J'adore Martha

The undisputed queen of DIY.  A Happy Homemaker for the modern age.  The true Domestic Diva.  Martha's is a household name, and while many admire her for all she's accomplished, others became disenchanted with her during the infamous insider trading debacle.  But whether you love her or hate her, the fact remains: this woman knows her stuff.  She's a self-made legend, and has gotten to where she is by always knowing which way the winds are blowing and acting accordingly, whether it be in the financial realm or in the world of crafts and domesticity.

After I got engaged (and, let's be honest, throughout the many months preceding my engagement) I started collecting bridal magazines.  Brides, The Knot, Bridal Guide, InStyle Weddings, Modern Bride, Real Simple Weddings, I had 'em all.  They were fun, with all their glossy pages, not to mention more pictures of pretty dresses than a girl could ever want or need, but when it came down to it, they weren't all that helpful when it came to actually planning our wedding.  Enter Martha.

   

    

   

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

When I discovered Martha Stewart Weddings, I was in heaven.  Where most bridal magazines featured ninety percent advertisements and only a few token articles, Martha had page after page of DIYs, templates, "good things," and real wedding inspiration.  She seemed to truly understand my desire to carry special, personalized touches throughout our entire wedding.  My favorite thing about the magazine, though, is that she inspires me, a self-proclaimed clueless crafter, to tackle projects I would never have thought of taking on myself, and she gives step-by-step instructions to boot!

Thanks to Ms. Stewart, I now feel like any craft is possible if you've got the drive (and lots of patience). Throughout the next several months of wedding planning, I'm looking forward to undertaking several DIY projects, including our escort cards, our programs, gifts for our wedding party, and --dare I say it-- maybe even our centerpieces?  Well, even if I don't get that ambitious, it certainly makes the prospect seem far less scary!

But aside from all the obvious wedding-related reasons I love Martha, possibly the biggest reason for my mega-fandom is her hilarious chemistry with Conan O'Brien.  Fan-friggin-tastic.