Earlier in the month, my fellow bride friend and I went veil shopping. We went into the shop knowing a few things like, we didn't want the veil to compete with our dress or hair or fancy hair accessories. We also didn't want anything too expensive. To be honest, I thought there was a good chance that I would be making the veils for the both of us since it's almost always cheaper that way if the veil is simple.
So anyways, we walk into the store and they had some sample veils hanging around the room. For me, I wanted a fingertip length, oval cut veil with no edging. I think my friend wanted something rather similar, but we wanted to try veils on before we decided anything for sure. We had planned to go to a bunch of different stores, but as it turns out, our mind was made up after the first! We both ended up wanting a fingertip length veil, no edging and oval cut to get the cascading effect. Unfortunately, the veil we wanted was $125 and was gonna take a month to make!! It literally was nothing more than a big piece of tulle attached to a metal comb. It was amusing to see the sales lady try to justify it by saying it's "made to order" and it uses "special bridal illusion tulle." Yeah, the tulle is "special" in the sense that it's the sheerest weave of nylon webbing that's often used in bridal veils, but it's at most 2 dollars a yard!
So we thanked the lady for her time and went a few stores down to a bead shop. We bought some metal combs there for about $2.70 each. There are cheaper combs, but I ain't gonna quibble over a dollar when the alternative is $125! So then I went online and ordered 108 inch bridal illusion tulle for about $1.98 a yard from Fabric.com. I got other stuff that I need to fee my sewing hobby along with the tulle to get the free shipping. :-)
The tulle arrived last week and this past weekend, I made my friend's veil. Since it was the first veil I've ever made, I took it cautious and cut it too large. I figure it's better to have a veil I can trim rather than a veil I can't add to! To start, I folded two yards of the 108 inch tulle into quarters and cut a curve from open edge to open edge. When you open it, you get a big oval. I then sewed a running stitch in a line, a few inches off center so the shorter side will be the blusher and the longer side will be the back. Once I was finished stitching, I gathered the tulle on the thread and then sewed the gathered part to the comb. I think I forgot to mention I wrapped the comb in ribbon and glued the ribbon edges down with GemTac glue. This way, I can sew the tulle onto the ribbon and plus, it looks nicer.
So now the veil is almost done! See, since I cut the veil too big in an effort to be cautious and conservative, I now have to trim it. Once I get around to doing that the veil is done! I'll be posting pictures later.
Materials:
- 2 yards 108" bridal illusion tulle: $1.98
- 1 metal comb: $2.70
- 1 yard ribbon (you don't need nearly this much, but it doesn't hurt to have some more in case you want to wrap it a second time or you mess up): $0.75
- some thread
Equipment used:
- Self healing mat
- Rotary cutter
- measuring tape
- dressmaker pins
- hand-sewing needle
Some things to keep in mind when cutting the tulle:
- Tulle can get staticky, especially in the winter when the air is really dry. Rubbing a dryer sheet on it can help.
- Use those pins!
- Never iron tulle as the heat will melt the plastic
- You can relax wrinkles in the tulle by hanging it in the bathroom during a hot shower, or holding a steam iron close, but not touching the tulle, to steam out the wrinkles.
- The more you gather, the poofier the veil
- Oval cuts or curves will give you the cascading effect once the tulle is gathered
- Square cuts gathered in the diagonal middle will give you a "handkerchief" effect
- Cascading veils sometimes aren't poofy enough or are too sheer at the gathered area. To increase poof, fold the veil along the line you are going to gather it and sew your gathering thread a few millimeters to a centimeter from the fold. Sew the gathering thread through both layers and gather the tulle.
- If you have a long oval shape and want more poof, gather the tulle the long way rather than the short way and run the gathering thread through a fairly long length of tulle. If you're doing this, make sure that the tulle is the length you want it on both sides of the gather.
- Tulle is cheap. If you're not sure what you're doing, buy a few extra yards and experiment!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
School laptop horror
Apparently, a high school in a pretty wealthy district issued laptops to all their students with the ability to turn the webcam on and off remotely, and didn't tell the kids. When kids asked the school tech guy why the webcam light turns on and off randomly, he replied that it was a glitch or it had something to do with people logging on and off. So the story blew up when the vice principal decided to discipline a student for "improper behavior" in the kid's own home and showed a photo taken by the laptop's webcam as proof. Creepy much? So far, the school has admitted that they have the ability to spy on kids via the issued laptops in their homes, but denies any wrongdoing.
From what I can tell, this has to violate federal wiretapping laws, the constitutional right to "reasonable expectations of privacy" in one's home, and even child pornagraphy laws. I really hope the people who implemented, defended and covered for this get put away for a really, really long time.
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/17/school-used-student.html
Monday, February 8, 2010
No 'poo movement
I am now officially a part of the No 'poo movement! It's a terrible name for a trend where people give up using shampoo and conditioner. My hair actually feels pretty good and I have no plans of going back to using shampoo anytime soon. It's been a gradual journey to this point.
The first thing I gave up was conditioner. I started using a cider vinegar hair rinse, which is about one tablespoon cider vinegar to a cup of water. You basically use that to rinse your hair after shampooing. My fiance generally hates the way it makes the bathroom smell like a salad bar, but fortunately, he doesn't shower the same time I do so he can avoid the bathroom after I'm done. :-)
Then I switched from shampoo to a shampoo bar. The shampoo bar is made from vegetable oils and contains no weird chemicals on its ingredients list. It can actually be used all over the body and is great for travel! At first, it was kind of weird to rub a block of soap on my head, but I got used to it. Once my hair got used to the soap, I realized that the soap was pretty moisturizing and I didn't need to use the cider vinegar rinse afterwards.
Once my shampoo bar ran out, I had a choice of either purchasing another or dropping shampoo altogether. I decided to at least try the No 'poo route. I dissolved a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water and poured it into a squeeze bottle. I worked it into my hair after wetting it and the mix felt slippery and slick. For this first time, I decided not to use the vinegar rinse to see if I even needed it. As it turns out, my hair felt a bit rough and scaly once it dried. So the next time, I used the vinegar rinse and the issue was solved.
I understand that not everyone can take this plunge and I don't generally tell people I meet that I wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar. I get strange looks when I tell people. I remember a few hair stylists telling me I have very healthy and shiny hair. On rare occasions, someone will ask me what I use in my hair and when I tell them, they fall silent and act rather awkward. The thing is, if my hair didn't feel nice and clean, I would not be continuing to wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar. It just so happens that this method works well for me. I like what it does for my hair and I like the fact that it's inexpensive AND it's not a weird chemically substance!
The first thing I gave up was conditioner. I started using a cider vinegar hair rinse, which is about one tablespoon cider vinegar to a cup of water. You basically use that to rinse your hair after shampooing. My fiance generally hates the way it makes the bathroom smell like a salad bar, but fortunately, he doesn't shower the same time I do so he can avoid the bathroom after I'm done. :-)
Then I switched from shampoo to a shampoo bar. The shampoo bar is made from vegetable oils and contains no weird chemicals on its ingredients list. It can actually be used all over the body and is great for travel! At first, it was kind of weird to rub a block of soap on my head, but I got used to it. Once my hair got used to the soap, I realized that the soap was pretty moisturizing and I didn't need to use the cider vinegar rinse afterwards.
Once my shampoo bar ran out, I had a choice of either purchasing another or dropping shampoo altogether. I decided to at least try the No 'poo route. I dissolved a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water and poured it into a squeeze bottle. I worked it into my hair after wetting it and the mix felt slippery and slick. For this first time, I decided not to use the vinegar rinse to see if I even needed it. As it turns out, my hair felt a bit rough and scaly once it dried. So the next time, I used the vinegar rinse and the issue was solved.
I understand that not everyone can take this plunge and I don't generally tell people I meet that I wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar. I get strange looks when I tell people. I remember a few hair stylists telling me I have very healthy and shiny hair. On rare occasions, someone will ask me what I use in my hair and when I tell them, they fall silent and act rather awkward. The thing is, if my hair didn't feel nice and clean, I would not be continuing to wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar. It just so happens that this method works well for me. I like what it does for my hair and I like the fact that it's inexpensive AND it's not a weird chemically substance!
Hot or Cold rice sock
This was something I actually learned from a Martha Stewart magazine many years ago, but has been travelling the "green" sites of late. Take a sock, preferably a knee high or other long sock and fill it with dry, uncooked rice. You can either sew it closed or knot it closed. For a hot pad, place it in the microwave for a few minutes. For a cold pad, place in the freezer and leave it there until you want to use it.
I personally have never used it as a cold pad. As a hot pad, it holds its warmth for about 30 minutes or longer. The rice molds itself to whatever body part it's placed upon and its heavy weight feels comforting to me. I've reused the rice sock many times over the year and it can feel really good to drape a warm one around your neck after a long day of staring at the computer screen. I've never opened the sock later to eat the rice inside though I've wondered about that. Lol!
I personally have never used it as a cold pad. As a hot pad, it holds its warmth for about 30 minutes or longer. The rice molds itself to whatever body part it's placed upon and its heavy weight feels comforting to me. I've reused the rice sock many times over the year and it can feel really good to drape a warm one around your neck after a long day of staring at the computer screen. I've never opened the sock later to eat the rice inside though I've wondered about that. Lol!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Whole wheat No Knead bread
I finally jumped on the No Knead bread craze and made some of my own! I used a whole wheat recipe and replaced some of the whole wheat flour with 2 to 3 tablespoons of vital wheat gluten to help with the rise. I used the recipe from here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/082mrex.html
I left out rye flour and the cornmeal and reduced the amount of salt. Even so, I thought the loaf came out a bit too salty. My fiance loves it though. I do have to say, that this recipe has produced the nicest, crusty crust of any whole wheat bread recipe I've tried. It's hard to get a good crusty crust on whole wheat breads, even with cold water brushing and and water bath on the lower rack. So, I am very impressed with this bread. I think next time, I'll reduce the amount of salt even more and add just a touch of sugar.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/082mrex.html
I left out rye flour and the cornmeal and reduced the amount of salt. Even so, I thought the loaf came out a bit too salty. My fiance loves it though. I do have to say, that this recipe has produced the nicest, crusty crust of any whole wheat bread recipe I've tried. It's hard to get a good crusty crust on whole wheat breads, even with cold water brushing and and water bath on the lower rack. So, I am very impressed with this bread. I think next time, I'll reduce the amount of salt even more and add just a touch of sugar.
Made yogurt!
I've recently gotten into the groove of having some yogurt every morning. After a while, it starts to get a little pricey. I don't need anything fancy. Just some plain yogurt mixed with a small amount of fruit, or sugar, or maple syrup will do for me. What really cinched the decision to make my own was when I found out that many of the commercial nonfat yogurts contain gelatin, which isn't very good for my vegetarian practice. So this past weekend, I decided to try making my own yogurt! It was surprisingly easy!
First thing you'll need is a pot to make your yogurt in, and a thermometer and metal stirring spoon. Then you'll need some room-temperature milk. It can be whole, part skim or skim milk. Keep in mind that the fattier the milk, the thicker the texture. Next, you'll want to have some room-temperature yogurt with live, active cultures.
In the pot, heat the milk to 185 degrees F to kill any unwanted bacteria, stirring constantly. If you're using nonfat milk and would like to try for a thicker consistency, you can keep the milk at this temperature for about 30 minutes to boil off some water. Then take the pot off the heat and let the milk cool down to 110 degrees F. This is a good temperature for yogurt bacteria to grow. Place the pot near a heater or on a heated pad. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of your yogurt. Then you just keep the pot covered and warm and wait for at least 7 hours. The longer you wait, the tangier and thicker the result. If you see any greenish stuff on the surface, it's okay. Just leave it alone and once it's done, stir to mix everything together evenly.
Once you're satisfied it's done, stir vigorously to mix everything, then pour into containers and leave in the fridge overnight. It will thicken a bit more once it's chilled. The yogurt will keep for about 2 to 3 weeks. Remember to save a few tablespoons of your yogurt for your next batch!
First thing you'll need is a pot to make your yogurt in, and a thermometer and metal stirring spoon. Then you'll need some room-temperature milk. It can be whole, part skim or skim milk. Keep in mind that the fattier the milk, the thicker the texture. Next, you'll want to have some room-temperature yogurt with live, active cultures.
In the pot, heat the milk to 185 degrees F to kill any unwanted bacteria, stirring constantly. If you're using nonfat milk and would like to try for a thicker consistency, you can keep the milk at this temperature for about 30 minutes to boil off some water. Then take the pot off the heat and let the milk cool down to 110 degrees F. This is a good temperature for yogurt bacteria to grow. Place the pot near a heater or on a heated pad. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of your yogurt. Then you just keep the pot covered and warm and wait for at least 7 hours. The longer you wait, the tangier and thicker the result. If you see any greenish stuff on the surface, it's okay. Just leave it alone and once it's done, stir to mix everything together evenly.
Once you're satisfied it's done, stir vigorously to mix everything, then pour into containers and leave in the fridge overnight. It will thicken a bit more once it's chilled. The yogurt will keep for about 2 to 3 weeks. Remember to save a few tablespoons of your yogurt for your next batch!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Difficult people
Let's talk about wedding envy in others. In my personal life, the only people who've shown signs of envy are people who are not yet engaged or are otherwise still single. For the ones that are not in a steady relationship, my wedding planning brings up feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. I've been in that position myself, so I know it can be hard. For the ones that are in a steady relationship, on the road to marriage themselves, it seems that they are envious of the attention they are not getting. I admit that I know some pretty self-absorbed people who are used to my being content to stay in the background. My relationship with these self-absorbed folks had been manageable until I was suddenly thrust forward in front of them as dictated by societal norms and traditions. On the surface, they can't show that they're not happy for me and my fiance, but that doesn't mean they don't find ways to inject their displeasure or find petty ways to make me feel small and deflated.
Now, I try to be a nice person. I'll let stuff go if I know someone's having a hard time, but being a faulty human being, I have a limited amount of patience and grace. Normally, with difficult people, I'll start distancing myself from them. The less exposure to a nasty person, the less stress I'll feel. Difficult people become more of an issue when you're stuck dealing with them - when you can't escape! Examples would be when family members force you to take on a bridesmaid you don't get along with or a mother that treats your wedding like it's hers, or a vendor that gets nasty as soon as you sign the contract. I'm not dealing with these particular issues myself, but I do have people involved in my wedding planning process that I can't get away from. These few people have caused me and my fiance to worry about how our wedding will turn out.
When I encounter people who don't react well to my wedding, I realize that the issue isn't with me or my wedding. The issue is with them. This may be a harsh thing to say, but I think it's true. I didn't go around announcing my engagement unless I thought that person would be hurt that I didn't tell them. I never showed anybody my ring unless asked and I don't bring up wedding plans unless I have to or am asked. So all in all, I think it's safe to say that I didn't rub my happiness in anybody's unhappy face. Despite my best efforts to be sensitive, some people still react with negativity.
So who ARE these negative people in my life? Well, the common feature among the worst of them are that they're self-absorbed, attention-seeking, materialistic or image-conscious types. I am not sorry that my fiance and I will be the center of attention on our wedding day, and they'll just be the supporting cast. However, this prospect seems to cause them to lash out at us. My fear, and this is where I give them too much power over me, is that they will somehow find a way to bring me down on my own wedding day. I am aiming to have fun. These nasty people are... difficult to gain any distance from and I just don't want to be looking at their unhappy faces and hearing their snide comments on my wedding day. I am also fearful that they're going to somehow steal the spotlight. I am usually content to stay in the background and follow someone else's lead, but that doesn't mean I don't like positive attention and praise.
Now, you might be wondering if I've spoken to these people about their snarky pettiness. In the beginning, I let it go. These days, I push back. Thus far, pushing back has only resulted in more negativity, drama and stress. Now, they're actually mad at me and my fiance and I don't know where these relationship will end up on the day we get married.
So right now, I'm trying to not care about these people anymore. If I care about someone, I care about their opinions. They have already shown that they don't care about my feelings so I should stop caring about what comes out of their mouth. This is a lot harder said than done, but since the only person I have any amount of control over is me, I'll have a higher chance of success with this route than the confrontational one. The other thing I want to do is to tell the MC and DJ that they are not to give the microphone to anybody under any circumstances! All speeches can be made at the rehearsal dinner so we can spare the wedding!
Now, I try to be a nice person. I'll let stuff go if I know someone's having a hard time, but being a faulty human being, I have a limited amount of patience and grace. Normally, with difficult people, I'll start distancing myself from them. The less exposure to a nasty person, the less stress I'll feel. Difficult people become more of an issue when you're stuck dealing with them - when you can't escape! Examples would be when family members force you to take on a bridesmaid you don't get along with or a mother that treats your wedding like it's hers, or a vendor that gets nasty as soon as you sign the contract. I'm not dealing with these particular issues myself, but I do have people involved in my wedding planning process that I can't get away from. These few people have caused me and my fiance to worry about how our wedding will turn out.
When I encounter people who don't react well to my wedding, I realize that the issue isn't with me or my wedding. The issue is with them. This may be a harsh thing to say, but I think it's true. I didn't go around announcing my engagement unless I thought that person would be hurt that I didn't tell them. I never showed anybody my ring unless asked and I don't bring up wedding plans unless I have to or am asked. So all in all, I think it's safe to say that I didn't rub my happiness in anybody's unhappy face. Despite my best efforts to be sensitive, some people still react with negativity.
So who ARE these negative people in my life? Well, the common feature among the worst of them are that they're self-absorbed, attention-seeking, materialistic or image-conscious types. I am not sorry that my fiance and I will be the center of attention on our wedding day, and they'll just be the supporting cast. However, this prospect seems to cause them to lash out at us. My fear, and this is where I give them too much power over me, is that they will somehow find a way to bring me down on my own wedding day. I am aiming to have fun. These nasty people are... difficult to gain any distance from and I just don't want to be looking at their unhappy faces and hearing their snide comments on my wedding day. I am also fearful that they're going to somehow steal the spotlight. I am usually content to stay in the background and follow someone else's lead, but that doesn't mean I don't like positive attention and praise.
Now, you might be wondering if I've spoken to these people about their snarky pettiness. In the beginning, I let it go. These days, I push back. Thus far, pushing back has only resulted in more negativity, drama and stress. Now, they're actually mad at me and my fiance and I don't know where these relationship will end up on the day we get married.
So right now, I'm trying to not care about these people anymore. If I care about someone, I care about their opinions. They have already shown that they don't care about my feelings so I should stop caring about what comes out of their mouth. This is a lot harder said than done, but since the only person I have any amount of control over is me, I'll have a higher chance of success with this route than the confrontational one. The other thing I want to do is to tell the MC and DJ that they are not to give the microphone to anybody under any circumstances! All speeches can be made at the rehearsal dinner so we can spare the wedding!
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