Moore Fiesta with Kate Aspen

A few weekends ago I headed to Charleston with a few of my very best girls to celebrate our friend, Lindsay. We spent the entire weekend sipping on margaritas, tossing back corn chips, and having a belly-laughing good time. We even took an Aerial Yoga class, and if you're in the Charleston area, I highly recommend it; we had a blast! 

The weekend would not have been complete without a stellar place to stay. We rented condos in Folly Beach, and the decor was definitely on par for our fiesta theme, don't you think? Poms & tissue paper flowers set the tone while a weekend hashtag was displayed just about everywhere (you know, in case someone forgot it).

Kate Aspen provided us with some chic votive candles for the table as well as adorable swing top bottles for favors. As a last little touch, I filled each bottle with margarita flavored jelly belly's for a parting gift. It was muy cute ;)

My Lulie Wallace Original

Before I bought my wedding dress, before I went engagement ring shopping, before I even knew what kind of flowers I wanted to carry down the aisle, I knew that when all was said and done, I would have a Lulie Wallace painting hanging in my home. And not just any Lulie Wallace painting; it would be a custom canvas of my bouquet. Call me crazy, but I may or may not have chosen a few specific flowers knowing that one day they would be transformed into art...what? That's not normal?

I thought I would have to wait years before I would be able to get a custom Lulie, but Hunter surprised me with a painting for Christmas...and I have it to share with you today! Let's start with the inspiration behind the painting. Pay attention to that big peony as well as the hydrangeas...

And now, the finished canvas: 

I love that it's just abstract enough to capture the essence of Lulie's work, but you can definitely see that it's my bouquet. It's perfection! 

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Anjolee jewelry

A Kate Aspen Bridesmaids' Luncheon

Whew, y'all, the time for wedding-related posts is officially winding down. We have made it 9 whole days of wedded-bliss and are enjoying every moment. Throughout our wedding events, Kate Aspen has been there every step of the way. From measuring spoons to coasters to nail kits, I've been able to shower my guests with adorable goodies left and right. My bridesmaids' luncheon at the Swan Coach House in Atlanta was no different. 

I picked up a set of these polka-dotted place cards, busted out my gold & black pens, and added each one to a Kate Aspen beaded frame. The results were beautiful...and perfectly me. 

A small bag as a token for helping me tie the knot wrapped in gold dotted-paper was at each person's seat and tied in perfectly with the frames.

We loved celebrating the weekend's festivities at such an Atlanta landmark, and best of all, laughed our way through lunch enjoying each others' company. 

Thank you to Kate Aspen for their partnership over the past few months! Be sure to visit their site for anything and everything shower related!

P.S. You might recognize the Swan House from Catching Fire! It served as the president's mansion in the latest Hunger Games flick.

 

 

5 Ways to Sit Down & Relax without Spending a Dime

With all of the wedding hoopla around here, the number one thing I need to do is relax. Why is it so hard to take a few minutes to ourselves and enjoy the downtime? No computers, no t.v., no cell phone; just some peace and quiet. I think we feel guilty if we relax; I know I do. I'm constantly thinking about how I should be doing something else more productive. But the reality is, if we don't take the time to relax, we aren't productive at all. Here are 5 ways you can sit down & relax without spending a dime:

1. Listen to classical music. Do you ever wonder why you love Fresh Market so much? I mean, it is incredibly expensive, y'all, and I still find myself happy happy happy when I'm there. The reason? It has to be the beautiful classical music that plays while I shop. It's just so soothing.

2. Sit down with your favorite magazine, book, newspaper, etc. and actually read it. Allison did an entire post about this very thing last week, and there is some excellent advice in the comments. Take a peek and then walk away from your computer screen. Grab a book instead!

3. Sit outside. It can be your front porch, your back deck, or a bench near your workplace, but sitting outside will certainly make you feel calmer. Maybe it's the fresh air, or maybe it's the chirping birds and the crunching fall leaves. Whatever it is, it works!

4. Take a bath. I have a good friend who swears by baths - I actually think I remember her saying that she takes more baths than showers. Now that the weather is cooler, just washing my hands in warm water makes me smile and feel cozy. Spending 15-20 minutes in a bath? Heavenly. 

5. Do something kind (and unexpected) for someone else. I love this one, and it is easily one of my favorite ways to decompress. Try ironing your hubby's next day work shirt before he gets home, or making your 4 year olds favorite dinner, or buying the guy behind you at Starbucks a cup of coffee (okay, this one costs a teny tiny bit).  I guarantee you you will be so focused on how happy you are, and how happy the person will be when they figure out your nicety, your other worries will disappear.

What are your favorite ways to decompress & relax? I'd love to hear! 

Wedding Wednesday: The Married Monogram

One of the things that I remember struggling with when we first started registering was deciding which order of letters to use for our married monogram. People have very strong opinions about this! 

According to tradition:

1. All household goods are done in the bride's monogram. Apparently, this is because household items would have been a part of her dowery. 

2. The man's monogram should not be separated from his last name, meaning his name would come first (to the left of the last name initial). 

3. You definitely shouldn't use your married monogram until you are married. 

Well, I like to live life on the edge and challenge tradition just a little bit. I know this is so anti-southern, but...I just don't care. :) Here are some things that I decided on my own (with a little help from Google): 

1. Our new household items would contain either a single last name letter (L) or our joint monogram with my initial coming to the left of the L. Ladies first, right? 

2. As much as it pained me, I would refrain from using our married monogram until AFTER we said I do. Of course, that doesn't apply to MY new monogram. I like living life on the edge, remember?

Superstitions aside, there are so many fun ways to incorporate your monogram into your wedding day, and Happy Clam Monogram has tons of ways to do just that! 

You can add a cake topper to your cake.

 

Create a fun & unique guest book. 

Or even spruce up your wine glass (my personal favorite). 

What about you? Did you incorporate your monogram on your day? Did you abide by tradition or set your own rules? Do tell!

Bachelorette Recap & Kate Aspen Goodies!

Well, y'all, it's official: I have the best friends in the world. Now, I am sure you're thinking that your friends are pretty awesome, too (and I am sure they are!), but mine threw me a killer bachelorette weekend in Savannah, and I'm itching to share it with you! 

First, I have to tell you about the amazing Hangover Kit that was put together by my dear friend Hollie. Hollie couldn't make it on our trip, but she was definitely present throughout the weekend. Every kit had just what you'd need to cure a hangover, and we loved opening them up on Saturday morning (it was quite appropro). She tucked in some crackers, bandaids, tylenol, Ponds wipes, water bottles with cheeky names for each of us, hair ties, gum, and a Kate Aspen nail kit. 

The rest of the weekend was chock full of good food and great friends. My MOH, bridesmaids, & friends did a fantastic job pulling everything together and keeping the Great Gatsby theme running throughout the weekend. We noshed at Gryphon Tea Room (which I highly recommend!) for a girly and delicious lunch and visited the SCAD gift shop across the street. Thank you to Sara for her awesome recommendation for lunch (and dinner...and drinks...and shopping...). Later, we broke into two teams for a friendly competition & scavenger hunt, and we ended the day with a fabulous dinner at Cha Bella, drinks at the Bohemian Hotel, & dancing our hearts out. Check out my awesome sash from Etsy!

Thank you so much to my friends for planning and executing a flawless weekend. It was one for the record books! If you want to see more pictures, be sure to follow me on Instagram & check out our weekend hashtag #french75me. Tons more to see there!

 

Kate Aspen II: Yellow, Gray, & Spotted All Over Shower

It's Wedding Wednesday again, and I am delighted to share some pictures from this past weekend's mother-daughter tea hosted by one of my dear friends and bridesmaids, Erin. The tea was a perfect way to celebrate with my friends and our moms, and it was fun to see everyone and catch up for a few hours. The food was plentiful and the company was wonderful. Check out the presentation (and the color-coordination!).

My grandmother even made it up from Mobile for the festivities!

With my mom, my sister, & my grandmother

Bridesmaids!

My seven amazing friends

There were pops of yellow everywhere you turned and dots strategically placed, too. It was definitely a tea made for me!  

One of the things I love, if you didn't know, are monograms. Each guest left with a darling set of polka dotted (!!!!) coasters complete with their monogram & topped off with a yellow bow. Thanks, Kate Aspen, for the lovely treat!

 

Wedding Wednesday: Kate Aspen Favors I

This past weekend, I had my first wedding shower in Atlanta. It was hosted by my soon-to-be mother-in-law's best friend at her beautiful home and was a blast! I was honored to have friends and family come together and celebrate our upcoming marriage...which is only 60 days away! 

The theme was "Around the House" and each guest was assigned a specific room for which to find us a gift. The rooms ranged from powder room to foyer to garage, and it was such fun to guess each present's final resting place. We sipped on champagne cocktails, noshed on cheese straws and Piece of Cake cupcakes, and enjoyed each other's company. 

As a thank you to each guest, I gifted Love Beyond Measure spoons from Kate Aspen, and they were a huge hit! I tied on some southern saying gift-tags and added a cute, color coordinated bow for an extra special touch. They were such a fun addition to an already perfect shower. 

Shop Kate Aspen for all of your party favor needs, and stay tuned for more ways I've incorporated their products into our big day! 

Wedding Wednesday: Garters

When I first started thinking about what our wedding would be like, I thought we'd forgo some of the antiquated traditional wedding moments: no veil, no bouquet toss, definitely no garter. But then, something softened in me. How many times do you get to wear a veil in your life? Or toss a bouquet? 

And slowly, these little traditions sneaked back into to our plans. 

 

Garters have really become a beautiful wedding accessory. They're no longer just a simple circle of satin; instead, they're delicate and can be hand made just for you. I'm considering one of the lace options below, but I truly love all of them!

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Wedding Wednesday: Hair Inspiration

A week from today I'm headed up to Flawless Finish in Athens to have my wedding hair and make-up trial. I have been looking forward to this for months! In fact, hair accessories were one of the first things that I purchased way back in April, but ever since receiving my gorgeous veil in the mail on Friday, I've been even more excited to have my trial. Here are a few of the hair-dos that are serving as inspiration for me. Which is your favorite?

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Oh, and as a special treat, here is my DIY comb that I made out of a vintage brooch and pair of earrings. SWOON! 

P.S. My lovely friend Megan has been featuring all of the cute Atlanta neighborhoods and the BEST places to eat and shop in them for the past few weeks. Take a peek at all of my recommendations for Peachtree Hills & Buckhead!

Wedding Wednesdays: Finding the Perfect Shoes

Believe it or not, one of the things that I have been on the hunt for since the beginning of this whole wedding planning process is a great pair of shoes. I even decided on three different pairs before finally committing to one perfect pair. There are so many beautiful options that it was hard to choose. I love how versatile the wedding shoe has become over the years, and the options for adding a little punch to this part of your look are endless. 

KATE SPADE cayman flats / KATE SPADE sage heel / MANOLO BLAHNIK hangisi / KATE SPADE shalyn heel / KATE SPADE steffie 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my thoughts today will be with the tragedies of September 11th. Can you believe it's been 12 years? That means that most of my students weren't even born when the event happened. We'll spend today discussing it as best as we can in hopes to continue the memory and educate about our history.