Ahhh..... I do love it

What can I say?   I just do!

These cool pics make me happy!

 

 Cute, tiny salt & pepper shakers!  I must get them!

 

I love the new aluminum bottles.  Very chic.

The new dc can design... oh hello, gorgeous!

Pinterest

I'm sure that many of you are already hip and cool enough to have jumped on the Pinterest train... my friend Carly was appalled to learn that I had not even heard of it... Shame to me!  It is my now my new favorite thing!  Mainly because it's what I love to do anyway...find new, cool things and show people.  It is a 'visual blog' if you will, and I am super excited that it exists (and a little bummed that I didn't come up with it).  Have a blast.  I am warning you, though - you will get sucked in and the time will fly!

And if you are so inclined - you may

Idaho Rehearsal Dinner...

 So... I have been putting this post off for a couple of months.  This Idaho Falls rehearsal dinner in that I helped with in July was not the greatest experience. Even as I gather these few photos - I wince a little as I review it in my mind.

The Dinner was to be held out on this lovely patio across the river from the Idaho Falls Temple.  BEAUTIFUL!  Big, spacious, classy patio with globe lights, couches and a fireplace.

Well, around 3:00 pm the wind started to pick up.  And it continued to pick up.  Tablecloths were blowing up - centerpieces were tipping - favor boxes were tumbling off - paper lanterns were destroyed - candles couldn't be lit - place cards could not be set.  The sign-in table even blew over.  The hostess (MoG) was insistent that the guests be seated outside.  The whole reason she booked the venue was for the Temple view.  Was she actually trying to control the weather?  Well...that was super fun.  About 45 minutes before the guests were supposed to arrive, she conceded, and the hotel staff hurriedly moved the tables inside.  But not into the ballroom - no!  The dozen tables were set up in the walkway between the ballroom and the windows looking out on the patio (and the Temple).

The guests waited patiently for us to finish setting up and trying to recover the decorations that had been ruined by the wind.  It finally became this:

But without the lights, the fireplace, the fresh air, the paper lanterns, etc.  The place cards didn't even make it back on the tables. :(  There was major chaos because everyone was trying to help - which was nice - but I no longer had any control over what went where.  The Sign-In table was cramped and up against a wall, the Seating Chart was not where anyone could see it, and the table with the framed Chinese Calligraphy Scrolls that I had hand-painted (for the family gifts) were right at the front where everyone else could wonder why they weren't getting one.  Ugh... 

After the 'hostess' went up to her room to regroup (cry), it went fine and nobody cared except her and me.  She was mad, I was mad, the hotel manager was I don't know what...trying to be accommodating.  One of the lessons I learned:  try not to put yourself in a position where someone can blame you for the bad weather.  Another...Accept and Allow!  Bad weather doesn't define a person, right?

Moab Wedding Photos...at last

I was able to take some really great photos in Moab when I was down there planning a wedding in May.

It was gorgeous!

The ceremony took place on top of Dead Horse Point... a fitting venue for a bride and groom that spend their free time rock climbing.  They are amazing climbers!  As the guests walked along the path to the 'point' - something magical was happening:

It was stunning!

The ceremony was perfect.  It was incredibly spiritual.  

Since the park doesn't allow any live plants brought in - we opted for a bouquet of Iron Roses found on Etsy.  The only other prop was the book that held the officiant's notes, the two dad's thoughts and the bride's and groom's vows.  I simply tied some ribbon and attached some dried flowers.
Simple.  Elegant.

 

 It was amazing!

I could have posted sooner with just the photos that I took (above) but I decided to wait until I had some from the wedding photographer.   So that's why the delay. 

The dinner and reception were held at the Red Cliffs Lodge.  I traveled from Kaysville with my SUV packed full of decor items, candy, containers, dried branches and grapevine, vases, photos, easels and anything else I thought I might need...   The bride didn't want the decor to take away from the natural beauty of the surrounding red rock so it was minimal and natural with iron accents.  Dinner was hand-carved Prime Rib.  We set out a big tub of 'bubble' solution and bubble wands to keep the kiddos occupied.  The deck was lit with strings of white globe lights. On the tables were wire photo holders with Engagements and Bridal Photos displayed.  Moss, grapevine bundles, moss-wrapped wire, tulle, and crystal drops made up the centerpieces.  At each place setting was a hand-drawn card for guests to doodle thoughts, drawings, captions, and their autograph.  The bride and groom LOVE s'mores. So in lieu of a cake, dessert was a S'mores Bar-complete with illustrated s'more building suggestions and every topping imaginable.  Music, dancing and a big bonfire kept the party going until almost midnight.  The self-serve Candy Bar allowed guests to fill a bag(s) to take home as a 'thank you'. 

Thanks for enduring the long post - it was really fun for me to review the celebration months later.

Coming soon: yet another wedding post...an Asian themed Rehearsal Dinner in Idaho Falls.