Thinking of You

I ordered up some purple dendrobium orchids to thank my wonderful mother for all of her wedding planning help, dedication and love! We've been dealing with a few snags in the invitation department and I wanted to brighten her day and make sure she was still holding her head up high because she's a great lady and I am an even luckier daughter.

To you, mama...

Busy Times

So tomorrow is Friday-yay, what a relief that is to say out loud especially when this week has been long and busy, work-wise and personal-wise (made that up!)

Saturday I am taking Brad to the airport and sending him off as he will be spending the next 10 days in California with his grandparents and will be seeing his extended family too, can we say Kate is jealous? sigh...I'll definitely miss my hunny-I hate being apart from him for even 24 hours! I am obsessed with this youtube video about airport hugs but of course it makes me sad as it's bittersweet to say goodbye to the ones you love but that return of hugs, kisses and sometimes tears is always wonderful~

This weekend I will be cleaning our apartment like a mad woman, running errands, trying a new recipe or two, catching up on some Bachelorette time and hopefully going for a run or hike with Marie in Great Falls, MD--we are surrounded by such beauty and it is so nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for some fresh air and exercise especially with a good friend to share in some laughs, chatter and the gorgeous sights!

I think a Costco date with Em is in order, as well as some torro frozen yogurt from Yogiberry-oh small treats, so soo satisfying...

Next week I am hoping to see one of my childhood friends for dinner (she is doing a graduate program and living in Bmore so she's close this summer) and then I am off on Friday to N.Y.C with Em for a empire-state-of-mind as I celebrate my bachelorette party with a bunch of my girly loves.

I received an adorable polka dot invite that filled me in to the fact that we will be dining at La Bottega but that is all of the details I know-supposedly the hotel we are staying at is very chic and fun--(Em got a great deal off of jetsetter.com-score!!) and we are doing a surprise activity after dinner...no no, don't be thinking strippers--I am very much a dinner and wine, spa and magazine, girlfriend movie date, home body kind of gal, nothing wild for Katers :)

looking forward to trying this Italian spot

Planning-Event Planning, Wedding Planning...

my planner has become my bff and I can not leave home without it now!
time sure does flyYyyyyY

Between my job as an Event Planner at a Graduate Student Program at Georgetown University and my job as a wedding planner for my upcoming September 18th wedding in CT--I've been thinking of how my life has gone into over drive in the planning mode.

I love all of the details-even the itsy bitsy ones, the preciseness, the colors, the many many wedding themes that people come up with, the correspondence with different vendors and venues but wow it sure takes a lot to get everything done. It has been a real blast and privilege to have such an active role in the planning of my wedding and it just shows me that I am able to multi-task and balance that activity with my job, which is obviously a good thing :)

Wardrobe Lust

instyle.com

Ali's Glam Looks

pulling out the plaid once again
love the top of this suit-she paired it with a solid brown bottom (which I like, it's fun to mix up the top and bottom)
gorg

adore the trench coat and shades...

love this Tibi dress she wore so well~


this look is great for fall-do they have those boots in my size :)


-love this plaid shirt- she looks sweet but has a boyish edge

I have been lusting after all of the clothes Ali has been wearing on The Bachelorette and even went so far to do a search online to see where her fav shops are-of course one is in San Fran--check out her top shopping picks at Alys Grace


She wears everything so well-from her girl- next- door look of jeans, sneakers and a comfy top, to fun wraps and cozy tanks... to her girly dresses, I am loving it all!

**these images were mostly pulled off the web or taken from the examiner.com**

My Beautiful Friend, the Bride

my all time favorite shot from the wedding-this should be in a wedding magazine!!

Some of my favorite shots from the wedding of Allie and Allen~ As I look through my photo album I realize I have plenty more favorites :)

Another CT Weekend

so trueweheartit.com

i think this invitation set is precious-especially with the little ticket...my mom, man and I have gone through a lot of hard work to personalize every detail of the wedding, especially the invitations-I'm so proud of them :)

This week has gotten ahead of me and I can't believe I am off on another weekend adventure home to CT-after a wonderful Long Island wedding this past weekend.

I still need to post pictures from Allie and Allen's wedding but I haven't had a chance yet, as I've been doing final invitation prep this week and had a dinner with a friend whose moving to Boston at the end of the month--busy busy...I must say I am SUPERRRRR thrilled that the invitations will be sent out on Monday so I am so excited for this next step in the wedding planning process, double yay :)

Friday:
-physical therapy for my achy back
-wedding band update appointment
-marriage license
-wine tasting/rehearsal dinner menu finalizing

Saturday:
-mani..i'm thinking red!
-run by the water
-bridal shower at my cousin's home
-hanging out with the parents and fiance/showing him gifts I received from the last shower [i know this sounds funny but between splitting our time between each others parents' homes and racing around to appointments we ran out of time to do this last time we were in town]
-5pm mass

Sunday:
-picking up some food at one of my fav spots
-church appointment
-appointment with the church music organizer

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Love Quote

wrapped up in you

at our Engagement party in California-being silly with B

"light up, light up..i'll be right beside you"

As my wedding in September is now about 2 months out--I keep thinking how lucky I am to have the man of my dreams in my life. Thank you for making me the happiest girl-you give so much to me every day with your kindness, love and all of your support.

What are you grateful for each and every day?!

Mr. Ding-a-Ling!

D.C. is still experiencing major heat and even the frequent rain storms seem warm with their heat-filled rain drops and flash flood style to try to chase out the warmth for a few minutes! This weather and time of year-- summer-- especially make frozen treats tempting...even the pictures of the icecreams bring back fun memories--my brother loved the bomb pop and it always makes me think of the fourth, of course!

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All kids remember the familiar sound of the icecream truck coming around the corner and remember the mad rush to grab some cash off of the corner in order to acquire that favorite icecream. But how many calories/guilt is in that tasty treat?! I found this on popsugar.com and thought it was pretty interesting...my fav frozen treat was the toasted almond, yumm! I think you have to give in to the indulgence, come on now people!!-the innocent smile and childhood memories are totally worth it :)

Cappuccino Monday

I had the time of my life this weekend watching Allie become Mrs. Castner and looking absolutely stunning and glowing all day and night :) I will post pictures from the wonderful weekend soon...but need some coffee first to wake up these sleepy eyes! I also need to catch up on my beloved blogs...how I've missed you :)

~~Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs Castner~~

A Long Island Wedding Weekend

Glow is listed in Allure's October 2009 Best of Beauty directory, as DC's best place for tanning!

So I got my spray tan tonight at Glow in Georgetown and am all ready to go to Long Island for Allie and Allen's wedding-I have everything laid out for the trip and am now just getting my bags all set and all our toys for the car ready!

At 6am we are off to Long Island (Great River NY to be exact) to celebrate Allie and Allen's wedding and it's the first wedding I am in! So excited for them and for this wonderful weekend ahead!

we will be wearing raspberry colored dresses in all different styles-I'll post pics of us looking all purdy :)

Are you an Essie, OPI, or Chanel nail polish kinda gal?

I've heard that Channel nail polish is great and lasts forever

Craving this color, heard it looks great on everyone-we will see about that, won't we?!

I got a mani and pedi for Allie's wedding after work and did marshmallow on my hands and rumple's wiggin on my feet--a pretty lavender color. I usually love the Essie colors for the soft shades that are always timeless but have found some awesome colors in OPI and am convinced that stuff lasts longer..

Marshmallow-one of my favs

Rumple's Wiggin-where do they come up with these names?

Hair--A New Look for Me?!

she is such a beauty, love her new hair cut

maybe a little too light for me but its a nice in between... more blonde for me and a lighter shade of brown... with a nice glow to it--mandy always looks amazing though and has impeccable skin. i bumped into her a few years back at the Super Saturday charity shopping event in the Hamptons and I was blown away but how perfect she looked, yes I did say perfect..and flawless :)

Olivia Palermo-this look might be too dark for me but I think she looks absolutely gorgeous...love her look

I've been highlighting my hair since I was about 15 years old-I use to do the ole lemon juice trick and then roast in the sun for a few hours to try to get "natural" blondeness and when that wasn't good enough I then resorted to going to the salon and getting a partial highlight on top to get that beachy girl look :) Over the years I've laid on the blonde thicker and thicker and even went really bleach blonde not too long ago. Now I'm trying to get a more blended look, where I am still highlighting but want it to look more natural and not as fake Barbie doll anymore..

Anyway, I was thinking after the wedding it would be nice to return to my natural, pre-chemical treated hair which is "dirty blonde." But I am really liking darker shades now and love some of these darker looks...I think it's so pretty-- the brown hair color with some caramel highlights subtley tucked in. I think a bob look with maybe a swept to the side part might be in order as well..hehe...

What do you think? What would work well for me.....

my coworker, Lauren, just told me to try a hair style program so I found one: here and will let you know the results!

Mother Daughter Love Inspiration

people.com

I came across this photo today in my daily people.com catch up and had to post about it! I think Halle Berry seems like a loving and attentive mother and I love her park play dates and adventures she shares in with her daughter, Nahla. I think its important to let your children partake in different experiences and have them exposed to the large world that surrounds them. Nahla is going to be the most beautiful woman when she grows up-wow, those almond eyes and her stunning features..

My mom just celebrated her birthday this weekend and this picture made me think of how I use to hang all over her as a little girl and ask her "why" about everything and ms. chatterbox (me) could never stop asking a million questions about everything, nor could I sit still and was deemed in kindergarten, the "wiggle worm" ha...I love and appreciate childhood innocence :-)

Allie's Upcoming Wedding

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.H.I.P

Theta love
Homecoming Weekend
Moving into Good Year senior year
Theta Formal--so pretty Al :)
Visiting Allie in New Jersey at her new apartment/town
I couldn't be more excited to say that one of my best friends, Allie, is getting married in exactly 6 days!! Yayyy- I am so excited to watch her and be by her side as she becomes husband and wife with Allen-this weekend will be quite the celebration~ We met in college freshmen year, became wonderful friends, found ourselves joining the same sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta and have remained close after college as we do weekend getaways together, share in phone chats and have a lot of fun together!! Here are a few glimpses of our amazing friendship:

Theta party

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May you and Allen keep dancing away together as you travel down the road of life. May God bless you both each and every day on your adventure as friends, partners and lovers. xoxo