Only a few days to go

It's strange...I feel like everything is going to change in less than a month. I have the urge to reach out to people and say "hey, just wanted to say hallo before getting married", a bit like what I do before getting on a plane or going somewhere.

But what is really going to change?

Mr R and I have been living together for almost 3 years, we have shared wonderful times as well as some lows. We have traveled together, made plans for the future, cooked meals and hosted dinners..what else will happen? What will be different?

I cannot say what but i feel like something will!

Exciting, exciting news!!

Well, first of all, I just got an invite from Max Mara to go see their new Bridal collection!
They are promoting the new line with special events in the various flagship stores across Italy.
On Dec 3 I will go try some dresses and talk to one of the style consultants from the shop.

Even more exciting..I was having coffee with a friend, who also happen to own my favorite shop in Rome. he has great taste, knows me and my taste well and knows fashion in the wider sense.
We talked about various dresses, designers, fabrics ( he killed my shantung silk idea), styles and...HE OFFERED TO DESIGN SOMETHING FOR ME!!!
I am terribly excited about the idea of having a B's original design. For now, I quite like these sketches by Minnesota designer Katherine Gerdes.

Will keep you posted!

The perfect dress

The perfect dress is impossible to find.

I keep flipping through magazines, browsing the net, talking to people, going into design stores, but so far, nothing seems to scream : pick me!
Is it so hard for everyone? I want something simple, classy, not too revealing, but flattering. I want green shoes, high heels, especially if the dress is going to be plain.
I looked at Vera Wang, J Crew, Pronovias, Armani, but still, nothing works for me.
I am now 99% convinced that I am going to have a tailor do the dress, but I still need to know what style, fabric, cut, length to go.

I wish my genius grandma was still alive. She always had the perfect suggestion when it came to dresses. She had the knowledge of the material, of how it would wrap and fall, hug and fold on a person's body.
She was strangely less conservative than my mother, and would always have great ideas for outfits. I really miss her.

On the other hand, I am truly enjoying the constant discussions with every female member of my family, trying to give a suggestion on the dress. V neck in the front, or V neck in the back, pleats in the front or flower in the back, empire waist or cinched at the waist. In a way, I think this is a big part of what weddings do. They bring people together.

Thanks to all the people, friends and relatives that are coming together for this special day!




The dress in the picture is by Pronovia

Wedding Planning - the menu

So far all we know is that we are going to have pavlova... or at least this is what Mr. R demands.
I guess the other sure thing is that we are going to have some (at least some) gluten free options.

Last week Mamma and I headed to our trusted caterer, the same one we hired for my brother's wedding, and inquired about some options. The lady who welcomed us (she also happens to be the boss) was extremely kind and reassured us that everything could be done, and the GF request would not be a problem at all. In fact, her own daughters are gluten intolerant so they had plenty of options for a GF menu.

After a few day we have finally received the menu. A fantastic four pages menu filled with delicious options...but now the confusion is even greater! How to pick?

This is the part of the menu I know I want for sure:

Angolo del fritto :

fiori di zucca , salvia, menta , melanzane

formaggio pizzelle , crema e mele , spring rolls

olive ascolane , panzerottini

calamari, moscardini e gamberi


Angolo rustico :



Prosciutto S. Daniele a taglio

Lonzino

Lardo di colonnata

Selezione di salumi della cinta senese

Bruschettine mignon con zucchine, peperoni, melanzane e pomodoro

Cesto con pani vari e pizza


and of course...PAVLOVA !

Wedding Planning - location hunting

The days are going by quickly and I suddenly found myself short of a year from the established wedding date.
The list of things to do is quite long, but, as far as everyone says, this is the best part of it all.
I get to pick locations, make lists, try menus, try dresses, plan events, and all the rest.

I have yet to register to one of the many online services that help you remember all the things you need to do (read, theknot.com) and I am somehow resistant to do it, maybe because I think I can remember everything by myself.

So far, Mr R and I started drafting a list of guests. We started with over 200 people. We tried to include everyone we wanted to invite. We did a second round and cut the list down to 160. Now we are at 140 and we do not seem to be able to go below this number. What to do?

As far as locations, we have visited 3 and already feel strongly in favor of one.
The first we visited was a bit too far out in the country, and while the location was spectacular, the food was not stunning.

The second venue- a private villa- was perfectly located but the option for indoor space were a little limited as the gazebo didn't look pretty enough, or just simply not to our taste.

The third place, a very unusual but extremely beautiful one, is a bit out of the center.

What to pick? Should I look a little more?

Here are some pictures from the various locations:

Big News

I told my family and my closest friends..so I feel like now it's official enough to put it on this blog.

Mr. R proposed!!!! We are engaged and will get married in 2010. It's funny, I started this blog almost two years ago, at the end of a long, wrong relationship. I had no idea it would become such a great and fun way to communicating with friends and family around the world.

Well, we are now fiance and fiancee. We are very happy!

Life goes on, with our adventures and travels.. but now we have another, great adventure to look forward to. The planning begins!

Back from Pakistan

It is difficult to adjust to what look like dull colors and smells. I had a wonderful time, I felt at home in a country that is miles and miles away from mine. The hospitality I found cannot be described, as it is something that can only be experienced.

The variety of colors, food, fabrics, music, decoration filled my eyes every day.. Here is a selection of pictures (very limited) from my two weeks in Isloo and Karachi.
Getting ready to go


two men and two women


The beautiful decorations


Delicious food


Helping hands

Ciao...for now!

Heading to the airport. Don't know how much internet access I will have while in Pakistan, but I just got a brand new camera and will be taking some (I hope) good pictures.

Will miss you all! See you in two weeks

Fur and makeup

I was going to write up something about what I keep in my bag..and the ridiculous amount of money I spend of cosmetics.

I was partially inspired by Maria's brilliant blog Lipstick Masala and the great advice she gives ( I only wish she had started writing before I bought all the make up I have). But during one of my excursions today two things steered me off the subject of makeup :

1- I bought more make up, so I could not think critically about it
2- I bumped into a wedding party, in a church in the center of Rome, and saw this:



I am not against fur..but this creeped me out a bit. First of all it was very warm, and definitely not fur whether. Secondly, I am not sure I love seeing the legs (and head) of the poor animal.

What do you think?