Beautiful Bouquets

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No fun projects this week-- the "spring forward" today caught me totally off guard PLUS I stayed up way too late reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" (talk about food for thought...). I do, however, have a very nifty DIY for centerpieces that I found today on Pinterest!

I've long been in love with the submerged centerpiece look-- I think it's a great way to add a touch of color and work in floating candles, but without being overwhelming and in-your-face like some taller flower arrangements can be. But, it's a bit of a pain to think about-- getting fresh cut flowers and making sure they're not underwater too long, trying to place them so they don't get singed by the candles, etc. As usual, Pinterest provided me with a "duh" moment today...

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What's that you say? Silk flowers look better submerged in water? Duh. 

So, for a cheap and easy fix to an elegant centerpiece, pick up some silk flowers, distilled water, and dollar store vases-- I'll try this out next weekend and let you know if it looks as good as it does on Pinterest!

Winter Wonderland

Happy December, y'all!

Winter weddings are close to my heart after my own accidental winter wedding, and I think there is SO much you can do to make it anything you want!

For starters, decor-- the first thing I thought of when I knew I would be having a December wedding was a Winter Wonderland with soft, cozy lighting and frosty looking centerpieces. There's so much more to it, though, depending on where you have your wedding/reception, what time of day, and what kind of couple you are!

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With soft icicle lighting draping the ceiling, beautiful epsom salt luminaries on the tables, and snowballs greeting your guests at the door, elegance awaits at a beautiful winter wedding!

I'll do a few of these winter wedding pieces, so to start here's the "classic" Winter Wonderland with a bit of a twist! Keep up with these items and more on my Winter Wedding Pinboard on Pinterest!

Inspiration Graduation!

I have sooooo many friends graduating this month that I'm overwhelmed! Several of my staff members and their significant others, girls I welcomed in to the AOII house my senior year of college, and just plain friends are all taking that big sigh of relief and holding on tight to that snazzy piece of paper! Graduation parties were all the rage in high school, so why not college? Probably, it's a little harder to coordinate, but if you have the time and a little spare change... why not celebrate a HUGE achievement?! So, here you have it, my inspiration board for the graduation party of the decade!

1. Rhodes College, 2. Paper Lanterns, 3. Sangria, 

4. Invitations, 5. Central BBQ, 6. Cupcakes

What's better for graduation than a great outdoor area (like Oak Alley at my Alma Mater), some festive paper lanterns, Sangria (you should really check out the recipe on that link!), BBQ and cupcakes, and unique invitations?!