Mother of the Bride- So Blessed

Happiness is having your only daughter marry the man of her dreams.  All the planning, all the sleepless nights, all the details are coming together to make for a truly special day.  The magic ingredient, the only thing that really matters, is two people who truly love each other unconditionally.

So, all you new MOBs, don’t waste a single moment just because you think you have a year or more to plan.  From picking out THE special dress, to picking out YOUR special dress, to choosing the venue, the flowers, the music, and the magic ingredients that Pinterest provides, do as much as you possibly can as fast as you can to alleviate stress, chaos, and words that you can’t take back ;)   Each precious selection truly is magical, because your daughter will belong to someone else soon.

Out of many precious moments, I would have to say my favorite was when my daughter appeared in the dress that couldn’t possibly look any better on any other bride!  At eleven o’clock in the morning, a champagne toast and a guiltless check sealed the moment that had taken twenty dress appointments to arrive at.  True Story.

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The best piece of advice that we were given, I’d like to share with all of you– On the day of, take a simple fifteen seconds, to stand back, hand in hand with your daughter, and look before you at a day that couldn’t be filled with more love.  Hard to believe now, but dreams really do come true.

 

 

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The Pefect Honeymoon

With wedding season finally here, there are many excited travelers among us, as well as anxious planners for future honeymoons. Deciding on a honeymoon destination can be a difficult choice for the indecisive, or rather easy for those with particular taste. Out of the 17 Best Honeymoon Destinations ranked by U.S. News Travel, I have chosen my favorite five to share!

1.  Santorini- Voted #1 on the list, is filled with ancient history, molten-dyed beaches, and breathtaking sunsets from the cliffs.  Vacationing to Santorini makes for a balance of exploration and rest.

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2.  Kauai- Voted #4 with honey-dipped sunsets, chocolate-sand beaches, and aquamarine skies, the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain appeals to a no-muss, no-fuss type of traveler as it is a rural island with only two major islands.  Travelers can kayak on the Na Pali Coast, hike the Kalalau Trail or go exploring through Waimea Canyon!

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3.  Venice- Voted #6 on the list, is a city of enchantment and romance!  While sounding cliche, this “City of Water” will surely prove itself as water taxis bob along the waterways with the faintest sound of violins string along in the background.

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4.  Jamaica- Voted #13 and known as the ‘heart of the Caribbean’, Jamaica will win you over with its’ cream-colored beaches, bordered by rugged Blue Mountains, anchored in foamy waterfalls, and set to a dancehall soundtrack.  Whether you picture yourself dozing on the beach or hiking up a mountain, exploring underwater worlds or playing a round of golf, you won’t be bored in Jamaica.

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5.  Napa Valley- Voted #17 on the list, with its rise in the wine industry, Napa Valley has become a vacation hot spot. The tiered hillsides, wine caverns and illustrious estates make for stellar scenery, and top-class hotels have taken note. Scattered between the vineyards, sumptuous resorts cater to every indulgence — golfing, spa pampering, gourmet dining, and more.

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Transform Your Work Space!

The Triangle has seemed more like Seattle lately with rainy days, low temperatures, and…more rain! However, being stuck inside can be a little more enjoyable if you have a cute office space to work in :)   Here are a few ideas for transforming your office space:

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To get started, we can help you with the small details.  File folders, organizational bins, file clips, pencils, and more that will make your work day productive AND cute!

Lilly Office Collage

Office Collage

 

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Wedding Cake Central

While completing all of the final to-dos on the wedding to-do list, finding the perfect cake is always our favorite part (secretly because of the tasting ;) ) Luckily, there are lots of local bakeries and shops in Raleigh and the surrounding area!

Once in a Blue Moon Bakery and Cafe, a bakery we mention often, makes delicious cakes and baked goods and is very convenient as it is right here in Ashworth Village!

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Ashley Cakes is an award-winning custom cake studio located in Raleigh consisting of a husband and wife team.  They offer many different flavors, fillings, and icings and categorize their cakes as ‘Cakes with Personality!’  How cute!

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Sweet Memories Bakery, located in Apex, has been featured on the Food Network, as well as other television shows and films, and brings a wide variety of cakes and desserts to the table.  Aside from the classic and traditional wedding cakes, they also have ‘Couture’, ‘Fun and Funky’, and Groom cakes.

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For those of you not in search of a wedding cake, all of these bakeries create cakes for other occasions as well, or even for just those weekend cravings!

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Summer Wedding Drinks ~ Oo La La!

With Summer weddings on the horizon, we thought we’d take a moment to take a quick peek at drinks that are sure to make your reception deeeelightful!

In fact, we loved the Watermelon Margarita drink so much, we added the recipe…

Ingredients:

1 ounce Tequila Don Julio Blanco

2 ounces fresh watermelon juice

3/4 ounce sour mix

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

5 ice cubes

1 Watermelon slice
Directions:

Mix Tequila Don Julio Blanco, fresh watermelon juice, sour mix, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Pour contents from shaker into a martini glass. Garnish with watermelon slice.

This kiwi martini drink brings out THE color of the season!

This kiwi martini drink brings out THE color of the season!

Fresh Watermelon Margarita from Bride's Magazine

Fresh Watermelon Margarita from Bride’s Magazine

Try this French Quarter Cocktail from Martha Stewart's Weddings

Try this French Quarter Cocktail from Martha Stewart’s Weddings

From Martha Stewart's Weddings: A Rasmopolitan

From Martha Stewart’s Weddings: A Rasmopolitan

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