Change can be good thing!

Change has always been a pretty fearful thing for me, but I recently learned that it can also be a very good thing. Yes lovelies this picture is of me dressed as a Hindu Bride for our recent Hindu engagement ceremony. For those of you that are keeping score we’ve had double parties since we are having double the ceremonies, Hindu and Jewish. I was honored to be celebrated and embraced in Honey’s culture and yet I was fearful to be seen like a fish out of water. Or embarrass anyone!

It took me several weeks to look as comfortable as I do in this picture. And how did I do it? Well, I had to let go and stopped fighting the change. I also saw how happy it was making the people around me. Can I also tell you a little secret? I felt like a true princess dressed in a sari with so many yards of gorgeous fabric and jewelry.

And my father flew to San Francisco to be apart of the ceremony and in addition to Honey’s family and friends we had our friends come and support us as well. The engagement ceremony felt like a taste of what the Hindu wedding ceremony will feel like.

So lovely, why do we fight change so much?

As soon as I stopped fighting, I felt a sense of calm come over me. I suddenly knew that I was being pushed and pulled in all of the right directions. The next day I saw these engagement photos and felt comfortable and happy. It felt like we had gone through a true rite of passage. Plus Honey and I felt loved and supportive. Have you ever struggled with making change? Tell me sweetie do you think change can be a good thing?

Not one but two wedding ceremonies

Some of my blogging friends (thanx Dollface) have been asking about wedding updates and we some big ones have been happening. Ah yes drum roll please...we will be having not one, but two wedding ceremonies. That's right! Two...one Hindu and one Jewish.

And I'd love your advice on how to handle everything.

Over the last years, I have thought a lot about what our wedding could be like. I also understood that we come from two different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. So Honey and I decided that a combined wedding would be a wonderful way to bring everyone together.

After we got engaged I even wrote in one of my posts...so funny to be quoting myself:

"I’m about to go through planning a Hindu and Jewish wedding. We fondly call Hinjew. We’re not the first or the last couple to attempt this, but going outside of the box is never easy. I hope we can have a combination wedding and have a lot of warmth and loads of love on our big day."

I know the idea was a bit idealistic. Then we started to realize that a wedding is bigger then the two of you. Weddings are about family and giving them the pleasure of supporting you.

Recently we had a huge turn around of support. And instead of one family we now have two. With this comes my Honey's family offering to give us a traditional Hindu ceremony along with the other wedding ceremony we have been planning in late May.

Honestly, I do feel the added stress of double weddings. I feel a little lost in the whole process. There's so much good that can come from families blending and supporting.

Then the smaller details seep into my head like two wedding dresses, invitations etc. We should take double honeymoons! Ah I wish.

So how am I going to deal with having not one, but two wedding ceremonies? Well I'm going to remember the wise words of a friend of mine who said, "It could have been four ceremonies!" What's your advice for this double blushing bride?

Inspirational Weekend Quote

This inspirational weekend quote is brought to you because ...Happy Thanksgiving to you and to your family. And if you don't live in the States, I hope you had a lovely week filled with gratitude.

We had an easy drive down to L.A. and am enjoying being with everyone. Tonight is our engagement party so please cross your fingers and send over some good vibes. (I'll post about it this week).

I am grateful for many things this year. Thank you for all of your blog support, care and ideas. I love this inspirational weekend quote, "I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I thought it could be." Ah to be a lady of leisure. Doesn't this quote say exactly how you feel today?

Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

Happy Thanksgiving lovelies! I hope you have a wonderful turkey day. Now if you woke up this morning upset because you're not sure what to bring to your dinner, then look no further. This easy to make lemon meringue pie is a winner every time.

For me there's something about a refreshing slice of lemon meringue pie. I love the tart and sweet combination. And please do not forget to add the graham pie crust. It seems to compliment the pie just right!

You will need

1 can of condensed milk
3 eggs separated
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 9-inch pie shell (store bought with graham crust or home made)

1 teaspoon lemon zest (grate the lemon peel for the zest)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar

This recipe will make 8 servings

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Bake pie shell until light brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
To make the Filling:
First you separate the eggs, by placing the whites in a small mixing bowl.
Next in a medium bowl, mix condensed milk, egg yellows, lemon juice and zest, until well blended and thickened. Pour your lemon mixture into the pie shell.

To make the Meringue:
With a mixer, beat the egg whites until they froth.
Add sugar and vanilla and beat until peaks begin to form.
Spread meringue over the lemon mixture with a spoon, pressing lightly.

Place your pie into the 375 degrees oven and bake until the top is a golden brown.

Remove from oven and place on a rack to cool.

Add some whip cream and powdered sugar to the top of your easy lemon meringue pie and make yourself some tea. What easy recipe do you make when your in a pinch, but it's a winner every time?

Boutique Thanksgiving dreams

This Thanksgiving we're off to see my family in L.A. This is one of my favorite times of the year. We get to step out of our lives, rest and be with the ones we love. I love to take the boutique design style of San Francisco and mix it with a little Southern California. (Click here to read about the top ten reasons you know you've been in L.A. for too long...)

There's something about white lights that make me smile. This one shoulder dress with colored bow shows off her classy and funky style.

Très funky and creative use of autumn colors. What a simple design, but lovely presentation. (Here's some great creative ideas table ideas from Blissfully Domestic.)





And in my boutique Thanksgiving dreams, I would love to write in an office like this. So creative, clean and bright. This room would be a wonderful escape if needed from some family.



When I travel, I wish I could bring a rack of clothes (collapsible clothing rack) to make my clothes choices perfect. Oh sure it's not a fashion show!



And to end my boutique Thanksgiving dreams, I must end with one of my favorite desserts. Check back in on Thanksgiving day for my easy to make lemon meringue pie recipe. What boutique dreams do you have?

Inspirational Weekend Quote

Doesn't this inspirational weekend quote make you want to ask the questions who, what, where, when and why? Rocco Siffredi whatever do you mean... are you talking about hiking, cooking, dancing, fighting, shopping, see family, have children?

Oh the possibilities are endless!

This weekend, I'm looking forward to having a couple of days off next week for the holidays. Thanksgiving is my favorite day because I am addicted to turkey and gravy. I also love the positivity and holiday cheer.

Try to keep your answers PG13 and let me know what you never do because it's too exhausting. I love quotes that makes me think beyond the day to day. Don't you? Happy weekend lovelies!

Should men wear engagement rings?

I have been struggling with a question that I hope you can answer. Generally speaking, why don’t men wear engagement rings? Future brides wear a ring to show that they’re almost taken. Other then his word, what does a man have to show that he’s engaged? Well for one thing, an empty bank account for purchasing that amazing engagement ring, but what else?

The other night Honey and I went out for drinks with his sister to a lovely SF wine bar. The place was packed so we sat on the same bench as another couple. Out of nowhere the man, not the woman, asked if we were newly engaged. I giggled and answered, “Yes how did you know? He stated, “I knew because your ring is so shiny that I can’t stop looking at it.”

My theory is that planning a wedding can be very time consuming and stressful, a gorgeous ring is a wonderful reminder of why your going through the stress.

Unfortunately I’ve had engaged friends that didn’t make it to alter. They made the right decision to not marry that person. But did they give their engagement rings back? Well one did and two others didn’t. According to Wikipedia: “In some states of the United States, engagement rings are considered "conditional gifts" under the legal rules of property. This is an exception to the general rule that gifts cannot be revoked once properly given.”

“The story of men’s engagement ring history is far shorter. For centuries, only women received either engagement or wedding rings, but today the vast majority of men wear wedding rings, and an increasing number also receive engagement rings. This trend began during World War II, when many men were faced with years separated from their loved ones, and simple rings served as reminders about the people they’d left behind."

I love this background information about the history of engagement rings, don’t you? Comment below and tell if you would wear or want your partner to wear a man-gagement ring?