Pleasure in Pittsburgh

This past weekend, Mal and I had an adventurous time in Steel City. We went for a long weekend to celebrate the marriage of my dearest friend from high school.

I was so pleasantly surprised by the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. Having never been, I had this image of it being run down and dirty. I'm not sure from where the preconceived notions derived, but they were instantly crushed when our car drove through the tunnel of 376 and into the city limits. Leading up to the city one would never guess that a thriving metropolitan is just around the corner. The roads leading into it are mountainous and plush with grass, corn and other crops. Large farms line the winding roads and welcome travelers to Steel City. A tunnel separates the farmlands from the metro area. As one exits the tunnel and enters the city, the skyline changes. The green hills become rivers filled with boats, bridges cross the rivers and the bustle of city life replaces the slower pace on the other side of the mountain. The transformation truly is like none I've seen before.

We stayed at the Sheraton Station Square, which is right on the river and in the middle of a cozy downtown area of shops, dining and entertainment. Our first night, we took part in the rehearsal dinner festivities at an Italian restaurant called Buca di Beppo, where we were served a family-style dinner. After the meal we went on a riverboat cruise where we learned tons of facts about Pittsburgh. Did you know it has the most bridges of any city in the world, beating out Venice, Italy, by three bridges with a total of 476? It also used to be so dirty (due to their steel production) that some days they would have to turn on the street lights at 2:00 in the afternoon for people to see their ways around town. It's the home of Andy Warhol, Fred Rogers and Rachel Carson. Also random FYI: all of the sweaters Fred Rogers wore on his show were sewn by his mother.

Day two was full of wedding fun. The first part of the day was spent celebrating in the traditional Indian way. I'd never been to an Indian wedding, so it was really awesome to not only be a witness, but also be part of the festivities as a bridesmaid. I got to wear a saree, lots of gold bangles, a bindi and flip flops while walking down the aisle. :) Mallory acted as photographer and got some really fantastic photos of the happenings. We each watched from our seats as the priest talked and chanted for about 1.5 hours without once consulting a sheet of paper. He did the entire service from memory and I learned that many times the priest will learn from his father and it's a profession passed along throughout generations. Priya and Jeremi did a great job leading those of us who couldn't understand the language by providing programs that described each part of the ceremony and the meaning behind what was taking place.

After the Indian part of the wedding, we had a few hours to kill before the reception so Mal and I explored Pittsburgh. We went up the Monongahela Incline, which was only about a block from our hotel. From the top of the incline we enjoyed the breathtaking view of Pittsburgh in her glory.

 

After coming down from the incline, we readied ourselves for the reception, which was very much like a traditional Western reception with the bonus of Indian fare! The food was delicious, wedding gown beautiful, toasts tear-jerking and music bumping- it was delightful! It was also wonderful to see some friends from high school that I hadn't seen since shortly after graduation and even meet some of their spouses that I'd never seen in person.

The whole weekend was filled with firsts. Mal and I made some great memories. I'd definitely go back to Pittsburgh and explore more of the sites there. We were sad that we had to leave without getting a chance to see more of the city and the Frank Lloyd Wright house, which was just south of it. Another trip, perhaps!?

DIY2 and Nesting

Mike and I have spent the better part of this weekend indoors due to the 100+ degree weather that smacks either of us in the face when we walk outside. Turns out that hot weather is great motivation for doing projects in the house! We've knocked out several wedding projects, began others and also completed the huge "nesting" project of reorganizing the master closet to make room for my clothes.

On Friday afternoon I got to focus on a DIY project that was more my speed which involved paint and a canvas! Mike and I decided to have a wedding guest tree instead of a wedding guest book that everyone signs (and no one looks at after the wedding). These come in a variety of different types, but we decided that we'd paint ours and have our guests use ink to leave a thumbprint and signature (like this one).

Friday night we picked out a tree shape that we liked from some images online. Mike sweetly set up my painting station, laying out the paints, water and my paint palette near the beautiful, new easel he and his dad MADE for me. After the setup was complete, I went to town painting the guest tree.

Meanwhile, Mike worked on making wire hangers in which to hang candles that will go on our centerpieces. Oh, and he also entertained Charlotte who was supervising both of us and playing with his wire pieces.

 

We spent the better part of the evening on our various projects. I focused on the tree. Mike helped by giving input on it and by meticulously wrapping wire in the shape of candle cradles. Charlotte just played and slept. A couple hours later, and just shy of midnight, we wrapped for the night. The tree is done and a good portion of the wire candle cradles are done as well. Here are a couple pictures of the guest tree although the lighting and quality are poor cuz of my camera phone. The first one has truer color quality, but the second gives you a closer look.

On Saturday the heat was just as terrible so we set about crossing another "to do" off the list: reorganizing and installing shelving into the master closet. The closet, which is pretty large (6'x5'). already had some shelving in it which was a good start. However, when Mike and I started talking about moving my clothes in we realized that the space could be better utilized if different shelving was in there.

Well, you know how projects go... they are never as quick as one first estimates. When we looked closer we decided that not only did it need new shelves, but it also needed a fresh face. So, we bought some paint and shelving material and got to work. About five hours later, the closet was scar-free and sporting fresh walls. It also was stripped of the old shelves and new ones went in place of them. I'm so pleased! There is little shelving for towels, sweaters, etc. Medium shelving for shirts and pants. There is even the perfect height shelving for all the dresses I own. It feels good to accomplish that project and get some nesting details situated now so that we won't be staring at them immediately post-wedding.

Today is also hot, providing me a great day to post this and relax a bit. Mike is working on piecing together some fishing rods and reels. Charlotte and Pearl (our other kitty) are sleeping on the couch where he's working and at his feet.

I also just finished putting some touches on our cake toppers. They are a little different than the average wedding cake topper. There is no bride in her white dress standing beside a dapper groom. Rather, the tiger and cow figurines were won with ski-ball tickets that Mike and I won on our first road trip to Myrtle Beach that we took in Round 2 of dating. The plastic, bendy animals have been sitting in Mike's living room and waiting for such a purpose as topping a wedding cake. I found a little top hat and cut a (much) smaller version of a veil to glue on their heads. The result... a cow and tiger ready to be married! Mike claims that the crystal candle holder they are in is their hot tub. What do you think?

A Bridal Rant about DIY Projects

I didn't think my first post back after a brief hiatus would be about bridal projects, but that's a big chunk of my world right now.

Questions are always swimming in my head: What do I need to follow up on? To whom do I owe a call or email?  What appointment is next? Where's the receipt for that?  Do I owe anyone money, my signature or my first child? Who still hasn't RSVP'ed?

I'll be the first to admit that thus far the planning hasn't been that stressful. God has been either a) Merciful or b) Equipped me with the attitude that "eh.. it'll fall into place".  Perhaps it's a little bit of both.

I've definitely learned to pick my battles and also prioritize. One area those necessary skills come into play is regarding those lovely "Do It Yourself" aka DIY projects. I think anyone who has planned an event has run into his/her fair share of DIY projects, but what I've found with weddings is that DIY projects can save you HUGE bucks. What is it about the wedding industry that the moment you say you're going to need something for a wedding dollar signs start lighting up in neon and alarms go off?  Also, prices automatically jump 25-50% of what they would be for the same piece of paper NOT featured in a wedding. Thats all to say that some projects made from scratch can really save some cash.

Mike and I have already done some DIY projects together (and look, folks, we survived and are still getting married!). When it came to our invitations we decided to design them ourselves and get them printed at Kinkos. It saved us about $100-150 going that route. Also, we're designing and assembling our own centerpieces and ceremony programs. These projects aren't yet done, so here's hoping we're still having a wedding in three weeks.

DIY projects are a fantastic way to save money, but I also learned last night that one should always listen to that little voice that says, "hey, you've got some skills, but maybe you should outsource this one." Cuz that voice wasn't talking to me anymore at 12:30 this morning. It was just laughing at me.

Mom and I decided that we would create my fascinator and also use her existing, super long and plain veil to make a shorter, more embellished veil. The average store-bought fascinator runs about $75-$200. Veils start at about $50 and can run you into bankruptcy. Our thinking was that I could save minimally anywhere from $100-300 just by working on these items ourselves.

Two projects and two women. Seems like a balanced equation, eh?

We decided to start with the fascinator. It's smaller and obviously the easier project. Right?  Here are some pictures of the beginning of our night, which started about 7 PM. Notice the fresh smiles. Can you see the joy and lightness in us? There's anticipation with what's to come and a "we can do this" air about us.

We started with a simple comb. It sparkled with crystals, but didn't have too much to offer beyond that. I'd bought lace, feathers and more crystals with which to embellish the comb. Our tools were spread before us and we began our preliminary exam. We cut lace, folded it and twisted it into different positions. We threaded it through crystals and let it just serve as a backdrop. We arranged feathers, hid feather stems and fluffed them as best we could. We tried lace alone, feathers alone and then put them together. We did this for over an hour. When we were done with our preliminary assessment, we concluded that we'd move on to the veil and that we'd have to come back to the fascinator. The comb is still lying unglued, unaltered and in its original state on the table. DIY Project 1, Two Women zero.

The veil. It was worn by my mom in her wedding almost 40 years ago. In it's original state it was about 15 feet long. It's the perfect shade for my gown. No longer white, the veil pairs nicely with my ivory gown. The first problem: Towards the top of the veil there were some snags and holes. It needed to be cut and reattached to the comb so that an unblemished part of the veil could be used. The second problem: It was too plain. Crystal embellishments needed to be added to the edges of the newly cut veil in order to make the it sparkle more and match the embellishments on my dress. Essentially, we were taking a 15 foot long veil and making it a two foot long veil with added personality.

We started work on the veil at about 9:30. We measured, cut and resewed the veil onto the original comb. This part of the process took about 45 minutes. As I was sewing the veil onto the comb, I recall telling mom that perhaps this was a project that should have been outsourced. We hadn't even started adding embellishments and we had already been working on it just under an hour. Next came the personality. Tiny beads and crystals longed to married to the veil.

Mom and I decided we'd go with glue rather than sew the beads and crystals. About 10 minutes in, my finger tips were sticky with semi-dried glue and I was having more luck sticking the embellishments to myself rather than the veil. Glue dots were on the surface all around me and only about 12 beads were actually sticking to the veil. I looked up from the veil at mom and she laughed. She knew the "what the heck are we doing?" look in my eyes. So, we changed course. Mom discovered that the glue pen I was using had a handy suction cup on the back that would pick up the beads and place them into the glue. It was a small miracle and a really ingenious concept. No more sticky fingers! Then, we also used some tweezers to place smaller beads into the glue. We were really rolling then...

This delicate placement and replacement of beads and crystals went for another TWO hours. At 12:30 AM, we'd finished the first round of embellishments. At this point, I still want to do another round of crystals, but at 12:30 AM we decided that round 2 could happen at a later date. We were at a good stopping point and still had hair on our heads, so we called it "paused" for the time being. DIY Project 1, Two Women 1. 

Below is a picture of the veil after we cut and resewed it.
I forgot to take a picture after the embellishments were added.

In summary, I've learned that not all projects are worth the endeavors in hopes of pocketing some money. I've yet to decide what to do about my fascinator. It may not make it to that stage. The comb may remain a comb. And it would be the prettiest comb I ever laid eyes on.

How to Say Good-bye?

It's the eve of my last day in DC.  For the past month people have asked me, "are you ready?"  Perhaps I should take my own advice and read my post prior to this one!

Truth be told, it's slowly hitting me.  I've really enjoyed the past two weeks.  Being unemployed has allowed me some more time for reflection (not to mention packing!).  I've taken in the city and appreciated it a bit more.  And what a beautiful time of year to do so.

I remember that it was around this time of year six years ago when I first fell in love with DC.  Completely head over heels for it.  I was visiting Mallory over St. Patrick's day weekend and was struck by the people, energy and beauty here.  Spring in DC is a wonderland.  There are so many blossoms, fragrances and colors to behold.  It really is magical.  Between the cherry blossoms, hyacinths, daffodils, irises, roses and tulips my eyes and nose are fully engaged... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Plus all of the patios are flooded with people, their dogs and delicious foods inspired from countries all over the world. The tapestry of people here is beautiful.

DC introduced me to Ethiopian, tapas and proper German food.  I learned how to confidently navigate public transportation.  I also learned the balancing act of living in group houses.  That's one thing I won't miss- group houses! :)

I know the layout of Capitol Hill like the back of my hand and I will never take for granted the runs and walks I've done down the Mall.  I'll miss the midnight strolls to the Capitol.  Prayers on its steps and at the Lincoln Memorial are moments that I'll store in my heart.

What a delight the past six years have been.  God has stretched me and I've truly grown into my own skin.  I've met so many amazing people; they've changed my life and I'm grateful to each them.  I'm excited about the friendships I've made here and can't wait to see them evolve long after I leave.

I've been reminded of the treasures in my life as I've tried to squeeze in as many "dates" with friends as possible over the past few weeks.  Yesterday was such a treat as well since Mallory and Martha threw me a going away party.  I saw old friends and new ones and each person reminded me of why I love it here.  Sure, DC has the food and the places, but people are what really make a place home.  This has been home for six years.  It's hard to leave home and I don't know that I'm "ready", but I'm willing.

I know that the next chapter will be just as exciting as this one.  Just as I've been stretched and have grown here, there's still plenty of growing to do.

But tonight is for this chapter.  So, with tenderness and some sadness, I bid my favorite city adieu.  Thanks for the smiles, dances, laughs, tears, crazy bus rides, friendships and growing pains.  To say it was an adventure would diminish my experience.

It was a life-saver and changer.  For that, I will always be grateful.

"Ready" is Relative

On day two of our time in Thailand, we read a familiar passage of scripture, but it was only after talking about it did I see it with fresh eyes.  I shared this devotional thought in our team meeting today at work and I'll share it here as well.

In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus takes time to heal the ten lepers.  These are folks who have been banished by society and left to (literally) rot until their deaths.  They've contracted a disease without a cure.  Yet Jesus takes pity on them, see potential in them and heals them.

In verse 14 he tells them to show themselves to the priest.  It's in GOING to the priest that the lepers are healed.  They step out in faith and follow Christ's instructions.  Jesus could have just healed them; it was done over and over before in scripture.  But he didn't.  He told them to go.

It was in the going, the act and and answer to his call that they were healed.

It's later in the same story that we see one return.  One of the ten.  When Jesus questions what happened to the others he's met with silence from the healed leper who returned.  But Jesus doesn't stop there.  He recognizes the glory given to him and sees the thanksgiving and makes the healed leper well.  He takes up the healing a notch and touches the leper's soul.... thus, making him well.

We can each be healed, but God calls us back and wants the glory.  It's by glorifying Him and recognizing His power that we are truly made well.

So, what's to learn?

One- we don't have to be ready and prepared.  We just have to go.  It's in the going that God heals us, blesses us and reveals his magnificent plan.

Two - when it's all done, it's up to us to return the glory and recognize the power in His plan.  It's only then that we're made well.

Are you ready?

I hope not.  Just go.  You'll be surprised at what's in store.