married life crisis.

Okay, so maybe it's not a crisis, but after planning our wedding and getting married, I've began to gain interest in topics other than weddings. Shocking, isn't it?  To feed my desire to plan, craft, cook, and in general just write about things other than weddings, I started a new blog!  Not to worry, I'll still be filling you in with all the details of our honeymoon (I'm almost done I swear) and of course the wedding here at a small town bride, and I hope to continue sharing other wedding-related topics on this site in the future!  But I would love it if you stopped by my new blog, bijou lovely, to say hi and hopefully you'll like it enough to continue reading in the future!  Merci my lovelies!

guest post!

If you're like me and have a ton of weddings (besides your own) to attend this summer, you are probably in need of a gift! Check out my guest post on the Wishpot Wedding Blog for some handmade wedding gift suggestions! Leave me some love while you're there!

(source)

looking for a sponsor?

One topic that I have tried to research while trying to take my blog to the next level is finding sponsors. While I am definitely not an expert on the subject, I thought it might be helpful to tell you how I gained my blog sponsor, UPrinting.com. A couple months ago I had commented (and won!) a giveaway from Bridechka and the Wedding and then received an email asking if I would like to apply for a blog sponsorship. I filled out the simple form online, and before I knew it I had an email in my inbox telling me that UPrinting wanted to sponsor my blog! They are very generous and offer lots of giveaways to their bloggers. If you are interested, here's a little more information about the programs that UPrinting offers:

Why UPrinting.com isn't your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.

So go now and apply for your own blog sponsorship this.very.second!

welcome wishpot-ters!

For those of you who stopped by from Wishpot, welcome! I'm glad to have you here! Hope you enjoy reading about my small town wedding. I'd love to hear your comments!For the rest of my dear readers, if you haven't checked out my very first guest post on the Wishpot Wedding Blog today, go now! Then come back and tell me your thoughts!

tweet tweet.

Rather than doing anything productive tonight (other than testing a few potential signature drinks for the wedding) I joined Twitter! Follow me... asmalltownbride!

the big 2-0-0.

This is my 200th post! Can you believe it? Thank you, my lovely readers, for continuing to follow along with all of my planning and random inspiration. I love reading all of your comments, so keep them coming!

I like that I have a good mix of readers on this blog. Some friends and family, fellow brides-to-be, and a few fabulous vendors! Oh yeah, and the groomsmen. They have been reading lately, so if you find really weird comments that don't make a lot of sense... blame it on the groomsmen. They like to make fun of me for blogging, and call me "small town bride" in person now to mock me, yet they still have this blog as a bookmark on their iPhones. I think it's sweet.

They also wrote me some really nice postcards while in Milwaukee for the bachelor party last weekend. They've started to arrive in the mail. Check this one out.

p.s. The scary part -- this one's written by a future doctor. Be careful where you take your children for medical treatment!

Gotta love the groomsmen. *muah*

registry wishes.

Hey dudes and dudettes... check out who's joined the ranks of the Wishpot Wedding Experts!

So far I've added a few of the items we're most excited about on our registry, but check back soon for some recommendations on items that would be excellent additions to your own wedding wishlist!

now introducing...

Miss Mascara! That's right, I've been selected to blog for Weddingbee! I was introduced this morning! Go here to check it out!

For those of you who haven't discovered Weddingbee, it is an amazing resource while planning your wedding. There are tons of ideas, DIY projects, etc. to inspire you! Here's a little description of the site:

Weddingbee is a wedding blog updated daily by 20 real brides across the US and Canada. We feature wedding inspiration and ideas, diy projects, product reviews, vendor spotlights, advice and news, with a core focus on real brides’ wedding planning journeys from engagement to “I Do” and beyond. The site is updated up to 20 times a day and is read obsessively by brides, grooms, bridesmaids, women, wedding vendors and industry insiders alike.

As an avid blogger, publisher Bee Kim originally started weddingbee as a personal blog while planning her own wedding. The site’s popularity prompted her to launch weddingbee as a stand-alone site in February of 2006. Weddingbee currently gets over 80,000 daily page views.

I'm so excited to be a part of this site! Not to worry friends, I'll still be blogging here as usual, but don't forget to check me out on Weddingbee as well!

winner winner chicken dinner.

We have a winner! The lovely Caitlin will be receiving a custom inspiration board! Congrats Caitlin and I'll be emailing you to get more information about your wedding vision!

Thanks to everyone who participated! Have a fantastic weekend!

100!

This is my 100th post! How exciting! I suppose this would be a good time for a giveaway! I would love to give away something tangible like a purse or something else I've made, but I don't really have a ton of extra time to make things right now. Sorry! So instead, I'll offer up an inspiration board! I'll contact the winner to get details of your wedding and try to create a board to illustrate your vision.

Please leave a comment below to enter once, become a follower (or if you are already a follower) to be entered twice (leave a comment to let me know you want to participate), or post about my giveaway on your own blog to be entered three times (leave a comment with the link to your post). Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact the winner.

I'll pick a winner on Friday! That means you have until midnight on Thursday to enter. Good luck!

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a board I created for a contest on Brooklyn Bride last week. I am loving the muted color palette! Perfect for a spring wedding.

Dress from Banana Republic, top peony via In This Instance, shoes from J.Crew, NELLE handbags, earrings and necklace from seller polestar on Etsy, bottom peony picture from For The Love Of....

tagged.

I've been tagged by a few people recently and I haven't forgotten about it! Sorry it took so long.

Heidi at 2 State Bride and Goldie at A Bride's Golden Moments gave me the Blog Luv award.
Thanks girls! I love both of your blogs as well!

Brenn at Where Preppy Meets Hippie tagged me. Here are the rules:

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people will be tagged.

Make a list of things you can see without getting up: my wonderful fiance, the TV, my wedding binder, my recent Etsy purchase, my Diet Mtn. Dew, my ring!

What were you like when you were five? Really shy. And an only child at that point, so a little spoiled. And in love with my cabbage patch kids.

What are you wearing now? Sweats and a t-shirt. It's almost bed time!

What color is your bedroom? White. I'm too cheap to buy paint for my apartment since I'll have to repaint before I move.

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Work stuff. For pleasure, The Tipping Point and wedding magazines.

Do you nap a lot? In college I was a professional napper. Now I don't have time.

Who was the last person you hugged? Adam

What’s your current obsession/addiction? wedding blogs

What was the last thing you said aloud? I can't remember! It's been like 2 minutes. My memory isn't that great.

What websites do you always visit when you go online? Email, blogger

What was the last thing you bought? A turkey with cranberry mayo sandwich from the cafeteria for lunch. It was delicious if you were wondering.

What are you listening to right now? Top Chef!

What movie are (or were!) you most excited to show your kids? I've never thought of this before. Disney movies I guess?

If you could have any super power, what would it be? Teleportation. I feel like I'm always driving somewhere.

What is your favorite weather, and why? 80 degrees and sunny. Because it never happens here.

What was the last reality tv show you watched? Currently watching Top Chef.

What is your most challenging goal right now? Focusing on work when I have a wedding to plan. It's hard!

Say something to the person who tagged you: Hi Brenn, thanks for tagging me! Your new layout looks great!

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? I know where it wouldn't be....anywhere in Illinois.

Favorite vacation spot? Really anywhere that's warmer than here would be fabulous. I loved Southern France so I guess I'd have to say that's my fave so far.

What is your favorite children’s book? Bugs in Boxes...makes me think of my aunt. She was the coolest.

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo from The Cheesecake Factory. Really, any kind of pasta actually.

What can't you live without? Adam, my family and friends, Diet Mtn. Dew, ae tank tops, Burts Bees chapstick, brushing my teeth. That is quite a random list.

If you could have any job in the world , what would it be? I'd love to have my own business where I can be creative all day long. Or if I could design artificial hearts that would be fun too. Either one :)

Now I tag:

{amy lynn} at {with the pixie grin}
Kristen Nichols at All Things Lovely
Jenn at With This Ring....
Sherry at My Little Black Book
Stephanie at Run, Knit, Get Hitched!
The Mrs. at The Adventures of Mrs. Reagan

I know that's only 6, but that's all I've got for today!

blogging debut part II

Melissa at Masterpiece Weddings posted my story today on her blog! Go here to check it out! Thanks Melissa for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your "Blogging Brides" series!

Photo by my future father-in-law, Mel.

so much exciting news today!

So after Melissa posted my bio on her blog, I started getting some really nice comments on my blog from other brides! Including one from Heidi at 2 State Bride, saying she had nominated my blog as Uber Amazing! Needless to say, it made my day :) Thanks Heidi!

The Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:
- inspires you
- makes you smile and laugh
- or maybe gives amazing information
- a great read
- has an amazing design
- and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!
The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

I nominate:
Tara at In This Instance.
A Windy City Wedding.
A $10,000 Wedding.
Amy at Fiance Meeting You Here.
Abbie at A Glimpse of the Girl Next Door.

my blogging debut.

Sorry for the hiatus the past few days, I was in Portland for work. That place is gorgeous, even when its raining. The leaves were turning colors and the view was so pretty! I wish I had been able to take some pictures! While I was gone, Melissa at Masterpiece Weddings was nice enough to post my bio on her "Blogging Brides" series this week. I'll be on her blog again next week with my story. Go check it out!

Photo from here.