Raise a glass...

... to 2010! It's is almost gone, much like a good glass of bubbly. For those of you with gift registries on the brain, here's a round-up of champagne glasses to suit everyone's taste (be it extra brut, sec, doux or somewhere in between).

Classic: Schott Zwiesel - 2 for $78
Minimalist: Verve - 9.95
Modern: Edge - 8.95

There's an App for that!

source
Our registry just introduced a barcode scanning app for adding items and managing the list on the go. That's great news for these two iPhone users!

It's downloaded, synced and ready for use. Just need to test it out on some unwitting barcodes.

The only downside? Giving Mr. P's iPhone "scan gun" capability. They might have created a monster. But hey! Since I have my own phone, I'll finally get a chance to scan in some items.

Registry Meh

Two stores. Almost a half day at the mall. We felt victorious, but our registry still had gaping holes. No matter that Macy's didn't carry the vacuum or clothes steamer I had in mind. We had an upcoming trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

When the selection at BB&B failed to impress, I was left adrift (and without a decent vacuum). We already had three registries. We were NOT making it four. If we couldn't find what we needed from the existing registries, then we'd have to do without. The floors would just stay dirty. Wait a minute... that makes no sense! I was conflicted. On one hand, I felt like we were being greedy for needing a fourth registry. But the missing things were some of the very first items we brainstormed to put on the list.

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What's a girl to do?

Un-Registry: China

A half century ago, a forward-thinking family member with great taste picked out a modern white and platinum banded pattern that we inherited. We have been saved from the frustration of hours spent shopping (and inevitably compromising) on a fine china pattern! It's actually very close to what we would have picked out. The tailored bands appeal to my graphic design sensibilities and the bright white color allows the food to speak for itself (something we feel strongly about). The upside is that it's simple enough to dress up with a second pattern or colored plate should we decide to get a little wild and crazy.

(source: 1 & 2)

Our first registry gift

Arrived home in late July to find a small Williams-Sonoma box tucked away on the front porch. At first, I thought it was a gift for Brian; his birthday was the next day. But because it was from one of our registry stores, I started to fret because it's too soon for registry gifts to start arriving... and (oh crap!) we still need to ask his dad if we can redirect gifts to his house.

Brian and I deliberated on who sent it and what it could be while I searched for scissors. We had a good chuckle once I found the packing slip and note. My first-time buyers, A & C, went to closing a week prior and sent a thank you gift sourced from our registry. They are newlyweds so we discussed weddings during the house hunt. She must have super-sleuthed our registry or remembered me mentioning it (although I don't).

Either way, we were thrilled to open it up and find a Vinturi and wine pump with stoppers. Now we were left with a dilemma. It is a thank you gift from our wedding registry. What's the protocol for use? Brian reasoned that since it was technically a thank you gift, etiquette and superstitions would permit us to open now. It was put to use that night on a bottle of Finger Lakes Cab Franc!

Testing out our new wine gadget

Registering Review Rewind

Registering over a three-day holiday weekend is a productive use of time... except when everyone else has the day off and is hiding from the 100 degree June heat. You can escape the heat, but not the crowds. We had a whole day with nothing planned and just two store registries to tackle.

source(if you're into consumer behavior, the linked article is interesting)
1. Macy's: Basics with a little luxury
We didn't have an appointment. Correction, we didn't know we needed an appointment. We loitered at the registry desks, waiting for two couples to complete their initiation. The black lacquer walls, soft lighting, muzak and cubby-holed fine china tried really hard to demurely whisper, "You know you want this" but those marketing efforts were lost us on us. We were anxious to get scanning as we'd squirreled away a stack of dinnerware and serving pieces that were probably being restocked as we sat idly. Which reminds me, Macy's needs mock-entertaining spaces, like mini dining rooms, where you can lay out selections to see how they look together. At the very least, they need a table at the registry desks for this.

Ready, set - no, no wait!

It was when we found ourselves standing among 10 different sets of pots and pans at Macy's that we realized we were woefully under-educated. Coated non-stick or stainless steel? Copper core or aluminum? Three-ply or five-ply? All-Clad or Calphalon? Woah... I'm feeling a little dizzy.

Who knew copper could be so sexy?
This is pretty much how our first pre-registering trip started. If we're going to look like idiots, I prefer we look like idiots at Macy's instead of Williams-Sonoma. But that didn't happen. After a long, careful study of the various WS cookware lines, things weren't much clearer.

Cheap, even with other people's money

We (read: mostly me) began brainstorming for our registry in early 2010. Thinking with the registry in mind, we paid attention to what kitchen items received heavy or little use. Our nicked paring knife that's always dirty? Put two new ones on the list. The rattling, sucky (in a bad way) vacuum cleaner on its last leg, thread bare sheet set, torn guest comforter, hand-me-down flatware and Teflon pan losing its coating - all gone.


Sad, sad knife

They still make it? (source)
Emphasizing that we are not being greedy, I've been able to convince Mr. P that broken, worn-out or less durable items are all acceptable to replace/upgrade. We're planning a lifetime together and our stuff should stick around for at least half that time. He laughs that even when he isn't buying, he's cheap. The months of careful cultivation and detailed research will hopefully yield a solid housekeeping foundation.

Pre-registering: the overachiever's approach to registering

Not yet ready to register? Why pre-register, of course! At least if you're an overachiever... and it's 14 months before your wedding.

After booking our photographer and finding our venue, I was on a streak. It felt good. And I wanted it to continue. Luckily, my suggestion to visit a few stores to preview their inventory met with success. Off we went to Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn to scope out flatware and plates! Mr. P was wonderful and had opinions on each item's usefulness or pro/cons - no sarcasm here. This is a helpful when you're staring down a wall of forks or toasters with a myriad of options. It's like the toothpaste aisle all over again.

Too many options!

You registered for what?

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After tubing down the Brandywine River with friends last weekend, we're seriously considering adding a pair of river tubes plus pump to our registry. The only problem is Williams-Sonoma and Macy's don't carry river tubes. I could have sworn they were next to the meat thermometers and fine china...