We’ve Moved…

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Our new blog and site are finally up!! Head over there to check it out. And don’t forget to add our new address to your reader. See ya over there. xo

Color Palette Inspiration…

The color combo that Joanna used in the bouquet for our Chocolate Inspired Shoot is beyond amazing. The mix of color and texture helps this color combo cross over from season to season. The deep purples contrasted against the soft blush – gets me every time.

Photo: Lane Dittoe // Bouquet: Floral Sense

Calligraphy Crush…

Is it just me, or does opening the mailbox to seriously gorgeous handwriting brighten any day?! I think calligraphy adds such a romantic touch to anything. Aside from an invitation, even a smaller piece like an escort card or favor adds such a personal touch. There are some seriously talented calligraphers out there and styles can range from the classic romantic to the fun and whimsical. There is definitely a style for every occasion and every budget, and it’s a bonus that you will make someones day when they get their mail.

Calligraphy: Jill Velez 

Photo: Chris Todd Studios

Calligraphy: Betsey Dunlap

Photo: Heather Baker

Calligraphy: Chic Celebrations Bride

Photo: Gavin Wade

Charley’s 1st Birthday…

I cannot believe that my tiny assistant is already A YEAR OLD! This year has been such a whirlwind and I have been lucky enough to spend most of it with this little lady. Charley, you are such a sassy little girl and I love watching you grow, play and develop your own personality. Being your momma is the best, hardest, funnest (is that a word?) job in the whole world.

For her first birthday party I wanted something she could walk around and watch. She isn’t the greatest swimmer yet, so the pool was out (had I known it would be 104 that day – I might have rethought that). We decided on lawn games and lunch. We had beanbag toss, lawn tic tac toe, bocce ball and giant jenga. Instead of goodie bags, I wanted something that the kids (and adults) could hang on to. A caricature artist was perfect! We had so much fun, can’t wait for next year. For more pictures than these ones, check out Krista’s site.

 

Thank you SO SO SO SO much to my friend Krista Mason, who came to celebrate Charley and take these amazing pictures. I can’t thank you enough for the memories. xoxo

Cupcakes – Sweet and Saucy

Tables/Umbrellas – Classic Party Rentals

 

 

Color Palette Inspiration…

Do you remember this shoot we did a while back for Franklin + Gower? We had such a huge response when it was featured on Style Me Pretty and still get questions about it. I love the color palette of the shoot. It was so fun and the pop of coral was perfect for the chic-beach look we achieved.

Photo by Maria Carmel

Color Palette Inspiration…

I’m loving the color palette of this bouquet and how, even though it has NO gray in it whatsoever, it totally compliments the bridesmaids dresses. Stay tuned for more from this amazing wedding, I’ll be posting it this week.

Photo Ashley Rose

Floral Design Heavenly Blooms

Featured On: Green Wedding Shoes

We are so excited to be featured on one of our absolute favorite wedding blogs, Green Wedding Shoes, today!! Such a fun (and delicious) shoot to collaborate on, and this team was seriously amazing. Head over to GWS to see all the pics, but here are just a few of my faves.

Planning and Design: Chic Celebrations //Photographer: Lane Dittoe // Venue: Shade Hotel // Desserts: Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach // Vintage Furniture and Props: OC Propgirl // Stationery: Mintwich Design // Flowers: Joanna Park of Floral Sense // Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

 And a HUGE thank you to Be Inspired PR for producing such an awesome shoot!!

Laguna Beach Wedding

When I met Katie and Ben, I knew I had to work with them! Their personalities were exactly what they saw for their wedding – colorful. Katie wanted a wild but refined look throughout the day, and the dream team we pulled together did exactly that. The amazing Lauryl Lane took Katie’s ideas, ran with them and designed florals that blew me away. Katie has been involved with The Girl Scouts almost her whole life and now works with their corporate offices full time, so she wanted to incorporate their famous cookies into her menu. Melody at My Sweet and Saucy made an amazing cake display featuring each cookie dusted with edible gold. Thank you so much to Braedon Photography for these gorgeous images.

This picture totally captured Katie and Ben. Thank you so much guys, for letting me be a part of your special day!

And thank you again to this amazing team of vendors:

Photography: Braedon Photography

Floral Design: Lauryl Lane

Cake: My Sweet and Saucy

Hair and Makeup: Nicole Deanne

Custom Invitations: Wiley Valentine

All other paper goods: Bride and Groom

Venue and Catering: Aliso Creek Inn

Rental Items: Classic Party Rentals

Featured on: Grey Likes Weddings

Katie and Ben’s colorful wedding was featured on Grey Likes Weddings today! You can check it out here and I will be posting more pictures this week.

Happy Cinco de Mayo…

So many fun ways to celebrate. Have you ever seen a beer look so dreamy? Count on Kate Headley…

Dishing for Dana…

Working in this industry, I have been blessed to meet so many amazing people. People who have taught, inspired, encouraged and empowered me. One of these people is Dana, from The Broke Ass Bride. I had followed her blog for a while, but as I got to know Dana she was even more awesome than I expected. Her down to earth demeanor makes her so easy to talk to, and hear from. Dana recently called on the wedding community to help her out and hopefully her story will inspire you to help out. Ummm, food and a good cause – I’m in.

Dana’s Story…

♥  When she was 19 she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Uveitis. Her immune system attacks her eyes causing inflammation, visual disturbances and blurriness. It is incurable and will cause blindness if left untreated.
♥  She also has a very rare deep-tissue form of a disease called Granuloma Annulare, causing a different type of inflammation in her foot, for which she had surgery last year. It is so rare, she is unable to find a doctor who knows how to treat it moving forward.
♥  I’ve had 11 surgeries (8 of them in just the past 5 years), to control her diseases and their side effects. Last month her left eye came out of remission and she needs a 12th surgery.
♥ These surgeries and ongoing care (even with health insurance) have left piles of bills in their wake, and she has come to a point where, without help, she cannot pay for medical care.

Dana’s Solution…

♥  We’re compiling beloved comfort food recipes and the stories behind them from the most bad-ass bloggers and beyond… available in varying forms, in exchange for donations to her medical care.
♥  There are incentives for varying levels of donation, which you can learn about here.
♥  The recipes, photos and stories will be teased here on the Dishing for Dana blog, and once a donation is processed, a password to access the full recipes will be released to each donor.

Dana’s Goal…

♥  $13,000 to cover current medical bills
♥  $6,032 to cover our health insurance premiums for the remainder of 2011
♥  $2,000 to donate to the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association toward helping others with autoimmune disease
…for a total minimum of $22,000.

Note that this does not include the costs that will be related to her upcoming surger(ies) and ongoing care, nor for prescriptions or post-surgical supplies such as gauze and tape for her eye patch, or prescribed drugs to aid the healing process and protect from further inflammation and prevent infection, etc.

The Details

♥  You can donate any amount you choose, no minimum, no rules. Because every quarter is a quarter more than we had yesterday. It all adds up.
♥  We will donate 10% of all proceeds up to our goal, to the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association, so every dollar contributed not only goes toward her medical care, but also toward researching a cure to benefit everyone with autoimmune disease.
♥  Anything raised in excess of the goal will be split 50/50 with the AARDA – Dana’s portion of which will be saved in a dedicated, interest-bearing account toward any future surgeries and ongoing medical care.

For more information, please visit Dana’s fundraising site: Dishing For Dana. Any help is a huge help.

And I know this isnt the usual picture filled post, so thank you so much for taking the time!

Featured On: Snippet and Ink

I had such a blast at Gavin Wade’s Talkshop last year, so when Gavin and Erin asked me to style it again this year I jumped at the chance. The last workshop was in the spring, with this one in Autumn I found the perfect inspiration. Naturally, Jaclyne at Heavenly Blooms did a great job with the flowers. The wood planterbox was filled with coffee roses, hydrangea and balsa wood flowers. With the bouquet she added skeleton leaves, which added such a whimsical touch. The shoot was featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs, Snippet and Ink! Head over there to check out the feature.

All photos courtesy of Gavin Wade Photo

A huge hug and thank you to the team …

Venue:  Strawberry Farms Golf Course

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Floral Design: Heavenly Blooms

Styling, Coordination and Tabletop Decor: Chic Celebrations

Heavenly Holiday Shoot…

I know, it’s been a while but I am so excited to share a holiday shoot I was a part of back in December. When Jaclyne with Heavenly Blooms asked me to be a part of it, I was thrilled. Not only because I love working with her, but also because of this amazing inspiration board we found on Snippet and Ink.

I am so happy with the way everything turned out. This was a creative team I could only have dreamed of working together with. Everything came together so seamlessly and it was truly a collaborative effort. The shoot was featured in two parts over at Hostess with the Mostess, you can check out the entire shoot there. But below are just some of my favorites.

 

Again, thank you so much to the wonderful team that helped pull all of this together!!

Concept and Floral Design Heavenly Blooms

Fabulous Photography Drew B

Styling Chic Celebrations

Stationery and Paper Goods TomKat Studio

Desserts Sweet and Saucy Shop

Linens and Glitter Stools Glow Concepts

Venue Summit House in Fullerton

Merry Christmas Eve…

I hope all of you are having a lovely day with family and friends. The holiday festivities with our family are always such a heartwarming time, and I hope they are for you too. This picture makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, so it’s only fitting…

photo found on pinterest from la belette rouge.

‘Tis the Season…

…for absolute gorgeousness. Even though we seem to be having a heat wave here in SoCal, I am still SO feeling the holiday spirit. The tree is decorated and most of the shopping is done. Now all I need to do is get everything wrapped up. I am loving these seasonably chic gift wrap ideas. I hope mine can turn out nearly this gorgeous.

Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE almost anything that involves kraft paper.

Look at what simple tape with a lace motif (Get some here and here) or some raffia and a sprig of pine can add to a package.

And who can forget these gorgeous gift wrap ideas from last year, by Summer over at Grey Likes Weddings. Her creativity amazes me.

Do you have anything special for your holiday gift wrapping? I’d love to hear, or better yet see, all about it.

 

 

Photo 1 found on Flickr

Photo 2 found on Cox and Cox via Pinterest

Photo 3 found on Design Sponge

Photo 4 found on Grey Likes Weddings via Pinterest