The Design Grove: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

Friday's Finds: Organization Goodies

I'm about to begin a weekend project of organizing our study, which is overflowing with wedding magazines, miscellaneous wedding papers, samples of paper, notebooks, and photo paper. About 2 months before the wedding, we had everything nice and organized, but as the day came closer, organization wasn't as important as getting things done in a timely fashion.

Thus, I am faced with the repercussions of post wedding disorganization.

I've been looking at different home office organization pieces, and some are pretty fun! And the different home office designs are just gorgeous! I can't wait to eventually do a full overhaul complete with a new desk, paint, and shelving! But for now, I can stare at the computer screen while wishing.

Some stunning office decors:

Decor Design

Modern Furniture

Molton's Fitted Furniture

Violet Voice

The Inspired Room

I really like the concept of this desk from IKEA. Minimalistic yet functional at the same time.

I'm thinking that I might try to make something like this, from Pottery Barn, on my own.
A more simple version, of course.

This brocade letter tray is amazing...I think I might have to get it.
And it has other matching pieces!

And here are some great wedding organizing goodies!

By Mindy Weiss, found on Bridal Guide
Great for keeping track of RSVPs! Wish I had found this before!

By Vera Bradley; found on Bridal Guide
Great alternative to keeping your wedding papers in a binder!

Hopefully I'll get my space nice and organize this weekend! I don't think it will be nice enough to take a picture of, just because the colors are definitely not coordinated. But one day, I will have an office space of my own to post!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Bridal Shower Fun!

My birthday was yesterday, so in the spirit of celebration, I thought I'd share some party themes with you!

I adore Hostess With the Mostess- they have the greatest party ideas, and best of all, they provide great pictures and tips to go along with them! I'm very much a fan of themed parties, and here are a few that I think are just great! These would be great ideas for bridal showers or bachelorette parties! Or even a party just for fun!

The "Under the Tuscan Sun" bridal shower theme was based on the bride's love of yellow and Italian food. What a great idea to meld her two loves! This is just perfect for a brunch or an afternoon lunch!

The "Retro Chic" theme for this bridal shower has the best colors! I just love blue and brown together! This shower is a very classy way to do a lingerie shower for the bride.

This "Parisian" themed bridal shower can really be used for just about any chic and fun theme. The colors are just perfect for a party!

Do you have an inspiring idea for a bridal shower or party theme? Or have you attended a unique party like one of these? Leave me some comment love and share with me!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Featured Photographer: LifeFocus Photography

The husband and wife team of LifeFocus Photography, Todd and Erica, sent me these adorable engagement photos. The ones with the dogs just melt my heart!

Did you have an engagement session, or are you planning on having one? Would you like to include something meaningful to you, like your pet or a special place? I'd love to know-leave a comment!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Inspiration Board: Eggplant Purple

For this week's inspiration board, I was feeling very drawn to the color combination of eggplant purple with accents of green.
The intensity of the green could vary depending on the style of the wedding. A modern, semi-formal wedding would be great using a bright lime green, or we could see a pale sage green for a classy formal wedding. Plum and green is a great color palette for the fall or winter, however, just making the purple a tad bit lighter could work exquisitely for a spring event!

Row 1: Square centerpiece; Bridesmaid Dress; Wedding Dress; Boutonniere; Cake
Row 2: Bouquet; Tablescape; Invitation
Row 3: Bouquet; Shoes; Candles; Bridesmaids

Has anyone used or considered using a dark color like eggplant in their wedding? What kind of effect do you think it gives a wedding? Leave a comment and let me know!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Thinking About a Wedding Planner?

I spent my weekend at a Wedding Planning Certification course put on by Masterpiece Weddings' Melissa DiStefano. It was amazing and very informative! I learned how to do more to pull together the big day beyond picking out a dress and making programs. I'm glad I did it, and I'm so excited to gain a lot more experience in the wedding field in the near future as time progresses.

Why did I decide to take a wedding planning class? From my own experiences, I believe it is much easier for the bride to enjoy herself when using a wedding planner. I wanted a wedding planner because it would mean less stress for me and my mom on the day of the wedding. But there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes, and this is where having a wedding planner becomes critical.

There are numerous things to consider when planning a wedding, and even more that has to be done while the bride is preparing to walk down the aisle. It is possible to plan everything yourself and have a great DIY wedding, but who is going to tell people when it's the right time to walk down the aisle, or take care of the centerpieces that aren't arranged properly, or ensure the venue is set up exactly right?

While the bridal party is getting hair and makeup done, the ceremony is already being set up. And while the bride and groom are having pictures taken, the cake is being set out and finishing touches for the reception are taking place. The bride certainly can't be monitoring these tasks while she is supposed to be enjoying her day! Also, the responsibility shouldn't fall to parents or extended family because they're supposed to enjoy the day too.

To me, it's logical to have help with your wedding- someone who understands your vision and knows how to put it together efficiently- and a wedding planner is the perfect person to take on this role.

Cost is usually the most deterring factor when brides consider hiring a wedding planner, but there are planners who offer a variety of packages to suit every bride's budget. For example, I planned the majority of my wedding, but I hired a planner to help me coordinate the specifics and details of the actual wedding day. As a bride, this was what I wanted so that I could maintain my sanity and enjoy the best day of my life!

I know that as a wedding planner, my sole focus will be on keeping the bride happy and making sure she looks back on her wedding day and remembers all of the good things about that day, without having to fret that all the details she worked so hard to plan actually come together!

For some more information about wedding planners, take a look at this OneWed article- it's a great resource!

Did you use a wedding planner for your wedding? Are you on the fence about hiring one? What are your experiences with wedding planners? Please share in the comments!

Health and Fitness: Need to Start a Program?

I try to do a health and fitness post at the beginning of the week to get myself and readers motivated for the week!

Here are some tips from WeightLadder on how to get started with a new fitness program. These tips could apply to just general life goals, not just health/fitness goals!

1. Write your goals out. If you're trying to lose some inches before looking for wedding dresses, give yourself a goal. It's recommended to be SMART about the goal. Be SPECIFIC, rather than broad. Have a MEASURABLE goal instead of something open ended. Make sure it is ACTION-based. Having something that is REALISTIC makes it more attainable than a dream. Be sure the goal is TIME ORIENTED so you get it done in a specific amount of time.

2. Ask Questions. Take a look at your lifestyle and figure out what problems may arise that would prevent you from reaching your goal. Determine what needs to be worked around and what can be eliminated all together.

3. Develop a Plan. Have a plan for how you will attain the goal. This could involve having a schedule for going to gym, or having a grocery list filled with healthy items for the week. Know what you are going to be doing before you start on achieving your goal, or else you will get lost along the way.

4. Commit to a Journal. This may or may not work for everyone. It depends on the type of person you are. A good resource would be a food diary. There are some good ones online, some are free and some you have to pay a monthly fee to use. There are even programs that you can get for your phone that will tell you the nutritional information of foods. If you want, you can also keep a written journal of your progress, how you feel, and what you do to take steps towards your goal. It's completely up to you. Basically, just try to stay accountable.

5. Begin Your Goal Now. Start trying to achieve your goal now! No more "Oh well I'll start tomorrow," or "I'll start after this party this weekend." Make the decision and start right away!

I hope these tips will inspire you to get started towards whatever goal it may be that you've chosen! Thanks to Weight Ladder for these tips!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Friday's Finds: Beach Getaway

I'm trying to plan a weekend getaway for a weekend in August, since my birthday is next week and my husband's is the week after. I'm a strong believer that sometimes you just have to get out of town to relax. We're lucky enough to live 45 minutes to an hour away from the gorgeous West coast beaches of Florida, so it's really just a matter of finding a place that isn't booked and will let us bring our dog!

Well, all of my searching for beach cottages has put me in the traveling mood. I've come across some different items that reminded me of traveling, and just so happen to be gorgeous as well. And they also cause me to dream about living the life of a chic jet-setter.

Jane Marvel
Is it awful that I want to buy this today to have it in time for our getaway?

Wow. Really cute "On Holiday" bags from the Brandy J Collection.
And the outfits are just smashing as well.

When traveling, I like to be comfortable, and I dress according to where I'm going. A sundress usually works for me if I'm going somewhere tropical in the summer. If I'm going on a plane, I try to wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. It was cute how nearly everyone on the plane to Punta Cana (where we went for our honeymoon) was wearing a sundress or a maxi dress.

*Maxi dress from Nordstrom ; Strapless dress from Victoria's Secret

At the beach, I like light and airy outfits that are of course comfortable. Linen and cotton are perfect for beach outfits. I try to bring outfits that could easily be worn during the day and then at night by only changing the accessories. Maxi dresses are nice, but they're always so expensive, so the ones on this post are on sale for a good price!