BIA 4: that something

{via Glamour}

So, other than Gain, the best smell in the world to me (excluding food, also, because that doesn't quite apply here) is when you take down your hair after having it in a ponytail, and your delicious-smelling shampoo/conditioner wafts all around you. Tell me you know what I'm talking about. B/c it truly is the best: you know you smell good, so you feel good, and so you feel beautiful. Well, I do anyway :D And this ad *totally* makes me feel all that. Though maybe I'm a bit influenced by the phrase "Smell unforgettable." (And okay, again disclaimer: this is also not an ad but a Glamour tip. But still.)

And of course, I think this photo is just gorgeous on its own: lighting. capture of movement + fun. pause definitely pressed.

(sigh)

Totally one of those days. So, immediate cheer from blogs:

• Gorgeous lavendar chair at Neiman Marcus, via The Finer Things

• Cupcake stationary, by Dingbat Press, featured by Cupcakes Take the Cake
  

• This beautiful combo of a bouquet AND a cupcake, on Martha Stewart via Cupcakes Take the Cake
  
• 

• This recipe (and the extolling of its virtues) from The City Sage
  

my sister!

Back to the etsy name game (so fun!)...

{Erika, by Hapslappy}

{Erika by grisel}

{and sister of my heart, Jessy by grisel}

sugar rush

Holy cow. I decided to *finally* hit up the grocery store this weekend* and picked up a box of these so I wouldn't be tempted to eat cupcakes. Well, okay, snacking on this + being tempted to eat cupcakes are not exactly related -- but you know what I mean.

But holy cow, that thing is total sugar. And for me, that chocolate-y cookie + white-chocolate-like coating is *perfect.* Hooray, healthy me! Okay, sorta healthy.

And, here's a little polyvore-tasticism, inspired by this delight! (I was a little indecisive about shoes, oops.)

Fudge Shoppe

* A little sadly, the checker was asking me what fun plans I had for the night, since I was ringing through at almost 10p on Saturday night. And all I had was, "Oh, you know -- chopping up all that lettuce you just rang up." (Sigh) I never was a cool kid, but man, having to admit that I was going to chop up lettuce on a Saturday night ... rock. But hey, choosing between (a) going out on the town and (b) saving about $40 by prepping lunch/dinner for me & the hubs this week? You bet cheap is going to win out right now! Ten more days till the family reunion river trip, and 3 weeks till my 10-year reunion, which I am still debating attending. Grr. I know, what magic can I work by eating loads of veggies + 100 calorie snack packs? Who knows! At least I finished that crazy answer I was working on last week!

Dreary Pretties

I don't generally think of gray as a happy color, but these etsy front-page finds are soo pretty! I just wish that I had moved a little quicker---or perhaps slower!!---and not accidentally hit a listing, cuz that made me lose the front page! I'm one row off of *all* the pretties that looked *so* pretty together, and I have no idea who the sellers are. But aren't these all just... (sigh)?

Wants

Thanks to Fairytale Wishes & Dreams, I stumbled across this cute hair accessory shop Bonbon Oiseau! Man, I can only imagine how broke I would be if I lived in NY & could see these things in person or hit all the cute flea markets...

All together now: omg

This is a cheery Good Monday Morning to you! Who doesn't want to start out their day with drop dead gorgeousness? Thank you, Jennifer Skog.

i love this

{stephanieteague}

Which one will you vote for?

My Island Wedding has a 30+ entry contest running right now for favorite inspiration boards -- I popped over because of Beautifully Ever After, but I have to admit -- as much as I loved her entry Into the Woods, these are my faves:

This one, by Prima Donna Bride -- I thought I got over my childhood love of purple, but this just makes me swoon, I can't figure it out... Maybe because it's just so crazy coordinated and *perfection*!



And then practically completely opposite, with its explosion of color + vibrancy rather than the romantic monochromatic scheme -- this one, by Just Wright Designs:


Who'll you guys vote for?

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Elusive Sleep

Wheeee!!

{cybertoad @ flickr}

omg, seriously, I think the end is in sight. Whooooooo!

BC 22: shower wrapping

{massdistraction @ flickr}

Okay, this isn't really about your wedding. i am just super excited about your shower. And that it's time-themed :)!!! And I've got 2am!! So what I bought months ago will be *perfect*!! And, of course, what's on your registry :D Now my only q is wrapping. Hee. Clearly, I need more on my plate, if I'm excited about wrapping your gifts, right? Maybe I can squeeze these in somehow...

{cuppielove}

Dude, this might be it.

{nycblondieandbrownie @ flickr}

What could possibly say 2am better? Maybe there's pizza gift wrap out there....
omg. that's it. i'll snag a pizza box from doubledave's. I am *such* a rockfest. you're gonna love it. and all the other guests will think i am nuts. huh, maybe i will more conventionally wrap that gift, right? damn, i know you would crack.up. if i actually walked in with a pizza boxed, all glitzed out. i dunno, somebody veto me. this shower is being held at a country club, where (incidentally) one of my friends' weddings actually took place.

somebody stop me.

Happy weekend!

{Janie Medley Flora Design of The Bride's Cafe, photographed by Katie Stoops}

I've got a little bit of work ahead of me, but I also get to pick up T's *fabulous* fascinator today since, oh, she's in NY and I'm here :D; shop for our second cousin's first birthday!; possibly stop by Aaron Brothers; and maybe hit a movie! (Transformers 2 sounds like a *fab* idea, Holly!) Hope y'all have some fun plans, too :)

Friday Love

{Cliff Mautner}

This quiet peace captured by Cliff is just ... (sigh). Have a fabulous weekend, filled with This :)

Almost there

{graciepoo @ flickr}

+

{Eliston Lutz, feat. on Desire to Inspire}

I am almost there. I can almost taste the weekend.

So. Ex. Cited.

DIY dyeing your gown

So. Clearly you can tell I am under tremendous stress to meet a deadline. Which means the vicious cycle of scoping out blogs + procrastinating just increases. But I'm okay. Goal is 4:30 today. Maybe 6:30, cuz everyone seems to think getting on the road at 4:30 is a good idea. And then maybe I can still hit up the Aaron Bros sale. Or just HEB.

But I digress.

I've recently discovered This Young House -- maybe like re-discovered, cuz I think I found it a while ago and was just meh about it. But something made me link back there again, and it found its way to my google homepage (huh, how'd that happen)?

And then I clicked on their wedding album tab -- holy cow, how cute! In their backyard? DIY? 75 people at $4k? Homemade mint lemonade from a winebottle? TOO CUTE!

And then.

I saw this.



How fabulous!! She dyed her own gown!!! What a spectacular job, too -- and her instructions are hilarious. I love the pewter, even though she was going for black :D -- let's see, what can I dye....

Shoe shopping! {style me pretty}

Love these hot boots.

Seriously, visual-treat shopping at Style Me Pretty's photo galleries is awesome.




But these are by far my total fave.

BIA 3: Making the un-glamourous glamourous

(via Glamour}

Yeah, I bet you've missed looking at ads with me. But, lucky you, BIA's back! (Gosh a whole month almost!!)

But seriously. This reminds me of those old vacuum commercials (or other cleaning products) where the woman is *all* dolled up (and wearing an insanely cute white outfit or something) -- I mean, hello, do you ladies dress like this when you shave? (egads, I think my hubs would be excited if I just slept in something like this, let alone shaved in it!) But man, that is a cute cami, yes? And I'm not even going to (seriously, in-depth) discuss that gorgeous bathroom. Or how much fun shaving apparently is. But hey, the ad totally made me stop and drool just a little :D (lace! bright white! clean! (implied) claw-footed tub! chandelier! man...)

Etsy finds

[begurple]

Best 20 minute break

Pretending I am packing away for a gorgeous beach.

Send me away!

yes.

I am missing not one but two happy hours.

Because I am working.
So I could use a little of this.

{EverJean @ flickr}

Or I could settle for this, too.

{madebygirl}

Or, okay, a little of this (hee).

{Jason-Morrison @ flickr}

BC 21: Succulents

{erinheartscourt for Succulent Love Designs, feat. on 100layercake}

T, I know this is too late for your centerpieces. And I'm ignoring my agreement to quit this :D But it's just that 100layercake pointed out Succulent Love Designs -- and since you wanted more modern florals/design, I thought you'd want a peek. Cuz this is the bride with the fab bouquet, too -- all that love for her wedding flora ==> new business! Hooray, entrepreneurship!

{erinheartscourt}