I get it from my Mama.

My mother married her soul mate. 

Kevin & Karen - The Happy Couple

This wedding, 13 years in the making, was a DIY phenomenon. Four fun filled days of food and family, she really out did herself. 

They rented a compound on St. Simons Island, Georgia with 2 houses and a ton of land. From the decor to the food, she did it all. Yes, I am my mother.

Day 1 (Thursday) was Mexican Night with make your own taco stations and maracas.

Day 2 (Friday) was Italian NIght with a full antipasto hour, fresh baked bread with pesto and lasagna 8 ways.

Day 3 (Saturday) was the wedding!- SOUTHERN COOKING. From Mac and Cheese to Fried Chicken, she didn't miss a beat. The decor was beach and everything she imagined.

Day 4 (Sunday) = hangover brunch. Mimosa + eggs + potatoes = heaven. 

Who needs a caterer when you can do it yourself? Not my mama.  

Check out some of my favorite snaps form the weekend below. 

The ladies of the family. Grandma, Mama, Cousin, Auntie and myself.

My brothers really know how to rock the socks.

<3 My Aunt and Uncle having a moment. <3

Moms dress, bought at a thrift shop for $25. Score.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue- a gift to my mom, more on this next week!

The whole family together for the first time in about 10 years.

The weekend ended with some music and food (and bubbles) under the Spanish moss. 

I had not seen my mom or step pops smile that much in a very long time. I could not have asked for a better man to be a part of my family and I am so thrilled that they had the weekend they pictured in their dreams. 

Love you Mom & Kevin. 

Wedding Guest / My Dream Dress

​I had a wedding of a good friend this past weekend. Any time there is a special event, the first thing I do (other than congratulate the couple and RSVP of course) is start looking for a dress. I know what you are thinking, "I'm sure you have something you could wear." - well, I don't PLUS its so much fun to buy a new pretty dress! 

We obviously took this opportunity to take cheesy prom pictures - and I loved every second of it.​

So I went shopping! I was sending pics to friends from the fitting room, and I fell in love with 3 dresses! I was convinced to buy the above dress and a black one...

But I left this red one behind. For one, it was a bit expensive, and I am known to buy a new dress for every occasion, so everyone told me I'd only wear it once... so I said buh-bye to this beauuuuuut and bought the other ones. ​

​BUT I woke up EVERY MORNING for the next WEEK thinking about it. Its perfect- it has pockets for goodness-sake! The problem- it cost the same amount as the other two combined- but LOOOOOOOK at it. I am sure you can tell by the first picture that I DID in fact go back and get it- I will return the other two (ok, maybe just ONE of the other two the lace one above was super affordable, and well, just look at it!) and I WILL wear it to the next bunch of events I have.

​Lucky for me, my roomie works for Mac Cosmetics and she told me I had to wear a red lip and had a bunch to choose from. I wore Eden Rouge. LIPSTICK IS HARD. I  got it all over my teeth, had to reapply with a mirror! Props to you ladies  that wear lipstick everyday, I could NEVER!

BUT THATS A DAMN GOOD RED LIP, DON'T YOU THINK?!​

​OK- well maybe I didn't reapply enough- but it was fun while it lasted. It was a great wedding, my gorgeous roomie was a bridesmaid (pictured right) and we danced the night away.

The dress was by Pink Tartan and bought at Lord & Taylor. I think they are cut a little big, because I got a size smaller than usual. The wonderful woman that worked at L&T gave me a 25% off coupon!

 And in other news- I wore these shoes - a vintage find when I was in college that fit perfectly - and of course the flower centerpiece as a hat.

​How was your weekend?

L&R Monogram for the best couple I know.

Two of my friends are getting married. They are the best. THE. BEST. I love them separately, but I LOVE them even more together. Let's back up a minute, these two friends and I all grew up in the same town on Long Island, but they didn't meet until adulthood (although I knew them both as kids).  Amaze-balls. I have known them for what seems like forever. Their wedding will probably be the best wedding I will ever attend. Their love will probably be the strongest I ever see. 

​When they asked me if I would design a monogram for them, I jumped at the opportunity, I feel honored to be a part of their wedding, and this monogram will be with them forever (I see towels in their future). Here's the thing though Ladies and Gents, the letters are L and R. Think about that for a minute. An "L"...? Not the best (Sorry Jason, it's just not!). 

​I asked them to show me some examples of what they wanted, and some were circular.....

So here is what came to me first, based on the inspiration they gave me. I stepped away from the computer for this project. I often sketch a general look, but this time I wanted to do all the design work the old school way, just a pencil and some paper, and then scan them in. Well, although we liked this,  they wanted it strong and masculine. Hmm. Well.... this ain't gonna work for the masculine request huh....

With the new direction,​ I tried to work on some more angular letters, but keeping in a circle. I decided to help fill the shape and balance everything out, and ampersand was going to be a must (I know, woe is me, I HAD to design ampersands - um yay!).  

We really like these a lot, and they were definitely a contender, but can you read it? (Honestly...) So we decided to keep going...​

Keeping with the smoooooooth lines of a circle, I whipped these up (which may be my personal faves), but they aren't really what they were looking for. MASCULINE. THINK MASCULINE JAMIE!!! ​

​ALRIGHT, WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE NOW. As always, even when the client is your friend, you have to show them what they want to see (he wanted to see circles and masculine lines and...) thennnn he requested an octagon. Hmmm.... Now that was an interesting direction. The letters were still contained in a shape, but it was angular and sexy- the struggle though, how to fit a "L" in a dang octagon? Soooo I worked off the ampersand... I was digging this one, but the fact that the amp is before the L... not everyone was feelin' it. So, back to basics I go... what about a freakin' rectangle? It works well with the L AND the R... 

So here we are now. We have decided that the rectangular one was THE ONE, but maybe it was a bit tooooo tall... and maybe it needed an angled corner (I did v4 to show him, but we agree its blegh). They need a bit of tweaking, but looks like v2 and v3 are the last ones standing. ​

​I am working on their engagement party invitation now, which will be the first application of the monogram, and I am so excited to see what else they will be using it on!- I'll share with you along the way!

​Which is your favorite?