aHHH inspiration....we all NEED it

here is where i drew INSPIRATION from for the bridal shower

just a few photos of gorgeous weddings, creative parties, a beautiful bride & stunning bridesmaids dresses

don't you LOVE finding inspiration???

it's really all around us

EVERYDAY

the banner, the cart, the cake

one word

BEAUTIFUL

melissa wants to incorporate lace into her wedding

i think this bride wears lace so BEAUTIFULLY

i mean, really this is vintage at it's FINEST

(stay tuned to see where we used lace at the bridal shower)

this setting along with the first 2 photos are all apart of a faux wedding

they set it up specifically for a photo-shoot for photographers to get special training and practice

.......well, i am so glad they did

because

i am pretty much in love with the setting

& if you love anthropologie

like I DO

those monogrammed mugs should be very familiar to you

i know you love them TOO

the hanging lanterns are from this cute little birthday party

let's just say i am MORE than inspired by that mom's parties

the glasses with personalized tags are from

REAL SIMPLE

we made those for our bridal shower too

yellow and blue pair so well together

as so perfectly shown by the above wedding party

more from MELISSA'S bridal shower to come.....

i p-r-o-m-i-s-e

(photo credits- 1st 3 photos: brandon kidd photography, jessica claire photography & laurel layne. the last collage images are from real simple, full house blog and i am unsure where the bridesmaids photo is from?)

SNEAK PEEK: bridal shower

We hosted a bridal shower along with a few other lovely bridesmaids

for this adorable bride-to-be!!

I was the bridal shower "decorator"

I went with the colors dark blue and canary yellow inspired by the shower invitation.

I added pops of chocolate brown and robin's egg blue (some of the bride-to-be's favorite colors)

It was fun to have a special chair just for Melissa

I think hanging lanterns add such a great party effect

I added special touches that represent the new life the bride & groom will share

like the bride's soon-to-be new last name

Mrs. James

More to come on this bridal shower

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek!!

No Goblins Here Just Some Sweet Faces

We had a a great time together on Halloween! We went over to Joey and Katie's for dinner. Katie made us some very yummy tortilla soup and then we were off to trick or treat with the kids. The neighborhood park had a bounce house and maze for the kids and some hot chocolate to keep us warm.

Papa and Annie hanging out pre-costume

She was a cute little purple flower

and Judah was a cubs baseball player

He is so good at baseball you would be amazed

I love how Judah is laughing in this one

He even played in a ball game and annie was his cheerleader

She loves to clap for her big brother

We had a night to remember that's for sure

How cute is my friend Linda as Dorothy? Her shoes even sparkle! I am pretty sure her Mom made this costume for her when she was younger. Although she's still young!

I think the Wizard of Oz makes for some of the best costumes. My friend Kim's children just look so adorable as Dorothy and the Scarecrow. I love it!

Here are just a few pictures of my niece and nephew during the beginning of this pretty fall season.

One of my favorite things about the fall season is sweaters. They're so comfy and warm. Annie looks just so cozy in hers!

This is Judah with his friend Jack. Jack lives in Colorado but we wished he lived here because he is just so sweet. He has the coolest blond curls to go along with his cute little face and chubby cheeks!

Happy Fall

My Dad and Judah grew pumpkins for the Harvest! We have so many cute pumpkins and 3 of them found a home in my home. Thanks Mom, I love them!

Remember that trip I told you about awhile back.....well me and my girlfriends finally went and we had so much FUN! We went to Palm Springs and Disneyland together. It was an all girls trip spent laying by the pool, eating out, lots of giggling, girl talk, movies, and lots of junk food. I loved when we ate out at the Cheesecake Factory (totally reminds me of college) and Red Robin because they have bottomless french fries and the yummiest root beer floats! Disneyland was of course a blast especially being with Kim and Erin.

This picture is in the wrong order but this us and the kids outside of starbucks and the doughnut shoppe for breakfast after we got back from our trip.

We tried on hats at the hat store.

Photoshoot after we went out to dinner.

Disneyland parade

We laughed so hard on this ride we had to go 2x.

Close up

The castle

My friend Marijke married her best friend Tim a few weekends ago and their wedding was gorgeous! Marijke's designed her dress and it was hand-made too. You can see how pretty there wedding was as captured by my friend Lisa here:http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2009/10/12/marijke-tim-the-wedding/

My friend Melissa is also marrying her best friend Ryan in December. I'm excited to be a bridesmaid and help her with the wedding decor. Her theme is going to be rustic and vintage combined.

We get to wear cowboy boots with our dresses.

Which will be perfect since they are getting married at this beautiful rustic barn.

Props to my brother Joey for running in the City to Sea 1/2 marathon.

Good Job, Joe Joe!!

Judah played ball in honor of his Dad running the race.

I know I had a lot of blogging to catch up on but I will try to be better about updating in the busy months ahead!

She's a Beauty

Queen in brown & white polka-dots

and she sure is growing cuter by the minute.

i used lots of saturation on this one of annie-girl.

yes, katie! let's enter her in the gap baby contest.

how could they resist her & her sweetness!

i love my sweet niece, yes i do!

p.s. erin these are especially for you since you think she is just as precious as i do

fRiEnDsHiP nEcKlAcE

Check out the friendship necklace my friend Lisa designed. I was featured wearing mine on her lovely blog today.

Lisa is an amazing Jewelry Designer, Photographer and Mother! Check out her blog and you'll see exactly what I am talking about.

You'll find her blog on this link: http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/

Yosemite

Have you ever felt like the days aren't long enough for all that you want to accomplish? That if you could, you would just create an extra day of the week or two just to do laundry, clean the house and do anything but what you are expected to do??? I would love one whole day just to spend time with my friends and if that day isn't long enough just add another day to that. Sometimes I wish, I wish, I wish..................and then really deep down I just know each of my days are perfect in length and time. I can just relax because really none of what I am stressing out about is as big as it seems in my head at the moment. It will all work out.......and then I realize I just need to wait it out. Soon my days will seem longer, soon.

Just like they were when my family and I went on a trip to Yosemite. Katie's little brother was married there in that beautiful place to his beautiful wife and the beautiful ceremony was officiated by my brother.

It was there that the days were filled with family time, hikes and God's creation at it's peak. Best of all no cell phone reception and no Internet. It was blissful!

Are you ready to go on a trip with the Hill Family?

Annie was the flower girl and she wore the cutest brown and green tutu I may have ever seen

Judah was the ring bearer and thought his suit was called a wetsuit. Once he was told it was what big boys wear he was persuaded to wear it.

Daniel (Katie's little brother) and Jessica

I hope you enjoyed it!

OH and have I told you how much I love your blog comments. Since I haven't been blogging I've missed that. So don't be shy and if you found my blog through a mutual friend we have or we went to school together, I would love to know you are out there. I'm sure I've stumbled across your blog at some point too. I'm really pretty friendly and I love being encouraged and encouraging others!