Crushing On : Subscription Boxes

{A vintage subscription service: The Milk Man}

Subscription boxes are having a definite moment. Anyone who follows me on Instagram knows that the hubby and I receive Blue Apron occasionally (a service I wrote about here). Ever since signing up for BA, I’ve been seeing tons of ads (thank you, Facebook) for other subscription box companies. I’m tempted to try a few, but I’m not sure I should sign up for many more home delivery services. I may never leave the house! But seriously, a girl can only commit to so much. And yet, I have the urge to give ‘em a whirl… Here are the ones that have piqued my interest:

Birchbox

Truth be told, I’ve been coveting a Birchbox for years. At my last job, a couple girls even got the cute pink boxes delivered at work, which I thought was a fun and clever way to spice up a mundane day at the office. For those not familiar with the four-year-old company, Birchbox offers monthly deliveries of personalized beauty (or grooming, for the boys) and lifestyle samples. Depending on your preferences, you get a mix of four to five large-size samples (such as skincare, haircare or fragrance products) from up-and-coming as well as cult brands.

Birchbox is not terribly expensive: You can sign up for a monthly subscription for $10/month or commit to a year at $110 (meaning you get one month free!). I think the reason I haven’t signed up is I have a bad habit of not using samples. Whenever I order from Sephora, I carefully pick out samples and even use my points to get the deluxe offerings. And then they get stashed in a bathroom drawer, never to be thought of again! Maybe if I put them in a more visible place I’d use them… and maybe if they came in a cute pink box…

Darby Smart

I only recently heard about Darby Smart and I thought it was such a smart idea! The company’s mission is to make DIY simple and fun. Darby Smart sends customers the exact craft supplies they need to make a modern craft that they will love and be proud to show off. I always see brilliant DIYs online and pin them to my crafts board, but I never actually get around to sourcing the supplies and sitting down to make them. With Darby Smart, if you see something you want to make, you order the project and the supplies are sent right to your doorstep. Easy peasy. 

I took a peek around the website and there are so many beautiful projects that I’d love to create: jewelry holders, chic terrariums, monogrammed totes, beaded and braided bracelets, gilded votives, coasters, painted planters… So many creative ideas!

Club W

In San Diego, GT and I were less than an hour drive from so many wonderful wineries. We visited Temecula wine country often and we were even members at two wineries. But when we made our cross-country move to Florida, we sadly decided to drop those memberships since we could no longer take advantage of all the perks (the pick-up parties, namely), not to mention having to foot a hefty bill for shipping.

So when I found out about Club W, I was intrigued. The club sends monthly shipments of wine based on your “palate profile” and three bottles cost just $39 (plus $6 flat rate shipping)—quite a steal compared to other wine clubs! (We were paying about $60-$70 for our Temecula wine club shipments.) According to the website, Club W builds direct relationships with vineyards and farmers to make "exceptional" small lot wines at low, better-than-retail prices. You can skip or cancel any time, with no fees or hassle, which is a must for me when it comes to signing up for a subscription box. I don’t want to be locked into something long term.

The thing I like the most, though, is that Club W enables you to learn about the wine in your shipment. For every wine, Club W produces a short video that includes tasting notes and other background information such as the producer's story, an explanation of the growing region or a primer on the varietal. Some people just want to drink and enjoy their wine, but the hubs and I love learning about what we’re sipping, too.

So, what’s your take on subscription boxes? Do you receive any of these direct-to-doorstep services, or others? If so, I’d love to hear your about your experiences, and any recommendations, of course :)

(Vintage Milk Man via Pinterest; Collage images via the company websites, linked above, and Facebook pages: Birchbox, Darby Smart, Club W)

Wedding Wednesdays : The Ceremony

Since I recently got hitched, and have all the photos from the big day, I thought it would be fun to start a weekly series sharing my favorite images and memories, and maybe a few tips and resources along the way. This is the fourth installment. If you're planning a wedding, make sure to check out "The Credits" at the end. Enjoy!

My husband and I both agree: Our favorite part of our wedding day, hands down, was the ceremony.

The weeks, days and hours leading up to the wedding were full of anxiety and stress. And a couple things went awry during the reception. But I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, or a hint of exaggeration, that the ceremony was perfect.

Since the ceremony is where the marrying actually happens, it was important to me that it be more than a flash in the pan. More than 10 minutes. More than a quick “We will,” “I do” and kiss! Short and sweet works for some people, but not for me. We brides and grooms spend so much time and money on the party, but I believe just as much attention should be given to the part where two people pledge their love and commit their futures to each other. That’s what everyone is there to witness and celebrate, right?

And since I’m a writer, I insisted on crafting the ceremony myself. It was quite the undertaking, and took about a week of serious, nose-to-the-grindstone work, though I was thinking about it and researching ideas and readings for much longer. A Practical Wedding was very helpful in this regard (the blog offers great guides for writing your ceremony, as well as samples for traditional and non-traditional ceremonies), though I did do a bit of general poking around the internet, too.

I didn’t want a boilerplate ceremony, with names subbed into a standardized form. I wanted something unique, thoughtful, personal, romantic. Sweet is a given, but a little silly keeps people on their toes. Most importantly, I wanted it to be a reflection of GT and I, and our love.

We had our longtime friend, Ryan, serve as the officiant. GT has known Ryan since junior high, when they met at church youth group. I ended up meeting Ryan at church, too, but a few years later, in high school. Ryan was the perfect choice to lead our ceremony since he’d known us for more than a decade, separately and together. It was his first time officiating and he did an incredible job. Even though I had written most of the words he spoke, it still felt special. He brought the ceremony to life.

Other dear friends took part by giving readings: “Love” by Roy Croft and “How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali. We included a handfasting ceremony—which served as our “expression of intent”—and used Coast Guard line to, literally, tie the knot. Since we’re winos, we also performed a wine blending ceremony, using two of our favorite red and white varietals. We wrote our own vows, of course, but got our friends and family involved by including a community vow of support as well.

The whole ceremony felt surreal, like floating on a cloud. It also zipped by (as weddings do). But for those 30 minutes or so, I felt truly joyful and bursting with love. Just how you should on your wedding day.

Now, a few (or a lot) more photos, if you’d like to see…

Happy Days : When Friends Visit Florida

Life has been a little lonely since we moved across the country to Florida. We have no family or friends (yet) here in St. Pete, so it’s just me, GT and the dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love the hubs and the pooches, but it’s nice to see people from our old life showing up in our new life. That’s a bit melodramatic, I admit, but it’s just reassuring to know that it is possible to stay connected with those we love no matter how many miles away or wherever we get moved to next.

Which is why I was thrilled to have my good friend Brittany—who I met during our junior year of college at Pepperdine University and who was a bridesmaid in my wedding—visit for a few days last week with her adorable 1½-year-old daughter Simone in tow. She lives in Seattle and has family in Florida, but she scheduled to spend the first leg of her trip out east in St. Pete with me.

We had about three days to hangout and catch up, and it was so wonderful to see how much Simone has grown, as well as Brittany who is pregnant with baby No. 2. As a bonus, their visit forced me to get out of my apartment bubble and explore more of my new city—the family-friendly places, at least.

All the details (and photos!) of our adventures, after the jump...

Football Sunday at theAVENUE

It's a slow, lazy Monday here. Still recovering from yesterday's fried-and-fatty-food bonanza and the four-too-many Moscow Mules that I consumed while watching the San Diego Chargers take on the Super Bowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks.

The hubs and I had fun, maybe a little too much fun, but despite the loud cheering and boozing I was still able to discern how delicious the bar food was at theAVENUE eat/drink in downtown St. Pete. I'm not a football fanatic like my hubby—I find it nearly impossible to pay attention when a game is on, it's like I'm programmed to find a diversion—but I would certainly return to theAVENUE for another Sunday... Monday... or Thursday game. (Why is football always on? At least, it feels that way in my house.)

We had what could possibly be the perfect game-time snacks: Corndog Nuggets with hot mustard aioli and Crispy Fried Green Beans with buttermilk ranch (which I doctored up with some pepper and wing sauce that was on the table, making it even more ah-mazing).

After the game, we weren't really that hungry but we needed something to sop up all the alcohol in our stomachs. Fortunately, theAVENUE is known for having an incredible burger selection, with about 25 options to choose from. Unfortunately, I was too tipsy to take a photo before we devoured our burgers, so you'll just have to trust me—they looked and tasted divine. 

GT ordered theCRACKA, an Angus patty topped with a deep fried green tomato, southern slaw, pimento cheese and barbecue sauce while I got theGOODNIGHT. The appropriately-titled burger was breakfast-for-dinner on a bun: applewood bacon, sunny up egg and bourbon maple syrup on an English muffin (I held the American cheese). Sweet and savory and so, so good. Man, I wish I took a picture. Oh well, guess we'll just have to make a return trip :)

So, all in all, despite the hangover that followed, it was a good day. And best of all (for the boy at least): The Chargers won, 30-21! Woot woot!

Here's hoping you had a wonderful weekend, too.

Currently Coveting

A custom watercolor portrait of the hubby and I, created by Jennifer Vallez of Sophie and Lili. Her work is so sweet and lovely. I'm obsessed with following her posts on Instagram.

This collection of classic novels, with covers gorgeously illustrated by Anna Bond. (I have a mild obsession with Rifle Paper Co. anything.)

I’ve been daydreaming about this dress (from my favorite online shop) for awhile now. I adore the floral print and asymmetrical hem. This frock would look great with tights, boots and a leather jacket in the fall but, for now, it's still summer weather in Florida.

A Nena & Co. tote (I’m a sucker for fringe!). I’m loving their day bags, too. Lately, the purses I've purchased have fallen apart rather quickly, too quickly, so I'm ready to invest in something that will stand up to daily wear and tear for more than a few months. And look fabulous, of course.

A kitchen tool that turns vegetables into “noodles” for healthy "pastas" and raw veggie salads. This spiralizer from Williams-Sonoma looks amazing, but the kitchen in our one-bedroom apartment is already bursting at the seams with stuff. So this handheld julienne peeler may be a better choice, for now.

Dahlias are my favorite flower, so I’m curious to try these dahlia-inspired scents: Dahlia Divin by Givenchy and Dahlia & Vines by NEST. ("Inspired" because dahlias don’t actually smell like anything. But they look beautiful, so I assume these fragrances do what they can to mimic the bloom’s romantic aesthetic.)

What are you currently coveting?

A Day We'll Never Forget

Thirteen years later, and we can't forget. It's so important that we don't forget. And yet, watching the 9/11 anniversary coverage this morning, hearing the playing of Taps, I was surprised to be overcome with emotion, tears suddenly falling down my cheeks. But I'm glad that I still have that reaction, 13 years later. It was a horrific and devastating day that changed all of our lives forever, and the impact of that shouldn't be diminished by the passing of time.

So today we remember. We reflect. And we never forget. Like anyone who has experienced loss knows well: They are gone, but not forgotten.

P.S. An editorial I wrote on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

(Images via National September 11 Memorial & Museum)

Wedding Wednesdays : The First Look

Since I recently got hitched, and have all the photos from the big day, I thought it would be fun to start a weekly series sharing my favorite images and memories, and maybe a few tips and resources along the way. This is the third installment. If you're planning a wedding, make sure to check out "The Credits" at the end. Enjoy!

My husband and I decided to do a first look on our wedding day, but it took a bit of convincing on his part before coming to an enthusiastic decision. Initially, when I said I wanted to do a first look, GT agreed because he is the kind of guy that would give his fiance whatever she wanted on her wedding day. But, being the kind of girl I am, I wanted to make sure he was truly happy and comfortable with the decision.

After talking about it, I found that he, being a typical dude and not up with wedding trends, was more familiar with the traditional idea of seeing his bride for the first time as she walked down the aisle. And the more we talked about it, he wasn't so sure he wanted to give that moment up. GT wasn't sure if seeing each other before the ceremony, during a private "first look," would steal the joy from the ceremony. That seeing me walk down the aisle wouldn't be as emotional, as exhilarating, if he had already seen me, in my dress.

I admitted to him that I was a little worried about that as well but that I was more inclined to believe that the ceremony entrance would still be just as exciting, for him and for me, even if we did a first look. The only thing that might be lessened would be our nerves. Plus, it would give us more time for photos and we'd spend less time after the ceremony away from our guests because we would have gotten most of the bride-and-groom portraits out of the way.

Perhaps most importantly, I liked the idea of seeing each other for the first time in a private setting where we could talk, take a breath, and just be for a few minutes, before getting swept up in the flurry that is the wedding. I could hug him, kiss him, tell him how handsome he looked and he could tell me what he thought of my dress. We could laugh about how nervous we were, but then in that laughter we would exhale all that anxiety and let only happiness take its place. Seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony, you're in a formal setting and you simply can't express all those emotions, at least not immediately and definitely not privately.

Once I explained the benefits of a first look to GT, he moved from "OK, I'll do it for you" to "That sounds like a good idea." And after the fact, we both have no regrets.

Our first look was a special moment. Following a stressful morning, for both of us, it felt like crossing a finish line. The wedding planning was over; we were finally getting married.

It was a bit humorous, our first look, or at least getting there. Walking up a long flight of wood-plank stairs, my dress, built on a fine tulle netting, kept getting caught on jagged edges and nails—as well as the straps of my shoes, of all things! (Scotch tape came to the rescue later.) No damage was done but it did provide some comic relief. Walking up those stairs, knowing GT was waiting for me at the top, my eyes started to well with tears until—snag! I had to stop and unhook myself. This happened a couple times before I just picked up my entire skirt and train and finished my ascent, aesthetics be damned.

GT, who is generally a gregarious guy, surprised me with a quiet reaction after I tapped his shoulder and he turned around. He didn't say anything at first; he simply smiled but when I looked in his eyes I could tell he was struggling to hold back the tears. It was a sweet moment. We hugged and kissed. I told him how handsome he looked in his uniform and he said I looked beautiful. My dress was nothing he ever expected (success!), he told me, but he loved it. We confided how nervous we felt, laughed and then, just as I had hoped, we let that anxiety go. We were able to just enjoy each other and the day that was about to unfold.

All that being said, the photos tell the story best...

How do you feel about first looks? Did you do one? Would you?

THE CREDITS

BRIDE'S STYLE: Theia Wedding Dress and Untamed Petals Aimee Sash, both from Lovely Bride Los Angeles | Alfani Women's Kyrah Wedge Sandals in Dusty Rose (looks like they are no longer available) | Necklace and bracelets made by bride | Gemstone Dangle Earrings by Delezhen

FLORALS: Modern Bouquet

MAKEUP (Cheriene) and HAIR (Nicolette): Beauti on the Go

VENUE: (near) Martin Johnson House

TRANSPORTATION: Rolls Livery
PHOTOGRAPHY: heidi-o-photo