FREE WEDDING PRINTABLES

If there is one thing I've learned in the wedding planning process it's that it really is so so expensive! Nothing in the wedding industry comes cheap or free. Or so I thought! Turns out that some wedding sites provide fully customizable printables. Not only are they free but many are beautifully designed! They come in a variety of forms - from full stationery sets and table numbers to treat labels and place cards, it really doesn't get much better. My two favorite sites for free printables are Wedding Chicks and Love vs. Design. Looking forward to taking advantage of these little gifts.

Note: Many can double for ANY celebratory occasion.

 antler invitation set, will you be my groomsman and bride/groom signage from wedding chicks

monogram labels and just married sign from martha stewart weddings

 wedding tickets and place setting label from love vs. design

ROCK THE ROOM!

When I first set eyes on this room from Canadian House & Home last year I became a little obsessed. I'm a huge fan of mixing a bold gold with natural materials like is done here with this jute rug. The mixture of hard and soft is done perfectly. So, why not make it into an outfit? Here I've given it my best shot. Rock that room!

Get the look:

• Ponte tank
• Pink skinny jeans
• Gold feather bangle
• Pack punch sandals

FRIDAY'S FAB $15: Les Miniboux

Happy Friday everyone-hope it was a good week. I got sick on Wednesday and wasn't able to write my Wedding Wednesday post but promise I will be back at it next week..what a bad blogger I am! But, did you check out this awesome giveaway from Small Talk Studio?

This week's Fab 15 features four items under $15 from the Etsy shop Les Miniboux. This cute French-based shop perfectly mixes creative illustrations with home and office decor- for a really reasonable price. The colors and design are just perfect if you ask me. I think this pillow needs to join my sofa.

More Fab 15 posts here.

A GIVEAWAY FROM SMALL TALK STUDIO

 

The amazing Alyssa at Small Talk Studio is offering a generous giveaway to my readers. One lucky reader will win one of her gorgeous prints (a $20 value). How exciting is that? I recently bought her Choose Your Own Path print and am so excited to hang it up in my home. All you need to do is visit her Etsy shop and comment on which print is your favorite and why. 

Winners will be chosen at random on Monday, August 6th. To have your entry count double, tweet a link to the giveaway. Sorry, U.S. residents only. Good luck everyone!

FRIDAY'S FAB $15: URBAN SCARLET

Haaaapy Friday! Today's Fab $15 are all from Urban Scarlet. Sadly her online shop closing down. Gladly there are some killer deals going on. Be sure to stop by and stock up for your wedding or party!

Check out all my other Friday Fab $15 posts here.

Friday Fab $15 posts feature little gems I find throughout the week, all under $15.

RUSTIC BARN WEDDINGS

Happy Wedding Wednesday everyone! I'm having so much fun with these posts that I wish I would have started them earlier.

I don't know if it's because I'm from the good ol' Midwest of if it's just the rustic charm of the whole idea, but barn weddings melt my heart. I always knew that if I did get married back home that it would be in a barn. Ok, I'll admit it, this barn.

After we decided to go for a California wedding I had a few minutes of sorrow kissing away my barn wedding dreams but that quickly disappeared with feelings of utter excitement over a ranch wedding! My sister and I have a dream of buying an old barn and turning it into a wedding venue..they are harder to find than one might think I will add-especially since we live on opposite coasts! Here are some photos of barn weddings that in my opinion, got it SO right.

 via coco & kelley, photo via  jose villa photography

 photo via style me pretty  photography by allen arrick

 via soundtrack to i do photo by ever whim

  via the enchanted barn photo by ben colvin

PRETTY ME PINTEREST. JULY.

Pinterest. Pinterest. What would we do without Pinterest? I haven't shared a Pretty me Pinterest post with ya'll for a while so here you have it!

01. perfect tones of shoes
02. polka dot planters to jazz up any succulent
03. rose gold ring (can you tell i'm a huge rose gold fan?)
04. great adventure poster perfect for any room
05. geo room
06. lace chair. maybe the coolest chair i've ever seen
07. a little reminder to appreciate it all...
08. moroccan gold dipped glasses
09. diy coasters

See my other Pretty me Pinterest posts here.

FRIDAY'S FAB $15: 07.13.12

Happy Friday the 13th! Today's fab 15 are all from the wonderful online shop Ruche. Like every Friday, everything featured can be found for under $15. Ruche features so many great designers in one place with exceptional prices. Don't forget to check out the baby section if you have kids...too cute.

01. i love macarons book

02. woof woof dog bowl

03. artichoke candles

04. marigold ring

WEDDING WEDNESDAY: ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

When I came across these pictures yesterday on Once Wed by Jill Thomas I became obsessed. Maybe it's the excitement of being newly engaged and thinking of the endless possibilities for an engagement shoot. Probably though, it's just the pure awesomeness of the photos. Did you do engagement photos? Any recommendations or advice?

FORGET TENTS: I'M GETTING A TEEPEE

Teepees..they are everywhere these days. I've been seeing so many cute ones around online and in people's photos that I decided to do a round-up of my favorites. I wish I had a big yard (and an non-destructive dog) so I could make one and curl up in it on the weekends.

 via poppytalk

via style me pretty

 via the brick house

via jen loves kev

FRIDAY'S FAB $15: 07.06.12

This week's Fab 15- four great finds, all under  $15!

01. color pop juice glasses
02. kraft bags
03. parker lantern
04. gold dots washi tape

DESIGN LUST: BRASS LIGHTING

Living in a new place, I'm trying to make my interior choices a little more, ahem, grown-up. I've ventured out and had a lot of fun with color in the past few years but when I sit back and look at what colors my place is comprised of, its honestly a bit of a mess when it comes to colors and consistency in colors.  Another problem I'm having is lighting. The natural light isn't as strong as it was in my old place which makes me a little sad. Oh, and did I mention there is track lighting? Yup.

So, while perusing around for new lighting fixtures I'm definitely being drawn to classic, simpler colors. Not going to lie, the whole stainless steel, silver everything just doesn't do it for me. Something about brass fixtures seems so elegant and unexpected to me. I'm hoping to incorporate something along these lines into my mix and simplify my decorating act a bit.

01. diy brass lamp by weekday carnival
02. via elle interior
03. copper pendant lamp, urban outfiters
04. mushroom lamp, sadie & stella

RANCH-STYLE WEDDING

Happy 4th of July! I'm sort of enjoying it being in the middle of the week to break it up a bit. Hope you are all doing something relaxing and get to see fireworks tonight!

As a few of you predicted, I'm beginning a new Wednesday column in the spirit of wedding planning: Wedding Wednesdays. I don't have the intention of turning my blog into a wedding blog but when in Rome, right?

As an update on the wedding plans- I just booked the venue for a summer 2013 wedding. I didn't think I would make up my mind so soon but when I saw the place I'd been eyeing only had a few days left in 2013 I went to see it. Instantly, I fell in love. It's a southern California ranch and has all the character and charm I wanted. Having a wedding here in San Diego also seems the most fitting for Kim and I, it's our city and all we have really known together. We can't wait to have our friends and family come out and make a vacation out of it.

The thought of a ranch-style wedding is getting me really excited to plan and all I can say is thank god for Pinterest and wedding blogs! Here are some ranch-style wedding photos I found that are getting my engine revving!

 Rustic signage and tabletop via Ruffled (Photography by N. Barrett Photography and Kelly Christine)

 Poolside, dining scene and windmill via Tyler Branch Photography

Heart path via Style Me Pretty Texas (Photography by the Nichols)

BLING OUT YOUR SUMMER {WITH ACCESSORIES}

I'm a true believer in buying great basics and jazzing them up with fun accessories. Here are some amazing summer staples that I'd love to add to my wardrobe.

01. nautifal bracelet, the ropes
02. yellow satchel, modcloth
03. gladiators, madewell
04. pentagon bracelet, fab.com

PS: You might remember me doing a giveaway a few months back for The Ropes. I can't express how much I love these bracelets and have worn mine non-stop since I received it. The perfect little summer gift for your gal friends!