{Invitations} {B}aby {B}oy {B}unting

I recently made invitations, favor tags and bunting for a baby boy shower. I just love how this set turned out -- the colors are soft and pretty {light blue & celery green}. I adore soft, sweet colors for babies -- there is plenty of time for bold color choices as they get older, but the soft, sweet pastel colors suit the pureness and innocence that only a baby possesses so perfectly.


I am addicted to look of bunting, but mostly I love it as a cake topper, so I attempted to make my first bunting topper. Let me tell you -- not an easy feat, but I think it's going to look adorable on the cake!

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I'll be posting some pics and details from the Mother's Day brunch I hosted sometime this week, but here's a quick teaser until I can get the entire post together. Can you guess what these are? Let's just say it was a very "tasty" way to start our brunch ;-}

**I had a MOST FABULOUS weekend. It was NON-STOP from the moment I got home from work on Friday until the moment I finally was able to unwind on Sunday night, but all worth it. From a night out with my cousins and a little dinner date with my hubby, to another Gourment Night with good friends, to a Mother's Day to go down in the books...well...I didn't want it to end. I am one LUCKY girl! And I am also soooo looking forward to much more low-key weekend next week ;-}

**Hoping your weekend was just as wonderful and that all you hard-working & selfless mommies had a great day with your loved ones!

{Inspiration} Kitchen Workstations

I've got kitchens on my mind as my husband is prepping to begin our new floor next weekend. Once the floor is done, I'd LOVE to move right into the workstation area {major convincing still needs to take place here}. Here's my inspiration:


Practical message center/desk combo...


Loving the unexpected yet pretty pop of color here...


Admiring the traditional look of this painted workstation...the solid color used on this piece ties into the remaining cabinets and gives a streamlined look to the entire space {notice the collection of bell jars on the top, left shelf -- so sweet}.


So cute...


Contemporary Mod look with the granite, stainless steel, and sleek cabinetry...


Great use of space here...tiny yet beautiful!


Love this simple "Cooks Nook" with a twist of vintage...

All images via Better Homes & Gardens

**TTTTGGGGIIIIIFFFF!
**Happy Mother's Day!!

{Invitations} Jake's Communion

Last August I created an invitation and some coordinating pieces for my son's baby dedication. A few months ago, one of my teacher girlfriends asked me if I would be willing to use the same designs to create her son's first holy communion invitations. I was excited to take on the task! Her colors were navy and white and everything was printed on a white shimmery cardstock.

This simple and classic set features a scalloped design with a cross in the center, soft, rounded edges, and an elegant font. Included in the set are invitations, wrap labels, thank you cards, centerpiece sticks, food tents, and a cake topper. These would be perfect for a christening, baptism, dedication, communion, etc.

The entire collection is pictured below ::



**I have been updating my blog just a tad -- nothing major. You may or may not have noticed the "tabs" underneath my blog header. Over the course of the next few weeks, I'll be updating those and adding content under each. Check back to see what's in store!

{Random} Loving...

{Image via In His Grace Photography}
1. This picture {THOSE flowers against THAT dress!}!
2. The warm and beautiful day we had here in NJ yesterday
3. Park trips, walks & talks with my sis and our babies {and our where-in-the-world-would-we-be-without-her mother}
4. That this week is halfway over
5. That summer is just around the corner, which means an 11 week break from work, lazy, summer days spent with my boyfriend at the pool, the shore, the park, etc, and a fun family vaca as the finale
6. That my baby boy is feeling better after an icky cold
7. That my husband is the most patient man alive {especially with me...and especially yesterday ;-}
8. That even though I struggle with making Him my number one priority, God still loves me {and forgives me}.

I could go on and on, but I've been putting a limit on how much time I spend creating my posts...AND...time is up. Peace!

{Gifts} Idea{less}

Most of us want for nothing these days. This "presents" a bit of a predicament when trying to buy presents. I'm in desperate need of some new ideas because as of late, I'm fresh out.

I just put together this little gift for my girlfriend Nicole {her bday was last Friday -- I'm a little late -- ooops}. I bought a little giftbag from Target that can be reused as a lunch tote or something like that. Then I filled it with things she loves -- some crossword puzzle books, a new summer read that I've heard rave reviews about -- The Help, a giftcard to Dunkin' Donuts and lastly, I made her a bookmark for her new read. I've been boycotting cards for a while now because they are so expensive and usually go straight in the trashcan, so a simple handmade one it was. I punched a hole in it and attached it to the bag with some ribbon.

So...I've got a slew of gifts to buy this week for upcoming events. Did I forget to mention my budget is $20-25 per gift? Help!!! If I had endless funds then I could have all kinds of fun buying cute things;-}

{Sneak Peek} Mother's Day

Mother's Day is quickly approaching, and I spent some time this weekend trying to get organized and prepare a little. Next weekend is jam-packed with all kinds of fun stuff, so I figured I better get moving ASAP!

I'm trying to keep things simple by adding pretty, thoughtful touches without going over-the-top. Here's a little peek of one of the details. STAY TUNED -- FULL POST WITH ALL THE DETAILS NEXT WEEK!

**Home today with my little guy who's not feeling so hot. Praying for a speedy recovery -- these little colds throw EVERYTHING off! His poor, little nose :-{{{
**I haven't seen my sis since February. Now she's home -- for 3 weeks -- Thank God. Oh, how I've missed her {and her fam}!
**Here's hoping you and yours had a WONDERFUL weekend!

{Invitations} Subway Art Inspired Grad Invites

Grad student NO MORE! I recently completed all the classes necessary to obtain my master's degree, which has been a goal of mine for a very long time. IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE DONE!

My graduation is in a few weeks and after the ceremony, my parents, in-laws, hubby, son & I are heading out for a little celebration. My husband made reservations at the Iron Hill Brewery, so I created a little invitation with the details for our families.

I really like subway art and have been wanting to try a subway art inspired invite for a while -- this was the perfect opportunity.


I'm also thinking about making Bakerella's famous candy cup graduation caps as little favors for our families. Aren't they sweet?!

**I'm SUPER excited to be graduating...BUT...I do still have a few more classes to take that are required by the state in which I reside if I'd like to get a job one day. UGHH!!!! I'll just have to plug away slowly at those even though the thought of writing one more paper is nauseating ;-}
**I'm currently working on a cute baby shower invitation with some additional coordinating pieces. It's turning out adorable -- will be posting SOON!
**Did you see HER this morning? PRINCESS KATE?! OMG -- STUNNING! LOVED her dress -- so classic, formal, and fitting for a princess. AND...did you see her sister's dress -- MY FAV! Those girls are beauties! It was definitely tough to leave for work this morning as I really just wanted sit in front of that tv all morning and watch this historic event unfold.
**TGIF! ENJOY!

{Recipes} Pineapple Casserole

Great little side dish for you! This is another signature recipe a la my girlfriend Patty {actually her wonderful cook for a mother deserves the credit here ;-} Thank you, Mrs. Q!


I made this for Easter dinner at my mom's house, and then again the very next night for our dinner at home! I love this casserole paired with pork sandwiches -- so yummy!

Ingredients:
~ 1 cup sugar
~ 1/2 cup butter {1 stick}, softened
~ 4 eggs
~ 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
~ 5 slices cinnamon raisin bread, cubed

Directions:
~ Cream the sugar and butter
~ Beat in one egg at a time
~ Add pineapple and then fold in cubed bread
~ Spread in a greased casserole dish
~ Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
~ ENJOY!

**You can add in a little sprinkle of cinnamon & some extra raisins if desired.
**I doubled this recipe to fill a 9x13 sized casserole dish.
**It almost could pass for a dessert it's so TASTY!

{Inspiration} Vegas GLAM

Here's the stunning Vegas wedding I've spoken of for the last few weeks. A little background information for you :: the bride and groom married very young and the bride's mother planned the entire wedding from start to finish. It was a lovely wedding, but not really their "own." So, once the bride became a hip wedding photographer {aka Kristin Spencer Photography -- HUGE fan over here -- amazing work!}, she and her husband decided to say their vows again -- this time Vegas Style. They planned a glamorous wedding at the Bellagio to coincide with their 5th anniversary. So fun! Check out some of the FAB details below...


Can we just stop for a moment please and feast our eyes on those SHOES! I picture Carrie Bradshaw here -- "Hello Lova!" Christian Louboutin -- need I say more?

And the table setting -- I've died and gone to heaven. The colors, the rectangular tablescape, the LAMPS {loving that}, the lush flowers, the buttons {yes, I said buttons. Can you see them? Better shot below}. TO-DIE-FOR!

And how about that antique convertible cady?! Bet that made for a great photo opt driving down The Strip!


Fun glasses! And again, those shoes! Check out her hubby's shoes too!


Can you imagine this scene as the backdrop for your wedding? Me neither. So amazing!


I love the "V" that the lacey straps of her dress make. Not to mention the birdcage she's wearing!


I think I'd like to hop in on this party scene -- I wouldn't mind rockin' a pair of those shades. And enjoying a glass of wine while dancing under a starry lit sky on a veranda overlooking the finest sites that Vegas has to offer. Ahhhh....


Details -- aren't these out-of-town bags {suitcases} adorable?


And I love the vintage rings she gave as favors -- so fitting!

**Hope you enjoyed!

**Did I mention that I have especially been enthrawed with this wedding b/c if I can bare to leave my baby boy for a few days, I may meet my husband in Vegas for a little mini getaway this fall? He'll be there already for a big sales meeting. Hmmmmm...decisions. The thought of leaving my little man is a lot overwhelming at this point. TBD...

{Crafting} Easter Crafts & Sweets

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday! Isn't it sooo nice to spend time with family? My mom hosted Easter at her home this year, so I made some simple Easter treats to bring for dinner/dessert. She always has hard boiled eggs on display, so I told her I would take care of that this year. I was all set to dye my eggs and try the wax decorating; however, I decided to go a more simple route.


All I did was cut little strips of fabric that I had leftover from one of Dean's homemade month onesies and tied it around some of the eggs. I left some of them plain because I loved the way the plain white eggs looked against the bright green grass.


I LOVE the look of carrots for Easter {think Peter Cottontail ;-}, so I made a few of my own to stick in with the eggs. So simple -- it literally took me less than 10 minutes to make all three of them! Here's what I did:
1. Cut a small rectangle of fabric {I wasn't very technical here and have no idea of the exact dimensions -- this was a QUICK project!}
2. Roll to form a little cone
3. Glue the last little bit of fabric to keep the cone together
4. Fill the inside with green Easter grass {allow some to stick out the top}
5. Done!


These would be really cute as part of an Easter table centerpiece or dessert buffet.


Then I made these quick, simple and festive nests with eggs. Again, a cute addition to an Easter/spring dessert table.


I used thin pretzel sticks, which I broke up a little. Then I added them to melted chocolate {I like using chocolate almond bark and chocolate chips}. When I scooped the chocolate/pretzel mixture onto wax paper, I just made sure to create circular looking nests with hollowed out middles. Once dry, I added candy coated chocolate speckled eggs to the center. Simple! Can you tell I'm all about simple...but cute. Cute is a must ;-}

**My mom is an awesome cook, and we had a delicious Easter dinner....Mmmmm. I made a pineapple bread casserole to compliment the ham she made -- I used my friend's family recipe. If she gives me permission, I will share it because it's my very FAVORITE! And extremely quick and easy to make. I love it so much that I actually made another small one to pair with our pork paninis last night!

**Back to work -- HOME STRETCH!

{Invitations} Mother's Day

I am in the process of planning a Mother's Day Brunch for my mom and MIL. The invites have been delivered to the guests of honor, and I finally had the chance to sit down and sketch out my ideas for the brunch. The sketch looks cute -- let's hope the "real thing" turns out the same!


I created 4x9 invites with a simple yellow stripe, pale pink ticking and added the verbage in dark pink. Then I cut a big, dark pink flower with a pale pink center from textured scrapbook paper and used thick double sided tape to give it a "raised" look.


I'm keeping it simple and springy by using pinks and yellows.

Oh -- I almost forgot -- where did the inspiration for this invite and colors come from?


It came from these fondant flower toppers I ordered from Two Sugar Babies. Stay tuned to see how I incorporate them into my dessert spread!

**I'm officially on Spring Break this afternoon at 2:40pm until Tuesday morning when I head back to work -- 5 whole days -- WOOOHOOO! This girl NEEDS some R&R in her life and is taking FULL ADVANTAGE of this time off. Have a wonderful Easter with your loved ones! See you on Tuesday!

{Random} SPRING!

This might sound crazy to some, but I honestly don't mind rain showers in the spring because it makes the grass looks amazingly green and the gives the flowers a nice drink, so that they look beautiful and vibrant when they bloom.

Last fall, my hubby planted all kinds of bulbs in our flower beds in the front and side of our home. I LOVE how I am greeted by these cheery colors everytime I walk out my front door. Lots of red and yellow tulips and...


...even a combo of the two...


And then there's our daffodils....they remind me of the sun, which immediately puts a smile on my face :-]


I decided I needed to "springify" my front porch too, so I added some brightly colored striped pillows for the spring and summer.

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Speaking of spring, my boys and I took a mini-trip to Baltimore this past weekend and boy did I need it. Thankfully we were able to push our trip back one day since it rained cats & dogs on Saturday {and most likely we'd have been stuck inside our hotel room}. I've been feeling especially crabby lately and needed a refresher, a chance to not think about anything except my family, and just ENJOY myself. And that is just what I did :-]


My family taking in a beautiful spring afternoon in the Inner Harbor. Can you see the ship in the background? It's called the U.S.S Constellation.

Rewind almost four years...


...my hubby and I had just gotten engaged on that ship -- I think we were both still in shock in this picture!


Still reminiscing...we also took a stroll around the Power Plant and stopped by Howl at the Moon to snap a quick photo of the writing on the door since the restaurant was closed.


May 2007 -- Bo and I celebrated at Howl at the Moon the night we got engaged. We look so....young. And tan. And thin. And well rested. GEEZ -- what a difference a few years {and a baby!} makes!

All in all, it was a GREAT weekend. And I'm feeling ready to tackle the next two days at work with a positive attitude and then relax and enjoy spring break and Easter. Here's to a short week!

{LOVE} A Walk Down Memory Lane...

Picture it :: April 2008. St. Michael's, Maryland. A quaint, charming town on the water. A rainy, spring afternoon. A girl. A boy. A soon-to-be wedding. A photographer. Anticipation. Excitement. Nervousness. LOVE.


We didn't have the greatest weather for our engagement pics, but you know what? I LOVED that it was rainy. I loved that I was able to use my umbrella as a prop. It was different, and I love different. {I DIDN'T love that my curly hair started to do what curly hair does best when it rains. Frizzzzzz!}


We started off at a little cafe called Characters.


Then we strolled around the town with our photographer, Laura of In His Grace Photography.


We did all sorts of fun things like feeding the ducks...


And sticking our faces through holes with funny pictures on the other side...


And being daring and leaping over water...


And taking a little break to hold hands as we strolled along...


And climbing on dangerous things like cranes to get some cool shots...


And playing silly games just to steal a kiss from the other...


And fighting such a strong wind that it blew my umbrella inside out...


And peeking in store windows with all kinds of beautiful treasures inside...


And being goofy in front of a very inappropriately placed sign...{so NOT cool ;-}


And holding on tight huddled under our umbrella back where we started, dreaming of our big day and the life we would soon share together forever and ever and ever...

**I was going to do a post on an outrageously beautiful Vegas Glam wedding today but I ditched it to take you on a walk down memory lane with me...
**I CHERISH these memories and hold them very close...
**Heading to our favorite city with our favorite boy this weekend to do a little more reminiscing...
**Details and pics next week {taking Monday off from EVERYTHING, including blogging, so I'll see you Tuesday ;-}
**TGIF!!