Black Friday? What Black Friday?

I've never been the one that wakes up at 4 AM to go shop Black Friday deals. It must be my mom's fault, because she never wanted to partake in the post Thanksgiving deal finding. But why participate in Black Friday when you have the internet?! Most internet retailers are now offering deals over the weekend, as well as on Monday, which has been dubbed "Cyber Monday".

These are just a few of the stores offering deals online:

Oh Amazon.com. It's a shopper's heaven. You can find just about anything, and it's usually at a lower price than you will find in stores. Plus, they're having Black Friday AND Cyber Monday deals. I got a $400 Garmin last year for $199...amazing, right? And they have that great Wish List feature, so you can tell your family, and make them do it too!

And of course Overstock.com is having deals for this weekend as well!

I recently found the yokomono Studio on a blog, and they have some great bags and home goods! Everything is 20% off for this weekend! Here is the Multi Pockets Pouch that I'm loving...

Ann Taylor Loft is having a special Style Steals deal lasting until Sunday. Sweaters and jeans are all under $29!

I know these are just a few of the stores offering deals, and there are a ton more online! However, after seeing some of the deals at clothing stores, I just might have to stop in to try some things on. Other than that, all of my shopping will be done online this year! What other stores are offering great deals online? Did anyone hit the stores for Black Friday this year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to say....

I'll be back to regular posting tomorrow, with the start of the Friday's Finds Gift Series! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

It's Been 6 Months!

I just realized that today marks 6 months since my husband, Schuyler, and I were married! It's been a wonderful 6 months, and the time has FLOWN by! From making our house into a home, changing to the same last name, and a complete 360 change in my career path, it's been an amazing start to our life together. I just wanted to mark this little milestone in our new life together and share a few of my favorite wedding photos!

All photos by CvB Photography

I wish we had more fun photos of the two of us, but thanks to Florida weather, we were rained out of our 3 hours of shooting time! You can see more details from our wedding in some of my very first blog posts. I can't wait for what else is in store for us!

Add Some Fun to Your Photos With Smitten Sticks!

After yesterday's post about photo and smile booths, I thought I would continue it a little by sharing these amazing Smitten Sticks!

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are handmade paper expressions, mustaches and the like, mounted on a stick for easy handholding. They’re simple, playful and perfect for creating those fun moments just begging to be captured, whether it’s during a wedding, birthday party or any other celebration rife with photo ops.

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are the collaboration of Edyta, a wedding photographer, and Vana of Le Papier Studio. Edyta was forever on the hunt for creative, quirky and clever props for her brides and grooms to incorporate into their wedding photos. It dawned on her that in order to get the quality and aesthetic that she and her clients demand, she’d just have to make them herself! She had the inspiration and Vana was the perfect partner to make her vision come to life. Together they created these great props that are showing up all over weddings and parties!

Photo via Smitten Sticks

You can get your hands on some of these Smitten Sticks by going to their Etsy store and purchasing a Smitten Stick package! And lucky you, Smitten Sticks has teamed up with Southern Weddings Magazine for a giveaway! It ends today at 11PM, and all you have to do is make a comment about what makes you the happiest in life!

Who wants to use some of these Smitten Sticks in their photos?

Start 2010 With a Beautiful Calendar

There are less than 3 months until the new year 2010, and I've been seeing lots of pretty calendars floating around the blogosphere! I thought I would share some of them with you all so you can snatch one up for yourselves before all of the beautiful ones are sold out!

A Little Hut, $26

Egg Press, $16


Linda & Harriet, $30
{This one is my favorite! It's letterpressed and on the reverse side of each month is a post card! How cool is that?!}


Parrott Design Studio, $28



Daisy Princess Paperie, $15-16

A special thanks to Paper Crave for sharing all of these, among all of the other amazing paper goods they find! Plan to start 2010 with a beautiful calendar to keep your wedding planning and life organized! And if you don't end up starting the year organized, at least your wall or desk will look pretty!

Vintage Wedding Accessories

To complete the vintage look for your wedding, the accessories are key. A vintage necklace, earrings, or veil can make all the difference if you're going for a vintage look.

Here are a couple of vintage accessories I've found on Etsy. There are a ton of vintage bridal accessories on Etsy!

These innovative vintage designs by Little White Dresser would be perfect for a Garden Vintage wedding.

Bel Canto Designs has pieces that are exquisite. Rhinestones and pearls are the key elements to these elegant vintage pieces.

I'm loving these necklaces by Mercury Jane Designs. The combination of classic pearls with some vintage dazzle is beautiful!

These veils and hairpieces by C.R. Boggs Designs are the perfect vintage accessory to add to your wedding day ensemble.

Of course there are hundreds more vintage accessories. Search through Etsy for more vintage designs. It's a great place to find the items you need to complete your wedding day look!

Fall is Coming!

Last night, I experienced the first "nice weather" in Florida since April. Now, it wasn't cool, but it was bearable, as I didn't start sweating profusely just from being outside. To me, it was "nice weather".

This must mean that Fall is coming! With the impending arrival of fall, I've started to dream of running outside, bonfires, soup, the scent of cinnamon, jewel tones, grays, cardigans and sweater dresses! Of course I've been gazing at a few of these things, reinforcing the feeling that Fall is coming. I actually have been expecting to walk outside and feel a cool breeze, but for now it's just a breeze. Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

Image found here

Photo via Yankee Candle

Ann Taylor Loft Fall Outfits

J.Crew


All outfits found at Dillards

What are you looking forward too with the coming Fall season?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Friday's Finds: Etsy Shops

I've had a late start to my day, as I had to take family to the airport at 5 AM.

Here are few things I've seen in the past few weeks that I wanted to share with you all!

If you haven't discovered Etsy yet, go there NOW! It's not a physical store, it's an online community of "stores" where creative people sell their handmade items. They have everything from furniture to hair pieces. It's a GREAT place to find items for your wedding!

The Etsy store PaperEclectiques sells unique and custom paper items. She currently has a slew of different items that can be used for so many things! Here a few items that would be perfect in a wedding.

Great as a Table Number! Monogrammed Gift Tags

Blank Tags-great for escort cards! Perfect to use on favors!

Another Etsy store, EmiciBridal, has gorgeous ringbearer pillows. The ones shown below are on sale until Monday! Get one for yourself!

Yellow and Green

Vintage Rhinestone Pin Caramel

FIAZCO makes handmade clutches from high quality fabrics and fine silk. They would be a great gift idea for that special bridesmaid, or for yourself to carry on your wedding day!

Dahlia Collection

Gwyneth Collection

OrangeSlice offers beautiful, innovative pieces of jewelery carved from handmade wood laminate. The designs are incredibly intricate and beautiful. A piece of jewelery from this collection would be great for bridesmaids, your mother, or yourself. Perfect for a vintage wedding.

Cherry Hardwood Teardrop


Asymmetric flower necklace

I hope you find something you like! If you find another Etsy store that you think is amazing, please share it with me! There are SO many Etsy stores out there! It can take hours out of your day!

Have a happy Friday!