Babies.....

.....I mean Baby's.....Breath!! As in flowers.....and you know I love me some flowers! I have always loved baby's breath, but there was a time when I saw it as cheap filler for a beautiful flower arrangement and didn't use it much anymore in the floral work I did.

But....I was just over at one of my favorite wedding blogs to stalk, Aylee Bits, and saw the most amazing compilation of photos of weddings where they used only baby's breath! It is amazing....see: Not only is it very inexpensive, but it is very easy to work with! It's also so light and airy and just makes a beautiful statement. Personally, I feel that if you're going to use baby's breath....use lots of it. Huge arrangements....roping....I love the flower girl's headpiece and I love the wreaths! Check out the gorgeous centerpieces in the picture below....bottom, center. Aren't they fabulous!I even like the bunches of baby's breath mixed in with other white flowers, like below:

I did a little more "blog stalking" and found the fabulous photo below at WeddingBee.com, which I abosolutely LOVE to follow. It's a blog with a group of brides past and brides to be....you get to follow their road to the altar....at the altar....and past the altar. They lean on each other for help, advice and ideas to make their wedding special. Anyway, check out this pic:You can actually see more of this beautiful, over the top wedding at David Monn's website here.

So, if you're on a tight budget, or just want to make a huge impact with flowers, think babies....I mean baby's....breath!

You're gonna love this!

I don't post here often, but when I saw this I knew I had to post about it! What a creative and unique way to keep your wedding party and family informed about the events surrounding your wedding!Folded it is about the size of a business card, so it can be conveniently tucked into your wallet. I love checking out the Weddingbee website. All of the brides to be have such great ideas! And I love see the results of their efforts after they're married!

Somebody had to do it.......

.......and what a great job they did! This is awesome!

Now this is what I'm talkin' bout!!!

Now this is original! Memories for all who attend for years to come. I love it!

Dare to be different.....dare to be YOU!

As you all know, I'm all about weddings and I just love to see what fabulous, creative and new ideas others come up with to make their weddings special. HOW I wish I had gotten married during a time when it was all about having a wedding that is an "event"....one that everyone talks about for years to come....and one that completely reflects the couples style and personality. I'm actually amazed at how many "grooms" are actually getting involved in the wedding planning process and putting their "mark" on the day!

I just love THIS wedding.....CLICK HERE.

I love her shoes....I love her gown.......I love her headpiece.....I love the guys ties....I love the table cards....I love the centerpieces.....I love, love, love the photo booth idea they came up with.....not a real fan of the cupcakes versus a wedding cake, so their cake and cupcake combo was a compromise (I'd still have to have a multi tiered cake)...I love their venue....I love, love, love, love their photographer....and I love them! What a great couple!

Enjoy!

OMG - and this to match!!!

This blog is to die for! How creative!!! I'm dying to make some of these.....anyone want to send me some shoes or a bag??? Click HERE.....

And I just have to post these, too!!!!

I don't know why I didn't see this project the first time around, but these are just fabulous! Gosh, I wish I could wear them!!!! Even if I could....where would I wear them??? Click HERE for the link!

I just HAD to post these.........

I don't really consider myself a "shoe" person, although I do understand that the shoes can make or break the most fabulous outfit. I've seen this style of shoe....I think in magazines. I think they are very fashion forward, but of course not shoes I could wear....maybe years ago!

BUT....as you all may know, I'm a sucker for a great DIY project and I think this one is fabulous! So I'm sharing.....here's the link to this brilliant project...check it out!

Let there be light.....

....and let it shine on you! I just love this idea I found while "blog stalking" at this blog. They even offer the "how to" for them! I don't know if I'd want pictures of myself on every one of my tables, but I think it's a great idea to have them on the guest book table, at the entrance, or the cake table.....or just in random places throughout your venue.

Aren't they great!

This is just the CUTEST idea!!!!

I know.....I really do not have the time to be surfing wedding blogs and websites, but every now and then, I just can't resist taking a break to do just that. AND look what I found!! This is the greatest idea for the groom I've seen in a looong time. In fact, it is actually quite rare that you see great ideas of things to help include the groom into the wedding event. I adore this! You buy the socks of your choice, then go to this website (Tie That Binds) and download the label for $7.....unlimited prints! Don't you just love this? I found a different version (this is where I saw it first) at the Style Me Pretty blog....I love that blog! She shows you exactly how to put it all together....

I think it would be so cool to pick out really unique socks......for the wedding day!

Great Guestbook Idea!

It's all in the details.....and this is one that I am just soooo excited about! I watched the newest Martha Stewart Weddings show, which featured one of her assistants, Liesel Menning. It was an eco-friendly wedding in Franklin, Tennessee and I just loved all of the elements! But the one thing I loved MOST was her guest book quilt! What a fabulous, fabulous idea.....and one I'm hoping I can convince Shelby to do for her wedding!!! (What do you think, Shelby???)

They made a large square in the center with the bride's and groom's initials and wedding date. Then they had smaller squares that guests could personalize with permanent markers. Later they were sewn into a quilt!!!

Isn't this the most fabulous idea??? I mean WHO pulls out their guest book to look at the written names of who was there.....we KNOW who was there! I love this more personal type of guest book...one where guests can leave their sentiments....and with the quilt you'll be reminded on every cold night just who was there and how much they love you!

One of Shelby's closest friends, Lindsey, got married last April and I made a Wishing Tree for her....I just loved the idea and it looked beautiful in the room. And now she has all of these beautiful sentiments from everyone who was there with her and Darren on their special day. That is definitely more special than a guest book with a bunch of signatures!

More Stands......

Once I get something in my head, it's hard to get it out!!! Here are a few more ideas for cake stands:

I think this is quite unique!

This is similar to the cake Shelby has expressed interest in....except she wants it all white and she wants the hydrangeas to be very uniform (I can't find the one she made in photoshop!). In this case the flowers would become the cake stand....just raise up the cake and fill the area with flowers...how pretty!

This was at a wedding that was held at a winery! What a great idea!

I still love the birdbath idea....but I also think that if you took the top off of this one and put the cake in it and set it on the cake table, it would look great! You could have a riser in the middle to raise the cake and fill with water....it would look like it's floating in the water! How pretty and unique!

Now this idea is great for a nautical type wedding, a wedding on a cruise ship or a wedding held on the water! It's a ship's wheel! I love it!!!

Well, I'll keep thinking and let you know what I come up with next!!!

Dare to be Different - Make a Stand!

Literally.........I was bored the other night and was surfing some wedding websites and saw the most unique cake stand! I didn't save a picture of it, so I've been searching ever since trying to find it......and I did!

I'm not crazy about the twigs sticking up everywhere, but I thought the tree trunk as a cake stand for wedding in the outdoors was very creative! Many brides do pay close attention to this detail......and some take it just a bit too far!

Most are pretty traditional in their choices.......... ....it's beautiful, but would probably only look right in a traditional setting. I find that alot of brides these days are anything but traditional. This generation's bride wants to put her own unique personality into her wedding......and I think the best way to do that is in the details! Some brides spend a fortune on cakes that feed 1000 for a guest list of 200 just to have the "WOW" factor when people walk in the room. I think you can do that just by being a little creative in choosing the base your cake sits on....look at some of these!

I love this!!! Right now I have a planter similar to this sitting on my front porch with a huge pumpkin on it.......I think it makes a statement. I think the cake is so much more beautiful on the planter than it would be just sitting on the table. And check this one out........

I think this is awesome! It would be gorgeous in an outdoor garden setting! And I think these would make great cake stands........

...this one has a vintage feel.......sitting on top of the cake table surrounded with votive candles, I think would be gorgeous. You could even add some floral touches!

This would look great at a wedding with an Oriental flair....

This one is perfect for a Texas wedding (not you, Shelby!!!)

This is soooo shabby chic!

Or you could take a tip from the show I saw the other night on CMT.....My Big Redneck Wedding......her cake stand was beer cans! Whatever your choice....whatever your personality....make it you! But don't forget the details.....no one else will either!

I'm Moving!!!!

I know it sounds crazy, but I've found a new home. It just doesn't sit right with me to blog about stuff that isn't wedding related....this blog is about a wedding and I'm going to leave it to that...blogging about weddings (one of my most favorite subjects!).

Soooo.....visit me at my new home, Inside Out!!! Feel free to stop in anytime.....and make yourself at home!!! See you there!

Good Morning!!!!

Sometimes it's hard to sleep after the sun comes up.....but sometimes we really want to sleep in a little. We have skylights in our bedroom, which makes it extra bright in the morning, so once in a while one of us (or both) will get up and retreat to the sofa for a few extra winks..........this is what I found in the living room this morning:

Isn't that cute!!!

They're baaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!

Welcome Home, Shelby and Justin!!!

Shelby called a little while ago to let me know they are home.....tan.....and tired! We didn't talk long because they have to get unpacked, do laundry and then Justin has to pack again........yep, he has to do a rotation 3 hours away from San Antonio and will be gone for a month! Poor thing!!

I think I'll just sit here and wait to see Shelby's vacay post.....can't wait to see the pictures!!!

Whoaaaa....girlfriend, you need to syndicate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just checking out Courtney's blog to look (once again!) at the picture of her, Lindsey and Shelby and happened to check our her counter! Holy Moses, girl!!!!!!!! You could pay for your wedding if you would just syndicate your blog. Dang...............I thought I was getting alot of hits!!! Here's Courtney's counter as of 10:54 pm on Friday night!:

Geeeeez.................I feel so small now! I thought my blog was getting alot of hits! But then I'm sure I don't have anywhere near as many friends as her (they started dry rotting years ago!)!!! Girl, your blog is a hit!!! Syndicate, syndicate, syndicate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll manage your bog for only 10%!!!! :o)

Haven On Earth......

It was close, but we made it to Graves Mountain! We were packing in the morning when we heard the "You've Got Mail" sound....yep...another foreclosure that Dennis needs to list! We didn't panic...just took care of everything and figured we'd get out of town by 2 or 3...plenty of time to make it for dinner! NOT.......an hour later another one came over and 20 minutes after that...yep, another! Three in one day!!! We rushed to get done what had to get done and got to Graves Mountain just after sunset.

Shugs was soooo excited to be going for a ride in the car and she loves it even more when her bed gets to go, too! She used to hate going for a ride in the car, but once she figured out that the alternative was to stay behind without us, she started going along and now she just loves it!

I could hardly wait to get there....it's been 6 or 7 years (can't really remember!) since I've been and each year I've known when it was Graves Mountain weekend...if you weren't there this year, it smells the same...it looks the same....it feels the same! There was a great group this year......20 of us on Friday night, 15 on Saturday night and 6 of us on Sunday night! Of course, we all really missed some of the OSLers that couldn't make it this year....as a last thought before heading out the door, I ran off copies of Shelby and Justin, Courtney and Austin, and Lindsey and Darren....figured it was better than nothing! Y'know...I think they had a great time!!! They got to sit by the fire, eat at the harvest table.

...sit on the porch....Shelby and Justin even helped make the Cabin Chicken Chili (recipe coming soon!)...yep, I think they had a great time!

On Saturday the guys had breakfast going before our feet hit the floor...it was delicious! Melinda started her Cabin Chicken Chili for our lunch, then headed out with Jess and Robin to a baby shower. Dennis and I went down the Apple Harvest Festival to check it out...great bluegrass music, crafts, food and I love watching them make apple butter. I thought I was taking a picture of the guys making it, but I guess I wasn't...check out the video! Sound like the festival????

Then we took a drive up to Skyline Drive.....it wasn't peak, but the colors were brilliant on one turn, then you'd make another and it was pure green.....it was a beautiful drive.

On the way back, we decided to mess with "Gypsy" (our GPS system) a little bit. We really just wanted to go through the mountains to get back instead of around them. So when she said go straight, we took a left....when she said take a left, we took a right....she recalculated so many times I think she was dizzy. THEN she decided to mess with us a little....she had us going down a "slightly paved" road, which turned into a rocky road, which turned into a dirt road that got narrower by the turn.....we were having such a great time! We really thought we were going to get back to Graves by going over the mountain.......not! We ended up at a gate...with a sign....and the sign said, "If you can read this, you're within range!". Needless to say, we did a quick u-turn and I could swear that I heard "Gypsy" chuckle.

We gave up and got back on the main road....we got back to the cabin in time for dinner and some relaxing on the porch! Later Adam started a fire in front of the cabin, the OSL and Partners hangout! The adults sat on the porch with the puppies and drank wine, although I do remember a s'more or two! Yummm!

Melinda and I were the last to bed....we ran out of lime juice for our gimlets, but found some cranberry juice and made our version of "Decks Out of the City"....get it? I was a hurtin' fool the next day, but that night chatting was worth every pain that shot through my eyes into my brain!

On Sunday Dennis, Leslie, Karen and I headed to "town" (the apple shed, grocer and a couple of yard sales)...we found some interesting things at the yard sale. Check out what was inside of this tin when Leslie opened up! It must've driven that poor lady crazy when she couldn't find those teeth! In hindsight, I probably should have bought them....they might come in handy someday!

When we got back to the cabin and told Melinda, she HAD to see it! So she, Dennis and I headed out to check it out......then we decided to take a little drive over the hill to a winery! It was a cute little place and they had a house and log cabin on the property for rent....the log cabin was different, but nothing like Graves or Baby Graves!!!

After we left the winery, we took a back road we'd been told about by Mark, Everett's brother (they're from up in that neck of the woods....). We were expecting dirt roads, but I guess progress has been made and it all now paved, but it was a beautiful drive!!!

Back at the cabin, all of the kids had left......there was only Melinda, Brad, Everett, Robin, Dennis and me left! The place looked kinda lonely......and it sounded kinda quiet.....the chairs were empty....and the bonfire was out!

Sooooo.....we heated up all of the leftovers and had a feast!

Then Dennis went off to try his hand at fishing and Everett decided to take the chill out of the cabin by starting a fire....only first he had to split wood! He was doing great until he got to this one piece....it looked like it was pretty hard, but that man refused to let that piece of wood get the better of him.....here's the picture story of how it went:

Now I would have given up long before that hatchet got embedded in that piece of wood, but it didn't deter Everett....he headed down to get his feet entrenched in the earth, then tried a piece of wood to hammer it through, but ended up using a huge rock to pound the thing. I didn't get a picture of that because we were all laughing so hard! But he DID IT! I'm impressed!

I sure am glad that we had plenty of leftovers to eat and weren't depending on Dennis' catch of the day..... he said it's hard to catch big fish in little bodies of water.....I guess that's why he loves the Chesapeake Bay so much! Oh well, back to the salt water fishing! Monday was a sad day.....seemed that we'd done everything we could to fill the weekend and now it was time to pack and go. Shugs did get a little "dog watching" in.....there was a Golden Retriever swimming in the pond area of the creek....Shugs just sat there and watched, but I'm quite confident she wasn't thinking of jumping in! After we left, Dennis and I headed back up to drive the rest of the Skyline Drive....we stopped at Loft Mountain for lunch, then headed home. I drove, while he napped....not long into the drive Melinda called shrieking that her niece had gotten engaged and they're hoping to get married next October during Graves Mountain Weekend!!! ARGHH!!!! Melin says that she told her brother that she'd drive to Graves on Friday, Philly on Saturday morning, and Graves on Saturday night..........it would take more than a wedding to keep that girl from that cabin.....she hasn't missed that weekend for 17 years....I'm sure next year won't be the first!

See you there!!! PS - Sorry for the long blog, but it was a long weekend! I have lots more great pics that I'll post later....my hands are tired and this "Add Image" button really ticks me off!!!