Feeding My Love Language...

Gary Chapman's best seller, The Five Love Languages discusses how people demonstrate and feel loved, specifically breaking it down into five separate categories.

I always knew that I enjoyed buying people things, more so than I enjoy shopping for myself, but I never realized that this was how I demonstrate love until I read this book. Quite an aha moment, really.

But it's true. I LOVE buying people gifts. I love brainstorming for ideas, I love analyzing them to figure out what they need or want, I love wrapping it up, and most of all, and I love seeing how much they love it (because really, I'm good at it. I'd say 98% of my gifting endeavors are highly successful).

So, I knew that I wasn't going to be gifting our bridal party and parents with standard gifts. Not an option. I also really didn't want to give them all the same gift, because that just seemed so impersonal. We are thanking these people for sharing this day with us --- does a monogrammed flask really do the trick?

I set out on a quest to find the "perfect" gifts for my sisters and my nieces. I'm 2/5 done with my sisters, and still on the hunt. I bought gifts for 2 out of 3 of my nieces last night, and I'm absolutely thrilled with them.

Normally I don't give jewelry to people. I feel that it's a very personal thing, and I certainly wouldn't expect someone to understand what I wanted to wear every day (though coincidentally, I wear my pearl earrings, a gift from my parents, every single day). However, in this case, it just felt like the right choice.

For my older nieces, one is turning 6 and the other just turned 3, Tom and I purchased lockets. Originally, I was only going to get this for the older one, but both Tom and my mother convinced me otherwise. We were able to get them engraved with their initials, which I think was a sweet touch.



I personally think they're pretty cute, and is something they can wear every day, or for special occasions, and will be pretty timeless.

It's safe to say that we have a pretty special relationship with our nieces, and Tom and I both felt strongly that we should get them something to reflect that, not just an embroidered flower girl tote or t-shirt.

Now, does anyone have good ideas for a 1 year old? (Just kidding, I've got plenty of ideas!!)

Fabulous Shower!!!

Yesterday was our first bridal shower, hosted by my lovely and talented mother! Years ago, I called "dibs" on a recipe-themed shower (Hey, in a family of four girls, sometimes "dibs" is the only way to be sure you have a chance to get what you want!). My mother created these super-cute recipe card invitations, and asked the guests to send in some of their favorite recipes. She then compiled a huge book of them for me. I LOVE it! I've probably read through it twice, mentally dog-earing the recipes I want to try!

We are so very grateful to have had all the guests, gifts and good food that made up yesterday. As the very first "wedding event," it was pretty surreal, albeit fun!

It was also a major plus that we made out like bandits!! Everyone was unbelievably generous, and we now have SO much stuff, we don't know where to start the unpacking!!




Yeah, there's a table under there.

And within 20 minutes of unloading the truck, this is what Tom was doing:






He LOVES that goofy vacuum! And it really is as good as the commercial makes it look. Totally recommended! :) (Thanks again, Marie & Omer!)

He also got his vegetable peeler, which he was pretty stoked about! (Way to go, Bec!)

We also received dish towels and oven mitts...

....my favorite tablecloth (from my amazing Maid of Honor!)

Yay! My tea set (along with a date for tea from the gifter!)

And lots and lots of plates from my lovely grandmother, aunt, and godmother!

We got TONS more, too, but these are the only pictures stored on my computer :)

Off the top of my head I know we got a spice rack (2 actually), a few awesome serving sets, a coffeemaker, pasta pot, grill pan, drinking glasses, wine glasses, beer glasses, silverware, a grill (including charcoal, lighter fluid, matches, and every accessory known to man), and our Kitchen-Aid mixer!!

Overall, it was a super fabulous afternoon! Many thanks to my parents for throwing our shower, and to all who attended! We're looking forward to our next shower at the end of June! It should be a lot of fun --- it's going to be co-ed, which should be interesting! :)

A Musing on Gifts...

One of the most cliche parts of planning a wedding, in my humble opinion, is the purchasing of the bridal party gifts.

This isn't to say that couples don't put thought into the gifts, but when buying a "blanket" gift for 6, 7, or 8 people, you tend to get generic. And one thing Thomas and I are not is generic.

So, we plan to go unique with our gifts. Instead of giving the boys all pilsner glasses or cuff links, Tom will actually be taking them all to a White Sox game. Most of them, including Tom, are Sox fans, and they all enjoy baseball, so it seems a good opportunity for some male bonding. Plus, since 3 of the groomsmen are underage, it's a lot easier logistically than going to a bar or other seedy joint.

For my sisters, who are all my bridesmaids, I haven't completely decided on what I'd like to do. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't post here since they all read this. I'm most likely not going to do the jewelry route, since I don't care if they all have matching jewelry. I like the idea of buying them all clutches, but it's a bit impractical considering two of them need mom purses. I really like the idea of buying them all different, separate gifts, so I might do that.

Then, we have the parents to consider. I don't even know where to begin on this one. How do you thank your parents for all their love, support and time with a $50 or $100 gift? While I know they would appreciate a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, I don't think it's completely fitting.

But, again, I have a few tricks up my sleeve, as always. Stay tuned. :)