The Notebook Inspired E-shoot

You've seen The Notebook right?  Right. 

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Well, this cool couple, Cindy and Jean-Nicola, decided to recreate it for their e-shoot!  The pics are preeeetty close to the movie!  Not to mention the bride-to-be looks a lot like Rachel McAdams.

Originally found this pretty amazing e-shoot on Happy Hour With a Housewife, who found it on Green Wedding Shoes.  Shot by Blushing Bride Studios.  (How's that for citing my sources?!)

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Aren't they fantastic?

I definitely think themed or focused e-shoots are fun and just more interesting.  :]  That statement stems from an unwritten blog post... or two.  One that has been stewing for 5 months and that I've been avoiding writing.  Maybe at some point when I avoid doing anything useful, I may write it.

         

The Name Changing Saga: Part 3

 
Wow whee! FASTEST. DMV. EXPERIENCE. EVAR.

Even though the lady from Friday told me I didn't need a number and just to see her, I decided to play it safe and get a number anyway. I got my number and headed up to the second floor and before I could even look for the lady who processed me last time, my number was called! Ridiculous! I hadn't even pulled my folder and forms out! And this is why you should go to the DMV at 10am on a Wednesday on a rainy day. :]

The lady was mildly pleasant. Perhaps it was still early and she hadn't had the chance to get pissed off yet. :oP Since I was already in the system (that makes me sound like a delinquent...) she just had to check my documents and make copies. I cringed at the sight of my photo on her monitor and resisted the urge to ask whether I could take another picture. After a quick swipe of plastic to pay my $100 fee, I got a small sheet of paper aka my "Massachusetts" license with my new name! I will try my best not to lose it or get it wet! Durable plastic card, please come soon!

Envision my face instead of this jolly man's face.  (Source)

Goodbye beloved California Driver's License! :( With my funny picture from age 17 (with some hair sticking out on the side) and my signature which says "Alvia" :-P Too bad they can't punch a hole in it or something so I can keep it as a souvenir.

What you will need (this may vary state to state):
- Your state DMV's form
(I was able to mark it as an "out-of-state conversion" and then added that I wanted to change my name)
- Old license to verify signature*
- Passport to verify birthday*
- Bank statement (or a bill) to verify current local address*
- Pay a fee

*You can use different documents to verify different things but these are what I used
     

The Name Changing Saga: Part 2

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Yesterday morning, I hopped on the bus and made it to the "new" Social Security Office. The wait wasn't too terrible and the person who processed my stuff wasn't too snarky. Actually kind of civil and nice. :oP I had my form ready, with my Social Security card, marriage license and driver's license. She inputted all my info into the computer, printed out a receipt thing that said I got processed today and said I should be receiving my card in the mail in 2 weeks. Whoo hoo!

But then she took my old card. My card of almost 25 years! Goodbye old Social Security card. Thank goodness it's the same number though. I'd hate to have to remember a new number. :]

For changing your name for your Social Security card, you'll need your:
- Old Social Security card (if you have one)
- Driver's License
- Marriage certificate
- Form SS-5
- It's free! (You're allowed 3 replacement cards per calendar year and 10 in a lifetime.)

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Incase you missed the notice,
come be my friend at my new blog
 The Orange Coffee Cup! 

     

The Name Changing Saga: Part 1

When I was visiting home a few weeks ago, I went to City Hall to pick up copies of our marriage certificate (since getting it done through the mail required notarization!)  After I came back, I started filling out my information on MissNowMrs.com.  Last week I printed off the driver's license form and made plans to head to the Mass RMV (they call it the Registry of Motor Vehicles).

I read somewhere on NewLastName.org that you needed to change your name on your social security first before going to the DMV.  But of course I read it under the "California" one and thought it didn't apply to Massachusettes.  Wrong.  Which was disappointing because it was the shortest DMV wait I've ever experienced!

So last Friday, I trucked downtown to the RMV with all the forms and documents, got a number and sat down to wait.

The lady at the window was mean and snappy.  :(  But for some reason, after she took my picture (which was hideous, and I did it twice), she warmed up and was... less mean.  And she said it was a great picture.  (The smile was ok but of course the hair I spent all morning combing was flat and wind-blown.  And my eyes were squinty.  >_<)  The she went to verify my social security and of course, I had not done that yet.  So she told me to come back next week.  And that I didn't have to stand in line!  (I hope she was speaking truth and that she will remember/recognize me and/or is working when I come in!)

So (yay useful iPhone) I quickly looked up the nearest Social Security Office, hoping I could get that done the same day.  The SS website listed an address in Davis Square, so (after a short stint at H&M, hehe) I hopped on the T and went down there.  Only upon getting there did I find out that IT FREAKIN' MOVED.  Good job SS website.  At that point, it was like 2pm and I hadn't eaten anything all day.  So I grabbed a small fries from the McDonalds across the street, comtemplated how tired I was and how I wasn't sure how to get to the new location anyway, and decided to go home, and try to get to the new office on Monday.  I wasn't too keen on spending $1.70 taking the T back to Havard Square ONLY to then walk A MILE back home.  So I decided I should burn off those fries anyway, and walked the 1.7 miles home (for free!) straight from Davis Square.

So lesson of the day: do your Social Security before anything else!  Especially your driver's license.  And read things carefully.  haha.

Also, especially for this young and tech savvy generation, do all your forms beforehand (print from internet) and in general, have all your crap forms and documents together and ready to go.  It will make everything go smoother.  (This I had no problem with.  My parents trained me well.)

       

Changing the name

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I've always known I wanted to change my name afer I got married.  I like having the same name as my husband and especially as a family when there are little kiddies.  (And I've decided to move my maiden name to my middle name, since I've never had one!  So it's like... best of both worlds.  :oP)  But I never imagined it'd be so annoying.  >_<  There are so many forms!  I've been in a weird spot since we got married in California and then jetted off to New York and now reside in Massachusettes.  I tried ordering serveral copies of our marriage certificate through snail mail so I could begin to contemplate how I wanted to go about this but then I somehow missed the part (or it was unclear to me or I just can't read) that a mailed in request was required to be notarized!  Turns out I'll be going home for a short visit so I will go get copies of our marriage certificate in person, which in theory should be less painful.  :]

I want to keep my California driver's license but I know you're suppose to convert to the state you're currently living in.  My reasoning is that we will someday  move back to the great state of California.  :]

So while I contemplate what I should do, let me share two great (aka "free") resources for this seemingly complicated ordeal.

1) Most brides have probably heard of MissNowMrs.com.  They charge $29.99 for their services.  You fill out your information in one form and they project all that info onto the forms you'll need for the various agencies you'd need to change your name with (driver's license, passport, social security, etc.)

TIP: If you sign up for an account on Weddingwire.com and after the wedding write five (5) vendor reviews, they gift you with some sort of certificate (I chose a $5 giftcard from Amazon) and a gift card to MissNowMrs.com (valued at $29.99)*.  I thought free and free was a pretty good deal.  :]  Otherwise, from some reviews I've read, it's not really worth the $29.99 -- if you know how to read and mail in forms.

* This deal was true as of Summer 2010 but their offerings may have changed.

2) The Free Name Change Guide.  The fact that "free" is in the title should make it a winner!  I found this site on Google.  The main page lets you pick the state you want to change your name in and then it provides a checklist and all the forms required.  You have to read (!) and click through some stuff but it seems pretty straightforward.  I think it's a great resource if you don't want to bother writing the 5 reviews for WeddingWire.  :-P

I will probably feel much better after I'm all done with this.  It's been the one annnnnooying wedding related thing that I haven't done.  (Ok except the thank you cards, which I'm 98% done with.)  They should just provide a box you can check on your marriage certificate that'll do all this for you.  :-P

                     

Don't you just love weddings?

   
"Don't you just love weddings?"

An entertainingly-phrased post by the Reverend-Know-It-All that I found on Miss Zebra's post on how many weddings seem to go down these days.

He speaks of the modern method of marrying and that "It is stupid to spend more time and money preparing for the wedding than you do preparing for the marrige!!!"
        

orange & navy!

Hostess With the Mostess just posted a modern orange and navy baby shower party. But I think the colors would work great for a wedding! I really like the orange against the bold navy mingling with the white napkins, vases, plateware and chairs.

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That's definitely a baller baby shower!  :]  I think I also like this because orange and blue used to be my favorite colors.  :oP
                          

James Bond cake!

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Ridiculous awesomeness.  :oP  A James Bond cake.  LOVE IT  :]
(Click on the picture to see it full size.)

       

I can't believe it's October already!  It's hard to think that we've only been married for four months!  It's felt so much longer.  In a good way of course.  :oP

           

Disney's Up Inspired E-shoot + Wedding

I've been liking Wildflowers Photography lately.  So soft, vintage, whimsical, and country-esque.  :]  Which is funny cause I used to be more drawn to sharp, bold colors.  She's also a Christian, I think.

I orginally saw this on Happy Hour with a Housewife.  It's an UP themed engagement shoot + wedding.  So fantastic.

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I love the grape soda pin!

(Source: E-shoot 1, E-shoot 2, + Wedding)

There are a ton better pictures I didn't post here.  So go look at them!!

                 

a new blog in the house

Hi.  It's been awhile huh?  :]  I think I will post again soon.

But in other news... I orginally thought it'd be silly to start a new post-wedding blog and was going to keep going at here at The Adventures of Alvina & Tim (previously known as The Adventures of Alvina & Tim's Wedding) but it seemed kinda weird posting about fashion and random things on there too! (Especially since... Tim is not particularly interested or involved with the lastest fall jackets or cute shoes.) :] So... I've started a new blog!  It's over here at The Orange Coffee Cup. 

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It will probably be best summarized as my ramblings (though hopefully not too many), musings, inspirations, and randomness.  (Wow, doesn't that sound exciting?  haha)  Come by for a visit.  :]

I've also imported all the random/fashion posts from here to over there as well. Anyway, I'll probably still post here once in awhile, especially if I find exceptional wedding inspirational things (like creative engagement shoots or whatnot) or if there is something exciting going on in our lives. :oP
              

3 months!

My dearest husband (hehe huz-bund, I have a husband!) surprised me with roses and a card for our 3-month anniversary!!!  :-D  And... I didn't even remember!  {{gasp}}  What a man.  :-P  I'm also usually kind of hard to surprise, so that was fun.  :]  My offering was that I tried to tidy up the house and dinner, Thai Chicken Fettucine, was almost ready when he got home.  :oP

                           

3 seconds!

Saw this on Miss Husky's post today...

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Thought it was hilarious because... it's so true :-P

              

Pro pics: the day begins

Bridesmaids getting ready

Bridesmaid Cousin helping me learn my vows

Janet, make-up artist extraordinaire

Vince, hair person and everything else extraordinaire

The Caparros Armani 2 Satin Pumps

The bouquet

The rings

The dress

The mom helping me put on my necklace

Veiled

Help all around

TA-DA!

  All pictures by Jonathan Chan

              

Hello from Boston!

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We ordered a 14' U-Haul online. Found out we got assigned a 17' (cause there was a shortage).

Then they said they didn't know where our truck was!  It was suppose to be returned in some town up north and the people said they did, but the U-Haul place had no record of it. Fabulous.  So Tim's mama (as well as the rest of us) called around and managed to find a cancellation.  We were sure the chances of U-Haul getting us out of town anytime soon was slim, so we took it.

Behold...

... the massive 26' Penske.  (Source)

Yes, a 26 foot truck with WAY more room than we needed.  But it was a truck, it transported our stuff to Boston, James (Tim's brother who drove it the whole way) didn't hit anything or anyone, and Tim got to his first day of work with 1.5 days to spare.  God is good.  :]

       

wedding video

My friend, Kevin from college, recently got into videography and I convinced him he volunteered to film our wedding and make a highlights video.  Initially, I really just wanted to capture the ceremony, vows, procession, etc on video, especially since I don't get to see most of the procession and I was thinking of a million things during the ceremony (oh wait, you weren't?), so I asked my Uncle Ken to film the ceremony for me.  Kevin's video is definitely more of a highlights video, which awesomely sums up the day in 5 minutes (perfect for my attention span  :oP), and great for those who couldn't attend the wedding.  It rocks.

Be wowed:


Alvina + Tim Wedding Highlights from Kevin Archibald on Vimeo.


Let me know if you're looking for an affordable videographer in the SoCal area.  ;]   He's just starting out so I'm sure he can cut you a great deal.  (Right, Kevin?  haha)


Our pro pics arrived TODAY.  We just looked through all 497 of them.  I will share as soon as I can sort of figure out which ones of the 497 I want to share.  :-P
                                           

teal + grey

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Thought these would be super cute as a [casual wedding] bridesmaid dresses.  (Or to attend a wedding in, yeah yeah?)  Not to mention this color combo for a wedding would be awesome.  These each ring in at $24.80 at Forever 21.  They would be more awesome if they were maybe slightly... silky looking.  By silky I might mean slightly shiny but more like a sheen, in a tasteful way.  :-P  But for ~$25 you can't ask for too much.  They probably are much more casual looking in person and not suitable for bridesmaiding, but if my wedding colors were these, I would consider them.  :-P  Especially if my bridesmaids could dress them up (or down) and wear them again.

         

And oh, I'm suppose to receive our pro wedding pics tomorrow.  I would be excited but I'm kinda "over it" since they took so long*.  WITH NO TEASER.  Seriously photog man**.  You picked the wrong bride to not send a teaser or two.

* A long time was no longer than what was stated on the contract, but... Alvina is impatient, especially when it comes to pictures.  And did I mention not a single teaser?!  {sadface}

** He was otherwise a very nice guy and I'm sure the pictures will come out nicely.  :-P

                                     

elf

Have you heard of e.l.f.?

No not this kind...  (Source)

... nope, not this kind either. (That one was for you, Sharon!) (Source)

E.L.F. stands for eyes lips face and they are a cheap super affordable cosmetic line!  Many of their products cost $1 (WUN DOLLA), their mineral and studio line might stretch your wallet to $3, and entire kits for $10.  Ridiculous much?

I accidently stumbled on the line one day at Target.  My mom and I were looking for replacement eyeshadow applicators and I found this section.  Of make up and accessories for $1!  I was like.  What is this.  So we found the brushes, all 5 (though only 4 shown here) for $1.  Ridiculous. 

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PLUS.. they were just about the perfect size to fit BACK INTO my very little Clinique eyeshawdow case.  (Wrapping anything else around with a rubber band or just having to deal with two pieces would have been ghetto.  Obviously.)

I also bought a shiny lipgloss for kicks and thought it was okay.  That could be because I'm not a big lipgloss person but was tempted that day because it was a $1 and I was looking for some quick color.  I didn't clean out the whole section since I was a little skeptical.  $1?  Really?  Is this from China?  (Yes, I think.)  Will my skin fall off after use?

But I just did some quick online research on reviews (to find out if anyone online knew if it contained poison or something, ya know) and most people seem to like it, and no one's face has fallen off.  The other day at Target,  I picked up some blotting sheets.  50 for $1.  Sweet mother.

Green tea extract flakes.  Weird.  :oP  (Source)

I actually started this post since I thought e.l.f. products would be GREAT for bridesmaids survival/emergency kits, or as party favors or whatever.  :]  I had wanted to include blotting sheets in my bridesmaids survival kits, but the only kind I knew about was Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets.  It was ~$6 for 50 sheets, and it was in one pack.  I didn't think it was worth it to get each bridesmaid a pack, and if I repackaged one pack, that would've been more work for me.  (I doubt anyone's used their little cotton swabs/Q-tips packets!)  So I didn't bother to get them.  But if e.l.f. had had theirs out then, I would've just gotten everyone a pack!

And you know what's even more ridiculous?  They have discounts on the website.  haha.  If you hit up sites like retailmenot.com, they have free shipping if you spend $35 or other free products with your order.  Granted, buying $35 worth of products at e.l.f. may actually be equivalent to buying $75 at a normal store (to get free shipping).  :-P  My favorite part is the tools, I think.  Like the eyeshadow applicators mentioned above or getting tweezers or brushes, etc.  Definitely cheaper than Sephora (though not as good quality), but for things such as foundation sponges/wedges or things that are somewhat disposable, why spend more?  E.l.f. is even cheaper than Forever 21's make up products!  (And look of better quality.  Or at least better packaging.)

I will definitely go explore the section sonme more at Target next time.  I actually even saw an e.l.f. display at one of our local supermarkets (and one of the more ghetto ones.  :oP)  I'll be looking for nail polish since my favoritest color in the world by Wet 'N Wild has been discontinued.  Sadface.

This color looks similar to my favoritest!  (Source)

Have you tried e.l.f. products?

                                               

hang yo' purse!

I also got a smaaaaall token of appreciation for some of our helpers.  Namely the lovely ladies who (wo)manned our welcome table and the girls who helped set up for the reception (they all did an ammaaaazing job).  :-D

I got them all monogrammed purse hangers!  (Source)

In February I won a $25 gift certificate to myweddingfavors.com so I purchased one for myself, one for my mom, and two for the welcome table ladies as a trial run.  AND I loved mine.  I've seen a bunch of purse hangers... at stores or online and they all look like crap.  Seriously.  The top is cheap looking or the design is funky.  I found these to be quite tasteful.  I've also gotten lots of compliments... or at least people fascinated with what it was and what it did.  :-P  I had a server come up to me during our meal with her pad and pen asking me where I got it from and wanted all the details on how to order them.  They were a sweet deal, and who doesn't like personalized stuff?

It comes in a small velvety-texture bag, and I just keep it in my purse!  With some effort, I usually remember to use it.  :-P  I was running behind on getting stuff together the day before the wedding, so I didn't get to package in any sort of awesome way like I envisioned doing the months before.  Some of the girls were only there for the wedding and  I didn't want to end up having to mail it to them, so I wanted to make sure the purse hangers made it to the wedding (and to them!)  So while I was getting my hair done, I threw them into brown paper lunch bags (classy, I know) and scrawled their names and "thanks so much" on the front.  {sigh}  The shame, I know.  But they got to the venue and to each person, so... it turned out okay I guess.  :]  I hope they liked them and remember to use them!

Other folks either received gift cards or monetary gifts for their wonderful service and assistance.  :]  And more shame, I think there are still a couple people we haven't "thanked properly" yet.  Like my brother.  Who says he doesn't want anything.  But.  We're still working on it.
                                                  

gifts for my girls

I made myself, all my girls, our flower girl, and our flower girl's momma aka hair stylist extraordinaire tote bags!  I purchased the tote bags from CheapToteBags.com and printed out the designs on iron-on transfers.

This one was mine  :-P

Heidi likes turtles

That was what they looked like.  Sharon likes ice cream (and eating in general).

Steph likes coffee, Jesus, and guacamole (which was easier to represent in avocado form).

Vince got some grown-up lookin' swirlies with a "V"  :]

Inside the totes, they got "survival kits," snacks (Cheez-Its, Teddy Grahams, Emerald Natural Almonds, Keebler cookies, Marukawa Bubble Gum, Pocky sticks, etc.) and some other random stuff that varied between the bags.  The survival  kits also varied a bit too!  Like only Steph got a Starbucks VIA instant packet, since... needing coffee could be an emergency and vital to surviving.  :-P

Front view

Back view: list of contents!

Three bridesmaids kits, and two "wedding day" kits for Vince and our awesome head-reception setter-upper Wendy!  I also made a Groom's Kit for Tim... but that was less fancy and was in a freezer Zip-Lock so he could reuse the bag.  :-P

Our flower girl discovering the angel teddy bear in her bag  :]

Reading her book about a fairy

Sportin' the tote!

And enjoying her Teddy Grahams.  BEFORE dinner.  :-P  (All pictures of our flower girl by her mom)

I decided on tote bags since my bridesmaids weren't really clutch using people and this way they could throw their street clothes, shoes/sneakers, purses or random things in between getting ready and the wedding in.  I was in need of a bag when I was a bridesmaid for my MOH, so I thought it'd be useful.  :]  I hope it will be useful in the future for them!  Maybe... as a small grocery bag since tote bags are no longer "in."  :-P  My mom gifted all the bridesmaids their dresses (and my dress too!) and I paid for their make-up since we figured that would be more practical than having them pay for their dress and make up and then buying them... something else (that they possibly don't need) as a gift.  They just had to find shoes and jewelry, get their dresses altered if necessary, travel long distances (well, 2/3), and be my slave.  :-P