Book Tour

Feb 2012

When I first starting talking to Amtrak about sponsoring the book tour, I pointed out to them that I thought Honeymooning via Amtrak was perhaps the best idea on the planet. Now that I’ve listened to a history tour through the Sierras, crossed the Rockies in a snowstorm, watched the snowy fields of Iowa fly by while drinking coffee in my heated compartment, slept in the cozy Amtrak double beds, had lunch delivered to my room, and waved to Southerners on their porches while the train chugged by, I think it’s an even better idea.

Seriously. I think Honeymoons are built for one particular thing: blissing out with your partner while you stare at your new rings, cuddle up, and nap. And it turns out, there is no form of transportation better built for that than a sleeping car on a train.

Plus, for those of you trying to make your weddings as green as possible, not only is train travel pretty darn green, Amtrak is dedicated to keeping things environmentally friendly. Most of what you use in Amtrak sleepers isn’t even disposable (hello, cloth towels), but to add to that, I’ve seen so many compostable Amtrak cups that I love them more every day.

That, and trains take you interesting places. Like, say, New Orleans. Or exploring the West Coast.

So! I’m super excited to announce that APW is giving away a honeymoon via Amtrak! Hooray! (Now, while this is technically a honeymoon giveaway, according to the terms and conditions, anyone can enter, so you could use this for a mini-moon trip together if you’re already married.) But seriously, you didn’t think I was going to have Amtrak sponsor the APW Book Tour, and write about how much fun I was having traveling by sleeper car all over the country, without having a big giveaway for you guys, did you? Of course not.

Here are the details of what Amtrak is offering for the Honeymoon Giveaway:

A round trip for two in a “Roomette” to any destination served by Amtrak’s Coast Starlight or a round trip for two to any destination served by Amtrak’s City of New Orleans. The trip is valid for travel until December 31, 2013, subject to blackouts and other restrictions that may apply. The winner has the option to upgrade to a bedroom upon payment of accommodation charges, subject to availability.

Amtrak and APW picked these train lines as the options because they are particularly good ones. The City Of New Orleans line goes from Chicago to New Orleans (Maddie and I explored New Orleans for you this weekend… check back this afternoon for details) with a stop along the way in Memphis. The Amtrak Coast Starlight runs between Seattle and Los Angeles, and goes along some of the most beautiful track in the United States, including over the sand on beaches that are unreachable by road. No matter which line you pick, it’s going to be an amazing trip for whoever wins. And may I suggest that you spend your dollars on a bedroom? For a honeymoon, it’s the only way to go.

HOW TO ENTER (You may enter each way one time.)
1. Leave a comment in the comment section of this post.
2. Post a link on Twitter to this contest page http://apracticalwedding.com/2012/02/apw-amtrak-honeymoon-giveaway/ and include the hashtag #APWamtrakhoneymoon

The contest begins 4:30 AM PST 2/8/12 and ends 11:59 PM PST 2/14/12, when I will close comments. I’ll announce the winner the following week.

Important details: You have to be 21 to enter and a resident of the United States. Please read the Official Contest Rules before you enter.

I’m so grateful to all of you for making the APW Book fly and for supporting me during this long, intense, and wonderful month of traveling around the country on book tour. This giveaway is just a token of how grateful I really am. Now let’s get cracking! And tune in this afternoon for a serious chat about New Orleans and how I think you should go there (probably by train).

**This post was made possible by Amtrak, who is sponsoring the book tour, and this giveaway. Thank you Amtrak!**

Picture: One of my favorite views of my trip, in the Sierras. Personal for A Practical Wedding.

Posted in: Book Tour | 1,245 Comments »

Feb 2012

Book Tour By Amtrak: New Orleans to Houston

This morning, when I got on the train in New Orleans, it suddenly felt like I was on my way home. Maybe it was because West Coast trains (west of New Orleans and Chicago) are different, and I was suddenly back on my old friend the double decker train. Maybe it’s because in exactly a week I’ll be heading into San Francisco. Maybe it’s because Maddie left this afternoon for the airport. Maybe it was the wheels whispering ”home, home, home” to me. But suddenly it felt like the last leg of the tour was upon me.

Mostly I’ve worked like a crazy person all day today, preparing the exciting surprise coming at you Wednesday, thanks to Amtrak. But I did take a few hours to stare out the window. I saw small towns, fishing boats, levees, and houses on stilts. And in Louisiana, people in small towns look you in the eye, grin at you, and wave as the train goes by. It’s sort of magical. Then I read a chapter in my book (the first chapter I’ve read in a month). And I decided to take all my meals in my room… just because I can and because it’s cozy in here. For lunch I had red beans and rice, and bourbon and pecan pie. For dinner I’m having fried chicken. And yes, they are as good as they sound.

I’m excited for my final book events in Austin and LA. But I’m really thrilled to take some proper downtime on my last and longest trip of the tour later this week. And to see my family and my husband in LA, and to go home. Because coming home, changed forever, is the best part of adventures. Thanks, Amtrak, for getting me there with grace. And see you tomorrow, Austin.

Pictures from Instagram, where I’m documenting the trip. Follow me on Twitter for more. I’ll do a proper photo round up at some point, never fear.

**This post was made possible by Amtrak, who is sponsoring my book tour. Thank you Amtrak!**

Posted in: Book Tour | 6 Comments »

Feb 2012

APW Book Tour: Atlanta

The Amazing Wonderful Fabulous & Kind Team—Organizers: Wedding Day Hooray & Leah and Mark * Photographers: Amanda Summerlin, LeahAndMark.com & The Intern Army * Event Venue: Young Blood Gallery * Extra thanks: Wedding Day Hooray & +Raven for contributing to the raffle, and Leah and Mark for making this event possible! *

First of all, clearly, you just have to take a scan of the pictures to know that the Atlanta APW Book Talk was very, very good. Second of all, I wore my hipster ice skating dress again because I realized it was my last chance on the road. I made my hair huge, to compensate. Obviously, you forgive me, and wonder why I’m not wearing it every day all day (good question). Third, the event was even better than it looks in the pictures. I’m pretty sad that all of you were not there for it, though I suppose if you were, we wouldn’t have fit in the gallery, so hum.

When we left the Atlanta event, which was Maddie’s third and last event on the road, there was a pause, and then she said, “That was a very good one. Very.” And she was right. From the minute we walked into the event space (the Young Blood Gallery) the feeling in the air was awesome. Unlike past events, there was a very laid back, pre-show vibe. Everyone was walking around with their shoes off, setting up (thanks Wedding Day Hooray, the coolest Atlanta wedding event), chatting, nursing tiny babies (Leah). And, I mean, it was in an art gallery (I was sneakily pricing paintings, trying to figure out how much trouble I’d be in if I picked up some art on the road).

And then, after delays for Atlanta traffic, the event kicked into gear. I started by giving my normal quick but rambling talk, and then we got to the meat of the situation. I pulled up Leah of Leah and Mark for a chat about female entrepreneurship. And, in easiest, most natural, and most fitting way in the world, we ended up passing her baby back and forth during the talk (because, yup, you can literally rock it out in front of a crowd with a baby on your hip). We talked about hustle and about asking for what you’re worth. We talked about motherhood and business ownership and about how having a baby freed Leah up to stop doing crap she hated and made failing not an option. We talked about being afraid of ending up broke and in the poorhouse and letting that drive you. And then, in one of my favorite moments of the night, Rasheeda (did I get your name right, lady??) raised her hand and talked about her mom being a strong female business owner who ran a salon, who raised a take-no-bullshit daughter at the same time. By the end of the night, the myth that you can have kids or have a career, but you have to pick, had a lot less power over me (for one). (Side note: The article on the subject about Sheryl Sandberg in the Sunday New York Times actually made me cry into my cereal yesterday.)

The fascinating part of the night was that when we opened the floor up for Q&A, the topic never switched to weddings. All anyone wanted to talk about was women and money and business and children and success. It was like the dam broke, and we all were finally getting to discuss with other ladies the constant internal narrative that’s playing out in all of our minds, all of the time. At the end of the night, I was chatting with Leah while holding her passed out asleep baby, and she said, “I felt like we just should have kept going. Like we all should have just gone out to coffee and pulled up chairs because there was clearly so much more that needed to be discussed.” I’m getting chills just writing about it. It was that good a night.

So thanks Atlanta. You gave me a good dose of faith in the world. Now, Austin, I’m coming for you on Tuesday. We’re talking about feminism, weddings, and marriages. Plus, it’s going to be the smallest event of the tour, which means one-on-one time. Honestly, I bet it’s going to be worth taking off work early and driving in from Dallas or Houston. You tell me, Texas, but I bet I’m not wrong. Let’s do it.

Posted in: Book Tour, Entrepreneurship | 30 Comments »

Feb 2012

Book Tour By Amtrak: Atlanta to New Orleans

Good morning y’all. And by morning, I mean afternoon, because I slept in. I’m in New Orleans right now, facing a weekend of mostly-not-working. I’ve got Amtrak to thank for making that happen in the least stressful way possible. Yesterday, Maddie and I (along with Claire… yes, an APW reader decided to book an Amtrak trip already) hopped the train in Atlanta. Maddie and Claire had breakfast together (On the New Orleans line they serve sweet potato pancakes and grits. I know.) while I napped on the enormous couch in our bedroom. Then Maddie wandered back to the room… and I napped some more. We pondered working, but instead the day ended up being a giant slumber party where we both caught up on much needed rest.

And then, rather suddenly, we were in my (second) favorite city in the United States, just in time for Krewe du Vieux. And all I’m saying is that you should pay very close attention on Tuesday morning because we might be hosting an exciting Amtrak and New Orleans related…. something. I can’t say more than that because I have to go test out the city for you and just make sure it’s not broken. It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it. So far, I’ve stuffed my face, and danced till midnight in the middle of the street to an amazing brass band. But really, I’m just getting started. After weeks of working insanely hard on the road, I’ve decided that New Orleans is my reward. In fact, New Orleans might just be a giant comic reward for all of us. I’d type more, but NOLA calls. Let’s meet back here Tuesday and discuss. Hint, hint, get excited.

Pictures from Instagram, where I’m documenting the trip. Follow me on Twitter for more.

**This post was made possible by Amtrak, who is sponsoring the book tour. Thank you Amtrak!**

Posted in: Book Tour | 14 Comments »

Feb 2012

APW Book Tour: Washington, D.C.

The Amazing Wonderful Fabulous & Kind Team—Photographers: Hart & Sol West * Event Coordinator: Elaine from One More Page Books * Dessert: Made by Rachel! * Extra thanks: to Rachel & Jenny for making this event possible! *

And then, just two days after the blowout Brooklyn APW book event, the DC event happened. I was hoping no one would notice how totally exhausted I was, but long time reader Ellie said to me afterwards on Twitter, “Truthfully, you totally looked like a politician who’s in the last stages of the campaign—exhilarated but exhausted.” Which sort of nailed it.

If you can believe it, the bookstore was just as packed as the Brooklyn event. Or, really, more packed. Because, you see, it turns out that the big bookstores in DC proper only like to take events for political books. And as much as I adore politics, that’s not the book I wrote… so… we ended up getting totally lucky. One More Page Books in Arlington, VA agreed to take us in, and they were profoundly kind and a great store (with wine!). They were the only bookstore of the whole tour, who believed us when we told them what turnout would be like, and they PREPARED for the oncoming storm. And what a lovely lady storm it was. We literally packed the bookstore so full that the people by the door were smashed in New York City subway style, and not another person could fit inside.

And then we chatted. It was my first event with no microphone, so as you can see, I made up for it with huge hand gestures. I’ve said that each talk has a different tone from the last, and that fact continues to amaze me. The D.C. talk had a sort of long emotional essay form style. We talked about personal and emotional stuff: why you fight during wedding planning, where we culturally lost the plot on what being a wife means, and where modern feminism is and where it should be. And then at the end, someone’s mother stood up, and said the one thing that always needs to be said. She talked about how her generation (my mom’s generation) had fought really hard for all of us to be able to make choices. They’d fought for us to have the option to work or stay home, to change our names or not. And that she wanted to see our generation using those choices without guilt. That feminism wasn’t stopping you from staying home with your kids, that in fact they’d fought and sacrificed to give us those choices. So, she hoped we used them well, and created the lives and marriages we needed. Amen to that.

Afterwards, I asked who didn’t consider themselves a feminist, and it was dead silent. I think sometimes we all need that reminder. No make good choices, empowered choices, with no guilt. Now go forth, and do.

Posted in: Book Tour | 70 Comments »

Feb 2012

APW Book Tour: Brooklyn

The Amazing Wonderful Fabulous & Kind Team—Photographers: Amber Marlow Photography, Hart & Sol West, Katie Jane Photo (Roll over the pictures to see the photographer’s name.) * Event Coordination: La Vie En Rose Events * Event Design: Michelle Edgemont * Catering: Mexicue * Dessert: Sun In Bloom (gluten-free cupcakes) & Robicelli’s (full-gluten cupcakes)*

First of all, before we even get into talking about Brooklyn, I want to say that it was a super personal event for me, precisely because of the picture shown above. When I looked around the Brooklyn after party (more on that in a second) I saw more people than I could possibly talk to one on one (waaahh), and I also realized that it wasn’t a problem because everyone was talking to friends, old and new. The APW community is not the tiny community that it started out as, and it’s spawned all sorts of connections and real life friendships in a really powerful way. And that means… well… everything. If that’s what the work I’ve done here has created, that’s work I can be proud of. And for me, on a really deep level, the Brooklyn event was about getting a handful of the (now) long time girlfriends that I’ve met through running the site all in one room, and wrapping them in a giant hug. When you get P., Kimi, Lily, Me, and Amanda at a party (other close girlfriends made through blogging were dearly missed)… you are very close to perfection. When that party is in my favorite city in the world, celebrating the launch of a book I’ve been working on for what feels like ever, and my husband is there? That might actually be perfection.

So Brooklyn. Let’s discuss. The funny thing about the book tour is that it keeps going. Each event seems huge, and each event is The APW Event for everyone in that city. And for me it’s just today’s event. Which is wonderful and confusing, and in New York City got totally baffling. Because in New York, we didn’t just host an awesome, packed to the gills book talk with questions. In New York we hosted that and a whirlwind of amazing party at a bar. So, by the end of the night people were asking me how “My Big Day” felt (which is doubly hilarious, given that we never use the term Big Day here, right?) So, by that point I was so tired I was barely standing up, and I was like, “It was great. And I did it on Wednesday, and I’m doing it again on Monday, and also on Thursday.” Which might mean that I am a totally crazy person, y’all.

Or. I’d think I was a totally crazy person except that each of these events is so damn wonderful, in an “I want to wrap all of you guys up and put you in my increasingly crowded suitcase and take you with me,” kind of way. And because Brooklyn is home for me, and the event was so personal, I’m still sort of emotional about it being over.

So Brooklyn. When I showed up at the Barnes & Noble, I was a nervous wreck (and I’m never a nervous wreck at these events). Something about it being on my home turf just made it feel like it mattered. But then when I came out, and saw all you guys hiding behind bookshelves because there wasn’t enough space, playing with your babies on the floor (Liz!) and ready to have a good time, I got really happy. Plus, I was wearing this crazy backless hipster ice-skating dress that I’d bought on sale for $40 the hour before the event, so I mean, you can’t lose in that situation, right?

And of course it was awesome. The perpetually fascinating thing about this tour to me is how every stop has a totally different vibe. I somehow expected Boston’s boisterous and hilarious vibe to carry over to Brooklyn (they’re close, right?). But maybe because the Brooklyn event was in the afternoon, the vibe was thoughtful. For the first time on the tour, most of the questions were about the creative process, and writing (and you know, feminism, because that’s how we roll).

And then there was the party. After I signed books for an hour (An Hour! OMG!) we headed over to the party. By the time I got there, a whole bar in Brooklyn was absolutely packed with all APW faces. Which is totally nuts. And totally amazing. And totally… awe inspiring. And, let me just put this out there. Someone needs to have exactly this party as their wedding reception. The event was at The High Dive, which basically every good friend of mine in Brooklyn told me conspiratorially was their “favorite bar” at some point during the night. Michelle Edgemont (who is a whirlwind of awesome that’s going to take all of us by storm, hire her now) did all the wedding decorations. And when I say amazing, I mean amazing. She made banners made up of nothing but wedding graduates faces. And yeah, that’s totally going to go up in my apartment at home, don’t judge me. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her crafty and affordable decorations. She made drink stirrers with mini APW books on them, with APW book quotes inside. I know. And then! The High Dive let us roll up a taco truck outside the bar, so we all got to enjoy Mexicue tacos and pulled pork sliders. Then, Other Meg of La Vie En Rose Events (who planned the whole thing so seamlessly I never had to think about it, holy crap hire HER) arranged for gluten-free cupcakes for me (snifff) from Sun In Bloom, and you guys, they were so good that the gluten-full crowd was gobbling them up. And then there were Gluten-full Cupcakes that looked amazing from Robicelli’s. Oh, and did you notice the AMAZING PHOTOBOOTH PICTURES? Yeah. That photobooth was made by Michelle Edgemont, with help from Hart & Sol West, and manned by Amber Marlow Photography. I love those ladies. I love every one of them.

So. What am I left with? Gratitude. A small sense of what we’ve created here. An amazing party. A book. And a tour that is just getting started… see you tonight, Atlanta. Let’s do it. (And if I’m wearing the same dress again, well, you’ll cut me a break, right? Because how often do you get to dress like a hipster ice skater?)

To see all of the photobooth pictures, visit the APW Flickr Pool or check out the set on Maddie’s Flickr Stream

Posted in: Book Tour, Events | 53 Comments »