Sarah And The City

Dressed to Celebrate

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001-06:00

With six weddings and multiple showers, bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinners to go to this year, I am getting an early start on shopping for all of these pre-wedding events. I am so excited for all the couples who are tying the knot this year (including the best man and maid of honor from our wedding but not to each other!) and even though I'll be wearing a bridesmaids dress for some of them, I know there will be several occasions where I'll find myself needing something to wear.

For showers and bridal brunches:

I love stripes and I feel like they're everywhere right now. I like them best in bright colors and varying widths so they don't look too rugby-ish. Pair them with a short hemline and you've pretty much got my Spring wardrobe right there.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

For bachelorette parties:

Sparkly sequins and bright pops of color are perfect for the last fling before the ring. Pair these dresses with high heels, a textured clutch, and whatever fun bachelorette toys the hostesses provide.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

For rehearsal dinners and receptions:

Sophisticated and polished but definitely not boring is the way to go for rehearsal dinners (pockets to hold tissues you'll need for any sentimental speeches are a plus) and receptions. I also recommend looking for dresses that have room to move when you're on the dancefloor!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

2012-01-11T09:20:00.000-06:00

I am obsessed with scarves and was beyond thrilled when I discovered this video. It gives great ideas on fun and unique ways to wear my favorite cold-weather accessory. I love "The Infinity," "European Loop," and "The Pull and Twist."

Which ones were your favorite?

20 New Year's Resolutions for 20-Somethings

2012-01-10T09:09:00.000-06:00

At 27.5, I am guilty of doing more than one of these. I know I'm not the only one, but I can definitely see why some of these things just need to stop happening. Particularly the one about the Kardashians (and I am proud to say I am not and have never been a fan of theirs!).

1) Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.

2) Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.

3) Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses. If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy. If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.

4) If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best. If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.

5) Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.

6) Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them. It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.

7) Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.

8) Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.

9) Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.

10) Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months.

You’re not going to deactivate your account. You don’t know how.

11) Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain. This is what the olden days were like.

12) Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television. Swap suggestion: Real Housewives of Anywhere for HBO’s Enlightened.

13) Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts. They really don’t need any more attention.

14) Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do. Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.

15) If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.

16) Volunteer once over the next 90 days. You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.

17) Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.

18) Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.

19) Crap or get off the pot. This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.

20) And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”

via

images via pinterest

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T09:34:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! Now that we're a few days into 2012, I've finalized my list of things I want to work on for this year. I don't like creating "resolutions," but I do use the new year as an opportunity to reflect on things I think I can or should improve.

Here's my list:

1) Riding my bike more: I used to be so good about going for bike rides in the evenings after work and I really want to get back into that. It's tricky right now since it gets dark so early, but come Spring/Summer I definitely plan to take my bike out more.

2) Cooking at home more: This is another thing I used to do a lot that somehow just stopped happening. There are a lot of new recipes I want to try and I plan on introducing my husband (who is just about the pickiest eater ever) to new foods, too.

3) Spending less and saving more: Isn't this always a new year's goal?! We are planning to buy a house later this year so it's definitely time to buckle down when it comes to spending less on frivolous items (damn you, Target, for being my weakness!) and focusing on what will undoubtedly be the biggest purchase we've ever made.

4) Not sweating the small stuff: Sometimes I am good about this, and other times not so much. Either way, I just want to start being better about remembering what's really important and not wasting time worrying about silly things.

What are your goals for 2012?

And, on a totally random note, since the only pictures I took on NYE was poor quality iPhone pics, here's a peek at the ridiculously sparkly nail polish I wore. China Glaze's "Blond Bombshell." I highly recommend it for any occasion where glitter is appropriate.

Here's to a fabulous 2012!

Christmas Recap

2011-12-30T09:12:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! This was our first Christmas together as a married couple which also meant it was the first year we spent Christmas with both families. Luckily both sets of parents live in the same city so we didn't even have to leave town to see everyone!

Our tree for this year. My color scheme is gold, silver, and white, but I'm thinking about changing that up for next year. I've also decided we need a bigger tree or maybe I just need to put less ornaments on it!

Stockings! I got these from Pottery Barn a few years ago and I really like them, but I've lately been thinking their small stockings are cuter so I might be changing that up for next year as well. I can't believe I'm already planning Christmas for next year--what's wrong with me?!

Dr. Pepper's biggest fan. Seriously.

My new iPhone docking station. It charges, plays music, and also works as an alarm clock. Love it!

Stocking stuffers: Pilot G-2 colorful pens. In every color. I got these from my husband, sister, and brother in my stocking; maybe they should have talked to each other before purchasing!

Wearing our new North Face gear. I got this vest and the hubs got a new jacket.

Other favorite Christmas gifts not pictured include new clothes for work and play, Essie's Bobbing for Baubles which I can't wait to get on my nails, and new personalized stationary with cute Paper Source envelopes--my fave! I also got a new Paper Source planner and great big desk calendar. Those, along with my new colorful pens pretty much make me the office supply dork that I am.

This is one of my favorite ornamnets, I bought it at the Houston Nutcracker Market this year. I love personalized anything and ornaments are no exception. I went a little overboard this year on the "couple" ornaments but it was our first Christmas so I figured I'd do a lot this year and not so much in upcoming years.

This one is from Lenox. It's kind of hard to see but it has our names and wedding date on it.

A mitten and gingerbread men - what could be more Christmas-y?!

I love this mini chandelier which I also have in white.

Our bride and groom ornaments from the Nutcracker Market. See, told ya I went a little over the top on the wedding ornaments!

This is a porcelain doll that my grandma made for me on my first Christmas in 1984. It's so special to me and I love putting it on the tree every year.

Along with our big tree, we have a mini tree with a Texas Tech theme in honor or our alma mater. I also put other cute red ornaments on this year, including all my favorite Santa ornaments.

This cupcake ornament is a new one I got this year and I love it. Also a Nutcracker Market purchase.

What did Santa bring you for Christmas this year?

Homecoming

2011-12-29T09:35:00.001-06:00

Hello dear friends! After a very long (and unanticipated) hiatus, I am back and have missed my blog oh so much. I've been slowly getting back into the swing of reading my favorite blogs, and I figured it was finally time to return to my own.

As I said, my hiatus was unintentional and the only excuse I have is that life got in the way. The biggest thing that happened was I got a new job right around Thanksgiving time so that, combined with all the holiday happenings lately have contributed to my lack of blogging.

I am loving the new job so far but missing all of the great people I left at my old one. Luckily my old co-workers turned into truly great friends and I have been keeping in touch with them.

The hubs and I just celebrated our first Christmas together and I will be posting more on that (including my favorite gifts!) tomorrow. But in the meantime, since late is always better than never, here's our Christmas card for this year (compliments of Tiny Prints).

One of my new year's resolution is to get back into blogging so wish me luck! I am going to start pre-planning and scheduling my posts so I think that will be helpful.

Christmas recap coming up tomorrow! And a big congratulations to my IRL friend, Savanah, on her recent engagement! I know Savanah will do a destination wedding and I can't wait to hear where (and when!) we're going!

Monday Motivation

2011-10-24T11:10:00.001-05:00

I know you are all shocked that I'm updating my blog because it's been about a week since my last post. I promise I'm trying to be better, sometimes my intentions just aren't enough to get me to actually do something.

Anyway...Happy Monday, friends! I had a great weekend that included celebrating the wedding of two wonderful friends and watching Texas Tech beat OU in Norman! That was awesome to say the least. I could not be any prouder of my Red Raiders!

But, since the weekend is over and it is Monday again...here's what I am looking forward to this week:

1} Indulging in my new dark polishes that I ordered via beauty.com a few weeks ago. I am rocking Essie's "Sole Mate" right now but this weekend I am changing to "Licorice" since it is Halloween and all.

2}Getting back into running now that the weather is cooler! I've had some great runs over the past few weekends, none of which included the risk of getting a heat stroke. Amazing, right?

3} I know October isn't "officially" over yet, but it's getting pretty darn close which means it's almost time to decorate for Christmas. Yes, I look forward to this season all year, and I am not ashamed to admit it! Stores are getting more and more Christmas decor in and I have been waiting long enough to start purchasing it. This weekend, I am starting the hunt for ornaments that will match our tree's color scheme of silver, gold, and white.

4} Going home to a clean house today! Our wonderful housekeeper has been coming every other week and it is so worth every penny. I love not having to vacuum, dust, or scrub the bathrooms. Having fresh sheets on the bed is definitely the icing on the cake!

5} Taking the photo for our Christmas card with close friend and photographer extraordinaire Chelsea this weekend! I have some fun ideas for this photo that I have been talking to her about and I can't wait to start working on our first Christmas card as "The L's"!

6} Catching up on all the great shows my DVR taped last night while I was sleeping on the couch suffering an allergy attack. I am particularly excited about the new episode of "How To Make It In America" and the second part of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reunion.

What are you looking forward to this week?

P.S.- I want to wish a very sweet blogger and my IRL friend Savanah a very happy birthweek!

Steal, Save, and Splurge

2011-10-11T09:17:00.002-05:00

To say my wardrobe has received a boost in the dress department lately would be an understatement. It started out when I was looking for a dress for my friend Lori's upcoming wedding. I am in the house party and everyone is wearing black. I gave my old LBD to my sister, so I wanted/needed to get something new.

I found a dress and then realized I should probably get something for the rehearsal dinner, too. Most of my dresses are for warmer weather and I wanted to wear something with tights for the rehearsal.

Then when I was shopping I found so many things that would be great for other occasions: upcoming holiday parties, church, work, etc.

I found some great steals (gotta love a good sale!), got some great deals on full-priced stuff, and did a teeny bit of splurging, too. Here's what I bought:

1} I bought this dress at Loft for $11! Yes, $11! Isn't that awesome? It was final sale which I usually try to stay away from, but for $11, if I only wear this once to lay around my apartment, I will still get my money's worth.

2} This was a Nordstrom Rack find for $45! It's cotton, so a little more casual, but I think it will be great for work or a shower or something. For $45, I'm sure I can find somewhere to wear it. Ha!

3} This is the dress I'm wearing to the wedding. It's BCBGeneration and got it from Zappos. For anyone who hasn't used Zappos to buy clothes, I highly recommend it. Free shipping and no tax is always nice. Plus, I had some coupons so I got this baby for $40 off.

4} I managed to find this little number on the Loft website in the sale section. It was on sale and an extra 30% off so I got it for $45. Pretty sweet, huh? It's kinda similar to the belted purple dress above but the fabric makes this one a little more formal. I bought both dresses specifically for church but I think I'll get a lot of use out of them.

5} This dress is from Loft, too. It was full-priced, but I had a 25% off coupon. I never buy anything full price at Loft because I know there will be a coupon or sale soon if there's not one already. I really like the color of this dress and I think it will be good for a shower, church, or any other special occasion.

In case you're noticing a pattern and wondering...I only wear dresses/skirts to church. I don't know why, but I guess I feel too casual wearing pants there. I have nice pants for work but I don't really ever wear them anywhere else. I guess since I wear pants to work all the time, I like to change it up outside the office.

And now for the no-coupon-or-sale purchases. It almost hurts me to say it, but sometimes I pay full price for things. Ouch, that did hurt a little bit.

6} This is a Calvin Klein dress I got at Macy's. It's a lot cuter in person than on the model. Isn't it crazy how that happens sometimes? It's also not as dark of a gray as it is in this picture.

7} This is another cuter-in-person piece. Skirts are tricky to find so if I find one I like, I usually buy it. This ons is Gianni Bini from Dillard's. It's pretty fitted, so I think it will look great with a flowy top, tights, and booties.

8} I think this one is my favorite. It's Jessica Simpson and I have never owned anything of hers before but I saw this and just had to have it. It's a great cute and fit and I love the bow belt. I can't wait to pair this with tights. And as a bonus, it has pockets! Love that :)

Where do you like to shop for dresses?

Weekend Recap

2011-10-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

After my lack of blogging last week, I am determined to get back into the swing of things and be a good blogger this week! Starting with today...Monday. I wish it was still the weekend because I had a great weekend despite Tech losing to A&M Saturday night. It was rough, but luckily we were with good friends and still had managed to have a good time despite the upset.

I finally hung up the photos for my photo collage last weekend and managed to actually take some pictures of it yesterday. It's not nearly as cute, fun, or creative as many of the photo/frame collages on Pinterest, but it's nice and clean which is just more me and goes better with everything else in our apartment. If you want to see some super cute collages, check out Savanah and Chelsea's.

I also finished decorating for Fall last weekend. I love decorating for Fall but it really just makes me even more excited to decorate for Christmas. I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday (and miraculously left without buying anything!) and they had gotten some more Christmas stuff in. I wanted to buy everything but of course I will wait until it's 50% off :)

This pumpkin is sitting right outside our front door. Gotta represent!

Do you like my Fall runner? I got it from the Crate and Barrel outlet online for $12.95! It comes in a few other colors and you can buy it here.

I filled these hurricanes with leaves instead of their usual black rocks to add a touch of Fall to the dining room.

And now on to the best part of the weekend...

Babysitting this little cutie Sunday afternoon! Madison (also seen here and here) is so special to us. She is my husband's sister's daughter and we love having one of our nieces close by. She is ten months old and came over for a play date yesterday while her parents were running errands.

She is crawling all over the place now. And climbing up on EVERYTHING!

Madi love loves her puffs. I hid them under her little cups and she would look for them and get so excited when she'd find one.

Puffs belong in my mouth, not under my cups!

She is such a good girl--she ate all her food, drank her whole bottle, and did not cry once. We love spending time with her and are so glad we get to watch her grow up. I was already missing her five minutes after she left.

Hi everybody! Happy Monday!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

PS- I finally tried Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte yesterday. Even though I don't drink coffee, I wanted to see what all the hype was about. And now I know...

Monday Motivation

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Aside from the awful allergy attack I suffered through on Saturday, I had a great weekend because my Texas Tech Red Raiders pulled off a win against Kansas after being down 20 points in the first quarter. I wasn't sure it was going to happen, but I am so glad it did! We are currently 4-0 for the season, woohoo!

Like most of you, I am in shock that October is already here. But, I do love Fall, Winter, and the holiday season so there are no complaints here! Here's what's motivating me through this first Monday of October:

1} Cooler weather! Definitely not "cold" by any means, but it's now cool enough to wear jeans on the weekends. I am currently on the hunt for the perfect pair of black jeggings. Any suggestions?

2} This week's nail color: Essie's "Sew Psyched." It's a grayish olive green. Great for Fall.

3} New crockpot recipes. I use my crockpot a lot during the "cold" months to make warm, hearty meals. I am trying the beef stroganoff from this awesome blog this week.

4} Houston's annual Greek Festival. I will need to wear my stretchy pants because there is lots of good food to eat at the Greek Festival every year. My personal favorite: ice cream sprinkled with crushed baklava. Opa!

5} And of course, I am looking forward to Tech's last game (at least for a while) against big rival Texas A&M. Saturday night can't get here soon enough!

What's motivating you this Monday?

"It's OK" Thursday

2011-09-29T08:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday, friends! I apologize for my lack of blogging this week, but I am linking up with Neely and Amber for "It's OK" Thursday!

It's OK...

...to hate the new Facebook but know you lack the strength to actually delete your account

...to feel like Target robs you every time you go in there and leave with a bunch of stuff you don't need

...if you have to take your multi-vitamin at night because taking it in the morning makes you nauseous and you don't want people thinking you have morning sickness

...to choose re-runs of the Big Bang Theory on TBS over all the new shows on your DVR

...to wish you drank coffee so you could see what the whole pumpkin spice latte craze is about

...to "dress up" a t-shirt with a nice skirt and heels when you're too lazy to iron anything

What are you saying "It's OK" to today?

Fashion Friday

2011-09-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Yay for Friday! I am definitely looking forward to the weekend. We are continuing my best friend's birthday celebration tonight with a ladies dinner and tomorrow I am planning to do some serious Fall cleaning, decorating, and of course, football watching. Sunday I am super excited about my first ever H-Town Bloggers Meetup! I am sure there will be lots of pictures taken (and lots of blog posts afterwards) and I am looking forward to finally meeting some of the people whose blogs I have been reading!

I have been noticing more and more quilted patterns on bags, shoes, jackets, sunglasses, etc. and I am loving this texture lately.

1} Burberrry coat- $495

2} Calvin Klein "Chelsea" bag- $98

3} J.Crew "Excursion" vest- $98

4} Hunter "Regent Savoy" boots- $175

5} Kate Spade "Neda 2" wallet- $225

6} Michael Kors gloves- $59

What are your favorite quilted items?

Best Friend Birthday

2011-09-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

Happy 27th Birthday, Allison!

Can't wait to celebrate tonight and tomorrow!

Remember the time we {accidentally} wore matching sweaters to Chelsea's Christmas party?

You are the best friend a girl could ask for. I can't believe we've known each other for 7 years, which means we were 20 when we met. So crazy to think about.

Love you, Boo! Thanks for always listening to me, giving me honest advice about any and all purchases I make (whether it's clothes, shoes, home decor, or nail polish), going to the movies with me every Sunday, and bringing me back magnets from all your awesome vacations.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-09-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

Hump Day is finally here, woohoo! I can't wait for a new episode of Modern Family and The Middle tonight and I am really excited about the upcoming weekend! Here's what I am loving this Wednesday:

1} The latest addition to my jewelry collection: David Yurman pearl bracelet

2} Our new TV obsession: Breaking Bad! This is one crazy show and definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach, but we are loving it so far. We just started season 2 last night and I can't wait to see where the crazy storylines are going.

3} Essie's Fall line (you all know I'm obsessed...) and this awesome giveaway over at A Wedding Story!

4} All the Halloween candy I've been seeing in stores lately! My local grocery store and Target are completely stocked with trick or treat goodies and I can't wait to start buying all my favorites in fun-sized and black and orange.

5} J.Crew's sweater sale (and pretty much their entire Fall line). Here are some of my faves

6} This ridiculously fabulous Kate Spade bag. I love the shape, color, and size. This one is definitely going on my Christmas list!

7} My recent purchases from Zappos :) I definitely believe that you can never have too many shoes, especially black pumps!

What are you loving this Wednesday?

Monday Motivation

2011-09-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Like always, mine was too short, but I am very glad that 1) Tech beat New Mexico and 2) we FINALLY got some much-needed rain in Texas!

Here's what I'm looking forward to this week that's helping me push through boring ol' Monday:

The return of TV! Not that I didn't enjoy summer programming like The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, but I really did miss my faves like Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory. Plus, after watching the Emmys last night, I am even more excited to reunite with my prime-time friends.

My best friend's birthday! I can't wait to celebrate not one, but two nights this week for my BFF Allison's 27th birthday!

Doing some much-needed and completely overdo Spring cleaning and goodwill donating. When we moved in July, I changed out a lot of our decor and also set aside stuff I don't want anymore. The "what was I thinking?" kind of stuff. Now I need to get it all together and actually take it somewhere. This, my friends, is Saturday morning's activity. I'm not looking forward to the actual hauling and dropping off of stuff, but I know I will feel so much better once our place looks a little less like a scene from Hoarders and a little more like a home.

Getting a mani/pedi today after work! I've been putting it off forever because I just didn't have the time, but tonight I am going straight from work to the nail salon and getting my nails (fingers and toes) painted Essie's "Merino Cool." It's a purple-gray color that's perfect for when you're over bright pinks and oranges, but not yet ready for the really dark colors.

What's getting you through this Monday?

"It's Ok" Thursday

2011-09-15T08:50:00.001-05:00

It's OK....
...to immediately change into your pajamas after getting home from work. Nothing is more comfortable than a stretchy waistband and worn-in t-shirt!
...to seriously wonder why Tropicana makes a "Lot of Pulp" version of orange juice. I can't imagine why anyone would want to drink that!
...to buy the same shirt, shorts, pants, etc. in multiple colors. I don't own just one color of anything!
...to not want to start any new shows this Fall because you are already invested in too many.
...to cancel your HBO subscription now that Entourage has ended.
...to start shopping for Christmas stuff now even though it's months away. Stores wouldn't be selling it if people weren't buying it!
...to have a love/hate relationship with football season. I love college football on Saturdays but hate NFL football on Sundays when my husband watches every game because of his fantasy team!
...to follow your favorite Bachelor Pad stars on Twitter. That is ok, right?
What are you saying "It's OK" to this week?

Target Missoni

2011-09-14T09:10:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon, I was writing out a shopping list for Target and I decided to go to their website to see the weekly ad. When I got there, there was a message saying that the site was down and should be up and running shortly. I didn't think much about it, and continued making my list.

After work, I went to Target as planned, and when I was walking through the parking lot, I heard a woman on her cell phone say "They're all sold out of everything already!" I had no clue what she was talking about. Once inside the store, I was in the baby/toddler section looking for some leggings to match a Halloween onesie I picked up for my niece, and I overheard a Target employee say to a customer that there was a line outside the door that morning and online shoppers crashed their website. Being the curious (and sometimes nosey) person that I am, I asked the employee what was going on and she said their Missoni line launched yesterday and sold out in hours. HOURS. She said none of the stores in the Houston area (and probably nationwide) had anything left. She also said it was a little Black Friday-esque with the line of people waiting for the store to open and the rush once it did.

I personally am not a fan of Missoni, I just can't believe what a craze it created. It comes as no surprise that people are already selling their Target goodies on Ebay for more than they paid for it. You can ready more about the Target Mission madness here, and in case you missed it (which you likely did unless you were waiting outside their doors at some insane hour of the morning), here's a few items from their collection. You can view the entire collection here.

{imagies via fashionista}

Did you buy anything from the Target Missoni collection yesterday?

{Belated} Monday Motivation

2011-09-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

{all images via pinterest}

I know it's not Monday, but my computer was out of commission yesterday, so my post is a day late! Either way, here's what I am looking forward to this week:

Finally breaking out the dark nail colors for Fall! I am going to get a much-needed mani/pedi after work and I can't wait to leave the salon wearing Essie's Angora Cardi. Perfect mauve/purple shade for this time of year!

The finale of Bachelor Pad! I have been way too invested in this show and all its drama, but like all good things, it must come to an end. I can't wait to see who leaves and who wins the big bucks. I also still have my fingers crossed that Michael and Holly get back together!

Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice! I am not a coffee drinker so I haven't been able to enjoy the pumpkin spice latte that everyone else has been indulging in since Fall favorites returned to Starbucks. If you haven't tried it before, the CAS tastes JUST like a caramel apple and is oh-so-yummy!

Decorating for Fall and Halloween! Since it's basically mid-September, I think it's appropriate to drag out my Halloween and Fall decor, don't you? I can't wait to set up all my seasonal faves.

FINALLY hanging my photo collage! Mine is not nearly as creative as most of the ones you see on Pinterest, but I did manage to finally print and frame several of our engagement, wedding, and vacation photos to hang up in our living room. I've been procrastinating big time with actually getting everything on the wall, but this weekend it is definitely happening, and I can't wait to share the final product with all of you!

And, of course, more college football! Our bye week was super early this season but this weekend our football schedule resumes and I can't wait to cheer on my Red Raiders!

What are you looking forward to this week?

Decorating and Tweeting

2011-09-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

{image via pinterest}

I am so excited to finally share some updated photos of our new apartment with ya'll. We've been here for almost two months and I am really happy with the way things are coming.

Before we moved into our current apartment, we lived in my one bedroom apartment. Now that we have a lot more space and an extra bedroom and bathroom, we put the furniture from my husband's old apartment in the guest room and my furniture is in our master. So we didn't need to buy a lot of new furniture, but there were a few things I wanted to get. One of them was a china cabinet for all our new china and serving pieces we received as wedding gifts. The other was a bookcase for our living room. Our old place has a built-in bookcase but we needed some sort of storage for the new living room.

And, as you will recall, I wanted to update some of the decor, including sofa pillows which I mentioned here. I ended up not loving the first round of pillow but I finally got my head together and settled on a color scheme and thanks to Etsy, the living room looks much better!

Ok, enough talking, here are the pics!

I decided on aqua and gray for our living room. I'm just not a bright, bold color person no matter how hard I try. Sad, I know, but I do love my new pillows. The blue ones are from Target. They are faux silk and have pintuck stripes that add a nice texture to them. The white patterned ones are from this Etsy boutique. It only took me about three weeks to decide which pattern I wanted because I loved them all, but I am really happy with the final selection!

For our other sofa, I kept the blue pillow that matched the curtains so well and bought the two gray chevron pillow covers from this Etsy shop.

We needed some living room storage for books, games, etc. but I felt like a plain ol' bookcase was just a little too boring. I found this cabinet at Crate and Barrel and I knew it would be perfect. It's not too big, and even though it's black (all our other furniture is brown) it looks great in our living room. And for anyone decorating a nursery, I think the white version would be adorable for children's books and toys.

This is our new bedding! I originally wanted to do gray and yellow bedding but the gray made our already-dark bed look even darker and it was just a mess (are you starting to notice a pattern of my indecisiveness yet?). I decided we needed some light and airy and this white duvet cover from Pottery Barn was perfect. I wanted a quilt and sham to add a little bit of color and I ended up getting this quilt and shams from Pottery Barn as well.

I know our bedroom looks really empty right now, but we have two framed pictures that go behind our bed, we just haven't put them up yet. I'm going to get curtains for the window and a large canvas print of one of our wedding photos for the other wall. For anyone looking to do canvas prints, Costco has really good pricing for them. And you can pick them up in store so you don't have to pay shipping!

This is our guest bathroom. I got the shower curtain and rug from West Elm and the hand towels are from Target. I actually like the guest bathroom decor more than our bathroom so maybe I'll change it up the next time we move!

This is our master bathroom. It was hard to get a good picture of the whole bathroom so I just got the shower curtain. It's a brown damask print that I randomly found on Ebay when I was looking online.

Here's the china buffet we bought to store all our new wedding gifts. We ordered it from Crate and Barrel and used our registry discount and gift cards to pay for it so it was basically like a belated wedding gift!

And, speaking of belated wedding gifts...a set of these monogrammed stemless wine glasses showed up at our door last week and I just can't get enough of them. I love how they have our initials on them and the stemless look is so fun. Great wedding gift idea for any gift givers out there!

{image via pinterest}

And in other news, I have finally joined Twitter! Yes, the social media outlet that I used to think was pointless and a little creepy is now my new obsession. Follow me @sarahminalich.

Monday Motivation

2011-08-30T09:32:00.000-05:00

I know it's not actually Monday anymore, but I didn't get a chance to post yesterday and since it's still pretty early in the week I figured better late than never! Here's what's getting me through this week and into the much-anticipated long weekend!

1} My new TOMS! Yes, I finally bought them and I love them! I bought them in Ash Gray but I also tried on the red and navy which were so cute as well. I wore them all day Sunday and they are just beyond comfortable. If you are still on the fence about buying a pair, I say just pull the trigger and get some. They are the more inexpensive pair of shoes I own and even if you don't wear them, TOMS will still donate a pair to a child in need :)

2} MAC's cremesheen glass in Loud & Lovely

I was perusing the MAC counter at Dillard's this weekend and I wanted a gloss that was somewhat sheer but still a bit of color to it. This stuff does exactly that, and I think I applied and then re-applied about six times yesterday.

3} Ouidad's Climate Control Gel

My sister got me a subscription to Birchbox for my birthday and a sample of this gel was inside my first box. It's amazing for curly hair and I have been getting lots of compliments on my tamed-down mane ever since I started using it. Needless to say, I am planning to upgrade to the full-size bottle once my sample runs out

4} 3-Day Weekend!

I am definitely looking forward to having a long weekend and short work week. We don't have any real plans and I am perfectly fine with that. I do plan to hit up some of the good sales that I know will be going on and I might even pick up a sweater or two since Labor Day is pretty much the end of Summer. Not that we'll be seeing any Fall weather around here anytime soon...

5} The "A Fine Frenzy" Pandora station

I've started listening to Pandora at work and this has become my favorite station by far. A close second is the Sara Bareilles station.

6} Essie's "Innocent"

My new nail color of the week is kind of a mauve-y pink. It's a nice neutral with just a touch of color. This one is an all-time fave, but I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming months when I can start wearing my favorite dark, deep colors again.

7} The Return of College Football

I saved the best for last. This weekend marks the return of college football and I cannot wait to cheer on my Red Raiders this year!

"It's Ok" Thursday

2011-08-25T08:50:00.001-05:00

It's OK...

...to be really excited about sweaters, boots, and jackets for Fall even though it's still in the triple digits outside

...to rearrange your furniture three times before finally being happy with it!

...to not want to talk to anyone in the mornings before having a cup of coffee/chai tea/vanilla coke zero :)

...to wake up and feel overly relieved after having a dream/nightmare that you got a bad haircut

...to drive a different way to work now that school has started and the 20 mph school zones take forever to get through

...to change your nail color every week. So many great colors, so little time!

...to be disappointed that Ben F. (aka Ashley's reject from the Bachelorette) is going to be the new bachelor. Why, ABC, why?

...to be tired of hearing about Kim Kardashian's wedding, especially when you never cared in the first place.

What are you saying "It's OK," to this week?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-08-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I linked up for What I'm Loving Wednesday but here's what's on my list for this week!

I am loving these sweaters from J.Crew's Fall catalogue:

I am also loving these boots from Steve Madden for Fall! I've been on the hunt for a good pair of gray boots for a while and I think I may have found them!

But, since it's not anywhere near cold enough to wear sweaters or boots right now (and it probably won't be for several more months), I am, as always, loving my J.Crew 3" chino shorts. I have them in quite the variety of colors and wear at least one pair every weekend!

I am loving that I finally decided what bedding to get for our bedroom! It only took me a few months to decide but I am very happy with the final decision. We will be getting the PB Essentials white duvet cover from Pottery Barn:

And the vintage-washed Belgian linen quilt from Restoration Hardware. I can't wait to put it all together and see how it looks!

I am loving my new Jillian Michael dvds that have definitely been kicking my butt since I started them!

What are you loving this week?

Like Crazy

2011-08-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

{via}

I recently saw and instantly became obsessed with the trailer for "Like Crazy." I've seriously watched it 15 times on YouTube and the "Like Crazy" website. Maybe 20. I can not wait for this movie to come out and I am even more excited for the soundtrack. The trailer has music from Stars and Ingrid Michaelson {a personal favorite}. Watch it, become obsessed with it, and go see it when it comes out in October. At least that's the order of events I'm following.

Monday Motivation

2011-08-22T09:30:00.002-05:00

Monday is upon us again, and per usual, my goal is to get through it as quickly as possible. Here are a few things I'm looking forward to this week that are making the day go by a little faster.

I am loving my new nail color, Essie's Flirt. It's a little more orange than the photo appears but it's a great summer color, bright and happy! And yes, I have been changing my nail color every Sunday lately. I usually do it at home but last week I went and got a manicure. I forgot to post about it, but I was trying out Essie's Fiji and I love it!

I finally saw "The Help" yesterday and now I can talk to other the people who have seen it and have been talking about it ever since! This is such a great movie and I strongly recommend bringing some tissues with you. I've been hearing the movie left out a lot of stuff from the book so I'm thinking about reading the book now. I also loved the little girl's name, Mae Moebly. So cute and southern! "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

Another drama-filled train wreck that is Bachelor Pad comes on tonight! I can't wait to see if Jake is going to make it another week and if Holly and Michael S. are going to get back together. Do you watch Bachelor Pad? If so, are you Team Jake or Team Vienna? I am Team Jake all the way!

Sushi lunch date with a good friend tomorrow at our favorite sushi place! Can't wait to devour one {or two}of their tasty rolls.

Pool party hosted by some of our friends on Friday night. A dip in the pool is exactly what we need in these 100+ temperatures and I am excited to check out the adult water slides!

The thing I am looking forward to the most this week...the cabinet we ordered from Crate and Barrel forever ago is finally being delivered on Wednesday! I can't wait to fill it with all our books that have been stacked up again the living room walls. Our living room is finally coming together!

What's getting you through this Monday?

"It's Ok" Thursday

2011-08-18T08:51:00.000-05:00

It's OK...

...to think everyone on Bachelor Pad is so fake and full of drama but still look forward to watching every Monday

...to spend $150 plus on an online purchase in order to save $10 in shipping

...to celebrate completing level 2 of Jillian Michael's "Ripped in 30" workout with a few chocolate-covered pieces of toffee

...to wish the car going 80 mph and weaving between lanes on the freeway would get a ticket with a huge fine. Sometimes that's what it takes to learn a lesson!

...to cry at the end of Steel Magnolias even if you know what's going to happen {and have cried every other time, too}

To TOMS or Not To TOMS

2011-08-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

via

I think I am one of the last people I know to hop on the TOMS train. Aside from its philanthropy, TOMS are supposed to be super comfy and stylish with all the prints, colors, and textures they are coming out with. So, with that being the case...why has it taken me so long to warm up to them?! I think it's because I decide if I actually like them or not. Yes, I love the One for One concept that TOMS has create but do people really find these canvas slip-ons to be cute? I've never tried a pair on, but I plan to soon.

I've also been thinking about just ordering a pair online and wearing them, without over-thinking it. Regardless of how I get them, I do know I like the ash gray color the best.

Even though I am on the fence about getting a pair for myself, if I had a little one, I would definitely be buying a pair of Tiny TOMS for them. Seriously, how cute are these shoes for little kids? I think my niece might be getting a pair for her upcoming birthday :)

Do you own a pair of TOMS? If so, what color and how do you wear them? With cuffed jeans? Shorts? Everything???

all images via pinterest

Simple, Summer Salad

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

For me, summertime food and cooking is all about simple ingredients and quick, easy steps. My go-to summer salad consists of lettuce, cucumbers, cilantro, sea salt, and olive oil. It's full of flavor, but light on calories and difficulty.

What are your favorite summer meals?

"It's Ok" Thursday

2011-08-11T08:45:00.001-05:00

I am linking up with Amber and Neely again for "It's Ok" Thursday!

It's ok...to love Jeremy Piven on Entourage but cringe at the fact he's going to be in the upcoming "Spy Kids" movie. Seriously...Ari Gold would never let his clients make such a lame career move!

It's ok...to go to bed at 10:30 on a weeknight. Late night TV is overrated so it's not like I'm missing anything!

It's ok...to look forward to a Friday night with nothing to do. Doesn't happen very often so I'll take it when I can get it!

It's ok...to specifically look for the 99 cents section of the card aisle. It's just going to get thrown away and isn't it the gift itself that counts?

It's ok...to consider cereal a perfectly substantial and wholesome meal.

It's ok...to wrap up in a Snuggie at the office. Just because it's triple digits outside doesn't mean it should be 60 degrees inside.

It's ok...to skip separating the laundry when you're in a rush. What's the worst that could happen?

What are you saying "it's ok" to this week?
PS- Check out Cait's blog where she is giving away an awesome Bobbi Brown shimmer brick!

Pinning Your Dreams

2011-08-10T09:40:00.000-05:00

By now, I am sure most (if not all) bloggers and non-bloggers have discovered Pinterest. An online pin board that lets you search and collect images for inspiration and ideas. I can officially say that I am beyond obsessed.

One of the things I look for the most on Pinterest is home decorating ideas. I think it started when we moved and I was looking for ways to decorate our new apartment, but then I started a "Dream Home" board and I've been adding images to it ever since. You know, just in case we happen to stumble upon millions of dollars and can afford all this stuff.

Either way, my blog is all about sharing the things I love, so...

Welcome to my Dream Home!

This is my dream kitchen. I have a double oven (perfect for entertaining!) and all white cabinets, some of which are see-through to display our pretty dishes. My dream kitchen also never gets dirty :)

This is my dream utility room. Everything is stacked and folded neatly and kept perfectly stocked.

This is my dream closet. A-mazing, huh? Each pair of shoes has its own cubby and clothes are hung neatly on slim hangers.

The dream bathroom...two huge separate vanities and a nice, big tub. It's all-white for a serene feeling.

Dream bedroom. Pillows are stacked perfectly, the bed is made, and there are hydrangeas on my nighstand.

Absolutely love this living room! Two big sofas and armchairs for lots of seating. Of course there's a cozy fireplace and large french doors that lead to my backyard where I grow hydrangeas and peonies :)

The mudroom! This is where my three kids come and neatly put their shoes and jackets when they get home from school. There is a chalkboard and pin board to leave notes and reminders. Not pictured: the monogrammed baskets each of them have to put their stuff in.

Craft room! I have always wanted one of these! There's a space for ribbon, wrapping paper, cards, envelopes, and just about anything else you can imagine!

What does your dream home look like?

Monday Motivation

2011-08-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, Monday is upon us again. I like to try to get through Mondays (particularly Monday mornings) by thinking about all the great stuff that's going on the rest of the week. Here's what's currently on my mind:

Essie's Mint Candy Apple

The current polish color on my nails and I am just loving it. It's a bright, fun way to accessorize without being overly dramatic

Getting back into working out

My usually great workout schedule has definitely fallen by the wayside but I am determined to get back into the swing of things starting TODAY.

Wine & Cheese bridal shower for a very dear friend Saturday night. I can't wait to celebrate this future bride and see all the new goodies she gets!

Remember how I said I hated my updated living room and took everything seen in this post back? Well, I changed the color scheme and these pillow covers (ordered from Etsy) are part of my new decor. I can't wait to get them in, put them on my sofas, and take pictures to show all of you!

Bingo with friends this Thursday. Fingers crossed I win the jackpot!

What's getting you through this Monday morning?

"It's Ok" Thursday

2011-08-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

I am linking up with Neely and Amber today for "It's Ok" Thursday!

It's Ok....

...to completely redo your living room only to decide you hate it and take everything back {more on that next week}

...if you don't watch (or care about) Glee, True Blood, Jersey Shore, or any of those other shows everybody talks about while you sit wondering why they find them entertaining

...to spend a couple hundred dollars on a purse but refuse to purchase basic necessities without a coupon

...to despise the idea of tweeting but still read other people's tweets

...to be excited Hobby Lobby already has their Christmas stuff out {and already know what you plan to buy once it's 50% off}

Happy Thursday!

Living Room Decor and Giveaway Winner

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

{curtains add a nice splash of color to our neutral living room}

hello blogging friends! i took an unintentional break from blogging last week but i have been keeping up with everyone else's blogs in the meantime and i am excited to share a few photos of our new place with everyone today.

our living room is very much a work-in-progress but it's off to a good start. this weekend my brother-in-law came over to help us hang curtains to add a little bit of color to the usually-muted space. with tan and taupe sofas, and all white walls, we needed some color and these drapes from pottery barn in smoke blue definitely do the trick. best part? they were on sale for $22.99! the photo is pretty bad, and a little crooked, but they look great in person!

this is our sofa table and i love having it because it's the perfect spot to put our keys, mail, sunglasses, and hair clips as seen in this photo. i still need to find something to fill that jar with--any suggestions? and of course i love our custom sign and someone else is about to get one, too.

like i said, we have two neutral color sofas, and it's hard for me to get into color because i'm such an earthy-tones person. but, i saw these pillows at target and just loved them. i love the golden-yellow color against bright white. i also love the flowers and even though they are definitely the most girly thing in our place, they're not overly feminine. the solid blue pillow is from pottery barn but i couldn't find it on their website so i'm thinking they don't sell it anymore.

this is our other sofa. i bought the ivory pillows at pottery barn, too, but once i got everything on the sofa, i realized how bland and boring it looks, even with the bright yellow pillow in the middle. so, they are going back and the search for the perfect sofa pillows continues. the yellow pillow is the same as the blue one above. i bought it a while back when i was planning to do our bedding in gray and yellow (more on that disaster later) and i threw it on the sofa to add a pop of color but i'm not so sure i like it.

now, for the most important part of today's post...the giveaway winner!

Kerbi from So Are You to Me

congrats, kerbi! please send me an email (sarahmina2@gmail.com) and I will get your contact information to Scott so you can start working on your own custom sign!

ps- i want to wish my big sister a very happy 29th birthday today!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-07-27T09:03:00.002-05:00

Happy Hump Day! I hope everyone is having a good week so far. Here's what I am loving lately:

Anthro's Volcano candle. The wonderful smell of this candle fills our entire apartment quickly and its citrus-y smell is not too sweet or strong--it's perfect! I have a big one in our living room and the smaller, tin candles in each bathroom.

These flare jeans from J.Crew's new Fall line. It's still way too hot in Houston to be thinking about pants, sweaters or long-sleeve shirts, but I fully intend to purchase these once it gets a little cooler. Most likely, that will be in October!

OPI's Indi-a Mood For Love which I am currently wearing on my feet. I love this bright color in the summer! I am wearing Essie's "Mademoiselle" on my hands.

Crate and Barrel's "Paterson" cabinet--our recent purchase and shelving/storage solution. I love the cabinet style and how it's more interesting than just a regular bookcase. However, I do not love the fact that it's on backorder under September :(

Vanilla Coke Zero. I'm not usually a soda drinker, but when I am craving carbonated caffeine, vanilla coke zero is my go-to beverage. It's hard to find, and you can only buy it in 12 packs, but I love the taste; even if I am the only person I know who drinks it.

What are you loving this Wendesday?

PS- Don't forget to sign up for the custom sign giveaway!!

Custom Carved Sign Giveaway

2011-07-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

{personalized touch to our new home}

As I mentioned in this post, I ordered a custom sign from the Etsy store, Signs of a Daydreamer. Scott was great to work with--quick to reply to messages and our sign looked exactly like the proof he sent me. I love the cursive "L," and our "established" date will ensure my husband never forgets an anniversary even if our wedding date is engraved on the inside of his wedding band.

Scott at Signs of a Daydreamer has generously offered to create a custom 8x20 sign to one lucky reader so let the giveaway begin!

How it works:

1} Be a follower of Sarah and the City. Sign up if you're not already!

2} Leave me a comment to let me know what your favorite personalized/monogrammed pieces are

3} Mention this giveaway on your blog for an extra entry

4} The giveaway ends on Tuesday, August 2. I will select the winner using random.org and post the results on my blog the following day. Then I'll put you in touch with Scott so you can start working on your own custom creation!

You can check out the Signs of a Daydreamer store on Etsy here and good luck!

Birthday Recap and Ode to Entourage

2011-07-25T09:31:00.000-05:00

{mini champagne bottle for the birthday girl!}

Since I apparently fell of the blogging bandwagon last week, I wanted to share a couple of photos from my birthday happy hour. As I mentioned in my original birthday post, I wanted a mani/pedi, cupcakes, and champagne for my birthday and my husband ended up getting me a watch. I love the watch so much that I had completely forgotten about how he didn't listen to what I actually wanted!

Well, that evening my in-laws surprised me with a gift certificate to my favorite nail salon, my husband showed up with these Sprinkles cupcakes:

And one of my friends bought me a mini bottle of champagne to complete the birthday trifecta!

And to round out my birthweek, we caught the premiere of the final season of Entourage last night.

We started watching Season 1 about a month ago and have since zipped through all 7 seasons anxiously awaiting the premiere last night. My husband and I both love the show and I am going to be so sad to see it end. I have no idea how they are going to wrap everything up in eight episodes but I head there is going to be an Entourage movie in the near future so I am excited about that possibility, but I am definitely going to miss:

Ari and Mrs. Ari's relationship. And I'm seriously wondering if we'll ever find out her real name!

Sloan's adorable outfits and her and E's on again, off again, relationship

The guys!

But most of all, I will miss Ari Gold's sexiness and overall demeanor, whether he's yelling at Lloyd or begging his wife to forgive him for his latest screw up.

I have no idea what we're going to start watching when it's over!

Happy Monday, friends!

27

2011-07-19T09:20:00.002-05:00

I am officially 27 as of today! I've been having a hard time with this particular birthday because I feel like I'm really leaving my 20's, a time I associate with college, friends, parties, minimal responsibility, and being young and carefree. Not that I'm still living like an irresponsible college student, but my 20's have definitely been my "selfish" years. No one to worry or take care of but me (and now the husband).

I know the last three years of my 20's are going to be different than any other year. Three years ago, I was still living at home with my parents, my husband was still in law school, and I had just started my current job. I've come a long way, and I know the end of my 20's will be spent buying (and decorating!) our first house, taking some great trips we have been talking about for what seems like forever, and I am fully determined to train for and run at least a half marathon sometime in the next few years. We decided our 30's would be the best time for starting a family and I am planning to be as selfish as possible until then!

So, it's time to say goodbye to 26, the year I got married and changed the only last name I had ever know, met my adorable new niece who is so special to me, made some great new friends, and learned a lot about appreciating all the small things.

And what does this birthday girl want on her special day, you wonder? Well, I was very specific and told the hubby I want three things:

1} Deluxe mani/pedi at my favorite salon:

2} Glass of my favorite champagne

3} Sprinkles cupcake in my favorite flavor (red velvet}

But, being a typical man, he didn't listen, and got me this Michael Kors watch instead. I love the rose gold (perfect for brown skin, in my opinion) and now I don't have to look at my phone when I want to know what time it is!

Tonight will be spent celebrating with friends and Saturday I am hitting the nail salon in preparation of my birthday dinner at a surprise location with my husband.

I am looking forward to a great day, a wonderful weekend, and seeing what 27 has in store for me!

(images via pinterest and iphone}

Happy Friday!

2011-07-15T09:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, friends! It's time again for a wonderful weekend and I'm sure you all are as ready as I am! We have a busy weekend planned and I am hoping to make some more progress on unpacking and decorating so I can finally show ya'll pics!

We have a pretty low-key evening planned for tonight and I am hoping we'll be able to catch Horrible Bosses after dinner because I've been wanting to see this ever since I found out Jason Bateman is in it. As a loyal Arrested Development fan, I'll take any chance I get to spend some quality time with Mr. Michael Bluth ;-)

One of the downsides of our new apartment is that the people who lived there before us were smokers and their nasty stench is still lingering a week after we moved in. I've been trying everything I can think of to get rid of the smell, and I'm thinking of investing in some of these Anthro candles (I've only heard good things about them!) to at least add a pleasant scent even if I can't get rid of the current one.

I am planning to go this weekend to buy the last pieces of our new bedding and I can't wait to put it all together. I've always loved all-white bedding but I think it's more of a guest room concept because I know we would never be able to keep it nice and tidy in our bedroom. So we'll say this room is my dream guest room. I love all the neutrals and how the flowers on the nighstand add just a pop of color.

And, in continuing with decorating, I am planning to pick up this cabinet that matches our TV stand. I found it on Craigslist of all places since the collection is no longer sold in stores and it's in great shape for a great price. I can't wait to add it to our home and fill its shelves!

Sunday I am going with a recently-engaged friend to the Houston Bridal Extravaganza. I went last year when I was engaged and I'm kind of looking forward to being able to walk around and look at stuff without having to wonder how to incorporate it into my wedding.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I am particularly looking forward to next week when I get to celebrate my third and final (the husband is making me...) 25th birthday!

Wedding Recap: The Holud

2011-07-12T09:05:00.001-05:00

Part of our wedding festivities included our Bengali Gaye Holud which was the Friday morning before our wedding. It's a traditional pre-wedding ceremony where family members and guests cover the bride and groom in yellow tumeric paste and feed them something sweet to wish them well in their future life together. It was an important and memorable way to incorporate that part of my culture and for my Bengali family members to welcome my husband into our family.

{Traditional Bengali wedding colors of red and orange}

{The groom being walked in by his parents}

{Walking in with my siblings and cousins}

{My sister, me, and my brother}

{With my parents}

{My husband is the first "outside" addition to our family:)}

{Being fed by my now-in-laws}

{The bride and groom. Those are platters of traditional Bengali sweets on the ground in front of us}

{Us with my parents}

{Close up of my makeup and jewelry}

{My (very heavy!) sari had the most beautiful detailing}

{My bangles and engagement ring}

{My favorite part--the necklace!}

{We're just your average, everyday Bengali couple! Haha.}

All images via Chelsea Davis Photography

Moving On Up

2011-07-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

{A great way to store all the stemware we received for our wedding}

Happy Monday, Friends! I am back after a brief hiatus which was spent moving into our new apartment and also being sick. I am slowly recovering and unpacking/organizing but I think it's going to be a long process. I have no idea how we fit everything into our tiny, one bedroom, but I am glad to finally have more space!

I am not planning on doing a ton of decorating or buying a bunch of new stuff, but there a few things in particular I want to incorporate into our new home.

1} Decorating our beautiful, new china cabinet

I am loving our new piece of furniture. It's the only new piece we bought (and plan to buy) and it's a great piece for storage and decorating. Inside is all the china and flatware we received as wedding gifts, but I'm trying to figure out how to decorate the outside. I think a nice collection of bottles, decanters, and possibly a shiny, cocktail tray will be the way to go.

2} Filling the huge wall in our living room

We have a large wall in our living room that is completely bare and desperately needs to be filled! I love the idea of doing a collage of frames in different shapes and sizes.

{all images via pinterest}

I will post photos of the new place later this week, once things are looking a little less cluttered!

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Pippa Middleton

2011-07-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

I am loving Pippa Middleton lately! Her tailored style is sophisticated and sweet, and I can't get enough of her Modalu bag that was recently renamed the "Pippa" since she carries it all the time. I love it in the "shark" color and if you're willing to wait a while, you can pre-order it here since all colors are currently sold out.

For more Pippa, check out my board on Pinterest here.

Happy Wednesday, friends! What are you loving today?

{all images via pinterest}

Fourth of July Festivities

2011-07-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

{morning mimosas}

We had a great Fourth of July weekend and I can't believe how quickly it went by! Saturday I brunched with some girlfriends, paid a visit to our super adorable niece, and enjoyed a nice evening outdoors on one of our favorite patios.

Sunday I did some shopping since there were so many places having 4th of July sales and I bought this top and belt from Ann Taylor Loft. I was also able to finally get some packing done for our move in TWO days!

Monday we cooked out with friends, hit the pool and stopped my by in-laws for another visit with sweet Madison. We also stocked up on packing and cleaning supplies at Super Target since we were out in the burbs. I seriously love Super Target. They have so much more than my local Target and if we are near one, I like to go in just to walk around even if we I don't need to buy anything!

Here are the highlights of our weekend:

{Do you like my top? I got it from Ann Taylor and you can see it here}

{Empire Cafe's "Italian Toast" is probably my favorite breakfast item in all of Houston. The berries and powdered sugar make it so sweet you don't even need syrup. It's delicious!}

{Bloody Marys}

{Madison, first introduced to my blog here is our fave. We love spending time and playing with her and I also love shopping for cute outfits for her! She is my sister-in-law's daughter and we just love having this sweet girl in town so we can see her whenever we want.}

{She is always all smiles! Can you tell she was playing with my necklace?}

{Patio time!}

{We bought this dress for Madison a few weeks ago and she wore it on the 4th. I wish it came in my size because I love how festive it is!}

How did you spend 4th of July weekend?

It's Friday, Friday!

2011-07-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!

I can't get this song out of my head on a Friday! It's annoyingly catchy even though the lyrics are a little strange. I, like many of you, can't believe it's already July and the year is half over. However, July is the best month in my opinion and this weekend is going to be another busy one for us. Tomorrow I am brunching with my besties and getting a much needed thin-out for my overly-voluminous hair. Sunday I'll be shopping, dining, and movie-watching while my husband is spending all day watching soccer (I am going to try on the watch I mentioned here to see if it makes a good "birthday list" candidate) and Monday we'll be swimming and bbq-ing as we celebrate our country's independence!

What are your plans for 4th of July weekend?

{image via pinterest}

Wedding Recap: The Honeymoon!

2011-06-30T09:30:00.001-05:00

{the newlyweds right after we arrived in puerto rico}

Since we've been married for almost three months now, I figured I should probably post pics of the honeymoon! We had a great time relaxing by the beach and pool and exploring old San Juan. We had lots of great food (black beans and rice were a staple) and our fair share of tropical cocktails, local beer, and wine every day. It was a wonderful week that we'll always remember--our first trip as husband and wife :)

{view of the pool and beach from our room}

{beautiful ocean}

{poolside with a mango margarita}

{addicted to his ipad}

{the sand between my toes--a wonderful feeling!}

{this little crab just came out of nowhere on the beach}

{isla verde coast}

{another mango margarita }

{by the pool drinking medella, a local beer}

{dinner at The Palms inside the Old San Juan Resort and Casino that had the best mashed potatoes ever!}

{playing the slots at the casino. I won $20 but then gambled it all away. It's true what they say--the house always wins!}

After a few nights at the beach in Isla Verde, we ventured into Old San Juan where we stayed at the Hotel El Convento. We loved our hotel, it was very traditional and we got to see a beautiful wedding in their courtyard one night. The best part was the wine and cheese night they hosted for hotel guests every night. Our routine was to fill our plates with crackers, fruit, and cheese (I honestly think I ate my weight in Manchego while we were there), grab a glass of wine, and head up to their balcony for a few hours. This was all pre-dinner, so by the time we were leaving the hotel for our dinner reservations, we were stuffed and semi-drunk!

{exploring Old San Juan}

{The wonderful staff at the El Convento brought us a bottle of champagne since we were on our honeymoon}

{View from inside La Forteleza}

{Visiting the Bacardi distillery}

Bacardi was one of my favorite things that we did. It was a fun ferry ride over to the island where the distillery is, and once we were there, we took a tour and got to sample some tasty, island drinks.

{Back on the patio of the El Convento. Not shown: the plate of cheese I just inhaled}

{Despite a little rain, the weather was beautiful the whole time we were there}

{Sangria!}

{Last minute exploring before we headed to the airport}

{Bags packed and ready to head home. Adios, Puerto Rico!}

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday, Friends! I am always glad when the middle of the week arrives and we're that much closer to the weekend. I've been anticipating this weekend in particular because it's packed with lots of fun activities, the beginning of July (my favorite month of the year) and it's the last weekend before we finally move into our new place!

Here's what I'm loving this week:

Brunch with friends on Saturday at one of our favorite spots. I can't wait to catch up with some of my favorite ladies over mimosas and pancakes.

The handmade signs at this Etsy shop. I ordered one for our new place, and I can't wait to see it in person! I love the cursive "L" and established date.

4th of July and July in general. Only the best month of the year because it's my birth month and there's nothing like getting together over potato salad (a personal fave), burgers and dogs, and a nice cold beer. We'll be spending our 4th poolside with some fun friends and I fully intend to supply the sparklers.

This Michael Kors watch. I've been on the hunt for a watch for what seems like forever and I think I've found one. Small face for my tiny wrist? Check. Multiple dials for added functionality? Check. Rose gold because I can't decide if I like gold, silver, or gold and silver together? Check!

The lovely creations over at Walnut Paperie. I spent some serious time on their website last night trying to decide which styles, colors, and envelope liners I like best and I still haven't made up my mind. But, the above style is definitely one of my favorites.

This adorable tote from Land's End. I love the stripes and it's the perfect size to use everyday. I ordered it with my new initials embroidered in a pretty coral color that's sure to pop over the dark navy.

What are you loving this Wednesday?

Make-up Monday

2011-06-27T09:00:00.010-05:00

{all images via pinterest}

I know it's not Monday, but I had this post scheduled for yesterday and for some reason it never went live.

Make-up...where to begin? I remember always wanting to wear it but not being allowed to until I was 16. I also remember not really knowing what exactly I was purchasing when I finally was old enough. I didn't know what my skin type was until college {late in college} and I used to think the color of my eye shadow should perfectly match my outfit.

I've come a long way since my Wet 'N Wild-at-Target-purchasing days, but, being the product fiend that I am, I'm always looking for new items and tips when it comes to make up. I have uber sensitive skin and part of my constant product search is dealing with breakouts and allergic reactions to new products. So, what's my current regimen you ask?

Well, I have oily skin so I stay away from anything liquid because applying liquid to my already-oily face just makes me look greasy. I'm pretty basic on a daily basis: Clinique Stay Matte powder , MAC matte powder blush, mascara (currently Maybeline Define-A-Lash), and a touch of lip gloss. Lately, I am looking for a new mascara (I'm constantly switching which makes me think I haven't found "the one"), lipgloss (everytime I find a new one it makes me breakout so I've been all about the chapstick lately!) and something to treat dark under eye circles (I believe this is the first sign of aging. Tragic, I know).

So, I am taking any and all suggestions. If you have oily skin--what products do you swear by? And what are some good mascaras, lipglosses, and treatments for dark eye circles?

I can't wait to hear what products you all use and try them out! There's nothing I love more than finding a new addition to my regimen that doesn't make my skin break out in tiny, red bumps!

Monogram Me

2011-06-21T08:40:00.000-05:00

{all images via pinterest}

With a new last name as of Friday, and a new home as of two weeks from Thursday, I am all about monogramming lately. I've always loved the idea of putting a little personal touch on things with initials, monograms, or full names, and home decor is no exception! I found some great ideas on Pinterest and am officially on the hunt for all things "L."

Finally Friday!

2011-06-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

It's finally the weekend! I definitely pre-scheduled this post because right about the time this goes live, I'll be standing in line at the DMV getting a shiny new driver's license with my new last name, address, and (most importantly) a new photo! And, after the DMV, I'll be making my way to the social security office to officially become Mrs. L. on paper and with the beloved IRS.

Aside from all the Friday morning "fun," I am looking forward to this weekend for several reasons. Here's what's on my to-do list:

1} Purchase fabulous and recently-on-sale china cabinet for new apartment. Schedule delivery for after move-in date since there is no visible floor space in current apartment.

2}Set aside stuff to give to Goodwill and drop of Saturday morning. Include husband's less than fabulous wardrobe items that will likely never be missed by either of us.

3} Wake up super early Saturday (i.e. before-the-heat-really-kicks-in early) to run 9 miles at park. Hopefully I will remember to actually hit "start" on my running watch this time so I won't be disappointed when I finish, go to hit "stop," and realize I have no record of how I did.

4} Attend college bestie's summer party Saturday night and try as hard as possible not to have a repeat of her Christmas party (champagne and beer is NOT a good combination no matter what the season is)

And, since I'm such a visual person, here are some photos that are making me exceptionally happy today:

{all images via pinterest}

What are your plans for this weekend?

Happy Friday from the L's!

Popsicles

2011-06-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

What is about frozen juice that tastes so good in the summer? I am planning on getting a popsicle mold {like this one from Crate & Barrel} so I can start making my own refreshing concoctions.

{all images via pinterest}

Five-Image Friday: Summer

2011-06-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

{all images via pinterest}

Even though summer doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, the high temperatures outside, seasonal fruits and bright-colored dresses in stores, and our increasing electric bill are all signs that it's here.

This weekend I am looking forward to attending the Houston Beer Festival, getting rid of old clothes and attempting to clean out my closet, and shopping for new bedding.

What are your plans for the weekend?

I Heart Ikat

2011-06-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

{all images via pinterest}

I am just loving ikat this summer season. It's kind of like a droopier, watercolor version of damask, and less flowery. It took a while to grow on me, but I now want to drape myself and my home in ikat. No joke.

I am also loving Pinterest and wonder why no one came up with the idea sooner. Either way, I am glad there's finally a way to organize images and share them with other people. This is my first board, but there are many more to come. To see more ikat, check out my board in Pinterest here.

And, if you are interested in pinterest and want to join, send me an email and I'll send you an invite.

Happy Thursday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Home Edition

2011-06-08T09:00:00.004-05:00

This week I am loving all things home. We are moving to a new apartment next month and I can't wait to have more space to spread out in and use as storage. I also can't wait to decorate another bedroom, bathroom, and larger living areas. I'm not buying a ton of new stuff because we already have more than we need, but there a few purchases I fully intend to make.

1} This shower curtain from West Elm for our guest bathroom. Clean, simple lines, in a bold color. I'm going to accent with either yellow or blue to add a pop of color to the slate gray.

2} These alphabet hooks from Anthropologie. The perfect solution for hanging long necklaces since mine are currently hung on door knobs in my bedroom.

3} This china storage cabinet from Crate and Barrel.

We need a place to store all the new china and flatware we received for our wedding and I think this is the perfect place to put it all. It's a great color, slighty rustic with a modern shape, and I love the pulls on the drawers and built-in wine rack.

4} These monogrammed towels from Pottery Barn. I love their pearl embroidered collection and how everything is monogram-able. These will make great hand towels for the guest bathroom!

5} This all-in-one kitchen and dining area. I love how bright is it, how the china cabinet is built into the kitchen, and the huge island is to die for. Not to mention the bench on the other side of the dining table.

6} These shams from Restoration Hardware. I love the texture and color, but I do not love the price (even on sale...) so I'll probably look for a similar version at Home Goods or Target.

7} This bedroom...I think this is my dream bedroom. The bed's not overly crowded with pillows, the photos hung behind the bed make a nice, square shape, there's two large windows, and not an abundance of furniture.

What are you loving this Wednesday?

NYC 2011

2011-06-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

I could never live in New York City. Too many people, too little space, and not enough air conditioning during the summer months. However, I always love to visit. It never gets old, there's always something new to see, and I manage to discover new restaurants and stores everytime I'm there. We went for Memorial Day weekend to visit my sister and her fiance and my brother and cousin joined us, too. Highlights of the trip include going wedding dress shopping for my sister, stocking up on Trader Joe's chai tea {I bought six cans because you can't buy it in Texas!} and Shake Shack. And The City Bakery's pretzel croissant. Absolutely delicious.

Our Wedding: The Details and "Where Did You Get That?"

2011-05-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

When I started planning our wedding more than a year ago, I had a basic idea of what I wanted, but I turned to several wedding blogs and online retailers to see what was out there. I've gotten a lot of emails about where I got stuff and I am so happy to share this information with current and future brides. I love sharing great finds with other people so here it all is!

{Cocktail napkins}

I ordered these from Stationary Studio. They had the best selection of colors, fonts, and designs. I didn't want anything cheesy (i.e. stick figure bride and groom) and Stationary Studio has a great design-your-own feature which is that I used for ours.

{The groom's cake}

My husband is not a dessert person, but he loves ice cream, particularly in the form of a milkshake. We tossed around a few different ideas and figured shakes would be the way to go. His mom made this adorable little sign for his special dessert!

{The bride's cake}

Our cake was from Susie's Cakes in Houston. Susie is amazing--so sweet and talented! I had her design a four tiered cake with alternating quilted and lace patterns. I bought the ribbon myself and I found the brooches on sale at Macy's--they add a touch of sparkle!

{The escort cards}

I bought Paper Souce's placecards in night and chartreuse and had them hand calligraphied. I loved the formal look and the pop of color it added to each table.

{Sarah & Matt, April 9, 2011, Today is the Day I Marry My Best Friend}

{The guest book}

I ordered our guest book using photos from our second engagement session on Shutterfly. I just wasn't a big fan of the plain white fabric-covered books with blank, line-filled pages, and I am glad that this book makes for a great coffee table book.

{The guest book table}

Our guest book table included one of our engagement photos, and our parents' and grandparents' wedding photos.

{The ring pillow}

One of my aunts made this pillow herself and we attached fake rings (never use the real ones!) to it. It's a keepsake that we'll always have on display wherever we live.

{My shoes}

Finding white shoes is no easy feat! I ordered Stuart Weitzman's "Gigi" pumps in white satin from Zappos. I highly recommend wearing your wedding shoes around the house with thick socks as much as you can beforehand to stretch them out so they're perfectly worn in for the big day.

{My something blue}

I ordered these crystal "I Do" stickers from this Etsy shop. They were inexpensive and a cute way to incorporate a tradition.

{The programs}

As I mentioned here, we ordered our wedding invitations from Bella Figura Letterpress Studio. When it came to the programs, I knew we couldn't get the entire thing letterpressed so I looked around forever at alternative options. I stumbled upon Betsy White's Grace programs and instantly fell in love. The swirl design matched our invitations perfectly and the thermography print added just a touch of texture.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-05-25T09:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday to all! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. I am loving that this week and next are both short work weeks for me and I can't wait to go to NYC this weekend to visit my sister and also hang out with my cousins, brother, and future brother-in-law!

Here's what I am loving this week:

I am loving Arrested Development (we own all three seasons but are currently re-watching them) and I can't wait for the movie to come out!

I am loving Ann Taylor Loft's basic scoop neck tee. It comes in tons of different colors and is currently on sale for $10! Definitely a summer and layering staple.

I am loving the fact that I finally get to see Bridesmaids tomorrow night with some of my girlfriends. Everyone I know has been in stiches while watching this movie and it's been a while since we've done a girl's night at the movies!

I am loving GoToob's 3 oz. containers that are perfect for packing toiletries in a carry-on bag. They are made of silicone so they're sturdy and have pre-set labels so you don't forget what's in each one.

I am loving that I get to visit Magnolia Bakery and Shake Shack in Madison Square Park this weekend! One of my favorite things about NYC is the food and these two are way high on my list of places to hit up. Other places include Sarabeth's for brunch, 72nd St. Bagel, and of course, at least one Mr. Softee truck.

Our Wedding: The Reception

2011-05-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Our reception was the Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa, and I was so lucky to be able to work with their amazing staff and wedding coordinators throughout the planning process. We also had THE best vendors for everything which also made planning so much easier and more enjoyable.

Our wedding didn't have a theme or specific feel, and I wasn't overly concerned with that. What I was concerned about was having a beautifully decorated ballroom, great dance music, good food, and a few other fun details like the photobooth we rented and the milkshakes that served as our groom's cake.

{dancing all alone while our guests were at the cocktail hour}

{taking our photo in the photobooth}

{remember how I ended up not doing favors? our guests were able to take home photos instead :)}

{cutting the cake}

{feeding eachother}

{smoosh!}

{getting the party started}

{everybody on the dance floor}

{our rockstar flowergirl}

{dancing with dad}

{the beatles' "in my life" was our song}

{tossing the bouquet}

{my bff and bridesmaid caught the bouquet!}

{last song of the night: neil diamond's sweet caroline}

{one of my favorite pics of the whole night}

{so sad it's all over!}

{"you are the best thing"....words from our first dance song}

{our big send off}

It's amazing how it can take you an entire year to plan something that only lasts a few hours. I had the best time at our wedding and I am so happy we had so many of our close friends and family there with us.

Next up: The Details

Our Wedding: The Ceremony

2011-05-23T09:00:00.005-05:00

I finally got our wedding photos back from our wonderful photographers at Serendipity Photography and I am so excited to share them with all of you! We'll start with our wedding ceremony, which was at St. Michael Catholic Church in Houston. We went through a lot to get married at St. Michael: multiple meetings with the priest who married us, a weekend retreat with other engaged couples, and several meetings with the church's various wedding groups along the way. In the end, I am glad we did what we needed to in order to get married there because I loved the church and I felt like the ceremony was more personal since our priest learned a lot about us along the way.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our ceremony:

{getting ready with my bridesmaids at the church}

{putting on the chandelier earrings that took me months to find}

{talking to my sweet flowergirl and now-niece before the ceremony}

{the guys waiting at the church}

{the groom and his brother}

{getting ready to go}

{my husband seating his grandmother}

{dad giving me away}

{joining our hands}

{very glad we were able to sit during the liturgy}

{saying our vows}

{exchanging rings}

{final prayer}

{first kiss as mr. and mrs. l}

{yay- we did it!}

Next up: The Reception

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-05-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am going to miss Wedding Wednesdays but I'm glad I can finally start playing along with What I'm Loving Wednesdays!

Here's what on my "love" list this week:

1} I am LOVING Adele's new CD, 21. It's one of those "let it play" CDs where every song is wonderful. "Rolling in the Deep," "Turning Tables," and "Someone Like You" are seriously swoon-worthy.

2} I am LOVING my newest shade of Essie, Angora Cardi. It's a grayish purple matte hue and I think it's great for Spring. Not too dark or light, with a subtle sheen.

3} I am LOVING these Calvin Klein "Kail" pumps in gray patent leather. Another perfect-for-summer shoe that works for the office and dressing up casual outfits.

4} I am LOVING my favorite online stationery shop, Minted. I can't wait to order stylish notecards with my new last name and their fabulous wrap-around address labels to match!

5} I am LOVING Emily Giffin books. I read "Something Borrowed" while we were on our honeymoon and am now reading the sequel, "Something Blue." Chick-lit never fails!

6} I am LOVING WEN's sweet almond mint styling creme. It tames my out-of-control mane and has the sweetest scent. Definitely worth the not-so-reasonable price!

What are you LOVING this Wednesday?

Orange Crush

2011-05-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

Orange is by far my favorite summer-y, bright color, and I love incorporating little pops into my wardrobe, accessories, and home. Here's what I'm currently craving:

1} Tory Burch "Clines" flats in poppy red

2} J.Crew chino shorts in modern red

3} Tory Burch "Jaden" nylon tote in poppy red

4} J. Crew retro dot rouched bandeau top in sweet orange

5} Casio round dial orange strap watch via Asos

6} Essie "Braziliant" nail color

7} Paper Source 2011 planner in poppy

8} J.Crew "Toga" dress in gauguin orange

9} J.Crew retro dot high-waisted Shelley brief in sweet orange

10} Steve Madden "Turnpyke" wedge in orange

Back to Blogging

2011-05-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

I'm baaacck!

Well, sort of. I have totally neglected my poor little blog since before the wedding and it's taken me a while to get back into the swing of things. I promise that I will be a better blogger from now on and I have still been keeping up with my daily reads!

We are waiting to get the non-watermarked photos back from our wedding photogs, but in the meantime, here's a sneak peek at my dress (which I loved and momentarily thought about putting on this past weekend) and some of the best friends a girl could ask for!

I thought my schedule would slow down after we got back from the honeymoon (more on that to come, too!) but things are just as busy as ever. We have lots going on this summer, including a trip to NYC to visit my sister and future bride, moving into our new and bigger apartment, and my third 25th birthday :) I am also going to be taking on the daunting tasks of changing my last name and training for duathlon #2 with Whitney.

I feel like May JUST began but it's already filled with trips out of town, girls nights, bar-b-ques, and the early stages of de-cluttering and packing up for our move in July. I have a feeling summer is going to fly by...

xo,

SARAH

Engagement Photos by Serendipity

2011-03-31T09:00:00.004-05:00

{image via serendipity}

Our wedding photographers just posted our engagement photos on their blog over at Serendipity. We love Alice and Eric and can't wait to see what they do with our wedding photos! You can see the whole session here.

Wedding Wednesday: T minus 10 days

2011-03-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

{Only ten days left until we say these words}

It's almost here. Around this time last year we were getting back from our trip to Seattle {seen here}and I had no idea what the next few weeks would bring. Since then, there's been a lot of planning, a lot of love from our friends and family, and a lot of wondering what the rest of my life is going to be like after marriage.

I know I've been MIA the past few weeks, so I wanted to share a few details of our big day with you all in case I don't make it back before becoming Mrs. M.W.L.

1} My something blue. I ordered these crystal blue stickers from this etsy shop and I can't wait to put them on the bottom of my wedding shoes and wear them down the aisle.

2} The mode of transportation we decided on since we forgot to book a limo. Just kidding! After we messed up on that one, we debated getting something last minute but decided there were other things we could use that money on. But don't worry, we will NOT be riding a tandem bicycle to our reception venue.

3} The favors. We decided not to do them after all. I worried about the favors for quite some time, but after talking to several people who told me they usually forgot to take them or leave them behind, I figured our guests could do without candy in a box for one night. Plus, it was one less thing I had to worry about it, and I definitely welcomed that idea!

4} My wedding band. It looks just like this minus the little blue price tag. It's been sitting in a box at home for about a month now and I can't wait to actually wear it!

5} The rest of my "somethings." Something old: my grandmother's wedding band that will be tied into my bouquet. Something new: my dress, my shoes, my earrings... Something borrowed: a beautiful aquamarine ring courtesy of my soon-to-be mother-in-law.

I can't wait to share the rest of the details and I will definitely be posting pics of the wedding and honeymoon once we get back!

xo,

Sarah

Goodbye Shopping

2011-03-11T09:26:00.001-06:00

{images via weheartit}

Like many of you, I have decided to give up something for Lent. It's not going to be easy, but I think it will help me in the long run. I'm not big on sodas, sweets, or any of the usual indulgences people choose to forgo around this time of year, but I am, however, big (and I mean big) on shopping.

My fiance and I are doing this as sort of a joint venture. We're both big-time shoppers and it seems like every weekend we manage to accumulate more than we have space for or really even need. Our closet is ridiculous and even though it's on the small size for two people, it's still filled to the brim and I'm frequently looking for more hangers to hold our constantly-growing wardrobes.

Given all the wedding expenses (and all the space we don't have) we decided to give up shopping for ourselves for the next 40 days. Exclusions are grocery shopping (we gotta eat!), shopping for necessities (i.e. laundry detergent, cotton balls, cute Easter outfits for our nieces), and wedding-related items such as attendants' gifts and spa treatments on our honeymoon :)

No one said it was gonna be easy, but I think our bank accounts will be happy in the end. So, for the next few weeks, I won't be doing any of this:

{goodbye shoe shopping!}

And even though I am a sale queen (and never pay full price for anything!) reduced-price items are still a no-no unless they fall into one of the categories above.

Wish us luck! It's going to be tough, but we are up for the challenge!

What are you giving up for Lent this year?

Wedding Wednesday: One Month to Go

2011-03-09T09:50:00.000-06:00

{images via weheartit and sending postcards}

Our wedding is officially one month away and I have officially gone into "freak-out" mode. I have no idea how it came up so soon. I also have no idea how I'm going to get my huge to-do list finished in time for the wedding. Future brides beware: no matter how organized you are (or think you are) the wedding will sneak up on you in no time!

Here's my to-do list at the one month to-go mark according to theknot.com:

1} Finalize the menu and catering details

We are going to the Houstonian for our tasting today and I can't wait to try out all the yummy selections we chose, including my fiance's surprise groom's cake. I think the hardest part will be narrowing down the options.

2} Start a beauty regimen and make appointments at a nearby spa

I don't really have a beauty regimen, and at this point, it's probably too late to start one. I will, however, be making some spa appointments for the Thursday before the wedding so I am perfectly pampered for Friday and Saturdays events!

3} Decide on and order wedding favors

This one's still a work in progress. After all the great ideas ya'll gave me a few weeks ago, I kind of forgot about the favors and started working on other stuff. With only a month to order and have anything shipped, I think I'm screwed...

4} Finalize the ceremony song list and readings for the ceremony

We've had the ceremony readings (and our wonderful readers) picked out for a while, but we finally nailed down to the songs this past weekend after meeting with the singer and pianist. I also sent our final selections to the string quartet so I think I'm doing pretty good! Now I just need to work on a play list (and a do not play list) for the DJ.

5} Arrange all day-of transportation

Hmm...kind of forgot about this little detail. So I'm guessing we'll just take our own cars to and from the wedding? Hopefully our wedding party won't think we're too awful when we tell them they're driving themselves to the reception and not to wait on a limo. And hopefully one of them can give us a lift, too!

6} Start ceremony programs

This one's great...we finalized the last details of our ceremony this past weekend {see #4} and when I emailed the place I want to order our programs from about production and delivery time, they told me I needed to get everything to them yesterday in order to have it a week before the wedding. Needless to say, I'm looking into options B and C.

Even with all the tasks I'm trying to complete in just one short month, I am super excited about this weekend because my bridesmaids are hosting a fabulous bachelorette party for me on Saturday! At least I think it's going to be fabulous...the whole thing is a surprise and I don't have any details, but with 20 of my favorite ladies there, I can't imagine it not being a good time.

{The future Mr. and Mrs. L}

Random Tidbits Tuesday

2011-03-08T09:48:00.000-06:00

This is by far my most random post yet, but instead of separating these topics into multiple posts, I figured I would just lump them all together.

First, The Bachelor: Women Tell All that aired last night. It wasn't as over-the-top drama as I thought it would be, but here are the main things I noticed:

1} Ashley H. looks like she got a total makeover with hair extensions and coloring, thicker eyebrows (thank goodness), and a tan.

2} Jackie seriously annoys the crap out of me.

3} I always found Michelle to be a little crazy, but funny and entertaining with her comments. I feel pretty bad for her after some of the ladies attacked her while she was crying and obviously upset, and I loved how Brad came on and defended her.

4} I feel like it's a little too obvious that Brad is going to pick Emily, and he might end up with Chantal O. afterall.

Second, Jillian's 30 Day Shred that I mentioned here. I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now and I can officially say this is the hardest workout I've ever done. Each workout is only 20 minutes but they are incredibly intense. I'm on level 2 now, but I can't even imagine what level 3 is going to be like.

As I mentioned in this post, I've been looking for a cross-body bag for the honeymoon and after. I was a little disappointed when most of the bags I had my eye on were either too small (I need something that will fit more than just my phone and keys) or the straps were too short. Then, I was at Macy's one day and found this great bag in the sale section (reduced twice!) and I had a coupon for 20% off. The bag is the Michael Kors "Portland" bag and I think it was from last season because it was a total steal! It's the perfect size, shape, and I love the gold detailing on it. Needless to say, I can't wait to pack up my stuff in this baby.

And, speaking on honeymoon accessories, I am debating which pair of sandals to buy for our trip. Steve Madden has some great ones out right now

{SM "Safarii"}

{SM "Blinggy"}

{SM "Bride"}

And, last but certainly not least, my friend Chelsea took some amazing photos of my adorable niece, Madison, and has entered them in the I Heart Faces Photo Challenge for this week. So, please help me out by going here and voting for Chelsea (and this cutie!). It's photo #347. Thanks!

Hope you all have a great Tuesday! I'll be back tomorrow with Wedding Wednesday at the ONE month to go mark!

Belated Wedding Wednesday: Taking a Step Back

2011-03-03T10:28:00.000-06:00

{image via stylemepretty}

Like several other brides and wedding-lovers, I read the Style Me Pretty blog on an almost-daily basis. With just over five weeks to go until my wedding, I've my dress alterations, menu options, hair and makeup, attendants' gifts, and much, much more on my mind. However, today's post on Style Me Pretty made me realize that in the grand scheme of things, none of those things matter. It also made me realize how lucky I am just to have found the person I want to share the rest of my life with.

I didn't want to steal all the content from Abby's blog, so I encourage you to head over and read Ryan and Amber's story.

Plush Monogram

2011-03-02T22:07:00.001-06:00

I am currently loving these Jonathan Adler letter pillows, especially the way they look when displaying our soon-to-be monogram. I would love to get them for our sofa or as toss pillows on our bed, but the pricetag of $98 each seems just a bit high for me. I love the look, so I'm keeping an eye out for a less expensive, but equally as neat version!

J.Crew New Arrivals: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF?

2011-02-24T09:55:00.000-06:00

Ah, yes. It's that wonderful time again when J.Crew rolls out new arrivals and I have to hold myself back from purchasing everything I want the minute I see it online. I was pretty impressed with the first part of Spring's new line and think I might need to buy some of this stuff for my upcoming honeymoon. Here are some of the things I love, found questionable, and think I might need to write a letter to J.Crew about because they're so awful.

P.S.- Thanks to everyone for the great tips on wedding favors! I can't wait to come up with something and share it with all of you.

THE GOOD

{tangerine plaid perfect shirt: love the print, color, and button-up style}

{delaney eyelet dress in copper dust: great silhouette, pattern, and color. I think this would be really cute for Easter Sunday, too.}

{vivette dress in warm buttercup: I love the color and grosgrain ribbon straps, and the fact that it's cotton makes it more wearable to me.}

{oxford shorts in pink. I'm usually not big on pink, but seriously, how cute are these? they come in a more subtle blue shade, too, so I might have to buy both and switch off.}

THE BAD

{neon leopard spots tee. I usually like animal print, but when it's blown up to this size, spread all over a t-shirt, and spray-painted neon, I have to pass. Plus, I'm pretty sure I saw something just like this in the girl's section of Target not too long ago.}

{gingham mini skirt. Cutting up a picnic tablecloth, adding an elastic waistband, and pairing it with espadrilles is not my idea of a cute, summer skirt. This one's a little too Dorothy-esque for me.}

WTF?!

{denim jumpsuit: umm...I don't even know where to begin with this. It's acid-wash. It's a jumpsuit. It's $298. I'll let you fill in the blanks.}

{colette dress in vintage fatigue: this doesn't even look good on the manequin, so I know it won't look good in person. The color is awful, the cut is extremely un-flattering, and that big cargo pocket on the side makes the demin jumpsuit look like a winner.}

Wedding Wednesday: The Favors

2011-02-23T09:22:00.000-06:00

{all images via theknot}

With just over six weeks to go until the wedding, I am starting to hammer out all the little details that will add a special touch to our big day. Right now, I am stuck on favors. I can't seem to decide what people would like, what I can afford, and what doesn't require an insane amount of work. I know something edible usually works best, but that's about as far as I've gotten. I've seen tons of cute labels and containers for favors, but since I don't know what the favor is going to be, let alone how it can be packaged, I can't buy anything yet.

So, I am hoping you all can help me out with suggestions. Things you've liked or really didn't like as favors for weddings you've gone to the in the past, or what you did at your own wedding. THANK YOU in advance and I hope you all have a great Wednesday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-02-16T09:25:00.004-06:00

Ah yes, it's Wednesday again. That half-point spot in the week where I get excited because Wednesday and Thursday nights have great TV, and the weekend seems a little bit closer.

Here's what I'm loving this week:

1} My new running shoes: Saucony ProGrid Guide 4.

These are the newer version of my old running shoes (Guide 2). I had been putting off buying new ones for a while, but when I went running last night and felt like I was on a cloud, I knew I had made the right decision.

2} Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino

We're spending the first part of our honeymoon on the beach at this resort and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to lay out by the pool and go to the beach and just RELAX. My fiance booked an ocean-front room for us and I think that calls for a reason to do some swimsuit shopping!

3} Hotel El Convento

The second part of our honeymoon will be spent in the actual city of San Juan, and we are staying at this European boutique hotel. I have heard great things about this little hotel {including how close it is to some amazing shopping, restaurants, and bars} and I can't wait to check it out!

4} Our wedding shower this weekend hosted by my soon-to-be-sister-in-law and hubby at an awesome location with wonderful friends and family. I decided on this Anthropologie dress and a pair of nude heels.

What are you loving this Wednesday?

Happy {Belated} Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T09:21:00.000-06:00

{all images via weheartit}

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day filled with lots of love! My fiance and I had an impromptu dinner to celebrate Sunday evening and last night was spent with some great friends because I love them too.

How did you celebrate Valentine's Day this year?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-02-09T10:57:00.001-06:00

A lot of the blogs I read have been doing What I'm Loving Wednesdays, and I decided to hop on board!

Here's what I'm loving lately:

1} The Bachelor and the fact that it's down to 6 ladies. As crazy as I think Michelle is, she's starting to become pretty entertaining and funny. However, I think Chantal O. is the best fit for Brad, and I'm hoping that's who he ends up with!

2} Paper Source and the fact that they have EVERYTHING I need for my wedding: envelopes for thank you cards, card stock for programs and table numbers, and escort cards in my wedding colors.

3} My new Ralph Lauren "Zabrina" pumps. Round toe, a four inch heel, and in a nice neutral shade? Music to my wardrobe's ears.

4} The fact that my wedding two months from today and I get to go on a fab trip to Puerto Rico afterwards!

What are you loving lately?

Dressing Up

2011-02-08T09:13:00.000-06:00

I have a lot of upcoming events that require dressing up {wedding shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, not to mention events for several friends who are also getting married}and I've been on the lookout for new dresses to wear to all of them. Here's what I've spotted so far:

{Maggy London Ikat Cotton Sateen Sheath, via Nordstrom}

{Maggy London Chiffon & Metallic Brocade One Shoulder, via Nordstrom}

{Laundry by Shelli Segal One Shoulder Jacquard, via Nordstrom}

{Seaside Fields, via Anthropologie}

{Silk Chiffon Arabelle, via J.Crew}

Stay-warm Wednesday

2011-02-02T09:09:00.000-06:00

{image via weheartit}

I'm too cold to think about my wedding today, but next Wednesday will be the two-months-'til mark, so I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about then.

It's 25 degrees in Houston today, and I know there are people out there in subzero temperatures thinking that 25 degrees sounds nice and balmy, but it's pretty miserable for those of us who are used to the heat and humidity all year.

I turned off my ceiling fans, dripped my faucets, and covered the one plant I have in preparation for this wintery event; but I still wish I was cozied up at home with a big mug of chai tea. We're supposed to get snow tomorrow night and Friday morning and I am definitely dreading that. I am planning on making this slow cooker chili and looking forward to a warmer weekend.

How are you staying warm during the harsh Winter?

Rock the Vote

2011-02-01T09:07:00.000-06:00

{image via chelseadavisphoto}

My photographer friend, Chelsea, entered one of the amazing photos she took during our engagement session in the I Heart Faces People's Choice Photo Challenge. PLEASE help her out by going here and voting for photo #171. I might be slightly partial, but I personally think it's a fabulous shot.

THANK YOU and I will be back tomorrow with Wedding Wednesday! Stay warm out there! It's even cold in Houston and we are supposed to be getting some snow on Friday!