Ugly Stamps

When I decided to use postcards for Save the Dates, it was the hope of them being a cute, easy, and inexpensive way to get the word out to mark everyone's calendars.  Part of the idea was that I would save postage by mailing postcards which are 32 cents versus 45 cents to send a regular card.  What I didn't count on was the fact that postcard stamps are ugly.

USPS

This is the only option that the Post Office carries.  I'm not sure why the Post Office chose to put tacky Hawaiian shirts on its postal stamps, but I know that they do not scream wedding....they scream roasted pig on a spit.  You can use a third party website for such as Zazzle for custom stamps, but that will significantly increase the cost of your stamps to about 85 cents a piece and pretty much wipe out any savings you had by opting for postcards in the first place.

If you are EXTREMELY bothered by using this stamp on a post card, I would say to put a regular 45 cent stamp (they have pretty roses and other wedding related themes to choose from) because it's still not as expensive as the custom design. 

To be honest, I'd rather save those few extra cents to put towards something else.  Although I didn't like the look of them, my mama graciously and helpfully addressed, stamped, and mailed all the post cards and I didn't have to even look at the stamps.  It helped to have her take care of it so I didn't cave in during a wedding mini meltdown and make a rush order for the custom stamps.  Thanks mom!

Bits From Behind the Scenes

On the subject of invitations:

Melinda: I think I'm going to put cocktail attire on my invite.
Bri: Put it on the response card not the invitation.
Melinda: Why on the response card? Martha Stewart says invitation.
Bri: I thought I read not the invitation.  I have Emily Post at home.
Melinda: Who do you think would win in this battle, Martha or Emily?
Bri: I believe Emily.  Martha can be a bit too modern and loose at times.
Melinda: Yep, when I think Martha, I think loose.
Bri: LOL.

Ordering Dresses!

I am so excited! I just placed my order for my bridesmaid dress for Melinda's wedding :) Her shop is so accommodating and helpful to ship my dress in the same box as my sister's (assuming she ever gets around to filling out her form), which saves us $15. If you have a group of bridesmaids living in the same location, consider having their dresses shipped together to cut down on costs.

We have been so busy with our wedding planning that we have neglected the blog! Melinda has a big weekend ahead of her but I'm sure she will fill us all in over the next few weeks. I am still wading through bridesmaid dresses and have grown to hate them almost as much as I hate stationary. Melinda deals with the wedding decisions with stress, I with hatred. I calm her down, she makes me have fun. I'm so glad we are planning our weddings at the same time! It also helps that we are loaning each other wedding decor pieces ;) Cousin love is only made stronger through the sharing of mercury glass and tiered trays.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a public service announcement in honor of Valentine's Day.

Source

For those of you not on a wedding diet, please eat all the yummy truffles for me!

Fresh Idea Friday: Customizing Ikea

I love the idea of Ikea furniture, but I'm not totally sold on some of their designs.  I feel like a lot of their designs are one step away from particle board 8th grade shop class experiments.

Exhibit A, Your Honor
Ikea Benno TV Unit, $99

I stumbled across a website that will help you add a little more oomph to your standard ikea designs.  MyKea lets you personalize your ikea furniture with their set of designs that were submitted by artists all over the world.  MyKea will cut the designs to fit the most popular ikea furniture pieces using adhesive designs that are supposed to peel right off.

Ikea Billy Bookcase
My Kea, "Keeping Plants" Design, $39

 Prices start at $20, but make sure that you switch the website into dollars (it defaults to euros). 

Bri Hates Stationery

I have spent an unknown amount of time looking at save the dates and wedding invitations. I can't find anything I like! Everything is either too cutesy or too boring, or themed. I have looked at so many different sites and options that I can't even find the ridiculously cute but not my style lobster card that I saw earlier and wanted to share with y'all!

The birds are cute, but no thanks
(via Wedding Paper Divas)

Thank goodness Annie offered to help. She has an illness that makes her fond of stationary and school supplies..

Brownies, yum!

Instead of the normal Thrifty Thursday post, I am bringing you a delicious and easy brownie recipe because everyone knows brownies are the best. They help out with dreary and disgusting winter days and Melinda is too busy meeting a work deadline to tell me no :)


Since I did not have unsweetened chocolate, I added an extra 4 tablespoons of butter and 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.



In a double boiler, melt 
1/2 cup butter
4 oz. Unsweetened chocolate
Let this cool.
Beat together until light and foamy
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
Gradually add 
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
While still beating
With a few swift strokes combine the cooled chocolate mixture into the eggs and sugar. Even if you normally use an electric mixer, do this part manually. Before the mixture becomes uniformly colored, stir in gently, 
1 cup sifted all-purpose flower (I didn't sift.. naughty me)
Nuts are optional, but I'm not a fan
Bake at 350°F, in a 9x13 inch pan for about 25 minutes. Cut when cool. 
(From the 1932 edition of The Joy of Cooking)