favorite etsy finds

i thought today that i'd share a roundup of my favorite etsy finds as of late. click on images for their etsy shops. right now, i'm really wanting that WWII era globe. perfect for our little entryway table!

officially obsessed

if anyone asks, i always freely admit to being less than skilled in the kitchen department. have you had my cooking? i didn't think so. and that's because it consists of mostly three food groups: cereal, salad, and chocolate. er... i guess none of those count as 'cooking' anyway.

it's really unfair to be the only woman in your family who doesn't have a natural aptitude for putting ingredients together. so when it came to registering for the wedding, i was determined to register for things that would magically transform me into a culinary goddess... and what is more necessary for a a culinary goddess than the beloved, widely sought-after and dare i say coveted KitchenAid Mixer? nothing, my friends. there is nothing more necessary. at least to me.

and yesterday, i arrived home to find a large brown box waiting on our front porch. i could barely get the door open while juggling my purse, computer, said box, and excitement. KitchenAid, you've finally come! i had struggled for maybe hours, trying to decide upon the color of my mixer. normally i would have gone with white or chrome (you know how i like my neutrals). but for this precious tool i decided to go wild - i got the color ice (shown above!). i love it. it's so fun and flirty - can a mixer flirt? mine can! when i took it out of the box and placed it on my counter, i immediately wanted to throw on a cute apron and whip something fabulous up. problem - no idea what to whip up or how to whip it. nevertheless, i was convinced my culinary skills were forever changed.

and that night - i made... whipped cream! it was fluffy. it was sweet. it was just 3 ingredients. it was what i could handle. and spooned atop a warm chocolate dessert, it was heaven. i made whipped cream! perhaps tomorrow will bring bigger KitchenAid adventures. if you have a good KitchenAid recipe, please do pass it along!

ps - how awesome are these? i want one! i know... i'm a little crazed about the Mixer today.

Charlottesville Free Wedding Project

i am so excited to announce a really sweet project i will be working on with Easton. we will be coordinating a wedding this fall through the Charlottesville Free Wedding Project! we are now accepting submissions for brides-to-be in cville. the chosen bride will receive an absolutely exquisite wedding - all. for. free!

if you are a bride-to-be or would like to nominate a bride-to-be, please keep reading for all the fabulous details!

The winning couple’s wedding will take place at picturesque King Family Vineyards in Crozet, Virginia nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville. Nationally recognized event coordinators of Easton Events will provide day-of-event coordination, and your caterer will be Mark Hahn and Harvest Moon Catering. Carpe Donut and Gearhart’s Chocolates will be taking care of desserts and favors. Face Value Studio & Salon is going to make the bride look beautiful and the talented photographers Sarah Cramer, Jen Fariello, and Jack Looney will document the event. Rock Paper Scissors is creating the special paper items and both Pat’s Floral Designs and Floral Images will work together to provide the floral designs. DJ Derek Tobler will emcee the event, Blue Ridge Light Forms is once again enhancing the ambiance, and Albemarle Vintage Limousine is offering vintage transportation for the couple.

i am so excited to see this wedding happen for one special couple. i mean, look at all those amazing vendors! to submit your story, please go here.

for the love of neutrals

eggshell, ivory, cream, champagne. i love neutrals. they largely define our wedding color palette, and they largely consume our registry. so i had to repost this stunning australian home captured by the style files. and you know my obsession with bathtubs? see the last photo. right out of a countryside dream!

sweet bridesmaid gifts

one of my favorite parts of the wedding celebration is the bridal party. all of your best girlfriends in one place at one time, dressed fabulously, dancing the night away. and since most of my bridesmaids are far (as in far side of the world! hello, readers in italy and africa!), i am especially excited for my wedding weekend. just the opportunity to share a meal, toast our friendships, and share in the blessing of the wedding ceremony together - i can hardly wait.

each of my friends is a beautiful, trusted lifelong friend. i plan to honor each of them in her own unique way with a small gift. though i can't reveal what i decided to get each of my maids, i thought i'd share some ideas for you brides!

this fashion print is just so sweet. and this etsy artist will custom draw portraits for you in the image of your dear friends!

floral clutch, packable perfume, floral hairpin, eyelashes, lip glaze, hair bow, rings, cloth bag

i love these sweet clutches that you can fill with fun little accessories. bonus: you can be certain no maid is found without a stylish bag with all her essentials - lip gloss, blotting papers, tissues, mints, etc!


this print is simple but beautiful. i love it!

do any of you brides have any other ideas? i'd love to hear them!

happy weekend!

have any fun plans for the weekend? mine will consist mostly of wedding planning and gorging on chips & salsa, & watching commercials (er... the superbowl). m & i had briefly talked about going night skiing but i have been under the weather so we'll see! i really miss skiing, and have been wanting to go since watching the X-games (who am i?) last weekend.

here are some fun links from around the web:

somehow this makes hitting on a stranger so much more adorable.

these look delicious and would make a great diy wedding favor.

wish i were sunning on the beach here (from one of my favorite photographers). stunning.

rockster taza had her baby! and she's so cute.

as a diy bride, this guide of 'what NOT to diy' is helpful.

cheeky pillow that i secretly love.

i love striped walls. do you?

a pbs masterpiece

if you haven't watched any of the new PBS Masterpiece Theater series, Downton Abbey, you are seriously missing out. i've been feeling sick this week, and natalie (i swear i get all my best ideas from her) kindly suggested that i check out her new obsession. after one episode, i am hooked. the show features titillating scenes of early 1900's drama including forbidden romance, an estate in need of an heir (alas, the Earl of Grantham only fathered daughters), and the complex lives of the housekeeping staff. not to mention the costuming is absolutely exquisite. the outfits these women wear each day, complete with jewels, gloves, hats, furs, and appropriate hairstyling, represent all the best opulence of pre World War I dress.








check it out. let me know if you agree.

finally BHLDN

when natalie sent me a cryptic message displaying a simple url, i had no idea what to expect. but when i clicked on it and the webpage appeared, mimicking a pretty letterpress invitation and fading into gorgeous close-ups of lace and cloth buttons, i knew.

the time has come.

anthro is officially launching their bridal line.

i know; pick me up off the floor.

february 14 (how appropriate) will mark the big day. the wedding line, called BHLDN (pronounced Beholden), will launch online followed by a boutique opening in August of this year. their motto, Be You, Be Loved, is so very Anthro, wouldn't you say? romantic and breathless. i can't wait to see what they've come up with. the website preview is already swoon-worthy. lots of texture, lace, fringey poms, glitz, and glam.

AND it's just in time for my wedding. perhaps i'll be able to pick out a few bridesmaid dresses and accessories for the big day. i'll have to steer my eyes away from the wedding dresses. if only.

BHLDN will be featured in the April issue of The Knot, and, small Cville claim to fame, Easton Events will be coordinating the photo shoot along with Rock, Paper, Scissors, who will be designing the paper products. these two companies are incredibly creative (check them out!), so i'm sure the trio will produce an amazing shoot. and yeah, Charlottesville! i love this town.

you can sign up for their email newsletter here: http://bhldn.com/ and if you have any more insider details, please pass them my way!

oh my word. yes.

ok. ok. i promise this is the last time i will blog about emersonmade... at least for this week. but come on - that bra top, the high skirt, the ballerina messy bun. yes please. tell me it's springtime already.

discovered genius

this story has been circulating around my office, and i just love it. i wonder what vivian was like while she was alive.

too early?

maybe it's just the dreariness of this day, but i'm finding myself already dreaming of spring. so when i stumbled upon (ok, maybe i "stumble" here too often) emersonmade and saw that her new spring collection previews were up, i was thrilled.

ps - that coat is my fave.

amazing paper cuts

oh. my. word.

i LOVE these papercuts. what gorgeous works of art. they are from madebyjulene.com, and (of course) julene is British. her site is chock full of blow-me-away pieces (i could have posted a hundred more pictures) AND she has some available on etsy. i think the above two are my favorites though it's hard to choose. i'm storing this find for upcoming wedding gifts!

cashmere coat

as i was scouring etsy for some last-minute christmas gifts, i came across this gorgeous coat. i love winter white coats, and this one is all cashmere and silk satin. love the high collar and the bow waist. it only makes sense that the shop is in england.

gifts for baby be

my family has decided to try something new this year with gifts. my mom drew names and matched everyone up in my extended family, so we are buying for just one person. i must have done something really sweet because i got paired with my little, less than a year old, baby cousin Bennett. she's precious and cuddly and everything a sweet little girl should be. i've had the best time finding cute things for her. isn't the little hat above adorable? an etsy find for only $20! click on the images for their source!



these soft toys are perfect for cuddling.



these painted, wooden animals are amazing - the company makes almost every animal imaginable!





and a few stylish accessories to keep baby warm! let me know if you have other suggestions!