favorites on etsy

1. cute owl case for an ipod touch

2. french lobster scarf in slate grey

3. horseshoe napkin mail holder organizer

4. adorable clutch with paisley floral print in navy

5. in honor of valentine's day... tiny, silver heart ring

happy shopping!

a new york trip

Head up to NYC soon and check out two exhibits...

If you love Langdon's ambigrams in the Dan Brown novels, you'll love to see the rest of his artwork.

John Langdon's Exhibit
Type Salon: Painted Words, Tainted Logos
Type Directors Club
347 W. 36th St, #603, NYC

Email director@tdc.org or call 1-212-633-8943 to reserve your spot today!

TDC members: free
Non-members: $20
Students: $15

This exhibit will be on display through February and March.

Tim Burton Exhibit at MOMA

If you plan to see the exhibition Tim Burton (November 22, 2009–April 26, 2010), please be aware that gallery occupancy is limited. Timed tickets to enter the exhibition are suggested on weekdays and required on all weekends and holidays. Timed tickets guarantee entrance to the exhibition at the time designated on the ticket, and carry no extra charge.

The Museum of Modern Art

11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 708-9400

coffee date

I had coffee yesterday with the wonderful and incredibly talented Catie Joyce from Kristel Closets. If you need help with your wardrobe, could use a fashion jolt, or want to revamp your closet, get in touch with Catie. Don't be shy... it will be worth it in the end! Perfect for mother-of-the-bride or groom!

Above is a cute outfit from Anthropologie that I love. Makes me want to go to sight-seeing in Paris and drink le chocolat chaud in a large mug!

lovely item of the week

The lovely item this week is aqua baker's twine! I was so excited to find this in my mailbox and can't wait to use it. It is eco-friendly, 100% cotton, and bio-degradable. It comes in 5 different colors: orange, green, aqua, yellow, and black. Great for lots of projects! You can order it here.

draped fabric

The inspiration from this fantasy decor might be the Garden of Eden. The draping fabrics, green plants, and white linens are a great combination originally found here.

care packages of love

This might be the most adorable care package I have ever seen. The package contains:

-1 tub of Rosebud Salve

-1 homemade package of start-shaped confetti in coral, sky blue and craft paper brown.

-1 homemade package of lil’ bits of pink

-1 Old Sweet Song Wee Garland

-1 bar of Green and Black’s Organic Cherry and Dark Chocolate

I might have to send a couple care packages because of this cute post! Stay tuned!

bunting | fun colors

Recently I went on a hunt for different types of bunting. Here are a few of the cool ideas that I found!

kids room bunting

scrap paper bunting

carnival bunting

vintage handmade bunting with patterned fabric

by the sea bunting

office bunting with triangles

I would love to see your bunting. Please send me your photos!

pronovias

Provence Catering partnered with the knot and Pronovias in the fall to have a get together for brides in the New York area. Above is a photo of our delicious cupcakes and other desserts.


The flagship Pronovias store is beautiful with large open windows, an exclusive staircase, and five floors of dresses. Each bride received one of the goodie bags filled with ideas, coupons, and perfume.


Gorgeous dresses sparkled from the front window.


Provence Catering served incredible sushi that flew off this platter!


The Pronovias runway was accompanied by fragrant hydrangeas.


Astounding flowers were sprinkled in different areas on each floor.


Fell in love with this Pronovias dress!


I found a couple beautiful invites too. I'm a magnet to pretty paper! Newly engaged brides (congrats!) should join the knot for great ideas, cool events, and helpful to-do lists!

library fashion

Love this branding for library fashion done by stitch design. See library fashion's new website here.

christmas card

I stumbled upon this really cute Christmas card from 100 Layer Cake. Happy Holidays!

christmas cranberries

My mother-in-law saw this Christmas idea and we decided to try it out on Christmas Eve. She chose three different sized clear glass vases and placed clear marbles in the bottom. We placed a sprig of holly with red berries into each and poured water in the vases. Then, we added about an inch of cranberries to float on top of the water. The finishing touch was adding floating candles on the cranberries. The Christmas display looked beautiful on the kitchen table, especially when the candles were lit. Hope you had a great Christmas!

cutest garland

Here's a link on how to make the cutest garland ever found! Substitute with holiday colors for the season.

happy thanksgiving!

what a lovely table setting! these very earthy hues create a wonderful, warm atmosphere. the perfect palette by martha is called "honey & wheat" and ranges from pale champagne to deep amber.

the candles give off a glow to enhance the autumn romance of this table. the delicate bouquets of roses, wheat, peonies, and zinnias bring a refined and polished aspect to the decor. the table setting gives off warmth and radiance.

happy thanksgiving. hope your day is warm and glowing!

just love this picture

There is just something about this picture. Maybe its the way he is leaning into her... or the way she is hugging him... or the way he is kissing her forehead... they just look so happy.

Let us all be thankful for the special people in our lives this thanksgiving and may you be as happy and romantic as this couple.

lovely item of the week

I love this letterpress 2010 calendar from Paper Source. It's perfect for a holiday gift and each month has a beautiful letterpress print. These prints could sit on your desk or framed once the month is over for a beautiful arrangement on your wall.

Also, there is free shipping on orders over $80 until November 29th. Use promo code SHIP80.

happy shopping!

autumn in philadelphia

yum! my husband and I made a wonderful drink for the 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner this past Saturday night. The drink was called "autumn in philadelphia cider" and it was delicious! It was the perfect combo of sweet and sour and would be great as a specialty drink for a fall wedding. Here is the recipe to try it for yourself:

1 oz of apple cider
1 oz of vodka
1 oz of apple juice
0.5 oz of lemon juice
0.5 oz of simple syrup

Mix and serve cold in a martini glass. Let me know if you like it!

celebrating in style

I was extremely excited that my company, Provence Catering, was one of the professionals picked to be a part of Celebrating in Style at Two Paperdolls in Wayne. The goal of the event was to give guests ideas for decor, flowers, food & beverage, photography, and paper for different parties. Each room had a different theme and feel... a holiday party, a baby shower, a wine and cheese party, an ageless creatures party (you are never too old to celebrate your birthday), a mitzvah party, and a mancave party. We had food in almost every room and our cakes matched the decor wonderfully! I was so happy to work with all of these professionals to plan this event. The great players were Kendall and Leila from Eclatante, Donna, Maya, and Amanda from Beautiful Blooms, Mike and Jana from mk Photography, Carl from Frank's Wine, Laura from Laura Novak Photography, Craig from Craig Neier Associates, of course, Nicole from Two Paperdolls. Here are some awesome photos of the event courtesy of mk Photography:

Can't wait for the next Celebrating in Style event!

lovely item of the week

I'm loving this modern poppy ring pillow! It would be great for a winter wedding and would match dark gray bridesmaid dresses. You can find it on etsy here.

Here are a few gray wedding ideas from martha:

haven't met you yet

Who's that hottie? I'm obsessed with Michael Buble's new song, Haven't Met You Yet. It's incredibly catchy and you will find yourself singing it throughout the day. Here's the adorable, official music video to check out.

destination: bahamas

photo from blush events

It's official! Maliya and Chris set a date! The destination wedding will be in the Bahamas on June 12, 2010. Congratulations!

I can't wait.

lovely item of the week

I found this awesome feather necklace on etsy. Love it! So classic and you can wear it with everything.

sweet succulents

I came across a beautiful wedding today on Once Wed that uses succulents as the main floral ingredient. I love this addition to flowers that we see everyday. The variety gives the bouquet character, personality, and style. Check out the rest of the wedding here.

happy halloween!

happy halloween! I carved a couple pumpkins to celebrate! Which one do you like better?

white porcelain

Another great find at etsy.com! These white porcelain vessels are designed by wapa studio and are made with Limoges porcelain. The holes are carved by hand... so beautiful!

body scrub

Here is an easy recipe by martha to make a salt or sugar body scrub for your bridesmaids. Their skin will be smooth and silky for your big day! Don't forget the labels at the bottom!

kevin york + phillies

In honor of the first game of the World Series, I'm posting a few awesome photos taken by Kevin York. He mainly focuses on weddings, but his whole portfolio of work is incredible.

photos courtesy of kevin york photography

go phillies!

lovely item of the week

Danielle filled me in on this adorable decal from Urban for the lovely item of the week. It comes with 15 bird decals, 3 branch decals, and all the tools to apply it to any smooth surface. To go along with the bird theme, here is a "bird on a branch" hook that is pretty cute too!

pretty, pretty paper

love this font, designed by sugar paper in la

simplicity at its finest designed by bluepoolroad

diy paper pinwheels by the girls at posh paperie found at style me pretty

vintage buttons and yarn by bird and banner

very cute invites for a 50th birthday party from martha

check out more from this fun wedding suite here by erin jang, another one of her incredibly illustrated wedding invites here

letterpress wedding invite created by elum

crab inspired wedding

One of my best friends, Kadie, just got married and I thought I'd share a few of her wonderful ideas from her Maryland crab inspired wedding. She had these awesome wooden crab mallets for everyone as a favor that said the couples name and their wedding date.

Her placecards were small glass shakers filled with Old Bay seasoning. The shakers were painted with "Old Bay" on one side and a crab on the other. She attached the placecards to the Old Bay shakers with a thin wire.

Their cake was two crabs: bride and groom! The tables were lined with newspaper in true crab eating fashion.

Congratulations Kadie and Adam! You have truly "weathered" the storm together. Here are wishes for many wonderful years ahead of you!


The fire alarm and rain were just an added bonus. Remember: a wet knot is harder to untie!

mittens

I'm not ready for winter! These cute cashmere mittens from Etsy might help. They are hand-crocheted with a scalloped edge around the fingers. Three vintage buttons are on the sleeve. The adorable ruffle adds a little flare. Hopefully they are warm!

wedding day tips!

I gathered a few tips from my wedding day and tricks that were passed on to me to share with you. Hope you find them useful as you near the big day!

1. Ask one of your bridesmaids or someone close to you to hold a few
small items in her purse in case disaster strikes: a Tide pen, a piece
of white chalk, a few safety pins, a handful of bobby pins, and a
couple pieces of gum.

2. Ask someone (a friend, an uncle, a co-worker) to take pictures
during the special moments of the big day for you to look at right
after or on your honeymoon. It may take awhile to get the professional images back from the photgrapher and you're going to wonder what your hair looked like during the ceremony or what Aunt Susie was wearing.

3. When you are shopping for photographers, make sure they have all
the qualities you are looking for. One thing that was important to my
husband and I was to get a master cd of all the images. We have really
enjoyed being able to print any of the ones we like.

4. In the blur of the ceremony and reception, try to take a moment to
say thank you to the people you love for everything they did to make
your wedding day happen.

5. Don't forget to eat. It would be really embarrassing to pass out on
the altar!

6. Wear your engagement ring on your right hand during the ceremony.
When you exchange rings, your husband(!) will put your wedding band on
your ring finger, then you can move the engagement ring back onto your
left hand and they will be in the correct order on your finger.

7. Request waterproof mascara and eyeliner from your makeup artist
just in case they forget and you shed a few happy tears.

8. If you are doing french tip on your nails, get white tips. They
won't scratch off and will last much longer.

9. Send an alphabetized list of your guests and their table numbers to
the caterer, hotel event manager, or your wedding planner. A guest
might forget their table number and you will be thankful you don't have to memorize where everyone is sitting.

10. Break in your shoes before the big day.

11. It is always good to have oil blotting pads on hand, especially if you are taking pictures outside in the sun.

12. Have fun!

herbal boutonnieres

It’s getting colder outside and I’m not a fan of the cold. But I am a fan of fall weddings. For all the "do it yourself" fall brides out there, here is a great "how to" on making herbal boutonnieres for the boys in your wedding. The project was done by Chelsea Fuss of {frolic!}. I love that she uses blueberries!

honeymoon pics!

Here are a few pictures from our honeymoon in Cabo, Mexico. A week of rest, relaxation, and great company made for a perfect honeymoon. Sleeping in a cabana next to the pool and taking long strolls on the beach were two of my favorite things. Check out one of my guilty pleasures from our honeymoon here. Ah, I want to go back!

palm trees at sunset

southern most tip of the baja peninsula

pelicans in flight

clouds & mountains

too much fun

hand-picked!

One of my favorite blogs, 100 Layer Cake, was one of the hand-picked winners for best wedding blogs in Your Wedding Day Magazine! Congrats!

one month anniversary!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our wedding day!

a tissue for your tears of joy... | wedding day

More wedding details...

The programs were an important part of the planning for me. I included a few quotes, family prayers, and a special thank you. On the inside cover, I attached a folded tissue for guests "tears of joy" during the ceremony. I put the programs together with the same string as the favor boxes and strung punched flower confetti along the spine. I made sure to include directions to the reception place in the program.

centerpieces | fall fruit

Just made some centerpieces for a Provence client! I love using fruit. They bring so much color and variety to the table. Pairing fruit with fall flowers is a great way to spruce up an arrangement.

ring the bell! | wedding day

More wedding details! We decided to use bells to celebrate as we walked out of the church after the ceremony on September 5.


The little poem on the bell tag read "leaving the church, ring your bell in celebration! at the reception, make them kiss in jubilation!"


Everyone rang when we walked down the steps as Mr. and Mrs!


And continued to ring until we kissed!

menu, wire, wishes... | wedding day

My girls and I spent a few hours folding napkins, stuffing the menu cards, and tying ribbons into a knot to get ready for the big day.


To go along with the wire birdcage I made to hold cards, I sculpted wire lotus flowers and spray-painted them white, yellow, and green. We put them in the smallest glass vases we had and placed them around the reception area.

I placed this basket full of notecards near the placecards in case anyone wanted to write "wedding wishes" to the bride and groom to read on their honeymoon. Thank you for all your lovely notes! I am planning on making a book out of them : )

celebration sign | wedding day

Thank you to my Aunt Shell for making this awesome hand-painted sign for our wedding! We hung it in the hallway of the Old Ribbon Mill to direct people where to go! Left for the celebration!

decor is in the details! | wedding day

Wedding day details! I created the placecards out of leftover invitation cardstock ensuring they were the right green color. Brian helped me die-cut and emboss all four corners of each placecard (it took awhile!). For the bridal party guests at the headtable, I added paper flowers that were extra from the invites.


My mom and I collected glass vases for months before the wedding. White candles were planted in sand at the bottom of each vase. I also used rocks at the bottom of the vases to secure hand-painted table numbers held up with wire.


We hung different-sized paper lanterns from the rafters over the dance floor and strung big bulb-ed lights to create a glow in the room. I was so pleased to see everyone dancing from the very beginning!

paper goodies | wedding day

Here are a few of the "paper goodies" from the wedding. Above is a picture of our invite.


After making 1200 mini chocolate chip cookies for favors, we stuffed them in these cute boxes and tied them with yarn like a bakery to put at all the place settings. The tag said "hope you enjoy our favorite sweet, made with love, always, brian and jessa."


For months, I wrestled with a way that I was going to display our placecards. After doing a site inspection of the Old Ribbon Mill in Carlisle, I decided to use two pillars and hang the placecards on twine with mini clothes pins. I had my siblings join in the fun and hang the cards for me. Thanks again for all your help setting up!


I stayed with the twine theme and hung pictures of Brian and I in the archway connecting the rooms.


Then, we ran the twine along the wall of the reception room and placed pictures of our guests on the wall. It was a huge hit! Everyone loved seeing their picture and sharing memories while walking around the room. We added a few funny pictures of Brian and I when we were little for some comic relief. Thanks to Chris and Maliya for getting all the pictures together - it wouldn't have been such a success without you!

fancy cake shop | wedding day

Our cake was made by the Fancy Cake Shop in Carlisle. Turned out wonderful and tasted great!


A close-up!

Yup, he definitely smooshed cake in my face and up my nose.


Can't wait to enjoy again on our first anniversary!


The cake flavor was lemon pound with strawberry filling. Yum!

perfect works just fine! | wedding day

As an employee of Provence Catering, I was thrilled to have my company be a part of the big day. Since we are a custom-to-the-client caterer, my husband and I were able to pick the whole menu. My mouth is watering just thinking about all the delicious food. Here's part of the menu:


Michael's Franks, a company favorite, were a must - served with spicy mustard.


Chicken Palmer - boneless breast of chicken morsels wrapped in bacon and caramelized with brown sugar.


This cosmo was incredibly tasty and matched the wedding colors!


Apple & Chevre Tartlette - Apples poached in wine, cinnamon and nutmeg blended with homemade fig jam topped with chevre cheese and frizzled shallots.


Two "Sticks & Straws" went on each table filled with tortilla sticks, cheese straws, flat breads, bread rusks, and crostini served with whipped butter.

Yum! Baked Brie - French brie topped with raspberry preserves, wrapped in a flaky puff pastry and baked until golden brown.


One of my favorite salads, Spinach & Pear Salad - Spinach, crumbled gorgonzola cheese, caramelized walnuts, and port poached pears served with balsamic vinaigrette.

Slow-braised short ribs & Grilled Shrimp accompanied by Idaho potatoes infused with roasted garlic, sweet butter, cream and whipped into greatness and bourbon spiked carrots.


Beautiful fruit display!


Dessert Nachos - cinnamon sugar dusted crisp tortillas with your choice of toppings: strawberries, caramel, raspberry, or whipped cream!

Thanks to the staff of Provence Catering! Everything was wonderful!

my herb garden shower

The herb garden that I received at my bridal shower is growing! Each attendant at the shower got to pick an herb planted in a small pot as a favor. So cute. Happy cooking!

something old... | wedding day

My maids of honor put together an awesome "something old, something new" present for my wedding...

My something old was the only button from my mom's wedding dress fastened to the back of my dress. Somehow the button from almost thirty years ago matched perfectly with the other buttons we planned to use on my dress. Must have been fate! My something new was a Betsy Johnson garter that I tossed during the reception. My something borrowed was a small bag made by Tia with the same fabric as my dress and filled with Maliya's bobby pins. My something blue was a cut-out of a blue heart sewn to the the hem of my dress. Had it with me all day :)

shoes, fabric, dresses, and hair... | wedding day

I've been saying for a couple weeks now that I would post all the fun wedding pictures. Hope you enjoy!


I'm starting with our adorable Charles David shoes! I fell in love with the idea of us all having the same shoes in different colors and it worked out perfectly. We painted our toes to match the dresses too.


Plus the fabric flower on the shoe is similar to the one I wore in my hair.



The wine-colored gerber daisies were a wonderful addition to the white bouquet accented with hypernicum berries. Tied with a white ribbon, the different flowers were a great combination. George's Flowers of Carlisle did an awesome job! Thank you!


Boutonnieres with the same beautiful flowers.


How cute is my flower girl's dress? My Nana and Aunt Shell made this dress for my cousin, Emma. We tied a wine sash around her waist to add a touch of color.


Formal bridesmaid picture! My maids of honor had the same sash as Emma to make them stand out just a bit. I am overjoyed that both my sisters were standing next to me on my big day!


Here is a full-length shot of my fabulous dress as I'm hurrying down the stairs.


Thank you, Tia and Mom, for making my dress. It is absolutely gorgeous. I can't tell you enough how much I love it.


Hand-stitched lace appliques and front and back pleats with a huge bow in the back. A family heirloom for sure! Plus one button from my mom's wedding dress, my something old.


Fabric flowers that I put in my hair ordered from Cultivar.

lollipop pies

lollipops never seemed so appetizing! during my web searching, I found a recipe for mini pies on a lollipop stick. You can fill the pie with any scrumptious flavor you like... great for every season and perfect at parties, showers, or anytime. I might make cherry. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try!

love is in the air!

I have been super busy for the past couple of weeks and haven't been able to share pictures or thoughts about the big day, but I promise, it's coming! In the meantime, I want to congratulate Maliya and Chris on their engagement! The eighth grade sweethearts are making it official and I can't wait to help! Above is a coral peony, one of Maliya's favorite flowers. Happy planning, Maliya!

the big day!

well, we are 1 day away from "the big day" and all the finishing touches are getting done! I can't wait to share pictures from the ceremony and reception. I will post when we get back from Cabo, check back in!

The photo above is of the ring bearer's pillow that Tia made specially for Avery!