daily night cap.

"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."

~Zora Neale Hurston

photography by Steve DePino 

for the love of the wedding night: Shibue, the miracle strapless panty!

She's wearing one...are you? For all of you who've ever dealt with the oh-so-annoying issue of a panty line (hello bridesmaids!!!), the solution has finally arrived! Meet your new best friend, The Shibue Strapless Panty.

It's easy to apply and take-off, completely indiscreet and comes in three colors (black, nude & red).

Amazing! Make sure to visit their website for a simple tutorial by the designer, Jenny Buettner!
photographs: 1)fashionroar 2) Shibue 3)Luxemix

daily night cap.

"Where there is love, there is life."
~Gahndi
photograph by Lilia Photography

thoughts from a passion-filled life.

This post is perhaps my first intentional opportunity to sit down and reflect about this crazy journey thus-far, and believe me when I tell you I've somewhat been dreading it. I've had so many mixed emotions over the last three months, from pure jubilation to shear terror, and I've been navigating this wedding industry with mostly enthusiasm and part caution. The fact of the matter is at the end of the day, I could look at wedding venues, lunch with industry professionals, and edit blog/magazine content till I'm blue in the face, and that passion alone is the only thing keeping me going. But there are some days when the fear of the "hows" creep in...how I'm going to make enough money to pay my bills, become financially abundant, own a home, and move-out of my parents house?! I have this amazing vision in my mind that I can see and feel if I close my eyes...I'm sitting on a grey velvet couch-lounger in my own 3 bedroom bungalow, reading the latest YWD mag with my two puppbabies in my lap (Frankie and his future brother Beans), waiting for my gorgeous and adorable husband to finish making breakfast so we can eat before our baby girl wakes up from her crib. Its an amazing vision that's so detailed I can feel the cold espresso colored wood floors, and marble kitchen counter tops, and....

ahhh...pure bliss.
Still...the "hows" stresses get so much sometimes that it makes it hard to breathe & last month I even went to the hospital, convinced I was having a heart-attack. The anxiety is insane, and on many occasions I've questioned my choice to make this crazy move at 30. Then again, I think about the alternative. I have never been one to stick with something that makes me unhappy (as can be evidenced by my 21+moves since 1998), and I refuse to stay in a career/job that is limiting and stifles my creativity.  So for now, I balance my time as an associate wedding planner for Kelly Oshiro Events, and as the Executive Assistant to the Editor at Your Wedding Day. I'm also trying to grow my blog, and I'm in the process of working on an upcoming photoshoot with one-love photography and some pretty amazing LA staples. I have booked three clients for 2010 with Kelly, have assisted in an amazing photoshoot, visited some pretty outstanding estates and ranches in Santa Barbara, and toured the mecca of fabric stores in downtown. And...in just 4 days at YWD, I've attended planning meetings and site visits for some future YWD events, developed & edited content for our upcoming spring/summer 2010 issue, and have been in contact with some pretty amazing vendors! Seeing it all written down is pretty amazing...and makes me wonder how I keep up with it all (admittedly some days better than others). But as my faith teaches, the "hows" aren't really up to us. As long as I stick with passion, stick with those things that make me happy and help me grow, the answer to the "hows" will appear. I guess that's really all I can do for now. As Wayne Dyer reminds: "When you engage Spirit, your regain the power of your ultimate Source." And that is just what I intend to do.
photography: 1)GemmaCommas; 2&3) unknown(if these are yours, please let me know so I can credit)

daily night cap.

"Age does not protect you from love, but love to some extent protects you from age."
~Jeanne Moreau
photograph by Halberg Photographers

SBC Glitzpick inspired: Magnolia ArtDeco

I was immediately dreaming of champagne and yearning for a big-band celebration in old hollywood glamour when I cam across these amazing dangles for Santa Barbara Chic. I was somewhat torn between something a little art deco, and something with a little bit of modern whimsy, so I thought...why not combine the two?! It was definitely a little more difficult with this concept to find pictures than I had hoped, but overall the finished concept feels both romantic and warm as it does bold and brassy.

daily night cap.

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love."
~Rumi
photography by Halberg Photographers

foodie report: another amazing Herriott Grace release

For those of you who've been following my blog for a while, you know I have a huge obsession with the amazing hand carved kitchen products from Herriott Grace (see previous blog posts here and here). What's not to love love love about a company that was formed by a father-daughter duo who live across the country from each other, and wanted some way to share their lives and connect on a more regular basis. SO SWEET! The only sad part to this amazing story is that the company releases a very limited number of pieces at a time, depending on how much wood they collect and how much time they've got. This dumpling roller and mortar & pestle below, for instance, were part of a line released yesterday, and all but two of the pieces have already sold.

Wouldn't these make an amazing wedding gift or thank you present for Mom & Dad? Don't miss your chance to own one of these heirloom stunners! Be sure to check out their website (you can still purchase the two remaining pieces such as the cakestand at the top of the page), & don't forget to sign-up for their mailing list!

daily night cap.

"Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great."
~Roger De Bussy-Rabutin
photography by Belathee

this ain't like any other Monday.....

So when someone starts a journey in following their dreams, it's hard to imagine just exactly how the stars will align to turn those dreams into a reality life & career. For me, I've been in shock at almost ever turn, but I'm happy to report that today begins an amazing new journey in the wedding industry. Drum roll...

Today is my first day working at Your Wedding Day magazine! Initially, I'll be working part-time and learning the ropes...but evenutally (and hopefully within the next 6 months) I'll be working full-time and immersing myself in a daily barrage of wedding industry design inspiration and details. Yippeee :) I'm so excited for the journey, and can't wait to live through this amazing new experience! And so it is*

daily night cap.

 "Love is blind, but marriage restores its sight."
~ Georg C Lichtenberg
photography by Belathee

a little love for the wedding night

I've always found such beauty in boudoir and lingerie photography, such as this photograph above by Jeffrey Graetsch...

or this photograph by the amazing Jodi Barima...

or this one above by Markus Pritzi. For me, these photographs inspire a confidence and love of self beyond what's normally found in photography, simply because they honor and appreciate the beauty in all types of women. But...I'm an even bigger fan of couture boudoir lingerie collections and boutiques, and Faire Frou Frou, owned by the gorgeous Gail & Alison Rubke, is the ultimate in chic!

This mother and daughter team have made the romantic and intimate feel elegant and classy. Plus...they can make any woman feel like a lingerie model, especially for that oh-so-intimate wedding night! So...if you're in the LA area, be sure to visit their store. For those outside of LA, get your daily boudoir fix from their blog, Frou Frou Fashionista (all these photographs were found via their blog!).

the fireplace mantel

For some reason, I've spent the better part of this morning ogling over fireplace mantels. I can't really explain my current obsession except to say that it's likely due to my fixation on this vision in my head of the perfect home, and having an amazing fireplace mantel is part of that perfect vision. 

Fireplaces, too, are symbolic of many things, and have come to serve as a place where loved ones (families, brides/grooms, friends, etc) can congregate, contemplate and/or commit life, love, and the pursuit of happiness (and, oh yeah, pursuit of heat in the dead of winter!). Here are a few that I love love love. And...if you think you've got a better one, send me a photograph!

photographs: 1, 3, 5, 6 & 7) designsponge 2)gardenpartysisters 4)luxuryhousingtrends

daily night cap.

"I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." 
~Hobbes (of Calvin and Hobbes)
photography by carla ten eyck

glitzpick inspired: french opulence

While the Ranjana Kahn necklace featured this morning on Santa Barbara Chic could mold to almost any style, for me it felt like something that would adorn the neck of monarchs. I knew that I wanted to pair it with this amazing Francois Boucher inspired dress by Carolina Herrera (a painting by Boucher is included in the board), and drew on elements of colorful french patisserie, fromage and overall culinary elegance. This wedding has a truly regal feel, and would incorporate long rectangular tables for guests, tall taper candles in golden candellabras, and his & her bride and groom throne chairs. Magnifique!

new glitzpick on Santa Barbara Chic

It's Wednesday again, and time for another glitzpick on Santa Barbara Chic! And, later today, I'll be posting an inspiration board on StellinaStellina centered around the piece...get excited!

Vera Wang for David's Bridal?

It's all the talk this morning in the wedding blogging world...but Vera Wang has collaborated with David's Bridal?! Starting with 20 dresses? Ranging in prices starting at @$600? There are soo many mixed reactions out there...some wondering if the designer with lose her couture edge...

...others praising her for boldly recognizing that great style should come at ever budget. I for one don't know where I stand, but what I do know is that Vera never compromises on the ethereal, and I have no doubt this collaboration will deliver the same.

Soo...until the yet-to-be-named line is revealed, fans (such as myself) can starting saving a little less and starting believing a little more that they too can one day own a beautiful Vera Wang masterpiece! What are your thoughts?! I'd love to know...

Photographs: 1) Zimbio 2) PassionforFashion 3) ME, via a visit to the Melrose Place flagship store

daily night cap.

"If I know what love is, I know it because of you."
~Hermann Hesse
Photography by Orchard Cove Photography

monday should always begin with tutu's

It's been a slow morning...and i must have had some sort of bad dream last night, because when I woke up I had this instant feeling of dredge and fear. weird. I spent all of my first few moments awake (you know...walking to the coffee maker, inserting coffee filter, walking to sink for water, etc.) contemplating the arduously funky mood I was in. And when I finally made it to the computer for my morning blo'wsing, I was instantly transported away from the funk with these amazing photographs taken by Tram Tan Photography.

The adult tutu's are handmade couture pieces by Gina Comeaux of Dainty Darling, who also makes infant and little girl pieces as well...(magical). I think these would make amazing bridesmaids gifts at a bachelorette party, don't you?

Below: the photographer in action, as shot by Dawn Garcia of Beautiful Barcelona, the genius behind the shoot concept, as well as the hair/makeup/set stylist extroardinaire.  

Be sure to check out Dawn's blog and Tram's blog for more of these amazing photographs.

daily night cap.

"I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you!"
~Roy Croft
photography by Halberg Photographers

a photographer becomes a bride

Don't you just love it when a simple lunch turns into an impromtu wedding dress shopping extravaganza...especially when it happens to an amazing wedding photographer who is getting her own turn to walk down the aisle?!?!

Meet Sara Wolfram of onelove photography...the wedding photographer turned bride.  

"This is surreall...!" 

The woman at Rose Petals Bridal Store was so gracious (especially since we practically stormed into the salon following our lunch next door at SweetSalt Food Shop). She let Sara try on everything!

Gorgeous bride-to-be!

daily night cap.

"We are the leaves of one branch, the drops of one sea, the flowers of one garden."
~Jean Baptiste Henry Lacordaire
photography by onelovephotography

back from Mexico and ready for...doughnuts?

Perhaps it's the fact that sweets are a far cry from the savory Mexican food I devoured over the last few days, but somehow I'm dying for some yummy doughnuts. But...not just any doughnuts..I'm craving the amazingly gourmet version as served at the best dough-nut-eria this way of the Mississippi: Top Pot's hand-forged-goodness!

wouldn't this truck be a nice surprise for your wedding guests following a long hard night of dancing and drinks?

yummy strawberry and lemon. They have donuts in almost every color of the rainbow!

handmade with love! Find your nearest store...quick!

see???? That's what I'm talking about. My favorite was the Pink Feather Boa (coconut, strawberry, and champagne? any day!). What will your favorite be? To find out more, visit here. And...thanks always to 36Thirty for the amazing photographs.