ring-a-ding-BLING

so guess what!? i'm going to be a bridesmaid! my friend sarah's bf jason popped the question on christmas, and sarah officially popped the bridesmaid question to lacey and me a couple of weeks ago over pf changs. (note: i will probably say yes to almost anything if you ask me over pf changs.) while i don't get to wear a big white dress and have everyone's attention on me, i get to wear a green or blue dress and celebrate my friends sarah and jason. i'd say that's pretty great as well. this is my first time being a bridesmaid and i'm super duper excited.

i went to the bridal showcase last weekend with sarah and it was fab-u-lous! while my taste for weddings is a little different than some of the vendors that were there, (i'm really not a fan of wedding clichés. if you know me at all, you probably have heard me talk about this and for that, i apologize.) but it was still really fun to get fun wedding/shower ideas and free samples.

speaking of which, i shamelessly accepted every free food sample that was offered (which probably adds up to about three full-size cakes.) i was feeling pretty gross when i left. overall, i had lots of fun exploring with sarah, her moh katie, sarah’s mom, and jason (who was totally a trooper and tagged along with us)!

our free photo shoot with shutter booth...

there was an entire photobooth strip of these, but i'll spare you the rest.

weddings and the city booth, featuring elements from carolina bride cover girl lindsey regan thorne's wedding at the mint. you can see her wedding photos here.

new york bride and groom, which just expanded their shop in charlotte, showing off some delicious dresses.

my friends stephen and cj torrence of torrence photography's very cool booth (they had all these old cameras on display in the case.)

you should also check out my friend lindsey lee's booth photos. i didn't snap any shots because i was too busy chatting, but it was like a mini anthropologie store. so cute.

delicious free samples. i ate like a fat kid and was not the least bit ashamed.

cuppycakes from the blushing bake shop, which just opened in ballantyne village. how pretty are these?

more blushing cupcakes... almost too pretty to eat (but not quite)

why, yes, i would love a piece of the almond cake...and the chocolate...and the vanilla. this booth gave out full-size pieces and therefore was one of my favorites. laura's bakery in matthews, however, won the best cake of the day award. and i definitely did my research.

i'm liking this this table for a fancy schmancy beach wedding. i love the blue/gold tablecloth.

a little over-the-top, but also a little fabulous.

i've got wedding fever at this point and am so excited to help sarah plan her big day and throw her an amazing shower and bachelorette with lacey and katie. stay tuned, as i'll for sure be keeping you posted!

happy (happy!) weekend!

hellllooooo friday! for no particular reason, i am so looking forward to this weekend!

enjoy your lovely days off as well and in the meantime, here are a few links of interest from around the web. enjoy!

wouldn't you just feel so great all the time if your closet/office looked like this?

i'm pretty tired of seeing strapless wedding dresses, but this one is divine.

i want to drink this somewhere tropical.

winter impressionism is utterly gorgeous and remarkably impressive. as soon as i buy some frames, print #1 and #2 will grace my walls.

are readers really this lazy and gullible? i'm not, and neither is she.

image by philip newton

homes for haiti

as i'm sure you are, i'm terribly saddened by the earthquakes in haiti, and the devastation that has been caused in an already needy country.

as a habitat employee, we have been kept apprised of the situation almost daily. habitat for humanity international is working hard to create both short-and long-term solutions for its 2,000 haiti homeowners and thousands of others in need of simple, decent shelter. the saddest thing i've heard lately is that although most haitians are in desperate need of shelter, many are more willing to brave the elements, as they are terrified to be inside following the horrific quakes.

thankfully, however, habitat has reestablished its affiliate office in haiti and is working hard to carry out its mission during the relief efforts. habitat has jumped on the bandwagon for text donations. you can text "habitat" to 25383 and $10 will be applied to your next phone bill. it's simple, easy, and since i generally pay about that much in extra text charges anyway (oops), i figured i could handle it.

i personally like to know specifically how my dollars are helping, and habitat has done a great job of specifying how they will move forward with a three-fold response effort, which habitat employees have identified as the best approach for the present and the future:

1. clean-up - habitat plans to immediately mobilize efforts to clear away destruction to provide space for new shelters. this will also give haitians a small wage and a specific way to contribute to rehabilitation in overwhelming ruin.

2. shelter kits - habitat will provide specific tools and materials needed for haitians to make simple, sturdy shelters in large quantities.

3. transitional shelters - habitat hopes to begin building transitional shelters soon, which meet all sphere humanitarian standards and will be built with future hurricanes and earthquakes in mind. these shelters include a strong foundation which can be expanded upon as the country continues to rebuild.

i know that's probably a lot of information to take in, but i wanted to share as i really like habitat's clear and concentrated approach to rehabilitation and rebuilding. i think that if i were to experience a similar disaster, i would find relief and hope in having a safe place in which to stay. a home is important to me, and a privilege which i often take for granted. i continue to find my work at habitat so inspiring for that reason, and while i know there are millions of very legitimate medical, food, and emotional needs in haiti right now, i feel a little better knowing that many haitians will soon have the comfort of a place to stay.

image via habitat.org

reason #457 why i love tjmaxx

if you don't shop at tjmaxx/marshall's/ross you really should start. i work for a non-profit and have expensive taste. you do the math. the great part about shopping discount stores is that i can often satisfy both my bank account and my label lust at the same time.

if you don't believe me, here are a couple of my favorite finds:

1. two laundry by shelli segal dresses, both of which retailed for more than $200 for $29 and $39, respectively. that's a lot of percent off. they're classic and well-made and i wear them often.

2. a pair of vertigo paris pants that are (gasp!) shockingly long on my tall frame. the original tag was still on them - $198. i paid $12.

3. a $30-something aerie bra (which i love) for $7. i'll take one in every color, please.

but this weekend i hit the jackpot. my favorite fragrance is marc jacobs' original, which, other than applying liberally anywhere it's sampled, i've never been able to afford. i've never found it on sale and because daisy and lola are his bigger fragrance sellers, it's not easy to find. it generally retails for at least $70 and ranges up to $90 for the larger size.

until this weekend.

...when i walked in to tjmaxx, and sitting all alone on the perfume shelf, was a giant white box that said "marc jacobs" on it. and inside was not only 3.4 ounces of eau de parfum ($90 value), but a lotion and a travel-size bottle, all packed in to a lovely marc jacobs tote. for just $39! i was ecstatic. seriously, i think my heart skipped a few beats when i saw the price. and better yet, i actually ended up purchasing it for $35, because the box (which was cardboard and about which i did not care) had been a little damaged. it never hurts to ask for a price reduction.

so, once again, discount shopping has paid off. not only did i get a price with which i could cooperate, but i got the fantastic adrenaline rush and satisfaction of a perfect find. try and beat that, nordstrom.

happy new year!

helloooo 2010!

there's something about the start of a new year that makes me really giddy and ambitious. i'm not much of a resolution maker, i usually just fall asleep on new year's praying for the year that's to come...

let's hope it's fabulous!

images both via flickr

christmas countdown - finished!

"it all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.

as moments go, that one appeared no different than any other... it came and it went. it was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. it was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

but in reality, that particular moment was like none other. for through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. god became a man. while the creatures of the earth walked unaware, divinity arrived...

the omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. he who had been spirit became became pierceable. he who was larger than the universe became an embryo. and he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

it all happened in a moment. in one moment...a most remarkable moment. the word became flesh." - max lucado

merry christmas!

"nativity" watercolor by jennifer diane smith

my festive house!

welcome to my house!

festive flowerboxes - i painted lots of sticks white, stuck them in the leftover soil, and filled the bottom with white lights and holly.

i am so completely obsessed with this wreath - it was also only $9!

2009 christmas tree!

my merry reindeer on the coffee table. part of me wants to keep these guys out for the winter. i haven't decided if they're too christmasy yet.

the bookshelf with santas and festive snowglobes.

christmas domino and some vintage balls.

nothing says "merry christmas" quite like tissue paper flowers and feather garland.

centerpiece that liam enjoys destroying daily.

a little christmasy vignette on the counter.

in keeping with the feather theme, angel wings with the cookbooks.

vintage shiny brites in the bathroom.

liam's stocking, waiting to be stuffed.

and finally, my bedroom tree!

hope you enjoyed the tour! merry christmas!

christmas countdown - two days!

"happy, happy christmas that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" - charles dickens


image vintage vogue via flickr

bestie christmas 2009

for the fourth year in a row, sarah, lacey and i have spent a day/night together exchanging gifts and celebrating christmas. i always look forward to our christmas weekends - and this year was just as lovely as the rest. the morning started out with coffee, pumpkin spice muffins and ham/egg scramble and just got better from there... (please excuse the morning hair/pj look.)

last year we decided stuffing stocking was way more fun than just exchanging regular gifts. the idea caught on, and i'm pretty sure opening lots of little goodies is just as fun as stuffing them.

sarah and lacey take "chandelier earrings" quite literally with the ornaments i gave them.

sarah is super excited about her fun stocking presents.

getting ready to dig in...

this picture needs no caption. i think i have about 3289476 more like it on my camera.

this is probably the greatest picture ever. we were both clearly excited about whatever it was sarah gave us.

who said kaleidoscopes were for little kids?

sarah was chosen to play mary (mother of god!) at her church's live nativity. lacey and i went to see her. while we waited to walk through, we got free coffee, cookies, and word searches.

sarah being holy. she was amazing! she had a monologue and everything.

i'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

the inn at little pond farm

a few weeks ago, mom and i were fortunate to participate in the fireside tour in valle crucis, north carolina. valle crucis is latin for "valley of the cross" and is located about fifteen minutes outisde of boone. it's very rural and historic and is home to the original mast general store (which is still open), among other points of interest.

the fireside tour included local inns, b&b's, churches, and farms in the area; all decked out for christmas, and all of which had refreshments. one of our last stops even had sangria and free massages. it was a good day. the morning of the tour, we arrived to a light dusting of snow, which made the tour that much more festive.

although the refreshments were fabulous, most of the inns/b&b's were quaint but included far too many floral patterns, quilts, and ruffled pillows for my taste. i was probably not impressed because our first stop of the day basically ruined the rest of the tour for me. the inn at little pond farm is valle crucis' best kept secret - we've been visiting the area for years and never knew about it. the inn, established, renovated, and run by a classy couple is truly enchanting. it's simple and sophisticated and if i end up staying here, i'll probably never want to leave. the decor takes shabby chic to a whole new level of cool and it made me want to go home and clear out 95% of the clutter that fills my shelves and countertops. their website is really great and i highly recommend you check it out, but in the meantime, here are a few pictures i snapped during the visit:

the exterior is renovated, but beautiful and sits among many gorgeous trees and acreage.

the stunning dining room. i somehow overlooked taking a shot of the kitchen, but it is also incredible. what's more, the innkeepers teach themed cooking classes to anyone who wants to attend.

the christmas decorations were so minimal, yet gorgeous. the evergreens really popped against the all-white walls and furniture.

it was cold and snowy outside and i could have stayed in front of this community fireplace all day. also, the hardwood flooring throughout the home was imported from france. nice, right?

this tree was much cuter in person.

i am obsessed with the furniture - all of which has been upholstered with simple vintage fabric such as feed sacks and plain linen.

so cozy.
belledone room - the most expensive in the place goes for $350/night. (i said it was gorgeous, not affordable).

the giant tub in the belledone room cost approximately $5,000. probably why it's so expensive to stay here.

just lovely.

the winterberry room - a steal at only $250/night.

i could be really excited about straightening my hair every day in this bathroom.

again, the fabulous centerpieces/decor were so simple and gorgeous.

so lovely!

so, although expensive, i could most likely be talked into staying here at some point. it's cozy and luxurious and very unlike other bed and breakfasts that i've seen. i'm certain the food is exquisite if the kitchen and refreshments (pictured above) were any indication. and not only do guests receive breakfast here, but also "afternoon sweets and evening wine and hors d'oeuvres". yes, please.

unfortunately, my photos really don't do justice to just how beautiful this place really is. i highly suggest a visit!