Wednesday, March 25, 2015

My Wedding Shoes

I ordered my wedding shoes yesterday! I found these sandals when I was surfing through Instagram.
sunset blonde instagram ibiza sandal lauren lorraine
They are so blinged-out and they are the exact style of sandal that I wear all summer long. I knew they would be my wedding shoes!

The designer is Lauren Lorraine and they are called the 'Ibiza' Sandal.
I ordered mine in the tan/natural color.

I can't wait to get them!! What shoes did you wear for your wedding?

Monday, March 23, 2015

My Easter Tree and Easter Decorations

I've had so much fun decorating my holiday tree for Easter. I love eggs and pastel colors and it's such a nice way to welcome Spring. So I thought I would share with you where I got all these cute little ornaments and decorations!
I got the tree at Pier One last year the day after Christmas for 50% off. It was originally $40 so I got it for $20. All of the hanging egg ornaments are from Hobby Lobby. The sequin eggs were in a package of 12 for $2.39. The larger matte finish eggs were in a package of 12 for $4.19.
The eggs with glitter and beading on them I bought individually for $1.79 each. The crosses were in a package of 6 for $0.88 cents. The moss underneath the tree was in a 6' roll for $5.99.
This Easter bunny ornament was $2.39. My favorite ornament is this fuzzy baby chick with a crown on it's head. I got it at Pier 1 for $3.95.
Moving over to the Eater basket...
I got the white basket at Hobby Lobby for $4.49 but I can't find the link for it. The three carrots are from Pier 1 for $4.95. I got the grass last year from Target on clearance and the eggs are old and I don't know where they are from.

And that's it! So in total I spent about $35 dollars decorating my sideboard for Easter which I think is just fine considering I will use these ornaments every year for a long time. Every time I walk by it I smile. It makes me so hoppy! (Hehe... see what I did there!?)

Friday, March 20, 2015

Confessional Friday

Hi ladies! Leslie isn't doing a link up this week but I still wanted to catch up with you a little bit. A lot has been going on around here so let's begin!

// Last week was suuuuper stressful. I visited my venue on Monday and had to make a decision on Tuesday on whether to book it or not. I was seriously freaking out. I want our venue to be special but I also don't want to have logistical issues like with parking cars and people having trouble finding the place. Even my nail lady could tell I wasn't right. I seriously felt like I was losing my mind. Then I went to St. Louis on Friday to try on dresses and that was MORE stress. But I think I solved my stress issue by hanging out with some of my girlfriends at the lake last weekend. Sometimes it's best to take a break and have a little fun.
We had the whole lake to ourselves.

// My future SIL made corned beef and cabbage and a bunch of other delicious Irish food on Sunday for St. Patrick's day. It was seriously SO GOOD.


// I BOUGHT A WEDDING DRESS!!! It's beautiful and I can't wait for it to arrive. It should be here any day now! Here's one that didn't make the cut. Just for your viewing pleasure.
Buying my dress was not your average wedding-dress-buying-story. But I don't feel like telling that story today. It still stresses me out just thinking about it!

// I got my Save-The-Dates! They are so pretty! I can't send them out until my new return address label stamp arrives. Did I mention I like stationary? I like, love stationary.

// Taz got a new toy! We bought him a cat tower for the office. Yes, he's slightly spoiled. And if you are ever cat-tower-shopping, definitely buy them off Amazon. WAY better pricing than at local pet stores.

// I hate to bore you with more wedding talk but I decided I'm going to get mis-matched china for my dessert plates for the reception. I think this look is super cute and adds a personalized touch to the standard white serving plates. Plus it will be a conversation piece. I can't wait to get my hands on a bunch of pretty gold/pink/silver/floral plates! Look out, vintage stores!

// I decorated for Easter and I'm a little obsessed with this tree and basket. Neely and I bought these trees after Christmas last year and we both have had so much fun decorating them for each holiday. But there is just something about pretty pastel eggs and fluffy chicks that really tripped my happy trigger!

// And lastly, I will leave you with this girl that has two babies trapped in her knees.

Happy Weekend!

Friday, February 27, 2015

Friday Catch-Up

Holy smokes it's been *cough cough* 3 weeks since we talked!

bad girl, Tristan. bad..

I can assure you I have not just been lounging around in bed and relaxing. I have been running my little ass off for the last three weeks.

// We bought a new truck exactly ONE day before we left for Miami. She's a beeeeast.

// The day that we actually left town I retrieved approximately 500 hats and shirts to sell at the boat show.

// We drove to Miami for the boat show. This was home for 5 days.

// Then a few days later I helped throw a double birthday party on the boat with around 40 people on board. The cakes were awesome!


// On our way home I finally got to stop in Orlando to visit the Victoria's Secret Outlet. It was HUUUUGE!!

// We arrived home last Wednesday the 18th. On Thursday around 5:30pm our friend, Jim, called and asked us to fly back to Florida to get out his big boat, Freedom. We agreed and were on a flight at 6am Friday morning.
steamy, warm Florida... not

// We took a little drive down to Islamorada to hang out with our boating buddies that went on the poker run.

// Sunday we took a little cruise around South Miami and I still can't believe I captured this shot...
Yes, my friends, that's a mom and baby dolphin. I die. Dolphins are my favorite!!

// We have been home since Monday and I'm so glad! Traveling is exhausting. Sometimes I can be such a homebody.

// And today I am going to head up to the lake to see my mom and my bestie is having her gender reveal party! I literally can not wait to find out if she is having a girl or a boy!!

Have a great weekend!

Friday, February 6, 2015

Weekly Tidbits

Hi there! It's Friday and I'm soooo excited!! We've had a lot going on around here so I thought I would give you some tidbits!

// We are heading to the Miami Boat show in 3 days! I decided to help out my favorite boat builder by starting them a new line of clothing to sell at the show. Talk about stressful! Designing quality clothing for the masses IS NOT EASY. Whew!!

// We bought a house for my mom! It's definitely in need of some work. Starting with ripping off the lath and plaster walls.
Did I mention someone was murdered in this house? Yeah. Not kidding. We found some blood splatter.

// I got my hair cut! I seriously have not had a hair cut in over a year. I was trying to grow out my layers and the back of my head-hairs listened but the front hairs did not! We cut off about 4 inches!

// My bridesmaids and I are heading to Kansas City tonight for some dress shopping tomorrow! I can't wait to spend time with these ladies and for them all to get to know each other a little bit. We are going to have so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Box of Sunshine

If you want to absolutely make someone's day, send them a Box of Sunshine!

Unless said person lives nearby, then just take them a bottle of wine and watch a fun movie with them.

In my case, I couldn't just pop in with wine and a movie so I sent a good friend of mine a box with a bunch of yellow goodies inside.

I might have went a little cray.
 I sent a little note indicating what the items could be used for...

Baby Shampoo to clean your makeup brushes
Hand cream for your dry winter hands
Burt’s Bees chapstick to give you soft lips
Wet Ones for clean hands on-the-go
A loofah to keep you clean
Post-It notes so you remember
A rubber ducky for baby's bathtime
A duck wash cloth to keep baby clean
A giraffe rattler for baby to play with
A candle to make your home smell amazing
Doggy treats for the poochies
Juicy Fruit for yummy breath
Peanut butter cookies for a yummy snack
Starburst for when you are craving candy
Milky Ways for when you are craving chocolate


I made this PDF and printed it on yellow paper and wrapped each goodie individually in yellow tissue paper.

And then I filled the voids with packing peanuts.
Because who doesn't love packing peanuts!?

And then I shipped that baby off without warning so it would be a surprise!

Thursday, January 8, 2015

10 Things I Have Learned About Planning a Wedding (Since I Got Engaged)

I've been engaged for 2 whole weeks now! Hooray! Wedding planning is fun, right!? Not all of it! So here are some things that I have learned about wedding planning since I got engaged.

1. Find an awesome location for your ceremony? They want $20,000 dollars just to rent the space. Oh and they won't tell you that on their website. You have to email or call them for their rates so they don't scare the initial shit out of you.
I mean all I'm doing is walking around on your property and having my friends come hang out and stuff.

2. If it looks fancy, it's expensive. Real damn expensive.
These invites are beautiful, but are they $3,000 dollars beautiful? Uhhh... nuhhh.

3. If it has anything to do with the "w" word, it's going to cost you more.
Me: "I'm looking for pricing on an up-do on Saturday, Oct..."
Awesome Hair Chick: "Oh okay my up-do rate is $60 dollars."
Me: "Okay great I would love to do a trial with you sometime soon."
Awesome Hair Chick: "Oh this is for your wedding? Congratulations! My rate is $250 dollars for weddings."

4. If the venue/vendor/anything has ever been featured in a magazine, they are more expensive.
I have all of these accolades and stuff and therefore I can rape you in the butt with my prices!

5. Pinterest is actually NOT very helpful at planning a wedding.
If you think that the link will take you to the actual designer of the dress you are WRONG. It will probably take you to some Chinese dress maker that doesn't speak English. And talk about distractions. Try searching for "bridesmaids dresses" and then you see cute bridal party robes and then you go to Etsy to see the prices and then you have a minor coronary.

6. Just because it's a new or different idea, doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Hello awkward walk down the aisle making eye contact with every single guest.

Those guests sitting towards the center of the X are going to be really comfortable all night shoving their chairs in to each other.

7. Apparently there is an acceptance for calling your best friends "bitches" when it comes to inviting them to stand next to you, hold your dress while you pee, and put up with you on the most stressful day of your life.
Really? Like no.

8. There are a bunch of things that are not that exciting that you have to remember to plan for.
Damn you stamps, and taxes, and tips, and other boring stuff.

9. Even when you get a bunch of stuff for free, your wedding will still cost a lot of money.
Dis chick got a free venue, free officiant, free dress, free accessories, free hair, free makeup, and free groom's attire and she still paid 23 grand for her wedding.

10. Find the dress of your dreams? Expect to drive all over God's green earth to try it on.
Because of course the dress of your dreams (for now) is in their new Spring line and it hasn't arrived at any store within 150 miles of you. And then once you do try on this dream dress it will probably look like crap on you because who really knows what will flatter their body the best?

So that my friends is what I have learned about planning a wedding. Good thing we don't have a date set yet!

I have got a few things accomplished like the color palette and how I want my hair to look. The important stuff, ya know?

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Buy This Not That: Apricot Scrub Edition


Let me start by saying I love a good exfoliant for my body. I prefer exfoliators that do not disintegrate with warm water, ie: salt or sugar scrubs. I want an exfoliator that will stick around with me until I am done scrubbing. And I also prefer an exfoliator that is pretty intense. I use my scrubs before shaving, before getting spray tan, and any time my skin just feels dull.

I have tried a lot of different brands of exfoliators, but for the last three years I have used Walgreens brand Apricot Scrub.
This scrub is thick, coarse, and the perfect consistency. It is an absolute dupe for the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub. And the price is about .50 cents less! One tube of this scrub would be enough for three whole body scrubs. 

A few months ago I went to Walgreens to repurchase this scrub and I saw they had changed the packaging to a solid green tube with white and yellow text on it. I bought it, got it home, and found out it was NOT what their exfoliator once had been. After the initial frustration left me I decided to buy the original St. Ives brand and while at Target I got the Up & Up version, too.
I might add that this comparison is strictly based on the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub and it's competing store brands. Not their similar product the St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub.


Having all four products in my hands I was sure which product I would repurchase. Here is a quick comparison...

// The Up & Up scrub was not thick like the St. Ives is. It's creamy like a lotion and it has very finely ground exfoliants in it. Much less coarse than the St. Ives. This would make a great facial scrub but it is not coarse enough for me to use on my body.

// The St. Ives scrub is very thick and has a lot of coarse exfoliants in it. The ratio of exfoliants to the binder is perfect, in my opinion.

// The new Walgreens formula is the right consistency but the exfoliants are finely ground and the ratio of exfoliants to the binder is much less than the St. Ives brand.

// The old Walgreens formula was almost exactly the same as the St. Ives brand but almost a dollar less in cost. (If purchased on sale.)

Here are the prices for my area.

Walgreens Apricot Scrub (new formula)- $3.39
Walgreens Apricot Scrub (old formula)- $3.19
St. Ives Apricot Scrub- From Wal-Mart $3.87
Up & Up Apricot Scrub- From Target $2.69

After using all four products I can easily say that if Walgreens would bring back their old formula I would absolutely continue buying their store brand. Until that happens, I will be purchasing the St. Ives brand.

The Up & Up and the new Walgreens formula just do not stand up to the St. Ives consistency, texture, and end result. I will probably use them on my face until they are gone then not repurchase them.



This post was not sponsored. All opinions are my own and the products were purchased with my own money.