Royal Wedding Watching Party

So I haven't been the most interested person concerning the hubub about the Royal Wedding... until today. I naturally wokeup and posted the first pics early, but we did have a party. Me, Mama Kitty, Ava and Lucy all attended.

Great Capture by the Cameraman. She's just taking it all in...

As are Mama Kitty and Ava, on the couch next to me.

First full view of the back!

Lucy demanded VIP seating directly in front of the TV.

Finally together... after 4 minutes walking down the aisle!!!

Kate holding her Dad's hand. Artful bouquet shot, no?

I'll only be obsessed today, but boy is it fun to be in love with this wedding like the rest of the world today.

Extra Invite Karma

While doing a seemingly not-so-fun job of making additional incidental invitations, a goldmine hath been found. We have been sending our empty-inside, gold-embossed-butterfly outside Thank-you's for leftover invites. These are mainly going to Shawn's friends who he thought of after the blue butterfly invites were all mailed. People from work, you know? He helped, anyway!

I had to buy extra envelopes to finish mailing our blue invites because that's the only thing we bought too few of, so I can't complain about that! I ended up getting gorgeous yellow envelopes (small and large for Invite and RSVP) and I was originally irritated to pay more because the large came with cards.
The handmade ivory paper used on the blue invites is actually mounted intentionally on the "wrongside" so you can't see the metallic flake on the "rightside." It was too busy on the butterfly invite, but as you can see: they're just right on these guys!!!

And how gorgeous is the RSVP with the paper rightside showing with the embossed butterfly?

I guess the cards I was forced to buy worked out, too!!!
I just love happy accidents that come about from doing the right thing: invite all you love, damn the headcount.

Kate's Dress!

I  had the... ah, urge to wake up this morning at around 4:40 AM so I decided to stay up and wait to spy THE dress! Here it is!

I love her veil!!! Her tiara is perfect and her dress is classy, beautiful and stylish.

Love her bouquet full of ivory and green fluff and fillers. Looks awesome with the dress.

I LOVE inspiration boards!

I absolutely love gray + anycolor. When my old friend Megan told me she was getting married, I made this up for her with my custom google search results and google images!

This one is fresh!

POLL : DIY Wedding vs. Handmade Wedding

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Wedzilla Thursday!

Ok, I know I'm organized, but is this overkill to make out a schedule this detailed or is it a good idea?

Let me know!

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY!!! IT ENDS 4/30/11 at 11:59 CST!!!  That's only 2 days, ladies!

DIY Tutorial #6 - Framed Chalkboard Signs

I am in love with the chalkboard trend for weddings.
They're cute, customizable and I think they're becoming increasingly easy to find. Save-On-Crafts has a bunch but beware their shipping charge... yikes!
I went the DIY route on this because I can't justify paying more for shipping than the total of my supplies!

What I started with:

1 jar of Crayola Chalkboard Paint
1 Foam Brush
2 Rustic 5x7 picture frames (with a hanger on the back)
A hot glue gun w/ glue sticks
1 (4) yard spool of non-wired ribbon in a width >1/4"
Paper to protect your work surface

Prep your frames by removing the cardboard inserts(don't throw them away!) and the glass carefully. I removed the easel-back but it was stupid-hard. If you leave it on, you can use the frame after the wedding possibly.

Lay out your protection paper and lay out 2 of the cardboard inserts from the frames. Paint each one in a thin coat of paint on each one in ONE direction and let dry. After they dry, repeat another thin coat of paint and let that dry as well.

Plug in your hot glue gun and glue one painted cardboard insert to the plain one so it's thicker.

Position your double-layer cardboard onto the back of the frame closure and glue it into place.

Once it has cooled and is secure, glue the inside of the frame edge and close the frame closure, applying pressure to seal it shut.

Flip them over and check out your handiwork.

To string them up, cut a length of 2 yds and fold the edge in half, then pull through the hanger loop. Make a double-knot at the height you'd like your bow and then make a bowtie.

Let your paint cure for 24 hours before prepping it for chalk. Once it has been a FULL 24 hours coat the entire surface with a sideways piece of chalk, wipe clean and then it is officially a chalkboard.
Rustic-Fabulous!!!

Search Your Favorite Wedding Blogs... in one place!

We love the google, don't we? I thought it would just be awesome if I had a google for all the blogs I read. I see stuff sometimes and love it, but don't remember where I saw it. I guess that'll happen when you follow AND read 40+ blogs per day... Anyway! I found google's custom search engine maker and made one of my very own!

When you search in my "wedding blogs search engine", you search amazing blogs like Weddzilla, Hostess with the Mostess, 100 Layer Cake, Green Wedding Shoes and more! I have included other blogs like PartyFrosting! and others that are more "event" blogs. That way if you type in "bridal shower favors" you can have wedding blog and party blog results. Hey, the more the "marrier" right?! For example, when I search "royal wedding" I get 6 pages of awesome as results from 100 Layer Cake and more.

What're you waiting for? Go take it for a spin!

Singing for Safe Driving

Microphone Bouqet by Corwyn Lund

As you may or may not know, our wedding is muticultural even though we are not. Our wedding will incorporate several different religions and cultural practices from all over the world. It's not that we aren't Spiritual, we are VERY Spiritual people. We just identify with many different religions because they seem to be very alike and all focused on one central theme of "Love one another." I was raised a Western non-denominational Christian by my parents and they did a fantastic job. I just never felt "right" in church. The one thing I did enjoy about church, though is the singing.
It feels so good to sing! I sing all the time (I'm not claiming to be good!) in the car and when I used to work in retail stores I'd sing my shift away. I just get so overcome with emotion from the music and the words that my body reacts and I have to sing. Maybe some of you HAVE to dance when you hear a certain song and you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I had heard that people who sing along to the radio when they drive are MUCH less likely to get in a car accident.

From Privilege Insurance:

Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of safe drivers – those with four or more accident free years – claimed that the music they listened to soothed them while driving, making them feel calmer and more relaxed. A quarter (24 per cent) said that music actually aided their concentration.

A doctor interviewed for the article named Dr.Nicola Dibben is a music psychologist from the University of Sheffield. She carried out a study of music for the article and for that

“Singing while driving stimulates not only the mind but also the body which in turn produces heightened alertness and reduced fatigue...
The Privilege Insurance research also finds, however, that some music can be distracting, so it is important that drivers choose music which is recognisable to them..." "...and will put them in a positive mood. Choosing the right music can actually boost concentration and increase considerate, safe driving.”

So to stay safer while you drive sing songs on the radio you like; listen to happy music you know while avoiding songs that are angry or overly complex.
This has worked for me for the 7 years I've been driving now. I've been pulled over once (I was 17) without getting a ticket and have only been in 1 car accident (that wasn't my fault) and it left my car driveable and only bruised.
This morning on the way to work almost every song on the radio related to me and Shawn and made me all mushy! Like the Cranberries "Dreams."
Happy Wednesday!

Crisis: underrated and averted

A while ago I was so happy with the flower girl dresses my mom found for me that I spaced off the rest of the logistics of it completely. We went to Kohl's to get Jr. Bridesmaid outfits and didn't have much luck. We ended up buying a top to "buy leggings for later" and you all know how that goes: if you don't buy the pieces to wear it, you'll never wear it.
Then I found out that one of the girls has already worn their top, anyway.
5 year olds probably should'nt wear an outfit they're supposed to wear IN a wedding before the wedding... crap happens.
So to make a long story short, we needed 5 yellow dresses like, NOW. We have 44 days until the wedding so we didn't have time to get leggings or salvage a stained top. We needed a substitution!
We found these:

For the 2 Older girls

For the 3 younger Girls

Both dresses are white and yellow stripe!!! So cute!
Each is under $40 as well and we can find them locally!
What do you think?

Weddzilla!

It's back. This is how we came to have a Spring wedding... would you ever guess I dreamed of a winter wedding when Meaghan and I played with Barbies?!

OMG I won!!!

In March, I found a super awesome etsy blog called HandmadeMN. They feature giveaways from their local etsy shop owners. I won a super gorgeous, vintagey set of 4 Swarovski crystal pins that I CANNOT wait to wear!!!

Go check out the blog post and see if you find anything you like!
Also checkout Andrea who made these hairclips at her shop, the HobbyRoom!

This week's to-do's:

Moss Bunnies say : 45 Days to Go!!!

-Make and send 6 more incidental invites
-Finish Sock Bunnies
-Go and Measure at the venue
-Paint and trim aisle runner
-Paint my moss bunnies' eyes and change out their ribbons
-Make twig H and S letters
-Dye the crinoline yellow
-Get some bridal underoo's at Victoria's Secret(have you SEEN this?!)
-Get mascara for the wedding (any waterproof suggestions???)
-Look into facials/body wrap at Oasis

Not a whole lot to report at this time, just a whole lot to DO.
Want something to do???
Go enter the giveaway! Ends April 30th!

Hoppy Birthday to Meeeee!

HiLLjO-bunnay is 23 today!

*Go enter the giveaway! Ends April 30th!

*Go check out the DIY progress that was updated

*Go check out and comment on our invitations! 

Citrus Twist Moodboard

Happy Earth Day!

I coudln't resist my favorite toy, the BHLDN moodboard maker. Today I was inspired by citrus colors, textures and shapes. Chunky, round and citrus-colored, I hope you enjoy my latest inspiration!

Our Invitations are Competing for Awesomeness!!!

Go see and vote!!!

Luxurious Homespun Toilet Paper

Seriously.

and then...

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!! ENDS 4/30/11 at 11:59 CST!!!

Invitation Photos...

This post is simply the full collection of photos of ALL the invitation styles with their additional pieces. Some blogs refer to this post as "invitation porn" but we don't use that language here at my house.

Full Collection with Album

Those stamps rock... see my fist?!

This one is ours. Forever.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!! ENDS 4/30/11 at 11:59 CST!!!

Weddzilla Today!

Here you are, lovelies!!!

50 Days

I can't believe time is going so fast that it's already the 50-Day mark.

It seems like we just mailed out the invites.

Now we're already starting to get RSVPS's back!

Be sure to check for new Weddzilla later!!!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!! ENDS 4/30/11 at 11:59 CST!!!

Bridal Luncheon Favors

Over the weekend a few of the ladies I work with and my mom, Shawn's mom and sister and I all went to a local eatery/bakery to enjoy a little Bridal Luncheon.

They thought they'd have all the suprises (they did have a bunch!) but I had a couple up my sleeve as well.
The ladies and I are event planners for a novelty company so we take our jobs very seriously and plan all of our events to a T. We even include hostess gifts in our planning, so this was no exception. The hostess and I share the same favorite wine so that was easy, but you can't just shove a bottle of wine at someone! It has to be pretty. So thanks to the Bistro at Bellenza, I furoshiki'd the wine for her in one of my favorite scarves from my collection and voila.

Prettiness.

Since it is Easter time I decided to capitalize on what's available: peeps bunnies! Our wedding is bunny themed so I figured this idea from Celebrations at Home via Babble would be highly appropriate. I added a bride bunny to the tuxedo-clad bunnies in the tutorial and I had a bunny-themed bridal shower favor for everyone!

Me, Shawn and his groomsman Chris each bagged a bride and a groom bunny in a cellophane bag together and tied them closed with yarn until they were all paired off.

I had to keep a pair, too!!!



Shawn + Hillary Jo

I just wanted the gals to know I really felt special and I thought about doing something for them as well!

HOJASU IMAGINATIONS

Hojasu Imaginations is a freelance company owned by Josh Gray whom specializes in professional video services. Professional video projects range from commercials, trailers, movies, TV shows, art features, news features, professional wedding videos, music videos and more!

Anyone who is in the Omaha, Nebraska area should seriously contact Josh for any videographing/video editing needs. Not only does he have the latest and greatest software, but he is a great guy and friend to our family! He will be videographing Shawn & I's wedding so you know I think he's good! Stop by his link here and give him a visit!

Welcome, Josh, to the Daisy to Sunflower sidebar!

Weddzilla!

Back to normal with the posting here. This blog's normalcy... coming soon!

PS: If you comment on my weddzilla posts this week, I may have a Starbucks giftcard for you all so GET COMMENTING!!!