Tag- I'm it...

Alright... so I have been tagged by so many- for several different "share facts about yourself" posts... well the truth is (perhaps this can count as interesting fact #1) I'm not really good at those games. I get a little anxiety-stricken when websites ask for a profile that describes yourself in 500 words or less. I don't do well with first-day get-to-know-you exercises. I believe this stems from the fact that I am somewhat a loner and always have been. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE people. I love social gatherings. However, I prefer to sit back and analyze and be content in my little world. I was the kid that did group projects alone- that preferred to finger paint solo rather than play house with the other kids... ya know? But in the spirit of things, I decided to follow suit with The Preppy Wedding and offer up these interesting facts without provocation.


1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Weeknights I am hot chocolate with the jumbo sized marshmellows made with milk not water... but come Friday- I am on a three-day eggnog binge!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
My stepfather is Lithuanian and thus we have a traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dinner where we exchange all of the wrapped gifts to one another. Santa, on the other hand, does not wrap the gifts. (I'm 23 and the eldest of 5, thus we still do the Santa thing for my youngest brother's sake).... infact, Santa likes to take the gifts out completely and set them up in interesting ways. One year I can remember waking to find that Santa had set up an entire campsite with a pitched tent, sleeping bag and gear, and inside was full of other goodies galore! Good ole Santa!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I have always favored white- something about the colors and the blinking makes me nauseus.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Every year- well my fiance does. Funny story: last year I was stopped at a red light after Christmas Shopping and a couple of children were selling mistletoe for $5. I bought two and brought them home proudly to show my fiance- only to be told that I was the proud owner of an unidentified twig and leaves....

5. When do you put your decorations up?
As soon as the last bit of turkey is out of the fridge- it's time for the tree! I can still remember my grandmother being so anxious (and eccentric) that we always had a massive tree up FOR Thanksgiving...

6. What is your favorite holiday dish:
I love my homemade chocolate chip shortbread. It really isn't a "holiday dish" but I seem to get into a baking frenzie around this time of year!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
As I mentioned, I am one of 5 kids. We range in age as follows: 23, 22, 21, 20, 10 (yes I know that the youngest is too old to believe but we're keeping it going as long as we can- and my sister is expecting so it doesn't look like Santa will be skipping over our house anytime soon)..... every Christmas Eve- after we have opened all the family gifts, we stay up for hours chatting and bonding as a family... and when we can't hold our eyes open anymore- we nodd off- but every year without fail (admittedly even to this day *blush*) someone wakes up around 4 and drags all of us out of bed to see what's under the tree from "Santa"... it must have been terribly awful for my parents- waiting until 2 to sneak the gifts out there, arrange them- and then be woken just as they doze off...

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was 3. My parents were teaching me to read. My father thought it would be a great idea to write me a note from Santa. Unfortunately, it was in his handwrighting and I was a pretty sharp little whipper-snapper.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We sure do! All of them less Santa's. I think that this originated because we come from a family of divorces and extended families- so our Christmas Days are stretched really thin. It is nice to be able to slow down and really enjoy Christmas Eve in ONE place- with nowhere to rush off to.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Our Christmas Tree is reflective of so many years in our lives. Both my fiance and I have taken bulbs from our families' tree and added a few of our own. Thus, we have a mix of bulbs hand-made and crafted by my Maciute (Lithuanian Grandmother), knitted by my Nana (Irish grandmother), painted by my fiance's Nina (Chamorro Godmother), and carved from wood by my crafty father's side. I love to take these pieces and mix them with really extravagant pieces- it's our little hi-lo masterpiece in the making.

11. Snow: love it or hate it?
I loved it as a kid. Now I am back here in Florida, so I miss it as an adult.

12. Can you ice skate?
I am wobbly. I always wanted to be a figure skater- however, I am the most clumbsy person that I know...

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I remember the Christmas during my parent's divorce. It was ugly. My mom was left with us and a mortgage and a business that was in debt after it was all over. There was nothing under the tree. My mother was in tears. My little brother was confused as she tried to explain that Santa just hadn't made it to our house yet because the world was soooo very big that he sometimes can't get to every house in one day. I was about 5 and understood. I was disappointed but knew not to show it or my mother would completely loose it. Then there was a knock at the door. It was a marine- dressed in the gloves and all- he was my hero. He delivered present after present "straight from the north pole"... my little brother's eyes lit up. My mother was so thankful. It was the kindest thing anyone has ever done. To this day, I don't think that she or anyone knows who made it happen, but I make sure to sponsor a family each year because of it!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Family. For sure. Things get really crazy around here for the rest of the year. It is really strange for me, with my siblings all being so close in age- we grew up together and did everything as a unit.... then one day it was like I woke up and realized that we all had our own lives- and now with me getting married and my sister becoming a mom- my brothers about to be engineers and biologist- it all happens so fast. I love the holidays when we can all slow down and feel that warmth and comfort again.

15.What is your favorite holiday dessert?
I love my homemade shortcake... BUT Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake is so very yummy!

16. What tops your tree?
nothing. this is sort of an ongoing debate with us. when I was younger, and my parents had little money- we ALWAYS cut a star from cardboard and covered it in foil and glitter and made the most kitsch topper ever.... and somewhere between them getting better job offers and bigger houses, this tradition remained. Now that I have my own tree, I want to let this go but find myself torn- so for now it is bare.

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
I'm a giver. It's a sickness. I get so giddy about the "perfect gift"... I like to get something thoughtful that shows that I listen and understand my recipient

18. What is your favorite Christmas song?
"A Few Of My Favorite Things..." or "So this is Christmas..."

19. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
The Christmas Story. For sure. I like to turn it on for the entire 24 hour marathon they do every year.

20. What would be the best gift you could receive this year?
A new car! Last year, I gave my mustang to my younger brother as a graduation gift so that I could downgrade and save on a payment... while having no payment is nice- and the Vespa is lovely for the neighborhood... I could use something with a little more room!!!

Alright... enough about me... how about you? How do you spend your holidays?

Welcome Style Me Pretty Readers!

Abby over at Style Me Pretty was so very kind to include my little blog in her collection of "reader blogs". Blogs like Style Me Pretty were what inspired me to find a place to collect all of my thoughts and web "snippets" thus it was so very delightful to see that my small contribution is reaching beyond that of myself, my mother, and my newly-engaged sister. So for all of you SMP readers who may have stumbbled upon my neck of the woods...

Pull up a seat. Put on a pot of tea and make yourself at home.

Today I was browsing around and found this picture:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! And of course, I immediately began to wonder how I could turn this into an event design. Sure, the stark white could be done by choosing a modern museum and with the help of lovely modern rental companies-- but what makes this so very interesting is the use of the bold patterns. How on earth can this be acheived without wallpapering the venue?!? The answer is to use lazer-cut screens or even fabric panels. These are GREAT to break up a large space and light enough to hang from exposed rafters without fear of structural damage. Here are few of my favorites:


This is actually a fabric panel. These are custom made so almost any pattern is possible!

This screen is made of plastic and would make such an interesting piece of art after the event!

These little numbers are wonderful because of their petite size! You could have fun pairing them in interesting arrangements!

A bit more opaque, these are made of recycled materials and would be AMAZING in a large space to add texture and break up the layout!

A little more whimsical than modern, these are popping up all over in the retail market.

So where to go from here? Allow the patterns to spill over onto the invitations, small details, cake, and even the linen selection. The best part about having an event that is reflective of your design style is that many of the items that you purchase can easily transition into your new home so you won't feel quite as guilty splurging here and there!

Let's Talk About Sex.... really.

I hope that everyone's Thanksgiving was full of turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce- and that each of your refridgerators do not have any left overs lingering....


This morning I opened up office to find hundreds of emails from clients, vendors, and salespeople alike--- but one stopped me in my tracks (which is hard to do on a Monday after a long weekend)... it was from Rebecca at The While Aisle- for those of you that drop by often, I am sure that you have seen her link to the right and possibly even stopped in here and there to see her fabulous little shop. I believe that I was first introduced a few months ago and instantly fell in love with the lacey-vintage designs of her invitation lines....

Today's email, however, was not full of lace and lovelies- it told of her travels around Asia. You see, the wedding industry (despite geographical location) has "seasons"... when we are in season- it is BANANAS... and when we are out of season, it is a ghost town. Some vendors take this off-season to travel and catch up on much-needed vacationing. Rebecca and hubby close up their shop and travel for an entire month- you can track them on their blog....




During their recent trip to Cambodia, they were faced with the cruel reality of the child sex trade.... and felt compelled, if not obligated and passionate about making a difference. You see, the difficulty with these children being caught up in the brothels is that they can not leave even if they are permitted to do so... as this is their source of income and they are reliant on it for food and shelter. Thus, the most powerful way to make an impact on these childrens' futures is to give them an alternative way to become self-sufficient. Rebecca is teaming upwith an organization in Phnom Penh- which offers children the ability to come to their vocational training facilities to work during the day. Additionally, all workers are encouraged to sleep at the neighboring housing. Over time, this method has proved to be rather successful in generating independent and reformed women ready to re-enter "normal" society.



Rachel is taking part in the cause by offering several of the products in her shop, with 100% of her profits on these items going back to the women. The beautiful silk sashes would compliment nearly any bridesmaid dress.... and the matching ring pillows and hand-made flowers are too sweet to pass up....

In addition to the amazing craftmanship that these products offer, the message that they represent is worth far more than their weight in gold. I encourage each of you to stop by The White Aisle and give these items a looksie- and while you are there... give a few kudos to Rebecca as well....

You've got mail....

I was so very excited to see that Vane is doing a Holiday Card Swap! I think one of the most amazing feelings is when you receive something lovely in the mail- and especially around the holidays when your funds seem to be going to everyone else... so pull out that craft supplies and head on over to Brooklyn Bride for more information...

Showing Blog-Love...

Just wanted to let everyone know that The Bridal Wishlist is hosting a "Vintage Week"... typically they are the resource for a modern bride so it will be interesting to see their take on vintage weddings.... also, if you have a chance, stop by their invitation design studio, Occasions and Celebrations.

In honor of their celebration of modern-meets-vintage... check back this afternoon and I'll be posting ideas on how to have vintage undertones whether you are looking for a sweet traditional wedding... or one with a little modern edge....

Posting Pink: Brides Against Breast Cancer

This site is really amazing and important. I really urge each and every one of you that are reading this to take part...

The Brides Against Breast Cancer Project is a nation-wide tour which brings brides designer gowns at discounted rates... and the proceeds are then donated to the Making Memories Foundation.

Already have a gown? Take part in the Pink Envelope Project... get creative with it!! You can use the donations as favors... or you can really include your guests and have the age-old money dance's proceeds go to the cause... or put the charity on your registry in leui of that toaster you've been eyeing...
And now I am about to say something that I normally would not... but in this case- I feel it necessary to get down to the nitty gritty dirt that we sometimes sweep under the rug... all of you gorgeous girls out there that recently became part of the ex-engagement population or even those of you who are now ex-wives... you've contemplated what to do with that ring for a while now- it has lost its sentiment and you are not about to give it back for whatever your reasons are... so be it... but know that when you are ready to part ways and move on- Diamonds For Dreams would be such a wonderful home for the jewel... in letting go of the past you will be giving some other lucky woman a future....

Enough already... visit the site... fall in love with it as I did... and make a difference. Don't let this "Pink Day" end here... spread the word- send ripples .... save lives.

Posting Pink: Meli Meli

I LOVE this children's designer... I am over putting girls in mini-me bridal gowns... I feel that satin fru-fru is so passe... give that girl some girly ruffles in a fabric that can breathe- and let her shine in all her natural splendor! Meli Meli is all that is sweet about little girls and big dreams. (and here are a few not-so-pink but equally beautiful pieces... my favorites!)

Love at first sight.... Liquid Sky Arts

I was going through all of my old picture files- and came across this one... I saved it long ago- with hopes of returning to this site the next day... well about a year has past- and I finally visited Liquid Sky Arts... and I have a new blog-crush... I do believe that this will evolve into a seriously obsessive relationship that may even result in a bit of daily blog-stalking... seriously- these pictures speak volumes to me and I am so inspired by all of the lovelies that this blog has to offer... I am justifying this post by stating that this is a great source of inspiration for brides that just need a pick-me-up in the creative department... so there.

---also... upon reviewing the shop... I found these lovely pieces inspired by recycled postage, paper, and china... what delightful little goodies for your bridesmaids (and very "green")

I Spy...

If you are so kind as to drop by regularly- then I'm sure you have noticed my affinity for vintage lovelies... however, I try to be rather selective when it comes to antique items which occupy my own home- as the last thing I want is for my dwelling to mirror that of my grandmother... that being said, I have made it a concious decision to keep porcelain out of my home- until now.... I was over at Perfectbound and found myself swooning over the mirror above... and have spent the last 2 days trying to find something simular- I have become madly obsessed and am driving my fiance crazy with talk of redoing our bathroom around this crazy element...

After many hours, I had nothing... well- nothing as beautiful as the original- but several finds worth mentioning.... {Charles Keath, Birds of a Feather, Trish Brode, Flickr}

Today, however- when I finally had given up hope... I stumbled across a booth at my favorite local antique shop (Tin City) and found an array of porcelain rose items that with a little DIY lovin' could make an ordinary mirror amazing... in no time... Alas the search is over- and the work has just begun.. I'll try to keep you updated on my progress...

Here are a few other items I came across in my search... I invite you to find inspiration amidst my wild goose chase... (for all you brides seeking to find a balance between vintage and garden chic...)

Sorry to Blog and Dash....

I was just going through my daily reads... and there are some amazing posts out there today! It seems that everyone is well rejuvinated and inspired from their long weekend... I will be taking tomorrow to tend to some much-needed honey-do lists so here's a recap and I will see you Thursday...

Blue Orchid and Perfectbound are preparing for Blog Action Day... which I am so very proud to say that I have signed up for as well... I don't want to be redundant... so please visit either of the before mentioned blogs to get the whole scoop and I really urge everyone to take part....

Vane and Faye both have behind-the-scene inspiration boards up over at Style Me Pretty- and you simply must check out her newly-renovated site while you are there... beautiful ... AND it has a few new features... (speaking of re-vamped blogs... Sarah Dennis has a great new illustration up that you really must stop in and see)

Heather shared some of her tablescaping talents and Kelly is kicking off a really great "contest" open to all professionals, brides, and wanna-be's.... (I don't want to steal her thunder so visit her blog for more details... this will be a really fun one though)

Thanks for stopping in...

Great Minds Think Alike....

So I suppose that it is necessary to inform all of the importance of this very evening. It shall forever go down in history as the eve of my mother's birthday, the official birth of this blog... and I shall eternally share the date with my design hero- Preston Bailey... that's right... the father of all event design has decided to start his blog- and though it has been up for 8 hours, I like to dream that I was the first to discover this little corner of the web. It appears that he will be posting on a weekly basis so check back regularly. http://www.prestonbailey.blogspot.com/