the many faces of procrastination

Ok, so this post really has nothing to do with weddings. I might suggest that if you are stressed out by your wedding or if you need a break from it, this is a fun thing to do for a laugh. You go to this site, upload a photo of yourself, and it shows you how you would look with all different hair-do's from the past. I was dying when I saw the afro-poof one. It doesn't even reach it's full funny potential unless you've seen pictures of my mother in the seventies. I do not have clearance to post those photos, but lets just say that the apple? She doesn't fall far from the tree. Via Amanda at The Blissful Bride.

{inspiration: summertime}

{see also:}
> pink blossoms
> spring things
> the last of the summer whites
> summer
> summer 2
> verte & blanche
> a new week

{photography by oscar falk}

no wilt flowers

Can you believe these are made of clay? DK Floral Designs offers the most amazing clay florals I've ever seen. Not only would they be perfect for your wedding day, but they'll stay perfect every day after that!

anthropologie earrings

Our house guests left this morning, and I've been recovering from Saturday's ultra-dinner all day on the couch. There's nothing better than a lazy Sunday on the sectional! I came across these gorgeous earrings over at Anthropologie. I love them all, but I think my favorites are the dainty navy blue stones. They would look so lady-like with an updo! Almost as good as Sunday on the couch.

Martha Stewart has the Dreamiest Wedding Ideas…

We have just spent five fun packed days in Toronto- it is such a hip city with a relaxed vibe, we would definitely recommend it. Anyhow, no holiday would be complete without purchasing a whole heap of wedding magazines for fresh ideas on alternative traditions and styling.

What we have just discovered, and I am so eager to share, is Martha Stewart Weddings, mentioned repeatedly in the magazines for a very good reason- she is a wedding guru with absolutely exceptional taste.

All of the pictures on this blog are from her site, but the best bit is they are all DIY projects you can make yourself. Visit here to become as equally addicted as us!

guess who's coming for dinner?

My husband's parents, my brother-in-law and his wife and their new baby are coming to stay with us for the next few days, so I'm signing off for the weekend to prep the homestead for visitors and to spend time with the fam. I'll leave you with a link to one of my favorite recent posts in the bloggin-hood. A Providence Design Guide! It's so nice to see a mention of my new city on D*S, one of my absolute favorite blogs.

xoelle: upcycled and eco-friendly ties

{ paisley bow tie -- freestyle and blue }

xoelle (get it? kiss-hug-elle?) (ok, i didn't at first either, but i like it!) makes *great* ties by reusing and repurposing vintage neckties and fabrics into new ones.

plus she's in pensacola, which is very close to where my sister lives, and i am totally nephew-obsessed this week. gaga for nephew. nephew-o-rama.

back to the ties! check these out:





ok, ok. so that last one is an adorable baby blanket. what can i say. nephewpalooza.
more at xoelle.etsy.com!

bluefly finds

I had one of those really frustrating days where nothing went my way and everything was three times harder than it needed to be. In the midst of the rottenness, Deirdre pointed me in the direction of Bluefly and these gorgeous dresses. I can't believe I never thought to look there before! My favorites were these short dresses, perfect for cutting a rug at the reception. My day always brightens a little I find something fun to share. Thanks DD!

reinked: eco-friendly invites and paper goods

{ reinked and recycled -- save the date letterpress }

as a bonus for those of you who read that long bit below, here's something i've had on deck for a while now -- have featured invitedink on here a couple of times for great design and all around outstanding invitations, and now the kind folks there have a site called reinked for their eco-friendly line.

these gorgeous rounded-edge (check!) letterpress (check!) tree-free 100% post-manufacture recycled cotton save the dates -- you customize them by using a hole-punch to punch out the date. better yet, the envelopes are made from salvaged/recycled maps and they come with labels including your return address. now that's seriously eco-friendly.

reinked makes lots of other gorgeous recycled/repurposed invitations, thank yous, and notecards -- check them out!




more at reinked.etsy.com

posting, posting: quick life catchup

oh blog friends, i realize the massive slowdown in posting is affecting not *only* my traffic and my mission for you to spend at least some of your wedding dollars on independent designers, but also both your *and* my ability to procrastinate effectively and while away happy hours. so i thought i'd at least give you some excuses idea as to why i am such a blog slacker.

"on why jennifer isn't posting as often as anyone would like, including herself"
by jennifer

1. i am so, so *happy*. i met someone and he is great. and last month, due to a host of funny and sweet circumstances, he moved in. (yes, that is the sound of hell icing up.) i have never lived with anyone before, and it's just amazing to me. i love it! now i come home each evening and there's a person in my house, and i *like* him, and he likes me. so we tend to talk and cook and laugh and clean up (were there ever two people who went through more dishes?). and then i fall asleep, and i haven't blogged.

2. work: the magazine is undergoing a major redesign -- we just shipped the november issue, and i have been working for what feels like decades keeping up with all the near-catastrophes and averting disaster. and then i leave work, and i haven't blogged.

there are other reasons (lots!) -- family, jewelry orders, friend's wedding -- but i won't bore you with details. if only i were just a blogger! like most of you i work full time, run a side business on etsy, travel frequently, and have too many things i love to do. this is one of them! my community service to etsy artists and a labor of love. i promise to try and keep up with it all better!

but please forgive me, because i am falling asleep, and i haven't (really) blogged... ;)

inspiration in bulk

Straight from Monique Lhuillier's RTW runway to my blog, to your inspiration board. That's service! I love the teal dress in combo with the red, and I LOVE the tea length gown with the black overlay. They're all stunning, I love them all! I'd never be able to choose.

dori & viv

Introducing Dori & Viv, a brand new Etsy shop focused on heirloom quality, vintage inspired millinery. They use a really beautiful range of unique and inventive materials, and their first 11 customers will be getting a gift! Yay!

{lookbook: vintage + ralph lauren}

{vintage lace dress and Ralph Lauren blazer}

{Hannah S.}

boots

Love Etsy! I found these while searching for vintage-y wedding stuff for inspiration for the new Kenzie Kate stuff (having so much fun designing new stuff this year!). Amanda from Design Whimsy is making one-off boutonnieres, using recycled and reclaimed vintage bits and pieces to create these beautiful boots. I love the idea of all your special guys getting their own unique creation. Shop here for more options!

{park royal}

If you are not the leather jacket wearing type and prefer English country charm, Joules' Park Royal fitted tweed jacket is perfectly preppy with a dash of patrician sophistication.

{see also:}
> the crested blazer
> horse show ribbons
> all's fair in love & wellies

head case sampler: pretty things for pretty noggins

{ silk and fishnet flower hair pin by cassiopia }

yes! in honor of my week, which is turning me into... you guessed it... a head case.

(at least i've managed to resist posting etsy's freaking ridiculously cute baby stuff. a WHOLE other blog, friends)

(did i mention i have a nephew?)

ahem. head case. yes.

veils are one of those things that you go shopping for and think -- they want $200? for this piece of net? couldn't i sew this? -- which, if you're like me, you can't, and you know in your heart that if you dare try you will end up with franken-veil. and still have to spend $200 at the end of the day.

also, bridal veils in stores just seem so plain compared to the ones on etsy. you can find gorgeous, straight-up traditional veils (for *very* reasonable prices, i might add), wild fascinators and feathers, as well as my own favorite, the birdcage (first encountered here) -- something for everyone.










{each photo links to its shop}