The Cutest Save the Date I've Ever Seen.....

Well I've been boring you all with wedding related posts, so why not make a week of it?!

When Kelly, a girl I grew up with (literally grew up with), posted her save the date on Facebook, I just knew I had to share with you all. 

Isn't it adorable?!!!! Now there's a way to celebrate Friday. 

Congratulations Kelly!!!!! 

Feel free to send her some love in the comments everyone!

Come back and see me!

~Kara

A Sweetheart Shower...the final installment

Thanks for letting me share the shower I planned for my best friend's wedding with you this week.

Her fiance is a chef....a really good one. In fact, he's even opening his own chocolate company.

He graciously volunteered to do the food. And let me tell you....it was DELICIOUS, and cute. He made appetizer versions of all of Aria's favorites that he makes for her.

Take a look....

These were some sort of cheese grits, avocado, prosciutto thingys.....

Up close and delicious....

Aria had been craving Pimento....Scott delivered in very high fashion....

When Scott told me he was making "miniature versions" of Aria's favorite sandwich, I figured make a sandwich and cut into four parts. Oh no. Not him. This is what Aria calls the chicken delicious, and let me tell you, it is. It had me at goat cheese....

(confession: I ate about five of these)

Unpictured: The most delicious onion rings on the planet. I'm sorry I didn't snap a photo before I ate every single one in my sight.

Oh maybe you are wondering where dessert is? Feast your eyes on these CHOCOLATE COVERED BLACKBERRIES, complete with adorable plum slivers. Yeah, I almost died....

Scott also made delicious, and adorable cupcakes. Check out the cute sugar on top. Where do I get some of this stuff?

I cutesified up the cupcakes with some easy cupcake toppers. All it took was some card stock, a cute font, some sheet music, a toothpick, and a circle punch...

Up close and adorable....

Did you know a font existed that looks like needlepoint? If you are not using dafont.com for your projects, you should be! They have TONS of free fonts....

Thank you Scott for all your hard work! You are wonderful! I'm so happy that you make Aria so happy and I love you dearly, because you love Aria dearly. THANK YOU!!!!!

And this concludes my very first shower. I hope you all enjoyed the ride!

Warning: I'm working on "springing" up my room. Can't wait to share the details.

Oh.... and be sure to check out Parts One and Two of her shower!

Come back and see me!

~Kara

A Sweetheart Shower...Part Two

Only a couple more posts about the shower....I promise! If you're new, I just planned my very first shower for my best friend's wedding and I'm sharing all the details. 

I'll do one last post tomorrow on food (you don't want to miss it) and cupcakes! I don't want to overwhelm you all with pictures. 

Anyways...here we go....

The shower was held at the BEAUTIFUL home of Aria's Mother-in-law to be. This home will be a whole post in itself one day. We set everything up in her dining room. Are you seeing how beautiful it is?!....

She has a collection of vintage bride and groom figurines that were placed around her home. This one was my favorite....

I did a floral arrangement with tulips and conversation hearts as the centerpiece and used inexpensive paper doilies to create a table runner....

(Note the pink fabric runner. I got 9 yards of REALLY nice fabric for only five dollars thanks to a Joann's liquidation by my house...)

I snuck around Aria's house and grabbed her grandmother's tea cups and lined the center of the table with 6 cups, each filled with two roses. She LOVED them. It was such a fun personal touch...

The water bottles were even decorated!!!

I rolled plain pink paper napkins (50 for under 3 bucks!) and secured them with sheet music scrapbook paper that I made into napkin rings (29 cents per sheet!) These little touches made the shower much more custom...

Here's the table all together. The paper pom pom balls are from the Martha Steward Section at Wal-Mart...

And, the big hit of the party was "The Sweetest Thing" candy bar...

Complete with a cute sign, of course...

I used apothecary jars I already had and raided my mom's basement for a few glass candy bowls...

I even found an old-fashioned straw holder at the grocery store to hold twizlers!

Simple brown paper lunch bags, cut at the top with scalloped scissors and a cute sheet music heart made for a cute way for guests to carry their candy....

Tomorrow I'll show you guys the DELICIOUS food and the cutest cupcakes you ever did see. 

Thanks for visiting!

Come back and see me!

~Kara

A Sweetheart Shower Part One....

As most of you know, I've been planning my little heart out for my best friend's wedding. Saturday was d-day, and it could not have been better. I really enjoyed the whole process and I can't wait to start pulling together details for the next shower!

The concept for this party was "Aria's Sweetheart Shower." When we went dress shopping, Aria referred to her dress as, "not your average sweetheart," and I thought, "Well, neither is Aria!" and there the concept began. Not to mention Valentine's day was just here, and love was in the air. 

I worked hard to create little details that would make the shower meaningful. This post will focus on those little details. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the food and decor!

So I give you, a sweetheart shower (in the details)....

Aria loves all things vintage-inspired, and is also a musician. So I tried to work hints of both into most everything. Including the invitations....

As guests walked in, they were greeted with a sign to ask them to fill out a name tag, as well as to put their address in an address book. I will bring this same book to all the wedding events, so then Aria and Scott will already have one started for their new life together....

 I tried to work in hints of sheet music wherever possible...

After guests settled in, they were asked to fill out "words of wisdom and well wishes" for the couple....

We read two of these before we opened each gift....

And, of course, I had to cutesify the containers....

And even the tops of the jars....

Aria had a special seat, with a special sign.....

And, she ended up with one HUGE rehearsal bouquet...

Even the favors were personal...

One of Aria's favorite movies is Moulin Rouge. Guests left with a memento picture frame with a quote from the movie, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."...

Thank you dollar section at Michael's!

I have SO many more details to show you. Stay tuned this week for floral arrangements, gourmet food provided by the chef groom, a sweet candy bar and a cute way to decorate cupcakes!!

I hope you've enjoyed part one of the tour, can't wait to see you for the next installment. 

Come back and see me!

~Kara

My Bags are Packed....

It has been a VERY busy week. 

I'm throwing my best friend a bridal shower on Saturday in Nashville. 

This is the first wedding I've ever been. My first shower I've ever thrown...

And, well, I may have gone a little detail crazy. 

But my bags are packed, loaded up, and I'm ready to head down south after work today to throw my best friend a beautiful shower. I hope she loves every second of it! Aria is an amazing friend and she deserves one heck of a party! 

And, of course, I can't wait to share all the details with each and every one of you. You're going to love some of the stuff I've been cooking up!! Seriously, I need to do this event planning stuff for a living. Can anyone help me? How do I make it happen?

Side note...

Dear Mr Man in the old red Saab driving next to me on my way to work today, 

It is weird, odd, and not a REAL workout to do hand grip exercises as you drive to work in the morning using one of these....

And, please don't have a facial expression that makes you look like you are pumping heavy iron at the gym. You are doing hand grip exercises.... in your car.... weird. 

I'll be back on Monday!

Come back and see me!

~Kara

I love you a LATTE....

Sometimes it really pays to know people.

Really really awesome people. 

Really really awesome people who share your love for caffeine people.

Really really awesome Starbucks-employed people. 

At work today, my friend Katie delivered me this little gem.....

Yes, peoples, that is a DIY latte. 

She was getting off work, decided to deliver me a coffee treat. She didn't know what kind I wanted so she assembled me up a little latte kit. One regular latte. Three little syrup filled cups as flavor options:

-Chai

-Pumpkin

-Vanilla

I'm not gonna lie. I may just mix a few together and see how it tastes. 

Is this not the most awesome pick-me-up present ever!!! This is just what I needed for my case of the Mondays.

Katie, I love you a LATTE!!!!!

How are you celebrating President's Day?

Come back and see me!

~Kara

Need a Last Minute Valentine? Go Vintage

Check out these FREE printables at Vintage Holiday Crafts

How cute would these be printed on an old book page, or on some chipboard, or a brown paper bag with home-made baked goods inside?

I think I may be doing some card making tonight!!

Oh, and I can't WAIT to show you the fun little handmade items I've made for Caleb, but those will have to wait till tomorrow so I don't ruin the surprise!!

Come back and see me!

~Kara

My Twenties are Half Over

Dear Birthday Fairy, 

As I celebrate by quarter of a century birthday today, I thought you may be interested in knowing what gifts I would like to magically appear on my doorstep. Being that this is dream-land, I'm sure you wont mind the following requests....

1. A "blog worthy" camera. I could do little wonders with this camera. I just KNOW it. Pleeeease Birthday Fairy. Pretty Puh-leeeeease.

2. A beautiful craft room. Yes, birthday fairy, I realize I live in a strange rental apartment above a tavern, and a room like this just doesn't "fit" the aesthetic. I appreciate your attention to detail, but hey, work your magic. I have every confidence in you. 

(Cottage Mom)

3. An entire Anthropologie store. Yes, I will gladly use the store as a second residence. 

4. A magic transporter machine that takes me to Nashville in a matter of minutes. I miss my two best girl friends. They are the best. They even called me this morning to sing Happy Birthday to me in "beautiful" harmony. You see why I need this machine, don't you? A girl needs her friends!

5. Long hair and beautiful legs. 'Nuff said. 

Thank you for being so attentive to my requests. I can't wait to get home and see what you have left for me! I realize it will just be a sink full of dishes and half completed laundry. But, hey, a girl can dream. 

Your friend, 

Kara