The dreaded dress

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I'm taking my sister with me on Saturday to shop for a dress for my bridesmaids. I'm hoping to find something great that makes my bridesmaids feel fabulous without hurting their checkbook! We'll see if I can accomplish this difficult mission :)! I know that my bridesmaids will NEVER wear the dress again, but at the very least I want them to feel pretty and not like they are in some awful paper bag. For now, I am leaning towards a short dress in chocolate brown, like the one above....but who knows!

Image via Jenny Yoo

Lent

I LOVE diet coke...its my staple...and, I've decided to give it up for 40 days. I've lasted 8 days so far, and I haven't caved to my addiction. And, if I do say so, I'm pretty darn proud of myself. I've noticed though that about 3pm, I get a wave of tiredness. What am I to do? Start drinking coffee in the afternoon? I'm hoping that in a few days my body will adjust and I won't be so tired anymore. I wonder if after 40 days I will fall back into the trap of drinking coke? Has anyone else tried to give it up...and had success??

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Image via here

Milk Glass

Not only do I LOVE flowers, but I love when extra thought goes into the vases that they are displayed in! Recently, I have fallen in love with milk glass. I love the feminine vibe I get from the gorgeous glass...and right now it has me dreaming of spring and summer. Milk glass to me has the perfect touch of elegance for weddings, bridal showers, and even baby showers.
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Images via Style Me Pretty and Salt Harbor Designs

Winter Wonderland

I definitely prefer the sun over snow(guess that is the southerner in me), but I couldn't help falling in love with this gorgeous winter wedding shoot by Jessica Claire. Not sure if its the perfect picnic area or the fabulous pops of color, but this shoot had me at hello! Not only is Jessica Claire one of my favorite photographers, but she teamed up with JL Designs(who I also happen to be obsessed with) to bring this scene to life!
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Images via Jessica Claire Photography

Conversation Napkins

I love parties that let you get to know the person or couple you are celebrating even better than you already do. I was over on P is for Party, one of my favorite party blogs, and saw this cute idea...conversation napkins!
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This is a clever way to get your guests talking and for the party to become more personal! I love it!
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Image via P is for Party

Calling all brides...and wives!!

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I need your help!!! I am registering this weekend at Macy's and I have NO idea what I am doing! I've started to look online at things that my fiance and I need, but then I seem to get overwhelmed with all my wants! So, I need your advice. Is there something you didn't register for that you wish you had?? Or, is there something you registered for that you LOVE and use all the time?? Should I prepare myself for a fight to break out in Macy's with my fiance if we don't like the same things??

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Please please please leave me a comment :)

Image via Macy's

Will you be my bridesmaid?

There are so many incredibly cute ways to ask your bridesmaids to be a part of your wedding celebration. I knew that I wanted to do something special to ask my sweet friends, but I didn't know what? I thought about these adorable cookies from Flour Pot, but with 10 bridesmaids I figured this might be a little out of my budget...

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and then I saw this adorable DIY project on Once Wed, but I figured it was a little too complex for my limited DIY skills!
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So, I ended up calling on my good friend Brooke to come to the rescue! I picked out some cream card stock and brown envelopes and had her print these bridesmaids cards, which I think turned out pretty fabulous if I do say so myself!
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I wrote a special note to each of my girls on the back with a gold pen letting them know just how much they each mean to me. I slipped the cards into a brown envelope and penned their address in gold. My plan is to use brown and gold as my colors for the wedding :)

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How did you ask your bridesmaids???

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Images via Flour Pot, Once Wed, and Blueprint Bliss Designs

Beignets vs. King Cake

Whenever I think of Mardi Gras, I always think of King Cake. BUT, it's pretty rare that I find a King Cake I actually like to eat, so today I'm asking the question, why not serve beignets at your Mardi Gras party this year instead?? Beignets are definitely a crowd pleaser and they will make your guests feel the flair of New Orleans!
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Ingredients
5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 packages active dry yeast
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
Vegetable oil for deep-fat frying
Powdered sugar

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Directions
1. In a large bowl, stir together 3 cups of the flour and the yeast. In a small saucepan, heat and stir evaporated milk, water, granulated sugar, shortening, and salt just until warm (120 degrees F to 130 degrees F) and the shortening is almost melted.
2. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture. Add the eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
3. Place the dough in a greased bowl; turn once to grease the surface. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 4 to 24 hours.
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Roll into an 18x12-inch rectangle; cut into thirty six 3x2-inch rectangles. Cover; let rest 20 minutes (dough will not double).
5. Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep saucepan to 375 degrees F. Fry a few dough rectangles at a time in deep hot oil about 1 minute or until beignets are golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a 300 degree F oven while cooking remaining beignets. Generously sift powdered sugar over beignets. Serve warm. Makes 4 dozen.

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Image and Recipe via Better Homes and Garden

Winter Olympics Love

I have to admit that my favorite part of the Winter Olympics is the pair figure skating...my fiance tells me I am a hopeless romantic...and of course I agree. I tuned in last night to watch the married couple from China, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, perform in their final Olympics...with the dream of winning gold. After the short program, they are in the lead....but only by .7 of a point. I'll be holding my breath to see if they clinch the gold!!

Image via USA Today

Chic Links

Well, you guessed it....these chic links are all about Valentine's Day! Hope you enjoy and have a fabulous Valentine's whether its with friends, family or your special someone :)
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I LOVE Camille's idea for a girly Valentine's Brunch!
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Who doesn't love sweets on Valentine's Day??
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How perfect is this latte for your loved on?!
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I'm always captivated by Kathryn's gorgeous inspiration boards like this one and this one!
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Loving this post on one of my favorite wedding blogs that is full of Valentine's inspiration!
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I really really like these pieces of art to hang on the wall.





Image via Flickr

Amora

My friend Ashley recently introduced me to the most adorable stationery line by Brittany Fuson... and I think I want to order every style she has in stock!! Her lines include holiday, bridal, maternity, and just plain sassy chic-ness! And, if you can't find the exact image you are looking for, Brittany will create a custom design to fit your own unique style. I thought I would post one of her Valentine's designs, Amora, since I've been on a Valentine's kick this week. How fun would it be to turn this stationery into an invitation for an "all girls" Valentine's party??

Image via Brittany Fuson

Cupid

In keeping with Valentine's Day, I thought I would post a few photos from an amazing Valentine's "love shoot" styled and photographed by Simply Bloom that was featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs...Green Wedding Shoes!
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The lighting in this shoot is absolutely breathtaking! And what I love most, is that Simply Bloom is based right here in Alabama!!

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Photos via Simply Bloom

Goody Bag

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I have been so busy with work and wedding planning that Valentine's Day has been an after thought! As I have gotten older, I haven't been that big on celebrating Valentine's Day, but when I was little I loved it! I was just catching up on some of my blog reading and came across this adorable little goodie bag from Linda and Harriett. How perfect for wrapping up some delicious treats for your loved ones! Of course my brain is in wedding planning mode and this struck me as a cute favor bag too...
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Whew!

Some of you loyal readers may have noticed that I have been absent from blogging over the past few days. On Friday I planned a dinner for over 720 people, raising over $100,000 and WHEW, I am tired!! But tonight is a BIG night for pro-football and my fiance and I have decided to have a few people over to celebrate. I will of course be rooting for the Saints (I grew up about two hours from New Orleans), and well I just happen to like the Fleur de Lis a lot...ha!

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If you are looking for an appetizer to take to a party tonight, I highly recommend this dip recipe I got from my good friend Ashley.
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Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
2-3 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
2 - 8 ounce cream cheese
1 cup Ranch dressing
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cups Hot Wing Sauce
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Cook and chop chicken. (I like to cook the chicken with tops of celery, onion. chicken bouillon cube, salk and pepper. Use skin on, bone in chicken breasts) Put all in crock pot, cover, cook on high for about an hour. Serve with frito scoops and Clean, peeled celery sticks.

Doesn't this sound perfect for a football party??
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Image via isportsweb

Kids Invited?

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Are kids invited to your next party? Instead of working your menu around kid friendly food, just make a snack bag for the kids! I love this idea...and I have a feeling the kids would too...

Image via Ritzy Bee

Antique Inspiration

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I know I have been talking a lot about weddings since I've been engaged, but I don't think I've mentioned the inspiration for my wedding this fall?? My parents love to collect antiques, so naturally I'm drawn to weddings that use antiques to display flowers or food or like the photo above, escort cards. When I told my Dad the idea of incorporating some of his and my mom's antique pieces he got very excited, and also motivated to do some more antiquing! So, this weekend he purchased a ladder like the one pictured above. Instead of using the ladder to display escort cards(us southerners don't do sit down dinners for receptions), I've thought it would be fun to display vintage pictures from both my and my finace's grandparents and parents weddings. If you have any great ideas for antiques, let me know!!

Image via Salt Harbor Designs