I was going to start this post off pretending that I didn’t realize I was posting a fabulous Friday find on a Saturday. But then I thought, I’d either a). look like a fool for mistaking the first day of a weekend for the last day of a weekday…I mean, who does that? or b). have to explain myself in the comments section because nothing gets by you guys. My readers are just too intelligent for a stunt like that. =) Adi and I, along with my wonderful family, have been enjoying the past few days visiting our Georgia family. We’ve been relishing in the quietness of their peaceful little town with strolls in the park and outdoor barbeque’s. And though I desperately wanted  to tear myself away and post this, stern looks from Adi served as reminder to not even think about it. Because to him, anything that requires my attention for more than 10 minutes, is work. And so internet, I was a good wife who listened to my husband. That is, until now. And “now” is happening because the boys went for a swim and left me and the laptop unattended.

With that said, here is my fabulous Friday find that I could not wait to share. It is a rehearsal dinner, which we all know can be quite boring. This got me thinking… why is that? It is, after all, an intimate gathering with those you love most. Those who have supported you and have been there from the beginning. And what better way to celebrate than with a beautiful dinner honoring them and the prelude to the best day ever. So sit back, grab tall glass of lemonade and enjoy the beauty. And as always, happy weekend!

*All images were taken by Millie Holloman Photography and the event was designed by Salt Harbor Designs. See this post in full on Style Me Pretty.*

Sometimes life just gets in the way. In my experience, I’ve seen it happen one too many times. People get engaged, assume they have a year to plan, and next thing they know, they’ve got a job promotion, harder classes, the responsibility of buying a home (and decorating it), or issues with bridesmaids breaking up with their boyfriends and leaving you short of a groomsman. All 2 months before the wedding. And we won’t even start on Aunt Helen refusing to cooperate with the wedding colors. And then the inevitable happens…. I don’t care anymore…I just want it to be over already. We get so overwhelmed that all we want is a honeymoon suite with a sign hanging over our door saying “do not disturb until next year”…and rightfully so. Unfortunately though, the bride gets neglected as a result. She doesn’t have time to find the perfect pair of shoes so she settles. She doesn’t have time to find the perfect accessories, so she does without. She doesn’t have time to search for a hairpiece so she buys any veil from the clearance section. I will be the first to tell anyone, it is hard work planning a wedding and yes, in the end everything works out great but not before you’ve popped a few muscle relaxers… the legal kind. Trust me, I speak from experience.

If you’re a bride-to-be reading this, I have a bright side for you. Today’s bride is lucky….because creativity and accessibility is just a click away. And so I encourage brides to look ahead of time and avoid the tearful breakdowns that will have your fiancé wondering if you were the same girl he proposed to. I would encourage brides to get inspiration from sites like Style Me Pretty or Junebug Weddings and scout sites like Etsy for unique buys. In fact, if I could tell the me of three years ago something, it would be to slow down, do things ahead of time, relax, and take some chances. I would tell myself to let Aunt Helen wear hot pink and lace if she wanted to. I would tell myself to buy a pair of yellow wedding shoes and put a large white flower in my hair. Speaking of hair…here are some beautiful pieces that make me wanna jump for joy.  So take the time to care about the details that will be important to you…take the time to enjoy the process and laugh at life’s sense of humor. And ladies, remember to just keep your eye on the prize.  Happy Friday!

First picture set, you can get here and here.

Second picture set you can see here and here. 

It’s a big world out there. So big in fact, that sometimes it boggles my mind when I see someone twice without looking for them. Over and over again, I’m amazed at how small our big world really is. A few weeks ago I heard about a pretty ingenious idea for a business that made me want to kick myself for not thinking it myself. However, I had no information on this idea whatsoever and had no idea where in the world it was located or how I could find it. Then, this morning as I was going through my daily blog reads, there it was. The ingenious business…location, pictures, website, everything I needed, right there on Cupcakes and Cashmere. Small world. I clicked so fast on the link, my mouse feared for its life. I can’t explain how excited I got to see how well this brand was executed…how perfect the idea was…and how completely well thought and carried out everything was.

Drybar is a hip salon in the Brentwood area of California (crossing my fingers they’ll expand across the country to South Florida) that offers only blowouts. For $35 bucks. Wash included. And mimosa’s with croissants. I mean seriously? How simple yet completely brilliant is that?! After spending a few moments reading every section in their website, I made my way to the “about us” part and went ah-ha! that explains it. In an economy like this, it’s tricky and downright risky to open up a business. I know I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I truly believe that branding and working with professionals who are experts in their field is essential to success. I’ve seen so many business owners who are graphic designers, architects, interior designers, marketing experts, and financial advisors all rolled up into one human. And when business wasn’t booming, they sit in wonder, scratching their multi-faceted lil heads. It’s just not enough to have an idea…you really do need experts to see it through. And Drybar got that. So head on over to their website, kick yourself for not thinking of this idea first (I did), and if you’re in the Brentwood area, for goodness sake, get a blowout at Drybar. For me. =) Happy Friday everyone!!!

The fabulous decor taken from Drybar’s blog. Interior done by the brilliant architect, Lacina Heitler.

Fabulous hairdryer chandelier taken from Cupcakes and Cashmere blog.

Staring isn’t polite… I’m often reminded as I openly gaze with eyes so wide, you’d think I just witnessed something monumental. Remembering to blink, I force myself to look away. I often catch myself looking at something for a long time, completely unaware of the fact that I may look borderline creepy and stalkerish. Then Adi squeezes my arm or mutters my name under his breath, so as to bring me back to reality. Sometimes, I ignore him and he has to literally pull me away because I’m just so entrapped. I have serious stare downs with anything that captures my attention…a dress in the window display, a lovely bench in an alley, a great book design at Borders…anything. It really can get embarrassing. Adi can attest to this as he can tell you stories galore. Like the time we were at a red light and he pointed out the drool-worthy Porsche on the lane next to us, only to be horrified when I unawarely put down the window to get a better look. Apparently, you’re supposed to admire things like that behind tinted windows. Or all the times we’re at a restaurant and I drop my fork and ask Adi to move to the right so I could get a better look. Clearly I can’t admire the beautiful woman with a wardrobe that would make Anna Wintour jealous, while trying to handle a fork and having my husband blocking my view.

I had one of these moments this week. And because I was behind a computer screen and Adi was nowhere near, I unapologetically stared back, mouth opened and all. I just could not get over the beauty. My wonderfully gifted Aunt is a floral designer in Georgia and growing up around her, I’ve come to have a serious sweet tooth for flowers. Currently, I’m working on a project that I’ll be able to share with you all in about a month or so. Meantime though, I’m on the prowl for florists here who are young, fresh, and eager to rock the industry. Unfortunately, all the images I’m going to share with you are talents I’ve discovered… in CALIFORNIA. Really Cali? Did you have to hog up all the internet with your florists, your photographers, your designers? If any of you know or are somehow connected to South Florida floral designers, I’ll take you out to lunch and buy you cupcakes for divulging this seemingly top secret information. Until then, feel free to stare down these gorgeous buds… you know I did!!

Whenever I’m asked what my style preference is, I draw a huge blank. I have never been able to pinpoint one particular color or style scheme because I love so many. But one thing is for sure, I love my arrangements to look like they were just handpicked from the garden. In other words, no structure. I love the loose, gathered, thrown-together-in-minutes-when-really-it-took-hours look. The following are from the oh-so talentedThe following are from the oh-so talented Flowerwild Designs.

Oh dear God, this made my heart skip a beat. So dreamy ….and boy do I love me some COLOR! This, my friends, is my dream bouquet. You know…for when I convince Adi to ask me to marry him again and let me have another wedding.

These images were taken by the great Jessica Claire. Whod’a thought to use pomegranates in their flower displays? Just genius. 

Some toned-down beauties…

These next few images are from the talented Treasured Petal. How beautiful are they?!

Happy Friday Everyone! =)

It’s Saturday and I’m feeling the regret of not posting a fabulous Friday find. I do love those things. So I decided to post what I initially wanted to post for this Friday, on a Saturday. Because I love those. And now I just feel redundant and annoying. You’ll forgive me when you see these rooms…

I’ve been a fan of stripes for quite some time. Bold, beautiful, colorful or neutral, thick, stripes. They are just so versatile to me and can achieve so many different looks. I love the drama behind them and the statement they leave. I love the quiet way they sneak up on you when done subtly. I love them on floors, furniture, or walls. I heart them all. On my desktop, I have a folder titled “Design Inspiration” where I’ve collected photos I’ve seen on the internet of beautiful rooms for quite some time now. I tell myself that these pictures will help inspire the mansion on the beach that Adi and I will one day build. The one with 10 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, and a pool guest house. Why so many rooms you ask? Because I want to have all my design options available for me. It will be my coloring board and I’ve already warned Adi about this. I also tell myself I will have a garden with perfectly manicured bushes, trees, and roses. On the beach. Yea. It will be epic.

I first starting loving striped walls when I saw this photo. I’m not gonna lie… I was first attracted to the pink. But upon closer inspection, I found a little surprise tucked behind the bed. A beautiful, soft, striped wall. Nothing too dramatic…but just enough to leave a lasting impression. I then began to notice all the stripes in the furniture and how well it complemented that wall I loved so much. From there on out, I started a collection of stripes and found these next few images. In my new mansion on the beach, with 2 kitchens even though I don’t cook, I WILL have a striped wall somewhere.

I believe this is a nursery…I’ll need one of those in my future mansion for sure. Horizontal Stripes tend to widen a room, while vertical ones give spaces a boost in height. Take this fun bathroom for instance…And now, some drama fo yo mama…

I’m a bit obsessed with this next picture. So much so, that I may have to build one of these in the future backyard of my future mansion. It would make for some awesome photography backdrops if anything.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Yesterday I got an email from a potential bride who told me that she has just ordered her custom clutches for her bridesmaids thanks to THIS post. I swear to you, I nearly welled up and asked Adi to pass me the tissue box. I know a lot of you enjoy these posts as much as I do, but to actually have one of you fall in love so much with a fabulous find that you want to incorporate it into your wedding day? Talk about feeling completely overwhelmed with happiness and excitement! OH and…a few weeks ago, I saw a good friend wearing a fabulous Ruche purse from THIS post. She said she was thrilled to have discovered such a great store and is a total fan! I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I was to hear that. I have no idea why, but I’m completely flattered. Granted, maybe if I made the purse or created any of the finds I would feel even more flattered, but still…

Which brings me to my fabulous find that may somehow…somewhere…help at least ONE person. When I was planning my wedding a few years back, dessert tables were starting to become really popular. I began to research the idea but everything I found was a bit…well…cheesy. So when I found Amy Atlas, I wanted to go back and get married again. Just so I can have a desert table like hers. When Adi refused, I settled for a future birthday. She has branded herself to be an event planner specializing in high end dessert tables. I don’t know about you, but she may just have THE most fun job on planet earth. She treats each function as a unique project and designs each dessert table to fit her client. Not only are her tables fashionable and fun, but the deserts are too die for. At least that’s what I’ve read. So take a look at the eye candy, and if you can afford to fly her in from NYC, then I’m totally jealous and would love an invitation to your event. And if you don’t know me, I promise to bring a really great gift. But if you can’t afford her services, at least take a look at the eye candy and be INSPIRED! This could work for birthdays, showers, engagement parties, or your child’s baptism. Hey, any excuse for deserts will do.

I love how colorful Amy’s designs are…

And here’s the talented and beautiful Amy with her artwork:

Happy Friday!!!

Really, it couldn’t be more perfect. I saw this post on Style Me Pretty, a.k.a. best wedding blog ever, and I couldn’t wait to be done with finals and show you all the beauty. Now that it’s Friday and I have regained my sanity, I’m ready to share! When I started the fabulous friday posts, I thought I would post any fabulous finds, whether it be makeup, another photographer, artwork, a bedroom, or a tire. Ok… maybe not a tire. Point is, it was supposed to be anything that I think is fabulous and that I think you would think is pretty amazing. It’s become one of my most favorite things to post because honestly now, there’s just SO much beauty out there. And I love sharing these talented folks with you. (No idea why I just used the word “folks”…)

I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and perhaps not all of you are into interior design or floral arrangements, but I’m pretty sure these eye’s are 20/20. =) Wedding Designer Grey Likes Weddings collaborated with T&H photography to put together a table-scape based on the interior styling of Eddie Ross. Well, color me happy! The end result is whimsical, colorful, and just plain beautiful. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do…

Happy Weekend Y’all! (Again with the weird words I never use….what is my DEAL?!)

I’ve accepted it. I’m a real girls girl and I’m 100% okay with that. I’ve tried my hands at sports and was so awkward, my team felt sorry for me. Now I know why they let me “rest” so much on the sidelines. My poor dad has tried to teach me to run less like a girl and always wound up on the floor. Laughing. Hard. He’d take me to work as a teenager to try and teach me his trade and I’d end up off on the side somewhere composing a poem instead. My husband’s tried teaching me to throw a frisbee and spent the day apologizing to people I’d knock in the head. I mean really… Frisbee. Then there was soccer. If anyone from the other team got remotely close to steal the ball from me, I’d just kick it to them because risking injury made no sense to me. When my parents bought me my first pair of rollerblades, they also bought me a set of knee and elbow pads, and a helmet. Yea, I was that kid. Needless to say, it’s hopeless and if it’s not swimming or bike riding (which can sometimes be tricky too), you can always count on me to be cheering people on and snapping pictures of them instead.

Because I haven’t a clue how to be masculine, and never really went through a “tomboy” phase, I’ve had a bit of trouble coming up with a fabulous find for men. Twice this month I’ve been reminded that my fabulous finds are too girly. Is the word “fabulous” even remotely manly?!  I’ve consulted with the husband but his finds are all about toys for cars. And because this is my blog, I can’t imagine putting up something that I’m completely clueless about. So if any men out there are reading this, I promise to work hard to bring you something manly and fabulous in the coming weeks that we’d all approve of. Suggestions are welcome though.

Till then, here’s something that I’ve come across this week that has me feeling quite girly. Her name is Stephanie Williams and I can say without any hesitation: I am SO jealous. Jealous because this photographer gets to do this every day. Jealous because her work is beautifully effortless. And jealous because she probably gets to keep some of the clothes. Not only is she a lifestyle photographer but also a fashion photographer. Um dream job, anyone? I have her to thank for bringing me to this weeks fabulous find: Ruche. This treasure is a modern women’s boutique with a vintage touch. Anything vintage is appealing to me. Throw in affordable to the mix, and I’m sold. Definitely check out their look book and get as inspired as I do. Till then, here are a few images from Stephanie’s blog from this past winter and upcoming spring looks.

Happy Friday everyone!