{Weddings} Cape Cod Wedding

I'll tell you what....I love a classy wedding. I mean, a really classy wedding where the venue takes your breath away and the details have been so meticulously put together that you just can't help but appreciate everything about it. I went to one last weekend in Cape Cod. Let me just give you a taste....


How gorgeous is the cake? They had me right at the monogram :) {which was also used on the save-the-dates, invitation, program, menu, etc.}


Stephen & Ron's first dance was pretty cool...I can't remember the exact song they danced to but it wasn't your typical slow song and it was definitely choreographed. And let me just say, these two can dance!


The weather in Cape Cod on the day of the wedding was a little overcast, but the setting for this event was so breathtaking that it didn't matter one bit. I was standing up at the reception site looking down on the ceremony location. The water was a backdrop. It was spectacular.


I love me a good tablescape. It's those little details that really get me and are what I look forward to most when I go to a wedding or party. I really love how S & R used a combo of square and round tables in their floor plan. The square tables flanked the perimeter of the dance floor and the rounds were everywhere else. Check out the centerpieces too. They used a low square centerpiece with moss and some florals and the entire structure was surrounded by candles. The suble light from the candles along with the fabulous uplighting throughout the room created this glowy feel all night. L.O.V.E!


The Powell's from NJ. We had a great time! Totally worth the 6 plus hour drive each way to be there for Stephen and Ron!

{Gifts} What to Buy for a HS Graduate?

My cousin Leslie graduated from high school the other night and my entire family is attending her graduation party tonight. I've been out of high school for 15 years now, and haven't been to a graduation party in ages. What do you buy these kids these days? Money is probably the best gift, but it's always fun to get a few presents, too. My sister and I went in together (her gifts are not added yet in this pic) to put together a fun basket filled with all sorts of "collegey" goodies since Leslie will be going to Towson this fall.

Included in the basket:

~ fabric covered basket/bin {for books, magazines, whatever}
~ lamp {for college desk}
~ corkboards {to hang pics of all types of "to-be-had" fun college times}
~ pencil/pen/highlighter/marker/etc holder for desk
~ photo album
~ notecards {for handwritten notes back home to MOM & DAD to tell them how much they are missed}
~ lotions and loofah {a girl's gotta smell good}
~ candle
~ make-up bag/pencil case
~ Starbucks giftcard {for coffee when she pulls those all-nighters :)}

{LOVE} 06.22.08 XOXOX

Happy 2nd Anniversary to my wonderful husband, Bo. I love being your wife, Babe! Here's to many more anniversaries together!

COMING SOON!
~ Stephen & Ron's Cape Cod Wedding - WOW!
~ All of Becky's Sprinkle Details - I can't wait to share!
~ Dean's Dedication Invites - turning out really cute!
~ Our storage lockers - in progress SOON!

{Crafting} My Baby is 4 Months Old!

My sweet boy is 4 months old today. It also happens to be his mommy and daddy's second wedding anniversay too. Soooo....I used remnants from my wedding to make Dean's onesie this month. I had a little extra ribbon I used to adorn the baskets I created for the restrooms and our ceremony programs, so I cut, arranged, and hot glue-gunned it on the onesie! Simple! I also used some of the extra paper from our invitations/programs to back the 4 month sign.


Love this baby!


Had to give a little shout out for our anniversary too!

{Flowers} Easy and Cute ~ Wildflower Garden!

When we moved into our home last spring, there was a large area out back against our fence that we weren't sure what to do with. I love flowers of all sorts, but they are definitely maintenance with the daily watering and pruning they require. So we decided to try a wildflower garden in the empty spot and fell in love with it. So much so that we did it again this spring. This time we added a little fence to keep them from spilling out onto our sidewalk and also to keep Ginger from trampling all over them!


Wildflowers are so easy to care for...basically all I do is water them here and there and that's it! I made tons of pretty bouquets last summer because there were so many of them, and they make a huge statement! Once they really start growing, you can see them from the road in front of my house. The sunflowers haven't bloomed just yet, but once they do, they hang over the fence and look so adorable.


If you're looking for an easy, affordable, low maintenance, and unique way to incorporate flowers somewhere in your yard, try this. We used two packets of mix and, as you can see, it produces plenty of flowers!

{Cards} Wedding Gift

I'm headed to a wedding in Cape Cod this weekend for my husband's cousin, Stephen, who is marrying his partner, Ron. Five couples went in on a really cool gift for Stephen and Ron, which includes lunch and a ferry ride for two to Nantucket, where the couple will stay at a beautiful spa and be able to use all of their ammenities. My mother-in-law asked me to create a card, so I "tried" to create a little poem explaining the gift.


All of the giftcards were different sizes, so I also had to make a huge envelope so that everything would fit.


Lastly, I wrapped the envelope with ribbon {their wedding colors are in the neutral family} to resemble a gift. Hope they like it!

{Purchases} Got my....COUTORE!

Ahhhh....isn't it gorge?!?! I LOVE it! I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a coutore of my own and I finally found it tonight. I just happened to jump on Shey B's website before bed and I spotted it. How sassy are the feathers....with polkadots!?! Love the raspberry and grey colors too :)

We decided on a camera too....the Canon Rebel it is. We just happened to hit a sale this week at Best Buy, which is always nice when you're making a big purchase.

***I'm also happy to report that after a rough couple of nights, my son is finally sleeping soundly in his crib!!! Hallelujah! He has been a stubborn little bugger with the transition, and I'm sure there will be more bumps in the road but honestly, I'm thrilled that he's been asleep {by himself} in his nursery for the last three hours...is he going to give me another three?

{Calendars} Another Year....

The calendars are 5x7 and look adorable on a little stand on your desk. I also hang a set on my kitchen corkboard.

I went with bold, bright colors this time around and included a block for notes.

{Weddings} I Have a Thing for Green Apples

I didn't have a theme at my wedding, but green apples definitely made an appearance during the day more than once. My bridesmaids dresses were chocolate brown with a light limey green sash, and I took this accent color and ran with it. That's where the idea of incorporating green apples came from....


Doesn't this look yummy? It was the green apple sorbet {intermezzo} served at our wedding. Our venue, Cescaphe Ballroom, was willing to make almost any kind of intermezzo our hearts desired. They were so great to work with....they even made us pats of butter in the shape of apples...haha.


We also had a martini menu featuring some different martini recipes. One was our signature cocktail, which we had made into a recipe card and that served as our wedding favor to our guests. Our signature cocktail was a Bubbly "Apple"tini (had a touch of champagne and was granished with a rock candy swizzle stick).


Lastly, we used green apples in our centerpieces. Lime slices would have been really fun too! At the time, it was a trendy, new concept to use fruit or another fun food {limes, lemons, grapes, coffee beans, etc} in your centerpiece. I loved them!

{All pictures courtesy of In His Grace Photography}
{All custom signs, favor cards, programs, invitations, etc designed by Abbey Press}
{Flowers created by Alicia of Il Fiore Blanca}

{Weddings} Guestbook Platter

{Picture taken by In His Grace Photography}
{Custom signs made by Abbey of Abbey Press - www.abbeypressonline.com}

June is the most popular month for weddings, so I'll be making some wedding-related posts this month. I was a June bride and absolutely loved planning my summer wedding. I've been reminiscing about it a lot lately and I was thinking in particular about my guestbook today. You see, it sits in my dining room and every so often, I glance at it to read the personal messages our guests wrote to us on that day. My husband and I decided to have our guests sign a big platter instead of a traditional guestbook. It was one of my favorite things at our wedding....

What unique and creative things did you do at your wedding?

{Office/Craft Room Storage} Old Glass Hutch Top

I never thought I'd hear myself say this...BUT...I've run out of storage cubbies in my craft table already. My papers and envelopes and fabrics and threads and buttons and all of my other crafts have filled those cubbies to the brim. So...still on the hunt for storage, I had an idea for my craft area...


I want to refinish an old glass hutch top (just the top), mount it on the wall, and fill it like crazy with "crafty stuff". My husband has already shot down my idea, but I haven't given up hope just yet. You see, his mom has an old glass hutch top in her garage right now that my FIL is dying to get out of there. They need a taker. Right over here!!! Me Me!!! If he's still resistant, I might just have to suggest a smaller glass hutch option...similar to one that would go in a powder room instead of a dining room???


Most of my furniture is black, and that's always an option, but I'm really loving the look of one piece of furniture in a room that is painted a color. I'm thinking maybe a pretty light turquoisy blue color. Or maybe a light pink color. My to-do list keeps getting longer and longer :)

I will post pics when it's finished (that is if I can convince Bo to hang it for me :)

{Cooking} Awesome App!

Bo and I hosted a little dinner party for his new boss and some of his new co-workers this evening. It was casual....steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, asparagus, and salad. I also made a great little appetizer for our guests to munch on before dinner with a glass of wine. My friend Alyssa gave me this recipe, and I make it all the time!


Basil Crisps (not their official name, but my name for them)

Ingredients:
~ baguette
~ EVOO
~ spreadable gorgonzola cheese
~ fresh basil
~ honey

Directions:
Slice baguette and place on baking sheet. Drizzle with EVOO and bake on 350 degrees for approximately 5-10 minutes (or until golden brown). Let baguette cool for a few minutes and then spread each slice with the gorgonzola cheese. Top each with a basil leaf. Lastly, arrange on a plate and drizzle each crisp with honey.

Everyone always raves about these, and they are incredibly easy to make; however, I recommend serving them warm. If they sit for too long, the baguette will get hard and cold. BUT, the combo of the honey with the gorgonzola and the basil....YUMMMM....it's such a refreshing appetizer (and not too heavy either). Try it at your next dinner party and ENJOY!

{Small Touches} Dish Soap

I had another great find at Target today (my mom helped me with this one as it was her idea). I've been looking for a cute soap dispenser for the dish soap in my kitchen. I think those bottles are such an eye sore....actually, maybe it's just the bright orange soap inside of them that kinda bugs me.

In the bathroom section of Target, they have really cute glass soap dispensers in a lot of different colors. I didn't want or need it for my bathroom, but it was just what I was looking for for my kitchen! They are so cute and can add such a great splash of color.

{Home Improvements} Storage Lockers are Underway!

The storage locker plans are underway - WOOHOO! I'm beyond excited because now I'll have a little extra "attractive" storage in my home (and I won't have to see my husband's jacket and work bag in my dining room anymore).

Carl of Minimi Builders (he is very meticulous and does excellent work - he installed all of our new windows last spring and did a fantastic job) stopped over yesterday to look at our space and draw up some plans.

I'm hoping that my lockers will be a combination of these first two pictures. I like different things about each. I'd love to take the lockers to the ceiling and have some pretty molding (like the picture above). I also love the wanes cotting that is on the back of the lockers. However, I like the underneath area of the lockers below. I plan on using the underneath space for baskets that will hold shoes. I also like the bench better in the second set of lockers...it's a little more spacious looking. Hopefully, Carl will be able to take what I like about each and create a custom look for us.

I LOVE the lockers below; however, I just don't have the space for these. Maybe in another life (or home). I really love how seat cushions were added to this space. I'm hoping to do that to my new space as well. I might just have to get really crafty and make my own! We'll see....

{Photography} New Camera?

How gorgeous is this camera strap slipcover?
It's called "The Coutore". Oh, but isn't it?!
The rosettes...the beautiful colors...the fabric...
I want one.
Like yesterday.
One problem.
I don't have a fancy camera.
But, wait!


My little fit-in-your-purse size Kodak camera has been acting up lately. My husband (and myself) have been getting annoyed with it because it has erased some of the pictures we have taken of our son. When something bothers my husband, he does something about it. Thank goodness. So, this past weekend at the shore, Bo suggested that we buy a good camera as an anniversary (2 years on June 22nd) gift to each other. Ummmm....okay!!!! Not sure which one we'll get, but I'm excited!

I might get my "Coutore" afterall. *Shey*[B] (http://sheyb.bigcartel.com/product/the-coutore) is the brilliant mind behind these "designer" camera straps. They are one-of-a-kind and she only makes one every once in a while. Once it's posted, it's first come first serve. No custom orders. No two alike. Yikes! I'm looking for one with dark pink rosettes....once I see it, it's mine!

{Weddings} What to Wear

Ahhhh...I just love weddings. Especially summer weddings. There's something about the beautiful, bright, pops of color that a summer wedding brings that just makes me swoon. I have two weddings this summer that I'm currently trying to find dresses for. JCrew is usually my favorite place to shop for pretty dresses...

I bought this tangerine strapless number on the sale section of their website last month. I'm planning on wearing it to the Cape Cod wedding I'm attending in a few weeks. I love the fun, summery color of this dress (plus I already have heels, jewelry, and a cute bag to coordinate at home!).

BUT...I'm really looking for something with rosettes. Where can I find one??? Any leads would be greatly appreciated! I do; however, love the periwinkle color of these two JCrew dresses, and I may end up buying one of them for my August wedding if I can't find what I'm really looking for....