Crunch Time.

Everything is happening so quickly, I haven't even had time to think. Not even in a--I'm too stressed sort of way. I just kind of turned myself on an auto-pilot robot. Buy, find something better, return, pin some more, et cetera. That's been my schedule as of late. 

The last two days I've barely seen the outside. I've been crunching away, designing and organizing. 

I'm not a designer by any standard but I can dabble in photoshop. These aren't perfect but they still have personality and fit us pretty well. 

inspired by jill and matt

protea prints/designs from lara cameron. 

And then it happened...

I caught the bouquet at a wedding.

Or maybe I stole it. It all happened so quickly. 

i dream

of the day that i will be able to blog again. 
My brain is officially worthless and i feel like i'm 100 steps behind. Can't wait to get caught up. 


In the mean time, feast your eyes on my gorgeous best friend. 



and mine and the wedding officiator's flower arrangements. 

April showers and flowers

Saturday, I was privileged to see one of my dearest friends marry the man of her dreams. Their story is a love story for the books. I got my haircut, got to tell their story. I love getting to tell people about her story.  Ashley and James were absolutely beautiful. Ash is one of those  refreshing brides. Shoot, I'd want to marry her. she is naturally a detailed person. Everything she touches turns to gold and looks lovely. Any stressful situation that might seem like a problem. Her response, "I don't care, I'm getting married."  After all the raining the day/night before.... the day of was gorgeous, I couldn't dream of anything better considering the circumstances from the day before. After the wedding we spent the rest of the night celebrating with a backyard reception. Mexican food and wine ALL night long. I am betting I ate more than anyone at the wedding, two full plates of food ended up in my belly. Sadly, it was a problem when it came to dancing. April 14, 2012 is a new chapter in a beautiful love story. Here are some pictures from the day. Enjoy 

coffee, owls and hunger games

A hodgepodge amount of subjects not directly correlating in any way except for the fact that this is my life.

First, let us start with coffee. 

I'm sure you've seen me write about it before and if you know me, you know. I have a love for coffee. Recently, I have started this obnoxious trend and I find that it is becoming worse. I haven't finished a cup of coffee without reheating it for the last 3 months. Now, that I think about it. I am pretty sure it has been longer than 3 months. Sorry, It's part of my "just the other day" syndrome where I think everything was yesterday, including things 2 years ago.  I don't know what's wrong with me. Since, I have started my new job the reheating has gone up. On average, I probably reheat my coffee about 10 times a day and still only make it about half through. I even started questioning if I still like coffee. My roommate Mallory has assured me that work coffee is just not enjoyable and that my love of coffee is still there. I also thing that's her subliminally saying "If you stop liking coffee I disown you as roommate." I like coffee. 

Owls.

I like owls. I don't have an obsession with them or anything but I do like them. I also have an association with owls that probably make me enjoy them more. I always associate owls with my friend Ashley (who by the way is getting married NEXT WEEK!) Mainly because of the old folklore that owls are to be considered wise. Thus, owls and ashley go hand and hand. 

Another thing you should know about Ashley, she pays an incredible amount to detail and makes EVERYTHING look cute. When I get a package from Ashley, I should know to take a picture of the process by now. But I just get so excited that she sends me things that I skip ahead to the end result. And this end result was well worth it. 

 

Once upon a time, I had these really adorably anthropologie salt and pepper shakers. 

Source: Uploaded by user via Samantha on Pinterest

Ash managed to break them, not one, but two in a matter of a couple of weeks. I've since then forgiven her. She always told me she would replace them and at this point and time had just brushed it off my shoulder. But these are way too cute and I am almost glad that she did it, because now I have these and I call them "Ash and Sam." So, it's almost like we are together. 

Alas, the Hunger Games 

Source: google.com via Samantha on Pinterest

You've heard the trend.  You've heard it said. Probably a million times by this point in time but that's okay. A couple of weeks ago , I began a journey known as The Hunger Games and I found myself completely consumed. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think and all I wanted was to place myself in that world. Now that I have finished the book I began thinking "my life is over." This sounds rather sad I am sure but I loved this book. I think is brilliant, truly. I thought I was crazy for feeling a lot of these feelings but after many discussions, I am finding that a lot of people are feeling the same way. Thank you Suzanne Collins for helping me get my reading for this year underway, you have put me right on track now with my goal of reading at least one book a month.

Introduction: Ashley Wells

all the things I meant to say 

Dedicated to the girl who deserves the world and more. 


She is one of those people. 


Yes, those people. Life changing people that leave marks wherever they go. Great and small. With her great smile and always giggling personality. This is someone you feel privileged to have in your life, feeling so blessed every time she makes an appearance.  


Who is She you may ask? Her name is Ashley Wells. 


I have been able to call this girl friend since I was 18 years old. It's been over 6 years. Crazy. 


I have learned so much from her and her servant heart. She gives herself away at the drop at the hat. She is an old soul, lover of art and the written word. Tea obsessed, the English way. She dares to try new thing and everything seems natural to her but I know she works hard. 


This is the kind of girl who makes a pot of coffee and brings you a lovely cup the minute you wake up without even second guessing. 


Ashley inspires. Encourages. Believes in people and their capacity to be great. She is a God-loving woman who has had her world rocked a time or two embracing it every time. 


She has adventure. 


I recently heard people call her brave. As I was contemplating this, I realized it is true. It seems as if she has no fear. She takes things as they come and continues to live. Relocating for passion. Always moving to bigger and better things. 


This next stage of her life. Marriage.  April 14, 2012. 


Her and James Pierce, a man who I am pretty sure she has loved since the first time she spent time with him. A man who couldn't be more perfect for her. Their long  distance relationship was spent writing letters back and forth and exchanging poetry. She made the big leap when she decided to move to Texas to be near him. Then some time later she said "Yes."


Here we are now, December 2011. Friday her darling sister through her shower and the first thing Ashley Wells was introduce all the girls attending and explaining how she knew everyone. All of us from different times of life, highschool, Vanguard, El Salvador, Oxford, family and future family. To her, all stories are important and need to be told. 


Over the next few hours we spent hours talking about our favorite times and best time and how excited we were. 


This is where I spoke for a while saying absolutely nothing of importance. 


After a couple of hours, we spent some time praying over this lovely lady and her new adventure of life. 


 My dearest Ashley Wells, soon-to-be Ashley Pierce, I couldn't be more excited for you. 


Even though we live so far apart and only get to spend a couple of hours here and there, thank you so much for sharing life with me. 


I feel so blessed. 

Daniel and Rachel: They're hitched

Summer, Summer I love you and I love that you bring about wedding season


My dear friend, Daniel Cook, just tied the knot with his college sweetheart and I've been in on all the fun the last month. From Vegas Bachelorette Extravaganza's to Bridal Showers to the sweetest Picnic themed wedding-- it's been one hell of a time.

Rachel and Daniel are the chillest, most adorable couple around. I couldn't be more thrilled for them.
The day/night was spent outside eating BBQ, drinking lemonade and dancing the night away with great friends--no really. Dancing from the early evening to the wee hours of the morning. After the park curfew we continued the after party at our local spot. Rachel even came in her wedding dress. She was absolutely stunning.

Introducing the Cook Family and friends...


















and finally.

They're hitched!

New Orleans style. 

This weekend, I took a trip alone-- go figure. I spent hours in the terminal as always, the time because I volunteer my seat. I rented a car, accidentally almost took the wrong car and slept in an old colonial type house in a pale blue room with a bed. One of the bridesmaid's to the bride so graciously let me sleep in her house in the process of everyone moving out. It was perfect.

As I landed I was pleasantly surprised and had forgotten what the south felt like. Humid and hot. I did not pack accordingly.  

I had 2 days and not a lot of expectation of new orleans but it was fun to say the least. 

Mary and Ryan's was at the Benachi House. The Benachi house is around 200 years old, colonial style and great.  The New Orlean's style wedding was beautiful and hot-- the only thing missing were paper fans. Within 30 seconds of all of the guests standing outside we immediately wanted to escape to the cool house. But we prevailed, sweating a few pounds in the process, but we prevailed.  Besides, watching Mary and Ryan look so happy and so excited was completely worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. As well as wear my adorable yellow and creme striped anthropologie dress over and over again. I had to throw that plug in their somewhere.

The wedding was small with friends and family. It was very intimate and the reception was a lot of fun. Also in the hot, humid sun. But adorable. With various kinds of lemonades and fruit mixed drinks, lots of alcohol and lots of dehydration. If I'm not mistaken the DJ was playing old records and there was dancing. 

It was lovely.  Congrats Mary and Ryan. 

After the wedding I went to a coffee shop and read for hours, got some soul food. I couldn't have been more excited and my waiter knew.

Catfish and mashed potatoes and gravy. mmm heart attack.

The only thing missing was sweet tea, but after my day I decided I needed lots of water, my body agreed.

Later on in the night, the wedding party went out for cocktails at Cafe Adelaide-- this posh little place located in a Loews New Orleans hotel. 

The drink of choice was the Adelaide Swizzle 

 1  1/2 ounces Old New Orleans Rum
Juice of 1 lime wedge
3 dashes Peychaud’s bit­ters
1/4 ounce Sim­ple Syrup
Secret Ingre­di­ent (when you dis­cover it)
Club Soda
Lime wedge, for garnish

The next morning, I went to a coffee shop, read and people watched, explored Magazine Street and the Garden district. Then I drove myself to the airport and was greeted with true "Southern Hospitality" from my airport shuttle driver.

He didn't know pretty girls came from Oklahoma. 

My trip was complete. Almost.

Then I was off-- but not before getting some gumbo in the airport. 

Complete. 

I love weddings

Details make me swoon, happiness makes me emotional. 

Every since I can remember I have had this love for weddings. 

I have been obsessed with wedding photography for years. 

I peruse more weddings diy blogs than I have fingers and toes. 

Except I'm not one of those girls that has her wedding planned out, nor really any of the details. I know what I like, but I evolve daily and when I share my life with someone my likes and compromises will be shown. 

But that is another tangent. 

This story has to do with my best friend, Lauren Parker. We have been besties since we were 6 and have been through a great deal. When we were seniors in highschool we somehow decided to look at wedding dresses or maybe it was destinations. Either way, where is the best place to start anything wedding oriented? 

Bingo: The Knot.com 

About 5 years ago, Lor and I created my Knot website. In which I completely forgot about and had just assumed I had randomly been on their mailing list until I started receiving random email notifications saying things like, "Have you picked your location yet," "Are you still planning on a 2010 wedding?" "Now that your married, tell us about your venders." 

That's right folks, Lor and I actually started putting together my profile 5 years ago. And set my date. I can now vaguely remember saying, "That's in 5 years, I'll for sure be married by then." 

As for Ryan, I have no idea who Ryan is but I'm sure that Lor and I chose a generic name because there was always that possibility. Please tell me, who does this"?

We even went as far and chose that I would be married in Orange County, makes sense right? Cliché, that I almost don't date to say the phrase.


Ring before spring...

And according to my wedding date, I should be married for 35 days now.

Five years later, I am 22 years old. I am not married and am perfectly content with who I am and where I am going. 

That's not to say that I will never get married but why rush?

As for this, I'm going to continue my lifestyle and peruse some more wedding blogs and photographers. 

Here are some of my faves: 

1.Gabriel and Carlie.

They are adorable and have taken some of the most breath taking photographs I have ever seen.

2. Tec Petaja

Love Love Love his creative eye. He is such a whimsical photographer with a great eye for detail. He builds the picture beautifully.

3. Josh Goleman 

He creates. This photographer has talent and a Jack of all trades in the photography scene. When he shoots weddings, his plays around with his surroundings. He does all sorts of film and has a great documentary eye. I love his candid shots. 

There are only a few and I highly recommend that you take a gander into these photographers minds (blogs). Cheers.

Wedding, Orchids and Amor.

A dear friend of mine, Christine Aquino has tied the knot with Brian Stephens.
As I'm typing this, I'm watching pride and prejudice and it's the part where mr. darcy and elizabeth are about to both meet in the middle of a field with that epic lighting and those breath taking words are about to be spoken into the air and those words are going to make me crave an epic love. You have bewitched me body and soul.  Which is why it suits this post. Christine and Brian have a great dynamic relationship and the bridal party was truly wonderful. Their friends adore them and have such a love for them. The wedding was simple and beautiful. Orchids are my new favorite and they looked lovely with Christine's sunflower bouquet.