When I tell people about the Gocco, they’re taken back by how cool it sounds. It really is cool, and I am so glad I stumbled across it. It is a Japanese desktop screen printing machine that instantly burns an image (printed off a laser printer) on a hi-mesh screen. You can burn and start printing in a minute. It’s so awesome!

We used it for the exterior of our invitations as well as the return address on the back flap of our envelopes.

Initially, we wanted to hand print the entire thing but after realizing how many we had to make and how long it took for each one, we decided to drop it off at Paper Slam in NYC.

You can view the tutorial here. Anthony took pictures of the entire process!

No, it’s not a hotdog. It’s not a white little kayak. It’s a bean and a grain of rice. 

Before coming up with antandnat.com, we laid in bed jokingly referring to ourselves as stereotypical objects that referenced our nationality. 

Burrito and Eggroll. Fork and Chopsticks. Tamale and Springroll. Brown Paper Sack and Chinese Take Out Box. Brown and Yellow. You get the point…

We ended up landing on Beans and Rice and had a kick laughing at ourselves. We thought it was pretty hilarious. Last Valentine’s Day, Anthony scoured the island to find me a card and stumbled upon a canister of buttons at a card store on 18th street. He decided to dig through and struck gold. He found a button with a bean and rice holding hands and immediately bought it. And, there you have it ladies and gentlemen. 

I was inspired by the illustration on the button and recreated it in Adobe Illustrator. 

I wish I could give credit to the original artist, but I have searched Google and all over. It is a genius idea. Unfortunately, there were no initials on the button or anything so I can’t give credit to where credit is due.

Thank you for all of your emails and comments about shoes. It has definitely helped me find some! Now, to narrow it down will be no easy feat.

I’ve always been and will always be a stilettos type of girl but since Ant and I are similar in height, I will have to sacrifice that so that our pictures don’t come out looking like I’m some sort of giant.

I was going to go with flats but after endless searching, nothing really caught my eye. A few nights ago, I started looking into small-medium heels. Here are some of my top picks thus far (a couple of which are pretty high.. I couldn’t help it!!).

Report Signature “Amelie”

Giuseppe Zanotti

Pure Lopez

Nina Shoes “Kayleen” (Thanks Laura!)

I don’t think anything can beat a wedding band like this.

Everytime you take it off, you’re reminded of the wonderful bond between you and your significant other. I know, I know. It sounds cheesy, but really.. it’s true!

via Yoon Jung Yun

A few months ago, I never would have guessed that I would be faced with a fit of uncertainty about the size of an invitation.

A few months ago, what used to be a small, trivial detail has taken me weeks to come to a conclusion.

But today is a brand new day. I have just ordered the paper and envelopes for our DIY invitations! They were even cut to size, which will save me hours of hard labor in the upcoming weeks. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I did a lot of research on cardstock weights, sizes, textures, and colors coupled with research on envelope sizes, flaps and linings. I hunted for bargains and compared prices. The best website had to be The Paper Mill Store. Once I get these in, I’ll start cataloging my adventure. For any reason, if anyone wants to learn from my mishaps, there will have photos and captions to avoid any mistakes I will be making. And trust me, there will be mistakes.

At first, I wanted to have long hair for the big day and after some time, I realized that it wouldn’t be reflective of who I really am so I decided I should find good short hair cuts that were classic but had a little cute “edge” to it.

For the makeup, I’m torn between the dark eyes or natural all around. Any feedback?

Charlize Theron, Premiere Women of Hollywood event

Rihanna Fenty, photoshoot

Megan Fox, MTV Movie Awards

Hilary Duff, Blender Magazine

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron

Cassie Ventura

Rihanna Fenty

I love TheKnot.com. It’s a great resource for brides and I cannot keep count of how many times I have heard people suggest the website to me. No hard feelings.

Tonight, I decided to browse the May 2009 community section and was quite floored.

Most have their invitations printed and ready to send out, some have even sent them out already. Some have their centerpiece supplies stored away in their closets. Some have their shoes, their undergarments, their garters. Some have their rehearsal dinners planned and their entertainment booked. I could go on, but it will only make my throat feel tighter.

Oh geez, someone please enlighten me.

Depending on your perspective, this could or could not be wedding related.

I peruse the blogs pretty often when I’m at work with downtime, and came across this article on Fashionista.com. Don’t be fooled by the name, I am no “fashionista”. I think that’s a silly term. I just look at it for the sales and any other interesting bits and pieces I can gather on fashion trends. What can I say, I live in New York and a part of me has become a product of this environment.

On to the free cosmetic giveaway. Apparently, because of a lawsuit that was filed, several large department stores are being forced to give away free products to consumers and anyone who walks through their doors on January 20th. View the list here.

Source: Fashionista.com

This is a repost from an inspiration wedding website I visit religiously on a daily basis, Style Me Pretty. I thought this was really cute and could be turned into something more than Thank You cards, such as invitations or something along those lines…

Materials Needed:
1. Sewing Machine
2. Pinking Shears or Rotary Cutter
3. One piece of Ultrasuede fabric
4. Satin Ribbon
5. Coordinating Threads
6. Metal Ruler
7. X-acto Knife

Instructions:
Step 1: With scissors, trim ultrasued to 5.5″ x 8.75″. Cut a piece of coordinating ribbon to 20″ long. Align Ribbon to the center of the fabric lengthwise and pin about 3.5″ down from the top on the right side of fabric. Secure ribbon with a sewing machine. Fold bottom of the envelope up about 2.5″. Sew both sides shut with a sewing machine.

Step 2: Measure .5″ in from the top center of the envelope. With an x-acto knife, cute a straight line through the fabric just wide enough to accommodate your ribbon. Measure .25″ up and repeat the same cut. Thread ribbon through slots.

Step 3: Place a standard 4-Bar card in the envelope or download this template of cards and print out onto card stock on your home printer. Follow the instructions in the template on how to trim out.

Step 4: Once the card is placed in the envelope fold top over and pull snug. Using pinking shears or ruler and rotary pinking cutter, trim each side to get the decorative scalloped edge. Make sure to do this step last so that the scallop edges line up. Snip ends of ribbon to points and tie in a bow!

Make sure to visit Style Me Pretty for the step-by-step photos.

This has not one iota of cosmic significance, but I thought I would blog about it anyway.

Is it me, or am I not stressed out enough? Silly question, I know. According to the stories I hear and magazines (and blogs) I read, I should be pulling my hair out and biting my nails. Instead, I’m sitting here calm and settled.  

I feel like I am in a bit of a slump. Things keep thrusting themselves at me to be done, which (unfortunately) makes me want to do them even less. Perhaps it’s my horrible trait of procrastination that is calming me. You know what that means. In a month, I will be in a sea of anguish and pounding my head against the wall, and of course, pulling my hair out and biting my nails.

This leaves me in a state of uncomfortable comfortable-ness. Only 4 months left and the only thing we have accomplished thus far is this website.

Perhaps I should stop rambling now and go call a vendor. Yeah, I think I might do that.