7.31.2009

baci's Office - My Current Wish List

Since I whole-heartedly intend to clean and organize baci's office this week I thought I would share items I would love to add to the space once it's ready. The walls of the office are a deep chocolate brown and the trim is a gorgeous glossy white. I intend to accent with shades of navy and light smoky blues while keeping all of the furniture the same white as the trim. My vision is Ikea meets Pottery Barn, so it's no surprise that a few of the items on the wish list come from these two stores.

1) I'm thinking of making something similar to this Eclectic Shaped Wooden Pinboard from Pottery Barn, but at least I know I can buy it if my creation doesn't pan out. 2) I have a reclaimed toy chest turned storage bench in my office right now that I hope to paint glossy white - it would look fabulous with two of these Blueberry Grand Jubilee Floor Cushions by Etsy's naturallymodern placed on top as seat cushions. 3) Two of Ikea's GRANEMO Bookcases side-by-side would mimic built-ins like we have in many other rooms of our home and offer fabulous storage at the same time, which is a huge need in baci's office. 4) The Container Store never fails when you're looking for stylish storage solutions. I will definitely stock up on the navy Stockholm Office Storage Boxes to place in the stark white bookcases!

7.30.2009

baci loves. . . Tanja Lippert Photography

Today I'm reading the mass of posts on my Google Reader and Southern Wedding Magazine's blog is featuring a Real Wedding with photos by Tanja Lippert Photography. So I mosey on over to her blog to save a few of the gorgeous images from the wedding for future photo board inspiration and I literally couldn't stop looking at all of her amazing shots!! So of course, I added her blog to my Google Reader list (it just keeps growing - soon I won't have time to work because I'll be reading all day long) and I feel that I must share just a few of the breathtaking photos from some of her recent posts - click on the links to see the full posts on Tanja's blog.



Everything Tanja shoots is 100% on film. Aren't they just amazing. . .

7.29.2009

Engagement Party Recipes

Everyone was so in love with the food at Jess & Glenn's Engagement Party that I thought I would share a few of the recipes from the evening.


I am completely in love with this appetizer dip - it's healthy and absolutely gorgeous. The bright green arugula is perfectly complimented with the red of the tomato. I always serve it in a stark white dish so no other colors interfere. For the party though, I left the tomato out because of a guest's dietary restrictions - it was still simply delicious.

Arugula-Cannellini Dip (Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens)

3 cups lightly packed arugula leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T. lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic, halved
1/2 t. salt
1 15 oz. can of cannellini beans rinsed and drained
1 medium tomato, chopped
Assorted crackers

In a food processor bowl or blender container combine arugula, oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Cover and process or blend until nearly smooth. Add cannellini beans. Cover and process or blend just until coarsely chopped and mixture is combined (mixture should be slightly chunky). Transfer bean mixture to a serving bowl. Gently stir in chopped tomato. Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 24 hours. Serve with crackers. Makes about 1 1/2 cups of dip.


I've made oven roasted veggies before, but I had never tried this specific recipe - it was so tasty that I'll be sure to use this from now on! Since I was feeding 18 people I tweaked the recipe a bit. I added the potatoes and split everything up into two large baking dishes. Once again because of dietary restrictions, I put the potatoes and carrots in one dish and kept the rest of the seeded veggies separate. The garlic, oil, vinegar and seasonings should be split up accordingly if you choose to split in two (note: you'll need quite a large baking dish if you keep everything together).

Oven Roasted Vegetables (Adapted from Wilton recipe)

1 medium eggplant, peeled and cubed
3 t. salt
2 medium zucchini, thickly sliced then halved
1 medium green pepper, cubed
1 medium red pepper, cubed
2 medium onions, quartered (I kept them in chunks and placed in the corners of each dish)
1 bag (16 oz.) baby carrots
10 Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
6 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 cup olive oil
2 T. dried oregano
2 T. basil
1 t. ground black pepper
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar

Preheat over to 400 F. Place cubed eggplant in colander and sprinkle with salt; let drain 30 minutes. Blot dry on paper towels. Place vegetables and garlic in large baking dish. Drizzle with oil, balsamic and seasonings. Stir. Bake, stirring one or two times, for 45 minutes to an hour or until browned and tender (the potatoes should be able to be smooshed with a fork when done). Add additional seasonings if desired. Serves up to 18.


Throughout the past few years I have tried a few different buttercream recipes and I have finally found the perfect one! For the party I used the frosting in the middle of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches. If you plan to make sandwich cookies, after you assemble the sandwiches be sure to let the frosting dry or else it will squeeze out the ends. I made my cookies in the middle of the week, froze them, frosted them the day before while they were still frozen and put them back in the freezer until the morning of the party.

Buttercream Frosting (Recipe from BHG's The Ultimate Cookie Book)

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 - 2 T milk

In a bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add vanilla. Beat in half of the powdered sugar. Beat in 1 tablespoon of the milk. Beat in the remaining powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in enough of the remaining milk to make a frosting of spreading consistency. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.

Enjoy!!

7.28.2009

baci loves. . . Chaviano Bridal Couture

I first fell in love with Chaviano Bridal Couture when I spotted photos on Garrett Nudd's blog back in April. Then I saw that they became a Bridal Bar vendor so I just had to show everyone how absolutely fabulous their gowns are.

Much like baci, Chaviano specializes in custom design. Designer, Annette Thurmon, started her dream company after she designed her own wedding dress - ever since she's been creating amazing, one-of-a-kind wedding gowns.

Enjoy some of these fabulous photos by the uber talented Garrett Nudd. It's impossible to choose a favorite!!

7.27.2009

The Dining Room - My Current Wish List

So sorry this is late, but we had company arrive early on Friday and I just didn't have a chance to sneak away to post the week's Wish List. It's extra fun though, so I think it's worth the wait!

I'm taking a nod from last Friday's Entertaining Wish List and moving specifically into our dining room. Our dining room is adjacent to our kitchen and flows into our living room so it's a smaller area, but it's still in need of some love since you walk directly into it from our front door. The large furniture pieces in our dining room consist of the most spectacular mahogany table we purchased from World Market a few years back, a cute little wine cabinet that we actually got from WalMart (they have a relatively high quality of furniture - we like it much better than most pieces we've bought from Target) and a gorgeous China Cabinet that my uncle found for us at an auction. I thought the following items would be just the perfect compliment to our dining room.

1) The Nickel-plated Brass Comptior de Famille Butter Dish from cambria cove would look great sitting on our Pottery Barn Wine Barrel Lazy Susan in the middle of our dining room table. 2) The gorgeous olive and amethyst Melon Knob and Elexia Handle from Anthropologie would spruce up our China Cabinet perfectly. 3) I almost died when I saw Pottery Barn's Wine Bottle Chandelier in their most recent catalog. It would be the perfect touch above our table! 4) I'm in love with anything monogrammed and I've always had my eye on Williams-Sonoma's Monogrammed Hemstiched Linen Runner.

7.23.2009

Jess + Glenn's Engagement Party | 07.18.09 {Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio}

I am SO excited to share these photos with you all!! Last weekend, Ilario and I hosted an engagement party for our best friends, Jess and Glenn, who are getting married at the beginning of August. Ilario and I are the ones who introduced Jess and Glenn so this was a very special occasion for us!

Glenn and Ilario went to high school together and have been best friends ever since. Once I met Glenn we became fast friends as well. Ilario always recounts a time a few months into our relationship when I introduced Glenn as "my friend" and not his.

Jess and I met at Bank of America in Charlotte - she was transferred into our group and it just so happened the only cubicle available at the time was right beside me! We bonded over our Midwestern roots (me from Ohio, her from Indiana) and the fact that we both knew there was "more than corn in Indiana". (If you're not from the Midwest - this was the theme song for Indiana Beach Amusement Park when we were growing up.) We also quickly found confidants in one another, talking straight through an hour lunch without even so much as a breath.

In the beginning of summer in 2007, Glenn and his younger brother, Sam, came to visit us in Charlotte. Like good hosts, we took them out for a drink - there was a new bar in uptown so we decided to go there. Since Jess lived close I gave her a call and she met us out. I promise that I wasn't even thinking about setting them up and I think this is why everything worked out so very well! After a few drinks and some drinking of glass by Ilario (loooong story - needless to say this bar didn't stay open very long) the four of us came back home and Jess went on her way as well. The next day, Jess mentioned Glenn to me and it turns out that Glenn was doing the same to Ilario. So we arranged for everyone to have dinner at our home the next night. Jess and Glenn have been a couple ever since, traveling to see each other any chance they get. They're quite a testament to the survival of a long distance relationship and now they're living their happily ever after - we are so thrilled for the two of them!!

The dinner group from that night in 2007 - please forgive us, we were a little intoxicated. . .

Jess and Glenn are having a small wedding in the park and they've asked Ilario and I to be their witnesses - just the four of us! It's such a privilege, so Ilario and I wanted to throw them a fabulous engagement party in their honor. This was the first party we've thrown in our new home so it was extra special. I designed/created/cooked every last detail continuing the black, ivory and deep red color theme throughout.

I knew I wanted everything to be very simple, yet elegant so when I found the chandelier stamp and the thick lined ivory card stock at Pat Catan's I had my inspiration! I designed everything myself, printed them on our home computer and hand-stamped the gorgeous detail. My lovely husband printed addresses on the deep red envelopes and I put on what I thought was the perfect finishing touch - Bob Hope stamps! They are my new obsession - so regal. Why would you ever use boring flag stamps again?

Our back deck was the perfect setting for the party, but the weather didn't want to cooperate. However, we waited until the last minute to set up and ended having the most perfect weather-friendly evening! I wrapped a mixture of linen and cotton napkins, finishing them with the most adorable ivory and black ribbon I found at Michaels. I printed out a detailed menu on matching deep red paper with the same fonts used on the invite and sat one at each place setting. I borrowed two long tables from a friend and rented 18 matching chairs from Tallmadge Tents (330.414.5331). My sister-in-law knew a woman with a white hydrangea bush that needed trimming and she said I could take as many as I wanted! Jess and Glenn had a cherry themed invitation so I continued that into the party with the most adorable cherry place cards. Jess loved them so much that I'll be making them again for their reception! I set up an appetizer table with Arugula-Cannellini Dip, Homemade Hummus, Kalamata Olives with pitas and assorted crackers. My mother-in-law sent over Garden Zucchini Fritters later in the evening as well. Since our back deck is attached to our sunroom, I made coordinating signs welcoming our guests.

Jess was kind enough to take a photo of the yummy food piled on her plate. The menu consisted of Tomato-Black Bean Quinoa, a variety of Oven Roasted Vegetables and Slow Cooked Cajun Roast. I followed dinner with Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies made with Homemade Buttercream Frosting for dessert.
All photos were taken either by me, the bride or her future sister-in-law (and a future baci bride!), Lexy. Here are a few candid shots we captured throughout the evening. From Left to Right: Glenn's brother, Sam, grabbing a beverage off the deck; The bride and groom-to-be; Ilario giving a touching speech before dinner; My helpful hubby setting up the table; The whole crew enjoying dinner and drinks; Jess and I in the kitchen; Jess and Glenn with his parents who stopped by for dessert.
Everyone had such a fabulous time and I didn't want it to end! It was such a joy to do this for our dear friends and we can't wait to celebrate with them on their big day!

7.22.2009

Beth & Steve - 07.11.09

The final real wedding this week is Beth and Steve's Backyard Soiree. Ilario and I actually both knew Steve before we even met each other. Ilario and Steve had several classes together at Kent State since they were both set to become History teachers and my college roommate bar-tended with Steve at Ray's Place (their tagline doesn't lie - it really is THE place!!). So when Ilario and I started dating it was nice to see that we had the same great taste in friends!

We first met Beth on our wedding day - all I remember about Beth from that day was that she was SO NICE. She had never even met us before and she the most sincere person with her joy for us and our new lives together! After Ilario and I moved back to Ohio we were lucky enough to spend a lot more time with them both. We found out that Beth really is that nice every single day!! She also has such a huge and passionate place in her heart for animals - she even works at the zoo.

Beth and Steve were married at Mogadore Christian Church and followed the ceremony with a reception down the road in their own backyard. A huge yellow and white striped tent housed brightly colored tables decorated with photos of the couple, take-out boxes full of snacks, citronella candles for later in the evening plus baskets stocked with goodies like playing cards, disposable cameras and Off wipes. The atmosphere was so fun and relaxing with yard games like Hillbilly Golf and Cornhole. Their adorable dog, Sydney, even made a guest appearance!!

A pig was roasted (the bride and groom actually "Cut the Pig" instead of a cake - lol) and served with salad, baked beans and what were the best potatoes I have ever had in my life. Instead of a cake, they stacked up delicious cupcakes on pretty stands. I was so in love with the blue cups with a Las Vegas styled sign which doubled as favors for the guests. Beth also used her gorgeous bouquet as a centerpiece on their table. Beth and Steve did such a fabulous job thinking about their guests while still conveying who they are as a couple - we had such a great time!!

7.21.2009

Diane & Devin - 06.27.09

The next June wedding we not only attended, but I was lucky enough to be a part of! Our great friends, Diane and Devin, were married in late June and they asked me to read a very touching letter from Devin's mother to them during the ceremony. I wasn't allowed to read Diane's mom's letter because they knew there was no chance I would ever get through it without crying. Diane and I grew up together - we've been friends since elementary school and have remained close through high school, different colleges and all of the moves our lives (especially Diane's - sometimes it's hard to remember where her and Devin are currently living - lol) have brought us. When we were younger, Diane and I would always be the last two awake at sleepovers - we would be watching scary movies, holding hands and trying not to pee our pants!

Diane and I before the Dane Cook show at the Kent State MAC in 2005 - the first time Ilario and I got to meet Devin.

Diane and Devin's ceremony was held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan, Ohio. Everything about the entire day was fun and the invitations I created for the big day conveyed that perfectly. Diane walked down the aisle to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and the bridesmaids each wore a dress in a different color of the rainbow - everything was beautiful. I especially loved her DIY programs that matched her theme perfectly. Diane, her mother and some friends cut and rounded the edges of sheets of brightly colored paper then attached them with the cutest star brads I have ever seen in my life. Then they finished the programs off with an adorable punch-out of a star at the top of each one. I love nothing more than stationery that flows so well with the theme and feeling of a wedding - Diane and Devin did a fantastic job executing that!

Cake Boss Bridezilla's Husband

I have to interrupt "Real Wedding (& Engagement Party) Week" for just a tiny bit because I know all of you are dying to see the face of the guy who actually married the Cake Boss Bridezilla!

The uber talented Paul and Krystal of Studio Foto were able to make it look like the crazy cake lady actually has a tiny little Bohemian heart - check out their gorgeous and unique engagement shoot and the amazing wedding details.

I'm still so in love with Buddy's cake creation. . .

7.20.2009

Kari & Jon - 06.20.09

I have officially deemed this week "Real Wedding (& Engagement Party) Week" - Ilario and I have attended several of our friend's weddings in the past month and I thought I would share some of my favorite details that I have loved along the way. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will each feature a recent wedding then Thursday you'll have your chance to check out all of the rockin' details from Jess & Glenn's Engagement Party that my husband and I threw at our home this weekend. On Friday, I'll pick back up with my "Wish List" posts. I hope you enjoy these creative details!!

The first wedding we attended in June was Kari & Jon's at the beautiful Calvary Chapel in Massillon, Ohio followed by a fun reception in Navarre. I met Kari in college waitressing at the Tallmadge Firehouse Pub & Grille. We instantly bonded even though Kari is very sweet and reserved (I'm sweet, just not too reserved - lol!!) - I even coerced her into Kegs & Eggs one Saint Patrick's Day morning in 2005 where she enjoyed her first ever shot of tequila (at 6 AM!!).

Oh yes, that's Kari and I circa 2005 on Saint Patty's Day!

Kari has a million dollar smile that makes you grin just thinking about it. So when I saw that Kari and Jon had two of their engagement photos turned into cute little photos cards that were placed at each seat for guests to take home I absolutely loved it! What a fabulous idea to commemorate your special day!

7.16.2009

Entertaining - My Current Wish List

Tomorrow we are hosting an engagement party at out home in honor of our dear friends, Glenn and Jess. In the spirit of the soiree I thought it was only fitting I dream about what I would like to add to my collection of fun entertaining ware that I already have, so here is my current wish list. . .

1) Limited Edition Heirloom Pantry Bowl Set in Positively Pretty Pink from At Home America. 2) Appetizer Plate Set by Crate & Barrel. 3) Three sets of French Wire Placecard Holders from Pottery Barn. 4) 46 ounce One Pitcher from Crate & Barrel.



I've decide to make "My Current Wish List" a Friday feature so check back every Friday to see what I'm pining over this week :)

David Bezbatchenko Memorial Golf Classic

On Monday, August 31st a group of people will gather, not only to golf, but to honor a great person - David Bezbatchenko. My husband's high school friend, Mike, is David's brother so over the years that Ilario and I have been together I got to know David and how much of a caring and gentle person he was. As a child, David was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disease that causes benign tumors to form beneath the skin that can be disfiguring. Sadly, on Valentine's day of this year David passed away at the age of 23 after a long and courageous battle with a brain tumor.

The David Bezbatchenko Memorial Golf Classic will be held in honor of David on August 31st at Congress Lake Club in Hartville, Ohio. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation - a national non-profit medical foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of those affected by NF. If you are interested in golfing for a cause and a great man please visit the David Bezbatchenko Memorial Golf Classic web site for more details. If you're not the golfing type (I wish I was, but all I've done is hit some balls at the range and drive the cart) please look into becoming a Sponsor like baci is!

To show you just how much David loved golf and how fantastic of a relationship he had with his father, Marty - a long-time customer of mine back in my Firehouse waitressing days before I even met Ilario - you must check out the Sports Illustrated article about them entitled "Seventeen Million to One" about a little miracle that happened to them on the course at Congress Lake Club. And you're bound to have tears in your eyes as you watch this video clip from ABC's WEWS newscast in September 2006:


* Photo From dbezgolf.com

7.15.2009

The Knot TV

Just when you thought The Knot had thought of everything. . . they created an online TV station! The Knot TV offers both Live TV and On Demand shows. On The Knot TV Live you can check out short little webisodes on topics ranging from Real Weddings to Bridal Beauty Makeovers. Then hop on over to The Knot TV On Demand to watch what you want any time of the day! I'm in love with the Fashion Report: Top 10 Trends.

7.13.2009

Patrick Glade

Just wanted to wish our great friends - Tim, Karen and their son, Will - a huge CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of their gorgeous baby boy, Patrick Glade! We wish you all the best and can't wait to meet the little guy!

7.10.2009

The Guest Bedroom - My Current Wish List

I'm not sure why I'm so obsessed with having the perfect Guest Bedroom - especially since the bedroom that Ilario and I sleep in every night is nowhere near finished, but I've been dreaming about finishing our guest bedroom. I think this refurbished electric fan I saw on Etsy the other day started it all - it would be the perfect accessory in our deep gray room. So here's my current wish list. . .

1) Mirrored Tray by Etsy's teacupadoption. 2) Tin Roof Switchplates from Anthropologie. 3) Organic Cotton Pin-tuck Duvet Cover and Shams (personally, I wouldn't mind the bed in the photo for our bedroom!) at West Elm. 4) Refurbished Black Vintage Wagner Electric Fan from Etsy's highstreetmarket.
I'm sure this will be followed by many more wish lists since the house decorating has finally commenced - maybe I'll start a "Wish List Friday" feature. . . what do you think?!?!

7.09.2009

"We've been married for 66 years. . ."

It's always nice to hear about people who have been married for a long time, especially when you're getting ready to tie the knot yourself. When you're planning a wedding you don't want to hear how high the divorce rate is or think about how so many people treat marriage like a middle school dance, hopping from partner to partner. It seems as though even the people we admire like politicians and celebrities (be on the lookout for a Celebrity Inspirated Wedding Board on WeddingAces - it was difficult to include only people still together) have no idea what a true, honest marriage is.

When I came across Time Magazine's photo gallery entitled, "Married for 50 Years: Love Ever After" I was in awe - all of the couples included in the gallery have been married 50 years or more. Each couple's photo includes a little story about their lives or how they met. It is absolutely stunning and so very reassuring to couples at any stage in their relationship. Enjoy and be inspired by their everlasting love. . .


7.08.2009

Bridal Blog Awards

So today I was thinking that no one loved me. . . but then I thought, duh, maybe most of you read this on something like Google Reader or maybe you just check out the feed on Facebook. Now you're asking, "What on earth are you talking about, Amanda?" Well this is what I'm talking about:
You haven't seen it on the sidebar have you, or else you TOTALLY would have nominated baci's Designing Woman blog for the Wedding Channel Bridal Blog Awards, right :) Well midnight tonight is the deadline, so if you might want to show us just how much you love us put your running shoes on. . .

7.06.2009

Cake Boss Bridezilla

I'm just going to get right out there and say it - I would not have had the restraint Buddy had with this crazy woman on TLC's Cake Boss.  When she randomly shows up the day before her wedding to "check in on her cake" she immediately says, "Oh my God, it's so ugly" then the second he leaves the room to talk with his crew about making her a new cake she proceeds to "frost" it herself with neon colors all over the gorgeous cake, ruining it beyond repair.  You can tell she's got a few screws loose from the initial meeting and that she really has it in for her mom, but seriously though, I would have lost my mind if she treated my work like she did Buddy's.  It just gets worse when he delivers the new cake, too - she won't even come out to see it!

Buddy's Original and Beautiful Calla Lilly Cake
WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?!?!  What a brat!
Check out the video - if you don't have time to watch the whole episode (it's about 22 minutes long) skip ahead to 1:00, 6:07 and 18:55 to see just how much of a Bia Bia this girl is - I just can't believe it!!!

Minted. Design Challenge

Over the weekend, the new Minted. Design Challenge went live and guess who entered some designs. . . ME!  The challenge was to create a Save the Date for one of four couples that represent the season in which their wedding is taking place.  I only had time to create two designs - I chose spring and winter.  Go here and here to rate my designs!

I was super pumped about the spring design - Spring Bird.  I used the following "After" photo of a gorgeous nursery from Design*Sponge as my inspiration.  I just LOVE the cute little birdie and the rockin' color combination!
I wasn't quite as pumped about the winter design I created - I knew I wanted to create a card with a snowflake incorporated and the square size seemed to fit it just perfectly!

7.03.2009

Holiday Inspiration

My Fourth of July post - Backyard Bliss - went up earlier this week on WeddingAces, but it's one of my favorite inspiration boards that I've created so I had to share just in case you aren't following WeddingAces (which you should be!). So here it is in all of it's glory, enjoy!

Row One: Centerpieces Image from Style Me Pretty, Daisy Cake by Martha Stewart Weddings, Polka Dot Escort Cards Image from Snippet & Ink

Row Two Image by Tec Petaja Photography

Row Three: Menu from Style Me Pretty, Sparklers by Sparkle, LLC, Stacked Bouquet Holder from Design*Sponge


I know it's a day early, but have a very merry, happy Fourth of July (because, let's face it - tomorrow I'll be in the backyard drinking beer, eating bratwurst, playing yard games and watching fireworks)!!