Canary Yellow Goodness

These drapes arrive on Monday. The most delicious gold hardware will be hanging with them. Photos to come!

Farewell to Bald Head Island

Today is my last day at Bald Head and surprisingly, it's bittersweet. I thought that I would be jumping for joy and running out of here without looking back, but to be honest, I'm really going to miss this place. It's not the island so much, although it is very beautiful. I love the people that I work with and the comradery that everyone has together. I love my brides and their families and am sad that I won't see my Fall brides on the wedding day.



The people that I work with are so funny and I  laugh so hard my stomach hurts almost every day.

Exhibit A

This is Mike, my banquet steward. He does all of the grunt work around here and sets up floor plans and fixes broken chairs and puts up with me changing my mind at the very last minute. He loves the thrift store and built his own house and wears that fanny pack everyday and t-shirts that say "Platinum" on them. He is really sweet and thoughtful and buys me books about roses from the thrift store. He is hilarious and doesn't even know it. Mike is a character and a hard worker and most definitely one of kind. I wish that I could bring him with me on my new ventures just to make me laugh when I'm super stressed. Not everyone gets his humor, but he is one of the funniest people I know. The fanny pack is also ridiculous.

 

Exhibit B

I'm not going to lie, taking a boat everyday sucks, but at least the view isn't bad. Bald Head is certainly a beautiful place and I have seen some of the most stunning sunrises and sunsets on that boat. I'm not going to miss the commute, per se, but I will miss those views. It is an amazing place to have a wedding, I will give it that.

What I'm looking forward to:

Seeing more of this guy (isn't he so cute?)

 

And working in my garden and going to yoga everyday and cooking and spending time with my family. I'm looking forward to finding my own way in the wedding business and working with an amazing team and meeting new clients and traveling.

So thank you Bald Head, for molding me into what I am now, and making my skin a little thicker with a few difficult clients, and teaching me what it's like to be really appreciated, teaching me what it's like to have an amazing boss, and making me appreciate what my new life will bring me.

Keep Calm and Carry On

My life is about to change drastically and I couldn't be happier....
Tomorrow is my last day on the island.

Working on an island that requires you to drive an hour, then spend another 20 minutes on a boat, and then spend yet another twenty minutes on a golf cart just to get to my office is so not glamorous. Not even a little bit. Commuting almost three hours a day is a lifestyle that I am ready to be rid of. I have been working on this island for two years, and although I have loved my job, I am ready for a change and am excited about what the future holds. I am really excited about having "me" time and starting a routine that doesn't involve a long drive every day. Here is my list of things I want to accomplish in the next two months to have a more balanced, simplified life.

 

1. Run or go to a yoga class at least four times a week.

2. Have lunch with at least 10 friends.

3. Organize my closet

4. Have a huge yard sale and de-clutter closets and attic

5. Go to farmer's market and buy local produce

6. Print out photos from camera and organize into albums.

7. Visit parents for the weekend

8. Have in-laws for an overnight stay and make dinner

9. Read two books

10. Visit a few different Churches

11. Update blog design

12. Cook dinner five nights a week

13. Make breakfast every morning

14. Start a compost in the backyard

15. No TV at least a few days a week

16. Go to the beach at least twice a week

17. Go camping

18. Detox for one week

19. Relax more often

20. Entertain with friends at home

I am so lucky to have this opportunity and am fortunate that I have a super supporting husband. What are things that you would want to accomplish if your life was about to change for the better?

Milk & Paper

Milk & Paper is a totally adorable French company that has everything that you absolutely need in a completely ridiculous way. When shipping items to clients or friends, snazz it up a little bit with polka dot masking tape, bake pastries in striped paper cups, use the striped twine to finsih a pretty package, and those tags can be used for a thousand different things.  They have the most to die for twine, labels, straws, bags, and anything else that will make life's daily task a little less boring. Now only if these things were available in America!

I Die

I absolutely, 100% have to have this desk. It's insane and I need it in a total dream of a former ballet dancer, wannabe Nutcracker soloist that never made it because, yes, my legs are a little short and stubby and to be frank, I never had the talent, but now I'm a wedding planner and I love tulle kind of way.

Thank you Anna for sharing this goodness. It's killer.

Kitchen Love

Did I tell you that we are tiling our kitchen? Did I tell you that I found tile at Lowe's that was reasonable and then my girlfriend Sarah found the holy grail of kitchen tile that I seriously can't stop thinking about? Here it is, in all of its onyx glory. It's so sick.  The husband isn't over the moon about it like I am, but I'm hoping he will give in so I'll shut up about it and move on. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 If not, I may just have to sell an ovary.

Thoughts? Only positive ones though; do not spoil my fun.

xoxoxo

Too Hot to Cook

It's blazing here. Our electric bill came in yesterday and I had to have a come to Jesus with myself. In the end, personal hygiene  and overall sanity won in that we will continue to keep the air condition going strong, however, we will be downgrading to boxed wine. That's right.

In the midst of this heat wave, cooking and grilling are almost unbearable. Ina Garten has a most delish alternative, Greek Panzanella. It's totally yummy and requires little time in front of the stove. The time spent on the stove is frying bread, and I'm not going to complain one bit about that. (Obviously, the detox program will be delayed one week.)

Here's what you need to do in order to make a fantastic summer meal...

Adapted from Ina Garten (“Barefoot Contessa,” Food Network) 

Serves 6

•Good olive oil

•1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)

•Kosher salt

•1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

•1 red bell pepper, large diced

•1 yellow bell pepper, large diced

•1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

•1/2 red onion, sliced in half rounds

•1/2 pound feta cheese, cut in 1/2-inch cubes

•1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted

Vinaigrette:

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1 teaspoon dried oregano

•1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

•1/4 cup good red wine vinegar

•1 teaspoon salt

•1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

•1/2 cup good olive oil

1. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread cubes and sprinkle with salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes, until nicely browned. Add more olive oil as needed.

2. Place the cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.

3. For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper in a small bowl. While still whisking, add the olive oil and make an emulsion.

4. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta, olives and bread cubes and mix together lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.