champagne reviver

*I'm having a giveaway below...click here to enter!*

Did you know that if your bubbly is lacking bubbles you can toss a raisin in and revive a bit of the carbonation?  Me either.  I knew I liked raisins...

Drop a raisin into the open bottle a few minutes before pouring and any last gasps of carbon dioxide that are left in the wine will stick to the raisin’s ridged surface, then release again as tiny bubbles. A little more sparkle to lift your spirits.- via Real Simple Magazine

business card giveaway by uprinting.com

Do you have a blog card to pass around to friends and contacts? I've been thinking of getting some ever since I went to a blogger meetup and had to use my dentist appointment card for a drawing.  I won by the way...

If you've been thinking about getting some too now is your chance.  UPrinting.com has offered to giveaway 250 Die Cut Business Cards to one reader!  You design it, they'll print it.

Leave me a comment by July 2nd, 12:00am Pacific Time.  Please make sure to leave your email address in your comment.  Giveaway open to U.S. residents 18 and over only.  Sorry expats! (also if you've won something from Uprinting.com in the last 6 months you're out also)

*Extra entries:  blog, tweet or facebook the contest and come back to tell me you did.


Card details and options are:
1.75” x 3.5”, 2” x 3.5”, or 2” x 2”; 2.5”, Diameter (Circle) Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded Single-Corner, Half-Circle Side, or Circle; 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated.  6 Business Days Turnaround, *Free shipping.

Check out UPrinting.com for all your online printing needs.  They have calendars, invitations, magnets, door hangers.  It's a one stop shop for all your wedding printing needs.  They even have canvas printing for that one great wedding photo!

love and marriage

 {via pinterest}

 

What does love feel like to you?  The other day while I was thinking of my Husband with his summery tan and sun bleached brows (hubba hubba ;) I had that feeling where my chest tightens and my stomach gets fluttery, yet I feel like I have no insides.  The feeling radiates out of me and goes on forever, and I think to myself "this is love".

Then I get home and he's watching Casino for the gazillionth time and I think "this is marriage".

feathers and pearls boutonniere

Happy Monday!  I went to a pretty lakeside wedding this weekend and now I'm wishing I had married by a lake.  The wedding was low key and ran like clockwork thanks to family and friends.  I love when you can assemble things ahead of time and make that happen.  Like the feathery boutonniere below.  No fear of dying flowers and a bit cheaper.

You can find the full tutorial for a DIY Vintage Millinery Boutonniere at Ruffled, but I'm partial to the half finished version.  Soft pink feathers, gold paper leaves and pearls.  It's so beautiful and whimsical.  I think it would make a pretty hair clip for your wedding day too!

{via Ruffled}

midnight snack: popsicles

{green wedding shoes}

Everyone loves the idea of hand scooped ice cream cones at their wedding, but sometimes it isn't cost effective and clearly someone will end up with carpel tunnel by the end of the night ;)  What about the good ol' ice cream truck full of rocket pops and choco tacos?  I would be jazzed at the thought of a Flinstones push up pop during my dancing break.

Still not in the budget?  How about having your cousin drive his Mustang convertible up with coolers full of popsicles.  Extra points if he blares "The Entertainer" on his car stereo.  Now to find a cousin with a Mustang.

You can practice on your bridal party with these cute popsicle ring pop molds by Tovolo.  I'd wear one!

{tovolo frozen jewel pops via country living via the kitchn}

gold coin necklaces

Ever since Emersonmade debuted her gold coin necklaces I've been trying to win one ;)  Soon I will cave and make one mine.  Until then, I found some fun knock offs for under $5.  Yep, you heard me! 

{emersonmade}

                                                                                                                                              

Oui and LOVE, perfect for wedding bliss...or bling!

tie the knot

Love this interactive "tie the knot" invite or save the date.  What an easy DIY, obviously I'm all about that right?


KNOT:
LOOP THAT IS FASTENED AND LOCKED SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO RELEASE, AND THE MORE ITS ENDS ARE PULLED APART THE MORE IT TIES TOGETHER

Oh yea, it is in Spanish...translation above ;)

{Behance Network via Bridal Musings via Wedding Gawker}

seashell bouquet

Although I was a beach bride, I didn't want my wedding to be full of beach accents.  It was a wedding at the beach to me, and that was all.  Of course now that it is all over I'm finding these seashell bouquets by Etsy shop Kimberly Aurora's Romantic Flowers so beauiful and whimsical.  What do you think?

{all images via Kimberly Aurora}

diy colorful tiered trays

Dollar store trays and candlesticks + adhesive + colorful spray paint = LOVE.  I'm thinking dessert buffet, and because I'm scared of color, I'd paint them all the same color ;)  Need a few tips on how to create a dessert table?  Check out this post.

{Joy's Hope via Emmaline Bride via Wedding Gawker}

tin can cake

I love those skinny little cakes that are cropping up all over the place, but I don't have the right size cake pans.  I could buy them, but I'm too cheap.  I came across this tutorial for baking a cake in a large tin can on ECAB.  Check out their blog, you'll love it.

And make this cake too, isn't it adorable?

I'm guest blogging over at a' la mode today, a blog swap really as Jenna Lee is posting over at my other home Que Sera Sera.  If you loved the 80's you should stop by and visit.  Have a wonderful weekend!

shrimp cocktail place cards

I love how unexpected these place cards are.  Perfect for a summer wedding and an easy DIY.  What else could you hang over your wine glass?  A lemon slice perhaps?

Source: etsy.com via Nikki on Pinterest

picnic boxes

How great would the gift of a picnic box be?  Filled with all sorts of goodies for the newlyweds, new parents...or for me?  Ever since I saw them over at exPress-o I've been thinking of who to buy one for.

Each box comes with: 

  4) COMPOSTABLE TRAYS  4) COMPOSTABLE LARGE BOWLS 

4) COMPOSTABLE SMALL BOWLS  4) COMPOSTABLE UTENSIL SETS 

4) COMPOSTABLE COLD CUPS  8) RECYCLED NAPKINS  1) COMPOSTABLE TRASH BAG

Then you fill it up with your favorites and deliver with a smile!

{via exPress-o via made-to-travel via Design Crush}

madewell dresses

Perfect bridesmaid dresses for summer! no?

{via Madewell and on sale too!}

strawberry centerpieces

It is almost that time of year when strawberries are ripe and juicy, and cheap enough to buy flat fulls and leave them on the counter to munch.  I'd be a giddy little girl at wedding with the same concept.  Baskets full of strawberries for centerpieces and hors d'oeuvres...and a glass of champagne.

{Tara Wilson Events via DIY Bride, photography by Stacy Reeves}

butterfly cluster necklace

One of my girlfriends loves butterflies so I've been saving some beautiful and subtle butterfly ideas to incorporate into her future wedding.  I think this one takes the cake.  It looks like a cluster of flowers but upon closer inspection they are mother of pearl butterflies.

{via Kate Spade}

I'm also guest posting at Creative Index today!  Come see me and bring your appetite.  Jessica has lot of eye candy on her blog, you won't be disappointed!

plate wall guestbook

Do you have a plate wall? I've always wanted to do it, but since I'm not the type to go out and buy everything at once (I collect as I go) it will never happen.  If I were getting married all over again though,  I would do this clever guestbook plate and add them to my fictional plate wall. 

{via Martha Stewart, naturally}

You can't sign my plate unless you pass the handwriting test... ;)

How about that whisper pink wall?  I love it.

quick dinner party centerpiece

Last Sunday was beautiful out so we decided to invite our neighbors over for a last minute dinner.  When I say we, I mean my Husband.  He invited, I cooked, and he cleaned up.  We make a good team ;)

The patio set was looking a little bare, so I scrounged up a few items around the house to spruce it up.  My peonies from the prior week's grocery trip were on their last leg (ie, falling apart every time the dogs walked by the table) so I salvaged the last of them and put them in different size drinking glasses.  Then I found this piece of fabric and folded up to make a mini runner.

These Spanish wine glasses are our every day drinkware (chiquita, pinta and sidra glasses) and I love them. I bought them in Gearhart, Oregon at an adorable home & garden shop called Fitzgerald's. Best purchase I've ever made.  If you ever come across some you should snatch them up!

venue spotlight: the great hall at greenlake in seattle

My best friend is getting married at the sweetest little venue in Greenlake.  It's hiked to the top of my favorite venues list for a variety or reasons.  One, it is a beautiful space and two, it is affordable.  Three and four?  You can bring your own caterer and alcohol. 

Let's focus on this amazing aqua trim for a minute.  I love it. 

The beautiful ballroom

The great hall is a converted church.  Can you see the stained glass windows?

(looking in from the fireside room to the ballroom)

The fireside room

all photos via The Great Hall at Greenlake and SaidAlice Flickr

Isn't it beautiful? 

diy chalkboard platter

I found this great trio of chalkboard platters on Etsy the other day.  There are a million tutorials out there and they are the perfect DIY project.  I love sifting through the silver at thrift stores but never have any use for them.  They'd be great for menus, table directories or kitchen decorations.  Need a little more direction?  See a great tutorial by Postmarked Paris.

{via Etsy}

If silver is not your thing, pick up a few cheap white platters from Big Lots or Home Goods, like these Pottery Barn platters.

{via Pottery Barn}

backyard bbq brunch

I've never been to one, but now it is all I can think about.  What a great idea, and so much easier than a traditional brunch menu.  Some of my favorites?  Grilled strawberry bread and spiced iced coffee.  I swear star anise makes everything better (just like Nutella). I wonder if you could somehow do cinnamon rolls on the bbq?  I'm going to work on that. 

What do you think about a bbq brunch for a couple's shower?  The ladies get their brunch, the men get their bbq.  How do you feel about a couple's shower, ever been to one?

Check out the full menu at Everyday with Rachel Ray.

Have a fabulous weekend.  It's supposed to be almost 70 degrees, that's huge for us!

kate spade inspired centerpieces

How cute are these little flower pots covered with mix and match socks?  They remind me of Kate Spade and would look adorable clustered in the center of the table at a bridal shower, or as hostess gifts. 

{Rachel Ray Magazine via Orla Kiely}

picture perfect brunch

Jenifer of Gordon Gossip posted this great baby shower brunch featured on Hostess with the Mostess.  The event was styled by Frilly Milly Events and photographed by Lauren Blair photography.

I love the little details that make this brunch look like an Amy Atlas table.  Donut hole trees, maple bacon skewers, individual french toasts and fuit cups.  Adorable!

See more of this beautiful shower at Hostess with the Mostess.