Wedding Jewelry

You would think that with my jewelry obsession it would take me no time to pick out my wedding accessories. False. It's worse.

I am having the same problem with jewelry as I had with my shoes. I can't find what I have pictured in my head.

What I really want to wear is just a big ol' pair of earrings. Something flashy and awesome. Preferably with pearls and rhinestones to match other parts of my wedding ensemble. I tend toward more vintage-inspired pieces.

Bridal Jewelry by kkwalsh featuring stone jewelry

1. These and #4 are pretty similar. I like them because they are similar to the shoe clips that I have for my bridal shoes. 2. These are awesome because they resemble quatrefoils. Enough said. 3. These are pretty, but I wish the white/cream part was more pearl rather than the opaque color they are. And they're clip-ons. No thanks to that. 4. Again, love the emerald cut of the CZ with the pave edge.

The biggest issue I have with finding jewelry online is that I have no way of knowing really how big it is. I really appreciate the websites that have size comparison photos, but most don't.

I swear I have searched every website I can think of that would have bridal jewelry. Anyone have any ideas that I may have missed? I'm definitely going to have to go in-store shopping to actually be able to see them in person.

In My Mind I'm Goin' to Carolina...

JMC and I will be going through so many changes in the near future.

My last day at my current job is scheduled to be May 4th, and I just accepted a new position in Charlotte that will possibly overlap. I am moving out of my apartment this weekend and will be transient for the next couple weeks (AKA staying at JMC's condo) while I finish up my last bits of business in Chapel Hill.

Then, its the complete move. JMC and I are moving back in with our respective parents for a little while to save some money and look for a condo to buy. JMC starts his new job in July and will be studying for the CPA exam nonstop until then (or until he passes all parts... its said to be pretty difficult).

Leaving Chapel Hill is going to be bittersweet. I surely won't miss the parking hassles or all the protesting, but everything I will miss is definitely going to outweigh the issues.

Photo courtesy of my iPhone.. no joke, its that beautiful in Chapel Hill.

"I love UNC. I love the quad in spring and the arboretum in the fall. I love the Pit on a sunny day and Graham Memorial Lounge on a rainy one. I love Roy all the time. But what makes UNC truly special is not our beautiful campus, our distinguished reputation or even our basketball team. It's us - the student body - who make UNC what it is."
-Eve Carson, deceased student body president

We will certainly miss our friends, although most of them are already gone or will be leaving with us. We will miss our favorite restaurants, bars, buildings on campus. We will miss the beauty of the trees that line Franklin Street, our fraternity and sorority houses, the general feeling of belonging even on such a huge campus. It will be weird to come back and not recognize faces as we walk around. It will be weird to come back when stores and restaurants have come and gone. But the one thing about Chapel Hill is that if you went to school here it will always be "your town," no matter how old you are. Those who aren't a part of the Carolina Family just don't understand the impression that this place will leave on your heart forever.

Registry Faves

In late February, JMC and I went ahead and completed our registry. He was so excited to go just so he could use the scan gun (boys will be boys I guess). We decided to register at three stores: Crate and Barrel, Belk, and Target. This way, our guests will be able to choose at least one store within their vicinity as well as their price range.

For our china, we chose Lenox Quatrefoil, a pattern that was part of the Spring collection this year. Its hard to see in the picture below, but it has both platinum and gold detail, making it easier to pair with either color chargers or accessories.

For casual dinnerware, we chose the Hayes Dinnerware from Crate and Barrel. We loved the charcoal gray color and that the collection included all the pieces that we thought we would need (pasta low bowls as well as plain bowls and multiple different options for serving pieces).

Dinnerware by kkwalsh on polyvore.com

Other essential items for our registry included a Kitchenaid mixer, stainless steel measuring cups and spoons, and a Rowenta iron.

The mixer that I chose was the Kitchenaid Custom Metallic Series Copper Stand Mixer because I just LOVE the color and know that it would go with any kitchen decor that I decided on throughout the years. Its a little more expensive than the other ones, so I'm keeping my options open and may change my selection to one in navy or the new almost Carolina blue that was just released.

Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons are items that will last almost a lifetime. These ones are from Crate and Barrel, so they're sure to be high quality but not overly expensive. I love that the numbers are engraved and won't rub off after a number of washes. Also, they are heavy-duty enough that they won't bend or get flimsy over time.

The Rowenta iron is a must-have for our new household. Their irons are of such high quality, and like the measuring cups, will last for a number of years. It might seem silly to have a preference for a certain iron, but after using one of these, it is obvious that other irons just don't compare.

Registry Essentials by kkwalsh on polyvore.com

Nail Polish Love

Spring 2012 Nails by kkwalsh featuring lacquer nails

1. Butter LONDON "Trout Pout" - More coral and neon than it looks in the picture. Love for summer with a good tan. 2. Deborah Lippmann "Glamorous Life" - Maybe still sold out online. I was looking for this color for a couple weeks and finally found it at Bevello! Probably wearing this color for the wedding. 3. OPI "What's With the Cattitude" - From the Shrek collection, but is the perfect Carolina blue. 4. FACE Stockholm "Absinthe Minded" - Sold at J.Crew, best mint green I've found so far. A little darker than the mint I had in mind, but I love it! Still looking for another lighter mint, so let me know if you've found a good one! 5. Deborah Lippmann "Daytripper" - My new go-to toe color. Very coral-y orange and darker than it looks in the picture. Got this for Easter from my fabulous future MIL!