baci designs | Laurinda's Baby Shower {Akron, Ohio}

When I was asked by mom, Carolyn, and sister-in-law, Lexy, to be a part of our Laurinda's Baby Shower (yay for another addition to baci's babies!!), I was thrilled - the Moore clan has always been like family to Ilario and I so to be included was very touching.

Carolyn, Lexy and I sat down and decided that a Tea Party Brunch would be just the perfect shower to host for Laurinda!  I started by creating the delicate stationery suite in soft pinks, greens and yellows - using thick white felt stock, girly fonts and feminine patterns.

The menus got a little extra touch with floral hole punches to decorate the corners.

I was lucky to be planning with such amazing ladies - Carolyn has a stash of green depression glass that couldn't have been more perfect for our tea party!!  The light appetizers - cucumber sandwiches, deviled eggs, cheese and crackers - were absolutely delightful.

I must say the dessert table was my favorite :o)  Carolyn made lemon squares, Lexy made her infamous madeleines and I baked adorable little tea pot sugar cookies and fresh fruit tartlets!  Everything was unbelievably delicious!!

The table set-up was beautiful with a lace table cloth, pink toile runner, green depression glass, gingham napkins, pink vases with wheat grass and finished off with the menus and place card/favor tea cup planters!

I couldn't have asked to be a part of something so special with such wonderful ladies - Lexy, Laurinda, Carolyn and I with the "One Moore Baby" tree :o)

{All Images by Amanda, Lexy and Laurinda}

Wedding Wednesday | Lisa + Mike's Custom Wedding Stationery {Akron, Ohio }

I'm thrilled to be able to share this beautiful invitation suite with you all today!!  Mike and Lisa are dear friends of ours so I was beyond excited when they asked me to create their wedding stationery :o)  We started off by designing a uniquely beautiful save the date postcard - simple and sweet on cream felt stock, printed in house with burgundy and peach ink. {Images by Caroline Hardoby}

For Mike and Lisa's wedding invitation suite - Lisa fell in love with the handmade seeded paper (how could you not?!?!)!  We continued the same design and color scheme from the save the date to create a beautiful framed suite - I am so in love with the way it all turned out!!  Printed in-house and finished off with brown bag envelopes and wrapped in a burgundy satin ribbon tied with a"plant me" tag - the suite was the perfect sneak peek into their big day :o)

I love it when couples want to continue the look of their stationery into the reception!!  Mike and Lisa not only did escort cards, but table names and favors as well!

The escort cards are quite possibly my favorite things I've ever worked on - printed with the guest's name on the outside and hand sealed with wax (in different colors to denote the guest's meal choice), the card opens up to reveal the table name.  Love, love, love them!!

The tables were named after Mike and Lisa's favorite things - from television shows to sports teams - it was a wonderful way for guests to learn a little bit more about the bride and groom :o)  We took the design one step beyond basic folded cards and added a strip of satin ribbon.

Jamie of Jamie Jansen Photography was kind enough to share some images of the reception stationery with us - from the escort cards and the table names to the favor cards, which had a sweet note letting guests know a donation was being made in their honor to the Children's Tumor Foundation - a charity near and dear to the couple's heart.

baci's baking | Snickers Caramel Popcorn

Did your mouth just water from the words, Snickers Caramel Popcorn, because it should have!! This recipe is easy and great for any big event because it makes plenty!!

Enjoy my journey making Snicker Caramel Popcorn (It actually called for Twix, but I substituted Snickers instead), original recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod!

This is my Snickers Caramel Popcorn, yummy!!!

All the ingredients you will need. 

Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. Pour caramel in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat. Gently stir until all of the popcorn is covered.

Place popcorn on two large shallow baking sheets and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for about an hour. Remove popcorn from oven and let cool completely.

Break popcorn into pieces and mix in chopped Snickers or Twix candy bars. Drizzle popcorn with melted chocolate. Let the popcorn sit until chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

The Final Product!!!

Snickers (or Twix) Carmel Popcorn
Original Recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod
{Printer-friendly Link}

Ingredients

5 quarts plain air popped popcorn

1 cup butter

2 cups light brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

20 "fun size" Snickers or Twix candy bars, chopped

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted-to drizzle over popcorn

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.

2) In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. Pour caramel in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat. Gently stir until all of the popcorn is covered.

3) Place popcorn on two large shallow baking sheets and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for about an hour. Remove popcorn from oven and let cool completely.

4) Break popcorn into pieces and mix in chopped Twix candy bars. Drizzle popcorn with melted chocolate. Let the popcorn sit until chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Handpicked | Cowgirl Boots

Happy Memorial Day!!!

As summer is FAST approaching, my inner country girl is coming out, which means a new pair of cowboy boots :) I love to dress up my summer dresses with a cute pair of boots.

1) Ariat Women's Heritage Western R Toe Boot from Country Outfitter - $139.95 - I love the distressed look!!
2) Justin Women's Age Bark Boot from Country Outfitter - $72.95 - I like the pink in these boots!!
3) Corral Ladies Brown with Chocolate from Cavender's - $242.99
4) Justin from Cavender's - $112.49 - I am more of a simple kind of gal, so these boots fit perfectly!
5) Corral Ladies Black from Cavender's - 359.99 - If you like a little bit of glam, you will love these black boots!!
6) Boulet from Sheplers - $239.99 - I again love this color scheme!!
7) Old West Distressed from Sheplers - $139.99 - These remind me of the one's my mom used to own that I would walk around in for hours!!
8) Justin Aqua Gypsy Boots from Sheplers - $84.99
9) Tony Lama from Sheplers - $199.99

Sunday Funday, #34

{Kristin Banta Events via Lovebird Productions}

I love this idea - paper cranes decorating your reception venue, especially coupled with the perfect uplighting!  It's magical :o)  For more from this beautiful event, check out the full album on Kristin Banta Events' Facebook Page!

True Brides {Dan + Laura}

True Bride, Laura, is here to tell us all about her wedding experience. I got the opportunity to know Laura through college and she is such a wonderful lady and I wish her so much happiness!! Laura and Dan are getting married May 26th, 2012 (TOMORROW!!) in Redford, Michigan. Their beautiful colors are pink and green!!

Engagement Questions

What was one of the first things (wedding-wise) you did when you got engaged?

The first thing we did was pick our bridal party and ask each person to be a part of our big day!

Did you know the engagement was coming or were you surprised?

I was very much surprised about the engagement, we had talked about it and he had said once he got his coaching check, well when we went out for our 2 year anniversary I knew he hadn’t been paid, or so I thought. He proposed in the parking lot of the restaurant after a romantic dinner.

The Lovely Dan and Laura

Wedding Questions

One thing you were worried about when planning your wedding?

Finding a hall to have the reception at that would be affordable.

What was the easiest vendor to book?

The church

What was the hardest vendor to book?

Probably the photographer. I wanted to find someone I was comfortable with and someone who takes great pictures. I love the photographer we picked and I can’t wait to see her pictures of our wedding.

How was wedding dress shopping?

Wedding dress shopping was fun! I went out 3 times and found my dress at the shop I was just going to for fun because they gave me an envelope at a bridal show when I made an appointment with them. In the envelope was prizes, one of which could’ve been a free dress. I didn’t get the free dress but I got $150 dollars off the dress that I ended up falling in love with it.

What’s been the most stressful part about the wedding?

The guest list! We both have huge extended families that were hard to cut down.

What’s been the best part about the wedding?

Planning all the little details! I love weddings and have had a blast planning mine!

Was choosing your wedding party hard or easy?

Choosing the wedding party was really easy. I have my best friend from college, Jordan, as my Matron of Honor, my best friend from high school as my maid of honor and my 2 little sisters as bridesmaids. Dan is having his old high school football coach and good friend as his Best Man, his brother, and 2 other good friends as groomsmen. Our flower girl is our Best Man's little girl, Ayla. Our ring bearer is Dan’s nephew Ryan and we have 2 Junior bridesmaids, my cousin, Katie, and his niece, Hailey.

I also have my good friend, Ashley, as my right hand woman and wedding coordinator, she has been a God send!

Have things gotten any easier as the wedding day approaches?

Things have been pretty easy all throughout the process! I have a really awesome support group and lots of helping hands.

Congratulations, Dan and Laura - we wish you all the best for tomorrow!!

Our Home, Re-invasion | Day Five - baci's Studio

The day you've all been waiting for (I might be exaggerating just a bit here, lol!) is finally here - the unveiling of baci's studio!!  It isn't 100% finished, but really what room ever really is :o)  Let's get right into the kaleidoscope of colors (with a focus on olive, red and dark purple) with the pair of slipcovered Pier One chairs I have in the room - they are not only cute, but comfortable, too!  One thing I'd love to buy is a small red table for in between the chairs to put bridal magazines on.

Normally, my desk is full of things and I found that when I needed to pack up boxes to ship out to clients I didn't have the space so I bought this high-top desk with drawers to hold all of my packaging supplies and it's ended up serving a dual purpose as the intern desk, too!

The two frames on the desk will eventually be hung, but I'm waiting to finish one more before doing so.  The one on the left is a framed love note written on a calendar from July 1975 - we found it inside one of the pockets doors when we moved in.  It's so sweet that we choose to frame it - Ilario sometimes says to me, "Thanks, Carla, for being my wife," because that's what it says :o)  He's just so funny, isn't he?  Lol!  We turned the frame on the right into a bulletin board for all the sweet notes and announcements I receive from clients - it's a great boost of confidence on those "why do I do this again?" days.

I bought the vintage looking card catalog organizer at Hobby Lobby and I not only use it for organization on a regular basis, but I've used it to display paper beauties at shows, too!  The chair is from our kitchen table and I've been on the lookout to replace it with a cute stool. . . if you find one, let me know :o)

My gorgeous Olive Manna (LOVE that shop!) baskets hold more packaging supplies. . .

. . . and this Hobby Lobby basket with a lid hides extra reams of basic printer paper.

Also from Hobby Lobby (I may have a slight addiction), this metal bin holds things on it's way to the shredding station. . .

. . . and this little beauty from the Target gardening department holds everything that can be recycled (which is a lot considering paper is our business).

When you enter into the office from the living room, the first thing you see is this amazing vintage poster for a local charity softball game that we purchased at a Wine & Wishes Benefit a few years back - we framed it and I fell even more in love :o)

I found the perfect red chair at EuroLife Furniture in Columbus - it adds just the right pop of color!  I keep Carl handy at all times, right at my feet :o)

Continuing with my other addiction:  Ikea - we bought several bookcases that can be converted into corner units and/or cabinets.  They have truly been amazing - I'm able to display all sorts of prettiness like past invitation suites and hide away all the things that aren't so attractive like files and office supplies.  Oh, and yes, I organize my books by color - I have a problem, people!!

A close-up of a shelf's goodness - one of our favorite engagement photos taken in downtown Charlotte by the lovely Brandy J Photography, the stationery suite from our recent 1970's Style Chevron Shoot, a vintage clock from Hobby Lobby and my favorite - a painting of Morris by my friend Alaina.

Another vintage typewriter, this time a find by my grandma (it made an appearance at the J Style Bridal Event) and two more of my favorite invitation suites - one from Abby and Bri's Birthday, as well as the invite from the Bright Star Shoot with Arielle Doneson Photography (being published in a VERY big blog soon - squuuueallllll!!).

A few cute mirrors I picked up at Hobby Lobby - originally intended for the living room and we ended up loving them in here instead :o)

Another bookshelf/cabinet - this one displays pretty boxes (can you believe I found these at WalMart?) full of extra envelopes, assembly pieces, shirley | edith cards and craft supplies.  It's also home to a few Abby Rose Gift Sets, sample paper books and some mementos from Katie and Kevin's wedding last July.

Last, but not least - organization heaven - two Ikea ALEX Drawer Units side-by-side with Martha Stewart Adhesive Bookplates to dress them up a bit.  These babies are full of so much paper that it would make normal people cry!  Topped with a handy dandy scanner so I can send clients sketches, my See Jane Work business card organizer (being a stationery designer, I just can't throw them away!), Target folders and holders, as well as my heavy duty paper cutter - I love these drawers :o)

Sadly, it's come to an end - hopefully we'll have the basement up and running by the end of the summer so I can show you all the magical things we've done down there (a girl can dream, right?)!

Any questions about where I got anything or input on how I should have done something?  I'd love to hear it - we love comments and emails (info@bacidesigner.com)!!  Thanks for joining us on our Home Re-invasion Tour :o)