aDRESSed

I thought I would introduce a new feature: aDRESSed.  One of the most fun parts of planning a wedding is finding the DRESS!  I had so much fun scouring the internet, blogs and magazines leading up to my dress shopping. So I thought this new feature would be designed around the DRESS!

First up, as the premiere post of aDRESSed is this adorable number by Aria.

photos via Aria

I love everything about it. The length, the detailing of the fabric, the tiny sash and the candlelight color.  I think it would look great paired with one of Aria's bowties for the groom.  The price can't be beat ranging from $32-$52.

photos via Aria

It makes me think of our favorite New Yorker, Carrie Bradshaw, and her courthouse ceremony to Big.  It was fashionable yet simple and not over the top.

photo via WeddingBee

I put together a little inspiration board for the perfect civil ceremony with a little after party.  Intimate details with a whimsical twist.

All photos via The Knot

 Top Row:  The perfect red bouquet, The sweetest wedding cake with lovebirds.
Bottom Row: An elegant but casual outdoor brunch, Something blue

And of course the best part, I redesigned that lovely Aria dress into a whimsical invitation.  Complete with red & teal accents and 2 little love birds.  I joined a fun scripted font that reinforced the romantic, intimate detailing of a private ceremony with a laidback casual font for the after party.

So what do you think? Do you like my first aDRESSed post?  Ready to see more? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Under the Sea

So as I stated in this post, in a few months we will be moving into that adorable little cottage.  And of course my head has been swimming with design ideas.  This is our current bedspread. We registered for it from Pottery Barn last year and I absolutely love it.

photo via Pottery Barn and no that isn't our bedroom but the one from the website. *le sigh*

It has a very beachy feel to it. And even though Winston-Salem isn't on the coast, I've still been visiting Coastal Living for some decorating ideas. Which is where I found this gem.

photo via Coastal Living

I think with the right furniture and throw pillows this would work well with our current duvet! 

Since the Mr. is from south Alabama near the gulf, I had always thought we would have a beach wedding.  {We ended up having more of a backyard barn bbq wedding and you can see some of our photos here and here}  If we had though, I would have loved to put some of these ideas to use!

Photo Credits
Top Row: Coastal Living decor, Amazing shift dress for $320 by BHLDN, Awesome Starfish headband for $30 from etsy seller Bohemian Bombshell
Middle Row: Starfish chair decorations via The Knot, Alternative starfish boutonniere via The Knot
Bottom Row: Simple starfish centerpiece via The Knot, Perfect starfish necklace for $25 via etsy seller Two Little Doves, Yummy Marzipan and Graham Cracker sand starfish cupcake via Martha Stewart recipe here

Hey maybe I could redesign that dream beach wedding into a fabulous wedding invite. I would use the starfish motif of course with simple blue and white color scheme. I would totally put the invitation on kraft paper for a sandy rustic beach house feel and use a mix of script and sans script fonts.

Now I want to plan my wedding all over again. There is always vow renewal! Is a year anniversary too soon to throw another party?

Pretty Peachy

In my life, I have had 2 fruits that have been pretty constant since college. One would be the apricot, by way of  St. Ives Apricot Cleanser. I have used this facial cleanser for years perhaps even since before college.
 

photo via St. Ives

And the other fruit would be peaches!  As in my best friend's nickname.  Her real name isn't Peaches but she got the nickname and it stuck.  Her last name is the same as this Alabama town famous for it's peach water tower.

photo via Roadside America

 I have no doubt that for the rest of my life, I will always have apricot scrub and Peaches.  {Peaches, I hope you don't hate me for posting this pic of us. I will take it down if you insist.}

Peaches and me after completing our first of many half marathons-Yes we wore angel wings!

So the other day when Peaches and I were shopping we saw this adorable peach and gray dress for around $98 from The Limited.

photo via The Limited

I really like that color combination. Peach and Gray or Peach and Silver.  I wondered if anyone had decorated or used that as a color scheme in a wedding. Dont' worry they sure have and I found some wedding eye candy to share with you.

Top Row: Peach rose bouquet via The Knot,  Peach flower cake via The Knot
Second Row: Peach Christian Louboutins via The Knot,  { um...drool!}  Peach outdoor wedding reception via The Knot
Bottom Row:  Peach table decorations via Style Me Pretty, Peaches in vases as a centerpiece via Style Me Pretty

And just for kicks, I found the perfect venue for a Peach and Gray wedding.  The Peach House Bed & Breakfast in Atlanta, Georgia-my home state and the Peach State!

photo via The Peach House B&B

I also found this quirky DIY project from fellow blogger, Post Road Vintage that I sort of secretly love. Using an antique chair as a shelf.  The gray chair with the peach flowers in vases hanging on the wall sort of makes me swoon in a very country chic sort of way.  Maybe it's hanging on the wall in one of the rooms at The Peach House. Who knows!

photo via Post Road Vintage

Hey maybe I could redesign that peach and gray color scheme into a lovely wedding invitation.  It would need to be very modern and clean but also have a funky little edge to it, a lot like that Limited dress or the chair shelf?!  And let's go ahead and have the wedding at The Peach House!

Wonder if they will serve peach cobbler at the reception?

Girl Scout Pop Paper

As I said in Tuesday's post, I've given up sweets for Lent. *le sigh*  Unfortunately, I bought a whole box of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies on Monday.

These little gems will be going into my freezer and I'm crossing my fingers the Mr. doesn't dig into them before Easter.

I have also had my eye on this Mint Chocolate Chip recipe for some time now.

photo via Betty Crocker

I love that the cookies have a touch of green food coloring to them!  I think they'd be perfect for St. Patty's day. Too bad I won't be able to eat them.

Wonder if I could drink them instead? Hmmm. That mint green color makes me think of the very first shot I ever had-The Dirty Girl Scout.  Which brings us full circle again and makes me miss my Thin Mints.

photo via ehow.com

I was definitely of age when I had that shot but my friend's ordered it for me because of the name and my goody-two-shoes behavior.  I guess it was as shocking as when Donna Martin drank in high school.  Thank goodness everything worked out and she graduated and ultimately married David Silver!

photo via TVguide

Too bad Donna and David didn't go with a Girl Scout color scheme of Mint Green and Chocolate Brown for their wedding. If they had, I think it would have looked like this:

Top Row: Fabric Swatch via Hawthorne Threads-Robert Kaufman Tiles in Grass, Wedding Bouquet via The Knot,  Jenny Garth in a fab green dress (aka Kelly Taylor)
Middle Row: Green & Brown cake via The Knot, Green & Brown inspired living room via House Beautiful
Bottom Row: Beach Wedding Ceremony decor via The Knot, Ring Bearer pillow via The Knot

Hey maybe I could redesign that 90210 wedding with it's mint green and chocolate brown color scheme into a wedding invite.  I hope Dylan and Brandon can make it!

Dear Big Sister-I hope you enjoyed this Pop Paper post. I never would have watched 90210 without you nor would I have figured out how to work the VCR so we could record it whenever we had to miss an episode!