i'm back... fo realsies.

it's been almost 3 months since my last posting! a lot has happened in 3 months...

1. i had a lovely wedding shower thrown by my wonderful sister-in-law.

2. i planned all last-minute wedding details (transcontinental style.)

3. i got married!

i'm itching to see the rest of the professional pictures... from what i've seen so far, i'm impressed!

now that the wedding is over, i can share all my top secret wedding details:

• my kick ass day-of-wedding paper resource: baumbirdy. sarah was so easy to work with and the i loved the quality of the paper (coupled with the reasonable prices.) i first learned of baumbirdy from martha. the nella pocket program (seen below) was featured on martha's website. once i scoped out the etsy shop, i decided to simplify things by having sarah do my programs, menus, place cards, and seating chart.

even though wedding planning did consume a large portion of my time, it didn't occupy every second.... here are a couple discoveries:

1. pure barre.

after attending my first class i committed to a 1-month unlimited membership. if there's a studio near you, go. now. you will experience an addictive burn that will keep you coming back. if you're anything like me, you will feel stronger within a couple weeks... and your lululemon wardrobe will increase exponentially.

2. immersion blenders.

simple and inexpensive, this has become a favorite kitchen tool. i was hitting the green monsters hard prior to the wedding, and this little gadget makes it so easy (you can make it in a large cup, so cleanup is nothin.)

3. j. crew minnie pants.

they've updated these pants a bit since i purchased them (mine have a zipper with a hook-and-eye in the back) but the classic shape is still there. i was wearing these constantly on my trip (until an unfortunate accident involving abby and a carton of organic milk.) they are the perfect pants for travel and everyday.

the perfect pair.

i spent hours looking for the perfect pair of wedding-day earrings... i was leafing through an old issue of martha stewart weddings when i discovered bounkit.

i was searching for a pair of earrings that were sparkly and worthy of a special occasion. Nothing that would be me feel like a little girl playing dress-up with costume jewelry. i think bounkit fits the bill.

i just received shipping confirmation for my lovely pair (which shall remain a mystery for approximately 100 days.)

all available at bounkit.

twirl fete.

aren't these kate spade mini saucers the best? if they were available on my wedding registry site, i would add them in a second... i can totally imagine drinking champagne out of them.

happy valentine's day!

i've always loved valentine's day: chocolate is one of my favorite foods, i adore pretty flowers, and any reason to exchange romantic correspondence is a-okay with me.

when i was 10-years-old my mother organized a wonderful little tea party for all my girlfriends. we dressed up, drank darjeeling tea, and ate beautiful petit fours. someday i will host another tea; until then i will just enjoy all these romantic, swoon-worthy images on the web...

(photos courtesy of style me pretty)

P.S. anthropologie launched their long-awaited bridal line today: bhldn. my wedding dress was purchased long ago, but i was still eager to check out the site for accessories and party dresses. there are some lovely dresses, jewelry, hair accessories, and shoes. definitely worth checking out if you're planning (or attending) a wedding this year. my wonderful matron-of-honor purchased a third dress today (yes, we're a little indecisive.)

here are some of my favorites (all available at bhldn.)

stitch by stitch.

i don't know how to needlepoint, but these kits featured on kelly market make me want to learn:

all available here.

olive and cocoa.

i love mail. there's nothing better than finding a handwritten note in my mailbox, but a new catalog is a fun diversion.

a couple weeks ago i found an olive and cocoa in my box and i was immediately smitten with the lovely floral arrangements. (they also have some dainty wine glasses that are worth checking out.)

all available here.

oh, hi.

so it's been a while. between work, wedding planning, and life i have been a very busy girl... that's no excuse, but i'm back!

if you haven't perused the first issue of matchbook magazine, you need to. right. now.

my very favorite find from the initial issue: mr. boddington. seriously, take a look at this stuff:

(photos courtesy of stylemepretty)

luckily, i haven't purchased thank you notes yet, so i can indulge in some boddington beauties!