Wedding Wednesday | Inspiration

I am a firm believer that surrounding yourself with successful people is the key to having success in your own life. If your friends and family don't provide inspiration, it's hard to ignite that spark all on your own. When your friends are equal parts creative and passionate, it's easy to constantly be influenced to reach for that next level.

I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people in life. My circle of friends includes photographers (Alaina at Ace of Images, Brandy J and Sticky of Brandy J Photography), designers (Agnes from Blossom Accents), DJs (Anna and Justin of Something New Entertainment) and the all-around fabulous like Jessica of A Foxy Wedding + Foxy Social Media, The Enlows from Loco Photo Booths and Triple-threat Actress/Singer/Model Cassie Simone. My "virtual" friends are amongst some of the most incredible people as well - Abi of Abi Q Photography, Annette from Chaviano Couture, Alicia at Sophie - A Design Boutique, Joy and Garrett of Garrett Nudd Photography + Cobblestone Rue, Lisa with Sapling Press and Tracy at Simply Stated Designs. And when it comes to family, the amount of talent certainly doesn't come up short. . . just to name a few: my multi-talented sister (this girl can take photos and organize an event like the best of them), my amazing Mother (cake baker and all-around creative lady), the Knitting and Baking Accountant Cousin Rachelle, Cake Baker Extraordinaire Grandma and melt-your-heart-with-their-voices cousins, aunts and uncles!

These full-of-talent souls provide me with inspiration day-in and day-out. . . but when I need specific wedding visions I hit up my favorite bridal-focused blogs. These are some of the best places you can find inspiration for your big day!! So take ideas from the incredible talent you surround yourself with and mix in a little bit of goodness from some of the following:

100 Layer Cake

Green Wedding Shoes

Snippet & Ink

Style Me Pretty

Wedding Aces (I might be mildly partial to this site - lol!)

Weddings Unveiled

baci's baking - Mexican Tortilla Casserole

Recently, I've realized that I'm the Queen Of Recipe Tweaking. . . when I get a new recipe I always follow it to a "t" the first time, but afterwards I always make notes about what I'd like to do next time. This recipe, originally from Better Homes and Gardens for four mini-chicken casseroles, is a prime example of just that! Here's my "tweaked" recipe:

Mexican Tortilla Casseroles

6 six-inch corn tortillas, each cut into six wedges

1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn

1 15-ounce can of black beans, drained

1 15-ounce can of chili beans, drained

1 16-ounce jar salsa

3 T. light dairy sour cream

1 T. all-purpose flour

1 cup crumbled Mexican chihuahua or farmer's cheese (4 ounces)

Optional Toppings: light dairy sour cream, snipped fresh cilantro, chopped tomato, thinly sliced jalepeno peppers.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray a 9" x 11" glass pan with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Place 20 tortilla wedges in the bottom of the dish.

4. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden.

5. Meanwhile, combine corn, beans, salsa, sour cream and flour. Put on top of tortilla wedges in dish.

6. Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

7. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casserole. Top with cheese and bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through.

8. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalepeno slices, cilantro and tomatoes.

Handpicked - BCBGMAXAZRIA New Arrivals

BCBGMAXAZRIA is always one of my go-to brands when I'm looking for dresses, but in all reality I generally fall in love with most everything that comes from them. Check out a few of my favorites from their New Arrivals!

1) Sleeveless Twisted Blouse - $118 2) Ruffled-collar Sleeveless Blouse - $128 3) Draped-back Silk Top - $148 4) Signature Drawstring Hobo Bag - $398 5) Multibangle Cuff - $38 6) Studded Platform Sandal - $225 7) Asymmetrical-neckline Belted Dress - $238 8) Pleated-detail Strapless Dress - $378 9) Cowl-neck Flutter-sleeve Sweater - $198

Wedding Wednesday | Campground Wedding

I am so in love with this Campground Wedding Photo Shoot designed by some of my absolute favorite vendors - it creates the perfect inspiration board to kick off the summer!!

The list of incredible vendors who put together this fabulous shoot. . .

concept + design: jesi haack weddings

photography: Gabriel and Carlie from gabriel ryan photographers

stationery: paper and thread (I LOVE their combination of paper products and sewing. . . be on lookout for something using this concept from baci for an upcoming baby shower!!)

rentals: signature party rentals

hair + makeup: flourish

bridal gown: mary me bridal

floral design: Carissa at JL Designs

cake: sweet & saucy shop (I am so obsessed with balsa wood flowers right now so this is my favorite ever!!!)

baci's baking - Chicken Tetrazzini

Everyone knows that my mother-in-law is quite the cook, so I am pleased to share this recipe of hers for Chicken Tetrazzini - it is honestly one of my favorite things ever!!

Chicken Tetrazzini

¼ c. butter
¼ c. flour
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. half-and-half
1 (7 oz.) package linguine, cooked and drained
2 c. cooked chicken, cubed
1 (3 oz.) can sliced mushrooms
½ c. grated parmesan cheese

1) Preheat oven to 350°F.

2) Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour and seasonings. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat.
3) Stir in broth and half-and-half. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.

4) Stir in pasta, chicken and mushrooms.

5) Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole dish.

6) Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

7) Bake uncovered for 30 minute or until bubbly. To brown, place briefly under broiler.

Handpicked - Anne Taylor LOFT Sale

This past Friday a few friends and I took a little trip to Anne Taylor LOFT with much success! Their sale rack was jam packed with all sorts of great finds and everything on sale is an extra 40%! Here are some of my favorite pieces:

1) Dark Rinse Denim Leggings - $29.99 2) Linen Trousers - $59.99 3) Pleated Shorts with Belt - $34.99 (I bought these in navy!!) 4) Satin Pleated V-Neck Top - $39.99 5) Beaded Tuxedo Tank - $29.99 6) Beaded Neck Silk Shell - $24.99 (I scored this in navy, too!) 7) Painted Stripe Dress - $69.99 8) Chambray Wrap Dress - $69.99 9) City Essential Pencil Skirt with Feminine Detail - $39.99

* Remember all these prices are before the Additional 40% Off - I love a good sale!! Also, many of these pieces aren't available in a wide assortment of sizes/colors online, so I highly recommend stopping by your local LOFT to see what they have available in-store.

Our Current "Home Overhaul"

I've been a little MIA this week and I apologize - we've been doing a bit of a "home overhaul" around here and believe me, it was needed! It seems like we've been putting off so many simple fix-ups in and outside of the house forever so since the hubby officially started his summer break this week we went a little crazy. We do have quite a bit to show for it though and it's a good thing because we are one hosting house this month - we have guests each weekend (YAY, I love house guests!). Here's what we have collectively accomplished so far:

* 8 ribbons sewn onto duvet inserts so they'll actually stay inside of the duvet covers (Why they didn't come with them, I'll never understand. . .)

* 8 loads of laundry done, two more left to go

* 4 gorgeous damask outdoor chair cushions ordered. . . I'm sure they won't show up in time, oh well. . .

* 3 new salmon pink cabinet knobs ordered for upstairs bathroom

* 2 Father's Day gifts ordered, received and wrapped!!

* 2 nine foot black patio umbrellas ordered. . . they might show up today, but I'm not holding my breath

* 2 ceiling fans with lights installed in master and guest bedrooms (YAY, we can sleep without melting now! Extra good for the pregnant lady that will be joining us in a few weeks!)

* 2 new medicine cabinets bought, 0 installed because they don't fit properly - ugh!

* 1 white umbrella stand purchased

* 1 baci office organized

* 1 picture frame hung (and dropped and cracked, grr!!) by yours truly

* 1 yard mowed, sprayed with weed killer and seeded - I'm not going to lie, this was all Ilario.

* 1 set of toile curtains sewn (WOOT for my one year of fashion design and all of those 4H projects growing up!) and hung up in the upstairs bathroom. Here's a little snippet. . .

Now for what else we'd like to accomplish before tomorrow. . .

* 11 linen napkins need to be ironed

* 4 rooms need to be cleaned (One of these is the upstairs bathroom. . . eww!!)

* 2 table cloths need to be ironed

* 2 desserts need to be baked

* 1 set of shutters needs to be sanded and painted for the downstairs bath

* 1 ugly green umbrella stand needs to be spray painted black

* 1 upstairs shower ceiling needs to be re-painted

* 1 plot of dirt needs to be planted with wild flowers (I might have purchased these seeds a month ago. . . oops!)

* 1 busy business owner who needs to go grocery shopping so everyone can eat on Sunday. . . and I'm off!!

baci's baking - Steamed Potatoes

You all know and love those incredible red potatoes that seem to be served at every wedding reception, right? Well, I found a recipe from Williams-Sonoma that imitates them perfectly! Bonus - it's SO easy!!!

Steamed Potatoes

2 lb. small new red potatoes, scrubbed
2 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 T. finely chopped fresh parsley
salt

1) Using a steamer pot*, steam potatoes until tender when pierced - about 25-30 minutes. 2) Transfer to a bowl. Stir in butter, parsley and salt to taste.

* If you don't have a steamer pot (I don't) fill a large stock pot with water and put the potatoes in a metal colander on top of it then place your stock pot lid on top of the colander - if there's a ton of extra space for steam to escape lay a dish towel between the colander and the lid to catch extra steam.

Handpicked - Coral Etsy Finds

Coral is a hugely popular color this Spring, but it's always been at the top of my list of favorites! It's been a while since I've done an Etsy post so I thought why not combine the two into a fabulous Wish List.

1) I adore the jute center of the Red Tiles Zippered Pouch by JensBags 2) Gold is quickly becoming my preference so I really love the Happiness Charm Necklace by bellachicdesigns 3) The Whimsical Multi-circle Gold Hoop Earrings Adorned with Coral Drops are perfectly imperfect by ladyadornedjewelry 4) I could wear a long necklace every day and be perfectly happy - Big Bang Coral and Silver Necklace by PALEOLOCHIC

Wedding Wednesday | Nordstrom Wedding Shop

Following the likes of J. Crew and White House|Black Market, Nordstrom has launched a Wedding Shop. I have always thought of Nordstrom as a go-to for special occasion dresses so this is a perfect fit for them! Obviously, I couldn't help but peruse through the goods to find my favorites for you all. . . a little bonus, everything I choose would go perfectly together for an actual wedding, so if you're looking for a little color and style inspiration, look no further!

Bride Attire + Accessories: Tadashi One Shoulder Rosette Chiffon Gown - $398, Nadri Tiered Chandelier Earrings - $138, Ficcare Swarovski Crystal Headband - $60, Lauren Jones 'Bonnie' Sandal - $119.95. . . an entire Bridal Look for under $800 is so awesome!!!

Not sure what shoes to buy with that dress or what shirt and tie goes with this suit? No worries, Nordstrom Wedding Shop offers Head-to-Toe Looks for Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Grooms, Dads and Moms! This was my favorite Groom Head-to-Toe Look: Joseph Abboud Three Button Suit and Nordstrom Smartcare Dress Shirt with Accessories - $49.50 to $695

Bridesmaids: Eliza J Rosette Details Strapless Taffeta Dress in Eggplant - Only $158 for a totally wear-again dress, Badgley Mischka 'Randi' Sandal in Black Satin - $215

Groomsmen: HUGO 'Aikonen' Two-button Suit in Light Grey - $795, Penny Black 40 'Baby Ruth' Cuff Links - $85, A great groomsmen gift for under $100!

You can't forget about the little ones: Nordstrom Two-piece Suit (Toddler and Little Boys) - $140 - $145, US Angels Taffeta Rosette Bubble Dress (Toddler, Little Girls and Big Girls) in Ivory - $128 - $132

Mother-of-the-Bride or Groom: Kay Unger Stretch Satin Sheath Dress in Champagne - $328

In love already? Well, there's more! Nordstrom Wedding Shop also offers Wedding Stylists that are available for Live Chat or in-store plus you get free shipping when you place your order with one of the Stylists. There are also Certified Bra Fitters, On-site Tailors as well as Beauty Services available from the Wedding Shop. And no need to worry about minute details like steaming your gown or tying the perfect tie - they'll take of that for you at your nearest Nordstrom store, too!

A Fabulous Find - Katrina Platform Wedge by Fioni from Payless

Remember yesterday I was flipping out about the gold flecks in the Caden Leather Cork Wedges from J. Crew in my Wish List? And remember how they're $150.oo? Well. . . take a look at what I found today - the Katrina Platform Wedge by Fioni available at Payless for $24.99 with GOLD FLECKS!!

And since Payless is having their BOGO sale, maybe I'll just pick up these little numbers from Christian Siriano - the Marta Strappy Dress Sandal for $34.99.

baci's baking - Grandpa Rog's Oyster Crackers

I hope you all realize how special you are that I'm sharing this family recipe with you ;) It's simple, but wonderful. . . just like my Grandpa was - a simple, but wonderful and kind-hearted man!

Grandpa Rog's Oyster Crackers

10 oz. bag of oyster crackers

1 package of dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

¾ cup oil

½-1 t. dill weed

¼ t. garlic powder

¼ t. of lemon pepper

1) Combine the dressing and oil. Add the dill weed, garlic powder and lemon pepper. Pour this over the crackers, stir to coat.

2) Place in warm oven for about 15 minutes on low.

J. Crew June Catalog - My Current Wish List

I honestly can't help it, every time I receive a new J. Crew Catalog I dream about the gorgeous, lush items in it. . . so I tried to narrow my dreams down to the four things I'd really, really want, but probably wouldn't spend the money on (unless a special occasion arrives. . . hmm, there has to be something I need a new dress and shoes for!). So here's my J. Crew June Catalog Wish List that was supposed to be posted last Friday. . .

1) AYKM with the gold flecks in the heel and sole of these Caden Leather Cork Wedges? I would be practical and buy them in chocolate instead of bronzed avocado (which I'd rather do - lol!). 2) Really, I think I might need to purchase the super 120's Andre Dress in navy. . . the merino wool looks so incredibly smooth and decadent. 3) The shades of purple on the printed linen of the Ink Blossom Halter Dress make me swoon and don't even get me started on that neckline. . . 4) I feel pretty just looking at the Petal Vine Shell in white!

Handpicked - Accessories Under $20

I'm actually quite sad this five-week feature is coming to an end with this post :o( If any of you have ideas of what you'd like to see in a similar fashion in the future, please let me know because this was so much fun!

Now, the last of the "Fabulous Finds Under $20" - Accessories!!

1) Woven Stretch Belt in black from WetSeal - $10.50 2) Washed Denim Cadet Hat in Black by Minicci from Payless - $12.99 Once again, a long list from Forever 21. . . 3) Studded Skinny Belt (I love the gold on black!) - $6.80 4) Patent Croco Embossed Wallet in Pink (My sister has a similar one that I always admire.) - $7.50 5) Woven Fedora with Striped Belt (Perfect for the beach!!)- $6.50 6) F0604 Sunglasses in black - $5.80 and 7) Chiffon Rosette Headband - $4.80 8) Floral Fringe Scarf available at Wet Seal - $8.50 (Note: Buy 1, Get 1 for a Penny - HOORAY for an even better deal!!) 9) Printed Ropes Tote at Forever 21 - $5.80

Antonio's Baptism | 05.23.10

Finally, the post I've been waiting to show everyone - I'm so proud of this event, not only because things turned out even better than I had ever hoped, but because it is also so very close to my heart!

Back at Easter, my husband's brother and sister-in-law asked us to be the Godparents for their son, our nephew, Antonio. Needless to say we were incredibly excited and when they asked if baci would help design and plan the event I was beyond thrilled!

I created a Noah's Ark themed invitation, complete with giraffes and elephants, that I printed in-house on white linen stock.

I continued the theme by showcasing the cute little animals on stickers that I affixed to simple white Children's Gift Bags that were full of fun toys and games (and even a giant sucker!) to keep the little ones entertained while the dinner took place. They were such a huge hit, especially the custom-designed Crossword Puzzles!!

At the dinner reception we wanted to bring the current Spring season into the decor so I used lemons, limes, oranges and an assortment of white flowers to create vibrant centerpieces for each table. They added such a fun element to the day!

After the baptismal ceremony, held at the beautiful Saint John The Baptist Italian Catholic Church in the Short North area of Columbus, we all headed to Cameron's American Bistro for hands down one of the most delicious dinners ever. We've been to Cameron's several times and their food, as well as their impeccable service, never disappoints!

For dessert we feasted on mouthwatering white cake with buttercream frosting from Mrs. Goodman's Baking Company in Worthington. And my mother-in-law always loves to contribute her delicious cookies to special events in the family and this was no exception - the spread she created was impeccable!

She even made her Famous Peach Cookies - two cookies filled with pudding, put together back to back, rolled in peach schnapps and finished with a sugar coating and a tiny leaf. They are so tasty and mighty beautiful!!

One last photo of us with our Godson! He is the most precious and joyful part of our lives - we are honestly so blessed!

* Photos by Paolo Cursaro

Sneak Peek. . .

I am seriously so excited about the post I have been working on for today, but of course you can't prepare for last minute work that needs to be done and that's just what I'm dealing with today. So the post I've been working on will just have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a little sneak peek into what you'll be seeing. . .

Wedding Wednesday | Real Wedding Planning

This past weekend I met with a 2011 bride to start discussing her early Fall outdoor wedding so I thought I'd share with you some of our inspiration. Her initial color choices were red (her favorite color), blue (her fiance's fave) and white, but she was incredibly worried about it looking more Independence Day than Gorgeous Fall Wedding. So I suggested doing a deep rose red (her flower of choice so it works perfectly!), navy and ivory - incorporating ivory into your wedding is such a perfect way to give a nod to the switch in the season. Here are some of the photos that are currently inspiring us in the wedding planning process!

All of the floral arrangements will be done with Black Magic Roses and adorable White Daisies like these from FiftyFlowers.com.

A cocktail hour will feature a signature drink. . . maybe something that coordinates with the wedding colors like this shot!

baci's baking - Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Continuing with the vegetarian soup recipes, here is a great one adapted from Oh My Deer's Chelsea Petaja's recipe. It may be spring feeling like summer, but a yummy veggie-filled soup is always in season! Enjoy!

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

2 large carrots

1 can diced tomatoes

2 celery stalks

1 can Rotel

1 large onion

1 packet of taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning to taste)

1 t. canola oil

10 corn tortillas

1 t. garlic powder

4 cans vegetable broth

salt and pepper to taste

12 oz. Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Milk

1 can of Chili Beans

1 can of corn

1) Chop vegetables and saute in oil until tender.

2) Add garlic powder, salt, pepper and broth. Bring to a boil.

3) Add tomatoes, Rotel, seasoning, beans and corn. Cut tortillas into small pieces and add to the mixture. Let boil uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir often to keep from sticking.

4) Reduce heat and add cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add milk and simmer for another 10 minutes.