What the hell do we buy our parents as a thank you gift?

Dear ESB,

First off, this site has helped me keep my sanity for the last year since getting engaged. Thank you for constantly reminding me that I'm not crazy or an idiot for thinking about weddings as I do.

That being said, any suggestions for gifts for the parents? Both of our parents are helping us pay for the wedding and we wanted to give them something at the rehearsal dinner. 

Something beyond the traditional pocket watch (what the hell is that about? seriously - is that a thing?) or expensive frame for a future wedding photo (blah, boring and BORING).

Please help! We're getting married in two and half weeks and I can't think of anything that isn't overdone or cheesy.

*****

k, i just need to ask a few questions about the parents:

shiny or matte?

sweet or salty?

happy or sad? (just kidding)

joan baez or led zeppelin?

harry potter or james bond?

*****

OK, for my parents:

shiny or matte? Both!

sweet or salty? Again, both!

happy or sad? (just kidding) Ha ha - thankfully very happy.

joan baez or led zeppelin? I can't believe you didn't include Korean church hymns on those choices! Because the answer would be Korean church hymns and classical music (no joke)

harry potter or james bond? Bond for sure.

For the in-laws:

shiny or matte? Shiny

sweet or salty? Sweet!

happy or sad? (just kidding) Happy with a touch of ennui

joan baez or led zeppelin? Joan Baez

harry potter or james bond? Bond

Thanks!!!

*****

I had this chocolate* all picked out............

For your parents:

The Bacon Truffle Collection from Vosges.

I haven't sampled the truffles, but I can promise you the bacon chocolate bars are BEYOND. (As in, maybe the best chocolate I've ever tasted.)

For the in-laws:

Le Chocolat en Rose Truffles (also from Vosges), inspired by Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose."

But then I reread your query and realized you want something to give them at the rehearsal dinner.

Womp womp.


How bout a gold coffee spoon set? Or a couple of little gold-leaf bowls? Or A REALLY GOOD BOTTLE OF BOURBON.**

My favorite cinematographer recommends Hudson Baby Bourbon. He says "Old Potrero Rye is also very nice... If you want a west coast thang."

(Image at top by Alma Haser via JE;SU, Hudson Baby Bourbon photo via There Will Be Bourbon)
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*As a newly minted member of The Tiny House Club, I have quickly come to appreciate gifts that are decadent and impermanent.

**See above

IS IT MONDAY??

New York is kicking my ass.

Last night I consumed 3 bourbons + 1 panini sandwich* and i tossed and turned and tossed and turned dreaming about MODELS.

I know I tweeted it, but I don't think I mentioned on this here blog.... I'm directing a short film in collab with the Catbird ladies.

WOOT!

We shoot this Thursday, which is why I've got models on the brain. A herd of em are coming through my apartment tomorrow to show us their stuff ;)

Photo is of K Mattis
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*i know. WHEAT WHEATY WHEAT WHEAT. i have to eat it every once in a while just to remind myself, "WHOA. I CAN'T EAT THAT."

7 1/2 blog posts i should have posted

i've been cheating, you guys. (and also: cheating you guys.) not only have i put up a dear esb EVERY DAY for the last week,* i've put up all these other reader letters, which are rad, but sort of allow me to cop out and escape from actually writing anything.

here's a short list of posts i OUGHT TO HAVE written while in nyc:

1. When You Reach Your "Mid-Thirties" You Will Lose Your Tolerance For Alcohol

2. Everything I Do That Annoys My Husband, I Learned From My Mom

2a. My Mom Is Pretty Fucking Cool

3. I Think My Hasbeens Un-Broke Themselves In or The Quest For Granny Sandals

4. Driving a Cargo Van Through the West Village: More Fun Than You Might Think!

5. An Open Letter to My Five-Years-Ago-Self or You didn't have time to wash that pan before you packed it? REALLY?

6. My Month Without High-Speed Internet. Or Even Reliable Internet. (Say "Why didn't you go to Starbucks?" and you lose a testicle.)

7. WHERE THE EFF IS MY HUSBAND? AND WHY DID I THINK IT WAS COOL TO LEAVE HIM BEHIND FOR THIRTY-THREE WHOLE DAYS??

and now i will publish this post via the miraculous high-speed internet in the jetblue terminal, and board my plane for los angeles.

xoxo,
me

(Cacharel Spring 2011 via Sara Williams via seesaw via The cherry blossom girl)
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*How else can I stem the tide?

I may have caught the holiday spirit.

Mock me if you must, but I think it happened somewhere between getting my hair cut on Fairfax and using an old credit (!) to buy two PERFECT presents at Buffalo Exchange on La Brea. Guess I ought to venture west more often.

Today I'll be cleaning house, roasting spiced pecans and attempting pomegranate champagne punch.* I'm more of a bourbon girl, as you know, but we've got a bottle of "California Champagne" languishing in the cupboard that was an anniversary gift from the Madonna Inn and I'm damned if I'm gonna let it go to waste.

(Image via fine little day)

*Unless anyone's got a better champagne punch recipe? I was planning to substitute organic vodka for the rum because a) organic = NO HANGOVER and b) what do I want with leftover rum?!

I (heart) cevd

I've been waiting all week for Christine to post photos of her wee shop/custom invitation studio. I don't want to brag or anything... Okay maybe I do want to brag a little: H and I got our asses out of the house and made it to the opening.

I won't lie to you, the paper goods are rad. We did a little early christmas shopping while we were there. And I don't even want to talk about the bacon chocolate bars. Proceed with caution. (Alternatively: Consume with bourbon. Die happy.)

But I digress. Cevd's hand-printed I ♥ LA bags are what really killed me. H bought me one and I haven't left the house without it since.

Would you believe this puppy holds $70 worth of groceries from Whole Foods? Plus the "(Los Alamos, California)" in fine print cracks me up. It's a funny little "You didn't really think I loved Los Angeles, did you?"

Bonus: Since we've been on the topic of engagement rings and nontraditional girls, I hounded cevd to send me a photo of her vintage green sapphire engagement ring.

mas found the ring through his dad's ex-girlfriend who has since started the online antique jewelry shop Topazery. (Cevd took this photo in her studio on one of the DIY seat cushions. Showoff.)

Cevd also has a little Sarah Perlis diamond. I. know. But whenever I see her she's rocking the sapphire.

Update: Christine says "perhaps you need to mention that when it comes to engagement rings people need to GET over the diamonds? ... like now please." And bags are now for sale on etsy.

pls put me on ice.

bourbon optional.

Lorick Fall 09 Lookbook by Tom Hines via Life in Lomo

Happy Friday to the grooms

I know some of you were reading this week. Silently.

Speaking of Friday.... Did you know Maker's Mark has become eco-friendly? This post on steady happy led me (happily) here.

(Image from FOUND Magazine)

Maker's Mark wedding (reprise)

See more images from this wedding today on Snippet & Ink. Plus get the killer details.

Such as (Jamie will appreciate this): It poured rain in the days before the wedding, and since it was muddy, Donia decided to wear a pair of her everyday shoes - basic black oxfords.

Awesome.

Photos by Samuel Lippke

Echo Park Is Not Dead

This article has inspired three people so far to send me their condolences. I know it's confusing. Eagle Rock, Echo Park. East Side hipsters. "Whatevs," you're thinking.

Just so we're clear: I don't live in Eagle Rock. I don't hang out in Eagle Rock. I don't even know how to get to Eagle Rock.

Why would I? When I can walk, from my Echo Park bungalow, to:

1. The Friday night farmer's market. That's right, Friday night. Who wants to get up early to buy vegetables?

2. Two Boots Pizza. Okay, I can't eat the pizza, but the fact that this indie chain has branched into my neighborhoods on both coasts makes me weirdly happy. It's time for a gluten-free option, you guys.

3. Chango. The most effing hilarious hipster-watching. I can't actually vouch for the coffee (I drink mine before I leave the house), but the Arnold Palmer rocks.

4. Echo Park Lake. According to this wee adorable map by Laura, the loop around the lake is just under a mile. I should start running around it. Or walking around it. Or just sitting and feeding the ducks. I really like ducks.

5. Little Joy (pictured). I used to love this bar, but the last time I was there the patrons were all 21-going-on-16. Way to make me feel like an old married lady.

Footsie's is my new favorite bar.* A "dive" with great lighting that serves Booker's. Way to make me feel like a grupster. And yes, it's in Cypress Park (wherever that is). Don't bother with the Echo Park bars on the weekend. So. Not. Dead.

*In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that my rad neighbor is part owner. When H-town told him how much we liked Footsie's, he gave us two tokens for free drinks. Maybe one night we'll actually get out of the house and use them. And we srsly plan to ask him where he bought the vintage fixtures.

(Image courtesy of Meltwater)

LOMO + Maker's Mark

While I'm on the subject of badass cameras and good whiskey. (Maker's Mark may not be top shelf, but it works for me.)

Well done, Samuel Lippke.

I miss new york today

Even if it is 30 degrees.

I'm picturing Porter and Hollister drinking top shelf bourbon and snapping photos of hot guys and just generally living up the single life.

In W'msburg, of course, not at 40th + Park.

(Yes, it's another one from the porterpolaroidproject. Her photos call to me from my google reader. "Post me! Post me!")

please allow me to clarify

When I said "mini-cleanse," what I meant was, "I should stay away from bourbon for a few days." Um, and burritos.*

I would never give up food. And I don't even know how to work our juicer.**

*I was in San Francisco for the weekend. Wheat is a migraine trigger for me, and you can't make a burrito without a big flour tortilla. But it's impossible for me to leave SF without eating at least one. This time I had two.

**Basically, I'm the husband in the marriage. I act all bumbling in the kitchen so that H-town is forced to wait on me. Every once in a while I slip up and prepare a meal and he remembers I know how to cook, but usually it works like a charm.

(Image courtesy of jerryriddle)