Stargazing

Normally, I'm an avid fan of lists. If I don't write things down, I tend to forget them, because honestly, I’ve just got too much going on in my head. Grocery lists, to-do lists, lists of possible names for my future children, you name it. But the one list I've never sat down and put together is a bucket list. Of course I've got goals and dreams for my life, but I'd rather keep them in my daydreams than on a piece of paper. I know my own desires, I don't need a list to remind me or inspire me.

If I did have a bucket list, watching a meteor shower would have been on it. I had only seen probably two shooting stars in my whole life, and getting to see a bunch of brilliant meteors in one night just sounded amazing. I've tried to see one in the past, but it always seemed to be at a bad time, or bad weather, or bad whatever. So when I heard a week ago that it was almost time for the Perseids, I was not going to let myself miss it. 

I talked some friends into going with me pretty last minute and we headed out of Waco last night in search of an excluded dirt road somewhere. We piled a bunch of pillows and blankets (and the foam mattress pad from my bed) into the back of the truck and settled in. Let me tell you, that is the way to stargaze. I eventually ended up climbing on to the roof of the truck so that I could see the whole sky, which was much less comfortable, but so worth it because otherwise I would have missed the most awesome shooting star of the night. That sucker was huge and burned red for like three seconds with a giant tail.

And while I was lying there in the dark, waiting for shooting stars and listening to the breeze stir the trees across the road, I couldn’t help but wish I’d had more moments like that this summer. Heck, I wish I’d had more moments like that this past year. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush and busyness of life. It’s so easy to look at our long to-do lists and just constantly go from one thing to the next. College is supposed to be the time you try new things and “discover yourself,” but I feel like you have to know your major from day one or else you fall behind. And with all the required courses and credits, everyone’s too worn out to explore other subjects, even if they do have room in their schedule. All of college is spent preparing for your career, and all of high school was spent preparing for college, so when are you supposed to venture out and learn about yourself? Middle school? Everyone’s too busy being awkward in middle school to learn or do anything. That’s why it’s important to stop and give yourself a break now. 

When you slow down the craziness, you’ll find that you actually do have the time and energy to take that pottery or philosophy or literature class you’ve always been curious about. You don’t need to stop time, you just need to give your mind and body little breaks to reenergize so that you can do more at the end of the day than just veg on the couch. Because let’s be honest, no one can live that kind of crazy busy life forever. So join the stargazers, book readers and porch-swing sitters. Life’s more fun their way, I promise.


Photo Credits: meteor CBSNews | meteor2 theguardian

Blessing Your Bridesmaids

Picking out meaningful bridesmaids gifts is a great way to let your girls know how glad you are to have them standing by your side. I mean, what better way to show your appreciation than presents, right? But in all seriousness, it’s not always easy to find just the right thing, so here are some ideas to help get you started on that search.

It’s best to do this shopping early. You don’t want to be worrying about finding the perfect set of presents on top of all the other last minute details you’ll be losing sleep over. Plus, the more time you have, the more thought you can put into it. Keep an eye out at your favorite chic boutiques or while you’re putting together the wedding registry, and you may just stumble across the ideal gift. Another plus side to taking care of this early is having the time to get custom-made presents, if that's what you want. Monograms on jewelry or makeup bags add a unique touch, or handmade presents from the busy bride will make your best girls feel even more special and appreciated.

Make sure the present is something your bridesmaids will actually use and enjoy. The natural route is to give a gift that’s wedding specific, like the jewelry they’ll wear for the ceremony. This works great with something classic or simple like pearls, but not as well if the styling for your bridal party is super trendy or different from your bridesmaids’ tastes. In this case, pair the necklaces or earrings with a great jewelry box or travel case and they’ll be sure to get lots of use out it.

While jewelry and toiletry bags often make great gifts, it can also be a lot of fun to stray from the standard presents and get creative with it. Pay for the girls to take a cooking class, or give out gift cards for their favorite restaurant or a local gourmet grocer. I also love the idea of getting each girl a bottle of wine and a new board game. Give me a nice Riesling and Settlers of Catan or Munchkin and I’ll happily be your bridesmaid.

You may currently be wondering how on earth you will ever find a gift that will be equally enjoyed by your adventurous, outdoorsy, hike-a-mountain bridesmaid and your girly sorority sister who gets no closer to sleeping under the stars than glamping. My answer to that question is, don’t! There is no rule that says every girl must receive the same present. Feel free to play off of each individual’s interests or any special memories between you two. If you bonded with one of your maids back in college over your mutual crush on Brad Pitt, get her a collection of his hottest movies. If your MOH loves the arts, buy her a pair of tickets to a musical or play. It may take more time to find a great gift for everyone, but the added personalization will be truly cherished.

If you do decide on different gifts, make sure to spend an equal amount on each girl. They’ve all come to support you for the big day, and you’d never want to hurt one of your best friend’s feelings, even unintentionally. An exception can usually be made for the maid of honor. Since the title comes with added responsibilities and often costs, it’s normal to spend a little more, or even just make the gift unique in some way from the others. As my sister’s maid of honor, I received a makeup bag monogrammed in white instead of black, and I loved that simple gesture and extra thought.

Deciding on that budget can be tricky, but it really just depends on how much you can afford to spend. If other wedding expenses are running higher than expected, you may want to opt for the less pricey, yet more personalized, DIY route. You do also want to consider how much the girls are paying to be a part of the wedding party. By no means do you have to match their expenses, but if they’re required to shell out tons of cash for expensive shoes, a hotel room and a plane ticket, you certainly want to show your appreciation for how much they’ll willing to do for you. If the bridal party’s costs are really high, perhaps the best gift you could give may be to help compensate some of it. You can pay for the girls to have their hair and makeup professionally done the day of, or cover some of the cost of a high-price bridesmaid dress.

The bridesmaid gifts are traditionally given out at the rehearsal dinner. Etiquette dictates the bride makes a toast thanking her best girls for their help and then bestows the tokens of her appreciation. However, many brides are starting to stray from this. Personally, I think it makes more sense to give out the presents during the bridesmaids’ luncheon or while getting ready the morning of the ceremony. Do it when you’re relaxing alone with just your girls so you have the time and space to thank each one individually. If your pre-wedding schedule allows for it, you may want to spend some quality one-on-one time with each girl to give the gift and really let her know how much her friendship means to you.

The point is, have fun with it. Think of it as a way to make some of your best friends smile, and not as just another thing you have to do before you can walk down that aisle. Your bridesmaids will all be super excited to help you celebrate on the big day, and finding a gift they’ll truly love is just one way to show you’re excited for them to be there too.

For more great gift suggestions you can scope out the Pinterest board I’ve put together, and if you’ve got any great ideas for bridesmaids presents tweet me @MJGest.


Photo Credits: bags the knot | robes wanelo | cases Horchow| frames viogemini | dress gather | hair flickr