Weekend Links

.
Today I will be trying on wedding dresses...yipee!!!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it!! I will keep you posted on my shopping adventure, but for now...here are some of my favorite links this week:
.
I am in awe of this amazing wedding and the gorgeous baby's breath arrangements!
.
How perfect would these cupcakes be for a Valentine's party??
.
This inspiration board has me itching for spring!
.
Can't stop thinking about this baby bird baby shower!
.
I want to try this cocktail as a little research project for drinks at my wedding reception.
.
Love this design redo... start here, then check out here and finally here.
.
Blair's fashioning interiors posts never cease to delight me!

.
WOW, lots of links this week...I hope you enjoyed them! Have a great weekend!

Image via The White Room

Love Love Love

Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away and I always seem to have trouble finding the right card for my fiance. So many of them are just too sappy or try to be too funny, but I think this one from Storeyshop might be just right!
.

If only they made one that said "I love you more than Dixie." That would be perfect for me, from my fiance. Dixie is his yellow lab...well, and mine too now!

.

Also, speaking of Valentine's Day, I saw a preview for this movie and now I'm dying to see it...

.

Image from Storeyshop, seen on Elements of Style

Video from youtube

Picture Perfect

I feel like this tablescape is the perfect combination of two of my favorite design ideas...romantic and rustic. To me, the best part of this table is the carved out birch used as a vase for the gorgeous flowers! I think texture adds so much depth to a tablescape and there are so many ways for it to be incoporated besides the flowers. Try bringing in texture through linens, candles, glassware and place cards to make a statement at your next dinner party!

Tablescape designed by Monique Lhuillier, Image via House Beautiful

Warm Up!

.
I love this idea from Martha Stewart...personalized coffee cups! Are you getting married in cold weather or hosting a "beat the winter blues " party? This idea would be a great favor for your guests. Stop handing out the typical koozie and try this one for a change!
.



Photo via Martha Stewart

July Wedding Inspiration, II

I have two very best friends from college getting married this July and a couple of weeks ago, I designed an inspiration board for Lindsay. SO, now its time for Nan! I've discovered it is much easier to design a board for your best friend than yourself! Nan mentioned just a few ideas she had for her wedding to me: suits instead of tuxes, ice cream, and the color green. I took those ideas and combined them with a few ideas of my own that make me think of Nan...flip flops, tulips, and chalkboards (she is a teacher). I can't wait for all the big celebrations this year!!

.

Board Designed on Style Circle

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, today begins the last year of my twenties...ahhh! I hope this year lasts EXTRA long :). This time last year my good friend Harriet threw the most amazing birthday bash in my honor at her house. The evening started out with a small intimate dinner with 8 of my closest friends and then after dinner more guests arrived for cupcakes and champagne. It probably goes down as one of my top 3 favorite birthday parties ever!!
.
.
My dear friend Brooke made these gorgeous invitations with my favorite color...purple! Harriet took that color and incorporated it into her table decor with linens.
.

.
We drank lots of champagne...
.

.
and savored Brooke's delicious cupcakes...recipe compliments of Barefoot Contessa...
.

How can it get any better than that!?!

Fabulous Favors

.
I haven't even begun to think about favors yet for my wedding (I've got 10 months to go) BUT, I stumbled across this lovely idea on Snippet and Ink today! With my large guest list this idea is certainly out of my budget, but for someone planning an intimate wedding of family and close friends this would be perfect...especially if you love Champagne! You know that burlap has my heart skipping a bit...I love me some rustic details! To check out more images from this fabulous shoot designed by Ariella Chezar and captured by Meg Smith, head over to Snippet and Ink!




Image via Snippet and Ink

Baby Shower Recap

The baby shower last weekend turned out fabulous, so I wanted to give a quick recap today in case you find yourself planning a baby shower soon. My friend Kathryn hand-made the invitations...how adorable are these? And, so cost efficient!

.
We decided to tie in a "bird" theme with the invitations and wishes tree. The bird stamp used on the invitation was also used on the wishes cards that we tied to the tree.


.

After we ate lunch, we all grabbed a wish off the tree and read them aloud to the group. Allison the "mommy to be" loved it...and we did too! I think all of us had a tear in our eye after hearing all the wishes.
.

We then went back to the house, drank some champagne and enjoyed these delicious petit fours from my favorite bakery in town.

.

Last but not least, here is the "oh baby" sign I made with help from my good friend Brooke. She printed the letters and I assembled! It's now hanging in the baby nursery and I think it looks great! .

.
Last week I posted this "oh baby" sign (the source for my inspiration) and mistakenly gave credit to Martha Stewart when the credit actually belongs to Paula from Two Ellie!! I love Paula's blog...its one of my favorite sources for design inspiration...if you haven't seen it yet, go check it out!

Happy Planning!

Best Dressed

My favorite part of watching the Golden Globes is of course the fashion. I absolutely LOVED Jennifer Garner's dress! Her hair, make-up and jewelry look pretty fab too...
.

Who was your favorite??

Photo via Getty Images, found on Celebrity Gossip

Exhausted...

.
I had a blast this weekend, but I am am EXHAUSTED! The shower was fabulous and the wishes tree was just perfect. I can't wait to post some pics and share more details from the weekend, once I recover!



Photo via Flickr

Romance is in the Air

.

I stumbled across this amazing photo by Christian Oth on Style Me Pretty and I literally fell head over heels in LOVE! I am an ULTRA romantic at heart and this image to me is pure perfection! Don't worry, its already been put in the inspiration files for my own wedding. I have a thing for candles and have already been thinking of ways to incorporate them into the decor, and this might be just the vision I needed.

.

..

So, here is the gorgeous church I grew up in and where I will be saying "I DO" in this fall. I think it might just be possible to transform the steps into something similar to the image above...what do you think?

Have a great weekend!

Images via Style Me Pretty and Flickr

July Wedding Inspiration

.

Not only am I getting to see my good friend Allison this weekend to celebrate her little bun in the oven, but I also get to see my college roommate Lindsay who is getting married in July! I asked Lindsay to give me a short description of how she envisions her July wedding so that I could put together an inspiration board for her. She mentioned the color blue, topiaries, peonies, hydrangeas, and a sweet heart strapless dress. I took those visions and paired it with my view of Lindsay...a gorgeous, sophisticated and elegant bride. I sent the board over to Lindsay for approval and she loved it...YAY!!

DIY Project

My goal tonight is to tackle making an "Oh Baby" sign for my good friend Allison's baby shower this weekend. I purchased some fun paper from Hobby Lobby and am going to try to write Oh Baby in my very neatest hand writing...which will be a challenge for me! Thankfully my roommate has the best hand writing ever so I may get her to do some touch up work if it turns out awful. Another fun idea we are going to incorporate as the centerpiece for the table is a wishes tree for our mommy-to-be. I've seen this used at weddings before, but thought it would be perfect for a baby shower too! I'm just hoping the vision I have in my head will turn out!!

Photos via Two Ellie and Style Me Pretty

Flower Round Up

I'm headed home in a couple weeks to have an initial meeting with my florist, so I've been going through my inspiration files and have found several flower arrangements that have me swooning...especially this first image from Eva Longoria's wedding designed by Jeff Leatham. I LOVE the candles, rose petals and the jaw dropping (yet simple) arrangements. I am leaning towards all white flowers for the ceremony, but then experimenting with some warm fall colors for the reception. I'd love to incorporate different textures, greenery, berries, and maybe even some artichokes!
.

.
Jeff Leatham

.

.

Style Me Pretty

.

.

Bloemenbinder via Abigail Seymour Photography
.

.
Once Wed
.

.

From Hello to Hitched

.

.

Once Wed

.
.

Jessica Claire Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

.

Which arrangement do you like best??

Weekend Links

..
Well, believe it or not, it snowed yesterday down here in Alabama...but of course, it didn't stick. It always makes me laugh when the weather man calls for snow and everyone runs to the grocery to "stock up." The crazy thing is that it just started snowing again today...NEVER happens in bama...2 days in a row!! I guess I'll be spending my weekend trying to stay warm!
.
Here are some things I'm loving around the blogosphere this week....
..
Blair's event inspiration
.
This cute design for thank you notes
.
Berkeley Hotel tea treats
.
The flowers from this vintage wedding
.

Have a great weekend!!!

Photo via Flickr

Soon to be...

...a house divided. This Alabama girl is marrying a Texas Longhorn fan, so tonight should be an interesting night as The Crimson Tide takes on Texas in the National Championship game in Pasadena, CA. On top of that, its supposed to snow tonight and of course everyone is spreading rumors that the power will go out during the game...ha! Thank goodness I don't work at Alabama Power or Bright House/Charter! If you are watching the game and need some ideas for a menu, here is what I suggest...
.

DRINKS

.

BEER!

serve a locally brewed beer for a fun twist

.

Yellow Hammer

signature Bama drink that is delicious!!

.

Margarita

for Texas, you can't go wrong with a margarita :) ...just my personal opinion

.

APPETIZERS

.

Conecuh Sausage

if you haven't tasted this AMAZING sausage from AL you are missing out!

.

Jalapeno Poppers

mmmm....these will hit the spot for those who love a spicy kick!

.

DINNER

.

Hamburgers

Texas fans give it a Tex Mex spin with avocadoes and cilantro mayo

and serve with chips and salsa

.

or for you Alabama fans, instead of ketchup use BBQ sauce and top with coleslaw and serve with potato salad

DESSERT

Sugar Cookies decorated with a red "A" or with orange longhorns
my roommate made some "A" cookies last night and they were so cute!!

I am in need of....

...a very large glass of red wine(maybe 2)
.

.

...and also a wedding planner/organizer...
. (does anyone have a good suggestion for me??)

.

Its day 7 of my engagement and I feel sooo disorganized, and everyone telling me I better get everything booked quickly is starting to stress me out!! I am normally so organized but for some reason, I feel like I am all over the place with the wedding planning. I haven't even stopped to reflect that a DECADE has just gone by. I mean WOW....1o years...and what have I accomplished or learned? Let's see...

I have lived in four different cities

I've graduated from college and also from graduate school

I've had three jobs but still searching for a job that = my passion

I've bought a house and a car all by myself

I've had a broken heart(more than once) but have learned how to put it back together

I've experienced the death of loved ones and the joy of new life

I've become a dog lover, an aunt(3 times over), a blogger and most recently a fiancee

I've learned that being a grown up is tough but also very empowering

I've learned that life never goes the way you plan it

I've learned that one true friend is worth more than gold

I've had my faith tested and learned that nothing is impossible for God

.

I wonder how much I will learn in the next decade?

Photos via Flickr and Amazon