really, you're gonna do that?

Jan and I have discussed having soda during the wedding, either all of it, or during the group photos/appetizers/mingling part pre-dinner. If we're going blue, we might as well have some fun with it, so I've found a few options. Pepsi cans are all blue, plus they just released a new soda, called Pepsi blue, which is actually blue inside! Blue Sky is a natual soda w/many flavors. Jones soda has cool packaging, and they have berry lemonade and grape (both blue-ish colors). And my current fav - Fresca!! Love the packaging, love the taste. Isn't color fun??

better than a yearbook

If any of you have photos of either Jan or I that are just pure winners, please send them along (digital, or if they are prints, we will scan and mail back to you). If they are photos with you in them, even better. We're putting together a photo book for our guest book and would love you to be in it with us. Start browsing all your files - when we were kids, or last weekend - we want it all!

{that's Jan on the left and Scotty on the far right - so cute!}

invites

Invites are being printed, and I am officially against paper today. I chose too textured of a paper stock and Gocco hated it, and I hated Gocco. So after hours of thinking I was doing something wrong, I did the right thing and quit it all and went to the river!! Now that I'm back and a little saner, I have decided just to get these bad boys printed by someone else, and keep Gocco for smooth paper. Invites, maps and rsvp cards - here is a sneak preview. I'm also getting our photos printed tonight to include in the invites, so watch out! That again was another struggle...but we'll make the best of it....

busy bee

Sorry for the lack in posts - I've been up until at least 1 every night working on work/projects, etc. I'll return on Tuesday as we're going out of town for the weekend. I'm printing invites, Jan's helping a cousin w/some construction on a house, and we'll spend time w/family & friends down at the river. I'm cramming in most of today with work and then at 3:30 we're heading to Indy for the tail end of Carburator day at the track to see Kid Rock with my free tickets from work and hang out w/some of the guys.

I've been on the hunt for earings for awhile now, and with my mini budget, there wasn't a lot to go all out. Luckily, I found these for a very reasonable price. I tried on necklaces with my lace and felt very grandma. Unless that changes when I get the top made, I think I'm going to go ahead with these earings since I'm wearing my hair up. The pretty scallops mimick my lace top, and pearls are just classy! It helped that Jan saw them on me and loved them. That always makes decisions easier.

hello kai

I've been keeping busy working on designs for my upcoming company, but it's still super slowly coming along. All of the ones on my future site will be printed at a print shop on nice textured card stock, but custom ones like these were printed by hand on my gocco press. I cranked them out last weekend for my cute little nephew, and am adding a photo collage w/rick's photos. Just a little preview!

my don't we look happy

a few wkends ago was mother's day - just a fun family shot with eric's parents included. from our m's day bbq at holly's. that's ruby on the left.

flutter-bys

These would look really pretty hanging by the food table on blue lanterns. A small pack of origami paper and a glue gun would do the trick in about 10 min's. The directions are right here. Love it!

birthdays = dancing, cake, more dancing

This is a special shot out to my girl Caroline, who's birthday is today. Happy birthday!! (care will be shooting photos at the wedding, making sure i look hot at all times, making sure she looks hot at all times, and baking the sweetest cookies this side of the mississippi)

wedding artist

I saw these posted on another site and love them so much I emailed my dear friend Isabel (who is flying in from London just for me!) to see if she could do anything like this, in her own style of course, post wedding from the photos. I think they are so beautiful and really capture the essence of a wedding. Isabel and her mom are super talented artists when it comes to sketching and painting, and I would love to have some of her artwork around my house. Plus Iz is studying fashion, so who could be better?

POP!

Oh kettlecorn, you yummy thing you. Served typically at fairs by the guy with the white shirt, black amish looking bow tie and suspenders, I am usually one of those people in line to get a bag of popcorn, fresh from the kettle. Sweet, and salty, it's the perfect blend of goodness. Perusing through the grocery store, I came upon this brand and decided to try a bag. I love the packaging and it tastes great. Thanks to costco, this is going to be a little taste of Indiana, brought to the wedding as an appetizer. I bought small paper bags, scallopped the tops with scissors, and am going to gocco a stamp to the front of each. I, Julia, vote for Indiana.

pretty, yet pretty useful

I've seen these Jessica Rust pieces before and just love them. Great personalized ceramic plates and mugs that you will actually use, not just sit on a shelf. They are understated, yet neutral enough to go with anything.

the shorter ones

I am loving this new wedding line from jcrew for kids. Their prices are high, but the outfits are lovely. I like the detailing on the pink dress and the big bow on the skirt.

other people often say great things

Neither of us entered marriage thinking it wouldn't be a strain. Life has strains in it, and he's the person I want to strain with. - Patricia Arquette

Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever. - Author unknown

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. - Author unknown

frame-ation

A few weekends ago, Jan and I went to a store that was filled with antiques and many items rescued from estates, old restaurants, etc. Pretty fantastic. The goal was to find an old wooden window frame to put pics in from our parents, and grandparent's weddings. I looked at a lot of ideas for this, and liked this the best. The other photos had all different frames scattered on a table, and I thought it looked too cluttered. We found the perfect one, and are in the midst of getting new glass cut and photos gathered. It's great, but my it's a little heavy. We'll probably ship it sans glass and then put it together a few days before. I love how they are all made uniform in the frame - we'll eventually hang it up in our house!

i'm it

I didn't know there were blog games, but I've just been tagged. So..
Here are some facts on my life:
1. I started www.juliaabelmann.com and am working on a 2nd company to be launched this summer
2. The last country I visited was Hong Kong for a month last spring
3. I love Papa Murphy's gourmet veggie pizza, no olives, add pepperoncinis
4. Jan and I have discovered a new desire to make furniture out of great wood
5. I prefer drinking with a straw
6. I'm lactose intolorant
7. I love old movies, and jazz. A brownie corner would make it an evening.

I need to tag 7 people. Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You then tag seven others and list their names on your blog. Leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
here are the lucky ones: rick, rachel, farrah (i don't know anymore people with blogs)

poor jan

Jan's bike got stolen today. It was his main mode of transportation for school, and someone cut his lock and rode away with his bike. how mean!

look ma, no hands

I finished my first paper magnolia as an option for the centerpieces - what do you think? It's about 12-15" wide.

we are family, all my brothers, sisters and me

This was taken right before a large alligator jumped up and took out the back row.

Ok, maybe that didn't happen. But we did have a whole lot of good food and family bonding. This is the lovely river that runs through my town. The canoe pics are on Jan's camera, so I'll post those later this week. The one new thing I learned this weekend, was that although it's asian tradition, never ask Dale to remove his shoes in your house, unless everyone is equipped with industrial strength closepins.

yo shorty

If I went for a short dress, I would totally choose one like this. It's so romantic, and perfectly shows her cute yellow shoes. I only opted out because as this is a once in a lifetime, I wanted to go full bridal. Long and flowy with a train. But someone, please wear one and I will take your photo like this!