{Friday's Fancies} Memorial Day 2013

The long weekend is mere hours away, y'all!

We will be spending part of MDW at the lake house (where we were married) with family and friends, and the other part will likely be spent around the house, working in the yard and catching up on movies when we need a break from the heat.

My ideal summer outfit is lightweight and free from fuss, yet still makes me feel put together (since humidity turns me into a ragamuffin within). Topped with a high pony and sweatproof makeup, this look calls for a cold brew and some fresh fruit by the water.

Top // Belt // Shorts // Sandals
Sunnies // Tote // Earrings // Watch

...And sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen. (Pale girl buzz kill.)

Hope y'all are safe and have a wonderful holiday weekend! 

What are you up to this weekend?

Just for fun, check out my Fancies post from last Memorial Weekend.

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Details

Some brides dream of their wedding dress for ages. I honestly didn't think too much about it until I was engaged, but I pretty quickly honed in on what I wanted: simple silhouette, sweetheart neckline, modern lace, and comfortable. I didn't want anything too fussy that would require extensive undergarments. 

M's mom and two sisters came with me to shop, and it was so helpful to have them with me. Lucky for me, I fell for the second dress I tried on. I tried on one more, just to say I tried a Wang, but I was sold already. And once the dress was locked in, everything else fell right into place...

The dress came with an attached soft white ribbon belt, but I was not a fan. I looked at several sashes, balking at the price of what was essentially ribbon with some sparklies on it. (I swear, anything with "wedding" in the title costs at least twice what you'd expect.) My Anthropologie catalog arrived shortly thereafter, and after flipping a few pages, I knew I had found my belt. It was gray, elegant, and priced well. Done and done.

We starting planning our outdoor, fall wedding and wanted the event to feel like an intimate dinner party (for, you know, 180 people). We were graciously offered our venue of choice (a beautiful private lake house where we had spent several peaceful weekends as guests of the family). I knew that my aisle would be a path of stone stairs leading down the backyard descending toward the lake, so flats were an easy decision for me. I opted for TOMS ballet flats in gray linen.

I tend to favor simple, modest accessories, and didn't want to deviate from my usual style for the Big Day. (I like the philosophy of looking like the best version of yourself on your wedding day.) Both my engagement ring and wedding band are gold, so I opted for dainty gold pieces that would compliment the dress and gray pieces. I found both my earrings and bracelet on Etsy, and could hardly wait to sport my new monogram!

In the same vein of sticking with my signature style, I opted to do my own makeup and had my sister-in-law do my hair. Getting ready in my room, listening to The Civil Wars, and visiting with friends as they circulated throughout the day was such a precious way to spend those hours before finally getting to lay my eyes on my groom. The final detail: a spritz of my favorite scent.

There is so much to be said for trusting your gut and making decisions that allow you to feel beautiful and comfortable on your wedding day. Don't feel like you have to keep up with the high-end weddings that pepper Pinterest and bridal magazines. It's unnecessary stress. It's about you and your handsome groom, celebrating your love and pledging to honor one another for life. 

You'll be glowing, I assure you.  

Photos: {1-5} Kim Hayes Photography, {6} Ron Gonzalez (my brother-in-law!)

Dress: Galina

Shoes: TOMS

Belt: Anthropologie

Earrings: Le Petit Ruban {Etsy}

Bracelet: Marinette Jewelry {Etsy}

{More of our wedding details}

The Flowers

DIY Bookshelf Makeover

When decorating on a budget, it's helps to get a little creative and try to make the most of what you already have. We had a perfectly good bookshelf from Ikea that I used to furnish several of my apartments before M and I moved into our home, but the dark color and simple style just didn't work in our den, which is transitioning to an airy, clean cottage feel. (The sheer volume of crap on the shelves, coupled with the eye-sore that is a DVD rack, also wasn't helping.)

I had a vision, I discussed it with M, and we brainstormed exactly how to execute the Bookshelf Makeover Project. [Insert fanfare here.] This was our first DIY together (and definitely the most ambitious DIY I've attempted). So here goes...!

Before

Step 1: Prime*

We applied one full coat of Aqua Lock primer, which we had leftover from repainting the many stained moldings of our 1930 bungalow. We used small rollers, and went back over the most visible areas with a quick second coat to provide more coverage. We let this dry for a few hours.

Step 2: Paint

We also scored by finding an almost-full quart of flat white interior paint in our storage closet from the previous owner, which was just enough for this project. We used small rollers to apply a solid coat over the entire bookshelf, and let it dry overnight.

Step 3: Scuff

We wanted to soften up the harsh lines of this Swedish beast, so we took a medium grit sanding block to the edges to give it some rustic wear. (M was much better than I at this step.) This part creates a surprising amount of dust, so I'd recommend covering your space with a drop cloth to make clean up easier.

Step 4: Clear Coat

I didn't actually anticipate doing this step because we really wanted to keep the finish pretty matte and figured the paint alone was fine. But we quickly learned that primer + paint does not a hearty surface make. I researched some recommendations online and decided to go with a poly sealer. (I used Rust-Oleum's Satin Polyurethane Varnish.) I applied one solid coat with a natural bristle brush and let it cure overnight. This step made a huge difference, and the bookshelf is now quite durable. (Trust me, I tried to scratch it.) 

Step 5: Wallpaper Shelf Backing

Oh, wallpaper. The directions make it seem so simple. It is, in theory, but the mess is something else. We purchased a large piece of plywood at the hardware store and had them cut us two panels to fit the upper and lower half of the shelf. (We probably would have gone with a single sheet, but we couldn't fit it in our car. Seriously, giant bookshelf.) If I did it over again, I'd probably prep the plywood with either a wallpaper primer or just a coat of the paint primer, but, again, we weren't going for perfect, so on went the wallpaper in two strips apiece. (We lucked out that the dimensions and pattern lined up nicely, so it was a lot simpler than it could have been.) We let it dry overnight, and used some heavy books to anchor down a few stubborn seams.

Step 6: Mount Backing to Bookshelf

I actually can't give too much detail on this step because M surprised me when I came home from work the next day, and already had it assembled and the mess cleaned up! But I do know that he used plywood screws to secure the boards in place, and did so with the bookshelf laying on its front.  

After

I'm so, so pleased with how well it came out. It's just as we imagined it...better, really. Finding the perfect wallpaper at our local hardware store was a huge bonus. I figured that would be the bear and considered just using fabric. But the wallpaper looks so polished and compliments our wall color perfectly! I revisited the styling, got rid of some of the bulk, and tried to keep it functional while still contributing to the overall feel of the space.

I hope this was helpful and inspires you to tackle some projects that you've been contimplating. As intimidating as some of these DIYs may seem, it's worth taking a stab at it, especially if you can give yourself some grace in the process (like when you're covered in paint dust and wallpaper glue, sassing your sweet husband in a fit of tiredness) and be willing to learn from the endeavor. 

Apologies for the iffy photos. I was exhausted when most of them were snapped, but you get the gist.

* We probably should have sanded the bookshelf first, but I wasn't striving for perfection and opted to for-go this step. (If you're working with a significant piece of furniture--say, one that weighs over 15 pounds and costs more than $150--sand it first. There are lots of DIYs out there that cover this step.)

Audrey Sketch for the Nightstand

M and I moved into our master bedroom just a few months ago (we lived in the guest room after the wedding, pending his bed's transport from his prior residence), so that room is coming together a little more slowly than others. But we really enjoy taking the time to find cool pieces at the right price, so it's a process we're willing to endure. We decided to go with an Old Hollywood feel, while trying to keep it balanced for both him and her. (We're quite fortunate that we have similar taste and that we're drawn to the same aesthetic.)

We recently purchased the bedside tables we'd been eyeing for a while (M got Pier 1's Hayworth Chest, and I got the matching nightstand.) Once we agreed that mixing up the pieces was a good call (M is big on symmetry so this took some time to grow on him), it was time to start the styling process. We're still far from done, but we already had our lamps on hand (having purchased them months before during a fortuitous trip to Home Goods), and I already had an idea in my mind for what mine would look like. I knew succulents were involved, and really hoped I could find an awesome sketch or personal art piece to incorporate. 

So I hit up Etsy and very quickly landed on the perfect piece: a charcoal sketch of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I don't ever want to go overboard with kitsch, but I just heart Ms. Hepburn, and this movie makes me really happy. The moment captured, in particular, is one of my favorites. Lovely gal, all alone in the wee hours of the morning, just her and her city...and a donut and coffee. Good stuff.

I'm not a fan of over-doing functional spaces (such as a nightstand), but I'm sure I'll add some more elements over time. (A simple, modern catch-all might be a nice addition.) For M's chest, we're keeping it pretty simple for now with a classic alarm clock (which for the life of us we can't figure out how to use for the alarm, thank you, Pottery Barn!) and a rustic pillar candle.

What are your nightstand must-haves?

Wedding Wednesday: The Flowers

Remember how I got married six months ago and promised to post photos? Yeah, it's about time to make good on that promise. Since there are so many details to share, and we took so much care in picking elements that were thoughtful and budget-friendly, I'm going to share some snippets of our Big Day in installments.

Today, we talk flowers. The flowers were a big deal to me because I love, love, love beautiful blooms, but I also didn't want to spend a gazillion dollars on something that would perish shortly after. It just didn't make sense. So I splurged on just a few of them (literally, like four flowers), and went spend-savvy on the rest.

Gardenias are a treasured flower in our family. (They were Mom's favorites.) This was my main floral splurge. I got a few blooms to incorporate into my (insane gorge) bouquet, and one to wear in my hair. (I wore my hair down for my bridals, and in a romantic up-do for the wedding, so I got the best of both worlds. I am a big fan of doing this if you're torn as far as hair style.)

Oh, my bouquet. It was silly how pretty this thing was. Even though I commissioned it, I can't even begin to take credit for the floral genius. I said, "Let's do white, lots of texture, some gray, gardenias, hydrangeas (but not too many!), fressia, and wrap it in this here burlap." The dried bouquet now sits on our bookshelf, and it's still pretty as all get out. (We made a small toss bouquet from our bulk flowers, so we still got to honor the single ladies and I got to keep this lovely.) 

So, you want to know where I scored this beauty? Central Market. That's right, a grocery story. A bougie grocery store, yes, but nevertheless, a supermarket. I had them do the flowers for my Mom's wedding, and they blew me away, so they were my absolute first choice for the big spend items (bridal bouquet, M's bout) and the few exotics we got (gardenias, orchids for the cake). I highly recommend considering CM if you are fortunate enough to have one in your neighborhood, and don't hesitate to take lots of reference images. (And not just for flowers. Let them get a feel for the whole vibe of your special event. You're in the details, so let them see that and be inspired.)

My bouquet was wrapped with burlap to compliment the romantic, rustic feel of our wedding, and I layered on that a Christening bonnet that was given to a dear friend of mine in NJ by my mother when said friend was a baby. (She held on to it all this time, as my mom told her that the bonnet could later be used around her wedding bouquet. My friend saw fit to give this precious gift to me as a shower present. I'm seriously tearing up again just thinking about it.) And the final flourish was the breast cancer awareness pin that my dear mother had carried pinned to her own bridal bouquet in June 2008. 

 M made the elegant choice of freesia for his boutonniere. (The man's got taste, let me just say.) Central Market once again delivered more than we expected. It was so handsome and complimented his gray Wang suit beautifully.

We spent about the same amount on our "special" blooms as we did for all the other flowers for the wedding, which I share more to speak to the value of getting flowers in bulk and asking (very, very nicely) for your insanely talented friends to make them look amazing. We bought many, many buckets of flowers from Costco, and they were fantastic to work with. We stuck with white hydrangeas, white stock, and baby's breath. (That's right, I'm bringing back baby's breath, y'all!) The gal at Costco even made sure to hand-pick our lot before we picked them up to ensure we had the prettiest flowers, and that they were all as pure white as they had available.  

Our gorgeous bridesmaids carried bouquets of hydrangeas, stock and BB, all wrapped with burlap and prepped the morning of. (These girls were seriously like floral ninjas, you guys. The bouquets were so, so lovely, and I know it was not an easy task. I really should have bought them more champagne...)

The groomsmen wore boutonnieres made of burlap, which I found from an awesome seller on Etsy. (There will be a lot of shout outs to Etsy sellers in the series, let me just tell you that now.) They were one less live thing to worry about, and brought a sweet rustic touch to the black Vera Wang suits they sported. Plus, it was a neat keepsake. (I even ordered an extra for M to have.)

The flower girls. My very own little pixies. So dang cute. For them, we purchased a dozen white roses from Costco. The floral ninjas decorated their basket with BB before dropping in the petals, and it was such a simple, inexpensive way to pave the way for my walk down the isle.

You'll see more flowers pop up as I share details on the tablescape and cake, etc. Mmmm, cake. 

Hope y'all enjoyed this first installment, and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions! I had such a blast planning this event with M, and would be happy to offer whatever advice or references I can.

All photos by: Kim Hayes Photography (DFW)

Bridal bouquet and groom's boutinerre: Central Market Floral Department (Fort Worth)

Bulk flowers: Costco Floral Department (Fort Worth)

Location: Private residence in Grandbury, TX

If you feel moved to Pin any of these images, please be so kind as to link back to this site, or at the very least credit Kim Hayes for the photography. She's so talented and these images should carry her with them.