Guys—it’s happening. The daffodils and crocuses are beginning to burst from the crusty earth, and even though I usually get nervous that they’re going to be wiped out by a late-winter frost, this year I’m just happy to see them. Soon there will be nubbly little buds on the trees, and the slightly sour smell of freshly mulched sidewalk beds in the air—and my god, am I excited.

I know we’re surely in for a weather setback in the next few weeks, but right now I’m loving the light jacket temps, and Ozzie is loving not wearing his puffer vest, lol.

On My Brain

A Podcast that Makes Both Jeffery and I Giggle

You may already know that I love Benny Drama (Benito Skinner) and his partner Terry, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I actually started listening to his podcast with Mary Beth Barone, Ride. These two are so naturally hilarious (makes sense, as they are comedians and actors), and I could listen to them talk about the most inane subjects (as they are wont to do) for hours. The premise of the podcast is very simple: each episode, Benny and Mary Beth pick something to “ride for,” and they’re often nonsensical, like popcorn, Galileo, and cousins. It’s about an hour of babble in the best way, and lately I’ve been turning it on in the car (as opposed to my Bravo recap podcast, Watch What Crappens) because it gets an lol out of Jeffery almost as frequently as it gets me to cackle.

In My Cart

Fabric for My Veil!!

Without giving toooooo much away (though being secretive clearly isn’t my top priority), I will say that the veil I want doesn’t exist :). I’ve been picturing a full lace veil that’s the length of my dress train with a blusher (the piece that comes down in front of your face) just for volume, and shocker, this has been exceedingly difficult to find. I tried something similar on at a bridal shop but I think it was about $1,000 (???) and I obviously find that to be abhorrent. I ordered a “mantilla” veil on Etsy but it’s not exactly what I’m looking for and the color was slightly off next to my dress.

So, I did what anyone would do, and ordered 10 yards of lace (at $3.99 a yard) online and recruited my mom (who’s much better than I am at following directions and sewing) to help me make a veil. I also went to the garment district and priced out some of my favorite lace from Mood Fabrics, but that was like, $17 a yard, and that was crazy town. Fingers crossed it all works out, or you might find me with a Temu special on the wedding day, idk.

A Slightly Ridiculous Rehearsal Dinner Dress

I’m exhausted by the hunt for white dresses to wear to all the various wedding events. Bridal shower, bach (which I gave up entirely and am just wearing what speaks to me), rehearsal, reception—it’s asking lot of me to find unique dresses for each occasion, so I expanded my search to color, and ended up fixated on finding a dress made from a shiny jacquard.

I am loyal to the UK-based brand Sister Jane (it’s so frilly and silly and girly) and am constantly refreshing their site, and what do you know they just added a dress that’s just poofy and shiny enough it might work.

Originally I envisioned it as a second dress for when I get sick of the big gown, but it’s a little heavier than I expected and I don’t think it would be quite the relief I’m looking for that night, so I think I’m gonna wear it to the rehearsal with these equally ridiculous silver platform heels (they’re no longer avail, but these and these are similar) which I wore to my friend Rachel’s wedding. Yes, I did trip and fall on my ass in these shoes, but I blame the sand I was walking on and my generally weak ankles—the shoes themselves are quite sturdy and altogether not entirely uncomfortable, OKAY. And if I fall, I fall. Que sera, sera.

Wedding Bands

We’re banging out wedding tasks left and right, laying awake at night wondering how the hell we’re gonna pay for all of this… and it’s great!!!! I swear it’s great! We went to the same jeweler who made my engagement ring (Kerry from Love Locked!) because she rules. Jeffery is going with a knife-cut gold band, and mine will be a thick gold band that has a space in the middle to accommodate my engagement ring (similar to the photo above). I wanted the band to give the illusion of an altogether thicker band, and I think it’s going to be lovely.

In My Belly

Our Wedding Menu Rules, IMO

That’s because I created it, of course. We wanted a menu that was equal parts casual and elevated—truly like food I’d make if we were having friends over in our apartment. we just did the tasting on Saturday and I’m pleased to report that it went well.

We’re doing it family style, because that’s also our favorite way to eat (if you’re not ordering everything for the table with your friends and splitting it all—what are you doing?), and it will also make it easier for people with dietary restrictions to eat more of what they like/can eat and less of what they don’t. Some people probably don’t love family style, but guess what? I don’t like buffets, and I think plated meals are most often cold and underwhelming, so there! Anyway, here’s what’s on the menu:

Cocktail Hour

• Fig and goat cheese crostini

• Thai style crab rangoons (with crispy purse-shaped wontons and sweet chili sauce)

• Buffalo cauliflower bites

• Lamb chops

• Swedish meatball and mashed potato spoons

• Charcuterie, crudités, dips, crackers, antipasto, etc.

Mains

• Strawberry field salad (baby kale, strawberries, goat cheese, pecans, mustard vinaigrette)

• Chicken Puglia (panko crusted cutlets, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cream)

• Macadamia crusted sea bass with lemon butter

• Penne pomodoro

• New York strip steak

• Roasted seasonal vegetables

• Some sort of starch TBD (risotto? Roasted potatoes? Potatoes au gratin?)

Dessert

• Cake—my friend Celeste is making our cake (chantilly cake with one layer of berries and one layer of banana pudding and vanilla bean buttercream) and it’s soorrrrr good.

• Tiramisu—my friend Kaila is making this and I love that she uses Biscoff biscuits instead of lady fingers, because they retain their structure and don’t get all gloopy like lady fingers do.

• Berries / fresh fruit and Nutella (one of my favorite things in the whole wide world)

• Freshly piped cannolis in a little mobile cannoli station l o l

You Ask, I Answer

Q: “Where to look for cool-girl shoes for a wedding!!! Key words???”

A: You already know where I’m gonna go with this… second hand ❤️. Get yourself on the Real Real or Vestiaire Collective and start searching and favoriting things you like, then you can narrow down a more specific with filters on what you want by price, color, brands, etc. Poshmark is also my go-to, but this can be more difficult if you don’t know what you want, because I’ve found the best way is to search for brands first, and then narrow things down. Some shoes I’ve found this way:

Anyway, besides second hand, some brands I gravitate towards are: Sézane, Sam Edelman, Dolce Vita, Staud, Matisse, Ganni, Larroudé, Franco Sarto, and Jeffrey Campbell—these are all mid-range and can be reasonable, especially if you can find them second hand. If I don’t know where to start, I’ll also browse a larger swath of shoes on Nordstrom, Revolve, Shop Bop, SSENSE, and Anthropologie.

Need a gift suggestion for your mother-in-law’s birthday? Stuck on how to rearrange the furniture in your living room? Want to know what to do with a jar of marinated artichokes? Come to mama. Hit me up with your questions, and I'll answer them in an upcoming letter.