Lessons on Lashes

I have worn eyelashes almost every day for the past 2 years. Every night, in my dressing room, I'd whip out the lash glue, and apply a full strip (usually my trusty ol' Mac 5's).

When I needed a smaller lash, or just a pop, I'd apply Ardells or other drug store brands. Lashes are awesome and they do wonders for your face.

So as I sit back and look at pictures from our wedding, I can't help but think to myself, "Why aren't you wearing lashes?"

It never occurred to me so plainly that I just didn't think they were up for it. Have you ever gotten sweat in your eye when you had eye makeup on? Know what happens when you wipe your eye? Mascara and liner  failure. I think I must have subconsciously remembered previous experiences. When the glue from your falsies gets wet, the eyelash comes off. Sometimes just a corner pops up. You have to take 5 minutes to either jimmy it back into place, or do the darn thing all over again.

"Use more glue", you say. Use too much glue to apply and you have a sloppy mess.

Lash glueing is an art. Either you got it, or you don't. I usually got it, but on my wedding day I didn't feel like testing the system.

Can you imagine my emotional craziness and propensity to tears-- mixed with false eyelashes? Sounds like a recipe for a small bridal meltdown.  I remember talking with John about perhaps applying singlets on the outer corners, but then dismissing the idea for fear of teary eye. Imagine how pretty those photos would have turned out with our happy faces and me with a melting lash. Que horror!

So when I go to scold myself in the future over not wearing lashes on our wedding day, I'll try to remember that I was averting a small makeup predicament. Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume, in waterproof, did the trick.

But for you controlled criers out there, a few tips:

1. Practice, practice, practice. Don't use your wedding day as the first day you try lashes. If you do decide to do this, be warned.

2. Don't use as much glue as you would think. A thin coat does the job. If you need more hold let that thin coat dry a little and apply a 2nd coat on top of it.

3. Let the glue dry on the lash a little before you apply. I blow on mine. You want the glue tacky, not wet. Also, I've found the black glue to work better than the white stuff.

4. Don't be afraid to cut the ends of the lash. If you have smaller eyes, cut the lash to your lash line. Nothing looks faker than lashes that don't fit your eyeline.

5. Apply your lashes after your shadow and liner. The lash should be the finishing touch. Don't apply eyeshadow after, or the shadow will fall in the curve of the lash.

(Here is a shot of the same makeup, with and without lashes. Makes a difference!)

Good luck with your lashes! And someone please tell me that it's okay that I didn't do more of a show makeup look for my wedding. I'm having a hard time wrestling with the fact that I went "less is more"!

Walking That Fine Line, Elation vs. Anxiety

I've been trying to come up with a clever "10-day countdown" post, but it's not coming. I know I've forgotten at least a few posts on wedding details, but they seem so trite for my mood. I also want to wait until all the pieces come together before I present them to you. I know, it's last minute, but I'm hoping you'll like our escort cards and our wedding favors-- I'm totes loving them!

I'm living in a heightened sense of reality. Everything is either a complete miracle or total disaster-- there is no in-between. Me finishing my escort cards all by myself: complete miracle. My wedding shoe order being cancelled: total disaster. I cried in the shower for 30 minutes yesterday. I can't even tell you what I was crying about-- it just all kept coming. I feel like I'm walking a thin line between total elation and total anxiety.

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I'm so sure about our marriage and our union, and that is the comforting part. What I'm unsure of is the actual wedding. Am I doing enough? Will our guests be happy? Should I be hosting more events? Will they be picking their noses?

I think I just worry that our guests are taking time out of their schedules, and spending a pretty penny to stay in Napa for the weekend-- I want them to feel like they're loved and appreciated. I wish we could host a giant party every night of the long weekend, but parties Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday are just not in the budget. Don't you just wish you had a suitcase with a billion dollars in it?

But then I try to remember how much fun Napa is and how happy I am when I'm there. You guys, it's crush season!!!! V. Sattui's Crush Party is the night before our wedding! I keep trying to remind myself that the guests will be happy enough being in wine country. Hello? Miss Barrettes?? Tasting in Napa all day long can make even the most sour soul happy!

So hive, that's where I am. I still have things to show you, things to tell you, but they're still falling into place and in the meantime you're just left with what's going on in my brain. Thanks for letting me vent--it's so much more productive than crying in the shower.

xo Barrettes

Spotlight on Baby Barrettes

Baby Barrettes is a really cool dude. He loves the beach and is always the first one in the water. He has more human friends than dog friends and we're really excited to introduce him to all of his furry relatives in the USA. His favorite treats are apples, although he will totally eat broccoli. We let him grow out his hair as long as he wanted, but now with the wedding coming up we have been dog-scaping him.

Lets Talk Tats...

I have tattoos. Seven tattoos. My first one was inked here on Guam ten years ago and rests on my lower back. Its your typical "tramp stamp" as my Mom fondly calls it, as its a magnolia bloom with the sign of the Pisces in the middle. Easily hide-able.

Number 2 is a small purple Hershey's Kiss in the nook of my hip (cover-able by a simple bikini bottom), that was inked in Buenos Aires.

Number 3 sits on my ankle and is the Latte Stone, the same little shape that is on our Save the Dates.

Its numbers 4-6 that we are discussing today, as they are much more visible and their display is questionable for the BIG SHOW.

Oh, Guam!

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Since I'm writing to you all the way from Guam, I thought I'd take a minute to share some photos of our little island paradise! Its a great spot to Honeymoon for those of you willing to part with $1400 (from USA) for airfare. Most of Guam's visitors are Japanese and Chinese families looking for a quick island getaway.

Barrettes enjoying sunset.

What I love most about living on Guam are the sunsets. Almost every evening from 6-7pm the sky puts on a show. Never have I seen sunsets anywhere that come as close to the ones on Guam.

Me with Bridesmaid Amy

We also have some beautiful beaches, which look just as pretty in the daytime.

Mr. Barrettes at Country Club of the Pacific

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Not much here as far as cities are concerned, but we have our fair share of nightlife and shopping. Super high-end fashion stores like Gucci and Chanel are popular with the Japanese, greatly contrasting the rest of the retail on island. We don't have Starbucks or Gap, but we have a massive Kmart.

(Baby Barrettes cooling off at the beach)

He needs sunglasses!

Its easy to see why Mr. Barrettes and I have been able to live far away from home for so long. But now that we are tying the knot and thinking about family, our days living on Guam are numbered.

(all photos by Miss Barrettes unless otherwise noted)

Have you ever lived far away from your family? What brought you back home?

Cohabitation Styles

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I have to admit, Mr. Barrettes is not the first boyfriend I've lived with. (Although to be fair, I told him I would not move in with "boyfriends" any longer. He took the hint.) I lived with 2 previous boyfriends. Now before you gasp in horror please consider that I am 29 years old; it might be scary if I was only 20.

Cohabitating with men is definitely a learned skill and I cannot be happier that I have nestled into my shared-living style before marriage. Some say it takes the fun out of it, but I'm all for learning experiences and I'm thankful to have learned a few things before I lived with Mr. Barrettes. I'm the cleaner. I don't mind doing dishes, completing laundry(what's with men and not folding?), general clutter-removal, scrubbing tubs, floors or any other dirty surface. While I can cook for myself, cooking for others is not my strongest suit, especially not for Mr. Barrettes.

We have different needs when it comes to food. The man is almost 200 lbs. of muscle. He needs to eat. Real food. A lot. Me? Dinner could be a turkey sandwich and a handful of carrots. Don't get me wrong, I can eat, but during normal daily life I'm a pretty simple foodie. Mr. Barrettes, on the other hand, knows his way around the kitchen and isn't afraid to show it. Never have I tasted an herb-crusted tuna steak at a restaurant better than his. Meat and potatoes? Fuhgetabouit. His creations always have texture and color and a hint of I-don't-know-what. Tell me to create something and I'll only ever whip you up a vegan lasagna.

We live very well together and respect and accept each other's strengths and weaknesses. Something that has taken me 10 years do to.

Personal time is also something I've learned is important. Sometimes it's nice to be busy doing separate things. I love my computer time and sometimes I just want to read for hours. Uninterrupted time is sacred these days in the world of constant communication. Have you sat by yourself for 2 hours and written in a journal with your real handwriting lately? Me neither, but I'm trying. I'm learning when you have filled your personal reserve of energy, you have more energy for others.

If this applies, are you happy you lived with a partner before marriage? Or do you wish you hadn't?

We Heart Our Venue

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We were in Napa last year, specifically to look for wedding venues, and V. Sattui was our very first stop. Accompanying us were my parents, Mr Barrette's parents, my best friend (Man of Honor) and his partner. We loved this first winery instantly, and were able to meet with a coordinator right away for a brief tour. I was sold. But in the spirit of keeping an open mind, we made our way through the Valley, stopping at wineries that looked wedding-appropriate. (And some just for the fun of it). All afternoon, nothing could compare to that first heartbeat at V. Sattui.

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We ended up right back where we started, 6 or 7 tastings later, and all agreed that this was the spot. I felt bubbly with excitement (or it could have been the champagne), and in awe of what was to come! We looked at V. Sattui's calendar for 2010, weighing the options of a summer or an autumn wedding. Instantly, a lightbulb flipped on and I practically shouted, "What about 10-10-10?" The 9th was booked, but the 10th was open. Perfection!!!!

The number 10 has long been my favorite number, even before 10th grade, when the boy I crushed on was the number 10 choice on our list of contenders for Homecoming Court. This lucky number has followed me throughout my career and my travels and imagine my delight when I learned that Mr. Barrette's birthday was on the 10th of May. It was meant to be!

Did you love your venue right away? What's your favorite part about your venue?

Girl meets *right* Boy.

I was reeling from a bad break-up. Acting out, being rebellious, drinking too much and staying out too late. It was the first time I lived by myself... Meaning, no man, no roommates, no dog. Just me. It was dangerous. I was dangerous. And fun. [insert smirk]

But underneath it all I was hurting, and feeling guilty. I had blindsided my boyfriend with a clean break and I felt guilty for hurting him, but mad at him for hurting me first. It was a mess and I didn't feel like dealing with it. So I didn't. I partied. Rebounded with another guy and thought I could might fall in love with him, but don't we all know that song and dance. He left the island, and again I fell into the trap of pining for someone who didn't really exist in my daily life. That's when I finally realized long-distance relationships didn't work for me. They did for years, but I promised myself I would never do it again. If you were leaving or I was leaving, we just couldn't hang out.

Enter Mr. Barrettes. Stage Left.

A girlfriend and I walked into our favorite beach bar (literally ON the beach) and he was sitting there holding holding hands with the bartender, a party friend of mine at the time. I pulled up a stool next to him and we struck up the most natural conversation ever. We were fast friends. He was a man and I was tired of dating boys. I knew I wanted to be in a relationship with someone who already had stuff figured out. I was 27 years old and was over the whole "finding myself" thing.

After that night, Mr. B would keep popping up in places where I was. Gym? Check. Beach BBQ? Check. Karaoke? Check. It wasn't until a few weeks later when it dawned on me that I actually liked him a lot more than 'just friends'. We had our first real date on the beach at sunset with a bottle of champagne. I told him that I wanted our relationship to be a "slow burn". I didn't want a flash-in-the-pan that burned out quickly.

As we spent more and more time together it became clear we wanted the same things out of our lives and more importantly, we were looking in the same direction. Couple that connection with many a night spent on this porch and magical things were bound to happen!

(all photos: Miss Barrettes)