Blog a la Cart

On Forever

Aw, look at that handsome fella!

Just a couple hours before I snapped these photos we were arguing like cats and dogs and I wanted to wipe that smug grin right off his face… Sweet sweet marriage. What a rollercoaster, eh?

Fortunately, we had an evening with amazing friends, and amazing love, and amazing amazingness to heal all tensions between us (i.e. the stresses of coordinating care taking for our children and other assorted dependents so that we could spend 12 hours away from them, while I had to work all weekend leading up to our departure, i.e. the ideal conditions for a marriage shit storm. But we survived! And so did the dependents! SUCCESS ALL AROUND!)

The wedding locale was like a New England fantasy in the flesh: golden foliage decorating the trees and blanketing the ground as a babbling brook rolled by rustic stone fences and assorted vintage barns.

Fall had puked magic all over the Berkshires for these two amazing souls – and it was perfect.

Every detail was effortlessly and sublimely executed, from the garlands strung around the barn beams, to the infused sake “love potion,” a recipe created especially for Amanda & Dave, bottled in miniature mason jars and gifted to each of the guests, to the non-stop live music and ridiculous talent that touched every moment of the celebration. It was enchanting.

I even got a chance to DIY mid-celebration, as the guests made paper airplanes during the ceremony which were thrown at its conclusion as Dave and Amanda walked down the aisle as husband and wife. I collected the airplanes after the ceremony, and strung together a garland for the barn during cocktail hour.

Yes, picture me, huddled in the corner of a barn with a needle and thread in one hand and a cocktail in the other, madly DIYing. Sounds about right, eh? I may have stabbed myself with the needle and bled on a number of the planes… I put my blood and sweat into this, folks.

James dressed in his autumn best, including the Brooks Brothers madras pants from our own rehearsal dinner, his grandfather’s tweed jacket, and his brand new Brackish bowtie made out of real pheasant feathers. He blended in brilliantly.

Two of our college friends officiated the ceremony, and they were hilarious and heartfelt, personal and moving, an inspired combination of humor and sentimentality, lightheartedness and sincerity. I loved every moment of it.

We all cried like babies, men more than included in that count, and I felt all the frustration and anger melt away as I reached for James’ hand and was reminded of why he and I had embarked on a similar journey five years ago. Why we are so very blessed to have one another, and these people, and these moments, these beautiful, picture perfect dreams that we get to live as reality juxtaposed against the chaos of daily life.

During the ceremony, one of the officiates explained that he had sat down with Dave and Amanda separately to talk about their relationship, one another, and why they were getting into this crazy thing called marriage. Amanda said, “People keep asking me whether I know what I’m getting myself into. Whether I really understand that this is going to be like forever.” Then Amanda said, “But what’s sad about the whole thing is that forever is so short. All I really have to give to Dave is a single life. And so when people say—are you ready to give everything? I always say, it’s all I got.”

How very true that is. Thank you for the reminder, Amanda & Dave.

My Mother’s Attic // 9

This month’s remake for My Mother’s Attic seems fairly subtle and unremarkable, yet I put more sewing skills to work than ever before, and I’ll probably wear this piece more than any other yet in the series. Plus, you should hop over to the full post to see my spotlighting of all our Cartwheel Farm Critters. More on New Dress a Day.

My Mother’s Attic // 8

August’s My Mother’s Attic can be found here on New Dress a Day. A twirly party skirt for the celebrations to come this September. Trying to find the joy in the face of such loss.

Ruffles

For her 4th birthday, Sunny received a pair of ruffled shorts made out of bathing suit-esque material from her great-grandmother Zizi. We came to refer to them as her mermaid shorts, as they give the effect of a mermaid’s tail when she wears them.

Last weekend, Kaki received the same shorts, different color, so that she and Big Sister can now mutually rock out in mermaid style. We spent the morning of Courtland’s birthday running errands with our matchy matchy ruffles. And they nearly killed everyone dead from cute overload.

^^Seriously, how much fun are these? I sure do love a good ruffle. They officially have the hippest great-grandmother in the history of ever.^^

My Mother’s Attic // 7

This month’s My Mother’s Attic is different from all previous posts. After everything that’s happened this month, I decided to go through my collection of clothing handed down from my mother and showcase some pieces that are representative of four different generations of women in my family. Timeless pieces that don’t require any changes or alterations. Head on over to New Dress a Day to see the full ensembles and the histories of each here.

mini Boden // style

The girls are so lucky to have a loving great-grandmother in their lives. One who delights in shopping for adorable outfits and cuddly stuffed animals and playful toys. She lives in the Poconos, so we spent some time visiting with her and the girls’ great-grandfather during our recent vacation. These mini Boden ensembles were gifted and then I died from cute overload. So I’m posting from the after-life… clearly.

The poster children of mini Boden’s adorableness? I’d say so! Cover-ups here. The hats are not listed on the website, but I couldn’t believe that the girls liked wearing them. Hats are typically not a welcome accessory on either cranium. But they sure round out the summer look.

You can find the swimsuits here and here. That ruffle bottom? I can’t even…

Oh I can hardly stand how cute they are together! I am so very lucky to have them.

One of Many

On Saturday, I attended a baby shower in honor of James’ cousin who is expecting a baby boy this fall. I love any excuse to knit, so took the opportunity to whip up this baby cardigan and these sweet booties for their present.

I mean, those buttons! I could not resist!

This baby bootie pattern is really fun – completely seamless and really quick once you get the hang of the pattern. I recommend it highly. I have Kaki’s FGM to thank for the recommendation.

Just one skein of yarn created this full ensemble, and I had enough left over to do a baby hat as well but did not have the time before the shower. I can always send that piece along before he’s born. But I recommend this yarn, as it is self-striping, super soft, and I got a sweater, shoes, and hat out of the deal. Boom!

I have many a friend expecting babies this year, so I imagine I’ll be doing a variation of this theme quite a bit.

Full details in my Ravelry projects here and here.

My Mother’s Attic // 6

The woman in the photo above is one of my mother’s best friends from childhood. She’s pictured with my dad’s college roommate the morning of my parents’ wedding in June of 1974. Her name is Polly, and she died suddenly and tragically just a few months after that picture was taken due to Eastern Equine Encephalitis. I grew up learning all about Polly, my mother speaking fondly of her beautiful friend whose life was taken far too young. It was with bittersweet enthusiasm that I discovered that the dress I planned to alter for this month’s remake over on New Dress A Day was in fact a dress of Polly’s that my mother had saved these forty years.

The full story is up on Marisa’s blog here.

Reunion 2013 // style

One of my favorite pre-Reunion prep rituals is the selection of an appropriately obnoxious purple and gold ensemble. In the spirit of the event, I swaddle myself in the college colors for nearly a week straight.

Yes, my wardrobe has an even more appalling level of purple since I’ve returned to the collegiate motherland as an employee. It was bad as an alum, but we’ve reached next level purple saturation chez Cart.

I’m obsessed with my new Tieks ballet flats – super comfortable, super durable, super playful pop of color. I needed to go a size up in them (I’m normally an 11 and had to really embrace my big foot status by ordering a 12 (that dang big toe!) Just a note!). And those polka dotted pants from Uniqlo? Yeah, they’re drawstring. Boom!

That purple skull necklace, a 30th birthday gift from one of my dearest college friends, was definitely a highlight of the look. At first glance, people assumed they were purple beads. My their faces were priceless when the reality of the strand became clear.

Many thanks to Kate for the snaps (she was documenting the whole weekend’s festivities and spent a moment with me on Saturday afternoon to capture this look).

Shop ’em: Mustard ballet flats by Tieks; Purple pants by Uniqlo; Sandbar Tunic by Stella Carakasi; Skull Necklace by Shebee

Dotty Chicken

Our dear friends headed west yesterday, on the move to California. As a farewell gift they gave the girls these adorable tees.

I am totally and completely obsessed.

Surprise surprise.

You can buy the shirts here from Silk Oak.

We will miss you so, J & J!