Wedding Planning Break!

Hi Artful Readers!

I've been super busy with work and wedding planning that instead of trying to write 31 posts in two days, I'm calling August a "Personal Month." Summer vacation, you know?

Don't worry, I've got tons of great links and videos and ideas for posts. I just haven't had time to actually post them.

So you can expect September to be chock full of posts to make up for it - way more than thirty!

Get excited for that, and in the meantime I do apologize for being absent this month. Isn't this pretty picture of a backyard wedding enough to tide you over? (Seriously... my life is all wedding planning all the time right now!)

Lip-Dub Marriage Proposal

This has been rolling around the interwebs today, and while plenty of those faux-impromptu-dance proposals aren't my thing, this one is pretty darn cute. Mainly because it's not in a big, public place, and everyone was clearly having a ton of fun doing it.



[via Neatorama]

Gorgeous Firefly Photos

Digital Photo Blog (least creative/most practical name ever?) posted these brilliant long exposure photos gold fireflies as they flew across Japan during the June to July rainy/mate-y season.

Aren't they romantic? If only I was getting married in Japan during the rainy season! (Oh wait, nothing has been decided yet, so I totally can! Although logistically, I probably will opt not to)

[via PetaPixel]

Artful Stew: ENGAGED!!

OMGosh the ring!! Isn't it beautiful?

Since most of my readers are my good friends, you probably already know that your very own Artful Stew got engaged last week!!!

Isn't it exciting!?

I couldn't be happier. My fiance is the most wonderful man in the world. So wonderful that he's the one who bought me my Harry Potter ebook collection the day it was released as my early birthday present! It doesn't get any better than that! We're not sure when or where the wedding will be yet, but we're thrilled that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together. Also, saying "my fiance" is a ton of fun!

He proposed at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on the first seventy-degree day in NYC. Absolutely perfect. Here are some flower photos to show you how lovely it was:

We spent all last week eating at wonderful restaurants around the city - seven places we had never tried before - including DB Bistro Moderne (using a gift card), Eataly, Chikalicious, Locanda Verde, Buvette, Ciano, Northern Spy Co (best kale salad!), the Spotted Pig, and our favorite place to celebrate, Harry's Cafe and Steak. Unfortunately, our favorite waiter wasn't there to share the news, but we're going to email him and make sure we return on a day he's working so we can celebrate with him. After all, he's been there for most of our anniversary and birthday dinners! Plus, we got some engagement cupcakes from Magnolia, just for good measure.

Below are some fun food photos, too. Enjoy!

Delicious chicken and fancy fries at DB Bistro

Desserts from Locanda Verde

Formerly a sundae at Harry's

His burger and my salad at the Spotted Pig

OMGosh engagement cupcakes!