Weekend Reads {1.17.14}

Happy Friday y'all! It's been a long week around here between work and Rob being sick. But it's the weekend and things are looking up! Rob is feeling better and I've got a big announcement coming your way on Monday that I'm very anxious to share. Frankly, my mind is a little distracted with that right now making it hard to concentrate on anything else. The theme for today's weekly reads does have a theme but I'm not quite sure it will be clear until Monday. So, to take us into the weekend, I'm sharing my five favorite blogs. These are the ones that I check day in and day out. They have inspiration lurking around every corner and make me what to push myself to the next level. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Have a good weekend!

1. Camille Styles

2. House of Earnest

3. La Petite Fashionista 

4. Fabric Paper Glue

5. Hank and Hunt

Weekend Reads {1.10.14}

Oh goodness, there is so much to talk about today and so many amazing links to share! Not only is it Friday, I've got fabulous dinner plans with a fabulous friend tonight, a fun bridal show this weekend, and most excitingly my birthday is Monday. To put it simply, next to just about every other holiday, my birthday is my most favorite! I mean what's not to love, there is always cake, cocktails, and confetti; my three favorite "C"s. So in honor of my birthday and the rest of you celebrating birthdays soon, I'm sharing my links from the week full of my must have birthday items. Hope you enjoy!

1. The Grand Margarita from Apartment 34

2. Italian Cream Cake from Boulder Locavore

3. Confetti Dipped Balloons from Studio DIY

4. Balloon Cake Topper from The Martha Stewart Crafts Department

5. Geometric Piñata DIY from Reveiller

Weekend Reads {1.3.14}

Well, we are finally back from our tour of Florida. We had a great trip spending time with family and friends, but it's nice to be home for a few days before heading back to work. I'm unpacking all my Christmas goodies today and finding a place for everything can be hard. So, to start the new year out fresh, I'm going to be taking the time today to clean out closets and cabinets and try to get organized. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while now and there's nothing like a new year for de-cluttering and a fresh start! Here are some tips from the pros on organizing and doing it in style…

1. DIY Gift Wrap Station from I Heart Organizing 

2. 15 Organizing Ideas from A Pumpkin & A Princess

3. 18 Clever Organizing Tricks & Storage Ideas from Real Simple

4. Stenciled Burlap Jewelry Organizer from DIY Design Fanatic

5. Pretty Organized from Handmade Charlotte

Weekend Reads {12.27.13}

Well my friends, before we know it, 2013 will have come and gone. I don't know if you feel the same, but it seems this year has gone by incredibly fast. Maybe it's because work really picked up this year or maybe it's because we were just having so much fun, either way, it's hard to believe we will be ringing in 2014 in a few short days. I'll share a look back at some of my favorite memories from 2013 next week, but for now, it's time to start planning those New Year's celebrations. Whether you plan on ringing in the New Year out on the town or cuddled up at home with a glass of champagne, it's always best you do it in style. I've gathered up my five favorite New Year's themed posts for you today that are sure to make any gathering the talk of the town. Have a great weekend! 

1. A Kate Spade New York NYE Party from The Glitter Guide

2. DIY Confetti Poppers from Wedding Bells

3. Favorite Drink Stations from Wedding Chicks

4. Clever NYE Favors from Fabric Paper Glue for Oh So Beautiful Paper

5. Ring in the New Year Right with She Knows

Weekend Reads {12.20.13}

Well, my friends, I have great news. My two week holiday vacation has officially begun. After a crazy few weeks of working non-stop and back to back holiday parties, I can finally relax a bit and indulge in the things I love most like family time, baking, crafting and blogging. Needless to say, I am beyond excited. The best part though is that I'm finally starting to feel the holiday spirit. I haven't been able to wipe the cheer from my face since yesterday afternoon. Santa would be quite proud actually. Now that the spirit of the season has taken over, I've gathered up my five favorite reads from the week. Each is appropriately holiday themed and certainly going to make your spirit as bright as mine! Happy Weekend!

1. Christmas Morning Pajamas & Coffee from Meg Biram

2. Mrs. Lilien's Christmas Dinner Menu from Mrs. Lilien

3. Printable Holiday Tags and Wrap from Eat Drink Chic for Oh Happy Day

4. Easy DIY Paper Bow from Hank & Hunt

5. A Colorful Holiday Table from The Glitter Guide

Weekend Reads {12.13.13}

'Tis the season so they say. The busy season that is, at least for me. I've been at back to back holiday parties for weeks now. But, the good news is, I'm in the final stretch. One last big party tomorrow and a few smaller ones next week then it will be nothing but blaring Christmas music and loads of holiday baking while wrapping gifts to go under the tree. I'm so excited to finally indulge in my favorite Christmas activities, so with a free day on Sunday, I plan on doing just that. Drinking hot chocolate by the fire while watching Christmas movies is all I really plan on doing and I'm hoping your schedule looks similar to mine! There is no real theme to this week's "Weekend Reads" but I have gathered up my five favorite posts from the week to share with you today. It's posts like these that keep me inspired and constantly striving to make this blog better. Have a good weekend!

1. Katie's Fig and Walnut Tart as seen on Camille Styles

2. DIY Monogrammed Barware from House of Earnest

3. Spiked Cinnamon Hot Chocolate from Fabric Paper Glue

4. 5 Holiday Hostess Tips from Glitter Guide

5. Typography Paper Bags from A Subtle Revelry

Weekend Reads {12.6.13}

The holidays are officially upon us. Most of my shopping is done, my tree is up and decorated, and I've started to plan out all the cookies I'm going to make. But the one thing I haven't managed to do yet is hang my Christmas wreath. Like my card, I make my own every year. I'm especially excited about this years and feel that it could be so cute it takes me through the next few years. For that reason, I'm holding off the big reveal until next week. But, until then, I've gathered up my favorite DIY wreaths to take us into the weekend. Hope you all have a relaxing few days and I will see you back here on Monday!

1. Wood Slice & Burlap Christmas Wreath from Finding Home

2. Metallic Star & Greenery Wreath from Raveena Girls

3. Pom Pom and Posies Wreath from Nest of Posies

4. Christmas Ornament Wreath from Live Love DIY

5. Peppermint Monogram Wreath from Two Twenty One

*Image from: A Bubbly Life

Weekend Reads {11.29.13}

Well, Thanksgiving is over and I managed to eat more than my weight in turkey and the fixings. While I promise myself every year I won't eat so much, it's hard to turn down that much delicious food. So, as I put last nights feast behind me, it's time to start looking towards Christmas. The first holiday task at my house is always Christmas cards. I've created a bit of a tradition by making our cards instead of doing the traditional photo cards. This is mainly because Rob hates taking pictures and secondly because I love a good DIY. I actually managed to finish our cards before Thanksgiving this year and plan on sharing them with you next week. But until then, I've gathered up some of my favorite DIY cards to share with you in hopes of inspiring you to make your own this year. Hope you enjoy!

1. DIY Paper Bead Christmas Card from All Things Paper

2. DIY Modern Holiday Greeting Cards from The Sweet Beast

3. DIY Metallic Hand Painted Christmas Cards from The Social Home

4. Ribbon Tree Cards from Martha Stewart

5. Mini Wreath Holiday Cards from Frolic! 

Weekend Reads {11.22.13}

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, my grandmother hosts a Leftover Party. All of the neighbors bring their Thanksgiving leftovers for all to enjoy. It's a great way to clean out the fridge and enjoy everyone's Thanksgiving favorites without giving up your own recipes during the main meal. What I love most though is that many people transform their recipes into a brand new dish. It's always interesting, new and fun.

 Even if you can't host or attend a leftover party, you can partake in the second option. While some think leftovers are delicious the way they are, I much prefer to create something new but equally scrumptious. So, in preparation of next week's big meal, I've gathered up my favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes. Each one transforms a traditional holiday dish into something you can enjoy for the days to come. Tell me…what's your favorite thing to do with holiday leftovers?

 1. Thanksgiving Leftovers from Food Network

2. Crispy Stuffing Savory Pancakes from Connecticut Lifestyle

3. Turkey Empanadas from Cheap Recipe Blog

4. Roast Turkey Club Sandwich from Closet Cooking

5. Leftover Thanksgiving Sushi from Tablespoon

Weekend Reads {11.15.13}

What a week it has been here! I'm not referring to the trials and tribulations of everyday life either. This week started off in the high 70s with lows in the upper 50s. Now, a mere 4 days later, I'm sitting here with my fireplace on wondering how quickly I can get to some place much warmer than here. Granted it's still in the 60s, this Florida girl is not coping well with the sudden presence of colder weather. But it's not just me who has been suffering. With the arctic front that moved through most of the eastern United States this week, many of you have been feeling the instant winter too. If you are anything like me, you've got plans this weekend to engage in anything that might be warming. From making homemade soup to sitting by a fire, every thing you might associate with heat is on my list. Since it seems to be all that's on my brain, I've gathered up my favorite stay warm reads to share with you today. Hopefully these will inspire tropical thoughts as I begin the countdown to spring….

Have a warm weekend!

1. Spiked & Spiced Hot Apple Cider from La Petite Fashionista

2. Mom's Chicken Noodle Soup with Cheddar Chive Biscuits from Eat Live Run

3. Snowed-In with West Elm from Camille Styles

4. 50 Fun Winter Activities from Real Simple

5. DIY Suede Fringed Throw from Martha Stewart

Weekend Reads {11.8.13}

My goodness has it been a busy week. Between work and planning a last minute get together for Rob's birthday at the house tonight, I am more than ready to head off to the woods for the weekend to relax and celebrate Rob's birthday.

It's no secret that I love birthdays. So, planning the last minute get together wasn't exactly a chore. We did keep it simple though opting to make a big pot of chili with all the toppings instead of a variety of hors d'oeuvres. With beautiful outdoor surroundings and a few minimal decor items, the place will be ready to go in no time tonight. I'll be sure to share pictures of the evening with you next week, but for now will share my favorite birthday inspired posts from a few of my favorite bloggers to start off our celebratory weekend!

1. Gold Stripe Favor Bags from Confetti Pop

2. Cone Party Decor from Oh Happy Day

3. Dip Dye Cupcakes from PoppyTalk

4. 25 Awesome Party Hats from A Subtle Revelry

5. Balloon Tails from Beyond/Beyond

Tell me… What are you celebrating this weekend?

Weekend Reads {11.1.13}

It's hard to believe it's already November. It honestly seems like just yesterday we were soaking up the summer sun and taking every opportunity we could get to head to the beach. However, with those days far behind us, it's finally time to accept the fact that it will be another couple of months before I can head outside without piling on layers of clothing. The one good thing this means though is that it's finally holiday season. Next to summer, this is my favorite time of the year. Spirits are typically brighter and strangers are much nicer. While work gets busier this time of year for me, it always seems that I take more advantage of days off by baking, preparing for upcoming guests, and hosting spirited gatherings with friends. So as we kick off the holiday season and the weekend, I've gathered my five favorite Thanksgiving themed posts to get us all in the spirit. After all, it's never to early to start planning… Have a great weekend!

1. 30+ Thanksgiving Centerpieces from HGTV Magazine

2. Decorative Pie Crusts from Martha Stewart

3. Fall Escort Cards from Once Wed

4. Thanksgiving Chair Back Name Tags from Cleverly Inspired

5. Apple Cider Margaritas from Fabtastic Eats

Weekend Reads {10.25.13}

Hello Friday! If words could express my level of joy right now, I sure would be doing so. After a long two weeks with little sleep and no time off, my schedule is finally clear for a full three days. Over the next couple days I've got a packed schedule of eating, sitting, sleeping, reading, and football watching and I could not be more excited. Sometimes you just need some days of very little to do. But the best part of all of this is that the release of the newest issue of LPF Mag coincides with the weekend. Just a few days ago the latest issue dropped and it's better than ever and full of fall goodness to indulge in this weekend. It features a ghoul-tastic Halloween bash, fall fashion, easy hearty slow cooker meals, and my DIY dinner party put together with only items from Lowes. So instead of sharing my five favorite reads from the week today, I'm sharing the one most fabulous read of the season! Click the link below to flip through the whole issue and be sure to have a relaxing weekend!

Weekend Reads {10.18.13}

I've got a big weekend ahead of me. With a weddings on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, I plan of living off coffee and pure will power for the next 72 hours. But the bright side is that come Monday, I can direct all of my attention (well most of it) to planning one of my favorite parties of the year, Rob's birthday. I shared a couple weeks ago the whiskey and cigars theme and I am more than ready to dive head first into menu planning, decorating, and putting together the perfect birthday bash. While full planning hasn't quite started, I have done a little bit of research. Gathering ideas to execute is always one of my favorite parts, so I've decided to share the results of my searching with you today. As I'm off to rehearsal, take a look through the links and get a bit of insight into the celebration to come. I can't wait to share the finished product with you!

Have a great weekend!

1. 12 Whiskey & Food Pairings You Need to Know About from BuzzFeed

2. Whiskey & Bourbon Cocktails from Martha Stewart

3. Whiskey Party Inspiration from Fabulous Fete

4. Creating a Cigar Bar from Dish on Design Gal

5. The Wedding Man Cave: Cellar One's Bourbon & Cigar Bar for Groom & Guests from Ashely's Bride Guide

Weekend Reads {10.11.13}

Whew! We have made it through another week. It has been a crazy one around here for sure. Between upcoming weddings, work events, and everything else, it sure has been exhausting. Next week is going to be any better though. I have two major weddings coming up next weekend and I'm tired just thinking about them. Given that I will probably be living off of caffeine for the next week or so, I'm looking forward to a weekend of relaxing. We have a friend's wedding on Saturday evening, but other than that you will find me on my couch soaking up the calm before the storm. So, in honor of my planned weekend of doing as little as possible, I've rounded up my favorite relaxing reads to kick off the weekend. Hope you find them to be relaxing as well!

Have a great weekend!

1. Perfect Pairings: Coffee + A Good Book from La Petite Fashionista

2. Champagne Cake from The Glitter Guide

3. Southern Vogue Travel Guide: Palm Beach from Southern Vogue

4. Papaya Enzyme Peel from Mrs. Lilien

5. Favorite Beach Destinations from The Glitter Guide

Weekend Reads {10.3.13}

Well, big things are happening here this weekend. Not only are Rob and I off for a weekend getaway to our favorite oyster town, Apalachicola, we are also going to be experiencing the fun of Tropical Storm Karen. While that eliminates the plan of walking the streets and taking in the cute little shops, it doesn't stop us from having a good time and enjoying the amazing food at some of our favorite restaurants. However, some are not as lucky and will be spending their weekend locked up inside simply waiting for the storm to pass. And, as we all know, the best way to pass the rain is to throw a party. I've posted many times in the past on throwing a great hurricane party, but this time I want to share some of my favorite fall inspired parties posted this week. Hopefully these will spark ideas for your own fall get togethers or inspire a weekend of fun for those stuck waiting out the rain! Have a great weekend and be sure to follow me on Instagram for pictures from the stormy weekend of fun!

1. Chili Supper from House of Earnest

2. Pumpkin Carving Party from Real Simple

3. Oktoberfest from Martha Stewart

4. Food Theme Parties for Fall from Celebrations at Home

5. Halloween Movie Night Party from Tom Kat Studio

Weekend Reads {9.27.13}

Happy Friday friends. You made it through another week and it's time to start making those weekend plans. This weekend we have a big event benefitting breast cancer research. It's a casino night gala cleverly titled "Cards for a Cure". Even though I will be there in a professional means, I'm sure it's going to be a blast and I can't wait to see how much money we raise for the cause. As for Sunday, we've got some big plans. We plan on building a compost in our backyard this weekend. I'm really excited about the concept and it has me feeling inspired and green. Therefore, I've gathered up my five favorite reads on all things "green" from fall garden parties to herb cocktails to DIY gardens. I wish I had time this weekend to try each one of these things but sometimes there's just not. Instead, I'll plan ahead for future days and read about them for now. Have a great weekend!

1. Hanging Trellis Herb Garden from Apartment Therapy

2. Rosemary Lemontini from Shape Magazine

3. Fall Vegetable Hash from Key Ingredient 

4. Rustic Garden Party from Style Inspiration and Design

5. Composting 101 from Martha Stewart

Weekend Reads {9.20.13}

Let's be honest, this is Florida and fall doesn't really occur until mid November. While the rest of the country is enjoying the cool temperatures of fall and all the fun it has to bring, we are just hanging down here sweating out the extended summer. That's never stopped us though from engaging in all the perks of the season, minus the coat of course. Even though it may not feel like it outside, I'm preparing my agenda for fall inspired activities like bonfires, s'mores, pumpkin flavored baking, and so much more. So, as we head into the weekend, I've gathered my favorite seasonal reads to help inspire you and make it feel a little more fall like at your house. Enjoy!

1. Simply Funny Halloween Decor from House of Earnest 

2. Whole Wheat Cranberry Pecan Biscotti from Eat Live Run

3. Colorful Leaf Napkin Rings from Hank and Hunt

4. D.I.Y. "Edgy Chic" Pumpkins from Small Shop Studio

5. Fall Wedding Ideas from Bridal Guide

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Reads {9.13.13}

If you follow any sort of social media you've probably realized that this week was fashion week. It's always an exciting time to see what's going to be trending the next season. Although this week of showings made me a bit sad because Summer just ended and I'm already looking to Spring. But, I'm thrilled with all the freshness that will be upon us next year. I've always considered fashion to be an insight into event trends. Chevron became a focus on the racks and the center of attention at weekend bar-b-ques and weddings alike. Next year it looks like we will be diving head first into fetes filled with soft metallics, embroidered lace detailing, bold florals, and 60s inspired prints. Here's a round up of my five favorite looks from Fashion Week that I plan on incorporating into Spring soirees...

Have a great weekend!

1. White, Bright & a Pop of Color from Mara Hoffman

2. Soft Metallics from Diane von Furstenburg

3. Lace Details from Thakoon

4. 60s Inspired Prints from Tory Burch

5. Bold Florals from Trina Turk

Weekend Reads {9.6.13}

Happy Friday dolls. I hope everyone had a blissful 4 day work week even though the short weeks seem much more stressful sometimes. I am gearing up for beautiful wedding tomorrow at this amazing South Georgia Plantation. It's sure to be full of rustic chic touches and tons of southern flair. But, what I'm most excited about this weekend are our plans for Sunday. On the agenda is a whole lot of nothing which pleases me very much after a late night at work. The idea is to make up a pitcher of rum punch and hang out on the couch catching up on all our favorite shows we have missed recently and of course watch a bit of football. After all, fantasy football did start this week and even though it's technically Rob's team, I pretend it's mine... I must say, I have a pretty good feeling about this season and I think we might even bring home the prize. With all the excited surrounding the start of football season around here, I've gathered up my favorite football themed links to share with you today. So if you're like me and you're ready to throw some amazing get togethers for the season, bust out the pen and paper and take some notes from these spirited soirees.

1. Vintage Football/Tailgate Dessert Table from Hostess With The Mostess

2. Football Party from Amanda's Parties To Go

3. Football Kickoff Party from Catch My Party

4. Tackle Your Appetite Supper Bowl Party from Passion For Parties

5. Game Day! from Everyday Occasions