truth

Some true and inspiring words, wouldn't you say?

Happy Friday friends!

a tutorial to make this sign on Shiny Little Things

let's go on a picnic

A dose of Wednesday inspiration because I like pretty things and I like eating...

 so a picnic sounds like the best idea :)

image 1 free downloadable picnic tag invites from Eat Drink Chic | image 2 pie from Once Wed | image 3 ruffled top from Vestique | image 4 DIY chevron picnic blanket from Twig & Thistle | image 5 Izze soda

love stamps

With the newest stamp to be included in the Love Series recently being revealed (it's pictured below!), I did a little research on the history of the stamps.

The original Love stamp was created in 1973 and was not intended to be the first in a series of stamps, but everyone loved it!

The USPS introduced this stamp in 1982.

In 1984, this Love stamp was released. It was at this point that the Love stamps became an annual series.

The King and Queen of Hearts stamps were the first multi-stamps in the series. These were released in 2009. My friend Ruthy used these stamps - one on each invite and one on each RSVP envelope.

And this year, they released the Garden of Love. I think it's so pretty! I've been using them on thank you notes and Save the Dates. And it's a forever stamp ... even better!

~

The newest stamp in the series, to be released in 2012 is the Ribbon Love stamp! 

What do you think? Isn't it beautiful? Which stamp is your favorite in the series?

The Ribbon Love was created by artist Jessica Hische. I really like it. Brides getting married next year will be able to use these for their invitations - lovely!

~

ps - the Santa and Sleigh stamp for next Christmas is so cute too!

my weekend in instagrams

a sea salt caramel cupcake

Our view from dinner on Friday night at Top of the Hill

don't worry, I was just meeting my aunt in Chapel Hill for dinner ... I am still a Wolfpack fan through and through!

Here's proof ... isn't this the coolest car ever? That block S is etched into glass and has a red backlight!

And lastly ... remember that time Ricky Martin was friendly and sat on our laps?

~

How was your weekend, friends? We saw Horrible Bosses and it was hilarious!

have a {hot} fun weekend!

{How cool is that - a plant hanging in a lightbulb ... who'd a thunk it?}

This weekend in NC it's going to be over 100 degrees! So we are staying in as much as possible and I will be working on some fun crafts. I have all kinds of projects that I am partially done with so I'm feeling inspired and productive and am going to tackle some of them :) I am also planning on drinking chocolate milkshakes (my favorite thing to make this week) and going to see Horrible Bosses. It looks so funny! I hope you have a fabulous and productive weekend as well. Stay cool!

image via Inspired to Share

bridal shower: food and favors

Alright y'all, only one more post about my fabulous bridal shower! And this one is about the food and favors. Enjoy!

Of course we had mini quiches, they are cute and mini and it was brunch so they were perfect.

Also present but not pictured - sausage balls (which were crazy good) and french toast casserole in individual cupcake wrappers (a genius and tasty idea Tori!)

A long delicious table full of food.

look at this marvelous cake Danielle made! This is homemade buttercream with fresh puree'd strawberries in it people. Ah-mazing!

Seriously Danielle, that cake was the best.

Now for the favors.

There was a board where everyone at the shower was supposed to write lovely pieces of advice for yours truly. Thanks everyone for the tips!

 AND ... for everyone to take home ... a little bag of maple nut goodies! The best candy there is (besides Almond Joys of course). 

Thanks for letting me share all of these pictures this week. And thank you to all of my family and friends who helped put this shower together and who came to hang out with me on a lovely Saturday afternoon. Y'all are the best!

busy busy

I have been so busy this week with work and wedding planning and exercising ... ok maybe exercising isn't keeping me busy but I went to this Pure Barre class last night after buying a voucher for 4 classes on Living Social and I am sore today! Just when I thought we had done enough reps, the instructor with her Britney Spears microphone said 10 more! So, although I have a post in the works of the food and favors at my bridal shower that I want to share with you, for now here is a beautiful cake table to inspire you.

and an adorable little pig, just because he's cute.

Happy Thursday!

bridal shower: decor

Hello lovelies! Today I am sharing pictures of the decorations at my bridal shower. The girls did such a great job with the bright flowers and the poms! What creative friends I have :)

Hopefully some of these images will inspire you to create your next party!

bridal shower: beautiful faces

Happy Monday everyone!

This weekend I had my first bridal shower, thrown by my absolutely wonderful bridesmaids! They did such a fantastic job and I can't wait to share it all with you this week. It was held outdoors at a shelter in the park and the setting was gorgeous. Today I am going to share pictures with you of all of wonderful people that were there and coming up later this week I'll share the decorations, food and favors. 

group picture! love these girls!

Tori is filling in the words of a mad lib game that we played which was so clever and fun! They took the stories John and I wrote about how we met (from each of our points of view) and turned it into a mad lib. It turned into John giving me a sock with his phone number on it!

present time! I'm opening up a gift from Brooklyn in this picture - it was our shower curtain! 

I love my expression, haha!

My bridesmaids got us our glasses that we registered for at Anthropologie. Lovely!

family

all of my lovely bridesmaids 

my beautiful mom

my soon to be sister in law

cousins

~

It was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who came and organized it, you all made it perfect!

Stay tuned this week for posts on decorations, food and favors.