Wednesday, March 27, 2013

WEDDING WEDNESDAY // PRETTY ME PINTEREST


A few weeks ago for Wedding Wednesday I shared with you 6 tips to using Pinterest as a bride-to-be. This week, I'll keep it simple and share with you some of the most beautiful things I've seen on Pinterest lately - ones that definitely have inspired my wedding. Remember when I said stop looking at Pinterest for new ideas? Yeah, I need to practice what I preach.


Pretty me Pinterest Photo sources (of the gorgeous pics I love from Pinterest):
1 // Green Wedding Shoes // Studio Castillero Photography
2 // Bleubird Vintage // Brooke Schwab Photography
3 // Ruffled Blog // Elisa B Photography
4 // Original Source Unknown (email me if you know)
5 // Always With Butter
6 // Original Source Unknown (email me if you know)
7 // At Home In Love // Paige Newton Photography
8 // 100 Layer Cake // Jose Villa Photography

Follow me on Pinterest

Monday, March 25, 2013

IN-FLIGHT DREAM LIST


Happy spring everyone! Hope the change of seasons is treating you well so far. I'm actually heading out this week for a trip back to Minnesota - where it's apparently still freezing! My family is throwing me a bridal shower and the timing couldn't be more perfect. I haven't been home since last fall and am seriously missing family and friends right now (my little nieces and nephews in particular). Although it's just a short vacation, I'm really looking forward to it.

I consider myself a pretty good traveler. And although I always seem to get stuck at airports, have delayed/cancelled flights or get stuck next to the guy smacking gum all flight, I think I handle myself pretty well throughout the torture of travel. I get into some "travel zone" where I expect the worst, am prepared for it and when if it doesn't happen, well even better.

Through all my travel missteps and lessons, there are a few things I have learned to never travel without: my phone charger, a comfy sweater and an iPad or laptop. Movies on Netflix can do wonders for passing the time and a sweater can double as a pillow or blanket if you are stuck overnight.

Is there one thing that you would never travel without? Would love to hear! Here is a collection of my in-flight dream list. Would love to fly in style with these companions!

1 // scarf - to keep you warm on a cold flight and can double as a light blanket
2 // great headphones - to drown the gum-smacking guy out (how beautiful are they!)
3 // a good read - in case you are stuck on the runway and aren't allowed to have electronics on
4 // a sweater - read above
5 // iPad w/ case - pinning can also make the time really fly (haha, no pun intended)
6 // comfy shoes - if you have to run to catch a flight you want to make sure you are comfy
7 // a nice bag - one that will fit under the seat and won't fall apart mid-travel


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

FRIDAY'S FAB $15 // IKEA GEMS

Ikea, I love you. I swear each year their designs keep getting better and better. For this week's Fab $15 I've selected four picks from their online store at prices so low you can get them all!

My latest home decor love has been this boldly patterned pillow cover (#4), which my couch is currently rocking. It's a really thick material and is easily washable. I've gotten so many compliments on it and love the reaction on people's faces when I mention it was a $10 Ikea score.

I also think I need to go get these whiskey glasses (#1) for Kim - he always has a new whiskey cocktail up his sleeve. I'm a chronic glass breaker, so at $2 you can't go wrong with these vintage-lookalikes.

Love cacti but don't live near the desert? You can buy these cuties (#3) for only $3 at your local Ikea!

And finally, I don't know what I would actually do with these bottles, but boy are they pretty! Might need to buy a new perfume and fill up the pink one with it. How fancy I would feel!

See more of my Fab $15 posts here. Have a wonderful springy weekend!

{Fab $15 is a collection of four fabulous finds from the week, always for under $15.}


WEDDING WEDNESDAY // PINTEREST TIPS FOR BRIDES-TO-BE

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Pinterest can be both your best friend and your worst enemy when it comes to wedding planning (in my humble opinion). There are SO many ideas out there - GREAT ideas - just remember that you can't use all of them! And that's the tricky part my friend. I've decided to share with you some tips on how I recommend using Pinterest throughout the exciting and oftentimes daunting process of wedding planning.

1 // At the beginning of the process begin following wedding bloggers that inspire you and go crazy with your pinning - decide what looks you do and definitely don't like. You will begin to see a pattern. My favorite wedding blogs are Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Wedding Chicks, 100 Layer Cake and Once Wed.

2 // Pick a theme. And stick to it. This was hard for me - it really wasn't until I started talking to my coordinator, Nicole, that I realized how all over the place my ideas were. I wanted a modern, rustic, vintage, sparkly, neutral, ranchey wedding. HA. What a mess that would have been. I started my own private Pintrest board (you can do that now!) and started pinning all the things I knew I wanted, along with pictures of my venue to see what the natural colors were and how the things I was choosing would go with it.

Once you see what your choices look like next to each other you will see if they go together...or not. Add and subtract from there.

3 // You will see so many unique ideas on Pintrest - many that are DIY. For DIY projects, go out and buy the materials and try making it yourself before committing. Unfortunately many of the projects you will see on blogs or websites do not look as great when you do it yourself. There were a few things, like DIY garland that I thought I wanted but once I tried making it it looked like crap and super cheap. Don't wait until the last minute to do these projects. You may be very bummed out by the outcome.

4 // Start a private Pinterest board with your wedding coordinator. This has been fun. Both Nicole and I post great ideas when we see them and we can comment back and forth about our ideas - with nobody else seeing our ideas at work!

5 // For bloggers, if you are doing DIY projects for your wedding, wait until after to share online. You don't want your guests to see all the fun you have up your sleeves, and hello, blog and Pinterest content for later! Be sure to take "how-to" pictures of the project while you are doing it so you have them for later. And of course, lots of pictures of your projects at the wedding itself to see your DIY in action.

6 // Once you are a few months out, back off of Pinterest. It's likely that you have already finalized your plans and you don't want to be overwhelmed last minute by a rush of new ideas. I'm sure whatever you have is perfect. I've found myself getting sick of some of the ideas I had from the beginning and wanting something new just do have something else to focus on and worry about. Don't do that to yourself.

What are your Pinterest wedding tips? Please do share!

Follow along with my wedding Pinterest board here

Monday, March 11, 2013

BABY KJELTEN PHOTOS

I'm absolutely melting over these photos of my nephew Kjelten. They were taken by my sister's sister-in-law, Becca, of Becca Wood Photography, when he was just teeny tiny. She perfectly captured their new little family and am sure they will treasure these forever. And man, it really is amazing how fast those little ones grow.


 See the entire collection of Kjelten's photos here.

Take a look at Becca's other work here. She's such a talented photographer!

Monday, March 4, 2013

CAMI LUNDEEN KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN



Cami Lundeen is a really talented musician and also happens to be my cousin's wife. She is working on raising money through Kickstarter.com to record her first album. Stop by her website and read her story and take a listen to her song "Run Free" - it's pretty catchy! If you want to help her reach her goal of $15,000 by April 1st there are instructions on how to do so.

Good luck Cami!

Friday, March 1, 2013

FRIDAY'S FAB $15 // POPS OF SPRING




Hey, hey! What's that I smell? SPRING is in the air! Or more like summer if you are in So. Cal this week...

Loving that things are heating up this weekend around here and makes me get an itch for spring weather and spring clothes. All my favorite stores are starting to whip out their lighter fabrics and brighter colors which always makes me happy. Pastels and neon colors are bound to make anyone at least a tiny big more cheerful.

I stopped by Forever21 this week for the first time in a looong time and actually found quite a lot of spring goodies! I'm always hesitant to buy anything too trendy but for the prices Forever21 offers, it's easy to try them out. Even if they aren't cool by May, who cares! You only spent a few bucks anyhoo.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods? Hope everyone is starting to crawl out of those winter cocoons - I know I'm trying.

Here are four fun and on-trend accessory finds from Forever21 - all with a price point under $15. Neon purse..would you dare?

Buy them here: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4.

More Fab $15 posts here.

{Fab $15 is a collection of four fabulous finds from the week, always for under $15.}