~ weekend dreams ~

Of spending time sipping on this...

And then slipping into this...

Oh, if only!  Happy long, dreamy weekend my dears.  See you Tuesday.

~ Ciao & Cheers

...photography margaret and joy

~ shoe in: pretty in pink ~

Christian Louboutin's with satin and stones...

Yes please!

~ Ciao


...photography ryan phillips

~ favors: olive oil ~

I am swooning over this simple favor idea...

Wonderful little bottles of olive oil (who doesn't like or use olive oil) for your guests to take home...

All with a cute tag...

Frankie's olive oil can be purchased here.  I love the idea that Sunday Suppers suggested to save on cost - purchase a big bottle and distribute it into smaller ones...then you can add your own personlized tag!

And lastly include a recipe that your guests can make at home!  I love flatbread - yummy - and I would definitely try this recipe at home.  Really this idea can be done with tons of different items...jam with a homemade muffin recipe, apple butter with a favorite bread recipe, jars of just about anything with a recipe...be creative and have fun with it! 

~ Ciao

...images via sunday suppers & photography karen mordechai

~ sweet something blue ~

How gorgeous is this cake...

Baby blue and brown are such a great color combo...and the styling of this picture is fabulous!  I love how the hydrangeas on top add a bit of softness, and the design on the cake is perfect without being over done.  Add to that the brown satin ribbon that gives it the little extra oomph it needs...and I think you have some very sweet eye candy!

~ Ciao


...image via wedding style guide

~ who says... ~

...your wedding dress can't have a hint of mint?

So pretty, don't you think?

~ Ciao

...image via dress design decor

~ gifts: mouse in a matchbox ~

This one is for the kiddies...

Or the bride and groom! Just can't get over the how cute these little guys are.

~ Ciao

...image via ink + peat

~ tuesday thought: yellow parasols ~

Make a stunning picture when grouped together...

So here's your thought for today:  Why not flip them over and hang them upside down in a big group?  You could hang them over each table in groups of three or five (or more...just make sure it's an odd number), or group them over the dessert table, a photobooth area, the dance floor, where your vows are being said... 

And of course, any color would look spectacular!  Or use mutliple colors, or different shades of one color...like emerald green, light green and aqua...so pretty!  Or get personalized ones made up...oh my golly, I could go on and on here!  Just some other options for you instead of your bridesmaids and guests holding them. 

~ Ciao


...image via covet chicago

~ he loves me, he loves me not ~

I totally fell for this picture the second I saw it...

All I could think about was what a fabulous save the date postcard this would make!  I know, totally cliche, but I think it would be a fun change over all the other save the dates out there these days.  Just make sure it's your feet and flowers...being barefoot would be an adorable picture too, and if it's a beach wedding have your feet in the sand!  Then just add: he loves me and we're tying the knot with some details.  Loving it for an outdoor casual affair. 

~ Ciao

...image via mary ruffle

~ flowers of the week: 5.24.10 ~

This week I am loving this casual pink arrangement...

I love the fact that it's in a mason jar (one of my favs), and with it's simple white ribbon it would look perfectly in place at a casual, outdoor soiree!

~ Ciao

...image via coriander girl

~ butterfly kisses ~

In a box...

Or on pink petals...

Either way, I'll take them!  Cute wedding dessert idea:  check!  I'd put a cute little card next to them saying something like:  "Now, we are officially stuck together!"

~ Ciao

...images via mowielicious

~ inspiration: lovebirds ~

Are always adorable...

Isn't this picture the sweetest?  I'm dying over the colors here!  I think this color palette would make for a bright, fun wedding palette - whether in the backyard or the tropics.  You could use the lovebirds on the invitations*, and postcards along the lines of something like these...

...for save the dates (minus the wording that is...unless it's a destination wedding)!

*Note:  It would be cute to have a drawing of the lovebirds with the colors, instead of using a picture.

~ Ciao

...image via mary ruffle and ffffound

~ shoe in: polka dots ~

I just fell in love with these...

...yellow and white polka dotted heels!

~ Ciao

...photography julie hammond

~ supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ~

Pretty much says it all for this...

And what's inside?

Love notes!  Love, love, love this!

~ Ciao

...photography john schnack

~ on the table: hydrangeas + candles ~

This is such a simple tabletop design, but it is quite stunning...

Casual elegance done with just a couple elements - small vases filled with white flowers, candles and paper lanterns to hang from above...tabletop decor that can be done on a budget!  And once the sun goes down, the tables are all a glow...

Don't you just love candlelight? 


~ Ciao

...images wedding style guide

~ who says ~

...you can't wear a colored veil?

I am SWOONING over these two photos.  I mean really, how spectacular is her veil?  Just love, love, love the color! And the location, and her dress...everything really!

Such a stunning couple!

~ Ciao

...images via erin ever after

~ red velvet ~

Cupcakes would definitely make a statement....

The color is fabulous.  Don't they look just scrumptious?

Oops...so sorry.  I just couldn't resist!  He he...

~ Ciao

...images via from me to you

~ tuesday thought: bouquet holders and centerpieces~

Did you ever think about what to do with your bouquet and the bridesmaids bouquets after the ceremony?  Unless you use the bouquets to decorate an area on the head table, cake table or some other area, you and your girls are left to just laying them down next to your dinner plates!  Well here's a great idea for you...

Hang jars with some water off the back of your and your bridesmaids chairs to hold the bouquets!  So perfect.

But here is your Tuesday Thought:  why not do this for each chair using small simple vases with just a couple blooms?  I'm thinking what I used at my wedding would be perfect - they are basically test tubes with a wire wrapped around so you can hang it.  Remember, just one to three stems would work just perfectly.  And the great thing about these - you could use them as favors.  Just remember to tell your guests to take them home at the end of the night!

Now you are probably wondering...if you were to hang flowers off the back of each chair...what would you do for centerpieces?  Well, you could always do flower centerpieces too, but I am thinking something along the lines of this...

Fun and different!  So instead of having your guests get up from the table to head to the bar during dinner....you can keep them in their seats with this idea.  I do have to admit that I would need to add some other decor too - small jars of flowers, candles, etc.  But I am kind of liking this as an alternative to a centerpieces of flowers.  This would be perfect to use at any wedding, but I'm seeing a wine country wedding, a vintage backyard affair and a wedding at the beach.  Any thoughts?

 ~ Ciao

...image via style me pretty & stylist sophie martel

~ floating ~

White paper lanterns...

...in a tree.  So lovely!

~ Ciao

...image via style me pretty

~ flowers of the week: 5.17.10 ~

Here's a bright pop of color to start off the week...

Loving this color combination of orange, melon and pink.  So pretty, don't you think?  I also love how, rather than mixing the different flower colors, each is kept separate from the other.  Happy Monday!

~ Ciao


...image via snippet & ink, created by chelsea fuss of frolic

~ mini moet ~

Cheers to the weekend!

How marvelous is this mini Moet?  Don't you wish you had one too?  I do!  Anyhoo, my dears, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. - Happy Birthday Mom and Greta.

~ Ciao

...image via wedding style guide

~ victorian inspired ~

How cute are these...

I am adoring these Victorian Tumblers from Pottery Barn!  They come in sets of 6, and in the color of your choice!  I think these would be perfect at a bridal shower or bridemaids luncheon.  You could mix colors or keep to one, either way they would be so pretty.

~ Ciao

~ the proposal ~

I am swooning over this picture...

And just look at that ring...hello bling!

~ Ciao

...image via style me pretty & photography jose villa

~ good thing... ~

...these cupcakes are under a cloche!

Otherwise I would have licked the screen! 

P.S. - Loving the color combination of baby pink and raspberry.  It really is so pretty.

~ Ciao

...image via peonies and polaroids

~ in the orchard ~

Wouldn't it be lovely to have your reception dinner amid the tress of an apple orchard?

A wonderful locale indeed!  And while this table might not be in an orchard, the casual tabletop decor was definitely inspired by one.   I love the simpleness of this tabletop...crisp white linens with runners made of old-fashioned kitchen linens, the basket full of a variety of apples as the centerpiece, the clean lines of the patterned napkins and the favors of apple butter in little jars topped with a bit of fabric and twine.  And to top it all off -  bunting attached from tree-to-tree, and big white ballons tied with twine.

Just think how spectacular everything would look at twilight...a lighted path to lead the way to the table, lights twinkling in the trees and strung from tree to tree over the tables and candles everywhere!  Dreamy.

It would also be fun to hold a bridemaids luncheon/picnic here too, or a day after the wedding picnic, or for a photoshoot...sorry, I just can't help myself!  And I am quite inspired...as my brothers best friend owns a very large apple orchard...just might have to see what I can come up with...

~ Ciao

...tabletop by frolic for once wed

~ mr + mrs ~

How cute are these hand cut letters out of a fun paisley print?

For the Mr. and the Mrs.

I just love little details like these.  The great thing about these signs are they are attached to ribbon - which allows you to be able to hang these signs just about anywhere or attach to anything.  And wouldn't they make for a super cute picture opportunity attached to a tree (doorway, or just about anywhere else) with the Mr. and the Mrs. standing underneath?  And not just for the bride and groom...any Mr. and Mrs. could have their pictures taken too.  So cute!

~ Ciao


...images via santa barbara chic

~ who says... ~

...you can't use old Christmas ornament boxes for serving snacks!

Or just about anything else for that matter.  Seriously, how amazing is this idea?  A wonderful and easy DIY.  And if you read the writing on the picture...you could serve these as very cool centerpieces - love it.  Oh, I can't tell you how much I am adoring this detail - my kind of out of the box thinking...well, in the box in this case!  I would use these in a variety of ways.  I love how they are used as a cheese box and would place on each table, however I might have some flowers too.  Can't you just see long tables with casual flower arrangements in mason jars with these in between...fabulous!  You could also use these as welcome boxes for special guests, use them as your table markers with a number/name on a stand placed in one of the gaps, they also would look cute on a dessert table holding a variety of desserts, or you could have the desserts delivered to each table in these,...and on and on.  Oh, I am so doing this at a party or wedding!

~ Ciao

...image via sweet paul

~ sweet garlands ~

I just had to share these sweet garlands with you... 

They are handmade by Jessie of the Sweet Jessie blog...which if you haven't checked out is fabulous, and a must do!  She was in an online class I took, and was very kind and friendly reaching out to me.  As her blog title suggests...she really is sweet!  I am absolutely thrilled that she is making these and offering them up for sale.  Here is her latest creation in orange and pinks...

Soooo cute, and I am adoring the scallop shape of these garlands!  How great does it look with the yellow color of the chair?  Orange, pink and yellow - a great unexpected color pallette!  And I would absolutely love to use these at a wedding...or anywhere really.  They are just so festive and fun, and can be used in so many ways - indoor or out.  I just love them!  You can check out her Etsy store right here.   Happy Wednesday my dears.

~ Ciao

~ gifts: winetotes + maptotes ~

So in my earlier post I talked about mapnotes.  Now I have to tell you about winetotes...

How cute are these environmentally friendly and made in the U.S.A totes?  I love that you can choose from locations such as Napa Valley and Tuscany...add a wine from that region and it is the perfect gift for just about anyone, over age that is!

And lets not forget about maptotes...

Which is where it all started.  They come in seven different shapes, and have 38 different locales to choose from.  And how cute is it that the maps have neighborhoods, icons and landmarks on them - so perfect for out-of-town guests!  Really, who couldn't use a cute tote?  Also, you could buy the beach tote ($35), throw in a towel and sunscreen and you have a great gift for the bride for her honeymoon.  With prices ranging from $12 to $35 you really can't go wrong!  All available at Maptote.

~ Ciao

~ tuesday thought: mapnotes ~

How cute and fun are these mapnotes?

The great thing about these mapnotes:  they are blank on the back, and the envelopes are made from 100% recycled paper.  There are so many ways in which you can use - as seating assignments and table assignments, to write personal notes to your bridesmaids, to attach to gifts and/or favors, with program information on the back, with itinerary information for welcome baskets, or with local attractions with the spots marked on the map, etc. 

But your "Tuesday Thought" is...why not use them as your save the dates?  So perfect, especially if your having a destination wedding! Even if you aren't having a destination wedding, I still think they are a cute and fun idea to let your guests know to mark their calenders.  And while they might not have your city to choose from...you could easily make your own.    Buy some tags and envelopes, draw a map on one side and your save the date information on the other, take to the printer and viola!  Custom made save the dates!  (Or you could have stamps made and stamp each one, or draw up on your computer and print on your own printer.)  So what do you think? 

P.S. - You could also use these for your invitations!

***UPDATE - I just saw the new Bride magazine and they had this same idea!  I knew I was on to something...and I SWEAR it was my own idea.  I actually called Mr. Big on the spot to tell him about it.  I saw the winetotes in Lonny's online magazine and when I checked out their website I saw the mapnotes and just thought they were adorable...and as my brain usually does I thought how can these be used...and this is what I came up with. 

Just an FYI - I try never to steal someone elses ideas - if I see it somewhere I usually state where and give credit where credit is do.  However, with so many blogs and glossies these days, I am sure that even though I think my idea is original it could have been done before.

~ Ciao

...images via maptote

~ on the table: bottles + blooms ~

I am adoring these casual arrangements with table numbers attached!  I love the fresh, clean and crisp feel of the clear bottles, the white flowers with the bright green stems and the cards attached with rickrack (which I love and something that you don't see very often).

This is something that you could do with a variety of clear bottles and white blooms.  And if the white flowers aren't your thing...think how pretty pink, purple, yellow or blue flowers would look!

However, I must say that I am loving the white...it seems to get me every time!

~ Ciao


...images via wedding style guide

~ true love ~

Is soooo sweet!

~ Ciao

...image via fryd + design found via made by girl

~ a gift she(')ll love ~

Wedding:  At the beach
Situation:  You're looking for a great gift to give your bridesmaids
Soution:  These...

Wonderful shell measuring spoons!  How cute are these?  Super, I say!  Made of stoneware to resemble bay scallop shells, these two-sided little spoons will definitely please.  And at $12.00 a set, they are a baragin.  Something she'll definitely love!

~ Ciao

...image via anthropologie

~ flowers of the week: 5.10.10 ~

I have completely fallen for this amazing arrangement...

I love all the natural, earthy, rustic elements...the eucalyptus, billy buttons, thistle and leaves are just so perfect for an October wedding!  However, I can totally see this in the summer too...at a wedding in a field, in a barn, on a farm or hillside and I can even see them at the beach.  Why not try and incorporate some of the leaves or flowers from your venue into your bouquet or centerpieces! 

Hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day!  Happy Monday, my dears.

~ Ciao

...image via coriander girl 

~ sweet weekend wish ~

Since I started the week off with a pink post, why not end the week with one too! 

Happy Friday my dears!  Just some eye candy for you to enjoy today.  Details in a pretty pink above, and draped in a hint of pink below...

No matter how you like your cake, may you get all get a slice this weekend!  And a wish for all the mothers, and mothers of the bride (or groom) - Happy Mothers Day to you!  Hope this one is especially sweet!

A special wish to my sissy on this Mother's Day!  After almost two weeks in the hospital with baby Riley, she get the best present ever...to come home!  Hope you enjoy every minute of your day.  You are a wonderful mother - both MG and baby Riley are so lucky to have you!!!  1.4.3.

I must be craving sweets or something...3 sweets post this week, I think it's a record.  Hey, there's an idea...what do you think about a ~ sweets week ~?


~ Ciao


...photography anna williams