Wedding Wednesday: Our Engagement Pictures Have Arrived!

We are just thrilled with our engagement photos, I am so confident that our wedding photos will be perfect!

Next time I think a glass or two of champers would help ease the nerves, but hey, I just worked it

If you're ever in the need for photography, honestly I wouldn't hesitate to refer you to Kim and Niki of Kim and Niki Photography, they're wonderful and so pleasant to work with

www.kimandniki.com

Thanks ladies, we are so happy!

xo,

VRB

p.s. Eleven Days!!!!

Graduation Dresses

My best friend is approaching her graduation from Law School and the dress search has commenced!

It's right around the corner so I have taken the liberty of perusing the aisles for some fun finds:

Grad footing the bill?

Banana Republic Havanna Linen Dress - HERE


Pass the Sugar, Pleats Dress - HERE

Aqua Dress Eyelet Sleeveless Party - HERE 

Have We Met? Dress - HERE

Mom footing the bill?

Kate Spade Silverscreen Dress - HERE

DVF Maja Two Dress - HERE

Milly Cascade One Shoulder Dress - HERE

A Tea Towel Shower

My Mother and Maid of Honor, CJN were gracious enough to host a garden tea party for me

It was such a beautiful afternoon, the sun was shining, the humming birds were flying and the flowers were in full bloom

The theme was tea towels, so many of the guests brought a beautiful tea or dish towel for me

This beautiful setting was adorned with enormous amounts of delicious scones, bundt cakes, meringue, and cookies

My Mother always hosts the nicest events, she puts so much love into everything she does

From flowers in casual mason jars, a beautiful and unique teacup for all twenty-four guests to sweet tea favors

Honestly, it couldn't have been more perfect!

Thank you to my lovely family and friends, I love you dearly!

xo,

VRB

Pretty and simple white flower arrangements in fun mason jars and my birthday tea cup!

VRB, ACM, and my MOH, CJN

A beautiful and absolutely splendid lemon bundt cake made my cousin Dioni

This beautiful towel with lemons (my favorite) was complimented with my Auntie Lids classic red lip signature

I swear the woman does Bikram with her red lipstick on!

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Hair and Make-Up Trial

First off, I'm a pony-tail and mascara out the door kind of girl, so make-up, hair and I aren't BFF's

For our wedding I was convinced I would just do my own make-up and have my cousin KLW do my hair, but was convinced otherwise by my lovely bridesmaids

I want to look put together and glowing on my wedding day and have the lovely help of two nice young ladies, Kat and Nicole

They found the perfect balance of a loose and elegant braided up do and soft natural make-up highlighting my features, I'm thrilled with the results!

Hair Inspiration

Image - HERE

Image - HERE

Image - HERE

Experimenting with my hair

Make-Up Inspiration

Image - HERE

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Image - HERE

Quick Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas

News Flash: Mother's Day is Sunday!

For those of you on a time crunch (or planning a wedding?)  like me who have put this off, here are a few fun suggestions for your mother dearest:

A classic but in a fun colour like this 'Cyclamen', 'Deep Red', or 'Orange'

Available - HERE

Jo Malone's new specialty scent is to-die-for!

Available - HERE

Fun make-up storage for the travel bug!

Available - HERE

What lady doesn't like a classic pair of tortoise sunglasses?

Available - HERE

Fun way to spruce up a sunny space, I adore my dish towels in this same motif

Available - HERE

For a sunny windowsill 

Available - HERE

Sweet lemon cloisonne lemons for a ladies breakfast or luncheon

Available - HERE

Helpful hints:

-Order online and do in-store pick-up, Nordstrom does this

-Make a homemade card, it will remind her of your hand print cards from pre-school that she probably still has!

Image - HERE

-Create your own spa day, have brunch, get manicures and pedicures, head home to a glass of bubbly and make 'Miracle' face masks

Easy-peasy recipe HERE

Image and Recipe - HERE

-Local? Make mommy brunch with fresh farmer's market fruits and cornmeal Belgian waffles, topped with some fresh creme fraiche - yum!

Pick her up early, latte's in-hand of course, and walk or bike to farmer's market 

Pick out the freshest and ready-to-eat goodies to smother your waffles in

Martha Stewart Image and Recipe - HERE

Monday Musings: Decanters

BRS dragged me to see The Avengers this weekend

And when I say dragged, it was more like bribed with dinner waving in front of me like Scooby and his Scooby Snacks

What did I take from the movie except for a mini crush on Captain America?

My new obsession with decanters and how we must have them!

We got stuck watching the movie in 3D on accident, which I was nervous about at first, hello vertigo!

There were a few scenes that really popped in 3D, one of which was a scene when Tony Stark (Iron Man) offers Loki (the villain) a cocktail among the madness to distract him 

Forget the monster effects in the movie, but hello minor details this girl enjoyed!

Mr. Stark displayed a nice collection of decanters on his Jetson's-esq bar, check it out:

Image - HERE

I'll take one of each!

William Yeoward Helen Square Decatner - HERE

Baccarat Harcourt Whiskey Decanter - HERE

Kate Spade Banyan Stripe Decanter - HERE

e-bay has a number of beautiful decanters up for bidding, including a bunch of vintage Lalique decanters

Whether you display them in a cabinet, on a bar, or cart, decanters are a sure way to glitz up a space

Image - HERE

Image - HERE

Image - HERE

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Shoot Outfit Ideas

I had NO clue what to wear to our engagement shoot on Sunday so did a little blog perusing last week to find JUST the perfect outfit to wear for our shoot

Most blogs suggested dark sold colours, and to avoid busy patterns... but if you open my closet, all you will see are stripes, floral, checks and more

So... this meant it was time to pop into Anthro and do a little shoppy-shop

I searched high and low at Anthro, Nordies, The Crew, Kate and Macy's for a solid sheath, shift or tunic dress in a fun colour but came up empty handed

Patterns are just plain in, why fight it?

I do see where they suggest wearing solids, patterns deter from the face, which should be your main focal point

In my case, I hope the stripes helped a sister out... recent stress has not been kind to my face

Side note: had an incredible facial today at Supple in Berkeley, I'm in-love!

I'm all over the place on this post, sorry working on 4 hours of sleep and bleach fumes from yesterday...

New roomie in the cottage, aka my best friend ACM - hooray!

Anyway, back to engagement outfits!...

If you're not trying to avoid pictures of your face, I mean come on, who is really, then here is a lovely dress to consider:

Came up with this steal on sale - $70

HERE

How adorable are these?

On sale at Nordstrom too...

Work the wedges, the elongate the leg, trust me

HERE

However, our photographers begged to differ on the patterns, they were all over this choice I arrived in, remember from my bachelorette?

Repeat, I know,  but why not work what works, right?

HERE

For our "casual" shots, I wore my new James Jeans and an orangey-coral gingham shirt I'm in love with paired with my navy and white Bonanno's - you just can't go wrong

BRS wore his new Naem Brad jeans and a cheerful yellow shirt, it was like Easter all over again

HERE

HERE

Bonnano's are on sale!

HERE