soaking up summer

i know i am not alone when i say i am feeling slightly heavy hearted about it being late august.  summer fills me with happiness - and there is something about the gorgeous weather and happy sunshine that just makes me want to be a little more adventurous.  as much as i lovelovelove fall, i am not ready to say goodbye to summer.  i thought i would create an end of summer bucket list to help soak up every last second of this sweet summertime...

1. {wine tasting} 

i have always, always wanted to do a wine tasting and think that a late summer winery tour would be a perfect time to do it! i also think it would be so fun to host a wine tasting where each guest brings their favorite bottle of wine for sharing..

source for photo

2. {boat}

self.explanatory. 

source for photos

3. {pack a picnic}

as long as we have lived here (almost 4 years!) i have wanted to pack a picnic and enjoy an afternoon along kelly drive (location for our engagement photos).  this will probably have to wait until temps cool down a bit.  but how fun would it be to pack some good wine, a good book, some good food, and a cute boy & cozy down along the river for a few hours?

4. {just beachy}

spend as much time at the beach as possible and soak up as much sun as i can.  i could lay on a beach all day if you let me.. the beach is a little slice of heaven as far as i am concerned and i can never get enough.  shawn and i have been making day trips to our favorite spot in LBI (beach haven) throughout the summer and every time we pack up to head home, i feel sad to have to say goodbye.  i'm hoping we can squeeze in a little weekend getaway towards the end of the summer when the crowds head home to go back to school ;)

what are you doing to soak up every last drop of summer?

xxoo

Signed, sealed...almost delivered

on saturday night, shawn and i decided to have a small little celebration for our 2 month countdown. it was hot out, but not too hot for a little walk around town.  we had no plan, we just walked & we ended up in a little hole in the wall (which is actually my favorite kind of bar) & we just talked.  it is easily one of my favorite nights.  we drank beer and sat and talked about anything and everything.  it was carefree, easy, and just fun! i hope our whole lives are like that!

i decided that shawn & i should play questions. and so it went: what are you most excited about for the wedding day? are you nervous? are you excited to wear a wedding band? how should we kiss for our 1st kiss? do you want our first baby to be a boy or a girl? if they were going to make a movie about you, who would you want to play you? ...more importantly, who would play me? haha....

and, then, sunday morning my invitations creator dropped off the prettiest little wedding invitations i ever did see!

so, my monday (& some of tuesday) was spent applying stamps, assembling, sealing, labeling, and applying more stamps!  is it weird that i lovedddddd putting together the invitations? shallow hal was the only thing on tv & i think i watched the whole movie while assembling these little packages.

they are out in USPS land somewhere & it excites me to no end that some may be arriving by tomorrow!

speaking of tomorrow.... a first fitting is on the agenda, followed by bachelorette outfit shopping.  if that isn't just the perfect little day for a bride to be, i don't know what is!

xo,

weekend

this past weekend was so, so fun. friday evening was low-key, shawn and i just grilled out and then went out for a drink at the restaurant where we had our 1st date about 6 years ago! it's crazy to think about how things have changed (and somethings have stayed the same) in that time.

on saturday morning Kristen (MOH) and i picked up the bridesmaids dresses! they are STUNNING...even better than had i anticipated! the color is exactly what i was envisioning.  so happy:)

that evening, we were able to meet up with some of the other ladies and their men for some roof top fun, then we headed out on the town.

yesterday was another low-key relaxing day topped off with a neighborhood walk with shawn.

hope you had a fab weekend...

xo,


ps- happy july! summer is definitely here!

trial: part II

last week i talked about my upcoming hair and makeup trial. i shared with you some photos i have saved for my hair inspiration & today i would like to share my makeup inspirations as well.

i want to look like myself, but like the best version of myself! so i'm thinking soft, pink lips, pink/peach cheeks, and a dramatic lash line will keep the feminine, romantic feel that i am going for.

photos via pinterest

trial is today! i'll keep you posted on how it all goes down!

xo,

the vintage bathing suit

i love seeing trends come back around.  one in particular is the vintage style bathing suits that are everywhere this season.

photos via pinterest

so cute! is this something you would wear?

xo,

friday things

boy, time sure does fly when i'm not working! it has been my first full week off for summer vacation and i have been loving it.  it really makes me wonder when i got things done around the house- all the cleaning, laundry & errands, when did i have time for that?

in honor of this being my first week off & wednesday being the first day of summer i thought i'd share the things i'm most looking forward to this summer. . .

1. beach getaways

2. summer nights spent outdoors

3. wedding plans, including my own bachelorette party ;)

4. new beginnings

5. getting lost in a good book

 photo 1, my own
photos 2, 3, 4, 5 via pinterest

what are you most looking forward to this summer?

xo,

color crush: coral

loving this color for the summer season.  no matter where i see it, it looks perfect!

all photos via pinterest

what's your favorite summer shade?

xo,

friday things

well, we are back after a 6 day get-away where i feel like all we did was relax, read, eat, and repeat! it was so wonderful to spend time with family & have no time restraints and no schedule.  it was the best kind of vacation.  while away, shawn & i celebrated one year of being engaged.  it was a special day starting out with a little breakfast date, and ending up pool side with a cold drink in hand :)

here's a few photos i snapped via instagram:

it's always so hard coming home, back to reality after an amazing time away. but all in all, it is good to be home- to sleep in my own bed! and it just makes me thankful to have such fabulous people in my life!

lots to look forward to! (more to come on that!) happy weekend, friends!

xo,

spring - summer

source for all photos

what are you loving for spring & summer 2012?

xo,

home sweet home

we are back! after a day full of flying, layovers, driving, and unpacking we are finally home and relaxing on the couch!

it was a fabulous long weekend away filled with amazing food, awesome weather, and fabulous conversations with some pretty incredible people...

back to the real world - this is going to be a little harsh! back to working doubles for the rest of the week & the end of summer....makes me think back to some of the highlights of these past few months: first & foremost! our engagement.. the best day of my life! several bridal showers & bachelorette parties...followed by, of course, weddings!  vacations & time spent with family...an earthquake, hurricane & tornado all in the same week! relaxing and having the chance to read several books.  the start of the wedding planning process...so many memories made this summer!

when our plane landed home this afternoon, i was surprised to feel the coolness in the air.  so, i guess fall is here...i'm looking forward to it:) bring it on! wedding planning, half marathon & football, oh my:)

xo,