Five Years

It was five years ago that Taylor asked me to be his girlfriend, which seems crazy because it literally feels like yesterday. I can so clearly remember earlier that day helping him move into a new place for his junior year and then him taking me on a blind-folded drive to a special spot. We arrived at Harris Shoals where he surprised me with a bear, flowers and a simple question, "Will you be my girlfriend?" to which I responded, "Yes?"

I love how Taylor plans things (dates, a proposal, weekend getaways, etc) thoughtfully, but simply. Never over the top, always sincere and to the point- which is what makes him such a wonderful husband, best friend, and life partner. I decided to pull out the scrapbooks I made during the 2 years prior to our engagement and had the greatest time reliving all the special memories in the cheesiest way possible!

xo

P.S. Looks like I really need to work on books for years 3, 4 and 5 :)

Date Night Attire

Like pretty much every girl, I will take any excuse to dress up- especially for an evening out with the hubs. While at the beach (I promise this is my last vacation post!) we enjoyed a date night at The Gulf, complete with cocktails and cuddling.

Earlier that day Taylor, my little sister, and I ventured to the outlets which was where I scored an entire J.Crew Factory ensemble for less than $85. For this date I sported the new top and necklace, pairing it with basic black shorts and neutral wedges.

Since we were outside the entire time, I was glad to be in comfortable and lightweight material. What are your go-to items for a date night?

// Shirt: J.Crew (similar), Shorts: Old Navy (similar), Shoes: Aerosoles, Necklace: J. Crew, Purse: Coach (Vintage) //

P.S. Check out more summer nights outfit inspiration here.

5 Things I Learned on Vacation

Taylor and I still have withdrawals from the beach, so much that yesterday we went to Marker 7 Coastal Grill for lunch and then I made a linguini & clams dish for dinner. Instead of giving a play-by-play of our week on the Gulf, I thought I would just share the five simple lessons I learned while away.

Weekend Wishes

I'm so sad to say goodbye to my family and the beach today, but it will be great to sleep in our own bed and be reunited with our pup! This weekend will include lots of laundry and hitting the ground running to catch up on work. Prayers would be greatly appreciated! Wishing everyone a safe and fun weekend!

This charming photo shoot has me wanting to plan a similar summer bash!

A look I really want to try

So inspiring to read about a player who never gave up on his dream.

xoxo

My Mom Makes a Mean Margarita

In honor of my Mom's birthday today, I thought I would share her killer margarita recipe that we have been enjoying this week while at the beach.

Mel's Top Shelf Margarita (for one)
- 1/2 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueur
- 1/2 oz Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur
- 2 1/2 oz Sweet & Sour Mix
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 1 1/2 oz 1800 Tequilla (or Patron Silver 100% Agave Tequila)

Fill mixing glass with ice. Pour in all ingredients. Shake well. Pour into salt rimmed glass and add lime wedge or wheel. If you prefer your margarita blended, add 2 cups of ice into the blender. You can also freeze the mixture in a plastic cup and take it with you to the beach :)

Enjoy!

Staying Cool, Looking Hot

I'm not one to attempt to look "hot". Actually I would prefer to look "pretty" or "girly" or "mature". But, when tempatures rise in Georgia the only way to not look like a hot mess is to plan outfits that keep you cool while still looking put together. I think the key is bright colors, delicate jewelry and practical shoes.

But Really...

This really made me laugh, especially in light of life's future uncertain circumstances :)

// Photo via happy 2 b sad //

Antiques, Yes Please!

Last week while my mother-in-law was in town, we took a trip to Bishop to do some antiquing. I love any excuse to sift through haphazard buildings full of old treasures and to share that with someone just as passionate about it as me was a thrill!

We first went to Reed's Odds & Ends where I found a copper mug in mint condition and perfect for making a Moscow Mule. I also picked up a charming seaside painting (that I will be giving to my mom for her birthday this week) and two delicate glass bottles (one of which I will be giving to a friend).

We drove around to a few more shops and then grabbed an express lunch at Trappeze Pub. We couldn't leave downtown without a trip into Agora- my Athens favorite even before I came to college. Many of the booths had summer sales and I snagged this vintage Coach purse for $11!

Even if I go home empty handed from antique shopping, I always love the time spent digging through history and wondering who it all belonged to at one time.

xo

Classy Canning

I know it's easy to feel like mason jars are so overdone, but these luxe jars are glamorous enough to keep the trend going strong!

// Photo from Jayson Home via Design*Sponge //

Ocean Front Quiet Time

There is something special and uniquely different about quiet times on the beach. Perhaps it's the fact that things are just put in perceptive when you realize how small you are in comparison to the ocean of how many grains of sand surround you and yet God knows exactly how many there are...

Sigh of Relief

This will be my view for the next week. Le sigh.

Have a Wild Weekend

Good gracious am I glad this week is over! Not to say this week hasn't included some really fun days like going antiquing with my mother in law and out for latin food two nights in a row (here and here). I just had more work than anticipated at my part time job and it left me feeling so ready for vacation next week!

We're taking Taylor's parents to Terrapin tonight and are hoping to end their last night here at Etienne Brasserie so they can try the Athens mule. It's been a little while since I shared some link lovin' so enjoy. I hope everyone has a fun weekend!

An upbeat summer song.

Jenna gives a mini home tour!

The countdown has begun (42 days!!)

Polka dot pants, right on cue.

A new blog to follow- plus, another graphic designer to luuurve.

xoxo

// Photo from Adventures in Pinksugargarland //

Beach Days are Ahead

The major thing getting me through this week is the fact that in 4 days I will be at the beach. With my family. And a margarita. It's been over a year since I had the luxury to lay out on the shore and I might cry when I see the ocean. Even the thought of getting sunburned (it's literally inevitable with my fair complexion) doesn't completely bother me because I know I will be in my happy, happy place.

Taylor and I are joining my family for a week long vacation to the Gulf on the shore of Alabama. It might not be the most top-notch spot, but it gets the job done with it's white sand and warm water.  This girl is just in serious need of Vitamin D.

Over vacation we will be celebrating my mom's birthday and I will cook a couple meals to help her out. Taylor and I will probably whip up fish tacos one night and maybe linguine with clams another night. My goal is to finish this book during my morning quiet times and then read this one while on the beach.

I always find it interesting to find out how others spend their time at the beach- some families are all about non-stop activities while others just plan to relax on the beach all day long. My family happens to be the latter and I prefer it that way ;)

What are your favorite things to do on vacation?

Loving What I Do

This weekend was a wonderful reminder of why I LOVE event planning. When everything falls together perfectly, when vendors are professional and helpful, and most importantly when the client is overwhelmingly happy- that is when I feel so grateful for my career and passionate about what I do.

When people first find out I'm a wedding planner they usually respond with an assumption depicted by what is glamorized in movies to which I quickly say I'm more of a "crisis-manager". Don't get me wrong, I lourve the dreamy details, elaborate lighting, unique linens, and customized menus. I just typically go into every event knowing something stressful will come up, and I have to stay as calm as possible while fixing the problem as quickly as possible.

This past weekend I had a wedding in town at a chapel with the reception at the Georgia Theater (again!). With 275 guests it's easy to get a little overwhelmed, but the weekend could not have gone smoother. I tend to dread rehearsals because they require me to be a little more bossy than I prefer, not to mention everyone is just getting in town and want to catch up! The rehearsal was short and sweet and the bridal party was able to move right along to their anticipated dinner and after party.

Everything fell into place during the day of the wedding with set ups, deliveries and transportation. I almost ran out of things to do ha! It was a huge relief that everything started and stayed on time as well. To an organizational freak like myself, those are the little things that get me through :)

The reception was exactly what you would want a party to encompass- delicious food, great drinks, and a band that kept everyone on their feet. The father of the bride surprised guests with a rap to this song and I could not get over how perfectly fun everything was. Convincing a couple hundred people to go line up outside to throw confetti was about as hard as you would assume, but it made for hilarious conversations outside and a great getaway for the bride and groom.

I love that I get to help couples have the stress-free wedding day they dream of and it's like an extra kiss from God when I get to take away a great experience as well.

xoxo

P.S. I can't wait to share the actual wedding pictures taken by the ever-amazing-and-talented Caroline Fontenot.

New Blog Obsession

I always love discovering a new blog with visual interest so imagine my joy when I stumbled upon You Are My Wild, which documents how 14 photographers see their children. The Atlanta based photographer, Dera Frances White, is teaching an iPhotography class through CAMP Workshops this August that I would love to attend! The beauty in every day life is just too good not to capture.

// Photo by Brooke Schwab via You Are My Wild //

Forever Friends

Today is another bittersweet day saying goodbye to some of our best friends. Carol Anne & Robbie have been great pals of ours throughout college and into married life and now they are on their way to California as Robbie starts law school at Pepperdine University.

Carol Anne has been a spiritual mentor ever since I came to Athens as a clueless, insecure freshman. She inspired me to renew my love for God and build deep convictions about the type of woman I truly wanted to become; to be more like Jesus. Even though I know we will still see each other throughout the year (I'm already planning a trip for my birthday) or over holidays, saying goodbye is so hard!

We wrote each other cards and I bought Carol Anne and I matching infinity rings since we will always be forever friends :)

// Top photo courtesy of Jack Frederick //

Serenbe

Over the July 4th holiday, Taylor and I went on a much anticipated mini-vacation to the gorgeous Serenbe in Palmetto, Georgia. Since our honeymoon, Taylor and I have not stayed away from home (without Chief or any other family member) for more than one night so needless to say- it was much needed and well deserved!

Friends on Adventures

As I shared a couple weeks ago, one of my very best friends was moving this summer and I recently had to say a bittersweet goodbye to my girl, Jenna. She and her husband, Andrew, just embarked on the most wild adventure to Haiti and will be living there for the next year.

House Projects

I feel like I have 20 half-finished projects around my house and it is about to drive me bonkers. I'm talking mirrors that need to be hung, curtains that need to be sewn, shelves that need to be fixed and an office desk that hasn't been cleaned in 2 months.

I recently discovered the blog natalie creates and was inspired by her 25 by 25 project list. Her goal is to finish 25 projects by her 25th birthday and with mine 3 months and 6 days away (who's counting) I thought I better get started on my own 25 by 25!

Here are my first 10 projects to be completed by October 15th:

1. Clean and organize the garage.
2. Build a picnic table for the back patio.
3. Plant mint in the backyard.
4. Decorate the front porch for ideal dining and relaxing.
5. Paint and reupulster my desk chair.
6. Finish bar console with gold trim and wicker baskets.
7. Build a headboard for the guest room and reorganize baseball photos.
8. Get wedding photo printed and place in the empty frame in our bedroom.
9. Spruce up the bathroom with a new paint color (this, this or this) on the lower walls and add more artwork!
10. Organize desk for optimal work space and storage.

I'm sure the additional 15 projects will come to me between now and then, and I definitely want to include projects for others- not just myself- in this list.

xo

// Photo via Moderne Press //

Happy Fourth Y'all!

July 4th is probably my favorite holiday. As I get older I actually love it more than Christmas or Halloween (in the commercialized holiday way of course) because it reminds me of the precious freedoms I get to express in this beatiful country.

If you are going to the beach, grilling out, laying out, on a boat or watching fireworks, I hope you enjoy this Independence Day. God Bless America! And God bless chunky baby legs :)

// Photo via Life is Beautiful //

Tea Party

Busting out some vintage china seemed fitting after Carly & Nick's Pride and Prejudice themed wedding the other week. Do you have a favorite kind of tea? Taylor has been on a mint green tea kick recently and I must say it's the perfect pick-me-up when I'm trying to avoid coffee, cream & sugar.

xo