The Ultimate DIY

A few weeks ago, I linked to a post about designing your own Nina shoes. Recently, someone brought to light the fabulous Shoes of Prey - a custom shoe design store.

What I love about Shoes of Prey? You don't have to pick out a starter shoe to customize. You start with just a plain shoe no matter what and then customize each section - toes, backs, decorations, heels, and heel height [as well as color of each] entirely to your liking.

You can keep playing over and over until you find something you like. Or, you can choose to save your shoe, share it, or embed it - as seen below. Or, like me, you can just keep designing and designing and designing. I know when I was a bride, finding the perfect shoes was a huge hunt. Thanks to fabulous finds like Shoes of Prey it does not have to be a worry any longer.

A bespoke shoe that I designed at Shoes of Prey.

And, of course, you can buy your design too. At less than $250 USD a pop you are still paying much less than many designer styles. Except, you've personalized it entirely to your liking!

What are you waiting for? Get on with it. And, happy playing.

Weddings We Love: Ryan and Rochelle

So, I first intrigued you long ago with Ryan and Rochelle's fabulous green and gold vintagey wedding. Well, the professional photos from the incredibly talented Ashley McCormick have come in and, to no one's surprise, they are goooorg-eous. Of course, it didn't hurt that she had such a stunning bride and groom to work with.

Anyway, I could not resist sharing them with you for a little eye candy to start your week. Here are some of my favorites.

A perfect day.

Rochelle's truly fabulous shoes. Don't you love them?

Favorite. This is Rochelle with the groom's mom.

I think I love it so much because it shows what a wonderful, sweet personality Rochelle has with her infectious laugh. And, of course, how incredibly funny the groom's mother is.

Truly captures a relationship.

Rochelle's bouquet. An heirloom necklace woven in.

So beautiful.

Married!

Few things better than the newly married bride and groom in the empty church after their ceremony.

So beautiful.

Bridesmaids! That's me the second over from the left.

So romantic. I have no words.

Are they not like the most photogenic couple ever?

Jumping shot!

P.S. The second bridesmaid over from the groom - you know, the one who is like ten feet up in the air - yeah, that's totally me. I think I beat out all the groomsmen too.

Ha! Love it.

So, Rochelle totally made these. They were their "pimp cups." Seriously, how awesome are they? She's so incredibly talented. I'm trying to convince her she should make them and sell them on Etsy.

Perfection.

Please credit all photos to Ashley McCormick Photography.

For the record, I had a near impossible time narrowing it down to these few. There were so many fabulous shots of such a beautiful day. My husband and I could not have been more honored to be a part of such a special day. And, Rochelle and Ryan were so kind to let me share them and their beautiful wedding with you all.

What do you think? I might be biased, but I see a lot of weddings and these still top my favorites. So perfect.

Inspiration: Spooky Elegance

Yea, that's right. I said it: spooky elegance. I was decorating for Halloween this week - yes I know I'm quite late - and could not resist a board full of shades of orange popping off of a black contrast.

I love the idea of dressing all the bridesmaids in black and having them carry bright orange bouquets. I am quite convinced even if you did not want your wedding to have a spooky vibe, that the colors could be carried off quite beautifully together.

Bouquet: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Bedazzled Pumpkin: April4Bride’s Flickr Stream via It’s a Jaime Thing

Paper Products: These Handmade Memories

Dress: via Something Blue Blog

Monogram: Monogram Gallery on Zazzle

Cake: Square Cakes

Pumpkins: The Handcrafted Wedding

iSwoon

Gorgeousness by Catherine Hall Studios via Wedding 360.

Congratulations: Ruthie and Nigel

This past weekend we celebrated the marriage of the fabulous Ruthie and Nigel. And, while we wait for the pro pics to come in, we couldn't resist sharing with you some of the adorable snapshots of their day. The cutest couple.

A few pre-wedding shots:

And onto the wedding:

Did you know I was a horse wrangler? True story.

Me and Erinn of Behind the Knot with the beautiful bride.

P.S. Check out the sweaty awesomeness I'm sporting - sign of true wedding planning labor.

From left to right: Erinn of Behind the Knot, me, the fabulous groom,

and Melissa of MasterPiece Weddings.

Adorable, no?

All images courtesy of the fabulous amazing Leah of the incredible Celebrations Catering.

We're kind of in love with them and their food. Seriously.

Obsessed

I must admit, ever since seeing this on April Foster's blog, I've been a little bit obsessed. Tell me this wouldn't make for the prettiest dress photos. No worries, Aletha - we won't have a hanger flop here.

Do you think it's too late for me to order one now. You know, just to have?

Photos by Megan W Photography.

Hanger available through LilaFrances' Etsy Shop.

Mission in the Kitchen: Pina Ghoulada

Saw these on Hostess with the Mostess today and I couldn't resist raving about them.

Don't you think they'd be the perfect cocktail to go with our witch's fingers?

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

For more photos and recipe information, be sure to check out Hostess with the Mostess here.

Fail Harder

For the record, I am now just short of obsessed with the idea of doing something like this in my office. Over 100,000 thumbtacks and 351 hours went into this project.

But the results? Amazing.

And the message? Beautiful.

You must watch the video.

Found via swissmiss.

Mission in the Kitchen: Witch's Fingers

Recently I have been looking for ways to diversify the blog. While I have no intention to break away from weddings, I thought it might be fun to spice things up a bit.

So, dear readers, let me introduce you to our newest series: Mission in the Kitchen.

For our inaugural post I could not resist sharing with you one of my favorite Halloween goodies: witch's fingers. These yummies are essentially sugar cookies, but delicately shaped for just the right amount of creepy. Personally, when I make them, they are much wider and squishy looking so as to look less real. But, if you're going for creepy then it most certainly can be achieved with these.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup whole or large sliced almonds

1 tube red decorating gel

1. Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.

3. 
Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Place 1 large teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.

5. Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie. If you don’t want the cookies to look scary, you can also use the gel to make the nails red on the top.

Recipe from: Gross Halloween Recipes

Photos from: Gross Halloween Recipes and House and Home

iSwoon

Perfection by Irene Suchocki Photography via Brooklyn Bride.

Blog of the Week: The Freckled Citizen

So, it's not a wedding blog. It's more of a life blog. But I promise that doesn't make it any less interesting. Do you remember Maggie of Eat, Drink, Marry? With her fabulous red, white, and blue themed wedding, I've most certainly talked about her before.

Maggie's fabulous red heels and gorgeous rings via Eat, Drink, Marry.

Well she moved to her deliciously humorous blog to this one entitled "The Freckled Citizen."

She talks about food, fun finds, frustrations. Really just life.

The fabulous design from Penny Lane Designs makes the blog visually stunning too. Combine that with Maggie's undeniably addicting writing style and you've got a keeper. She's snarky. She's fun. She's serious. But most of all, she is a great writer. One of my favorite posts? Good News, Bad News Optimist Style.

Definitely do not miss this one. You can thank me later.

iSwoon

Mmmmm vintage goodness.

Our Labor of Love via The Design Grove.

Revisited Inspiration: Teal and Gold

So, dear readers, today I thought I would share with you one of the first inspiration boards I ever made. Why? Because I still love the colors just as much today as I did then. And, while the board itself could use a little help, the colors themselves still pop together.

Perhaps I'll give it a makeover and repost another day, but for today...

aren't you loving the teal and gold?

Image Credits: Bridal Party

Please let me know if any of the photos are yours so I can give due credit. When I created this board long ago I knew nothing of tracking image sources.

For some reason, this board still inspires me. I want to decorate a whole room in these colors. What's inspired you today?

Featured: Be a Planner

Did you see I was featured over on the fabulous little Be a Planner blog yesterday? For a little more insight into me and my style, be sure to check it out here.

Green Garters

So, you all should be familiar by now with my good friend Julianne Smith [also known as the garter girl]. I'm thrilled to share with you that she announced Monday the launch of the very first ever environmentally friendly green wedding garters.

Check them out!

But don't let them being green fool you into thinking that you would be compromising in some way by settling on these babies. Oh no. They're just as gorgeous as her others.

And, they're made from recycled plastic bottles. No, you didn't read that wrong. The materials come from recycled plastic. Who would have ever thought? Now, if that doesn't ease your eco-friendly conscience I'm not sure what would.

Oh and P.S. if any of you would like to buy me this gray and yellow one [or customize it to gray and white - as can be done with any of these lovelies by e-mailing Juli herself] I would be much appreciative. Wouldn't it look perfect in my gray and white SWOONOVERIT office?

Be sure to check out her blog and her website for more. And enjoy! Aren't they lovely?

Inspirational

We all know and love Stephanie Nielson of Nie Nie Dialogues. And, if you don't, then you will. Yesterday, Stephanie and her story were featured on Oprah. Totally inspirational. Stephanie is amazing. Her strength is incredible. Have tissues on hand.

And check out the clip here.