!

Are you getting a "temporary" passport too?

Fruity Shower

Two weekends ago my fantastic bridesmaids threw me the cutest shower ever! I may be a tad but bias, but I'm sure once you get a look below you'll believe it ranks up there pretty high.

BM F hosted the shower at her parents' beautiful beach house and we could not have hoped for better weather.
Isn't the view for their house to DIE for! It is the stuff postcards are made of!

This, however, not so much! This sexy beast came to mow their neighbor's lawn in the middle of the shower.

Okay, back to the shower... when I arrived we all walked around and played the first game. Questions were mounted on adorable fruity scrapbooking paper and taped up around the kitchen and family room for everyone to answer.

Answer: In college

Just so you don't think these were all easy questions, I didn't even get them all right. Mr Frenchie (he took the quiz when he came by later) and I both got our engagement date wrong. I, at least, got the month right.

After we'd all turned in our answer cards it was time to dig into lunch.

Mmmm... I have been craving craberry chicken salad sandwiches since, YUM-MERS! Once we were all stuffed to the brim, it was time to open presents. I'm not gonna lie, this was my favorite part. Unlike other brides I've known, I LOVE being the center of attention... and getting presents isn't too shabby either. But, before I could open up my goodies, we all had to unwrap the answers to the first game.

Raise your hand if you're getting married!

Each layer of wrapping had an answer to one of the questions and instructions on who to pass the present to next. The package made it back to me on the last answer.

How awesome is this paper?

Inside, Sister Frenchie gifted me some pretty sexy panties - these were my favorites.

I'm all kinds of Klassy!

After the silly gift, came the real gifts.

I got some great cards...
A couple very creative presents...
My friend (and shower photographer), Krissi, made me an "Allison's Kitchen" sign for, well, my kitchen and Sister Frenchie made "cupcakes" out of our napkins and stored them in a cupcake caddy.

I also got some great staples and learned how NOT to pose for a picture...

Mental note for my next shower - Make prettier faces! Especially when posing with your new Kitchen Aid Mixer!

Mama Frenchie is the BEST!

Once all the presents had been opened we ate the most delicious carrot cake EVER made... EVER!

I lied, my favorite part of the day was relaxing at the end of the shower with all my ladies and eating yummy cake. As much as I love Mr Frenchie, it is nice to have some quality girl time every once in awhile.

What was your favorite part of your shower?

Let's Make-up... my face

Hi, my name is Miss French Bulldog, I have HORRIBLE skin and I cannot believe I am about to post this on the internet for the world to see. I must really love you readers! (Awe)

This past Sunday I drove down to San Diego for my make-up trial with Ashley Lowe of AC Makeup. Ashley was recommended to me by Mr Frenchie's bestman's wife, Lindsay (did you get all that?). Lindsay didn't use Ashley for her wedding, but she had heard wonderful things about her from her friends on Bridal Insider. Plus Lindsay wanted to keep me far away from her make-up artist because, well, that was a nightmare. Okay, enough stalling, here is everyday Miss French Bulldog.

Lemme just point out the lovely zit on the corner of my mouth and I'll stop with the self deprecation. See it? Okay, I'm done.

One of the reasons Ashley is to highly recommended is she uses an airbrush. Awe, it was so relaxing; it was like a cool breeze blowing across my face. Ashley told me she always does the bride last because the airbrushing is really calming and can help de-stress a stressed out bride. I'm not planning on being a stressed out bride, I'm hoping channel my inner Tiramisu, but just in case this will surely help out.

I was such a bad bride and forgot to bring inspiration pictures... Oops. So, I told Ashley I wanted to look natural/not to made up, and I wanted the "Hollywood Eye". After chatting for about an hour, I was transformed into this lovely creature.

Can you tell I don't normally take pictures of myself? Where did my chin go?

Unlike the make-up I had done for my engagement photos, the airbrused make-up felt very light, in fact, I could hardly tell I had make-up on. We also opted for individual eyelash exentions, instead of the completely eyelid lenght ones I bought for my e-pics.

Source

I think the individual ones look more natural, don't you?

Metal note: Return the Loehmann's bag

Here is a list of the colors she used:
Eyes
Primer - Paula Dorff
Eyelid - Retrospect (MAC)
Crease - Wedge (MAC)
Highlight - Vanilla/Phloof (MAC)
Liner - Blacktrack (MAC)

Face
Cheeks - Gingerly/Blushbaby (MAC)

Lips
Lipstick - Viva Glam 5 (MAC)
Lip Liner - Whirl (MAC)

So Hive, what do you think? Would you change anything?

The Call

Isn't it funny how just about the time you forget what your wedding dress looks like, the bridal salon calls and tells you it's in? That's right, MY WEDDING DRESS IS IN!!

I don't think I told you, but when I ordered the dress the salon had only ever seen her in ivory. I knew I wanted a white white dress, so I ordered it in "All White" and said a little prayer. When the salon called on Friday, the lady told me Paigely looked gorgeous and she had been showing her off to everyone. I quote, "The white is gorgeous! We were nervous because we have never seen it in white, but it isn't blue at all." PHEW, because there is really no going back now!

**Mr Frenchie, if for some reason you decided today was the day you were going to start reading Weddingbee, please decide not to read this post**

After work, Mama Frenchie and I, are going to the salon to try on my dress, pay the balance and take my Paigely home.
Yep, I get to take her home. Why? Two Reasons:
1 - The salon is in Huntington Beach and I live 25 miles away in Laguna Niguel. With everything else I have going on, I don't want to worry about making it up to Huntington Beach to get my dress altered.
2 - I've been informed by another bride, who purchased the same dress from the salon, that the alterations lady isn't very good. She recommended a lady who does alteration out of her home in Laguna Niguel. Since that is obviously closer, I'm going there.

Did you decide to have your Wedding Dress altered somewhere other than where you purchased it?

Shower Gifts

My fabulously fruity shower was this past Saturday and I'm still waiting for the rest of the pictures to roll. In the meantime I'm going to show you what I ended up giving my ladies as a "Thank You".

Sister Frenchie and BM J's gifts were very similar. While they didn't "host" the shower, I know they put a lot of work into making the shower happen. I wanted to get them something to show my appreciation.
I got these SUPER cute and totally fitting Cherry bags at my local Hallmark.


Inside a gave each girl a sampling of my favorite "Shower" products. Sister Frenchie got two travel sized Product Body products and a tube of FAVORITE Mary Kay Scrub.

BM J also got a tube of the Mary Kay scrub and she also got the travel sized lotion from Product Body, and two of Bath and Body Works' anti-bacterial lotions for her purse in my favorite scents, Fresh Pineapple and Lime Verbena. With a toddler on her hands she can never have enough anti-bacterial in her purse.

For BM F, the shower Hostess, I picked up a couple things I knew she wanted from Crate and Barrel. BM J, BM F and I had gone shopping together a few weeks earlier. BM F had found a bunch of stuff from she wanted at Crate and Barrel, but couldn't justify buying. I, of course, took note and came back the next day to snatch them up.

1 - Microplane Ultimate Citrus Tool - After watching a lot of Food Network while I was sick yesterday, I was surprised to see how many recipes call for zest.
2 - Citrus Juice Glass - BM F's kitchen is done in a citrus theme and these glasses match it perfectly!
3 - Mini Bowl Set - Who doesn't need prep bowls that match their kitchen?

I love giving gifts!I was almost more excited to give these than go to the shower itself. What was your favorite gift you gave durning your wedding festivities?