it's fall somewhere...

[image via]

I woke up this morning to the chilly, fall, Washington air. (It was such a welcome change to the crazy weather patterns that we've been having in LA. It seems that LA is just starting to realize that it is actually fall.) I am in Seattle for the first part of the week, sipping some of the best coffee, kicking up the fall leaves, and soaking in every minute with my best friend and her new baby girl. 

I am beyond blessed to have friends like this is my life. Friends that take the extra time, and make the extra investment to celebrate lives BIG moments together. Friends like this are not to be taken for granted. If you have one, call her up, make some plans, give her a huge hug and kiss on the cheek and tell her that you love her. If you don't, don't throw yourself at the girls who are in your life and want desperately for them to be there for you, you'll know when you've got one of the good ones...there will be no doubt. When she comes around, hold onto her tightly, for she is one of the best gifts you can have. 

[my last trip to Seattle]

baby brunch

I promised today's post would be about the baby brunch we hosted for Dana, so here you have it.  Yesterday seemed to come to fast...how was is Monday already. It was one of those days. Hard to get up, hard to get through. Looking back at these photos makes smile so it's a perfect day to share them.

 It was the perfect mini get together. We drank mimosas with fresh squeezed oj, coffee and lemon water. We ate yogurt with berries & granola, muffins, bagels & cream cheese and fruit bowls. We smothered the mama in cute little girly things. (Dana said she didn't want presents but how can you resist the teeny tiny things for a baby girl...you can't!) Most importantly of all we got to spend the morning together.

[Tawni, Mama Dana, Me]

I knew as soon as we decided to host this little get together that I wanted to keep the table setting simple and colorful. The table covering is simple kraft paper, the place holders are paper doilies, the vases are plain clear cylinders with zig zag cut fabric tied around them and filled with all types of mums.

[the table setting]
[Emily, Amanda, Ivy]

[a variety of mums, a clear cylinder vase, fabric tie to adorn, a paper doily]

I have wanted to use the gorgeous goodies from Shop Sweet Lulu for quite some time and this was the perfect time to do it. Their product is adorable, they are affordable and they shipped SO fast!

[striped straws from Shop Sweet Lulu and hand stamped place holder doilies]

[favors; cookies in yellow chevron bags and glassine bags (from Shop Sweet Lulu), fabric strap ties, dried mums and millinery leaves]
[striped pink paper straws also from Shop Sweet Lulu]

[Meagan, Me, Mama Dana]

[Vanessa of a fashion gal & a fireman, Ivy, Meagan]

[Mama Dana with the cutest baby girl outfit ever (vest embellished by Vanessa) & Jess]

[my bucket o' goodies for the baby girl]
[cutest trapper hat ever, cutest book ever, striped hoodie towel & more]

[Vanessa, Meagan, Me, Tawni, Jess, Dana, Emily, Amanda, & Ivy]

DIY: wedding shower suite

I was recently asked to help shower one of my good friends through her prenuptial bliss. Of course I obliged and of course I offered to help make the wedding shower suite since I was right up my alley.  Not only was it something I knew I wanted to do but it was something I knew I'd be honored to do, just like being a bridesmaid at her upcoming October wedding. While deciding where, what and when we wanted to shower her, and how we could combine all things good together to maximize on the opportunities of so many coming from afar, we went with hosting a Wine and Chocolate shower at a dear friend's house in Los Angeles and then road trip onto Vegas the following morning. Flowing wine and a chocolate fountain on a warm Friday night in Los Angeles? What more could you want to be showered with, right?

[wine and chocolate theme carried right onto the address labels with love stamps]

[wine and chocolate shower followed by vegas, baby!]

[eat, drink, & be marri(ed)!]

[what happens in vegas...probably won't have to stay in Vegas in this case]

All-in-all, they were super fun (despite one minor typo...ugh!) to make and having gone through the wedding showers and wedding already, I know that having some thing paper and tangible to add to a memory box is the way to go. For marriage is life long and so should be the memories.

p.s. I'm sure there will come a post filled with the wine and chocolate that will come with this invitation!

*all photos taken for by way of ney