MyPublisher has a new look to it!  They’ve got glossy book jackets, new book styles (wedding, baby, & travel) and new layouts with their updated 2.1 software. Looks like they’re taking the hints from competition as to what sells (i.e. Blurb).

This lonely photo popped into my inbox with no friends in sight.

We’ll have to wait until our photographer returns from her 2-week vacation for the rest. Until then Mr. Lemon and I get to nit-pick ourselves in this one over and over and over again.

Rejoice my fellow craftees!! The wait is over…. the trade embargo has been lifted… or rather some super cool US retailer took a basic economics course and realized that there was a huge (black) market for the Print Gocco and that they could profit highly from the overwhelming demand…

News from the Save Gocco website:

Now I bought my gocco b-6 at Dick Blick about three years ago for $115 and most eBay prices today aren’t too much higher than that… so if you need one tomorrow then go for it! However, the fact that there will be a constant supply of inks/bulbs/screens is music to my ears and may convince others to invest in something that definitely isn’t going away!

Last week, I sent a care package to all of my BMs (and hand delivered two of them) as a small “thank you” for the wonderful shower that they jointly threw on my behalf in April. I wanted to make sure I got common presents for all, but also individualized them as much as I could. I went with the old “play on words” theme and decided to get them all things to make their future showers wonderful… and off I went to the mall(s) to gather my supplies. I started with my one essential gift — the umbrella — and built the rest of the goodies around it.

Each gal got a color-coordinated ensemble with an umbrella (H&M), body wash (Bath & Body Works) and a small body lotion (not shown) , 3 scented votives (Illuminations) and a votive holder, and a handmade card (yes it’s felt hand sewn onto the backing). Each one of the packages came to less than $15 with shipping included… thanks to my sale-sniffing ways.

Here are photos of the other packages (sans candles):

Did anyone else have to get multiple shower thank-you presents for their hosts? What did you end up doing??

After months of pondering the issue, I’ve settled on my guestbook choice: a wish tree!!! Yes, Martha has reeled me into her venomous web and I felt that this was the perfect solution for a decorative display and fun well wishes from our guests. But how were we actually going to create this “tree” and what was it going to look like? I handed this task off to Papa Lemon by showing him pictures of what I was looking for and he swiftly recommended we use manzanita branches. Good thing Grandma Lemon has manzanita in her front yard, and my parents were driving up for a visit the very next weekend.

Here’s the tree in full bloom

And here are the two branches Papa Lemon brought back home (I’m so glad the birdbath and courtyard wall could hold them up!)

So yay for the branches… but how are we going to keep them standing up? These ones have very little room on the bottom to secure them in any sort of vase… so the current thinking is to place them in some sort of shallow (but wide) concrete mold and really keep them standing straight. I’m thinking we could just drape some fabric around the base of the “tree” to hide the mold and we’ll be good to go!

And last, but not least, the tree somehow has to fit in this corner and
on a table like this… so we’ve got to take some corner-to-corner
measurements to make sure everything fits nicely!

I think this is setting a new bar on the lengths I’ll go to DIY…   and yet it keeps going… oh boy! 

I’m not sure if I got the equation right… but in any case in honor of the weekend (and Miss Snow Pea mentioning her boxing workout) I wanted to see if any of your Miis wanted to wander over to my Wii and play! I know there are many avid gamers here on WeddingBee, and many are big Nintendo fans. My “Mii Parade” is pretty lonely, and I’d love to see some Bee Mii’s on my Wii. [If you're lost by now... I'm really really sorry]

Friend codes, however, aren’t a one way street… we both have to add each other for the connection to be made. So there are no worries about your Wii being hacked in some strange way by posting it here. And if you don’t want to post it, you can always just register me and I’ll get a Wii message asking if I want to be your friend.

Perhaps you’d like to beat my Mii at tennis, or spar in the boxing ring… either way I’d like to play against some new names and faces!

My friend code is:
4903 7337 2599 8962

I’d love to have wedding planning/video game pals Maybe next we can collect DS codes and have massive WeddingBee MarioKart races!

So the whole collection doesn’t release until tomorrow … but here are a couple links to some of the bridal wares from Target a whole day early! I’m sure they’ll be much more when the site goes live this weekend… but it doesn’t hurt to have a jump start on everyone else! I would also like to point out that all of the dresses are available in both regular and LONG sizes… god bless Mr. Mizrahi!

Strapless Sheath Dress – Ivory - $89.99

Short Veil – Champagne – $14.99 (also in white)

Isaac Mizrahi Bridal for Target® Rhinestone Triple Headband - $17.99



Long Veil – Champagne - $18.99 (also in white)

Lace Sheath Dress – Ivory – $129.99


Tulle Princess Dress - White – $159.99


Silk Cowl Dress – Champagne – $129.99

Trapunto Bell Dress – White – $159.99

Full Ball Skirt and Lace Shell – $69.99 & $129.99

Sateen Peak Lapel Jacket, Pants and Cowl Neck Shell - Ivory – $49.99 & $79.99

Georgina Bow Slides – White Lace – $24.99

Faux Pashmina Shawl (various colors)- $14.99

Tie and Pocket Square Set (various colors) – $19.99

Tie and Cummerbund Set  (various colors) – $29.99

 I’m not afraid to admit that I enjoy opportunities to wear matching/coordinated clothing… and I can easily blame my affinity on my high school uniforms years (you can bet I still have both of my $500 kilts!) and sorority days. Therefore, I really couldn’t resist planning some sort of  “getting ready” outfit for my gaggle of girls. I wanted something simple with no words (what would they do with a bridesmaid shirt on July 8th?) that subtlely hinted at the wedding and here’s what I came up with (pardon my poor lighting):

It’s a simple (and extra long!) Mossimo tank top from Target that I purchased for only $7.99 with our wedding motif screen printed on it! Now how easy was this to do? Why let me just show you!

Step #1: Find a design, print it out, and tape it on a piece of cardboard. Place a piece of transparency on top of the design and cut out the stencil using an Exacto knife.

Step #2: Place a piece of cardboard in your shirt, and position the stencil on the shirt and secure it firmly with tape.

Step #3: Apply the ink. I used Speedball screenprinting ink in gold ($4.45 at Dick Blick) and a simple craft paint roller to apply the ink. It made the design come out with a fun graffitti look to it that I really liked.

Step #4: Remove the stencil, wait for the shirt to dry and then secure it with heat (iron it on the opposite side). Ta Da!

So in addition to the five tanks I made for my girls, I also made a white one for myself!… All for about  $8 each   And if the girls don’t like them, it’s always great to have an extra beach tank top in your drawyer…

Our guests won’t get them in the mail until next week, but I couldn’t resist sharing a little preview with ya’ll!



Yup! That’s my pretty pretty invite card printed in light gold and Navy gocco ink! And that’s just the start of all of the fun!Full details of the intense construction, GOCCO & laser printing fun, as well as FULL cost disclosure (get ready to crave DIY-prices!) to come next week!!!

For some reason I haven’t really thought much about the whole “rehearsing” aspect of the ceremony, but boy have I had yummy thoughts about the dinner that follows! Mr. Lemon’s parents insisted on hosting the rehearsal dinner, but having never been to the area, they had a difficult time trying to find a spot that would be perfect for the event. We’ll have around 32 guests at the dinner (just immediate family, wedding party & their guests), and they wanted to have a really great meal in a private space for a Friday night.
Our first thought was to host it at Roy’s at Spanish Bay. Mr. Lemon and I had a mini-engagement party there last year, and he adored the Hawaiian fusion cuisine (Roy himself was the chef that night) and the amazing ocean view. Unfortunately, private parties are simply seated in the main dining room and with a maximum of 12 people per table. So while we’d have a great meal, it wouldn’t really be too much of an fun family dinner. Discussions ensued and another criterion was added to the mix: something “different” from the reception. Since we were going to have an ocean view and steak/fish for the reception, they thought it would be nice to have a different atmosphere the night before.

So back to the drawing board… and Mr. Lemon’s parents sent him on a tasting mission during his solo trip up to Monterey. And he came back raving that the decision had been made: Casanova in Carmel. They’ve labeled themselves “the most romantic restaurant in Carmel” and honestly it’s so charming and reminiscent of restaurants in the European countryside that it deserves the label. Their menu “echoes the South of France & Northern Italy” (aka. oh so yummy) and the service from everyone is absolutely astounding. I’ve been to the restaurant twice now for lunch since finding out it was for consideration, and I must say that I’m hooked on their tapenade! Mr. Lemon’s parents reserved the “Milagro” room, which is their version of a kitschy Alpine lodge that seats 35, and it’s just the perfect cozy getaway for a great meal.

I haven’t been privvy to the menu as of yet, but it’s going to be a regular 4-course meal. I’ve specifically requested that we have the Spinach gnocchi…. oh how I could drink up the sauce straight from the serving dish! They also have an amazing filet mignon, so I can’t wait to taste it as well!
So now it’s on to making the rehearsal dinner invitations and the favors… and eating… oh gosh how I’ve made my stomach growl writing this!