Never knowing what to do with these things, I was super-delighted to spot this really cool keepsake project on The Crafts Dept.
Created as an anniversary gift, it's a great way to remember all those memories and display the pieces that although small are such important bits of your life. For the how-to and list of materials to recreate this on your own, visit The Crafts Dept.
]]>The first day John and I spent time enjoying the weather with a nice lunch and visit to my grandmother. Her birthday was on Saturday and we celebrated the big 8-6 with her that evening.
From left to right: Lily, Shannon and me at dinner / my dad and Wyatt at Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor / Maidson, Aidan and mom-mom / Aidan outside / Aidan, me and Jessie all lounging on the hammock
From left to right: My siblings and their kids taking a walk outside / Jillian, Aidan and Ryan being silly at Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor
From left to right: My parents enjoying an ice cream sundae / Aidan and Lily playing outside / John and Jessie being silly at dinner / Madison lounging on the hammock.
I really enjoying the visit - getting a chance to spend some time with each of the kids was really important to us and it gave John and I a great opportunity to bond with each of them. Coordinating meals for 13 certainly isn't an easy task, but even with all the insanity, this trip is something we're sure to remember for a long time to come.
]]>Along for the trip are my brothers with their entire families. It's the first time all of us will be together in over two years - and will be that much sweeter since the trip just happens to fall during my grandmother's birthday.
Vintage Postcard from Postcardbooth.com
Excited to be able to spend the next few days playing with our three nieces and two nephews. I'm hoping to come home with an award for favorite Auntie ever!
Hope you enjoy the weekend and I'll see you back here next week...
]]>Today she sent a link today to photographer Amy Squires. Half-way down the first-page I was stopped in my tracks by this ingenious display idea...
Pretty fab idea, don't cha think? I'm not sure what I love more the ribbons or the cut out bride and groom's names!
]]>Taking a cue from everyone's favorite mystic board game, the final result is simply brilliant. Derek designed each component to down to the tiniest detail - taking some elements from the original board, which the couple plans to use for their wedding centerpieces.
A few of the craft punches, materials and details...
To read more about the story behind these Save the Dates, or to follow Derek and Joey on their road down the aisle, be sure to visit So You're EnGAYged where Derek is a contributing blogger.
Special thanks to Derek and Joey for sharing your project and for Kelly at So You're EnGAYged for the letting us repost these!
]]>Lucky for us, he's been posting some tutorials along the way.
These postcard holders are so ingenious. Just wrap some fabric covered wire around ordinary garden rocks for a quick and simple display. These would be perfect for your dessert display, showcasing table numbers or favorite images of you and your groom.
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Great Performances and BAM are teaming up for "Here Comes the Brooklyn Bride", a showcase of some of Brookyln's favorite vendors, taking place on March 7th.
For a full list of vendors showcasing their work, visit Great Performances website. Tickets available here.
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credits: photography by Jasmine Star and décor by Lauryl Lane
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]]>The Chic Clutch Hunt Giveaway Guidelines: win a Le Pouf clutch, values at $298
Visit the Amanda Pearl website and comment below with your favorite Amanda Pearl piece {it need not be bridal, so have fun perusing her entire line}!
To increase your chances of winning the Le Pouf clutch, there are four additional ways to enter this contest:The giveaway winner will be chosen at random and announced via the Merci New York blog on Monday, March 8th at 8:00 PM EST.
- Tweet this: I just entered to win the @AmandaPearly #chicclutchhunt giveaway at Merci New York! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/doaqQR {via @MerciNYC}. Then leave a second comment once you’ve tweeted.
- Blog about the Chic Clutch Hunt giveaway {feel free to use our oh-so-pretty giveaway graphic!} and comment with your blog link.
- Post about the giveaway on a message board and comment with your link.
- Share the Chic Clutch Hunt giveaway on Facebook and let us know via a comment.
For more cool finds and ideas check out Dawn's blog. While you're there, stop by her shop to purchase some of these lovely goodies for yourself. Thanks Cafe Cartolina for the link!
photos: airmail envelopes (bottom left) / Paper is Lovely / travel tickets (middle right)
]]>Figured to check in and see how everyone's week has been going. It's been crazy-time central here at IG Headquarters. Let's just say this week was incredibly busy and I'm in need of some major recovery time.
On Monday we met with Jillian and her mom to talk about her wedding next July. So well prepaired (which I love), Jillian had a lot of garden-party ideas to show me. Of course my mind went spinning wildly when on Tuesday she emailed me some images of a surprise engagement shoot her and her fiance, Josh took part in with the uber fantastic Sarah Yates.
The photos are so incredible and I just love sweet and lovely the these two look in each shot.
On Wednesday we met with the winners of the Lucky in Love Challenge - Marquina and Dan. Moving to a new apartment less than two weeks ago, venue issues and trying to have a budget-savvy wedding with a large out-of-town-guest-count makes us excited to know that we're helping a couple really deserving of our red-carpet treatment. I'm anxious and very excited to get this one underway!
The rest of the week was paired with accounting. How boring, yes I know, but it's essential when you're a small business. With tax season slowly creeping upon us, I'm trying to do my very best to get all our ducks in a row for our accountant. I still have a pile of paperwork that needs to be sorted though, but I feel like I've accomplished a lot (in way of organizing and getting the books all balanced)!
This weekend I'm hoping to get a chance to see some friends and possibly take in a visit to the Brooklyn Public Library for their 40th Anniversary Seasame Street exhibit.
Well that's it for this week. I hope all of you - especially the fashionistas out there get some rest!
]]>Etched Mirror: Design will be etched onto a 22" round mirror
Paper Prints: Can be made on white, cream or metallic paper (champagne, gold, silver or ice). You choose the ink colors, fonts and layouts that best suits your needs.
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Before we get to today's big announcement, I wanted to say a huge Thank You to each of the participants to our Lucky in Love Challenge. You not only shared your story with our team, but gave our readers amazing hope and inspiration this Valentine's Day.
We're proud of each of you for having found a partner so perfectly suited to you. Each of you is truly already Lucky in Love...
Finding a winner was such an agonizing task and we spent a lot of time reading and re-reading each of your stories. In the end, we choose a couple who's story we felt exemplified unique characteristics that set them apart from the rest.
And with that, we are pleased to announce our winners... (drum roll please)
Marquina's original entry:
Our love story is about a New York rock-chick – me - meets tough on the outside, sensitive on the inside Architect - Dan. We are a unique combination of bleeding-edge art babe + functional design dude. We are our best when we express our very different personalities, yet embrace the unique characteristics of the other.
A little about me: in social situations, I play the role of the 'fun chick' - and by that I mean, the girl you call when you wanted to forget your troubles and have an adventure! To go out & just have fun. I love to entertain people, because that's what I've always done; either with karaoke, air guitar, dj-ing a party, or just joking around about every day life. I was mostly interested in someone a good time, and not discussing the details, or touching on anything personal. Before meeting Dan, I never revealed anything personal about myself - as defense mechanism, a New York survival skill - so I wouldn't get hurt. Inside I felt, ‘if you don't know me, you can't hurt me’ - so let’s forget the messy details and just have a good time!
In Dan, I found a truly kind, introspective, caring heart. He has a quiet strength and is confident without being cocky. Dan makes me feel confident too, and he believes in me. Dan makes me a better person. He is my backbone, yet are very opposite; an architect and an artist.
Our How-We-Met Story:
I met Dan, or rather - I pursued Dan- by following him into the bar Von on Bleeker St. He caught my eye immediately! Love at first sight! Or, at least a mondo-piqued curiosity. ;)It was after work - around 7pm - on a Friday in June 2006 (Dan remembers it because it was the first day of the World Cup.) I had just left my job, but changed out of my work clothes in the bathroom so I could rock out! And sing karaoke with my friend Heidi before hitting a club. Suddenly, not ten minutes out the door, this guy chatting on his cell phone crosses our path. I stop dead in my tracks and was like, 'Heidi - woah. Do you see that guy?' She was not having it, and didn't want me to ditch our karaoke plans to speak to this new dude - but I did anyway. Dan was talking on his cell phone outside Von, so I flashed him a smile as I walked into the bar. I ordered a drink but waited for him to come in. I was nervous. sweaty.
In Von, there are mirrors angled on the ceiling so you can be facing one direction and see what is happening behind you. This allows me to face Heidi & look like I'm having a conversation with my back to the door, while waiting for the hot guy to enter the bar.
He enters.
I am so nervous & don't know what I'm going to say, but I walk up to him - <<Little did I know, Dan was watching me in the angled mirrors too & he swiveled around as I approached him>>> he's flanked by 2 friends now who have met him at Von - I say: 'Hi, I'm Marquina. If you want the chance to get to know me, you're going to have to come to a club at 9pm and I'll put you on the list - what's your name?'
--- eee! I'm try so hard to play cool; confident. My typical modus operandi ---
I find out his name is Dan --- Yes! I got his name SUCCESS! --- and I scrawl the address of the club where Heidi and I will be later & say "Tell 'em at the door that you're with me and you don't have to pay cover. I'll be waiting." - I am so nervous after delivering this statement, that I bolt out the door – DRAMA! In my haste, I momentarily forget that Heidi is still inside! Outside, I text her & apologize for freaking out and leaving the bar without finishing our drink. She receives the text, leaves Von and we carry on with our evening. I'm giddy and hope hope hope to see Dan later.
Here is his version of our meeting:
Well, when I first met Marquina, she was dressed like a pretty hard-core rock star. So I thought it was just gunna be fun to go out and have a good time. It was innocent - not like a 'hook up' or anything. I wasn't looking for like, 'tail' or anything like that at all. She seemed like a fun chick and I was curious to get to know her. It’s rare you meet someone who is instantly intriguing, but also has a good heart.As it turned out, she was really great. I kissed her later that night because she didn't believe that I was going to call her. I gave her my number on a gum wrapper and put her number in my phone.
Luckily, I didn't judge her by her ‘look’ because she appeared completely different the second time we met. There was no emotional distance between us. She is a really nice and an incredible person - that's why I'm marrying her. And, it’s interesting to remember that my first impression that she was this wild rock person.
Our first date was a week later. I decided to show Dan the real me, and to shed the harsh exterior. We had great conversation over dinner. Dan is patient, kind and has a heart of gold. I decided this guy was so great that I could be comfortable tearing all my walls down. For the first time, someone took the time to really 'see' me and not my tough I-can-take-on-anything exterior.
Dan proposed to me in the Naumberg Band Shell near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park – my favorite place! That area is my favorite because it’s where the tree-lined mall ends and where all the rollerbladers spin around and perform tricks. The band shell reminds me of dancing on stage – my first love!
If you haven't gotten the opportunity to read all of the entries, please take some time to do so - we promise you will not be disappointed...
Marquina + Dan, CONGRATULATIONS to you both! We'll be in touch soon!!
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A big thank you also to the following bloggers for helping us to spread the word about this contest:
The Wedding Salon is holding a Wedding Bootcamp at Dylan's Candy Bar on Feb. 22nd. Expect lots of candy treats, tips on how to plan your dream wedding, goody bags and one-on-one makeup consults.
Visit The Wedding Salon to RSVP.
Maybe it'll inspire another Dylan's Candy Bar Wedding.
]]>Owner Andrea has a passion for cooking and design and her company, Tartella designs beautiful recipe cards, wine bags, printed napkins and packaging all intented to wrap up homemade goodies.
She also worked with the folks at Indie Wed to create these awesome totes for the show. The first 100 or so attendees received them - filled with oodles of great swag.
Be sure to check out Andrea's site to see her work - it's lovely!