have a lovely weekend

Before the crazy wedding season hits (at work and real life) I am trying to savor my free weekends at home. This weekend will include prepping for teaching kids classes at church and working on Candice's bridal shower menu. And football. Lots and lots of football.

Enjoy the link love- it's been a long time comin'!

Yeah, I know them.

Chambray shirt dress

Sacramento Street is a new blog obsession, as is Kendi Everyday :)

Charming Philadelphia wedding

Homemade chips + guac!

A sneak peek at an idea for Candice's shower.

xoxo

// Top photo via Patterson Maker //

game day accessories

Today marks the first night of college football! Of course I only know this because of my husband, but it's practically Christmas day in our house. A couple of weeks ago I shared some ideas for game day attire and hairstyles and thought I would feature some accessories today :)

{purses}

I would love a bright read slouchy purse for this fall and J.Crew has my favorite style. Timeless, classic, and leaves a little room to sneak in some snacks ;) Of course if you just want to bring the necessities (i.e., student ID, credit card or cash and sunglasses) I recommend a small and lightweight clutch.

{sunglasses}

Besides sunscreen, nothing quite beats the rays coming into the stadium like a good pair of sunglasses. Ray-Ban's aviators and wayfarers are a no-brainer, but if you are looking for something a little more glamorous try cat eye or large tortoise frames.

{shoes}

The key here is comfort. Standing on your feet for 4+ hours will be painful regardless- might as well wear some comfy (and cute!) shoes.

What team are you cheering for this fall?

// Photo sources: 1. J.Crew,  2. Roxy Marj, 3. via Pinterest, 4. via Pinterest, 5. via Pinterest, 6. Gabriella Rocha Nele via Zappos //

wedding wednesday

Erin's wedding is less than a month away and even though I have my dress, I thought I would share some last minute inspiration. Her colors are gold and cream so naturally I was drawn to a gold dress, as I think it complements my transparent fair complexion. I love everything about the look above - short hem, loose sleeves and strappy heels.

All these shimmery sequin dresses would be a dream! But my budget is somewhat limited so I decided to go with a borrowed dress from my sister. With a big enough statement piece, I think all cleavage will be covered ;)

I am still on the hunt for heels or wedges and love this pair below:

xoxo

// Photo sources: 1. via Pinterest, 2. from Nordstrom, 3. from ModCloth, 4. from ModCloth
5. from Nordstrom //

crafted with love

On Saturday I met up with Jordan to work on invitations for Candice's bridal shower next month. I have been gathering inspiration on Pinterest and was excited to finally put the pieces together. I knew Once Wed would have some great ideas for a DIY and I was initially drawn to the watercolor invitation above.

With watercolor as my theme, I followed Rachel's tutorial (via Cupcakes & Cashmere) for a simple, girly look. I also liked the extra details added to the invitation above so Jordan and I worked up a combination of both :)

To keep things from being too pink, we chose a coral tone and purchased Coral Blush by Americana. It's an acrylic paint, but watered down it did the job just fine. To speed up the drying process I used my blow dryer on each card and then stacked them under heavy books to flatten out.

After the cards were dry and flat, Jordan created the design using Adobe and we printed them right in my living room (although we had a minor set back when we caught a spelling error...). We glued the coral invitations to gray and natural paper, wrapped them in white doilies and attached the registry info with glittery twine.

Since Jordan already had card stock and envelopes, we only had to purchase extra doilies, paint and string and spent about $10 (not including printer ink or postage). The project was a mini labor of love :)

Stay tuned for more bridal shower inspiration later this week!

xoxo

P.S. Rachel's watercolor drink tags would be a great addition to the party too!

// Photo sources: 1. from Once Wed, 2. from Heart of Light, 3. by Flourish Letterpress via Pinterest //

statements

I've recently grown obsessed with statement necklaces and how they complete the most simple of outfits. I'm on the hunt for the perfect piece to wear with a my buttoned up chambray top like the picture below.

After doing some surfing on the web, I found my top three favorites:

This mutli-colored statement necklace is a lot more salmon than red in person and makes me think rocker-chic. Denim or gold dress would complement it well and I would probably pair this bracelet with it too!

Stella & Dot's Egyptian collar necklace would inspire any modern-day Cleopatra! I would love to pair this piece with white jeans and a gray v-neck tee.

Last, but not least, this faux pearl collar stunner has me swooning! The chunky metal is a nice balance to the soft pearls and I especially love the look of three separate strands. Kate Spade's gem might have a hefty price tag, but a girl can dream, right?

What jewelry has caught your eye for fall?

xoxo

// Photo sources: 1. via Pinterest, 2. Refinery29, 3. from LOFT, 4. from Stella & Dot, 5. from Nordstrom //

wedding wednesday

A few weeks ago I ventured up to Boston with Carol Anne for Alexandra and Jesse's New England wedding. Now don't be fooled by the northeastern venue because this event was filled with down-home Southern charm!

 

Their chalkboard signage made is easy for guests to find their way around Shmolak Farms, which was a charming apple and plum farm.

The ceremony took place on the top floor of a rustic barn with twinkle lights and hanging window frames. It was a beautiful ceremony with lyrical references, personal vows and fans for programs. Thank goodness for those fans :)

The bridesmaids looked flawless and comfortable (so important for an outdoor affair) in mint and yellow dresses. I especially loved how they incorporated Pinterest-inspired hair-dos.

The bride and groom were grinning from ear to ear the whole night! She looked like a dreamy Southern belle and he a Nantucket beau.

The lavender fields were just too gorgeous for words and even though I wasn't in the bridal party, I had to sneak down to take some pictures with my best pals. This one of Carol Anne and I pretty much sums up our 40+ hour road trip- true friendship and endless laughs.

xoxo

recently

Garage sale steal - twenty five cents each for these patriotic bangles.

Sweet note from one of my very best friends :)

The guard dog. Chief lets me get ready for work in peace by chilling on our back steps.

Wicker basket for blankets and laundry - picked up at the new Junk in the Trunk for only $4!

A small dining room makeover with floral table cloth from Jenna, runner from Pottery Barn, and flowers from our front yard :)

xoxo

game day hair

I wasn't able to get this post up on Friday, but what better way to start the week than by talking about hairstyles!

When it comes to my hair hair, it usually ends up being the last thing I think of right before heading to a football tailgate. By devoting a little more time I might actually be able to pull off some of these lovely looks :)

I much prefer keeping hair off my neck during the warmer games and a tucked French braid would be perfect. A top knot is another top choice and the messier the better!

As the weather turns cool, a fish tail braid would be sweet and simple - especially with a unique hair tie. I'm also a fan of a pony tail with a twist:

What are your go-to hairstyles for sporting events?

P.S. Game day attire and more hair inspiration


// Photo sources: 1. via Center City, 2. from A Cup of Jo, 3. via Patterson Maker, 4. via Pinterest //

game day attire

With school around the corner and students slowly streaming back into Athens I am reminded that football season is almost here! And in the south there is only one thing almost as important as winning - what you wear to the game. I thought I'd round some fashion inspiration for looks outside "the hedges":)

August + September:

 

Let's be real- the heat can be outrageous during the first few home games. The trick is staying cool without looking scantily clad. You'll beat the heat in light colors and lightweight material.

I'd recommend wearing white and rocking red & black accents. And don't forget the most important accessory: sunscreen :) 

October + November:

 

October is still pretty warm in Georgia so you can get away with shorts (or mini skirt) and a button down. As the weather gets cooler at night this bulldog sweater would be the perfect top.

J.Crew has a cute polka dot sweater that would do the trick for those chillier night games as well. And you can't go wrong with red & black flannel (or gingham), paired with black skinny jeans or a maxi skirt. 

Outdoor Bowl Game:

I hope I'm not jumping the gun, but I think it's safe to say the Dawgs will make it to a bowl game and depending on the venue, it could require extra layers for warmth. I love a chunky knit scarf paired with graphic sweaters.

Cupcakes & Cashmere features a similar look to Blair's on the right or you can try out the complete ensemble. Don't you love how she layers a denim jacket under a colorful peacoat? 

The National Championship: 

An alumni can dream right? And if we make it that far it's class all the way with this red pencil skirt. I'm not sure how many games Taylor and I will make it to, but we are looking forward to tailgating in style in the best college town.

P.S. Check by tomorrow for game day hairstyles!

// Photo sources: 1. via Prepaganda, 2. via That Kind of Woman, 3. via Center City, 4. from J.Crew via Pinterest, 5. from shop bop, 6. via Pinterest, 7. from Gal Meets Glam, 8. from Atlantic-Pacific, 9. from See Jane //