The Thoughts You Think While Thinking

While I'm in the middle of desperately waiting for my current decoupage project to make sense to me (and for the paint to dry), I found my mind wandering to things of the future. Isn't it always in these moments when we begin to become philosophical? It's the down time, the time when you're not filling you brain or hands with unnecessary tasks that you begin to ponder life's deepest questions. Mine tend to run along these lines: where is my life headed? What does the good Lord have in store for me? Will my children follow in their mommy's footsteps? (oh I hope not) Though they may not seem deep to some of you, they are the ever present thoughts in my mind - and I don't even have those kids yet!

The future is a scary, yet exciting place for me. I am waiting on the masterful plan of God to unfold before Movie Star and I (which is always thrilling), but it's been a long and frustrating journey. I don't know about you all, but when you're waiting on something that seems hopeless don't you find it hard to jump right out of bed in the morning like a kid on Christmas? Usually my eyes open to a glottal groan as my body rolls off the bed and clumsily stumbles to the coffee pot, hoping for a quick perk. Even after my daily devotional time with my Savior, I still find it hard to slap that bright smile across my wide face. I love my Lord and will wait on him until the end of time (literally), but sometimes the daily drudge is too much to handle.

Now that you know exactly what my morning consists of (and what's in my brain), I'll get to my point. I try to fill my day with things that make my life prettier -hence the site you're visiting- and keep me focused on my tasks at-hand. But it's in the moments that you have to sit still in silence, waiting for the paint on your decoupage'd vase to dry, that you are forced to skip around your little brain garden and prune the flowers that are your thoughts. I know my life will turn out just as it should, as long as I live for my God, treat people with love and respect and always do what's right. But it's hard to imagine a life filled with happiness when you're sitting in an itsy one-bedroom apartment staring at a table filled with bills and a small painted vase.

That reminds me! The vase is dry and I've got pretty little roses waiting for me to play with them. Until next time.....

Featured Wedding of the Week: Old Fashioned Seaside Elegance

It's Saturday, which means one thing. It's another edition of Inspiring Pretty's featured weddings! As always, if you'd like to have your wedding showcased, please submit it to us here. Now, onto the prettiness.

This week we'll be exploring the classic beauty of a simple, old fashioned seaside affair. This wedding is beaming with natural themes and simple traditions from years ago. Notice the bird decorations and small, simple flower arrangements. There's also gorgeous streamers and feathers, traditions dating back centuries to celebrate the couple as they leave the church. Like a classic event, nuptials took place in the church, and also dating back centuries, the wedding party marched in public to the reception celebrating the marriage. The rest of the gorgeous and down-to-earth party can be seen even greater in the photos!

pictures courtesy of Stylemepretty

8 Unique Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts on the Web

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and for those who haven't bought a gift yet for your loved one, have no fear, I've found 8 gifts from all around the world wide web for you. Some are fun, some are romantic and all are unique.

1.) Personalized M&M's

This isn't a new idea, but that doesn't make it any less cool. Write a message to your significant other or just put their pretty little face on it. They won't forget this gift anytime soon, and will probably want to keep a few for the rest of year. You can find them on Mymms.com.

2.) World's Largest Gummy Bear

Weighing in at 4.5 LB, this chewy candy will back childhood memories, and the size will make it something an adult can appreciate. For the boyfriend/girlfriend expecting chocolates, this is sure to surprise them and bring a smile. You can find them on Amazon.com as well as gourmet candy shops near you.

3.) Lovopoly

This is a cool twist on Monopoly which is designed to set the mood for couples. It can also be personalized by adding your own pictures and choosing the names of the properties. If you don't want something detailed, there is a standard setup that all couples can enjoy. You can find it on Lovopoly.com and numerous other websites.

4.) Love Pillowcases

These adorable things also bring back simple and childlike love. Hopefully this charm will rub off on you and your husband/wife each time you climb into bed, especially on Valentine's Day. They can be found in several different designs on several sites including Amazon.com.

5.) Photo Rubix Cube

For some entertainment that will last, this is a fun gift for guys or girls. As you can tell by the name, it is a customizable toy where the cubes are your picture rather than colors. There are some that are digital as well that can display up to 10 pictures. This is perfect for your nerdy spouse that thinks they're much smarter ;-) and is sweet and sentimental at the same time. You can find it on Kleargear.com as well as several others.

6.) Fake Roses

I know this sounds odd, but there is a reason behind it. There's a great line that can only be said with fake flowers. It may be corny, but if you're sentimental, it is sweet. The line is simply 'I will love until the last petal falls off'. Not too shabby, eh? This is a very simple gift and as people are scrambling to find roses under $70 on Valentine's Day, you can wander into a craft store or buy more high-end silk flowers on Alforal.com or Overstock.com.

7.) American Gothic Painting by Grant Wood Recreation

For those with a sense of humor, this a the perfect silly gift. Solidify your relationship by immortalizing it in the work of art that is the epitome of bland. If you want to make your boyfriend, laugh, you have found one of the most unique ways to. You can find it on Findgift.com.

8.) Create Your Own Chocolate

I love this website dearly. At Createmychocolate.com you can build chocolate bars your way, or should I say your Valentine's way. You can choose your chocolate type, confections, spices, contents and decorations. Ingredients range from rose petals, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and bacon to gummy bears, mint leaves and gold flakes. It's truly the best source for chocolate. Tell your loved special someone that you got them chocolate and then surprise them with this amazing treat.

It's the last major shopping day on the internet before Valentine's Day, so buy quick and good luck! If you buy one of these gifts, I hope it makes you look as if you put some considerable thought into it.

Wedding Trends: Drinks

Continuing with the edible side of the wedding, we're moving onto drinks. Although there are some new twists on old favorite drinks, the major change taking place is the drink presentation. Also, as alcoholic drink choices don't differ much besides signature drinks of the bride and groom, I'll be dealing with non-alcoholic beverages. As the rest of the wedding turns away from modernism, so do the drinks. The trend is a return to old-fashioned, elegant simplicity. There are numerous ways to do it, but there are a few definitive ways.

The chief differing element which influences trends of drinks is the idea of self-service. Rather than having waiters bustle around guests, couples are opting for the simplicity of making beverages available for guests to serve themselves. With this, pitchers and drink dispensers are becoming more popular. They add a sweet, rustic touch to any wedding.

To add a rustic feel, jars are opted for over glasses. This can also be very sentimental if you are able to get jars with a brand you like or save various jars over time. It's also the most unpretentious way for your guests to drink. Include jars with your dispensers and you have a sweet, simple yet elegant drink display.

Adding a touch to a drink isn't new, but these design elements are changing. Instead of a plain straw, a whimsical, colorful detail is added by using striped straws. A flag can add a touch of decor as well as the ever-popular umbrella. A truly natural addition, and my personal favorite, is the use of flowers. Many flowers are edible and can truly enhance a drink's look and flavor. If a whole flower is too much to you though, use petals. It's simple, elegant and sweet all in one.

For drinks that aren't mixed and don't require a dispenser, such as soda pop, the fad is to make them look as old-fashioned as possible. This is done by using glass bottles and with the most vintage labels possible. To make it even more classic, keep them in a crate or to throw them in a metal tub of ice for an easy grab. A cute vintage feel can be done by adding an old-fashioned bottle opener and straws.

Lastly, the choice of drinks are trending as well. Here the aim is to be as original as possible, while still offering drinks that your guests won't be timid to try. This is usually done by putting a twist on common drinks such as water, ice tea and lemonade. One of the greatest flavors I've seen is Ginger Mint Lemonade. You can incorporate any fruit you like, so be original, so make your lemonade as tasty as you can. Teas are also one of the most varied refreshment there is, so choose your favorite flavors. To add more pizazz, the main trend is to add fruits and other natural elements such as leaves for more zest. To flavor water in an uncommon way, simply toss in lemons, limes and mint leaves, making it different and simple.

Drinks are more important than you may think for the decor and deliciousness of the wedding. Choose the best for flavor and flair to enhance your affair.

PS: Inspiring Pretty is now beginning to showcase a wedding each Saturday. If you'd like to see yours showcased, we'd love to see it! Please submit your wedding here and we will be in touch!

Featured Wedding of the Week

We are so excited to begin this new weekly post! Weddings are one of those things that add beauty to lives. By sharing how some have made their precious day perfect, you can inspire others to create a special day all their own. What we will be doing is highlighting a different wedding every Saturday. For now, we will be scouting the web for weddings that tug at our heart but we would eventually love to share yours! So, whether you were married last week, last year or 50 years ago we would love for you to share your day with us so we can share it with our Inspiring Pretty readers. Simply submit your wedding here and we'll check it out!

For now, here is a wedding I found at Love and Lavender. It is actually the wedding of the creator of the site Aileen and her husband Ben at the Beau Lodge an hour and half north of Seattle. What caught my eye was the simplicity and down-right old fashioned backyard wedding feel it has. And that's exactly why I chose it.

Starting with the floral arrangements. These bouquets - made by the bride, bridesmaids and mother of the bride - hold simply white roses, pink ranunculus and those sweet yellow billy balls. So backyard bushel, yet colorful and elegant.

I think that fun bridal party photos are the best! Since these two had a croquet area set up, it's fantastic that they took advantage of it. They didn't try to create an elaborate backdrop, but just used the clearing and gorgeous greenery to make a memory that lasts a lifetime.

The guestbook is where people can take all kinds of liberties and be as creative as possible. Aileen and Ben decided to have people write on notecards giving advice, well-wishes or their own memories of the couple. This is a great way for your guests to feel like they'll have some impact in your future. My favorite parts are the wooden sign and the roses sitting pretty in a glass jar. Effortlessly delightful.

Held in this gorgeously vintage suitcase are wedding programs, made by the bride and groom themselves. The pinwheels were also. These two are rather crafty....

The ceremony has no floral arrangements, no trellis. The focus is completely on what's happening at the end of the aisle. No one will be able to take their eyes off the glowing couple.

The table decorations make me squeal out in excitement. Again, we find these wildflowerish arrangements inside glass jars and milk bottles, but the key to this set up is the colorful array of books which lend, ever-so-slightly, to the backyard barbeque feel.

Congratulations to Aileen and Ben for an old-fashioned meets weathered-chic wedding. Oh yeah ..... and for getting married!

Wedding Trends: Bouquet Decorations

Now we move onto a truly pretty element of the wedding: the bouquet. Today I'll only be talking about the bouquet decoration. As weddings become more original and couples take more charge with their own DIY touches, each detail of the wedding is becoming more ornate and thought out. Proof of this is that bouquets themselves have decorations now. They can span from simple white satin ribbon enveloping the flower stems or more intricate designs including feathers, pearls or photographs. Designs are differing greatly as originality and uniqueness abound. No matter what though, the overall trend is a return to classic elegance and intricate, yet simple designs. It's a rejection of clean cut modernism and a new emergence of old-fashioned simplicity and delicate beauty.

One piece finding its way into the majority of bouquet adornments is jewelry. This is a wide field, but because it is a classy occasion, usually only high-end and sentimental jewelry is used. A classic item now being repurposed for the bouquet are pearls. They make for a beautiful decoration that match any color and most designs. Obviously, it would be hard to pull them off with fabric such as linen, but anything is doable if you use some ingenuity and true design expertise.

Another classic and sentimental element returning is the brooch. I think I love this adornment the most, because it can work on any color and on minimal or ornate designs. It's also an old-fashioned touch that never goes out of style and a perfect way to add your 'something old'.

A new way of incorporating jewelry into bouquets is to simply tie a small bracelet around the bouquet. It can be gorgeous if done well. Bracelets with hearts dangling from it around your bouquet will only add to the sweetness of the day and the simple elegance of the ceremony.

As originality increase, so does the use of new decorations. One design beginning to become popular is the use of feathers. This is a new and truly unique bouquet design, and actually has quite and old-fashioned feel. It beckons the feel of the days when boas and feather headbands were popular in the 1920's. For a very classic elegant feel, this is a great option.

Lastly, no matter what the theme of your wedding is, be sure to include the season into your motif. If you incorporate your bouquet in this, use elements specific to the season (and possibly the location). For spring, use flowers that are in bloom. For summer, a homey, unique option is to use small amounts of wheat. For fall, use leaves changing colors or dark berries. And for winter, consider using pine branches, ornaments, or ivy. The season doesn't need to rule wedding motifs, but it shows consideration for your date and location to use elements of both.

As I said above, bouquet designs are increasing in originality all the time. One thing that I've realized above all is that regardless of motif or wedding colors, white always wins. The majority of bouquets that I see involve white lace, ribbon or other fabric. I love seeing new ideas, but also homage to traditions. This may be due to the return of old-fashionedness, but above all, for bouquets, the trend is white in some way. A truly imaginative bouquet would be to find a new way to include the traditional white, but that seems almost impossible :-)

Bouquets are one of the details of a wedding that is entirely the design of the bride, and is becoming a showcase for her personality and style. Use ideas, but truly use your originality to make them your own, and just remember that white and elegance never go out of style.

Want to see your wedding highlighted on Inspiring Pretty? Just submit it to us for review here. Then be sure to check out our new Wedding of the Week every Saturday!