Inspire Me Pretty New York Part II

We are at it again over at SMP New York! Another Inspire Me Pretty board building contest! I la, la, loved all the boards y'all created last time, so put your skills to work again this time around. Remember it can be any style, any budget - just something that is all New York. Be sure use the new board builder and tag your board Inspire Me Pretty NY. Don't be shy, I know y'all are some board-building babes. Here is something I whipped up just for the occasion...



The winner will be announced on Friday! Alicia over at The Charity Wedding won last time around - take a look at her full city glam board:

Tuesday Shoesday

I am counting down the minutes to the 4th of July weekend like little kids (and myself) count down to Christmas. I.love.this.holiday. It's smack dab in the middle of the very best season of all filled with all of my favorite summer time activities. As I am writing this, we have 82 hours (or 4941 minutes) until the clock strikes 5pm on Friday and we are beach bound! So in honor of all of this excitement, here are a pair of shoes perfect for all the upcoming festivities. Even better? They are $39. Hooray for America!

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For more check out {TRUE Event} {brancoprata} {magnolia rouge} {demoiselle} {meant to be sent} {simply & forever} {landlocked bride} {swatchbook weddings}{luna & chloe weddings} {merci new york} {enchanted dream weddings}

The Lemonade Stand

School is out and the Super Burbs has officially become the land of lemonade stands. On my run this afternoon, I swear there was one on every corner taunting me with their lemony goodness. So of course,  immediately upon my return home I got to dreaming of a lovely affair based soley on that brightly-colored fruit. Whadda think?

for credits: http://smp.gd/b/21p

Sunday Bloody Sunday

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This is most certainly happening today. Happy Sunday Funday!

Happy Weekend!

It's Saturday, the sun started to peak its pretty little head out and there are so many fabulous little things happening in the Super Burbs I just can't help but be happy. However a small side note: yesterday Otto had to have a bald spot shaved on his head due to an infection. I cried my little girl eyes out. Dear parents of the world with real children, you are amazing. I am constantly amazed by how you juggle it all (and your emotions) with a real live human. I love this silly little dog so much I felt like my head was getting shaved. He is still the cutest dog ever (of course) but I think his ego is a bit bruised. And that just crushes my little heart. I may or may not have let him in the bed this morning. Shhh....Alright, enough story-telling, I am going to head out with Mr. C & our bald-headed beauty to our little back patio and enjoy the sunshine! Have a fab weekend!

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Hostess with the Mostess: Baby Shower Recap

Let's just say this recap is fashionably late. By like a month. Oops. Things have been a bit hectic. But it's better late than never, right? And not to toot my own horn (as one of the darling co-hosts - Kara - likes to say) but this was loads of fun and turned out rather pretty too. Where to begin? Well let me just say, Hilary of Hilary B. Photography swooped in like a super hero to capture it all and it was SO incredibly lovely to meet her. If it weren't for her, this little shoot would never been seen by the likes of Hostess with the Mostess, so ya gotta love her for sharing her talents. Emily of Paper Moss showed me around In Design so I could whip up some pretty paper, and Christina at 539 Flowers let me clean out her pink flower inventory in the shop so I could play with the arrangements. Kara opened up her home so I could invade it with pink and Elizabeth baked goods that could compete with Martha. Seriously. All of this for the oh-so-deserving Christina who now has the most beautiful baby girl - Abigail - to show for all of this. Which just happens to be the prettiest detail of all.

I used two of these IKEA frames and just spray painted them white. I wanted to separate the two rooms so there were two separate experiences - the tea bar and the dessert table. The favors were sweet little tea bags that were uber delicious.

We also asked the guests to bring a book to help fill the built in bookshelves in Abigail's nursery. We had little labels for guests to leave little notes for her, so she knows just how much she is loved :)

And now for the baked goods. Lordy, lordy. Elizabeth is a lawyer by day and a master baker by night. Everything was to DIE for. People actually ate - EVERYTHING. Which rarely happens when tables are put together so carefully. But that is a testament to how good everything was. We also got the cute little cake toppers from Two Sugar Babies to tie back into the tea party theme. 

So here is a little buying guide: Garland from Luna Bazaar / Straws from Etsy / Pink Lemonade from Amazon / Tea Tins flower vases from Harvey & Sons / Small Cupcake Stands from Macy's Martha Stewart Collection

Photography: Hilary B. Photography

Thanks to everyone for all your sweet words on the feature! Hope this gives a little inspiration for any upcoming showers in your future!

Pretend Pool Party

I mentioned a week or so ago on twitter about my strong desire to host a pool party. Problem, we don't have a pool. I take that back, Otto has a pool which he is currently enjoying at this very moment, but it really isn't conducive to the type of pool party I want to host. It's blue and cost $9.99 at the local hardware store. Don't worry Otto, I don't judge your low standards I actually enjoy them. But today, in honor of the start of the very best season of all - I present my pretend pool party. Fancy bathing suits, cover ups, glam pool houses, margaritas, lots of toasting to good times, and plenty of magazine reading. Care to join me?

http://smp.gd/b/dyq

Tuesday Shoesday + Happy Summer + Happy Father's Day

Sunday my dad came down to the Super Burbs with my lovely mother and said to me as he walked into the door..."So Abby, I read your blog today.." And I immediately knew I was in the daughter dog house. Not even a quick little Happy Father's Day post. I told him he's gotten many mushy shout outs on this little ol' blog (this one might be the mushiest), and I flat ran out of time. Then we took him out for fried clams, and all was right with the world again (until he wanted ice cream). He can be a bit of a diva, but ya gotta love him. How was your father's day? If you are in New England you probably were outside because it was absolutely STUNNING out. It's the sort of day I dream about all winter long. And since today is officially the first day of the best season, it seems like we need a summery shoe to fawn over. Well I think I have just the thing for y'all. 

Tory Burch - find them here.

Please note: I would last maybe 2 minutes walking in these. But for those of you with more skill, they are pretty hot to trot.

Happy Weekend!

This week 100% got away from me. I'll admit it. Not work wise, just life wise. Can someone please tell me how they manage to get all their laundry done each week? Because as hard as I try, I can NEVER keep up with that mess. And we don't even have kids. So I am going to be honest here and say the laundry part of having kids terrifies me. I am hoping I figure it out in the next five years. Until then, I'll just allow myself Friday nights spent folding and sorting in between glasses of wine. Mr. C is out of town this evening, so you better believe that is just how glamourous my Friday night will be. And if I can be honest yet again, I sorta love that kind of Friday night.

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Hoping to get some sun time in this weekend along with some golf watching (there is a big tourney in the Super Burbs this weekend!) - I hope your weekend is full of lovely too!

xoxo Miss y'all already!

An Anniversary of Sorts

Today is a big day. You probably noticed that this post looks even prettier than normal (ok, maybe not) because I am bringing it to you from a brand, spankin' new computer! Mr. C said there were literally tears of joy in my eyes when we went to pick it up last night. As much as I loved my little ol' white monster (the old mac) it needed a well deserved break so it could roar all it wanted without bothering my work flow. Anywhoo - this day is also the anniversary of the best.day.ever. next to our wedding day. June 16, 2009 we closed on my New England dream house and Mr. C proposed. This picture from the very first blog post on the Super Burbs (long before even my mom read this blog) was taken on that day. I look at that little picture and it's fun to know that I had absolutely NO idea Mr. C had yet another surprise up his sleeve. It was a dream day. One I thought only existed in the romantic comedies I watch when Mr. C isn't home. But it sure did happen, 2 years ago we moseyed our way into the Super Burbs and Mr. C decided to make my dreams come true. That day was such a leap of faith in so many ways, but I have come to find out that leaps always seem to be my favorite steps in life.

sorry for the iphone photo 

Happy 2 year Anniversary little ol' yellow house and prettiest ring I ever did see. You two kids are what dreams are made of.

Technical Difficulties

Hi loves...I am sneaking on for a few minutes to let you know that my computer is either going to take off like an airplane (you know that sound, right?) or die a sweet death in the near future. I am sure it has nothing to do with the MILLION high-res pictures I have saved on my hard drive or the 5,000 tabs I have open in my browser at all times. No sirreeeee. It's just out to get me. Anywhoo, writing this post is probably going to take me 4 hours, which isn't very effective in my busy life. So everyone cross their fingers and toes in hope that Santa brings a sparkly new Mac Book to the Super Burbs this week so I can get my sanity back.

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Happy Weekend + Relay for Life

Well it's Friday. Me oh my how did that happen? Seriously. I know, I meant to give you a recap of Christina's fabulous shower that was featured on Hostess with the Mostess, but alas it was pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. I hope you forgive me. Next week I promise. In the meantime, let me tell you what I am doing tonight for a very special October bride (Kristen) who just happens to be marrying my cousin. Her story is something I think of every day, and I thought I would share just a piece of it with you to help keep everything in perspective. First, to know her is to love her. She is the type of person that immediately became family with my crazy family. She is just 100% full-on sweet as can be. She brings margarita makers (industrial size) to family gatherings. She is just that kind of seriously unique, genuine, fun-loving type person. Shortly after my cousin proposed to her last year, she was diagnosed with cancer. So instead of worrying about color palettes, flowers and cake flavors she is making the most of hospital visits. Tonight I am walking with her and many others in a team she helped organize for Relay for Life. Because that's what is on her mind, helping others. She is still fighting, but I have to say my cousin is a seriously lucky man.

If you would like to donate, feel free to visit the Chemosabes (her team name, hilarious right?) home page. Or you can just leave Kristen a sweet note of encouragement in the comments :)

Inspire Me Pretty

Hey folks, head on over to SMP today for a little board building contest fun. It's too hot to do anything else really (love that), your boss will totally understand. Here's the one I whipped up - what inspires you about New York?

Tuesday Shoesday

I'm just coming off a rather (ok, extremely) busy but successful weekend including the fabulous news of HWTM featuring a shower I did and the lovely wedding of a darling couple in CT. Both fabulous as can be. And now it's Tuesday and it's time to fill up with even more fabulous in the form of shoes. Pretty, pretty shoes. But before we get to the shoes, let's talk outfit. I spotted this little get-up on Atlantic-Pacific this morning and my heart started to pitter patter. I would literally wear this every.single.day. I actually might wear something basically identical to this every.single.day - sunglasses, pearls, striped scarf, white jacket, skirt or dress. This is my go-to look. So I thought I would pair some shoe options with it, I'm thinking gold would be my go to for this get-up...

Right to Left (all Kate Spade) Frankie / Gillian / Vonya / Hula Too

For more check out {TRUE Event} {brancoprata} {magnolia rouge} {demoiselle} {meant to be sent} {simply & forever} {landlocked bride} {swatchbook weddings}{luna & chloe weddings} {merci new york} {enchanted dream weddings}

Featured: Hostess with the Mostess!

Hi lovelies! I am in a McDonald's parking lot on I-95 at the moment stealing wi-fi (what is it with me and stealing internet?) but I just had to share...a lovely shower I styled for a lovely friend back in April is on Hostess with the Mostess right at this very moment!! (And I am in McDonald's not nearly as glamourous). Go check it out and leave some love!! xoxo. 

Photography by Hilary B Photography

I'll do a full recap next week! xoxo

Take Me Here.

Please. Someone. Take me to this magical land of stripes and bold color. Or please send me a wedding that is hosted at this splendid place also known as Lords South Beach, because I gar-ran-tee I will FLIP out over it. Like big flips and triple salchows minus the ice skates. I am in straight crazy pants love over this space and you can see even more of this fabulous land over on the newly redesign Design*Sponge. 

all images via Design Sponge