Mason Jar Heaven

Who says you can't make a table look AMAZING without flowers!??! I LOVE this fabulous arrangement of varying sizes of mason jars down the center aisle of the table. The candlelight glow is simply gorgeous...and there isn't even a flower in sight. This is the perfect way to make a dramatic statement on your table. With my obsession over mason jars and candles, this table has my heart skipping a beat!

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I'm officially on a new mission to start collecting more mason jars!!!

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Get in the holiday spirit...

I don't know about you, but I am so ready for a long holiday weekend!! This past Saturday, I planned a seated dinner for 500 people and I am completely wiped out. Luckily I am taking off work on Thursday for a nice long relaxing weekend. When I think about the Fourth of July, a barbeque immediately comes to my mind. I envision hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sandwiches, potato salad, corn...and red velvet cupcakes! You know how much I love cupcakes, I will fit them in to just about any party. But, I have to say, red velvet would be perfect for a patriotic holiday...and a little flag on top is icing on the cake!

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What will you be cooking this Fourth of July??

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Image via Martha Stewart

Wish List

A friend introduced me to the online shop Emersonmade and I immediately fell in LOVE with their adorable clutches!

Not only do they make fabulous clutches they also make flower sashes...pins...and necklaces...

Images via Emersonmade

Package....

A package arrived for me last week and if you are anything like me, you get super giddy to see a package on your front steps. Especially one that is not something you ordered online, but a surprise! My sweet friend Kate sent me a Lands' End Canvas Tote (which I desperately needed) complete with my NEW monogram. I LOVE it!! Its the perfect bag for weekend trips...I can't wait to use it all summer on my travels. Inside the bag there are extra pockets and a hook...not sure what that is for, but I'm sure it will come in handy...

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Thanks Kate for being such a sweet friend!! I look forward to seeing you soon with my new tote in hand :)

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P.S. To order yourself a tote...go here!

Mmm Margaritas...

I know you've heard me talk about this before, but I love it when there is a signature drink at a party! With summer being SO HOT, a frozen margarita is a great option to keep your guests cool and add a little "umph" to your typical bar. I'm also really digging the drink stirrer/straw in this image. Looks like that could be a fun and easy DIY project!

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Now all we need is a taco bar and you would have yourself a nice little fiesta!

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Image via Style Me Pretty

Rustic Love

I would LOVE to be dining here this weekend. I mean how fabulous is that chandelier?? You know I am a sucker for anything with a rustic vibe! I love the balance between the masculine table cloth and the feminine flowers. This has me (a city girl) longing for some time in the country!

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Image via Snippet and Ink

Heat Wave...

It's June...but down here in the South it already feels like August. I have a feeling its going to be a really hot...long summer. So, if you are hosting any parties in the next couple of months you have got to keep your guests COOL! I'm sure your guests will be frequenting the bar to help stay cool, so why not add a little spice to your bar with this "cool" DIY project from Martha Stewart?

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Here are the directions for tackling this look for your bar:

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Place a full bottle into a fully opened cardboard half-gallon milk carton. Insert flowers or thinly sliced fruit (we've used nasturtiums, lemons, and limes) around the bottle, filling one third of the carton. Pour water into the container, just covering the fruit and flowers. Place the carton upright in the freezer. When the liquid is completely frozen, add another layer of fruit and very cold water, and freeze. Repeat, filling and freezing a third of the carton at a time, which prevents all the fruit and flowers from floating to the top until the water reaches the bottle's neck. Remove from the freezer when it's time to serve the vodka: Cut away the milk carton with a utility knife; wrap a dinner napkin around the bottle's base, and serve the vodka with slices of lemon zest tied in knots.

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Images via Martha Stewart

Not Your Typical Place Card

I always love finding unique ways to set a table and make it different than your typical luncheon or dinner party. When I was on Martha Stewart's web site I came across this stylish way to seat your guests...its definitely not your typical place card.

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And then I got to thinking about other ideas to make your table more personalized and I thought, wouldn't it be fun to have monogrammed place mats? With a glass plate on top of this mat allowing the monogram to show through, you add a fun punch of personalization to your table.

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Image via Martha Stewart and Paper Cottage

Catching Up

I haven't been blogging much lately, which I am sure you've noticed if you are a regular follower. Life has been pretty busy over the last couple of weeks. I've taken a trip home to plan more of the wedding --- flowers, tents, lighting = all the fun details! I've been out of town for business putting my photography skills to work. And, finally I've moved! I sold my first house, which has been bittersweet. I'm excited to begin the new chapter of my life, but its hard to let go of a house that holds so many fun memories. Of course, I had to take one last picture of my house before I drove away...

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Our Engagement Photos!

We got our engagement photos back from our photographer last week and I thought I'd share a few with you today. The shoot began downtown in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama and then we headed over the bay to take a few photos by the water. Unfortunately the rain started to come down halfway through the shoot, but surprisingly they made for some fun photos .... I saved my favorite for last :)

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Doug Anderson from Studio A Photography was easy to work with and I'm looking forward to seeing what great images he can capture at our wedding. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that since it rained on our engagement photos, it won't rain on our wedding day!

Images via Studio A Photography

Sonoma, Part 3

On our last day in Sonoma we spent the morning lounging around the pool, which was much needed after our late night dance party:) ...and then for the afternoon we walked to Landmark Winery. Not only were the grounds absolutely gorgeous, but the wine was good too! I highly recommend their Chardonnay :)

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Luckily my friend Prather knew the owners of the winery, and when they heard about our fun celebratory weekend, they graciously organized a private lunch for us in the most beautiful room...

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After lunch we toured the winery...tasted some wine...and sat on the lawn enjoying the beautiful weather.

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I don't think there are enough words in the dictionary to describe how perfect our trip was to California. I knew before I set foot on the plane to California that it was going to be a weekend to remember...and I was definitely not disappointed! I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends...who just happen to be the best trip planners in the world. AND on top of that, they are beautiful, smart, fun, hilarious, kind, generous...I could go on and on. So, to them I say THANK YOU for an unforgettable weekend that will forever be remembered as one of my favorite trips. All my friends have been sharing the same sentiments over email all week so I thought it might be fun to share a few quotes. Reading them makes me miss them even more than I already do...

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"You guys are my love and my heart. My oxygen during hard times and my laughter during good times. Forever and always."

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"As I was driving and listening to the brides' cd, memories of the weekend were consuming my thoughts, and suddenly I realized I was laughing aloud as tears welled up in my eyes. I love you guys so incredibly much and am incredibly grateful for your friendships."

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"This trip will seriously go down in the books as one of my fave moments with y'all and will forever make me bubble over with joy, laughter and love when I remember it."

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"Anyone else just summarizing the trip to other people as "The best weekend of their lives"? Did that just happen, y'all? It kinda felt like a dream, an awesome, wine soaked dream. I love you all so much and am going to have the best time remembering this trip that I got to go on with all my favorite people!!!"

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"We are mighty lucky girls to have friends like we do…I think my stomach is soar from giggling! See you soon and thanks again for a perfect weekend!"

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"HOME IS WHENEVER I'M WITH YOU!!!!!!"

Sonoma, Part 2

Our second day in Sonoma=wine, champagne, wine and more wine!! We went to four different wineries - Shug, Gloria Ferrar, Ravenswood, and Imagery, which was the perfect amount. Any more wine tastings that day would have been a little much! My two favorites were Gloria Ferrar (amazing Champagne or sparkling wine as they call it) and Imagery(the most delicious reds I have ever tasted).

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After a full day of wine, we headed back to the house to relax around the pool and the Brides were then given a sweet shower where we were made to wear hot pink boas....which I actually thought was kind of fun :)

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Finally the evening was topped off with a fabulous meal cooked by our private chef Chad. We started off with grilled artichokes, then had pan seared scallops with succotash, followed by salmon, leg of lamb and grilled asparagus and finally blackberry cobbler and ice cream for dessert. It was all so YUM!

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And, of course the night had to end with a killer "Dance Party" in the den...
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Still more to come tomorrow....

San Francisco and Sonoma, Part 1

I've been busting at the seams with excitement to share with you the details from the most fabulous trip I just took with my best friends from college! Two of my best friends are also getting married this year so we decided to have a triple bachelorette party in Sonoma, California and it couldn't have been a more perfect weekend...

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We flew in to San Francisco and the first full day in town, we hopped on a cable car...

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And rented bikes to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge (the view was absolutely amazing and the weather could not have been more beautiful!)...

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And then, we got in a couple of cars and drove to the most gorgeous wine country (this photo was taken going 50 miles an hour in a car, hence the blurred effect)...

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And our trip took us to here...the most fabulous house in Sonoma...

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But, that wasn't all for the day. We headed into downtown Sonoma for dinner at The Girl and The Fig and it was absolutely delicious. My favorite part of my meal...definitely the Lavender Mojito.

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P.S. Check back tomorrow for more from Sonoma!