rainy summer days

"Gray Day" by Sergey Zakharov

"Gray wedding" by Sjn

beachy blues

are you planning a beach wedding? in beautiful blues...

my favorite place... the beach

White wedding

ruffles and ruffles and ruffles...

sources: bouquet by Chic Blossoms, hair pins by Handle & Spout, parasol by Guy De Jean, cake by Nicky Grant, Bridal gown by Amsale, flower girl dress mygirldress.com, satin ballet shoes by Monsoon.

SMP is tempting me...

Abby over at Style Me Pretty is having an Inspiration Board Contest, and you know with my love of making boards... I can't resist! The catch is you choose one of her Look Book designer dresses and go from there.
The ruffled neck Amsale gown below was my inspiration for this ruffled red and white affair.

I especially love the ruffled swag cake and the ruffled edge peonies!

We have a week to play with our boards... so who knows what I'll enter.
I may just have to do all 9 dresses!

sources: gown by Amsale, bridesmaids dress Lazaro, Cake by May Clee-Cadman of Maisie Fantaisie, shoes Christian Lacroix, vases by Jamali Glass, save the date by BetsyWhite, bouquets by the Charleston Flower Market, candleabra by Trade Fair International, earrings by Molly the Pirate at Etsy.

enjoy!

sunny side up!

The happy and simple beauty of sunflowers... they just say "smile"

They will make your event a happy place for sure!

What color do you like your "sunny side up" paired with?
Tough to choose isn't it?

but... if you must know...
my faves, I have 2, the purple and the gray
the not-so-typical combos

lovin' sunflowers!

Bouquets for Muffy Martini

For Ms. Muffy ...
a mix of pink roses and hydrangeas for the wedding party bouquets

picture this tied with an apple green ribbon

here's one with Hypernicum berries, love the pop of green!

and for the groomsmen... Hypernicum boutonnieres

another smaller bouquet with a dash of pink hydrangea

picture this wreath in green hydrangeas and pink roses... lovely!

they'll be beautiful!

Inspiration: orchids & callas

This is one of the most gorgeous bouquets I've ever seen and inspired me to pair shades of orange with green...

...the perfect color palette for a late summer or early fall wedding.

Save the Date!

Once you set the date of your wedding and firm up your guest list and venue, you may want to send out save the dates. It's a good idea, especially if you have a lot of guests that will need to make travel arrangements to join you for the big day.

I was searching for my bride Ashley who wants to do a magnet and found this website:

pioneer color.com

Besides that Hollywood movie style I opened with, they have a great selection of other customizable 3.5 x 4 inch magnets in all colors and themes. Here are a few of the varied selection that they offer...

which is your fave?

pretty paper, a must see!

My featured vendor this week is
Gia Graham of betsywhite stationery boutique.
A small sample of her work is shown on the board below her "Lucia" and "Antonia" invitation designs and free downloadable cello bag topper.
She designs custom logos and all types of stationery for your wedding, party, baby announcement, or everyday needs. You'll be delighted, I'm sure, to peruse her beautiful work.

I chose this saffron and ginger color to highlight, but you'll find every color palette in her designs.

Take a trip to her shop at betsywhite.com.

"betsywhite is a stationery company bent on blanketing the world with oh-so-pretty design at oh-so-attainable prices"

out of the ordinary

Looking for affordable centerpiece containers and colorful votives? I find it's cheaper to buy than rent from your florist
and then you have them to give away or keep.
Try JamaliGardendotcom for all types and styles.

here are a few I found in a warm, earthy brown and copper color, but all colors are available:

...and

how about using these pretty little gems and attaching your place cards to them. Hang them for your guests to find.

So unique and beautiful when the light catches them!

Tropical inspiration

It's sure hot here in Hotlanta, but I'd rather be here...

where the ocean breezes are blowing gently, and you don't really feel the heat.

I need a vacation!

stylish decorating for less

If you read my other blog, Tales of a Golf Gal, you know I've written lately about "stuff". Well, it turns out I'm not the only one with too much stuff. People move and find they can't or don't want to use something again, or just want a change. "Downsizers" need to get rid of stuff, and generally have some pretty nice things to get rid of. An opportunity for all you newlyweds!
Yesterday I stopped at the "Queen of Hearts" Antiques and Interiors here in Atlanta. It's what I call a "junk" store where vendors have a booth and sell their wares. Some of it's antiques and some of it's just knick-knaks or old furniture they don't want anymore. You have to weed by a lot of junk, but there are always great finds and interesting pieces too. It's a great way to get ideas and find some character pieces to decorate with and cheaper than buying new.

I love this idea:

it's a bread tray, but great as a centerpiece for your table or on your mantle

shabby chic dining table and 6 chairs for $450, wow
so easy to redo the chair cushions!

a good looking bisquit jar by Raymond Waites for $24

my fave find... I'd love this chest for my own bedroom

repainted & reupholstered useful side chair to fill an empty space find an old chair and DIY

cute mirror and pictures for the nursery

I'd paint the picture frames pink too for a little girls room

and... what Flintstones lover's kitchen should be without this cookie jar!

you'll find a lot of fun and quirky stuff like that

posted at

happy hunting & decorating!