7.31.2011

Sunday Funday, #1

I decided it was time we start showing you some blog love on the weekends!  Sunday Funday will bring focus to one image that we've fallen in love with throughout the prior week.  I am so excited Jami and I get to share all the prettiness we share with one other throughout the week - it's going to be hard to decide on a favorite ;o)  Enjoy!


Our first image comes from a fellow TWIPS member - we are so proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization, full of so many inspiring women!!

On Friday, the beautiful Megan of Glamour and Grace, featured a gorgeous Enchanted Forest Inspiration Shoot by photographer Laura Murray.  This is my favorite photo from the post - it's so ethereal.  I love that even though it's girly with the tulle, it's still incredibly sexy!!  Be sure to hop on over to Glamour and Grace to see the rest of this beautiful shoot!

7.29.2011

My Current Wish List - Carol Hannah Inspired

Project Runway's Season 9 started up last night on Lifetime :)

So in honor of Project Runway I picked four beautiful dresses, which can be used as party dresses, bridesmaid dresses, or a "just to have" dress :) by Carol Hannah who was a finalist on Season 6 of the show.


1) Hickory Dress - $295 - Beautiful, stunning red dress that would look absolutely amazing for any occasion!
2) Queen Street Dress - $190 - I love everything--it's one shouldered and has a chic look!
3) Pinckney Street Gown in Silk - $285 - Beautiful, end of story :)
4) Gadsden Street Gown in Silk - $285 - I love the floral neckline with the cute sash!


So. . . we totally want to know who your favorite is this season?!?!?

7.28.2011

We're Still Here!

Hi!  Amanda here :o)

I just wanted to apologize for the lack of posts this week, it's prime time here in the studio prepping for all of our October weddings (Jami's included - yay!!!) so things have been a little hectic and blogging has unfortunately had to take a back seat.  We'll be back to our regular posting schedule tomorrow though!

Here's what we've been up to this week:

1}  We mailed Kristie and Dustin's invitation suite!  Remember the "Real Wedding Planning" Post from last year?  Yep, that's them!  We are so excited to finalize the planning details for their wedding this September :o)


2}  I designed, printed, assembled (aren't you intrigued to see what assembly was required?!?!?) and mailed Jami's Bridal Shower Invitations.  My mom, Eric's mom, our best friend (pretty much our sister - lol!) Sarah and I are throwing Jami a Rustic Milk and Cookies themed bridal shower inspired by Love and Lavender's Styled Shoot.  Remember the fun inspiration board (above) I created from the beautiful photos?  I can't wait to share all the incredible details we have planned for the party!!

3}  We've been putting the finishing touches on several client's invitations:

 - Kathryn and Dylan's Traditional Letterpress Suite
{Not only is this our first letterpress suite (YAY!!), but we are lucky enough to be working with Kseniya of Thomas-Printers!!}

- Meghan and Fred's Willow Tree Seeded Stock Suite
{I have had such a blast personalizing this suite with both Meghan and Fred - it's going to be lovely!}

- Lisa and Mike's Damask Seeded Stock Suite
{Yes, the Seeded Stock is so cool that everyone has fallen in love with it!!  It fits Lisa's down-to-earth personality perfectly!}


- Jami and Eric's Vintage Monogram Suite
{We've collaborated with the incredible Laura Lavender on this one - you're going to fall in love!!!}

- Stephanie and Don's Modern Bling Suite
{Bling is right!  I can't wait to share!!}

- DJ and Christy's Rehearsal Dinner Suite
{Simple elegance on this one - SWOON!!}


4}  We've also been collaborating on a few things with the beautiful Louise of London's Bijoux Bride!  We're working on some fun symbols for her blog and I've written a guest post for her that will be live next week!  Be on the lookout :o)

5}  Tonight's Book Club so there will be a special baci's baking post next Tuesday and the third installation of baci's book club will be up Thursday!  If you haven't joined, you totally should - we're having a great time discussing our favorite reads :o)

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted just writing all of that out - lol!  Anyway, we truly appreciate your patience while we work through what has been the busiest time of baci so far (YAY!!).  We couldn't do this without all of you!  Thank you!!

7.22.2011

My Current Wish List - Bed, Bath, and Beyond

If you happened to read Wednesday's Post, you know that Eric and I just did our wedding registry. So my current wish list comes from our registry at Bed, Bath, and Beyond :)


1) HGTV HOME Lagare Queen Comforter Set - $199.99 - Eric and I actually agreed that we both liked it, especially the colors!
2) Padded Saddle Stool -$39.99 - Perfect for our island!
3) Professional Silicone Baking Mat - $14.99 - Eric's mom has one of these and they are so perfect!!
4) Ninja Professional Blender - $99.99 - A better blender for our drinks :)

7.21.2011

Friend Photo Shoot

Less than a month ago I blogged about my recent photo shoot with some of my best friends done by Pea Pod Photography out of Archbold, Ohio. I know I already said it once, but I'll say it again, I had a BLAST in this photo shoot with my friends and Ashley, the photographer, was amazing!! I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures :)








You can check out all the photos from our session on facebook!!

7.20.2011

Wedding Wednesday | Wedding Registry

Time Worthy, Indecisive, and Hard

Those are three words to describe a wedding registry in my mind :)

I'm not saying at times it wasn't fun, but it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Mostly because you have all these ideas of things you need or want, and then once you get into the store there can be 10 different kinds of one item---like bed sheets, kitchen towels, mixing bowls, pillows, and etc.

Eric and I's first stop was Menards. A classic choice for any bride coming from Northwest Ohio :)
We started off our registry with ceiling fans/lights because they desperately need an update, however, that shouldn't have been the first thing to register for because it was time consuming picking out the ceiling fans we really liked. After that though, Menards went by fairly easy and both of us were in a little better mood. So stop number 1 was a success!!

Our 2nd choice was Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I have heard nothing but positive feedback about this store when talking about wedding registries and they have EVERY possible small home appliance and gadget you may need. This stop was a little bit more complicated because of all the different choices. We obviously made it through the registry, but Eric and I were VERY tired after!

Our 3rd and final choice was our honeymoon. We have NOT done this one yet, but we will be shortly. You can go into the agency which is Central Travel, located in the Defiance Mall, and give a contribution to our honeymoon package :)

Feel free to check out the goodies we registered for!!

7.19.2011

baci's baking - Dessert Pizza

I am always looking for simple recipes that I can make quickly to take to a party or family gathering. My friend, Ashley, was telling me about dessert pizza and how it's her favorite thing to make because it's so simple, so I looked it up. And will be making this, this upcoming weekend to try it out :)


1 (18-oz.) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 (8-oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

(THE NEXT ITEMS ARE FRUITS, BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITES)
1/2 cup sliced banana
1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Press cookie dough evenly into a 12-inch pizza pan. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.
3) Spread whipped topping over cooled crust. Arrange fruit in a decorative pattern. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

7.18.2011

Handpicked - Personalized Gifts

As the wedding quickly approaches and having a "house" becomes more real, I have been looking for items to fill the house. All of the items I picked today are kitchen worthy (sorry, Eric!!) and can be completely personalized (which I LOVE)!!


1) Old Fashioned Red Popcorn Bowl on personalizationmall.com- $27.95 - Um, I love popcorn. End of story :)
2) Bamboo Cutting board on personalizationmall.com - $25.85
3) Cooking Utensils 3-piece set on personalizationmall.com - $16.05 - Simple, but cute!
4) Glass Dome Server on gifts.personalcreations.com - $49.99
5) Tumbled Marble Initial Coasters on gifts.personalcreations.com - $29.99 - I like these a lot, mostly because it's so personal.
6) Stainless Steel Bread Box on gifts.personalcreations.com - $39.99
7) Polka Dot Apron on gifts.personalcreations.com - $19.99 - How cute :)
8) Serving Bowls on personalizationmall.com - $20.95
9) Beverage Server with Stand on personalizationmall.com - $46.15 - This would be perfect for any family get together!

7.15.2011

My Current Wish List - Wet Seal Black Dresses

If you look in my closet, you will find many black dresses, shirts, skirts, and even pants. That's because I love the color black for the simple reason I believe that it makes people look slimmer--so why not fill my closet with the color that does it's magic :)

Hence, my purpose for the dresses from Wet Seal


1) Tank Self Tie Dress - $24.50 - Simple, but I love the cute pattern. 2) Tube Bow Maxi Dress - $29.50 - Since last summer, I have loved Maxi dresses! 3) Sweetheart Chambray Dress - $24.50 - Something gorgeous to wear for a night out on the town with my girls! 4) One Shoulder Ruffle Dress - $29.50 - Cute and Sassy.

7.14.2011

baci's book club - June 2011 - Something Borrowed

It's that time again - baci's book club time!!!


This month we read and discussed Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, which, according to Emily Giffin's site "tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl - until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancé". It only gets more dramatic from there!

We also dished about the movie, starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, for those of us that saw it :o)

WARNING, the following discussions may act as a Spoiler!!

All in all, everyone LOVED the book! It was a huge hit compared to our last Emily Giffin read, Love the One You're With. Something Borrowed is the perfect summer beach read - not too intense, but filled with just enough drama to keep you entertained.

You'll constantly be pulled back and forth about who you want Dex (Darcy's fiancé) to end up with at the end of the book. You'll also end up screaming at Rachel to, excuse my language here, grow some balls!! There isn't a minute that goes by, starting from before she introduces Dex, her dream man, to Darcy, her nightmarish best friend, when she couldn't have simply given in to the obvious chemistry between her and Dex. Listen, ladies, if you feel it and he feels it, it doesn't matter that "a girl like you doesn't belong with a guy like him". In the end, love is love and it doesn't matter if you're polar opposites ;o) Alas, as all of us in book club realized. . . there wouldn't be a book if Rachel hadn't been a wimp for so long - lol!

Throughout the book Rachel and Dex are overly concerned with what other people will think. They refuse to realize that if Dex doesn't break it off with Darcy, their lives are only going to get more uncomfortable as Rachel stands next to Darcy on her and Dex's wedding day. AWKWARD!

In the end, we were all secretly pleased that Dex chose Darcy. . . that is until Dex comes back around and chooses Rachel!! While reading, we all said we squealed with delight when Dex shows up at Rachel's apartment :o)

It's so lovely to see Rachel grow throughout the book and realize that she is important and that she does deserve to be happy. Every woman needs to take something from that!

I'll say it again, we all loved the book - the main characters were wonderful to see interacting with one another and the supporting characters, Marcus, Ethan and Hillary, just added an awesome bonus to the book as a whole!


Now, moving on to the movie :o) Once again, everyone loved it! The movie follows the book loosely, with the major parts in tact and just a few differences:

1) There's no Hillary
2) Ethan isn't living in London (until much later in the movie)
3) Ethan takes on Hillary's role, as well as his own
4) You never meet any of Darcy or Rachel's old friends or family
5) You do, however, get to meet Dex's family and they make his decision between Darcy and Rachel very difficult

That all may seem like a lot, but I promise it still takes on the book's story very well. It also helps that Colin Egglesfield (Dex) is HANDSOME!! So go see it - we would all totally recommend it :o)

BONUS: During the credits, there is an extra scene that alludes to a sequel. . . which bring us to one of our next month's reads - Emily Giffin's Something Blue, which follows a pregnant Darcy to London and tells her side of the story. SWOON!!


Our main book choice of the month is Kathryn Stockett's The Help. Once again, we love watching our beloved books turn into movies and this one will be released in August!!


We're set to meet Thursday, July 28th - so get your read on and we'll see you then!

Oh and make sure you didn't miss this week's baci's baking, book club edition! Member Pam made Mini Lime Cheesecakes - so yummy :o)

7.13.2011

Wedding Wednesday | Save Your Wedding Day Feet


An absolute must have on your wedding day and for every wedding planner's day-of kit - BAND-AID Active Friction Block Stick - about $7.00 at your local drugstore and worth every, single penny!!

This little deodorant-looking stick saved not only my feet, but the entire bridal parties' feet AND the bride's feet this past weekend at Katie and Kevin's wedding (photos from the big day coming soon!!).

The Friction Block Stick greases up your feet causing any rubbing parts of your shoes to simply stop rubbing. It is heaven on earth! I recommend putting it on at the beginning of the event before your shoes even get a chance to start rubbing and reapply as you see fit. I carried a stick in my dress pocket (which I think every bridesmaid dress should have, by the way!).

Now if only we had all been smart enough to put cushions in the bottoms of our shoes so the soles of our feet didn't hurt. . . lol!

Wedding Wednesday | "The Biggest Mistakes Brides Make with DJ's"

Your reception DJ - A Big Deal or Not?


I would like to think that the music played at your reception IS important. However, sometimes we get a little too carried away and forget to find out the facts about our DJ.


I ran into an article that is titled “The Biggest Mistakes Brides Make with DJ’s” on www.weddingvendors.com and they have some pretty good suggestions to consider.


1) Not taking first impressions into consideration.

2) Thinking that all DJ’s are the same - Every DJ has their own style, different skill level, different rates, and vary a lot in the “arsenal” which is their musical library - the heart of their versatility.

3) Hiring the cheapest DJ you can find.

4) Not communicating with your DJ - Keep your DJ informed of your plans, your special songs, any changes, your timeline, or anything else he may need to know. Don’t wait until the week or even a month before the big day to start communicating.

5) Not having a written contract.

6) Not making sure your DJ has liability insurance.

7) Taking complete control of the music selection from your DJ.

8) Not making sure the DJ you want is guaranteed to be your DJ - Any time you deal with a big company, make sure you get in writing that the DJ you want is the one that will show up.

9) Not going over back up plans with your DJ.

10) Not hiring a DJ quickly - Don’t go through all the work finding the DJ you want and then procrastinate on booking.


These 10 “common” mistakes may or may not pertain to you, but hopefully it helps the bride-to-be with making her DJ decision :)

7.12.2011

baci's baking - Mini Lime Cheesecakes

This Thursday we'll have another baci's book club post - a week late, but better late than never, right ;o) This week's recipe is from member Pam LaFleur - her Mini Lime Cheesecakes were a huge hit at the last meeting!

Mini Lime Cheesecakes

6 Keibler ready-made graham cracker pie crusts (mini-size) (if you don’t want those however, you can just grind up graham crackers and spoon into foil cupcake liners - or – grind the graham crackers, add some melted butter and bake after they are spooned and flattened into the foil cupcake liners 350 degrees for around 4 to 5 minutes or so)
1 – 8oz bar of cream cheese (I prefer Philidelphia)
3 T. Lime Curd (found in the Jelly section of the grocery store)
½ cup sugar

1) Mix all three ingredients together with a mixer until just blended.
2) Spoon over your crust.
3) Garnish with Redi Whip or Cool Whip and lime wedges (both optional)

Above quantities make 6 mini lime cheesecakes – easily doubled/tripled.

Seriously, a tasty dessert could not get any easier!! Enjoy!!

7.11.2011

Sam + Lexy's Invitation Featured on Oh Lovely Day!


Another incredibly exciting moment happened for baci this past Friday, I was lucky enough to write a Guest Post, From Inspiration to Invitation, on the breathtakingly beautiful blog, Oh Lovely Day, for the equally lovely Chandra! I featured Sam + Lexy's Bahamian Invitation Suite showing how an inspiration board can be more than just pretty :o) I am so happy to be able to share the creative process that I love so much and to show off some of the fab photos by Brandy J Photography!

7.06.2011

Wedding Wednesday | Who Pays For What?


Do you believe in making up your own rules or going the traditional way? The Knot shows you the breakdown of a traditional wedding coverage for who pays for what.


Now, don’t get too frustrated if you have never heard any of this before :)


But first this is what they suggest, “Sit down with pencil, paper, and calculator and figure out what you really want and can afford. Keep in mind that informal weddings are usually smaller (and therefore cheaper), and formal weddings tend to be larger (and therefore more expensive).”



Ceremony

Bride and family pay for church or synagogue, sexton, organist, etc.

Groom and family pay for marriage license and officiant's fee.


Clothes

Bride and family pay for bride's dress, veil, accessories, and trousseau (read: lingerie and honeymoon clothes).

Groom and family pay for groom's outfit.

All attendants pay for their own clothing (including shoes).


Flowers

Bride and family pay for arrangements for church (including huppah if a Jewish wedding ceremony) and reception, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls.

Groom and family pay for bride's bouquet and going-away corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers.


Honeymoon

Groom and family pay for complete honeymoon.


Photography

Bride and family pay for all wedding photos and video.


Prewedding Parties

Bride or groom's family plans and hosts engagement party; if there is more than one, bride's family hosts the first one.

Groom's family plans and hosts the rehearsal dinner.

Bride plans and hosts bridesmaids' luncheon. Groom hosts and plans bachelors' dinner.

Maid of honor and bridesmaids host shower.

Best man and ushers host bachelor party.

Friends may throw additional engagement parties or showers.


Reception

Bride and family pay for all professional services, including food, drink, decorations, and music.


Rings

Bride and/or her family pay for groom's ring.

Groom and/or his family pay for both of the bride's rings.


Stationery

Bride and family pay for invitations, announcements, and wedding programs.


Transportation

Bride and family pay for wedding transportation of bridal party to and from ceremony and reception.

7.04.2011

Handpicked - Special Edition - 4th of July

July 4th, 2011


SPECIAL EDITION

coming from the desk of Jami Guilford


I am here to share with you my nine basic essentials for the 4th of July from overstock.com



1) Coleman 36-Quart Blue Cooler - $38.49 - What's more important than a cooler to store drinks and food in :)

2) La Blanca Women's Tribal Print Bandini Bathing Suit - $42.99

3) Kodak EasyShare - $75.99 - Cameras are my best friends.

4) XOXO Edge Leopard Sunglasses - $32

5) Franklin Sports Elite Volleyball Set - $94.99 - My family LOVES to play volleyball in the summer, so this is a need!

6) Phat Tommy Soft Wide Handwoven Mocha Hammock - $84.99

7) RoadTrip Grill with Stand - $214.99 - Really, any grill would do for me :)

8) Grand Trunk Parasheet Beach Blanket - $37.99

9) Anchor Hocking 9-Piece Measure Baking Set - $39.99 - This is so I can make an amazing dessert to take to my family get together!


Enjoy!! Happy 4th of July Everyone!!!

7.01.2011

My Current Wish List - Anthropologie

I've recently discovered Anthropologie---yes, I have heard of it before but wasn't exactly certain on what it was. And now I love EVERY article of clothing they have. Just so your all aware, it was hard to just pick FOUR items this week :)

1) Cirque A-Line - $148 - Absolutely stunning! Even in black and white it looks summery with that splash of yellow. 2) Antiquarian Blouse - $78 - This blouse would look beautiful with a pair of white shorts...which I happen to own-ha :) 3) Fanning Triangles Dress - $168 -This dress is just like the first one I picked out, absolutely stunning! 4) Ternary Strap Tank - $38 - I could wear this with a pair of jeans for a casual night out with my fiance!

I think I might have found my 2nd love :) Ha