Catching Up

{photo by Tec Petaja}

Alex and I had an incredible 2012. This year though has definitely been harder on us, but we've already had so many new great experiences too. I can't believe we've been married for nine months today and we would love to start recording all that we've been through and done together so far and all that we'll do in the future together too. So here's to finally catching up on this blog and recording our married life, and here's to catching up on everything else in life too (relationships, emails, laundry, health/fitness... you get it). Which almost feels like a joke, but it can't be. It's really going to happen. And hopefully this blog will help hold me to it, and hopefully give me a place to finally share our honeymoon photos like we promised our family ;)

So, I'm signing off with... See you soon!

We're Married! Alternative Title - We've Been Married!

photo by Tec Petaja Photography

Yup we are married! Alex and I tied the wonderful knot called marriage on July 28, 2012 at The Marvimon House in Los Angeles... Cannot believe our six month anniversary is sneaking up on us.

It's been months since my last post, which was right before the wedding, announcing the opening of my bridal shop. But here I am! I'm back! I want to keep this going as a visual journal of our new married life together. It's really been a dream so far! A very, very busy dream though. This is one of my favorite wedding photos, but I hope to be sharing more very soon. I want to be able to capture some of my thoughts and memories of the wedding here on the blogosphere before they seem like even more of distant fuzzy memory.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I'm blogging form my dinner break right now at the shop :)

PS WOW! It's 2013! 

xoxo,

Camille

Surprise!

SURPRISE!!!

I'm opening a bridal shop next month. I can't wait to share more details soon :) In the meantime though, I would love for you to check out our website and follow along on our social networking sites when you have a chance!

The Dress Theory Official Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest 

One Month until 'I Do'

One month until our wedding! from camillelem on 8tracks.

I made a little One Month Until Our Wedding playlist with some music that will definitely be played at our wedding. I have a feeling I'll be keeping this playlist on repeat on and off for a long time to come. 

It's so crazy to me that I've been dreaming of our wedding day and that we've been really planning our lives together as a married couple for 11 months now. How did this sneak up on me so fast? Time flies when I am busy and in love I suppose. I just can't believe that it is exactly one month until our wedding day!

Today is a good day.

I'm a Graduated Woman!

I am so happy to say, I graduated! A week and a half ago I graduated from UC San Diego (Magna Cum Laude baby!). And I mean I really graduated. Not only did I walk in the commencement ceremony, but the night before the ceremony I finished my last final for my last class at UCSD ever. I've been waiting for this day for a long time to say the very least. On June 16th, it arrived! Alex, my family, and my best friend Laura and her family were all there to celebrate such a monumental moment in my life so far with me. It could not have been any better. Oh, except for the fact I had to be to school to check-in at 6:30 am. Not cool. But at least, Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was Thurgood Marshall College's (my college, go TMC!) commencement speaker.

  And now here I am, a graduated woman! 

  This is both exciting and a little bit intimidating. No more making excuses for not doing the things I really want to do. For instance, I've avoided the gym and healthy eating for a good two years. School can no longer be my scapegoat. Although I still stand by that being the reason :) There were also career and life goals I could not pursue while I was busy in school, and that was okay because my education was important to me.

But now there are no excuses. And I really like that. I really, really like that.

Seattle or Bust! {We're moving!}

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Seattle, here we come! 

After so many changes of plans, and all the ups and downs that go with that, we finally know where we will be moving! It's kind of funny because we've gone full circle, and only "kind of" of funny because it would've saved us a lot of trouble and planning had we stuck to Seattle to begin with. 

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Moving to Seattle was our original plan, long before we were even engaged. Then our plans changed, and then they changed again. When a new idea and opportunity arose in Seattle we knew it was the right decision, and now we are happy to say we will be calling Seattle home. We even signed a lease in the gorgeous Greenlake neighborhood already. The lake will only be a block from our first place (it feels so exciting and surreal to type "our first place") and just minutes from downtown. There are restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops all in walking distance! Plus just take a look at how beautiful Greenlake is...

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It feels pretty incredible to finally know where we will be headed, and know that it will be actually happening! It was such an emotional roller coaster every time our plans would change. However, that isn't something I will have to be worrying about anymore ;)

I am so excited to be starting this next chapter in our lives together, and building a new home with Alex. And I couldn't be more happy to be building new home together in the most charming little place with the most beautiful wood floors that's only a block away from a beautiful lake. I don't think it could get much better in my opinion. I can't even really fathom how much our lives are about to change, but I know it will be changes for the better. I'm so grateful for everything I have now and everything that is coming so soon (my graduation, our wedding, a Parisian honeymoon, and our big move). And I'm especially grateful I get to do this all with Alex as my partner and always right by my side.  

This is one beautiful year.

-Camille

Ice Cream & Summer Dreams

{Shirt, Ice Cream}

Maybe I was internet window shopping in class this morning when I stumbled upon this absolutely adorable ice cream cone shirt. Or maybe I wasn't. But I probably was because my professor was repeating a lecture word-for-word that she gave in another class that I was in last quarter. I was a little bored the first time, so as you can imagine sitting through it again this morning and really paying attention was a tad difficult. Whoops!

But when I came across this cute blouse full of ice bright and fun ice cream cones, I had two thougthts. First, I want this top. Bad. Secondly, I can't wait for summer. 

What?! Me?! Looking forward to summer? I'm all about autumn, winter, and spring. Basically anytime but summer. 

However, this summer is going to be quite enchanting. I'll be graduating, getting married, moving, moving in with Alex for the first time, and going on a honeymoon! 

Today I decided though that I'm going to try my very best to really enjoy this summer, and not just because of the wedding and my graduation. But all those summery activities. After all, it will be my last summer living in southern California. I plan to read on the beach, drink smoothies for breakfast, go see movies when the fact that I don't have an air conditioner is too much to stand, make LOTS of homemade ice cream and sorbets, and make the best of my favorite summer produce (corns, berries, and avocados - oh my!).

So here's to dreaming of a beautiful summer in February, and looking forward to summer for the first time in years. I have a feeling it will be full of life-changing days, summer fun, and cute ice cream cone blouses like this one -

{ASOS}

I seriously can't get over this top's cuteness. Anyone else out there already dreaming of summer like me?

xoxo, 

Camille

PS How the heck is it February already?!?

Photo Booth Love

Can we please go back to Winter Break?

Being together everyday over the break was such a blessing. It was filled with lots of family time, relaxing, and being silly (see above photo booth photos ;) ). We cannot wait to see each other everyday after we get married! Living in San Diego with school and work, while Alex lives in Los Angeles with school and work is getting old. However, I can only imagine how much we will appreciate seeing each other everyday for the first time in our relationship once we are married.

PS I put up a fun little Sneak Peek up on my photography website blog here, check it out!

Music for a Monday - Wedding Music

Today's song is so very special to Alex and I. Alexander's A Million Years is one of our many songs we call "our song". It won't be our first dance song, or the bride's processional. However, it will be played at  some time during the night. I may even sneak it in twice that night, just like I may have done at our engagement party ;)

Happy Monday everyone! I can't believe today is my first day back to school... I miss the holiday break already.

Two Thousand and Twelve

I cannot believe 2012 is actually here! It's funny because I have been waiting for this year since I was in elementary school. Seriously, my first email address was beetlebug2012@aol.com.  Really cool, I know.

I remember being in elementary school and counting with my fingers all the years I had left in school including college, and 2012 was that year I would be done. I could not wait to be done with school (even though I do love it at times), because I have always wanted to be a wife, mother, and own a creative and inspiring business of my own. I still want those things more than anything, and sometimes I really, REALLY feel like school is holding me back. Probably the fact I don't particularly care for my school plays a huge part in it, but I'm trying to remain positive (it's really working huh? hah!). I constantly have to remind myself what have a B.A. from UCSD will do for me, and what doors it will open. Plus, I really feel an education is so deeply important. However that doesn't stop me from feeling pretty stuck sometimes.

Back to 2012 though. Have you ever waited for something you were looking forward to for so long, and then it finally arrived and it wasn't really as good as you imagined. Well, this is not the case for 2012. It is going to be even better than I could have ever imagined!

Not only will I be graduating in June, we'll be moving out of state, and working on a really amazing special something I have up my sleeves :)

Most importantly of all though, 2012 is the year I'm marrying this incredibly handsome man

--->

Two thousand and twelve, I am so glad you are finally here!

PS One of my new years resolutions is to really get to sharing our wedding planning details on there blog, and this resolution is one I'm really looking forward to keeping. 

Goodbye 2011!

Goodbye 2011!

You were great really, but I'm happy to see you leave! Mainly because 2012 is going to be quite the glorious year, but that is for another day, and another post. 

Things I loved about 2011,

- Alex proposed, I said yes, and therefore we are engaged!

- I found the wedding dress, venue, cake, etc... of my dreams

- I began my own wedding photography company

- I went on a fabulous trip to Santa Barbara (where we got engaged!)

- I found out one of my best friends and her husband are pregnant with a little girl

- I was in another one of my best friend's wedding in September

- I got to see another best friend graduate from College

- My brother and his beautiful family moved to Arizona from Italy (so much closer to me!)

- I was lucky enough to intern and blog for Jacin and Lovely Little Details

- Took Alex on a surprise birthday trip to Vegas

-Jacin helped me land a fabulous blogging job at Storkie

- Got that much closer to finishing my B.A. at UCSD

...plus the year was full of all kinds of other amazingness here and there!

Not everything was easy and perfect, there was lots and LOTS of tears and struggles this year. But by the last few months of the year, and especially by December, life has never felt more clear, calm, and beautiful.

That is pretty awesome if you ask me!

However I could not be more excited for 2012 to arrive. In fact, I've never been so excited for a new year to begin as I am for this year. 

So goodbye 2011, and hello 2012!

A Yellow Skirt and A Date

Alex and I went on a date to LACMA, and it was the perfect occasion to break out my yellow skirt. It's been sitting in my closet, just waiting to go out. My skirt finally got to make its debut. Then on our drive home, I spilled coffee all over my lap. So our date to the museum (which was absolutely fantastic by the way) was the first and last time I got to wear my yellow skirt. Luckily it was only $7.00 at Forever 21 so there was no need for crying over spilt coffee. Here's to hoping I stumble across another perfect mustard yellow skirt again soon!

My Birthday Present To Myself

For my birthday,

I bought myself some new

Bonlook glasses for school. 

And I love them.

But my biggest gift to myself,

was cutting my long hair 

short.

And I love it. 

It's something I've been wanting to do for quite some time, but I've been rather scared. I couldn't be happier! It's not the best picture of my hair, but I hope to have a better one to put up soon. I'm so deeply excited to be 22, it is going to a unforgettable year. I'll be marrying the perfect man for me, having a beautiful wedding, graduating from college, moving with Alex, and really get my business going. It feels so amazing. Also, I've finally made some good progress on our wedding plans and plan to share quite a bit soon on here.

Happy Friday!!

22 is here

It was a birthday on Monday! Despite having finals this week, it was quite glorious. Simple, but amazing. It was my favorite birthday yet.

Not because of a fancy party, or lavish gifts. 

But for all the right reasons. 

Plus, I have this fantastic feeling for twenty-two. 

So with that, here's to 22 and thanks to my loved ones who made my birthday oh-so-special. 

Keep Calm ...

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I'm so excited finals start on Monday. Not because I'm looking forward to writing term papers or sitting in a cold room for three hours at a time writing answers to free response questions and essays until my hands are past the point of cramping. Instead, I'm excited to have one more quarter done at UCSD and only have two more left to complete! Plus, I'll get to celebrate my birthday (since finals start on my birthday, enjoy the holiday break with my friends and family, and work on an exciting project I actually truly want to spend my time and energy on. I love being in college and learning everyday, but I cannot wait for what is to come after I graduate in June.

So here's to a weekend and week full of studying, staying up late, and lots of coffee for one of the last times. I've been doing this finals stuff every ten weeks (even over summer) for almost four years, it's weird and fantastic to think it's almost over!