Garlic: Does More than just Get Rid of Vampires

There's one thing I don't want to look like on my wedding day. Okay, really, there's probably more than one thing (others in the list include: crazy person, sleep deprived crazy person, etc), but one thing is like this:

If you want to buy them for yourself, go here.

Today I'm going to talk to you about a kid of embarrassing health problem. Warts. See, as far as I know, they don't really hurt you, but they are obnoxious, annoying, and -again- embarrassing. Nobody wants some lumpy bumpy thing sticking out of their skin. I've had my fair share of experiences with them, too.

When I was younger, I had about 3 planters warts on the bottom of my foot. They were on the pads of my foot so I couldn't get them burned off or anything so I remember going once a week, after soccer practice, and the doctor would use a knife and cut out more of the wart until it was gone. In high school, I got a wart on my elbow that I got frozen off with liquid nitrogen. As a freshman in college, that wart came back and I also had another on my elbow. I got those both frozen off. As a junior in college, I had about five on my hands, but 3 were small. I got two frozen off and the other three burned off with acid. Ugh, what a pain, right?

After I graduated, and as I was (still am) getting closer to the wedding, I noticed I was starting to get about a dozen warts on my arm. They were super small - no bigger than a pin head - but I could finally recognize them so I knew they were there.

Getting warts burned/frozen doesn't cost more than just my co-pay, but it is ridiculously painful. Getting them frozen is by far the worst pain I've ever felt, and it usually take three times for them to go away. Needlessly to say, I was looking for a less painful solution for the future.

So what did I do? Well, I tried the band-aids, at home freezing treatments (also painful), and at home gel stuff, but nothing worked. I guess I just got a nice strong strain of warts. My doctor says they're just a virus in your body, and they effect some people more than others.

Well, I bet you can guess what I did next. I did what any smarty pants would do, I went to visit my good ol' friend, Google. I read a bunch of things people claim work, but, frankly, I'm lazy and cutting off a small piece of banana peel and putting it on my arm with duct tape seemed like too much work. I kept looking until I found the simplest, easiest, and least time consuming solution. (source)

Garlic. Yeah, werid, right? I read online that taking garlic tablets help get rid of warts. I didn't believe it, but I seemed easy so I gave it a try. I bough the odorless ones (which I highly recommend so you don't smell like garlic bread), and they taste kind of gross, but I took them daily, and guess what? No more warts. That's it, they were gone. I could barely believe it. I had warts forever and in about two months, they were no longer!

I would recommend Garlic Tablets to anyone that has a similar problem, but, fyi, from what I've noticed, they don't really work for planter warts (the ones on your feet). I take the Nature Made brand, and I just pick them up at the grocery store. They cost between $9-$16 a box, it seems, which seems like a lot, but it's less than my co-pay and feels totally worth it to me. It feels really nice to finely clear up something that's bothered me since middle school.

Anybody else trying to take care of weird health things before the big day?

A new Bathing Suit. . . or Two

Ever since I read Brooch's post about potential Honeymoon Attire, I've been totally distracted. Seriously, I don't know why it hadn't occured to me before, but after reading that she was looking for a new bathing suit (and more), I had a crazy moment of "I NEED a new one, too!" Since then, I've put all this wedding planning out of my mind to focus on the big h-moon coming up (Darn you, B, for distracting me!).

I totally need to clue you in on our honeymoon, but since I haven't written that post yet, I'll just let you know I will be spending a week on a beach.

Anyway, I had no idea where to look for a suit at this time of the year. It's only, you know, a cool 20 degrees in Chi-Town today. I knew I'd have to shop online, because no where in the area is carrying swimwear right now. I went to the boards for help, ad got some great suggestions, but ended up going to Kohl's.com. I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money, seeing as I'm saving my cash from some -ahem- different pieces of honeymoon attire.

I don't know if you've ever been to Kohl's, but it's kind of like a JC Penny's. There's a store right by my house, and I pretty much get all my clothes there.Out of what I'm wearing today, my jeans, shoes, and bra all came from there. Yes, I just mentioned my bra. You didn't know I'd get all personal.

I was only going to buy one bathing suit . . . but I couldn't make up my mind, and then partner in crime, Mama Giraffe, somehow convinced me to get them both.

Honeymoon, here I come! So here's are the goods (yes, I still shop in the juniors department. Don't judge me.) All screenshots come from Kohls.com.

Doesn't that one remind you of Lisa Frank stationary?!

I was going to use my 20% coup, but found a 30% off one online, the pieces were all ready on sale before that, and then I was able to use a free shipping coup too, so needless to say, I got a pretty good deal.

Any other Chicagoans dreaming of sunny beaches? Oops - I mean, anyone else shopping for their honeymoon?

Big Trouble in the Tux Deparment

Hive, I'm going to freak out, but before I do that I feel like I have to clue you in on the back story here.

Where to begin? Well, Mr. Giraffe is totally a stud muffin, if you weren't aware. He always looks good, in whatever he wears, but it's mostly jeans and T-shirt. One school he subs at, lets him wear that exact thing, or else it's dress pants I got him from Gap (on sale!) and a button down shirt. Suffice to say, Mr. G is a pretty casual guy. (And by casual, I mean awesome.)

Mr. Giraffe in his casual clothes, doing his favorite thing ever.

From the start, we decided our wedding would be pretty formal - not super formal, but way fancier than normal for these Giraffes. I (or we? not sure) decided that the groom and company will be dressed to the nines in tuxedos. Mr. G doesn't dress up much (or ever), so I naturally got pretty excited about seeing Mr. Giraffe turn into a Mr. Fancy Pants.

Way back, early on in our engagement, I went to bridal show with a fashion show at the end. And that's when it happened, folks! Yes, you are correct. I fell for a tux. See, Men's Warehouse was showing off their brown tuxedo. In the past, I always thought brown tuxes were cheesy and lame, which is unfortunate because our whole wedding is based around brown and blue.

But I was so wrong. They're suave and dashing and debonair and, most importantly, fancy pants. (source)

See? It's perfect! My girls will be in brown and blue (more on that later), and can you images a black tux next to them? No way! Out of all the tuxes Men's Warehouse carries, there is only one brown one, but, like I said, it's just perfect.

So what's the problem you ask? Well, Mr. G wasn't sold on the brown tux, and at 4 moths out we need to get this figured out, so we stopped in at Men's Warehouse this weekend. He liked the tux too, and I was all ready to jump for joy . . .

But Mr. G looks up from the book of tuxes and says, "These are all made of wool. My mom is super allergic to wool."

You mean the mom you have to dance with? The mom that will hug you? The mom that will line up for pictures with you 3 brothers all in wool tuxes as well?!?

Commence freak out!

So what are my options? I have no idea. Men's Warehouse has 2 polyester tuxes, but they are all white, and Mr. G will not wear a white tux. All of the suits at Men's Warehouse are made of wool as well. I called Black Tie Formal Wear, and after some looking, they called me back and said that all the rentals are wool, but Mr. G can buy/order a polyester tux for ~$125

I know Mr. Giraffe won't use a tux again, most likely, so buying it is out. I also don't feel right about asking the groomsmen (some of which have to fly in for W day) to purchase a tux the won't wear again (they're casual dudes, too). What about having them wear a suit that they all ready own? Well #1 it might be made of wool and #2 none of the guys, including Mr. G own a suit, and that would be way too big of a purchase to ask for.

I'm freaking out hive, and I really don't know what to do. Mr. G is going to have to go all Emperor on them and show up in his birthday suit, and just tell everyone he's in fancy duds.

Hive, help! Does anyone have any suggestions? Pretty please?

Feeling Like a Short Haired Bride

I have a confession to make with you hive. See, I'm finally starting to think about my whole wedding day look, and, well, I feel like a short haired bride.

That's not to say that short haired brides aren't fantastic. They are. I mean, look at this lovely lady.It's just that I never thought I'd feel like a short haired bride. When I was younger, I always had short soccer mom style hair because I hated brushing and dealing with it. Then in high school, I grew it out until senior year when I cut off 8 inches of it.

Then in college, I got lazy again and let it grow and grow. I mean, cutting your hair took time and about $14. I wasn't going to have any part of that ;-). This means that my hair kept getting longer, without me really realizing it.

But then I started zipping my hair into my purse and shutting it in my car door. It was getting too much to handle soooo . . .
Well, 13 inches later (and yes I donated!), I feel like a short haired bride. I'm worried that I won't be able to have the pretty and fancy hair I've been looking at. There are some unbelievably gorgeous hairstyles out there. (source 1, source 2)
Now, I don't know what too do. I'm not sure what my hair will be long enough for or what exactly want I want it to look like.

Fantastic Fonts

I've seen it on the boards, I know there are other people as obsessed with fonts as I am. Although, I feel like obsessed is an understatement. As a graphic designer and typographer, my whole life revolves around letter forms. To this day, I swear my font design class in college still ranks in one one my top ten things ever. I mean, if I wake up on the Cooper Black side of the bed, you know it's going to be a good day.

That is all background information, but I swear its important. Now that you know all that, you guys can understand how excited I get about receiving my MyFonts Newsletter in my email.

Yesterday I got the Best Fonts of 2010 newsletter. Now, I'm sure you all are as on edge as I was to find out who the winners are. There's some good ones, I promise, and a few Script Typefaces that really made me stop and think "Man, this would like great on a wedding invitation." Of course, by "a wedding invitation", I meant "my wedding invitation", but I'm sure they would work for yours too!

Ready for some font eye candy? I'm all ready drooling over these babies!

1) Affair designed by Alejandro Paul. Available for $99. Below graphics by John Collins. Oh wait, is that all ready in my shopping cart? Maybe! Although, I feel like if I spent the money then I'd totally have to use it, and it might be a little weird to use a font called Affair on wedding invitations. Just kidding!
2) Lady Rene also designed by Alejandro Paul with Laura Varsky. Available for $59. Below graphics also by John Collins.
3) Breathe designed by Maximiliano Sproviero. Ohmygosh, at only $20 ($37 from the Pro collection), I'm pretty sure I need this in my FontBook now! And, bonus, it includes over 1000 glyphs so you can set your type perfectly! Graphics below designed by Maxispr.


4) Okay, okay so Parfait Script also by Maximiliano Sproviero wasn't on the best of 2010 list, but I still love it (and want it!) so I had to sneak it in. It costs as little as $19 ($57 for the Pro collection) and is just wonderful. Graphics below designed by Maxispr.


Anybody else look into buying a few font for the big day?

DIY Save the Dates: Finally!

H to the Ive, I hope you're excited because now that I've finally found my camera cord (aka bought a new one), I can share more photos with you!

Where we last were, I didn't choose an STD, then I designed a million save the dates, and then we finally decided onone, and then realized I needed a postcard to put that sucker on. Phew! Good things that we're past those crazy steps!

Anyway, enough with the talk; here's the goods!

Of course, I wasn't thinking when I took the photo on a super distracting carpet so I just Photoshopped it out. Hope you all don't mind! Also - apparently the light in my basement is super yellow and I'm lazy and didn't feel like color correcting my images so ummm, just pretend it's not so yellow :).

What our guests saw, a nice little touch of a blue stamp on the front and on the back!

Wait! I'm forgetting something; those perfect little stamps we bought to finish it off!

I know - the stamps just fit so well! They make me smile!

I'm not quite finished yet; I still have to share the assembly and, everyone's faovrite, the budget breakdown!

I was so excited to send these suckers on their way. Who else was totally excited to get their STDs out the door?

What was I thinking?

If you're planning a wedding, I'm sure there have been times where you feel a little crazed/lost/confused/stressed/oh and other good adjectives too.

There's been times recently where I pause and in a panic induced moment start to wonder, what the heck was I thinking deciding to plan a wedding?!

I never ever thought I'd be a stressed bride. I mean, we've been engaged for over 2 years. There has been plenty of time to get things done . . . When I was engaged an unemployed, I thought I had all the time in the world, but after getting a job, the last 9 months have flown by and I haven't had nearly enough time to work on the wedding. The fact that Mr. G and I work different schedules and live an hour apart make things worse because it's all ready pretty difficult to just spend time together, let alone run around and meet vendors and give them checks.

I know it's not, but getting everything done is starting to feel impossible. Where did this feeling come from? Well, over the weekend I got a call from the bridal dress shop that said if my bridesmaids didn't order their dresses by the end of the week, that they won't be in in time for the wedding.

Ah! Trying to avoid the crazy that was threatening to come out, I let the 3 girls know who hadn't ordered their dresses yet. It hit me for the first time, that we're just a little over 4 months out and as the lady on the phone said, "In bridal time, that's like like time at all!"

I thought it was plenty of time! The thought that it's not it going to make me either throw up or wet my pants.

Secretly, I've sometimes thought about just sneaking away and eloping. (source)

Of course, I know that that would be silly. I can't picture anything besides this big ol' traditional crazy wedding so that's what I'm going to have! I just need to relax and remind myself that things will work out, and, what really matters is that I'm marrying Mr. G.

How did you guys keep it together when planning? Anyone else going into panic mode?