Taking some time for the weekend

I hope everyone is having a great week and is looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I'm signing off today to take an extended weekend staycation. I'll see you all back here on Monday morning!

Photo found here.

Featured on Apartment Therapy

So I know this was almost a month ago, but I have to share anyway. My DIY mason jar tutorial was featured on Apartment Therapy back on July 8th! If you haven't already, go take a peek!

I have to say, I’m pretty excited, and very thankful for everyone spreading the tutorial around the web world. 

For easels make great place card holders

If you’re having place or escort cards at your wedding, chances are you’re looking for a way to make them stand out. There are literally a million different ways to create these little cards, so don’t feel like you have to be tied down to the good old fashioned paper versions.

While I do love the simplicity of the paper versions, and the fact that you can match them to your stationery, I also love a little bit of creativity and style. If you don’t mind spending a few bucks on place cards, or are having a smaller wedding, something like these vintage fork easels would be perfect for holding a little place card.

Check out Dinner Time Chimes for more upcycled items!

Wedding websites over wedding registries

I’ve run in to a few instances this season where brides want to include their registry in their invitation design, and I’ve been torn about providing a solution. While I understand the logic behind this, it’s still considered bad etiquette among some guests. So instead of plastering their registry information on their enclosure cards, I’ve been suggesting a substitute — their wedding website.

The website tends to be a classier way to provide additional information to guests, including where to purchase gifts for the bride and groom.

TheKnot.com has a free website service, but those can occasionally have long url’s, not suitable for a small card enclosure.

Here are a few of my favorite free sites: Onewed and eWedding. In addition to the registry information, many of these sites offer photo uploads, online rsvp features, audio/video, downloads for your guests and much more!

Take me out to the ball game

If I knew it wouldn’t turn out corny, I totally would have gone through with a Take Me Out to the Ball Game themed wedding. This classy inspiration board from Lucky n Love wedding blog is exactly what I would have loved to do! It’s timeless, outdoor and just plain fun!

I love the Bright Side Project!

It’s always nice to see someone making a difference in this crabby apple of an economy. That is exactly the purpose of The Bright Side Project, to add a little sunshine to your life in the form of a daily giveaway!

Every day a new brand of product will be featured on the site, where you can then answer the thought provoking question listed at the end of the post. The winner will be chosen by the contributor of that day, so make your comment interesting!

I’ve added The Bright Side Project to my daily reads, so I don’t miss a beat, you should too!

Above is the lovely giveaway for Thursday, July 23rd.

Kid-sized gum ball favors

I know not everyone shares my view on this, but I really love it when weddings incorporates the little guests just as much as the big ones. Children just seem so magical and entertaining during weddings, which is why I feel it's important to accommodate their needs and wants as well!

These mini gumball machines would be a cute way to make your little guests feel special on the big day. Use it as an escort card or on their place setting, and watch their eyes light up!

Photo credit: Wedding Decoration Warehouse

Adorably Illustrated Invites

As much as I love to receive a traditional wedding invitation, complete with ribbons and pockets, adorned with script fonts and calligraphy — I also love a taste of the unusual once in awhile. This creative poster-style invitation has definitely piqued my interest.

Aside from the quirky cartoons, the colors and layout of this huge invite is stunning! I love the fact that all of the information for the wedding is printed in one spot, nothing to loose or get you confused!

Images via Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Aces, and Etsy’s The Storque. 

The Lily Clutch

Love this sleek clutch I found over at The Social Seam on Etsy. Made of creamy champagne silk dupioni, this would be a lovely accessory to a gown that needs a little glitz and glamour!

Lingerie Shower Invitations

For those of you brides-to-be who are having a lingerie shower, check out the fun selection of shower invitations geared towards you! I love the playful nature of all these designs, and the fact that they have little bras and undies all over them. I mean seriously, when else can you plaster your unmentionables onto a card and mail it out to your friends and family?

My favorite are the carefully illustrated designs by Everyday Grace on Etsy.

Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 

Sage Street additions today

Oh yes, you guessed it. A few new items featured today in the Sage Street Market shop... take a peek!

Poppy's Petalworks

Searching for some poppy inspiration, I ran across Poppy's Petalworks, out of San Fransisco, California. Laura is an artistic floral designer who brings an updated and fresh look to all of her creations. Her portfolio is just full of amazing photos and innovative ideas, you absolutely must take a peek! I love the fact that she has them all organized by color and style, it makes searching a whole lot easier!

Groom's Cake

My groom didn't partake in the whole groom's cake tradition... partially because it just wasn't very popular in Michigan at that time (circa 2007). A lot of our friends and family down south say it's all the rage, and I'm seeing it more and more up here.

Either way, looking back on our wedding planning adventure, I think my hubby would have really enjoyed picking out and designing a cake of his very own. One him and his friends could smash in each other's faces, perhaps?

This Coors Light groom's cake, found at The Man Registry, is right up his alley! It's a great way to lighten the mood at your wedding! Talk about a conversation piece!

Mossy Centerpieces

I don’t know about you, but I think moss can be so beautiful! I love how tactile it is, and how each pieces covers an object so naturally in a thin carpet. There are many varieties of moss, some found in your backyard, and some more exotic, but all will work for a lovely centerpiece.

You can find living moss at your local florist if it doesn’t grow near you, or you can try your hand at making your own with this tutorial. Martha Stewart also has a great how-to for creating your own moss centerpiece.

I also have a recipe for growing moss at home, I’m not sure where I pulled it from though!

1. Place a handful of moss into a blender along with a ½ teaspoon of sugar and a cup of buttermilk or yogurt.

2. Blend just enough to mix the ingredients into a paste.

3. Generously spread the mixture onto the surface where you want moss to grow.

Note: For best results, grow moss in shady areas. Do not wet the mixture once it is applied to the growing surface, it should be able to sustain life on it’s own.

Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Cake to go

I think the rule with cake is (if you’re having one), have more than enough to feed your guests, rather than running out in the middle of your reception. While this is most definitely true, leftover cake can get old quick, so why not send home some spare pieces with your guests! I saw these adorable packages via Stephmodo, who executed the Martha Stewart template beautifully!

Near the end of the evening, station an extra server or friend at the cake table, dishing out ready-to-go slices of your wedding cake. It would make a very yummy midnight snack!

Vintage Framed Chalkboards

I love the blue bell bazaar shop on Etsy… so much that I find myself looking for excuses to browse. “Oh”, I think, “I could use this beaker as a trendy vase for my new mod bathroom”. Don’t need it, but must have it!

One thing blue bell bazaar is famous for, are their collection of vintage framed chalkboards. I love the muted colors and heirloom look, which is why I think they’d fit perfectly in a vintage inspired wedding. Indoors or out, you could write the menu on here, or the series of events for your ceremony (in lieu of a program).

Here are a few other ideas:

+ have guests write a message or draw pictures on it instead of using a guestbook. Then photograph it at the end of the night

+ Use it to write out a hand scribed thank you message to all your guests

+ Use multiple boards to point out places like the restroom, parking or beverage stations

+ Use mini chalkboards to name each table. Leave a few pieces of chalk out for the kids (or adults) to doodle.

The framed chalkboards are very affordable and would make a great statement in your home after the wedding as well!

Winner of the All Modern Giveaway

Congratulations to Jessica Lynn, comment #14, you were chosen by our random integer as the winner of a beautiful inhabit throw pillow! Check your email for further directions.

A big thank you goes out to AllModern.com and all who entered!

Rustic Cake Stand How-To

I saw this neat-o post on Etsy's How-Tuesday series... It's a rustic cake stand tutorial from Once Wed! I love the fact that this project is simple and economical, but I also love all the texture it brings to a regular ol' wedding cake. On that cake stand, that cake looks like a million bucks!

Plus it just screams — Outdoor Wedding — and you all know how I feel about those! :)

Sage Street Market opens!

I've always been obsessed with little vintage items... you know, the ones you sprinkle around your house for a bit of character. The same ones that strike up conversations about where you found that exquisite piece of china, or print. Well I can't keep hoarding it all for myself, so I've opened up a small Etsy shop where you can have dibs on it all! Sage Street Market is being stocked up as we speak, so bear with me as list new finds.

Check back often for special sales and new items!

welcome back

I had such a nice, long weekend, and I hope all you did as well! I’m totally guilty of abandoning my computer for a good 3 days, but it doesn’t look like I missed too much!

Bear with me as I get myself situated, back into the real world! Until then, don’t forget to enter the inhabit giveaway, it’s ends tomorrow at noon!