I’m so excited to see the urban elopement I styled earlier this summer featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs today! The post is really lovely – I’d love it if you showed EAD some love. Thanks, ladies! Y’all made my day.
Category Archives: great finds
What I Wore: Blue and Yellow
Pants: Level 99, similar; Top: Anthropologie; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Leather Bracelets: Leather store in Wisconsin; Gold Bracelet: Anthropologie; Earrings: Goldie O (website coming soon!); Lipstick: NYX in Shocking Pink
You know those mornings where you stare into your closet, your hair still swept up into a towel and soaking wet, for days? Okay, maybe not days, but long enough that you’re forced to skip that much needed cup of coffee? Well, I’ve had too many of those days lately, and it’s not for lack of clothes. So I thought I might try some outfit posts to catalog what combinations work and what I haven’t tried yet. I like to force myself out of my comfort zone every once in a while, so hopefully this will help with that too.
ps – Have you tried NYX matte lipsticks? They are my new favorite. They go on smooth, last all day, and come in some great colors. And they’re only $6!
All photo cred goes to my lovely and talented sister, Audrey. Thanks, lovey.
Featured on Grey Likes!
Today I’m crazy excited to share that our elopement shoot is featured on Grey Likes! From conceptualization to creating, this urban elopement story was something I loved styling. The vendors we got to work with were some of the best. Please check them out and give them some love!
DIY’s I’m Dying to Try
I love a good DIY project or two (which is why I write the DIY for this lovely mag). These four projects are on my to-try list. The above honeycomb shelves are awesome. Love the shape, love the stained wood. Problem is they require many sharp tools… This one might be a joint project for me and Michael (M, if you’re reading, don’t say no just yet!).
I’m digging how this chandelier softens a space, and I think it could be just the thing to cure our sunroom’s serious lack of pretty lighting.
I think I’ve blogged about this tray before (perhaps elsewhere?) and I keep coming back to it. It’s not a DIY (it’s from etsy) but it definitely could be. Take a wood tray, some painter’s tape, a shade of neutral and a shade of gold, and you’ve got it. Could be great for our coffee table.
Once over the summer in college, I took an abstract painting class, and one of my paintings turned out like this. Maybe it’s time to resurrect it?
Are you a DIYer? Have any projects to share? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to.
Loving: Cowhide Rugs
I’m really digging the look of these cowhide rugs. They are just so beautiful (and they are stain resistant and last a lifetime). When I was home in Chicago, my family and I walked around the Kane County Flea Market and my dad and I found this seriously awesome cowhide rug vendor. The best part? They were only $200-300 for a large area rug! I haven’t had the best luck with animal skins (I recently threw away my sheepskin floor rug… It had gotten so dirty and ratty. And Michael hated it from the start) but I took the guy’s card and am thinking of ordering. What do you think?
favorite etsy finds
i thought today that i’d share a roundup of my favorite etsy finds as of late. click on images for their etsy shops. right now, i’m really wanting that WWII era globe. perfect for our little entryway table!
officially obsessed
if anyone asks, i always freely admit to being less than skilled in the kitchen department. have you had my cooking? i didn’t think so. and that’s because it consists of mostly three food groups: cereal, salad, and chocolate. er… i guess none of those count as ‘cooking’ anyway.
it’s really unfair to be the only woman in your family who doesn’t have a natural aptitude for putting ingredients together. so when it came to registering for the wedding, i was determined to register for things that would magically transform me into a culinary goddess… and what is more necessary for a a culinary goddess than the beloved, widely sought-after and dare i say coveted KitchenAid Mixer? nothing, my friends. there is nothing more necessary. at least to me.
and yesterday, i arrived home to find a large brown box waiting on our front porch. i could barely get the door open while juggling my purse, computer, said box, and excitement. KitchenAid, you’ve finally come! i had struggled for maybe hours, trying to decide upon the color of my mixer. normally i would have gone with white or chrome (you know how i like my neutrals). but for this precious tool i decided to go wild – i got the color ice (shown above!). i love it. it’s so fun and flirty – can a mixer flirt? mine can! when i took it out of the box and placed it on my counter, i immediately wanted to throw on a cute apron and whip something fabulous up. problem – no idea what to whip up or how to whip it. nevertheless, i was convinced my culinary skills were forever changed.
and that night – i made… whipped cream! it was fluffy. it was sweet. it was just 3 ingredients. it was what i could handle. and spooned atop a warm chocolate dessert, it was heaven. i made whipped cream! perhaps tomorrow will bring bigger KitchenAid adventures. if you have a good KitchenAid recipe, please do pass it along!
ps – how awesome are these? i want one! i know… i’m a little crazed about the Mixer today.
Charlottesville Free Wedding Project
i am so excited to announce a really sweet project i will be working on with Easton. we will be coordinating a wedding this fall through the Charlottesville Free Wedding Project! we are now accepting submissions for brides-to-be in cville. the chosen bride will receive an absolutely exquisite wedding – all. for. free!
if you are a bride-to-be or would like to nominate a bride-to-be, please keep reading for all the fabulous details!
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The winning couple’s wedding will take place at picturesque King Family Vineyards in Crozet, Virginia nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville. Nationally recognized event coordinators of Easton Events will provide day-of-event coordination, and your caterer will be Mark Hahn and Harvest Moon Catering. Carpe Donut and Gearhart’s Chocolates will be taking care of desserts and favors. Face Value Studio & Salon is going to make the bride look beautiful and the talented photographers Sarah Cramer, Jen Fariello, and Jack Looney will document the event. Rock Paper Scissors is creating the special paper items and both Pat’s Floral Designs and Floral Images will work together to provide the floral designs. DJ Derek Tobler will emcee the event, Blue Ridge Light Forms is once again enhancing the ambiance, and Albemarle Vintage Limousine is offering vintage transportation for the couple.
i am so excited to see this wedding happen for one special couple. i mean, look at all those amazing vendors! to submit your story, please go here.
for the love of neutrals
eggshell, ivory, cream, champagne. i love neutrals. they largely define our wedding color palette, and they largely consume our registry. so i had to repost this stunning australian home captured by the style files. and you know my obsession with bathtubs? see the last photo. right out of a countryside dream!
sweet bridesmaid gifts
one of my favorite parts of the wedding celebration is the bridal party. all of your best girlfriends in one place at one time, dressed fabulously, dancing the night away. and since most of my bridesmaids are far (as in far side of the world! hello, readers in italy and africa!), i am especially excited for my wedding weekend. just the opportunity to share a meal, toast our friendships, and share in the blessing of the wedding ceremony together – i can hardly wait.
each of my friends is a beautiful, trusted lifelong friend. i plan to honor each of them in her own unique way with a small gift. though i can’t reveal what i decided to get each of my maids, i thought i’d share some ideas for you brides!
this fashion print is just so sweet. and this etsy artist will custom draw portraits for you in the image of your dear friends!
i love these sweet clutches that you can fill with fun little accessories. bonus: you can be certain no maid is found without a stylish bag with all her essentials – lip gloss, blotting papers, tissues, mints, etc!
this print is simple but beautiful. i love it!
do any of you brides have any other ideas? i’d love to hear them!
