Poppysmic

This photo was taken unbeknownst to either Hay or I. When her wedding photos came out and I saw it, I absolutely loved it.

So, we took a re-enactment photo while we were getting ready for my wedding.

I think its funny that neither of us recalled the picture, but yet still put in our own earrings in the same exact way!

ps- Do you know what the title means?

Wedding Crafts: Photo Booth & Direction Sign

One of the first projects that Matt and I worked on were the direction sign and photo booth. The direction pole had arrows that had the names of different places Matt & I had traveled to/been to together/or went to with our families. We included the distance of each place from the "hometown" at the top.

Matt individually cut the arrows, then my sister and I painted them and the names of each city.

I got the fun IDEA from this fun blog!

The photo booth was a huge board that Matt cut out a hole to place a picture frame in which people could peek thru. The frame I used was one I had to purchase at Feather Your Nest because I had accidentally knocked it off a chair it was propped up on (I actually had 2 of them, but I gave one away). It was originally a dark gold and I spray painted it black. Matt glued the frame inside the booth after I painted random vine  and bubble designs all over it.

Here they are at the wedding:

                                         

Wedding Crafts: Paper Goods/Signs

I love making paper crafts. I used scrapbook paper and online templates for several little details around the ceremony and reception. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of everything that I made or bought. So here's the ones I do have:

1. Table cards for the bridal party and family

2. Guest Book (purchased from Hot Pink- one of my favorite stores!)

3. Monogram frame for the ceremony

where I found the vintage monogram (and the photobooth signs)






4. Drink menu frame on the bar
5. Photobooth/camera frame at the reception

6. Bride and Groom chair hangers

7. M + J Sign for table

8. I made a similar sign "Hitched" for the getaway car (which we didn't end up using)

9. Napkins (purchased from IKEA)

10. White and Green paper Lanterns (purchased from World Market & Hobby Lobby)

11. Invitations and Programs (which I designed with and through the Print Shack)

  

i HEART Rita's

Nothing is better on a hot summer's day (or ANY day for that matter) as a Regular Rita Ice :) After experiencing Rita's in Clearwater and Hilton Head Island, I was so excited to welcome one in the shopping center near my parent's home in SC. If you've never tried one, you're truly missing out on something fabulous!!! The regular size Rita is about 250 calories, much less than any other same sized dessert treat at a restaurant or fast food place! (Except my other favorite- a Mocha Light Frappaccino which I think is 170 calories for a Grande and I usually get a Tall)...
BUT, if you get a Sugar-free Rita, they are all less than 30 calories! Wahoo!

Trust me, I think I could be addicted to them! Ok- I admit. I love them!!!! They also email coupons and have a birthday club, which is a huge plus! Unfortunately, they can only be found here: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

 

My favorite flavors are: Mango, Pina Colada, Island Fusion, Coconut, & Key Lime. All tropical and fruity picks. Do you have a favorite one?

Goodnight! Goodnight! Goodnight!

I first met Brooke and Brandon at the University of Kentucky through CRU. They are such a fun couple and it was always evident in how they lived, talked, and shared life with others. Although we were never the closest of friends and they graduated 2 years before me, it was still fun to be around them!! Plus we share a huge love for the sweet Fitz family :)

I can't even begin to explain their story for fear of saying something wrong or to cause pain (unintentionally). My heart has been aching for them so much over the past several months.... Despite the circumstances, they truly are such a strong couple with a heart for the LORD. 

Because I feel unable to accurately explain their story or even give it any justice, I ask that you pray for them. Pray for healing, pray for comfort, pray for understanding from others around them, pray for peace, pray that they would feel loved. Pray that God would surround them with His love and strength. See- Brooke and Brandon are parents to Briar. Briar is now at home with Jesus. Here are some sweet words from his momma, "Feeling blessed on my birthday as I welcomed my sweet little boy into the world. Briar Allen Whitis was born to be with the Lord at 3:38am......September 13th,2010. Lucky me, we share a special birthday. My heart is filled with love and pain...Love you all, thanks for your sweet words!!"

Brooke has an amazing blog that I have loved reading over the past several months with heartfelt insights, crafts, love, honesty, open emotion, and faith. You can check out her blog....

One of their friends who is also a photographer took their maternity photos and Briar's newborn pictures. She has a very sweet note and picture here. But, an inside look into the story that led them to this point can be read here.

While thinking about Brooke & Brandon this morning, I thought of this song and the comfort it brought to me when my own grandpa passed away before Christmas in 2008. The hymn is from the 1800s and it's not really popular in any way. I can't understand the loss of my own child, but I do know the loss of a close family member. Grandpa Milligan was always telling jokes, rhymes, quotes, verses, war stories, etc. He had such a great memory! I have so many fond memories of summers spent with my grandparents. While at his burial site, a close friend of his spoke about the comfort we have as believers in knowing that we will be together again with our loved ones who have gone ahead of us. How we should think of it as not saying "goodbye" but "goodnight"....He said this without even knowing that the hymn we were about to sing was "The Christian's Goodnight" - one of my grandpa's favorite songs! We then sang the song A capella. It was a beautiful moment to me. 

To listen to the music to the lyrics while reading them:

Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon the Savior’s breast;
We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Calm is thy slumber as an infant’s sleep;
But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep;
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until the shadows from this earth are cast,
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last;
Until the twilight gloom be over past—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until the Easter glory lights the skies,
Until the dead in Jesus shall arise,
And He shall come, but not in lowly guise—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until, made beautiful by love divine,
Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine,
And He shall bring that golden crown of thine—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Only “Good night,” belovèd—not “farewell!”
A little while, and all His saints shall dwell
In hallowed unison indivisible—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until we meet again before His throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own,
Until we know even as we are known—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Wedding Crafts: Silly Faces

As I'm sure you've noticed.....

All of my ideas were inspired from other weddings, friend's weddings, blogs, and DIY projects. Yet, I made my own little alterations in color and implementation with this one :)

I had seen lip and mustache props done in several different ways that were used for a photobooth, wedding and engagement photos, but the one I chose in the end I took from The Wedding Chicks. You should check them out, they have really cool stuff and free things!!

The instructions can be found here.

(The clay and little dowels I bought at Hobby Lobby. The mustaches I made using a brown clay.) 

1. Roll the clay into a ball so its moldable/pliable.

2. Shape the clay as to how you want it. (I did a couple different mustache looks and one lip look)

3. Bake the clay shapes according to the instructions on the back of the wrapper.

4. Once they're baked, take the dowel and a hot glue gun and attach them together.

Photos of the silly face props being used at the reception:

                        

   

Wedding Crafts: Cake Topper

It's a fact. I like birds. 
In the past few years they have become quite popular, and there are many different crafts to be made that surround them. In one of Martha Stewart's wedding magazines, there was a really cute bird cake topper (my inspiration) that I liked. So, I thought it would be a really cute idea to make my own!
My plan was to do a University of Kentucky bird for me and a University of South Carolina bird for Matt (just the colors and not the literal logos). These were pretty easy to make (and I'm not seamstress)!!!

Here is the FREE sewing PATTERN made by Spool that I used to make the birds. 

The original Spool pattern doesn't have wings, and I decided to make little ones that I hand sewed onto the sides. I also sewed up the tails to give them little "tail feathers". Also, I added a little top hat that I bought at Hobby Lobby for the boy bird and a mini veil with some extra tulle with a small flower attachment for the girl bird. The legs were made with covered floral wire. I poked holes where I wanted the legs to be and formed a U shape and looped it through the body.

It sounds harder than it looks..... :)

Here are our birds 

The cake was made and decorated by my sweet mother-in-law. The bottom layer was a white cake with key lime pie filling. The middle layer was a Chocolate Mocha Kahlua cake with Heath bar & Nutella filling. The top layer was a homemade Strawberry cake. The whole cake was iced in a buttercream frosting. Sadly, I only got to have one bite of the cake! 

BUT at least I had a small taste testing beforehand of the middle layer (same as Matt's groom's cake) which we had at Rehearsal Dinner and the top layer's extra batter was made into cupcakes!!

And let me tell you, they were SOOO tasty!!!!

When I first entered the reception, it was the first thing I could see in front of the fireplace. It was so beautiful that it made me tear up a bit. It was definitely one of my most FAVORITE things!!! Doesn't it look amazing?!

 

Thanks Mama P!

Our monogram

Aren't they so cute?!