royal wedding inspiration board

I've taped the Royal Wedding and will probably spend some time this weekend fast forwarding through the coverage to see Kate's dress.  And maybe a little to see Prince William who I had quite a crush on around age 13.  I'm hoping that at some point Kate and Will can steal away to have a moment alone and take beautiful photographs around London, like this shoot.  I'm sure with the all the security that will never happen.

So here's my take on the royal wedding.  Ivory, brown and blue for Prince William's baby blues ;)  Oh I'm kidding.  The London pillows in the middle were my inspiration.

Will you be watching?

Royal Wedding by Nikkidz featuring dresses

low key vintage wedding dress

Yesterday East Side Bride reached out for help finding a Bohemian dress for a reader.  Someone commented and left the link for this beauty and my heart raced a bit.  I want to buy it for myself.  Maybe for a vow renewal?...in Greece?  It's 60% off and I desperately want someone to snatch it up!  Please hurry!

{via The Outnet}

Rue la la shop - style. I do, today only!

Do you Rue La La?  There's an awesome shop today for future brides, you can sign up HERE and check it out.  It's today only, great deals aren't for procrastinators ;)

twisted pearl necklace

I found this twisted freshwater pearl necklace on Etsy.  I think it's a steal at $23.85 (although I'm not really sure it's freshwater pearls...).  It's so much prettier than a single strand of pearls, unless they're your Grandmother's of course.

{via here}

I think I want it...

sliced cake accompaniments

I received Darcy Miller's idea of the day in my inbox and saw these cute hugs and kisses piped with frosting.  They reminded me of some meringue ones I'd saved in my wedding file and never used.  I wish I had, I have a new love for meringue after making this dessert recently.

Frosting piped X's and O's would be a sweet surprise for guests.

{via Martha Stewart}

I'm partial to the classic swiss meringue monogram.



{via Martha Stewart}

Hearts would be just as cute, and easier than letters.

{via One More Moore}

What would you do?  Meringue, frosting or not worth your time?

easter wedding place setting

If you're getting married around Easter time, I think a little chocolate bunny at each place setting would be a sweet detail.  Now is your chance to buy them cheap.  Easter candy is on sale starting today, so stock up and pack them away for next year's wedding! 

I hope you had a wonderful Easter with family and friends.  Did you have a beautiful Easter table?  How about a beautiful dessert? 

{via Better Homes & Garden}

diy doily cupcake wrappers

Clearly there is no end in sight for my doily fetish.  I'm just going to go with it.  I love those sweet little cupcake wrappers on the market, but I'm cheap.  I saw these guys made with doilies and I have a ton left over from the baby shower.  You can print the template here.

{All images via Free Pretty Things for You}

lions head bowl centerpieces

Whenever I'm in the dish aisle I'm drawn to the lions head soup bowls.  But I can't just buy a few, I need 12.  So that one time I have a dinner party I can serve soup to the masses.  I think I've just talked myself into a good reason for 12.

{photography by Elizabeth Messina, florals by Mindy Rice via Once Wed}

 

{via here}

At $5 a bowl you can't go wrong.  I love dual purpose *sigh*

nutella favors

You might already know this about me, but I'm Nutella junkie.  I eat it by the spoonful and I'm trying hard to kick the habit.  When I saw these over at Gordon Gossip I told Jenifer I was going to make them with Nutella.  I'm contemplating homemade Nutella.  So fancy. 

Sadly the CEO of Nutella passed away recently.  See my home decor ode to him here.

{Maize Hutton via Gordon Gossip}

petit fours how to

It's Spring!...for some.  That means afternoon tea and petit fours...also for some.  When I received an email from Foodzie full of beautiful photos on how to make petit fours I had to share.  Surely you have a tea party to attend soon and you'll be Queen of the party with these.

Lemon Petit Fours, in 4 steps

See the complete steps and recipe here

Photos by Megan Robinson

Step 1:  Bake cake

Step 2:  Cool cake and cut.  Keep Husband out of cake...



Step 3:  Make sugary frosting goodness

Step 4:  Pour sugary frosting goodness over cake that Husband didn't eat, cool and decorate

Enjoy with your girlfriends and champagne...I mean tea.

doily details

I'm still riding the doily high from my Sister's baby shower.  Remember these adorable placemats?  Well this is reminds me of them only cheaper!  I love when that happens.

{Martha Stewart via Elizabeth Anne Designs}

bridesmaids trailer

I am so happy it's Friday!  Now I just have to make it through the day ;)  Thought I would post the trailer for the new movie Bridesmaids.  Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph are in it so I will probably be dragging a few friends to see it.  Those two are always good for a laugh!

Have you seen any good movies lately?  I'm on the edge of my seat for the release Water for Elephants next week.  I love the book AND I'm an RPattz fan.  I know, I know...

bulk peonies

{via here}

I dreamt of having a bouquet of peonies for my wedding, but of course I wasn't getting married during peony season.  But if you are you should check out Bridgewater Gardens.  They ship anywhere in the U.S. and in bulk.  I hope you get the peony bouquet of your dreams!

Last year my Husband bought me a peony plant so that he didn't have to buy me some every year.  Unfortuantely for him one of the dogs dug it up.  Guess I should be expecting some very soon ;)

paper flower shower

Whenever I see photos of other bloggers homes they always have fresh flowers in a pretty vintage vase on their dining room table.  I'm sure a majority buy themselves a bouquet just for the shot, but I always find myself saying "I wish I did that more often".  The other day I was thinking of buying myself a weekly bouquet of fresh flowers and then I remembered how cheap I am.  Instead I decided I would make myself some monthly paper flowers.  Still haven't done it...perhaps I"ll start in May ;)

After the group effort of baby shower onesies, I was thinking about projects for bridal showers.  If I were a paper flower bride, I would ask all the ladies at my shower to make a paper flower for my wedding bouquet.  They could sign their name on the leaf and I would keep it forever.  What a sweet momento and great way to share the work ;)

{via Martha Stewart}

Thank you for all your kind words on my Sister's baby shower. 

I can't wait to meet my new niece!

baby ava's shower

This weekend my Mom and I threw a baby shower for my Sister.  Remember these invitations?  This baby craves ice cream and chocolate so we went with ice cream sundaes and ice cream floats.  Baby was happy.  I was happy too...and a little hyper from all the sugar.

The spread.  I covered their wedding photo with tissue paper, too bad you can't iron tissue paper!

There were babies.  After all, it was a baby shower.

Baby Logan

Baby Ben

Sandwiches and fruit cups

We decorated onesies with fabric and fabric glue.  I'll go back and sew around everyone's...someday ;)

When I washed all 15 of the onesies my Husband opened the dryer and said "Did Jon and Kate plus 8 move in?

Happy crafters. 

Those are the "we're not playing games at this shower" smiles ;)

Most creative onesie award goes to Bobbie!

Ben was all smiles, so long as Mommy was holding him!

My Mom, Moi, my Sister

You can tell we're related by the position of our hands.

Ice cream floats!

Salted caramel sauce favors

recipe here

Sweet baby Logan finally finds his Mama

Award for most creative gift goes to Cammy...for the jaguar rug!

So many photo ops with a gift like this!

pointed bow ties

I am all over these pointed bow ties by Etsy shop Knot Now.  Someone talk their love into getting one and send me the pictures.

{Skinny pointed black English wool}

{Olive brown- Italian wool houndstooth}

I am recovering from my Sister's baby shower yesterday.  Photos to come!

adirondack chair altar

When I saw this photo from a beautiful styled shoot on Snippet and Ink last month I immediately filed it away for a rainy day.  Well it's been raining and snowing here, but it popped back into my mind when Vanessa mentioned that Home Depot had unfinished adirondack chairs for $30.  We bought 4.

I love how simple the flowering branches in pots are.  You could put them together yourself.  You'd also have a pair of adirondack chairs as a keepsake.

{faux wedding by Shannon Leahy, photos by Larissa Cleveland}

cocktails in a box

Now that boxed wine is finally classy, it is time to embrace boxed cocktails.  I'm there.  These bloody mary and gin martini boxes are dressed up with labels.  I think they're adorable.  You can see the full party at Nonpareil Magazine and download the  label suite here.

Want to make your own?  Buy boxes at Empty Wine Box.

a different kind of cheese platter

My Sister and I were talking about appetizers the other day, specifically caprese salad kabobs, and an idea came to me.  It was sort of cheesy, but that's just cheese for you... ;)

Baguette, salami, cheese?  Boring...unless it's on a stick.

(actually I'll eat it in any form)

Baguette, brie, salami, bread, cambozola, dried fig, goat gouda

Next time I'd go smaller bite sized pieces and oddly enough the softer cheese held better.

But it made for a fun presentation!