off to n'awlins

So excited because today we're leaving for New Orleans with a few friends in tow heading down for Jazz Fest and a visit with John's family. 

Wish me luck (with all the rain predicted, I'm going to need it!) And yes, there will be lots of gratuitous food pictures to come - we're psyched to eat all the yummy local treats: crawfish, PoBoys, The Ferdie, King Cake, Beignets, Hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's and more!!!

images: crawfish / mother's / cafe du monde / preservation hall / vintage postcard

Destination Save the Dates

When deciding on a destination wedding, you really want to think about making it easy on your guests who need to plan well in advance for your I Do's. These three save the date ideas not only set the tone for a fun event that's not to be missed, they double as gifts for your guests.

The Luggage Tag

Look for vintage postcards on Card Cow or eBay and add your wedding details along with "Save the Date" to the front side. Keep the design simplified and ask guests to visit your wedding website for more travel and specific information.

On the reverse side, write in your guests' address and laminate the two pieces together. Finish by inserting a heavy duty ribbon or cord to the tag to complete the look. Viola - you have a stylish save the date and a gift for your guest to enjoy!

Airline Tickets

I designed a similar invitation when my husband turned 30 and I wanted to surprise him with a trip to Grand Cayman. Styled after an old-fashioned ticket, you can include lots of travel information just by adding extra pages. Staple each card together at the left hand side and slightly score the cards to the right of the staples to make them easily accessible.

The design can also be tailored for more personalization - use your wedding colors or add in fun graphics that represent the city the event will take place.

Mock Passports

Like the airplane ticket idea, you can add pages to include airline information and other accommodation listings. Add embellishments to really bring the concept to life with travel-inspired rubber stamps, maps and stickers.

passport images via: Ana de Roux / Mrs. Sushi from Weddingbee / Wedding Invitations UK / iStockphoto. Airline tickets and luggage tags by Inspired Goodness.

Are you planning a destination I DO? Contact us today to help design a memorable and fun save the date for your big day.

display a beach collection

I'm quite an avid collector of shells and beach rocks. For every milestone vacation in my life, I have a small plastic bag filled with a items that have carefully made it back home.

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.

Florida Visit Recap

We captured some really good photos from this past weekend in Florida with my family that I wanted to share. Most of the weekend was spent being silly and fooling around.

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.

sunshine state here i come

John and I are heading out tomorrow morning on quite a big adventure. We're going to be visiting my parents and grandmother in sunny F-L-O-R-I-D-A!!!

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...