The Weekend is here :)

Alexandra Sophie

And it's Friday! Phew! This week went by fast! The weekend is sure to be a great one in the Super Burbs.  The forecast calls for warmth and sun and our weekend agenda is full of fun.  Woo hoo look at me rhyming this late in the day (yes I realize that was a lame attempt).  I am looking forward to grilling out, the Derby and a nice little 13 mile jaunt through the big city of Providence. 

Before I run out to get the fish for dinner (tuna steaks on the grill tonight - yum!), I will leave you with a few things that made my day this week:

These are Perfect with a capital P for a photo booth at a wedding.

I want all of my friends to live in a little compound like this.

Vintage hairstyles make me happy. Surprised?

The most adorable.necklace.ever. (ok exaggeration, but it's pretty darn cute)

People, I need your help.

Have a fabulous weekend! 

XOXO,

Abby

Quote Unquote

Quotes were written for people like me.  I am easily inspired. Give me a good quote and I become overly thoughtful and moved.  However, I need a quote for a portion of our wedding invitation suite and I am suffering serious quote paralysis. You would think I was naming a child or something.

That's where you come in.  I would love you even more than I already do if you could leave a few good quote options in the form of a comment below.  Pretty please with a cherry on top.

{The Love Shop}

{We heart it}

{3 Lambs Graphics}

 {erinjaneshop}

My Old Kentucky Home

Here's the thing about life - there is always something to celebrate.  I love that.  And you better believe I love the Kentucky Derby (have you seen my overly horsey posts here & here? I am a certified horse nut).  Growing up in the South, it's just understood that you are watching, celebrating and drinking on the first Saturday in May.  Now that I live above the Mason Dixon, I've tried to keep that tradition alive.

Unfortunately this year I won't be hosting a fabulous Kentucky Derby party in the Super Burbs (one day, this will happen).  I am actually off to the races myself the next morning, so I am taking it easy.  However, while I am running I shall be dreaming of big hats, mint juleps and my perfect Kentucky Derby themed party for next year.

I would serve these on a pretty pastel green cake platter (hooray! another excuse to buy a cake platter!):

{via Hostess with the Mostess}

And there will be plenty of real Mint Juleps for the non cupcake fairing type.  Need a good recipe for your party this year (lucky you)? Go here.

The table design would be lovely and feminine. The place settings would be horse shoes and the favors would of course be in mint julep cups (I really can't get enough of them - can you tell?), and each seat would have a copy of the lyrics to "My Old Kentucky Home" (so we can sing after one too many Mint Juleps).

{Table/ Escort Cards/ Favors all via Style Me Pretty}

Of course there will be wardrobe requirements, but I'll get into that on a later post.

Hats will be required.Wanna come?

The Venue

Mr. C and I had a walk through this past weekend at the place where our Chapter 2 begins.  Our Wedding Venue - The Ocean House. And let me just tell you, I love our everything about it for so many reasons; our first date was down the street, it's in the little beach town where we met, the church is across the street, and it's GORGEOUS.

It has quite the story to go along with it as well (you know I love those).  It has been around for a long, long time (aka 1868), and it was previously opened only three months out of the year.  It was a fabulous beach town resort people came back to year after year.  Unfortunately, about two-ish years after Mr. C and I met (aka 2005) it was condemned. I was crushed.  Because even waaaaayyyy back then, I wanted to marry Mr. C there (he probably didn't know that at the time, I played it cool).

This is the Ocean House in its glory days:

Luckily for Watch Hill, a town hero took on the project - and low and behold it just happens to be re-opening the Summer Mr. C and I are getting married.  Life is funny like that.

And boy, did they do an amazing job restoring it.

 {images: George Bekris via wikepedia}

I get chills just looking at it.  Cannot.wait.to.get.married.

Tuesday Shoesday

I create lists. It's just what I do. And with Summer just around the corner, you better believe I have a list of my dream shoe wardrobe.  Well today, I shall share a few items on that said list in honor of the fabulous occasion we now know and celebrate - Tuesday Shoesday.

{Kate / Tory / Kate}

The list will continue next week, but until then - visit the lovely Tuesday Shoesday founders; Swatchbook Weddings, Gwyneth Paige, Landlocked Bride, Simply & Forever and Meant To Be Sent. 

Currently loving...

Y'all know how I feel about chalkboards. So you shouldn't be surprised how excited I was to come across Shanna Murray's site. 

It will do your Monday good to go take a peek for yourself....

{Shanna Murray}

Time to tackle the week!

Hooray for the Weekend!

{via ffffound}

Oh what a week. I almost can't believe it's Friday already. But fear not Friday, I shall welcome you with open arms! And you, internet, you know I can't get enough of you, so here are a few things to hold you over until we meet again.

~ A completely glamorous inspiration board 

~ DIY CAKE STANDS 

~ I want to host a baby shower after seeing this

~ DIY book wreath even my librarian Granny would love 

~ A fabulous pillow fight in a wedding dress

~ AHHH I am in LOVE with these table designs!

Peace out cub scouts!

XOXO,
Abs

The Short List

Style Me Pretty fashion week has been killing me in the best possible way. I am dying each morning over my coffee, each afternoon over lunch and each evening over wine (shhh...). That is a lot of dying. I have noticed that the dresses I love most are short. And I want one. Although old man Shaughnessy might not go for that.

{Grazier Photography / Priscilla of Boston via Style Me Pretty}

{Grazier Photography / Priscilla of Boston via Style Me Pretty}

{Grazier Photography Vineyard collection via Style Me Pretty}

{Grazier Photography/ Melissa Sweet via Style Me Pretty}

And sorry (ok, I'm not really sorry), I just had to include a few from Sarah Seven. It wouldn't be a short list without one of these puppies.

{Sarah Seven}

{Sarah Seven}

Happy Friday Loves! 

Green Glassware

Keeping with the making recycling pretty theme of the day - it would be a crime for me to not show you these darlings from the Green Glass Company. They are adorable, green and dishwasher safe.  What more could a girl ask for?

Check out their story here.  I am so happy there are companies like this one out there...

Earth Day Downloads

{Image via Poppytalk}

I stumbled on these on Poppytalk and just had to share.  They make it nice and easy - download, print and stick and tada! your recycling bins are the best on the block! It just makes recycling that much more fun (and much better looking). Click here (paper and glass) and here (newspaper and metal) to download.

Happy Earth Day Mother Earth - perhaps you could do something about that Icelandic volcano? 

Hold up - why didn't I know about this?

{Kate Spade via pretty.pretty.paper}

From now on, I need a press release sent to the Super Burbs anytime Kate Spade puts out something so perfectly fantastic.  This needs to be on my beach cruiser (which also traveled cross country with me) right now.

Lucite Wedding

{Images by Chocolate Creative Design via True Event}

Loving the idea of using Lucite chairs at this awesome venue.  I wonder if any are currently for sale... They would be perfect for our home office (which is now serving as a dance floor/ workout room).

Check out the entire wedding here.

SMP & Pucci

LOVING this wedding on SMP right now. 

Not to mention, it just so happens to be the wedding of our Best Man's brother :)

{Jake McBride for Christian Oth via Style Me Pretty}

Tuesday Shoesday

{Millie Holloman via Southern Weddings}

Ummm...The shoes above are the bomb.com. You can't even try to argue here.

If I lived in a land where shoes were free to all girls and boys as long as they were on their best behavior, I would do everything in my power to be make even the Queen say, "Wow, that crazy lady in the Super Burbs really knows how to act appropriately." Even if that meant locking myself in my room. Desperate times call for desperate measures folks.

My feet are craving to slip into these puppies - craving like I crave a big glass of wine on Friday nights.  Yep, that intense.

Unfortunately, I think they are Valentinos, and a tad bit on the pricey side. But hey, if you can't dream on Tuesday Shoesday - when can you dream?

Exactly.

Keep the dream alive today with my fellow Tuesday Shoesday comrades - 

• Swatchbook Weddings
•  Gwyneth Paige
• Landlocked Bride
• Simply & Forever
• Meant To Be Sent
  

If you find any similar (and less expensive) varieties on your Tuesday Shoesday journey - pass them along!

Marathon Monday

I will never be able to put into words (shocking, I know) my feelings for the Boston Marathon. I love it. The city is full of energy, endurance and a huge amount of pride.  It is THE marathon to run, and there is definitely a feeling of privilege when you run it (and a feeling of pain around mile 24, but we won't get into that). 

I won't be able to watch the coverage today, because I want to be there - enduring the pain, experiencing the feeling you get when you cross the finish line (while shedding a tear or two - you know me), and enjoying that one drink after the race that makes me tipsy beyond belief.  Alas, my body is rejecting me and my stress fractures (yes plural) are just now recovering. So in the spirit of the Boston Marathon, I give the only thing I can give you at this point - inspiration.

For the runners - savor Hopkinton (you won't feel that great for awhile), start off slower than you think you should, enjoy the Wellesley tunnel, don't let the Newton hills get to you, prepare for the down hill after, thank the volunteers, keep your eye on the Citgo sign, give the little kids high fives along the way (the few seconds off your time are worth it), appreciate every step down Boylston Street and be thankful you are able to do something so magnificent.

And of course, enjoy a drink at the end.  It will never taste so good.

{Images:  Boston Marathon Jacket/ Favors via Miss Pickles Press / Citgo Sign / Treats via Sweetest Occasion photos from Jen Williams/  Favors via Style Me Pretty}

Weekend = Love

{via Apartment Therapy}

Hello weekend, welcome to the Super Burbs.  So nice for you to stop by.  Since you were so nice to drop in, I shall leave you with a few (there are so many) of my favorite things from the week:

• A very Super Burbish breakfast with Dandelion and Grey
• Letterpress of the Month club via Gwyneth Paige (sign me up!)
• The surprise wedding of Eat Drink Chic
• Awesome favors from Dognbird
• A great kick in the pants quote via Swiss Miss
• I NEED these stools
• This reeeeallly makes me want my wet bar

You are all my sunshines :) XOXO

SMP Guest Post: My Wedding Weakness

My wedding weakness. The nautical wedding. Here it is from the fabulous Sarah True of True Event - check out my guest post on Style Me Pretty today to see it in all of its glory:

{Adeline and Grace via Style Me Pretty}

Happy Birthday Ol'Man

My Dad.

 {This is his all time favorite photo - mainly because it shows how awkward he was.}

He is the little guy on the left.  Mark Edward. The fourth child of nine. That hat, well it has a story - just like everything in my dad's life.  He is the definition of an Irish story teller. I love him for that. 

If you know me at all, you know I am a huge fan of the man (my mother rocks as well - I'm a lucky lady).  He has such a zest for life, and even with 4 crazy children (well, 3 -because I was an angel) and a demanding job, he made our lives spectacular.  It's why I have such a Pollyanna-esque outlook on life - he makes the most of each and every day, and taught us all to do the same. 

Today is his birthday, so I thought I would share with the internet a few awesome things about him.  Just a few, for there are many.

• Hearing him sing on the guitar is my favorite thing in the world.
• He is the biggest fan of my mother. The BIGGEST. To the point we were annoyed as kids.  Now, it's cute.
• He drove me out to California when I was transferred for my job at the time, and it was the most memorable/ life changing trip ever.
• He still cannot behave in church
• He loves the ocean - it's the only thing that shuts him up.
• He actually bought me the pony.
• He is a complete and utter sap and he will fall apart at our wedding in August.
• He loves his family, more than anything.

Happy Birthday Ol' Man - I love you like a crazy person, even if you eat cupcakes for breakfast.

Swedish Style Me Pretty Wedding

Well this wedding is just plain gorgeous. It doesn't hurt that the bride and groom look like models, but I digress. It's full of charm, style and fabulous details.

Check it out here.

{Monika Manowska via Style Me Pretty}

Times Tables

{Vintage Flash Cards as Wall Decor via Apartment Therapy}

Maybe it's my self-diagnosed OCD, but I loved this idea when I came across it on my daily journey through the internet.   The couple picked up this set of 54 vintage flashcards from antique shop Ipso Facto, and they were already framed! Such luck.  


Can you imagine hanging those suckers up?
 

May I come over?

...I promise to be on my best behavior.  I won't awkwardly drool over everything in your house, or go on and on about how your designs make me embarrassingly happy (see my open letter). I could of course, and boy would it be hard to hold back -but Mr. C would most certainly make fun of me.  I would bring wine, lots of wine, and would do my best to be a witty and charming house guest.

Are you convinced Andy & Kate Spade? (or do you think I am just a crazy person - surely not the latter) NYC isn't too far from the Super Burbs...

 {Photos by Photos by Tina Barney, Jason Frank Rothenberg, Noe DeWitt and Eric Morin via Habitually Chic}

 

Check out more images here.

Buckles

I'm originally from the land of big belt buckles, so my heart nostalgically leapt when I checked out Rosie Campbell's link after she commented on a post.  I think my readers are something special, particularly when they create belts as adorable as these! 

Check out her entire selection here.