Engage-iversay!

September 20, 2008

Six years ago today, Joe asked me to marry him. What a day that was!

Wofford played the University of South Carolina that day - and almost won! I was surrounded by family and my closest friends at the tailgate and game (which I didn't realize until later that Joe had asked them all to come without me knowing!)

I waited outside of the locker room to take a picture with him in his jersey, just as I had done for the million games before, and I couldn't figure out why he was acting so weird. I chalked it up to him being mad about losing, and went back to the tailgate with everyone.

When he got there, he asked me to walk over with him away from everyone, and he dropped down to one knee and asked me to marry him with a ring that held the diamond that once belonged to my great grandmother Molly. I was so surprised and in shock that Joe was able to plan the perfect proposal without my nosy self finding out about it.

The most perfect day with the most perfect boy and I will cherish those memories forever!

Thoughts for Thursday

*I'm seriously stinking at keeping up with this blog. I've been so busy traveling and doing calligraphy, and mollyMAKES gets put on the back burner!

*I think summer is officially over here in New York. Last week, I was sweating my ass off, and this week, I'm freezing. Hoping this isn't indicative of another crazy winter! 

*I spent two fabulous weeks in South Carolina spending time with my brother, Ben, before he left on The World Race - a mission trip around the world to 11 countries in 11 months. We were so sad to see him go but I am so stinking excited for him and the adventures he will have over the next year. He has the most amazing heart and will make such a huge difference in this world…I just know it! 

Stole this from his squad mate, Katherine - They spent their weekend off at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and were surrounded by volcanos. So cool!

Isn't he the cutest!? Can't wait to see him next July!

*I'm obsessed with Trader Joe's Quinoa and Black Bean Infused Chips and their Tropical Mango Pineapple Salsa. That stuff doesn't even last 2 days in this house. Get you some! 

*I decided to jump back on the ombre' bandwagon while I was at home, and my sweet aunt did such a good job! I showed her the picture on the left and she totally rocked it! I've never had so much blonde in my hair, but it's funky and I love it.

*We are meeting our friends, Pat and Marissa, in NYC the first weekend in October, and I am so stinking excited! I miss living so close and being able to go whenever I want! As always, we are revolving our entire trip around food. I'm hungry just thinking about it! I'll do a post soon on all of my favorite NYC spots!

*This week, I'm adding a few new wedding items to my Etsy shop! I also redid the banner in my shop and the header on this blog to match. I think I'm finally happy with them both! 

*I ordered this knock off Zara Blanket Scarf on Instagram and can't wait for it to come. It was sold out last year and I was so sad! Lord knows I will definitely be needing it outside soon since it's already cold in September!

Happy Thursday! It's almost the weekend…woo hoo!

Linking up with Annie and Natalie! 

Weekend Recap

We had a super busy, but super fun weekend! 

Friday night, we celebrated our sweet friend, Chelsea's, birthday in style by riding this bad boy around Troy to some of our favorite bars.

I stupidly wore a maxi dress and sandals to pedal this thing - why, I have no idea - so I rode the first leg of the trip on the bench in the back and didn't have to peddle. Score!

It was such a cool experience, and we were really surprised and glad that they let us bring our own coolers of drinks on the bike. We played a few games of flip cup before going into the bars and it was so. much. fun. 

If any of y'all live in the Capital District - you definitely have to try Capital City Brewcycle!

Saturday was spent recovering from the Brewcyle festivities. Ugggh. Rough! Then Saturday night, we went to a going away party for our friend, and Joe's coworker, Steve, who is leaving us for bigger and better things in Syracuse, NY!

Today I have been doing nothing but calligraphy and working on this blog (check out the new calligraphy page above!) and it's been nice to have a whole day to devote to it! I just listed this new print in my Etsy shop, and have been working on some samples and some gorgeous wedding invitation envelopes for my friend Brittany!

Hope y'all have had an amazing weekend! :)

Sophisticated Nursery

A couple of months ago, we moved to a smaller apartment just north of Albany. The downtown loft was just way too expensive and wayyy too loud on the weekends. (Wow, do I feel like a grandma saying that!) Anyway, Joe has less than a year left of his clerkship, and at this point, we don't know where we will be living afterwards. We are so tired of packing and unpacking, so we just decided to live with the bare necessities here and I'm under strict orders of NO DECORATING. If you know me, you know how hard that is; but it's actually been kind of nice not to have to worry about sprucing this place up! When I get the itch to decorate, I make an Olioboard and that usually does the trick. 

No, I'm not pregnant - but I'm obsessed with designing nurseries. Yesterday, my new favorite artist, Emily Jeffords, had an Instagram sale and I bought two prints from her new botanical series. I am so excited to get my hands on them! I decided they deserved to have a whole nursery designed around them so that's where this board came from.

I absolutely love nurseries that don't scream baby. A sophisticated room that can grow with the baby is so practical - switch out the crib for a bed and you have yourself a room fit for a little girl! I have loved this image a Design Sponge tour for forever and got the idea to use black and white in this room from it. What a lucky girl!

Daphne's Glamorous Nursery

I seriously wish I could live in this room. It's a mix between Palm Beach Regency and boho eclectic and I'm really loving it. The brass ram is a nod to my high school days (Go Rams!) and I think any little girl would be lucky to have that gorgeous Slim Aarons photograph in their room! 

Emily Jeffords Botanical Prints

Slim Aarons Poolside Glamour Print

World Market Lotus Pendant

DaVinci Jenny Lind Crib

RugsUSA Pink Overdyed Rug

Please tell me I'm not the only one who designs nurseries for their nonexistent children?? ;)

Happy Friday!

Gone to Carolina

We had the most fabulous week in South Carolina earlier this month. We had two weddings on back to back weekends - so we decided to make a vacation out of it. And boy, was it much needed. I've missed home!

I was able to fly home a few days before Joe drove down, so I got to hang out in Simpsonville with my parents and grandparents and it was wonderful! We drove down to our lake house in Bonneau Beach on Lake Moultrie and spent the night before Joe and I were off to Fripp and Beaufort for our sweet friends Bria and Greg's wedding. It was so much fun seeing our favorite Wofford friends! Since we live so far away, weddings are just about the only time we get to see these sweet friends! The wedding was at First Pres in Beaufort and the reception at The Beaufort Inn. It was just absolute perfection and Bria in her custom handmade dress was just stunning - and to top it all off, she wore my veil! So special!

 My parents' gorgeous back yard

 On our way to the lake

 Brunch at Hominy Grill in Charleston with Joe's parents - sooo good.

 Pretty views driving to Beaufort

 Fripp before the wedding

After the fun festivities in Beaufort, we met up with Joe's parents, brother, and our future sister-in-law at Wild Dunes to stay for the week…woo hoo! They flew in from Kansas City and we had so much fun at the beach all week.

I had to leave the beach a couple of days early to work on stuff for Tori's wedding - a.k.a. the best weekend ever. There's just something about being with your hometown besties and your family that makes me so incredibly happy. Everything about the wedding was beautiful and I've never seen a more stunning bride! I was thrilled to be able to stand by my sweet friend on her special day.

Best wedding band EVER - Charleston Groove Factory. All of the girls may or may not have been drooling over the lead singer as if he was Nick Carter. haha.

 And some pictures from Richard Bell Photography:

Such a fun week and am counting the days 'til we get to visit again!

Tori's Wedding

Flowers. Ohh flowers. I love them so, so much! I get it from my landscaping daddy and gardener mama - and they just make me so happy. Before my bridal portraits about 4 years ago, my mom and I decided that we were going to make my bouquet for the pictures ourselves. I think that's when my love affair with arranging flowers began. When my sweet friend Tori was in the midst of planning her gorgeous Charleston, SC wedding - I volunteered to make the bridesmaids bouquets. She definitely saved a lot of money, and I had so much fun making these beauties! My mom (my favorite assistant!) helped and I think they really turned out beautiful. The soft pink peonies and the lace ribbon might be my favorite parts. They were perfect with Tori's bridal bouquet from WildFlowersInc. Dying to do more bouquets and arrangements soon! (hint hint - who's getting married??)

Here are a few amazing tutorials if you are interested in making your own bouquets:
DIY Hand Tied Bouquet Tutorial
How to Make a Trader Joe's Wedding Bouquet
How to Make a Colorful, Oversized Bouquet

The huge order from Horst Wholesale Florist
(anyone can buy flowers there - you don't need a tax id number!!)

My gorgeous mama/assistant ;)

I always have to look at the bouquet in the mirror to see if I need to add anything…which I did!

I also made some little personalized mason jar chalkboard signs that were so cute on the bottles on the bar, and the picture garland from the shower we threw them was perfect there! She also used the gift sign and bride and groom signs from the shower and they looked great! 

{signs are listed in my etsy shop}

{photos by richard bell photography}

The wedding was absolutely breathtaking - will share more pictures soon!