Have a great weekend...

{here}

Read this, it will make you smile...

Once again...

Not really a surprise, but JCrew knocked it out of the park again.

Their Fall Wedding Preview is up on the site and it's great as usual. The colors for BMs are so pretty and fall-ish. The couple of gowns they previewed are stunning. I am in serious love with the first dress {pictured here}. It might actually make me change my mind about wearing an ivory/white dress. Love it, want it, need it!

{click image to enlarge}

5 from the Files #3...

{dp?}

{jc}

{ny mag}

{okl}

{bb8}

ps~If anybody wants an invite to One Kings Lane, add your email to the comments and I'll send one. I think you can do it yourself too, but I'd love the credit! :)

Help me justify...

The 50 euro that they charge to ship to the US! 

I want all of this in a size 4 please, clothes gods. Thanks to Jane, I've now found a new place to obsess over AVH's children's line. So wonderful! The same shop carried another favorite brand of mine, Kid by Philip Lim, but I don't think they sell it online. Just as well! 

{here via here}

Can't believe it's over...

Sniff, sniff, sob...

{here}

Today is Lil's last day of school!

That means next year she'll be in Kindergarten. Waaaaah! I can't believe that it's already here. I am kinda sad, which surprises me, but I'm excited for her and what lies ahead. My baby is getting old, but she's so become so smart and witty, so it's probably worth it. I can't believe how much she's grown, physically and mentally this year. I'm looking forward to spending the summer with her and not having to get up at 6am everyday!

Anyway, hope everybody has a great holiday weekend. I'll be back on Tuesday!

I'm don't speak Japanese...

but I'm pretty sure somewhere on this page it's says "Buy this Kick Ass coat for some mini man". Love it!

5 from the Files #2...

It's all about the dress this week...

{ppp}

{gold}

{style.com}

{n-a-p}

What a lucky girl...

There are some SUPER DELICIOUS men this season. I am already so hooked, I'm so ashamed!

This would make Mondays better...

{ISP}

Venue Change?

I am in love...

{here}

Think I could get all my friends and family to fly to Paris? Probably not...

Joy...

{here}

This makes me very happy.

5 from the Files #1...

{click image to enlarge}

{no clue}

{betsy dunlap}

{bliss}

{s&p}

{100 lc}

A new feature...

In the interest of being a better blogger, I've decided that it's time for a weekly feature. Nothing to fancy, just every Wednesday I'll share 5 pictures from my inspiration files. I am a bit obsessed with finding and filing away, so I might as well share. They may or may not "go" together, they'll probably not be all party/wedding related, but they might be. They might be things I've posted before or something new that I've never gotten around to writing about. Who knows! Hope you enjoy.

Why oh why can't I sew?

I would totally make this for Lillie! I think it would make a darling party dress or even great casual flower girl attire. Anybody want to make it for me? 

Oh and that's just one of the darling things that Katie Did...great blog! Check her out.

I'm a fool for...

Artfool

I'm always impressed how their work can look effortless AND put together at the same time. Everything they do is great, but I'm in total love with this wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in NY. They did all white flowers in low arrangements and they almost look potted, don't you think? Of course, now I want to learn how to make the little white bowls they used on all the tables! They're so cute and delicate looking. You know...like me. {Ha!} They would look great on the gray linen runners I'm planning on making {or buying when I chicken out} Also, I'm digging the potted plant and lantern look for the outdoor tables during cocktail hour and the ceremony. Maybe plant herbs in them, a little rosemary or basil? I could totally do that myself, right? I might have a black thumb, but my mother and aunts don't! The only thing I would change is less greenery and more flowers.

So what do you think? Too simple? Just right?

{click to enlarge}

{here}

The shoes were made for...

Me!

{here}

My first DIY project...

Monogramed Dinner Napkins for 75...

{Maaartha, of course}

I've decided that I'm going to hand embroider white linen hemstitch napkins with our monogram. They'll be used for the rewedding dinner, then we can reuse them for dinner parties, etc. at home. Since we're having a number of different colors {grey, white, orange, maybe teal and yellow}, I was thinking I would do a dozen of each color. That way I'd have a set of each to match with other dishes and decor at home. I think they will look great and add the personal touch I'm looking for. None of the colors will be too bright {the orange and yellow are going to be soft} and I'm going to do a smaller monogram then shown above, so I think they'll kind of blend in to the decor, but they'll stand out just enough to be noticed. Now, I just need to learn to hand embroider and find a good source for linen napkins!

So what do you think? Too many different colors? Would you do them all grey or white on white? Am I think only person who thinks these are cool? Any idea where to buy the napkins in bulk? I don't want cheap quality ones, but I would like to pay as little as possible. :) In a perfect world...

update~I don't think I explained this right, so let me try again. :) When I say different colors, I mean the thread. So, they would be all white napkins but each with a different color monogram. Still like the idea?

So cute...

It almost makes me want another one...

Almost!

{here via here}

How hard could it be?

It's probably not that hard to take the sliding doors off my closet and turn it into this...

Right??

{coco&kelley}

Well "script"ed...

LOVE this rehearsal dinner invite by Studio On Fire. There is definitely going in the inspiration file for the rewedding. I love how the text continues off the edges. Love the color combo and the fonts. Yeah, I love everything about it...

Crappy pic...

This is the world's worst picture. I took it with my iPhone and it was overcast. BUT, if you take away all the tables and set chairs up in rows, you have our ceremony site. You can't really see it, but the arbor has twinkle lights wrapped around the trunks. Nothing too gaudy. There is a little fountain hung in the middle of the wall and that's where we're going to center ourselves...right where that middle table in the back is. I'm currently trying to decide if I'm going to have the florist add flowers to the arbor, because I don't think it will be flowering in late August.

What do you think? Passable?

{click to enlarge}

Get in my belly...

Here are some shots of the food from our venue. I am STARVING right now, so this might have been a bad idea to post right now. I want one of everything! 

{Lobster Risotto~it's sooo good!}

{Salad with yummy cheese. They have the best vinigrette dressings in the world}

{My favorite drink on the planet}

{Opera Cake, Strawberry Tart and Chocolate Nut Tart~How's Fave!}

{The menu, which was printed by the friend who is doing Lil's bday invites}

{from here}

All about our venue*...

Here are a few beautiful pictures of our chosen venue

 {Bottega Restaurant and Cafe}! 

I happened to see these on the A Bryan blog the other day and I actually squealed with delight. I'm a dork, aren't I? Anyway, this is a very special place for us. It's where we had our first date and it's also where our families met for the first time...right on the patio/courtyard where we're going to hold the ceremony, if fact. It's Lil's favorite place to eat {the casual side} and we go all the time. It's a Birmingham culinary landmark and the second restaurant from Frank Stitt {who was robbed!}. The food is Italian and they have a wonderful cookbook out if you collect them. Yummy! These pictures about a couple of months old and they did a small remodel around the new year, so they're not exact. But, you'll get the general feel I think. They moved the bar from the back of the restaurant to the front and made a little outdoor bar area, where I hope to set up an oyster bar during the cocktail hour. I'm going to try and snap some extra pictures this weekend. But for now, just tell me how great it is? ;)

 

{A close-up of the signage and the beautiful stone that the building is made of}

{I really wish these were in color, so you could see the beautiful paneling and colors in the room}

{There's a huge double sided bench/booth that runs down the middle of the room now. It's not a true booth, just one bench seat with chairs on the other sides of the tables. Make sense? The wood makes the beautiful paneling.}

{We probably won't need to seat upstairs, but I love the picture and the candles on the ledge. I hope to have a group picture shot from above as well}

{We won't use the tent, but under that is the courtyard where we're going to have the ceremony and cocktail hour. I'm going to try and take some pictures of the arbor and fountain wall soon. The other side that you see in the distance is the casual cafe side. We won't use that side, so it will be open to the public.}

Next up...Glamour shots of the food! The important part to us!

{**I haven't booked them yet, but I will soon. I feel a little nervous saying it's our venue, BUT they don't do a ton of special events and we got there once or twice a week and know the owners.  So, I think everything should be fine when I get around to it. Keep your fingers crossed!}

{Oh and all the photos are by Caleb from A Bryan}