Entirely Grateful

I absolutely adore these pictures Emmy took..that lead up to our magical birthday kiss, aww :)

Everyone asks you when your birthday rolls around, do you feel older? wiser?.different?..well I have to say I feel so grateful and so appreciative for everything and more importantly, everyone in my life and was so touched by the kind gestures of love yesterday. I feel every year I grow a little more thankful, reflect a little more and remind myself that life is so a beautiful thing.

My hunny and one of my besties took me out to dinner last night at an Italian place I've always wanted to try but never been to-Lia's. It was simply delicious-we had the best lemon gnocchi with bacon and peas to start and I had soft shell crabs with a corn/pepper relish. I felt like the luckiest woman in the place to have my wonderful guy and fabulous friend with me to celebrate my special day. Not forgetting the numberous phone calls, texts, fb messages, friend packages and birthday singing I got too, wow-what else does a girl need?!

and I know that I am, I am, I amm..the luckiest :)

Tickled with Love

I have been showered in love today in countless ways-- from my parents calling me to sing happy birthday very early this morning-hearing their sweet voices and high pitched i love you's & happy 25!! made me smile, a phone call from my bro (singing too-shocker!), an electronic birthday card from Evie(my soon to be mom-in-law, ha) some surprises in the mail from friends and just general lovin' for Kate..it's been so wonderful. I am so appreciative.. Happy birthday to me! :)

Bach Recap and Last Day of being 24!

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I want to take the time to write about how blessed and grateful I am for everything in my life. As I reflect back on my 24 years, I realize how loved, supported and fortunate I am and for that I am forever thank you.

So thankful for:

my health

my hubby-to-be

my fabulous family

my amazing friends (near and far)

xooxo

Here's to another great year of happiness, becoming a MRS :) and many adventures of fun~

And on to Allie....

hehehee

lucky men...

priceless facial expression

my fav shot

I wanted to post some pictures from the bachelorette party in NYC for my dear friend, Allie Gioia, she is the cutest and so here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend...

I LOVE YOU, ALLIE!~

Bday memories...

a total oldie I found from senior year in college-er, lis and i celebrating our birthday at red robin with a bunch of girlfriends, such a blast :)

Emmy came to CT for my birthday!

blowing out my candles

posing with the flowers, we match!

blowing my candles out before heading back to Washington

irises, of course, for the dinner

so lovely


leftover bbq and presents

i told you i've always liked red velvet!

hehe

aww, brad presenting me with mom's cake

blowing out my candles for my 20th birthday, that seems forever ago, wow

cupcakes my brother lugged home in the heat from NYC for me-2 boxes of these suckers, I must add :) what brotherly love

I found these pictures from past birthdays...thought I'd put them up :) I told you I like traditions, hehe

All Things Fabulous

my birthday flower!~

don't these look awesome?

I came back to work today from the best weekend-Allie's Bachelorette Party in NYC with some amazing ladies and a shower the next day in Long Island to celebrate this beauty and her wedding happiness! I will tweet (oops-post more about the details/fun when I have my camera near by :)!! )
~~~~~~
I am also pysched to go home to CT this weekend for Memorial Day to celebrate my birthday a few days late and be with my family. It has always meant a lot to me to be home for my birthday and share in many traditions...the irises always bloom around my bday, my mom goes through the trouble of making me a cake of my choice, along with a full dinner menu of my picking, usually I opt for something delicious on the grill but the home-cooked part really makes it all so special!

My mom sent me a link to a blog with red velvet pancakes, yummm-everyone who knows me knows how much I love anything red velvet so maybe I'll get surprised with some red velvet goodness in bed this weekend, wink wink--haha :) I can't wait for family time, irises and many fun memories..

Bachelorette Fun and Wedding Shower

c.e.l.e.b.r.a.t.i.o.n


I am off to Allie's Bachelorette party/wedding shower in Long Island and NYC this weekend! I can't wait to celebrate Allie's last few days of freedom and toast to her marital bliss.

Allie and I met freshman year of college and lived down the hall from one another in the dorm. She was actually my first friend at school and met her hubby-to-be that year as well. We followed one another into the same sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and have been great friends ever since. Allie has a unique way of being so sweet and sincere with her friends and having a bubblyness and fun nature too. I love being around her~

Allen and Allie compliment one another so well and I am looking forward to watching their lives unfold together and living happily ever after! I love this girl bundles and am looking forward to this weekend of all things Allie :)

xo

iPad Parents!

some fun before bed time

isn't it purdy?

isn't he adorable? giddy with excitment

I finally gave in and contributed to an early birthday/i love you/thanks for putting up with me gift for my soon-to-be-hubby and got him da...da..daaa....THE IPAD. He couldn't be more tickled and even posted the sweetest tweet from his new toy yesterday, "inaugural tweet from my iPad!"...."which, by the way, was given to me by the best fiancee in the world!" love him so much.

enjoy the pictures of the new addition to our family!

Classic with a Twist

Madly in Love~

I am all about wedding details, ideas, themes etc since I am now counting down the months until the big day. Here is an inspiration board that runs similar to the theme of my wedding- classic, traditional, Anthropology/vintage, old school..to use a few words to describe it :)

A Sneak Peek of What's to Come...

envision this cutie pie in the dress below :)

isn't this precious?! ahh

picture this but in celedon green

I am tickled with joy to hear that my bridesmaid dresses have arrived and can't wait to see my girls and their cute butts in them, hehe!! Working on all of the wedding party and their attire!

Beautiful Growth

I saw this nice quote on a blog this morning and thought it was inspiring and empowering, especially during moments lacking self confidence and love for one's self :)

Spring Happy

gorgeous

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so elegant and fresh

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the perfect rustic but fashionable setting, complete with some peonies!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend-I know I did! I love the Spring and have been enjoying the sunshine, clear skies with puffy clouds, and the flowers, love love flowers-everywhere, by my bed, in the kitchen, on the coffee table, in a bouquet, outside. Flowers are just bursts of happiness and delight, especially peonies!!

Happy Weekend!

the flavor on the top right is Red Velvet, I think it was made especially for me, so yummilicious

what a darling film, awww

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you are all relaxing, walking around in your robes, having a lovely Saturday brunch, grabbing a movie, or enjoying a cafe latte at your favorite coffee joint.

This weekend I am going to see the movie, Babies, with some friends-it looks so adorable and fun :), getting a new bedspread (Brad's parents gave such a thoughtful wedding gift to us!-a new mattress, hooray for our backs), stopping by the Greek Festival down the street-to get our share of gyros, eye bracelets and Greek dancing. OPA!

Enjoy~

Tunic Fun!

yesterday I bought this off of Ruelala, what do you think?!

How chic!

Now that the warmer months have arrived and summer is in front of us I can not wait to pull out my sundresses, shorts and other warm weather gear :)

Lately I've been eyeing all of the Tory Burch tunics and have found some more reasonable ones along the way. I think a tunic couldn't be more adorable with a pair of fitted white jeans, some cute wedges or sandles and some fun, chunky jewels..

Dana Buckman has had some adorable ones at Kohls lately too. Check out the link below to see one of the tunics I am drooling over!

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/danabuchman/tunics/PRD~597656/Dana+Buchman+Floral+Tunic.jsp

Friends, Near and Far

my loves

Lavinia (in the pretty cream shrug) and the girls to the right of her are in my

bridal party for my upcoming September wedding, yayyy

aww

Er and me for New Year's

Friends are kisses blown to us by angels.

United in D.C.-Theta girls

Christmas gathering of the Guilford girls

Childhood friends

Lauren and I lunching in MD-love her mucho

Bon bon, my love

Emmy is the pretty girl in the blue dress :)

I am so lucky to have one of my besties living in D.C. with me, Emmy,...who also happens to live in the same apartment building as me, actually right down the hall :) But I can't help but miss the rest of my friends who are scatted across the country-in NYC, Cincy, CT, Fl, to name a few. I love these girls that help define me, make me laugh, give me confidence, support me, love me and overall complete me :)