Freebie Friday - Cupcakes!

Ok, so I know it's not Friday yet... but I so wish it was! Do you ever have weeks that seem to just draaag on. Well, that is this week for me. I literally have been dreaming of the weekend haha - plus this freebie is just too sweet to have to wait till tomorrow. So lets just let the weekend begin!

The amazing Jessica from Vol. 25 has done it again and created the cutest little cupcakes! I am seriously SO impressed with her work! I read somewhere to only read blogs (or rather keep going back to blogs) that you leave feeling inspired and good about yourself. Not downtrodden or any negative feelings. Make sense? Well, I got to thinking about which blogs just tickle my fancy and leave me feeling good and inspired - and of course Vol. 25 came to mind. So if you need a good inspiration blog to add to your list - check it out!

CLICK HERE for the free download! How stinkin' cute are these?! Can't wait for all the amazingness these bad boys will inspire - I'm already thinking of projects =)

Ellen & Luke Engaged

Here is the full post for Ellen & Luke's engagement - yay! Luke proposed to Ellen at a picnic that he set up at his parents house in Santa Clara so they thought it would be fun to do a vintage style shoot for their engagement pictures. They went all out! Luke brought a picnic basket, a real baguette, and flowers, and Ellen brought her dad's vintage books. They were so much fun to hang out with and I think they had more fun playing around at their fabulous picnic!

 

Hearted: A Little Inspiration For Your Afternoon

Happy Hump Day bloggeroos! I have the most fabulous inspirational goodies to show you today. I stumbled across these the other day (ahem - my wonderful intern did) while researching some unique marketing ideas for an envelope design haha. I just love the internet. Anyways, the first is called Creative Repository and it is just chocked full of art and inspiration! There are projects, free downloads, inspirational photos & design by category, design tools and tutorials - basically it's awesome. I especially loved the photos on the fashion section - check these bad boys out:

Gush. Ok, moving along... the next is all about typography. Something that I have always been drawn too and I've recently been trying to learn more and more about it when I was working with a designer on my new website. This wonderful place is called Type Is Art {dot} com - the best part is, it is interactive!

So, basically this site allows you to use type (individual letters) to create art. Make sense? Take a look at the next screen...

And you can start out simple to create something like this...

And then a little more practice and it is a whole new art form!

So that is my little inspiration for ya today - hope you enjoyed it! Where do you get your inspiration??

Something Blue: Fiesta Party Inspiration

Planning a bridal shower or just a summer party this year (like myself) and running out of ideas? Why not throw a fiesta? Just this month alone I had a surprise birthday AND a bridal shower all in the same week and I found some great ideas to throw your very own backyard fiesta. There are so many fun elements that you can bring in to provide lots to do for all types of groups! For my events, we got a real pinata and filled it with candy, set up a photo booth complete with mustache sticks, sombreros, and chili pepper necklaces against a red backdrop (looked so bright and fun with the sunset!), and had a Mexican restaurant cater. We had lots of different age groups so I decided to keep it fun, entertaining, and colorful with "authentic" Hispanic colors. 

 

You could also use these same elements but make it more feminine or country by picking just 2 colors and going from there like the fabulous Ashley of The Flashdance. The best part is, most of the tissue paper elements can totally be done DIY! Check out the full post at Design*Sponge

And here are some photos from our more "authentic" fiesta photobooth!

Ellen & Luke Engagement Sneak Peak!

I have had the opportunity of knowing this couple from day 1! Well almost =) They are silly, intelligent, goofy, and just fun to be around! I was so honored to take their engagement pictures and can't wait to be apart of their wedding! More on that later... but here's a little taste of what's to come - enjoy your Monday!

Check out that bling!

July Playlist

I know I missed June, I'm sorry! But excuse me... how stinkin' fast did June go for you all? For me, it felt like one day it was June 1st and before I knew it I was celebrating the 4th of July haha. So for July, there are just a few things that I am just loving, but as I get more accustomed  to it actually being July, I'm sure I will have more ha. I love summer and this summer in particular is fun because of the amazing people I get to be around everyday and the amazing hot, but not too hot weather we seem to be having =) So without further adieu, I give you my July playlist:

I'm all about GOLD this summer! Maybe I've always been about it, but I'm seeing more and more of it in stores haha. I just got a gold bikini and gold sunglasses from Target - definitely should check out their summer deals going on, great stuff! I feel like gold makes you look tan, matches almost every skin type and hair color, timeless, you can wear it season to season, and lets face it - it's just fun and Glamorous! What colors are you guys loving this summer?

Also...

My Lavender Cottage Daily Planners

These beauties are 100% handmade and absolutely to die for! I ordered mine a few weeks ago and just got it and I don't think I've EVER been more in love with a paper product. And that is saying a lot because I love paper! You get to customize the cover, colors, which month you want to start at - everything! For those of you who love organization and all things handmade, you MUST check these out. And their only $25! Oh, and I almost forgot the best part - the packaging is amazing! She even ships the planner with real lavender so you planner smells so delicious and amazing when you get it. Check out my fabulous planner below:

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

The new album from Grace Potter is my summer jam! I just love her raspy voice all her lyrics are just so catchy. Her cd has seriously been in my car on repeat for a couple of weeks now and I am still not sick of it ha. Just look at them - they are screaming cool!

Here is the music video to probably one of my favorite songs. Love.

Click HERE to watch the video!

Something Blue: Dreamy Backyard Wedding

Today's post has been sitting on my desktop for over a week now - I have been so incredibly busy, then sick, then even more busy, now dog sitting (which is awful), and now really really tired phew! So I apologize for my absence but I promise this is so worth it! Many people ask me about the pros and cons of doing a "backyard wedding" and I think if you have the right space, it can be better than a venue. PLUS can save you a ton of money. Most venues require you to use their catering and rentals - which can add up. On the other hand, doing it in your backyard can put more work on you and your friends and family. So, in the end it's just one of those things that has to work for you. And when it's done right - it looks amazing - like this! Shot by the ever stunning Feather Love Photography's new assistant Moe, this amazing wedding just screams light airy, feminine, Jane Austin, romance and all of the above. I seriously love it. The flowers are stunning!! I just don't know how else to convey to you my massive crush on this wedding. Lets just let the pictures speak for themselves and I hope you find some inspiration in them today!