sunday simplicity: national ice cream day.

Danielle Poff via The Wedding Standard

Your love is better than ice cream

better than anything else that I've tried

- Sarah McLachlan

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...

• 4/23 - World Book Day
• 4/27 - Arbor Day
• 4/29 - International Dance Day 

SWOON.

Chris J. Evans via Intimate Weddings

• A vintage-inspired intimate wedding in Hawaii.
• A plant-filled bohemian Brooklyn home tour.
• From Lia Griffith, cute DIY baby shower invites.
• Love this modern cloud nursery with pops of gold.

SMILE.

• Digging everything in this Etsy paper goods shop.
• A kid-friendly music playlist that's not Kidz Bop #29.

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: remixed closet staples and April favorites.
• 2014: pet peeves and the best [Mean Girls themed] link-up ever.
• 2013: inspiration for my eternal favorite spring trend: mixed prints.
• 2012: backyard wedding inspiration and ideas for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

sunday simplicity

Claire Penn Photography via Junebug Weddings

"Last year’s words belong to last year’s language 

and next year’s words await another voice.”

— T.S. Eliot

sunday simplicity.

M&J Photography via Love My Dress

“Not everything has to have a point. 

Some things just are. ” ― Judy Blume

halloween clicks of note.

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

SWOON.

Jennifer Blair Photography

• The Elli blog features a sparkly, colorful ranch wedding.
• From Jennifer Blair, a charming, fashionable Atlanta fete.
• Love the color palette in this romantic shoot from Ruffled.
• So, how adorable is this 85 year old flower grandpa?

SMILE.

• October desktops: Smashing, Sea of Atlas, JiJiKiki.
• Fashionista and Jezebel rounds up stars' costumes.
• Possibly the world's happiest dog - so adorable.
• Why didn't I think of galaxy pumpkins? (OSB Paper)

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: oak buff wardrobe picks and our Captain America and Peggy Carter costumes.
• 2014: my fall in Instagram, graphic sweatshirts, and a book-themed Circle.
• 2013: November faves, neutral pieces, studded ballet flats, modern Thanksgiving inspiration, fall blog loves, entertainment faves, and an Instagram recap.
• 2012: black and white wedding inspiration, and a healthy pumpkin pie oatmeal recipe.
• 2011: our indoor wedding portraits, our social hour, outdoor bridal party portraits, couple portraits, my recipe for slow cooker baked apples and our kitchen color combo.

sunday simplicity.

Onelove Photography via Style Me Pretty

“It's time to start living the life you've imagined.”

― Henry James

this week's clicks: all we need is a roof and a warm place...

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• The sun has finally come out in southwest Virginia, so I'm filling my playlist with upbeat, springy music perfect for warm days, like Little Brutes' "Make Our Own Way."

SWOON.

Kate Haus Photography via Style Me Pretty

• Seriously in love with this colorful South Carolina wedding.
• Obsessed with this little Venice, California canal cottage.
• Lia Griffith's picture-perfect papercut just married banner.
• This tee from The Tomkat Studio is the cutest gift for brides!

SMILE.

• Intrigued by mineral sunscreen spray now that spring's here.
• Watched this interesting Gloria Vanderbilt doc this weekend.
• Book Riot rounds up the best of the new Star Wars universe.
• Beth shares Bible verses to stand on when times are tough.

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: remixed closet staples, seating ideas for spring celebrations, April favorites.
• 2014: a Sunday Social about pet peeves and the best [Mean Girls themed] link-up ever.
• 2013: inspiration for my eternal favorite spring trend: mixed prints.
• 2012: backyard wedding inspiration and ideas for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

sunday simplicity.

Audrey Rose Photography via Heart Love Always

“You don't love someone for their looks, or their 

clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they 

sing a song only you can hear.” ― Oscar Wilde

sunday simplicity.

The McCartneys Photography via Elizabeth Ann Designs

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most 
real things in the world are the things we can't see." 
- The Polar Express

wedding wednesday: vineyard inspired

Happy first day of autumn, everyone! I'm enjoying watching the first signs of fall color appear here in the Blue Ridge Mountains and looking forward to my community's wine festival this weekend - which has my imagination turning today toward the perfect vineyard wedding - a plum color palette, dahlias, roses, and other fall flowers, and classic nods to a winery setting.

Sherrell Photography via Rustic Wedding Chic

I love the sweet ruffle on this plum bridesmaids' dress.

Julie Mikos Photographer via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Vitalic Photo via The Every Last Detail

Sherrell Photography via Rustic Wedding Chic

de la Barra Photography via Design Sponge | Vitalic Photo via The Every Last Detail

How fun (and easy) is this cork monogram?

Julie Mikos Photographer via Elizabeth Anne Designs

An apple basket makes the perfect vessel for an autumn dahlia centerpiece.

The Nichols via Southern Weddings

Katie DeLorme via Style Me Pretty | Mosca Studio via One Wed

Liz and Ryan via United With Love

Michael and Anna Costa Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Have you ever been to a vineyard wedding? How does your community welcome fall?

sunday simplicity:

Alixann Loosle Photography via Ruffled

A dreamer on the hillside, in late September's glow,

Looked down upon the valley that lay serene below.

The blue wood-smoke upcurling, the fresh brown earth up-

        turned,

The winding road where dully the dusky sumac burned,-

All these and more he saw not, for past its farthest rim

The land beyond the valley was beckoning to him.

 -From "The Land Beyond The Valley" by Esther Mary Clark Hill

wedding wednesday: inspiration for a preppy navy wedding

I'm stuck on daydreams of preppy weddings this summer - not sure what's gotten into me. This week, I rounded up inspiration for a timeless, elegant navy blue wedding with fun modern patterns on the stationery (how cool would ikat programs be for summer?), the groomsmen's ties, the linens, and the cake table!

Kimberly Fitzsimmons

Isn't this embossed calligraphy gorgeous? I love that it's at an 

angle, so it's not too stuffy, while still maintaining a formal style.

Callie Davis of Nancy Ray Photography via Southern Weddings

Kurt Boomer via Once Wed | Katelyn James Photography

Callie Davis of Nancy Ray Photography via Southern Weddings

Steve Steinhardt Photography via Inspired by This

Binary Flips Photography via Lea Ann Belter Bridal

Leigh Webber via Style Me Pretty | Jodi Miller via Snippet and Ink

Binary Flips Photography

Steve Steinhardt Photography via Inspired by This

Let's talk about these perfectly preppy navy bridesmaids dresses

and how I always swoon over groomsmen in gray suits.

Jodi Miller via Snippet and Ink | Karenanna Cakes via Weddbook

clicks of note: don't you dare look back...

get your week off to a colorful start...

• I hope that you're all enjoying whatever Memorial Day finds you doing. What a busy weekend we've had - I chaperoned a school dance on Friday (Karaoke room duty was way more fun than I expected), Breeze's youngest sister graduated from high school on Saturday, her middle sister's bridal shower was yesterday, and our little tribe is having a cookout today. This week, I've got eighth grade Field Day, the last day of classes on Wednesday, a retirement/going away party for two co-workers, two teacher workdays to pack up my classroom, and my 30th birthday on Friday. I'm getting tired just thinking about all of it.

LISTEN.

• It may not officially be summer yet, but Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance" is my official Summer Jam. I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Jenna Henderson via Bridal Musings

• Bridal Musings features a charming rustic barn wedding.
• At SMP, an elegant Baltimore wedding with pretty details.
• SW features a beach wedding full of fairytale perfection.
• Wedding Chicks shows off Justin Alexander's new gowns.

SMILE.

• Buzzfeed rounds up .gifs from body-positive female celebs.
• Mindy Kaling has not one, but TWO new books coming out.
• Five secrets to being a great party hostess, from the Kitchn.
• Redneck Avengers had me laughing out loud like a weirdo.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I rounded up the #1 hit song on my birthday in years past, featured my spring blog loves, and recapped my April and May in Instagrams.
• Two years ago, I celebrated my cousin's homecoming from Afghanistan, showed off my favorite pieces from Target for link-up, rounded up some of my favorite Instagrammers to follow, and shared my entertainment faves from May.
• Three years ago, I rounded up confetti-inspired wedding inspiration.  
• Four years ago, I shared ideas for signature cocktails, memorial day party inspiration, and the ways my "venue twins" styled their weddings, and shared our wedding invitation!

 

sunday simplicity: a piece of home...

Happy Wedd | Rebecca Hollis Photography via Ruffled

“Christmas… is not an external event at all, but a piece of 

one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.” – Freya Stark

inspiration: a beauty and the beast winter wedding

My favorite fairy tale since childhood has been Beauty and the Beast.  I love that Belle (both the Disney version and the original in the French fairy story) is a bookworm, and her nurturing personality and ability to see inner beauty.  Today I'm sharing wedding details from around the web, inspired by a story I cherish.

There was once a very rich merchant, who had three daughters; being a man of sense, he spared no cost for their education, but gave them all kinds of masters. His daughters were extremely handsome, especially the youngest. When she was little everybody admired her, and called her Beauty, which made her sisters very jealous.  The two eldest had a great deal of pride, because they were rich. They gave themselves ridiculous airs, and would not visit other merchants' daughters, nor keep company with any but persons of quality. They went out every day to parties of pleasure, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth, and they laughed at their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time in reading good books.

Brooke Bakken Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Brooke Baaken Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs | Aaron Snow Photography via Wed Society

The merchant received a letter with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had effects, was safely arrived. This news had liked to have turned the heads of the two eldest daughters, and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged of him to buy them new gowns, headdresses, ribbons, and all manner of trifles.

"What will you have, Beauty?" said her father.

"Since you have the goodness to think of me," answered she, "be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity." 

The good man was within thirty miles of his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself. It rained and snowed terribly; besides, the wind was so high, that it threw him twice off his horse, and night coming on, he began to apprehend being either starved to death with cold and hunger, or else devoured by the wolves, whom he heard howling all round him, when, on a sudden, looking through a long walk of trees, he saw a light at some distance, and going on a little farther perceived it came from a palace illuminated from top to bottom. 

Cameron and Kelly Studio via Style Me Pretty | Heather Bliss Photography via Calie Rose Floral and Event Design

The good man drank his chocolate, and then went to look for his horse, but passing through an arbor of roses he remembered Beauty's request to him, and gathered a branch on which were several; immediately he heard a great noise, and saw such a frightful Beast coming towards him, that he was ready to faint away.

"You are very ungrateful," said the Beast to him, in a terrible voice; "I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle, and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe, but you shall die for it; I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself, and say your prayers."

The merchant fell on his knees, and lifted up both his hands, "My lord," said he, "I beseech you to forgive me, indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one."

Jessica Sim Photography via Magnolia Rouge

Beauty thought she might as well walk about, and view this fine castle, which she could not help admiring; it was a delightful pleasant place. What chiefly took up her attention, was a large library, a harpsichord, and several music books. 

Josh Gruetzmacher via Snippet and Ink | Sarah McKenzie Photography via Style Me Pretty

"Eat then, Beauty," said the monster, "and endeavor to amuse yourself in your palace, for everything here is yours, and I should be very uneasy, if you were not happy."

"You are very obliging," answered Beauty, "I own I am pleased with your kindness, and when I consider that, your deformity scarce appears."

"Yes, yes," said the Beast, "my heart is good, but still I am a monster."

"Among mankind," says Beauty, "there are many that deserve that name more than you, and I prefer you, just as you are, to those, who, under a human form, hide a treacherous, corrupt, and ungrateful heart."

Sarah McKenzie Photography via Style Me Pretty |  Kismis Ink Photography via Brenda's Wedding Blog

"No, dear Beast," said Beauty, "you must not die. Live to be my husband; from this moment I give you my hand, and swear to be none but yours. Alas! I thought I had only a friendship for you, but the grief I now feel convinces me, that I cannot live without you." Beauty scarce had pronounced these words, when she saw the palace sparkle with light; and fireworks, instruments of music, everything seemed to give notice of some great event. But nothing could fix her attention; she turned to her dear Beast, for whom she trembled with fear; but how great was her surprise! Beast was disappeared, and she saw, at her feet, one of the loveliest princes that eye ever beheld; who returned her thanks for having put an end to the charm, under which he had so long resembled a Beast.

Sarah McKenzie Photography via Style Me Pretty | Candace Berry Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

Okay, readers:  What's your favorite fairy tale?