sweetest proposal ever

By now I'm sure a lot of you have seen or heard about this, but i wanted to share it because it's one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. I love that people got together to help out a friend, and the girl's reaction is so touching and genuine. If you can get through this video without smiling or tearing up, you have no soul.

wedding wednesdays {lighting}

We just finalized our lighting for the venue and I couldn't be more excited about it. Lots of cafe lights, and a few awesome surprises. I can't help but get giddy when I see these lovely examples... especially the last one, so romantic and dreamy.

currently obsessed...

{neon skirt}

{duralex tumblers}

{harvat wedges}

{le creuset french press}

{loving sentiments note box}

...with these items

another weekend.

While I'm very happy the weekend is upon us, it's somewhat bittersweet this week. Jacob and I were supposed to go to Tampa for a beer festival but he he came down with an untimely case of kidney stones and we're stuck at home. I suppose it's for the best as we have a lot to do, but it would have been nice to get out of town for a bit.

Meanwhile, I've been dreaming of the California coast again, nothing new I suppose, but these prints from Marco Suarez aren't helping.

Around the web:

1. There were a few weddings I fell in love with this week:

1. this beautifully shot palm springs celebration

2. two graphic designers' colorful wedding, those invitations are awesome!

3. yet another enviable and glittery wedding from the smog shoppe

2. Living in: Empire Records! Kind of obsessed with this movie in high school... such an amazingly 90's flick.

3. Mindy Kaling's new sitcom looks hilarious. Love her!

4. The perfect gallery walls.

5. Need this print! AMIRIGHT mad men fans?

sunday sweets {blueberry muffins}

I should have said healthy blueberry muffins, but I thought you might lose interest before reading onward. They're healthy because instead of a lot flour, they use dry oats... and no butter. While this may sound some hippy breakfast suggestion {it kind of is}, it's also quite delicious, made even more so by my plump, fresh farmer's market blueberries.

These are really good, seriously. Just try it, if you can't stand them, you're more than welcome to go back to sugary, buttery muffins.I promise I won't be offended.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups quick-cooking oats

1 cup whole flour

1/2 teaspoon wheatgerm

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest {optional}

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups milk

1-1/2 cups blueberries

Directions:

1.Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan.

2.In a food processor or blender, pulse the oats until they resemble coarse meal.

3.In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheatgerm, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well combined and then set the bowl aside.

4.In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, milk, oil, lemon zest and vanilla until well blended.

Add the sugar/egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

5. Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cups of the muffin pan. Drop about 4-5 blueberries into each cup, more if desired.

6. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 to 20 minutes.

7.When they are done, remove pan from the oven and let muffins cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then transfer them out of the pan and onto a wire rack to cool completely.

happy weekend.

This weekend we're taking some much needed "us" time with a little trip to Charleston. With the wedding planning and work, I've been so stressed out lately. Also, Jacob starts a new job on Monday so we'll be doing a little celebrating! I hope your weekend is lovely!

around the web:

1. Lately I've been dreaming of L.A., which isn't that weird since I dream of California a lot, but Kate Miss' photos made me crave it even more.

2.Mermaid braid! Must. Try. Now.

3. I'm a shoe kick right now, and I think these might be next.

4. 15 suggestions for staying married... my personal favorite is #9, hint hint {see also my first web link}

Also, Happy Mother's Day to this lovely lady. Love you, Mom!

new music {beach house-bloom}

I'm a huge fan of Beach House, Teen Dream has been at the top of my playlist for about 2 years now, if you haven't listened to it yet, I suggest doing so now. It's the perfect summer soundtrack. Now, they have their new album Bloom coming out May 15, and it's currently being streamed in its entirety on NPR. It's lovely, in the same spirit of Teen Dream, and something I'm pretty sure I'm going to be listening to all summer long.

treat yo self.

I told you I had to have these shoes.

Don't get the title reference? Here ya go:

um, you're welcome.

wedding wednesdays {invitations}

Right now, my biggest stress for the wedding {well one of them} is the invitation design. I'm kind of having a block, I'm sure it will work out, but these are some of the invitation suites I've been lusting after.

sunday sweets {strawberry shortcake cookies}

I can't stop myself from buying strawberries lately, they just look so delicious every time I'm at the farmer's market. So, I have to find different desserts to use them up in. These are nice because they're light and not too sweet. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces strawberries, hulled and cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 cups)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• Sanding sugar, for sprinkling
• 
  
• Directions:
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine strawberries, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining 7 tablespoons granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, or rub in with your fingers, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cream until dough starts to come together, then stir in strawberry mixture.
• Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment, spacing evenly apart. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, and bake until golden brown, 24 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Cookies are best served immediately, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

weekend.

In a word: finally. I hope to get out to the beach this weekend, but my number one priority will be finishing {starting} the design for our wedding invitations. It has not been the most enjoyable process so far, but I'm hoping to be somewhat pleased with them when they're done.

Have a great one!

Around the web:

1. I want to be invited to a mother's day brunch like this one... even though i'm not a mother. Homemade Nutella?! Seriously?!

2. Mom, why didn't you read this book to me when I was little?!

3. AMAZING Dominica bungalows and villas at ridiculously reasonable prices...vacation anyone?

4. Good Lord, this lion is hungry.

wedding wednesdays {the men}

Sometimes, with weddings, the men get outvoted, overlooked, or neglected. There's just so much for the bride to pick out, and, many times, the groom can't see past the price tag, let alone your "vision."

Jacob has been a gem. Really. We have very similar taste, so it hasn't been too difficult to make him understand my ideas, but aside from that, he's been to most of the meetings, and, probably the most important of all, has listed to me agonize over every detail {sometimes in a the whiniest of voices}.

I may have told him what I would like him to wear on the big day, but I'm looking forward to making a day all about him, even if it's about clothes I'm picking out for him {xoxo} .