Gah! Thwarted Again! Anthropologie does what?

GGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Read this repost: See why I'm blog yelling!

Anthropologie Wedding Brand Coming Soon!

Posted by Adrienne O'Connor on April 14, 2010

I am so incredibly excited to deliver this news, and slightly devastated that this is happening after my own wedding has already taken place. But, for you lucky ducks that are soon to be wed, Anthropologie is launching a wedding brand!!

That’s right, the simply delicious women’s-clothing and home-furnishings chain has entered the wedding industry, and I for one, couldn’t be more thrilled. The brand, which has not yet been named, will include everything from invitations to gifts, as well as decorations, jewelry, shoes, bags, wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. They will even offer planning services and styling advice. I pulled together some images from their site to give you an idea of the Anthro aesthetic, for those of you who have not yet been blessed to have Anthropologie enter your lives.

Photo Credit: Anthropologie

For those of you who love the Anthropologie experience as much as I do (and the rest of its dedicated followers), I’m sure you’ll want to include at least one detail into your upcoming wedding. But, you will have to wait until the spring of 2011, which is when the brand is set to debut online, but good things come to those who wait, right? Select stores will also be opening across the US, so get ready!

So you see why I'm yelling? It almost makes me want to postpone my own wedding. Almost.

OMgoodness! Do you know just how excited I am? Well do ya?

xo,

one of the BEST RCIA classes thus far....

Teacher, RCIA teen x 4, Teacher {my fiance], Teacher {me}

Every year it begins, we get a new group of RCIA teens. And every year, to be honest, I always am apprehensive about the new group. I’m attached to the teens getting ready to leave us {they decided to become baptized/confirmed}, they’ve been in class for some time & I don’t want to see them go. When the class above started the RCIA process, I complained… big time. “They talk through the entire class, they’re always goofing off, they’re not getting anything”…

Well, with my foot in my mouth 2 years later, these teens are stunning!! Many of the teens that come through our program are sure to leave {as in, never be seen again} shortly after the “on fire for God” stage has passed. Yet this group, I see each one of them at least 2 sundays a month {I hop masses}. They stand firm where they are, they are evangelizing through action and word, and they’re bringing more people into the church. And you know what? They do it through talking and cracking jokes. The Lord truly does bring joy to people’s lives - I just didn’t get it until now. I thought they weren’t learning, but they got it. They got all of it!

xo,

Kristina-Nicole 

{RCIA is Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, this particular program is adapted for teens. It is a ministry where non-catholics & catholics alike can come in every week to a classroom setting and learn about the Catholic Church, what we teach, what we believe, why we do what we do - right down to the stand, sit, kneel, stand, sit, kneel, or why a priest wears green on some days and red on others. Catholics can come into the class either to learn more about their own faith - and no one judges them because we all need to continue to learn more about our faith, no matter how much we think we know - or as a sponsor, just to support other people there. Non-catholics can come in -like I did 6 years ago - and just sat and asked questions and listen. Why this? Why that? Well that doesn’t make any sense, really? … It’s a beautiful ministry full of devoted teachers, who are, just like you and me. To find out more, look in any catholic church bulletin, or call any church. Here’s a good website, not for RCIA, but for asking questions about the church: http://www.catholicscomehome.org/} 

"If Jesus didn't rise, an even greater miracle happened...12 relatively uneducated guys changed the world & were martyred to protect a lie."

- LT The Bible Geek {Mark Hart}

Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss & my heart beats violently inside of my chest

—	Kim Walker, How He Loves

Being A Tourist In My Home Town

The past few weeks I have been going to Los Angeles quite often. Having just “discovered” the fashion district & the treasures they carry for me as a crafter (spools of ribbon covering an entire wall, just to buy by the yard, a whole other wall covered in packages of rhinestones…. by wall, I mean 10’x40’: it’s crafter’s heaven). 

Recently, I went out to LA with two friends of mine. We went to the Great Bridal Expo (:P  wasn’t that great nor much of an expo)

and then ventured around town. We ended up in the Farmer’s Market, devouring deserts!

Kel had a cannoli in her hand….

The vendor told Amanda that this was an eclair, a very BIG eclair!

lol. me scarfing down a chocolate & cream cheese croissant. Yum-O!

This picture has nothing to do with yummy desserts. It’s a display at Anthropologie, my FAVORITE store!!! {FYI, I could literally wear & use everything they sell. I have never seen anything in that store, over the past 4 years since my discovery of it, that I didn’t even slightly dislike. I want to meet the buyer personally & give them a big hug!}

xo,

Kristina-Nicole

Night At the Cousins

Spent the evening at my cousins’ house. Pizza. Beer. Convo. It was great & relaxing. Man, is my little cousin growing up now! Above is a picture of her a few years back. Now: a cute little punk girl, err teen, with her funky style and purple streaks in her hair. Gee, I love her! 

Tomorrow… NFP class. 1st one. We’ll have to see how this goes. I’m very excited & nervous at the same time! Chris & I want to practice NFP as a married couple because of the beauty of it. No medicine, no side-effects, no plastic man-made contraptions to keep our intimacy blocked. Everyone seems to assume we are going to practice NFP because we are Catholic - and I guess you could say that is part of the reason. But you can be a morally-upholding catholic and still not use NFP for marriage. I just think it’s a more beautiful thing because, aside from being scientifically proven to be healthier & more accurate than birth control & contraceptives, it will improve our communication & boost intimacy in our future married life. Yippie! 

xo, Kristina-Nicole

Planning a Mass after Friday Dinner

It’s Lent. Chris made AMAZING tilapia tacos for dinner!! I’m so full I don’t think I’ll have to eat tomorrow. Later on tonight is date night. He & I are going to be planning out the readings and songs for our wedding mass. I’m soo excited! We’ve been talking a little bit about it & I think we’re going with the first reading from Tobit, the Epistle will be the long {and complete} version of Ephesians, and I don’t know about the Gospel yet. We’ll be getting married on the feast of St. Terese - Oct. 1st. And you know what is great? He discovered that we met for the first time, at the morning mass of the feast day of St. Terese 6 years ago, Oct. 1, 2004. Wow. I’m really impressed with the Lord. I mean, of course I always am - but He’s got impeccable timing.

xo,

Kristina-Nicole

I Have A Dream....

Today is a national holiday for the United States - Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A man with revolutionary ideas, hopes, and actions.

      I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the         

       difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I 

       still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted 

       in the American dream.    - mlk

This line from a 17 minute speech is one of many that stands true in my life today. 2010 is a new year - a new hope for many in this country. Most are struggling with misfortune, loss, and grief. In the case for Haiti, they too are dealing with more than we are. My heart goes out to them. 

I too, still have a dream. A dream that I hope to continue to live out this upcoming year. No, it’s not a new year’s resolution. It is a goal. I wish to be faithful. There is a quote by Mother Theresa that says, 

       In this life, we are not called to be successful. 

       We are called to be faithful. 

This is my goal. If you know me personally, you know that I am more than just a business owner, a daughter, a friend, a soon-to-be-wife. I am a Catholic. I willingly - a voluntarily crazy about God - Catholic. This year, my goal for this business is to be a faithful business woman. 

I look to people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Theresa as inspiration. They persevered in times of difficulties & in times when there was frustration - just as he states in his speech on August 28th. Faithfulness is not easy. I personally think faithfulness can be defined as  “difficult & frustrating”, but it is beautiful. I’m excited for the upcoming new year. I know my faithfulness will give me the tools I need keep making Kristina-Nicole a successful, strong business. 

xo, 

Kristina-Nicole