just a lazy back from holiday post

I've just had the nicest holiday away with my mum and dad. We met up with them down in London, as our band was playing in a contest at the Royal Albert Hall (we came 5th! oh yeah!), and then we headed down to beautiful Bath for a week. We were staying in a gorgeous wee cottage and I got some much needed relaxation in. Then Dave came down to meet us and we headed over to the Loire Valley, south of Paris for 4 days. We drank lots of wine, ate lots of cheese, and generally pottered around tiny villages all week. Bliss!! A perfect two weeks away was nicely rounded off with a gig with the band at the Louvre. A bit surreal, but very cool. We were doing our Acid Brass stuff (remixes of old Acid classics... a bit hard to explain, but it's good fun and goes off at the festivals) and got a good crowd in. It was awesome catching up with mum and dad too.

So now I'm just feeling a bit sleepy and worn out (worn out from relaxing? seems so) so today's post is a lazy one.

Check out this dress. Got $12m?? Feel like blowing it all on a dress? It's pretty sparkly I guess, but I'm not so into the lace-up side bits.

I'll get back on track with something a bit more interesting soon... promise.

Something I don't get about weddings

The rehearsal dinner. I honestly don't get it - I understand the bridal party meeting at the ceremony venue a day prior to the Day to run through how it's all going to happen. I understand wanting to catch up with out of town guests, because the reception itself is likely to be pretty busy and full on, but a dinner? to practice eating and engaging in polite conversation? I hope by now I have those skills covered. And if you give a speech at the rehearsal dinner, what is then said at the reception?

But The Knot (I know, I know) has taught me that not only is it Absolutely Necessary to have a rehearsal dinner, but it is also vital that a brand new dress is bought for said occasion.

Hmmmm this is coming out a wee bit snarky - it's not intended to be! maybe it's just different cultures and traditions; it seems as though the rehearsal dinner thang is more an American tradition - is that true? how about in the UK? in NZ? I guess also the style of wedding might impact upon other expectations too...

Personally, I would rather spend the night before the wedding chilling with my girls and my mum, having a couple of wines and watching The Sweetest Thing (ok, I stole that directly from my sister's wedding eve - but it was lovely!).

While I'm questioning it all... is there a difference between a bachelorette party, a hens night and a bridal shower? And a bridesmaids luncheon?

Goodness gracious me.

However. If we were to have a rehearsal dinner, and I was to buy a dress for it, I would HAVE to buy this:

an apology

very sorry to anyone who has been checking to see if I've written anything since last Wednesday. Unfortunately, Talk Talk (= worst internet provider in the UK) has let me down and the internet has been on the blink for a few days. I have called the Indian sub-continent a couple of times, but their databases are down also, so no help there.

After a trip to the library to write a couple of necessary emails, I've managed to restart the computer and the internet appears to be working again. However, it did that on Friday for all of 10 minutes and then crashed again, so I'm not holding my breath. Why didn't I do a course in computers? a B.A. can't fix the internet.

All going well I'll get some posting in this week - but from Friday I am off to London to perform with the Fairey Band at the Royal Albert Hall. Then, following a fun London day with Mel, I am on holiday with my mum and dad (yay! they just arrived in London yesterday!) in Bath for a week and then in the Loire Valley in France for a second week. The holiday finishes up with Dave and I performing, again with the Fairey Band, this time at the Louvre - woopee!!!!

A big thanks to everyone who has been reading and commenting! I know Paper Ballerinas hasn't achieved world domination just yet, but it's been lots of fun nevertheless!

Hair pieces

When I've tried on wedding dresses, I've loved it when the bridal store assistant has popped a veil on my head. It makes it all seem that much more bridal. But then, the other day, I tried on a stunning taffeta gown that had a silk flower at the waist. Instead of a veil, a clutch of silk flowers were clipped into my hair.

I was sold - veil schmael; I'm totally going with flowers.

Twigs and Honey is currently taking Etsy and the blogging world by storm, and Myra's creations have become so popular that apart from the first 30 orders received today, orders are closed for the time being! I tried valiantly to win a hair piece for myself, but no such luck.

But fear not, there are some other stunning hair piece options lurking on the web.

Mikiye Creations have many many hair pieces that I would be more than happy to wear (and are still taking custom orders!). These two are my favourites from her collection

This one is called Camellia. So romantic.

And this whimsical wee love is called Holly Golightly.

And this pair of peonies from Butterfly Enchantress

There are a ton of other options just on Etsy alone - with jewels, feathers, headbands, fascinator veils; all sorts!

The coolest wall tile in the world

I was just cruising around on Esty and stumbled across this - the most beautiful wall tile ever created. I challenge you to find a more aesthetically pleasing wall tile. It's 9" sq, and 3" deep. And I want it so bad. So bad I can taste it. It's name is Fungi, its made of porcelain, and it's by Heather of Element Clay Studio. There are a bunch of others in the collection, all cool, but I am drawn to this one. It's on the market for a cool $245 - well worth it for a good piece of art, but unfortunately a tad out of my budget. Check out Heather's other listings - I also love the Urchin Bowls.

Who ate all the pies?

There are two things that Dave has specifically requested for our wedding. As he's pretty laid back when it comes to centrepieces, save the date designs, and shoes, I figure that it's only fair that he should have his few wishes granted.

First off the blocks: the man wants a big band to play at the reception. No arguments from me. This is something that I really wanted, but had never mentioned as I thought it would be waaay too expensive, so I popped it on the nice, but not gonna happen pile. But then he bought it up. Bless.

Secondly: he wants pies. Yep, Mrs Macs in a pie warmer pies. Dave has a few in-jokes with a few people concerning the beauty of the 1 dollar pie. He wants a pie warmer at the reception so that if our guest don't like their Moroccan lamb whatnots they can be consoled with some beef and gravy in a soggy pasty pocket.

Fair enough. Who am I to judge? He wants so little... let them eat pies.

Papermaking!

When we first got engaged I started getting excited about all the awesome craft projects I was going to complete (insert visions of piles of invitations looking just so, tables of homemade placecards, and centrepieces looking like they've just walked out of the pages of Martha Stewart magazine). I am now a little daunted, as I most certainly did not inherit my Gran's artistic talents, but am taking heart from the DIY projects by other bloggers, and in particular those completed by Tara of In This Instance (seriously - check this blog out, its stunning). So, with a hearty two years to go, I've started making my own paper. And now the lounge is full of buckets of paper pulp, towels, and drying sheets of paper.

The first few attempts were distinctly average (it took me a while to figure out that I'm actually not too good for instructions) but I'm getting there and am proud to say I have 5 perfectly thin and smooth pieces of recycled paper!

Not sure where to from here... if I can find a way to print or stamp effectively on the paper I'd love to make the invites from scratch, but in any case the paper will do for placecards and backing sheets for orders of service.

I'm using the Kundalini Kit, which I picked up from crafting utopia Fred Aldous

More budget friendly

I was an Ezibuy kid growing up. I loved the catalogues coming out each month (+ a special supplement at Christmas. Oh yeah) and being allowed to choose a couple of things to order. I remember the anticipation when the 3 day delivery time seemed to take soooo looooonnnggg, and I remember the gorgeous pink skirt that arrived in time for my 17th birthday (I try not to remember the dungarees that I thought were super cool only a few years beforehand). I was having a wee browse on their site today (how times have changed - Ezibuy on the net! yegads!!!) and saw that between their Capture, Grace Hill, Urban, and Emerge ranges there are actually some really pretty dresses, a few of which would not be unsuitable for bridesmaids! Most are cocktail length, and aside from the Grace Hill Dresses are more on the casual side - but above all they are cheap. Here are a couple that took my fancy:

For $129.99

For $79.99

For $20. That's right - $20. Each of these styles are available in each colour, plus a pretty shade of yellow. And they're 100% cotton.

~ Congratulations!!! ~

Today is my parents' 30 year wedding anniversary! that calls for a celebration in my book. As we speak, they have just arrived in Morocco (they're in the first couple of weeks of a big Spanish/Portuguese/Moroccan/British/French adventure which will get them here to me in only a few short weeks - yay!!) so will be unlikely to read this post, but I thought it still definitely deserves a mention.

I'm sure there have been marital ups and downs of which I am unaware, but from what I can see Mum and Dad have been each others best friend since they first locked eyes across the bandroom in Blenheim.

They both complement and compliment each other, and although they are quite different people, they find the same things funny and want the same things from their lives. The trip they're currently on is one of many they have taken (some with my sister and I, but, latterly, more often by themselves) and they are always trying new cultures and sharing things together.

I am a less extroverted version of my Dad - we respond in the same way to the same things, and I think my Mum is a perfect foil for him. I know the belief is that girls subconsciously look for someone like their father in a boyfriend, but I think that in Dave I've actually found someone more like my Mum. I like to think that we're a pretty good team too.

And if we can have 30 (+) years like they have had, we'll be doing just fine.

Congratulations Mum and Dad!!

The Bridget Jones Dilemma

So I would love to wear something as gorgeous and romantic as this on my wedding day:

But the dress would probably prefer that I wear this instead:

Such a shame. Maybe the next couple of years spent on a treadmill will help the situation.

In brighter news, Mel and I are planning another exciting dress shopping London excursion - we've found one bridal salon that stocks both of the current dressesofourdreams. Yay!