blessing of the hands

I can't remember if I've shared this here before or not - but its so beautiful, it worth repeating anyhow. This is a reading I'm almost positive I'd like to incorporate into our wedding. I think it would be nice to do this reading right before the exchanging of the rings. What do you think? 

Blessing of the Hands
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

shoes shoes shoes

i am not a shoe person. perfume? yes. jewelry? oh god yes. scarves? yes. but not shoes. i pretty much avoid buying new shoes whenever possible. so, i've gathered quite a random assortment of shoes over the years.

I've got . . .

green uggs
pink uggs
purple uggs (which for some reason, i never wear)
brown northface wintery boots
fit flops that my aunt made me get this last trip to florida
black flip-flops
green flip-flops
gold leather strappy sandal i bought somewhere in europe
black gladiator type sandal i also bought in europe, but that I don't wear
maryjane crocs
ballet flat crocs
summery flats with a peep toe that gave me blisters the three times i've worn them
nude, suedey strappy sandals from that i also don't wear
brown birkenstock sandals from about 10 years ago
black birkenstock clogs
colorful checkered slip on vans
stripey slip on vans
purple and black flowery vans
gym shoes
green galoshes, which i break out about once a year
black pointy steve madden high heals that i haven't worn in years
some random pair of black slip on shoes that are semi work appropriate, which i obviously don't wear
brown slip on shoes that i bought for work, but then never wore because they are too small
really cute, healed black ankle boots that i've never worn b/c they "just aren't me"
black sensible old lady pumps that i wore to all my grad school interviews, but haven't touched since
black ninewest boots

i can't believe I have 26 pairs of shoes, but somehow never feel like i own any! How many pairs of shoes do you own? How many do you actually wear?

have you heard?

like every bride to be, i'm trying to drop a few pounds before the wedding. well - it was a few pounds. and then i gained some weight my first semester of grad school. so, now i'm trying to lose a few pounds times two. (in case anyone is wondering, a few pounds times two = about ten pounds).

i've never been very good at dieting, but i'm more committed than i've been in a long long while. so, while researching some low calorie dinner options i ran across a recipe for pasta alfredo that boasted to be under 400 calories a serving. now i was always under the impression that alfredo sauce has like a million and one calories in every drop, so i was intrigued. The trick to keeping the calories down?
Instead of using real pasta, the recipe called for shirataki noodles.

shirataki noodles? yep. shirataki noodles. They are a traditional Japanese noodle that are made from the roots of the konjac plant (whatever that is). read: they are low calorie, low carb, and low fat. From what I can tell, they don't have anything that good for you in them nutrient wise, but they certainly don't seem to be bad for you. and obviously, they are diet friendly.

i'm going to pick a package or two up this weekend and test them out. have you ever tried shirataki noodles? what are your  diet tricks?

is it weird that

i feel obligated to shave my legs for my doctor? does she really even notice or care?

i want to be a super model

While browsing oncewed, one of my favorite wedding blogs, I discovered that our wonderfully fabulous wedding photographer - Alix Klingenberg - is a featured sponsor! And you know what? She included a picture of Neill and I in her bio. Check it out here! I feel famous!

a toast!

A Toast of Thankfulness to Us

to where we've each come from
to where we're going and how we're changing
to being where we are and who we are

to what we can share
to what we can't share  . . . yet

to our joys and our struggles
which in full times we know are connected
which in hard times isolate us

to process, and to the times when we lose sight of process
to pain, to growth
to painless growth, to painful growth

to our efforts, our faith, our determination
to our fears, tears, laughter, hugs, and kisses

to wisdom, to study, alone and in groups
to our books and tools, and toys
to materials, raw and fine
to work, to meetings, to sleep
to our eyes, which fortunately read
and see mountains
and faces
and flowers and bodies
and occasionally sunshine

to our ears, hands, noses, mouths, toes, breasts
to caresses, to touch, to our senses
to our knees
to the times we fall down and pick ourself up
and the times friend help us up

to the shoulders we cry on
to the arms that hold us
to the strength in each of us, alone

to our work
to our play
to our loving
to our growth
to life itself . . . l'chaim

-from the haggadah of liberation complied by the new jewish agenda

love songs

currently, i'm a tad preoccupied with trying to figure out our ceremony music. while we hired a (hopefully) rockin DJ for the reception (cage & aquarium), we decided to diy our ceremony music. originally, we asked a friend of ours to play the violin for our trips up and down the aisle, but he has since dropped off the face of the world. (a whole other issue, really. i mean - who does that?) so now it looks like we are probably going the ipod route. i'm actually excited about this because i think it will be fun to go the nontraditional route and handpick our favorite lovey dovey songs. the problem? well umm there is sort of a lot of pressure to pick the *perfect* songs.




we have to pick songs for: the preceremony, the mini processional we're doing, and then when we walk back down the "aisle". and i just don't know! one of my favorite wedding bloggers recently posted some of their play list here - which is great inspiration! I already had "red right ankle" by the decembrists on my maybe list and i simply fell in love with "you remind me of home" and "keep it loose, keep it tight". but again, i just don't know.

One song that embodies a lot of the sentiments I feel about getting married is tracey chapman's, "at this point in my life". it has a bit of a somber tone to it, but if you listen to the lyrics is also very honest and hopeful.



part of me thinks that this would be the perfect song for me to walk down the aisle too. but, there are some concerns. firstly, its much too long. i'd have to pick a section of the song. maybe around the 4 minute mark when it starts to get more positive? i'm not sure if by picking just a selection, the whole meaning of the song is lost. secondly, i do want a little bit of a "wow" factor when i walk down the aisle. and this song, with its slow mellow vibe just might not be it.

so i'm turning to you - what do you think? be honest!

ps. - please excuse the pictures of this random lady who is not tracey chapman. lol. i picked this video because it had the lyrics in it and i wanted you guys to really get the message of the song.