Vintage Bridal Shower

I had the pleasure of hosting a vintage lingerie bridal shower with 3 other maids' of the Bride at our home a few weekends ago. The bride is a very dear friend of mine...and now she's all off and married! Missy & Michael---I couldn't be more happy for the two of you!

Here's some pictures and collages I created to give you an idea of our evening. We chose the colors red, black & turquoise for the shower and tried to use them throughout our decor. (I apologize in advance that some of the photos are of poor quality.)

The Invitation:

Inside it invited guests to an

"Old Lace & New Love"

vintage lingerie bridal shower

My delightful friend, Missy,

playing the part in the "Photo Room"

I created a room where guests could have

fun and be silly by creating their own phrases

on chalkboard painted cardboard quote cut-outs

and an assortment of vintage hats, gloves & purses.

Hostesses & Bride:

One of my favorite details were the drink tags

we made using leftover scrapbook paper from the

invitations. I already have a lot of turquoise in my home

and getting to bring these little goblets out was fun

cause I don't use them that often and they just

happened to work perfectly with our color scheme!

Above: turquoise goblets with scrapbook paper name tag,

coffee filter pom poms, the food table, red velvet cupcakes

with cream cheese frosting & strawberries, red roses.

What my make-shift mantel looked

like before all the presents arrived! I

used the vintage dancer print in the decor

cause the Bride is a dancer (it used to hang in my

room when I was growing up).

More decorations:

Above: tree decorated with coffee filter flowers, vintage

ballet dancer print, coffee table glamour, refurbished

goodwill lamp

My chalkboard adorned with a natural

coffee filter flower & red ribbon chain

If you're interested in making these flowers,

they really are a breeze. All you have to do is crinkle

each filter til they are crumpled and soft, spread them out,

then pinch in the middle of each filter and arrange with your

fingers until you get the look you want. If you want them really

fluffy and layered you can stack several filters. Secure with

a pipe cleaner or ribbon and you're done!

Vintage details:

Above: vintage 1950's Ladies Home Journal Magazine

lingerie ad, vintage paper dolls (I played endlessly with

these when I was younger), vintage silk

robe with tulle that belonged to my great Aunt.

It's hard to see in this photo, but the scrabble letters

read: "MISSY AND MICHAEL SITTING IN A TREE....

FIRST LOVE.....THEN MARRIAGE...

And married they are indeed!!!

~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed the party!

Gail

Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue!

Yesterday was a very relaxing day for our little family. We had an extremely busy week last week and barely spent time together, so we decided to set aside time....just us....to celebrate the 4th together. It was just what the doctor ordered!

Our morning started off with festive "Fourth of July Waffles". They were delicious! I may end up making that a tradition each year....we'll see. ;)

I made this wreath from natural coffee filters that I had used to make pom poms with for a bridal shower I hosted (more on that later). It was an easy & fun project that I created while watching Cole play with his toys on the floor. All I did was crinkle each filter so it looked more wrinkled and soft, pinched the center and twisted it a little, then push-pinned it to a styrofoam wreath form. The flag ribbon was some I already had on hand.

Old recital sheet music makes for a good 4th decoration!

Mini flags in white vases gathered from years past sit atop my dining room buffet.

My 3-tiered plate stand displays my small collection of vintage jello molds. They're not just for show though....I do actually use them too!

More vintage patriotic sheet music!

An arrangement I made using some leftover flowers from a wedding I designed for over the weekend. It just so happens that they were patriotic colors! Perfect. I tied some patriotic ribbon on it for a more festive look. The pom poms are made from white coffee filters (also from the bridal shower).

My handsome hubby and Cole letting their patriotism show. ;)

Aren't those sunglasses a riot?! I love 'em! Thank you Gram'ma & Gram'pa!

Me & my precious boy :)

I was so glad to finally purchase a flag this year! I had been looking for one with embroidered stars and individually-pieced stripes for a good price and finally was able to find just what I was looking for! Now we'll be able to proudly display it at the appropriate times and holidays.

It's official! We're Americans!

The rest of our day was spent going out to dinner at "Red Hot & Blue" (yummy ribs & bbq brisket!) and watching some good ol' fireworks while listening to WRR Classical 101's patriotic music. If you ask me, I'd say it was a day well spent!

I hope your day was as equally enjoyable!

Hugs,

Gail

I can't BELIEVE my baby.....

....sister is all grown up!

This past weekend I had the privilege of doing my sister Greta's updo for her school prom. She'll be a Senior next year and it's all starting to hit me....

She's so grown up! And such a lovely, young lady too.

She's 10 years younger than me, so to see her all grown up makes me feel...well...old. But oh well....it is what it is! (or rather, I am what I am...and I'm going to try and embrace it!).

{The updo in process....excuse my very disheveled hair..haha}

{All ready!}

There's so much I love about this girl. She has the kindest and most generous heart in the world....and she's always doing something sweet for someone else.

She's also a true friend to those who know her. She cares about people, even if it means telling them what they need to hear rather than just what they want to hear. I love that about her.

{Where's my date?

{Beautiful smile ;) }

She loves the Lord with all her heart...and I can tell she's growing in Him each day as she looks to Him to guide her. That's a rare trait in a girl her age....so cool.

I love that she's so creative, too. She's such an artsy person and extremely talented beyond her years. I love that we can share creative ideas and concepts and know exactly what the other person is talking about.

We're visionaries. ;)

{Greta and her date, Cole}

Greta also is such a carefree spirit and loves to have fun....loves to dance....loves to be with her friends and family....loves to be outside....to be active...and just loves to be. She's a lovely soul...and her enthusiasm and spirit is infectious. It's just so much fun being around her....and it's easy to be around her because at once you feel comfortable and at ease. You don't have to pretend.

Greta gets me. I have a very corny, silly type of humor that not everybody sees...but I don't care when I'm around Greta. She laughs right along with me....(even if it's after a slight roll of the eyes). She's just cool like that.

The year before my Mom got pregnant with Greta, I remember really wanting my mom to have another baby sister for me. I might have had 4 sisters at the time, but none of them were babies anymore. I was 9.

I remember I would lay the baby blankets out in the nursery crib, situate the stuffed animals and little pillows and then ask my mom, "when are you going to have another baby? How about now?"

{Boutonniere made by yours truly}

By the end of that year, I had my baby sister and I remember thinking "this one's gonna be mine". My older sister, Grace was the favorite older sister at the time....so I think I must have had a little jealousy thing going on...haha..(of course, looking back, it might have had to do with the fact that she had a gumball machine in her room....Grace? Any thoughts on that one? ;))

But really....as much as I truly love all my sisters and brother alike, Greta will always be my baby sister and will hold a special place in my heart.

And Greta...if you're reading this....

I love you, Treb.

XOXO,

Gail

Love is on the way....

Matt & I had such a blast this past Sunday doing a preggy photo shoot with talented photographer Taylor Lord. Check out her blog here to see more photos of our fun morning. ;0) You'll probably have to scroll down a little to see our shoot....you can't miss it.

Love & hugs,

Gail

Romance Your Wardrobe

Because February is the month of Love...

Why not get a head start with your wardrobe and romance it up a bit!

I know what you're all thinking....

...sorry....not so. :-)

But seriously...I don't know about you...but lately I've been feeling like I'm in a wardrobe rut....

....solid colored sweaters....plain shirt with plain cardigan....Tshirt and old jeans...blah blah blah. And don't even start me on my hair. Ah! My "look" has been a bit sloppy...and I don't like it! So whether or not these ideas inspire you to Romance Your Wardrobe up a bit....a goal I am setting for myself over the next month is to add more touches of femininity....sophistication.....and dare I say... pink? I'm not much of a pink girl.....so this should be fun. :-) We all have that side of us that wants to feel pretty and girly (and for some of us, it's hidden down DEEP)...but if you're raring for a change...then this is for you.

So how do you add touches of romance to your look? Here's a couple of ideas I came up with...

Nothing says romantic like a ruffly top.....

{Photo courtesy: here}

...Or a touch of embroidered lace.

{Photo courtesy: here}

A pair of strappy heels....

...a hint of baby doll color....

{Photo courtesy: here}

....the "untamed" look of flowing tresses....

{Photo courtesy: here}

...and don't forget the frosting on the cake! (aka jewelry). :)

{Photo courtesy: Anthropologie}

Okay, that's it for now! Now have at it!...Oh, and remember...it's not about overloading your look with romance...but adding subtle touches here and there. It's about having fun with it. Make it your own...but don't be afraid to change it up a bit. Excuse me while I head off to my closet... ;)

xoxo,

Gail