Tuesday 31 January 2012

An affair to remember...

I am alone tonight, and thinking of weddings... as per usual. I'm thinking about all the stress, tears, fights and money that goes into them, and how after every time someone has asked me how our wedding went, I give the same response of, "it was wonderful, perfect, we loved it.... and I'm SO glad it's all over!!"... I am probably not doing it justice. I don't know if any post-brides/grooms do. I'm not saying that you should feel wrong about having a stressful time planning your wedding, I'm just saying that, when the time comes, enjoy it. That's what everyone says, isn't it? Stop and take in your day, spend some quality time together. I doubt I actually did those things - too many people to see, too much to do, too many photos to be taken - but that hasn't made my day any less special.

I think what I want to say is, remember the really special moments. Remember waking up and the feeling you had in your stomach of knowing that you would be walking down the aisle to your perfect person in a few hours. Remember having tea and toast with your aunt while icing cupcakes. Remember everyone gushing over you throughout the morning, and the excited squeals of "THE BRIDE!!!!". Taking your dress into your room (or parents' room, in my case) and feeling the flutter in your chest about finally being able to put it on and be seen! Remember the flowers... The smell of them, all around you, and that perfect moment when everything was coming together, just how you pictured it, a thousand times or more throughout your life. Remember being worked upon, the cup of tea your friend made for you in your hand while you feel the soft tickling of the make up brush. The calm, surrounded by those who love you and who just want to be there to help you be at your most beautiful. Remember your mother and sisters helping you into your dress, while your flower girls huddle around you with blue ribbons in their hair, and the nerves that have finally set in. Walking down the stairs to your aisle, the voices of your friends and family gathered, hushed. The priest telling you that you look beautiful. Remember grabbing your father's arm, almost as a safety line, and hearing "Moon River" begin to play as the little girls make their way down the aisle. How they stopped midway, unsure of what they're supposed to be doing, and everyone laughing delightedly, yourself included. And finally, seeing him there. Right there, waiting for you. Grinning, nervous (SO nervous!), and laughing at the flower girls. He is why you are there.

Suddenly they all seem to melt away. It sounds corny and terribly unoriginal, but it's true. You're holding his hand, wanting to get closer but shy to in front of so many watching. You were terrified of crying hysterically and ruining your make up (and looking like an idiot in general) when you saw him at the end of the aisle, but all you can do is smile like crazy, and feel SO loved at this very moment. How your heart swells when one of the little girls comes to stand next to him and takes his hand, and the others come to you for a kiss. Your family at the front, all smiling and laughing and you know that it was all SO worth it, and you would do it all over again. Just like fighting to be with him. Everything you did was for this moment, and all the moments after in your life with him.

These are just a few moments to hold in your heart. I have mine tucked in there tight, to replay over and over. Even if you don't stop and "feel" these moments on your day, memory bank them for later. You will bring them out often, to fall in love with your wedding more each time.

We had the most beautiful wedding. It was the perfect day. 

Sunday 29 January 2012

Great stems... "Clueless", in a so not "clueless" situation...

I have a problem with obsessions. My mind latches onto something and I cannot seem to let it go. This is a highly problematic trait when my husband and I are choosing where to go for dinner, or talking about food in general. Once it's mentioned, I am set on a particular place/type of food, and changing my mind is near impossible. This post isn't actually about food, it is in regard to my absolute favourite flower (one of two), the hydrangea. These divine flowers made an incredible cameo at our wedding, and my breathe is taken away every time I see a stunning stem of crisp blue hydrangeas (or any other colour, for that matter, but blue in particular). Today I have stumbled upon some beautiful shots of this flower, and thought I'd share some beauty with you on this cloudy/rainy Brisbane day. Enjoy!!








I really could have added some pictures of our wedding, however I am saving them for their own post. That is how utterly perfect they were - they get their very own piece!

Thursday 19 January 2012

A peak at perfect...

I am in the middle of writing a post about the divine woman who was our wedding photographer. She is not only an amazing talent and has an inspired blog, she is also a very dear friend of mine.
Until the post is perfected (as this is one I have been dying to do), I will leave you with some photos she has recently debuted of our wedding. It would be a complete understatement to say we are extremely happy with her efforts. We are so grateful to her.

For more of our pictures (and there will be more to come!), please, please check out Bec Johnson Photography.

Stay tuned!!








Monday 9 January 2012

A house in the Hamptons

A huge thank you to my sister Chrissie for getting me completely obsessed with "Revenge", a new series about a young woman, Emily (Emily VanCamp from "Brothers and Sisters"), avenging her father who was set up by the iconic Grayson family, and imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. Madeleine Stowe plays Victoria Grayson, the matriarch of the Grayson family and Queen of the Hamptons (I just LOVE her. I adore how composed she is, and how she smiles practically the whole time. Especially when she's taking someone down. She's like Blair Waldorf, but older... and in the Hamptons). She, and the amazing clothes, houses and sets, make it worth watching. In Chrissie's words, it's like "Dynasty" in the Hamptons, but with better clothes and houses. Not watching this, was NOT an option. (I was hooked at "Dynasty" and Hamptons....)

I am pretty much dying of love for the houses in this series and, as small tribute, I have collected some shots of Hamptons houses to set your tongues wagging (and me melting from jealousy). Enjoy... or be thoroughly depressed. I'm utterly the latter. 






Grayson Manor from "Revenge". 

Check out "Revenge" on Sidereel. Warning: it's highly addictive...

Thursday 5 January 2012

EmersonMade for you...

I can't quite explain how I feel whenever I browse the following website. My dear friend Claire at fellowfellow first showed me this site a little while ago, and I have to say that I am now fairly obsessed. Not only am I obsessed with the clothing, but I am also VERY in love with the woman who is the mastermind behind this fabulous brand.

Emersonmade is a husband (Ryan) and wife (Emerson) team who together have created this brand named after her. (I will also point out here that I am quite a geek. I am in LOVE with the name Emerson now because of what a girl crush I have on her!). He is the photographer and she is does all the design, styling and artwork for the brand, as well as being a quirky, cool model. The duo split their time between New York, where the line is produced, and New Hampshire, where they own an organic farm (really?? I mean... really?? Can you just not be... so... "on"???).

Her collections are uber stylish and just that little bit cute, not to mention she makes them look beyond stunning... most likely due to her to die for figure, and the way the camera catches her having just the right amount of fun. I love how she makes the website and the pictures that little more interesting with her own phrases and designs. Her sense of humour is odd but funny, and kind of makes me tip my head to the side and give a little burst of amused laughter whenever I stumble upon a really good one.




Emersonmade Golden Dragonfly Necklace $68



In their words, "Emerson Farm is a horse farm that we converted into an organic farm where heritage breed animals live in their natural habitats! Heritage pigs in the woods and hens foraging in the fields! Heirloom veg's in the garden! Galway cattle range in the pastures. Pedro (the dog) wrangles those Sons of Mothers!"

I hardly need words to describe how intoxicating this brand and woman is. Her style alone is envy worthy, yet she seems to be so fun and "whatever" that you kind of just... love her instead of hating her...



Emersonmade Golden Lion Necklace $68


This new year's resolution? Aspire to be as cool, talented, creative, (THIN!!), fun and driven as Emersonmade... 

Sunday 1 January 2012

This is why I love the internet...

Look, the bottom line is that I'm about to "Pin" everything on this tumblr... actually probably have already... so I thought I'd just send you straight there!

This particular tumblr belongs to a design student who "blogs everything she finds pure and lovely"... and she has completely made my day. There really are no words, so I am going to leave you with some beautiful images she has found.

Please, please, please check out Tulle Blouse Leather Sofa. I feel this woman is after my own heart...










This post actually took far longer than I thought, as I kept getting swept up in the beauty of her creative mind, and now my pin button has done its dash for the day. 
I would also like to point out that I am thoroughly impressed with the "Downton" cameos!!