The Perfect Tailgate Dress • UK •

Sunday starts the football season here in the Bluegrass!

Here is the perfect blue & white shift for tailgating! 

Plus, it's 30% off right now (use code FALLCALLS)!!! 

WWW - Honeymoon edition

Yea, I'm a day late on this one...my bad. Let's talk honeymoons. At this point we have no idea where we will be going, if it will be right after the wedding or what. We are paying for a good part of the wedding ourselves, and will be paying for the honeymoon ourselves too. Obviously we want to go somewhere nice, but I'm not sure what kind of budget we are working with at this point. I'd love to go to Napa (or wherever in wine country!). I've also considered one of those all-inclusive resorts. Thing is, I'm not real big on the beach. I prefer to swim in a pool and enjoy dinner by the ocean! I also like the idea of going to New England, I've always wanted to go...but maybe that is better left for a trip taken in the fall rather than in June?

If I weren't such a control freak I'd just pass this one off to Ben and allow him to surprise me...alas, that would drive me crazy and I just can't do it!!

How far in advance do I need to book & plan this thing?!

Where did you all go on your honeymoon? Anything different from the pre-packaged beach vacay? And if you did do the all-inclusive beach thing, did you like it? Will I be so exhausted from the wedding weekend that sight-seeing and touristy options will be miserable?

Do you have suggestions, warnings or whatever?

Birthday Weekend

It has been a crazy 10 days! I totaled my car Saturday before last, so I have been bumming rides and car searching. Ben and I finally found me a car yesterday. It's good to have wheels again! This past weekend was my birthday. Lots of good friends, presents, junk food and fun! 

Dinner at Atomic Friday night. 

Chevy Chase Street Fair Saturday night. 

Sunday was my actual birthday. We celebrated with the fam!

 One of my presents from Ben! I love it! I'm a lucky girl - got all kinds of great gift from my family and friends!!

Oh and look what was waiting on me when I got to work today! Our Wedding Journal from Graphic Image. It's very nice in person, heavy and thick pages. Can't wait to put it to use! 

Perfect Baby Shower Gift!

My friend, Joy, is having her first baby in Oct. She loves all things monogrammed so I knew a Butterscotch Blankee would be a perfect gift for baby Owen. I love these blankets because rather than being sewn on, or printed on, the monogram and designs are actually woven into the blanket. There are so many options to choose from. This is the stroller blanket, made smaller as it is meant to fit over the baby tucked into a stroller (hence the name). Cute, huh?!

The cute mommy-to-be opening gifts are her shower!

WWW - Something old, new, borrowed & blue

I was interested to see where the tradition of a bride carrying something old, new, borrowed, blue and a sixpence in her shoe originated. According to Wikipedia, each of these items represents a good-luck token for the bride. Something old symbolizes continuity with the brides's family and the past. Something new means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. Something borrowed is typically and item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. 

Blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is probably English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era. It may also date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. 

(Nanny & Pa's wedding photo from 1954)

So what am I using for my 4 "somethings"? Well, a lot of my items could take care of more than one category, and I'll have lots of each! I'll be wearing my grandmother's (mom's mom) sapphire and diamond ring. This is obviously both old and blue. For something new, I'll have the dress, shoes and all that jazz. I need something borrowed. Although, technically the sapphire ring will be borrowed from my mom....but since apparently you are supposed to borrow something from someone happily married, that won't work! Ha! My custom Modern Trousseau dress will come with an embroidered monogram and name of the dress in it. (I named it "Ruth Marie" after my Nanny who passed away this past spring). I'll be carrying her mom's (my great grandmother) handkerchief as well. 

(That's my Nanny. Wasn't she pretty?!)

Looks like I need to borrow something, and I'll need to acquire a sixpence, don't have any of those lying around!

What did you all carry/wear for your 4 "somethings"? 

Lilly P. Sorority Goodies

I'd be willing to bet that a lot of you readers are either Sorority alumni or current sorority members, so when Lifeguard Press asked me to share some of the items they carry from the Lilly Pulitzer sorority line, I was more than happy to do so!

With rush being last week (at least at UK it was), there are lots of new sorority babes who are just itching to get their hands on their new letters! I remember my mom sending me some Theta items right after I pledged and I was soooo excited to show off my new house! We weren't allowed to officially wear our real KAO letters until after initiation in (I think it was) October, so I got plenty of non-wearable goodies and shirts that only said "Theta".

The iPhone case with soft touch protective coating. What college lady doesn't have an iPhone?!

My fave type of glass to take to PureBarre...I'll keeping this - reliving my glory days!

Check out the adorable Lilly Greek items for the sorority girl in your life!

Disclosure: I'm still "that girl" that wears her sorority t's a good five years after graduating! :) 

August Birchbox

Got some cool stuff this month...definitely got my $10 worth, I'd say! Looking forward to trying this face wash (which claims to brighten skin & decrease dark spots), and the lash perfection gel (which claims to darken, lengthen, prime and condition your lashes).

I always look forward to receiving my box on the 15th of each month! Sign up to get your monthly Birchbox HERE.  

I think this would make a fab gift for your bridesmaids! Maybe do the 6 month package?! Or bridesmaids could get their bride the bridal box!

STDs

LOL, not those...Save The Dates. I can hardly use the acronym for them without giggling. So anywhoooo, I suppose I need to go ahead and pick some out and get them ordered. From what I've read, most people send them out 6-8 months before the wedding. Because our wedding in June 1, I think I may send them more along the lines of the 8 month mark in case people are planning their summer vacations. That puts me at sometime in October. My bf's wedding is Oct 13th, I'll be pretty busy with that and will likely get them sent off right after.

Now, what do I choose? Something with one of our engagement pictures? Something that goes along with our invitation suite (which we don't have yet)? A postcard? Decisions, decisions! I like the idea of incorporating our engagement photos, because really what else are we going to use them for (actually I have a couple of ideas, but more on that later). Do you like a postcard, or do you think they get messed up in the mail - I would be saving a negligible amount on postage, so that isn't a consideration.

Here are some that I am considering from Minted:

Of course, all of these can be done with a small photo on the back for a small extra charge...so if I do the non-photo STD I can still get one of our engagement pictures snuck in there :)

What's your vote?

I need your product recommendations

Happy Monday, ladies! I need your help today. I went and got 3" of hair chopped off because it was just so broken and split...it was gross. I had been trying to grow it out, but thought maybe the best plan of action was to cut it and start over. I have 10 months until the wedding to grow it out a few inches. I want to make sure that it grows out healthy this time around, and want to prevent breakage and split ends. So this is where you all come in...what products do you swear by for strengthening hair and helping it grow? I have lots of very fine hair. I try to only blow dry it every other day, but that is usually difficult because it tends to look oily within like 12 hours of washing it (sucks).

Do you use a hair mask? Deep conditioner? What should I purchase? Help me!!!

Winner!!

The winner of the Beaufort Bonnet is lucky #7, Trish from Pink Preppy Lilly Lover!! Thank you all for entering, and be sure to contact Kim (Kim@TheBeaufortBonnetCompany.com). if you would like to order one of the adorable custom bonnets!! And just so you know, the bonnets are interchangeable... order two bonnets and you really have 4!!

WWW - a favorite source for weddings - ETSY!

I know by now we are all huge fans of Etsy.  I can spend hours (that is not an exaggeration) browsing the site and "hearting" all my fave items.  Etsy is not only a good source for purchasing things for your wedding, showers, gifting, etc, but I also use it as a source of inspiration for DIY projects.  Of course, the sellers on Etsy are probably none too happy to hear I'm using them for ideas rather than buying from them, but whatever.  Here are some of my current favorites for wedding purposes -

Fresh Boxwood wreath. Just add giant, cream silk bow!

Ivory bridal clutch.

Calligraphy favor tags/ placecards.

Sweet vintage wedding cake topper.

Cigar bands (I'd like to place some on our bourbon bar).

Gifts for the groomsmen. Just add beer!

For the Ceremony site.

Soooo many great idea and lovely things. I definitely recommend you spend some time searching Etsy if you are planning a wedding or any sort of event!

Tailgate shower invitations

Look how cuuuuute the invitations for the tailgate themed wedding shower I'm helping to host turned out! Aren't they perfect! Mary Ellen is so talented! Be sure to visit her website, Mellen Designs.

Tailgate shower ideas HERE!

A Beaufort Bonnet Company Giveaway!!

I have the most adorable giveaway for you ladies today!! I was super excited to team up with Markey, owner of the Beaufort Bonnet Company, to share with ya'll the sweetest little bonnets and host a giveaway!! To enter, please "like" the BBC on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me that you have done so (you must be a Just Lovely follower to enter). The giveaway will stay open all week - closing at midnight on Friday. We will announce a winner on Saturday, August 11th.

I know you all are going to go crazy over these darling bonnets! (gingham and a smocked dress?! sigh... dear God, please let me have a little girl someday!!)

If you don't have a little one, then they make the perfect gift! All bonnets can be customized and personalized. Tons of fabric choices available, and even cool weather versions!

I'm especially loving this little number for the smallest of Cats fans!! The bonnets are perfect for tailgating! (lots of teams available and more coming) -

Good luck! If you would like to order a bonnet, (their website is still under construction) please contact Kim (Kim@TheBeaufortBonnetCompany.com).