My Random Style Me Pretty Post Pics Explained....

So, as I was basking in the glory of my wedding being featured on Style Me Pretty Texas, I had a realization...some of these pictures that I think are just fab, could be quite strange to others!  That is why I would like to take this opportunity to point out the reason/importance of some of the pictures shown on the blog.  I do understand that my explanations will not effect your indifference towards some of these, but at least you will kind of "get it"...ya know?  So here goes...

Internet, meet Orange Bear.  Orange Bear, meet interenet...this it the stuffed animal I have had since I was about 8 or 9 months old.  Starting in about 4th or 5th grade, everyone tried to talk me into framing him in a shadow box and I refused to do any such thing.  I was asked, "well what are you going to do when you get married?  Bring him on the honeymoon?!".  This answer always seemed obvious to me..."YES!".  So as my photographer was snapping pics in my room, so stumbled across O Bear here, and once I told her his story, she could not resist including him in a few of the shots.  Here he is perched on one of my wedding gifts from Tye.  (Don't judge....)

You may be wondering who this precious little boy is in a few of the pictures...meet Oliver!  Oliver is my nephew!  (My husband's brother's little boy.)  Not only is he extra cute, he just happens to be extra smart also.  I love this picture so much because it is such a good, natural smile from both of the handsome boys in the picture.

This picture is neat because the man I am talking to was a wedding surprise from me to Tye and everyone else.  Two days before the wedding I decided the ceremony was lacking and I decided I wanted to try and find a bagpipe player.  Tye and I are both of Scottish decent and it made sense, plus...let's face it, the bagpipes just sound cool!  His name is Lars Sloan and he founded American Bagpipes and besides being an amazing bagpipe player, he is a great sport.  I told him that he was a surprise and even with VERY little notice, he not only agreed to play, but he managed to sneak in and help me pull off my surprise!  He comes highly recommended from this bride!

This church was not only a beautiful place to have our ceremony, it was very meaningful.  Tye and I were married in the same church my parents were married in, on their 28th wedding anniversary.  (How cool, and special is that?!)

This pic is great because it includes pictures of my pups!  In keeping with the living room/showroom "feel", I thought it was only appropriate to include some personal pictures and I wanted my sweet little angels to be front and center!  (If you look really closely, you can see them in their matching Christmas sweaters, hehe!)  This picture is also a great example of Darryl & Co.'s great work!  I don't think my guests even realized that my venue did not normally include a fireplace, rugs, club chairs, etc. (all of the furniture brought in was via Darryl & Co.) because Scott, my planner/designer, did such an amazing job making everything "fit" in the space!

These are the programs that my mom, cousin, and myself made.  I was such a huge fan of my Ralph Lauren Inspired Engagement Pictures,  that I tried to find several ways to incorporate them into the wedding.   

My guest book, again featuring those amazing engagement pics!

Tye is from the small town of La Grange where many of the residents are of Czech or German decent and where you can find some of the best bakeries in the state, so we decided to have a dessert station with kolaches and other baked goods from a La Grange in place of a traditional grooms cake.

My amazing parents!  My dad wanted to surprise my mom with a special anniversary dance!  Aaawwww!  Aren't they great?!  I only pray that Tye and I still want to dance like that when we are celebrating our 28th anniversary!

 I really wanted to include plaid in the wedding decor not just to reflect the Ralph Lauren inspiration, but also because both Tye and myself are of Scottish decent and it seemed like the perfect way to honor our heritage.  (Along with the bagpiper also!)

So there you have it...hopefully I provided a little more insight into our wedding.  It really was the perfect day and I could not have hoped for more!  Please feel free to ask if you have any questions or want more info. about any aspect of the day!  Until next time,
Taylor

My Wedding on Style Me Pretty Texas!

I am so excited today because my wedding is being featured on Style Me Pretty Texas! This has been one of my favorite wedding blogs for a long while now, so I am feeling pretty special! My vendors deserve all the credit for making the day come together so wonderfully! Scott at Darryl & Co. really hit it out of the park with all of the decor and furniture rentals and my beautiful pictures are thanks to Brittany Dawson Photography. Be sure and check out the post on Style Me Pretty Texas but here are a few of my favs that they featured...


 

Kate Spade Sale!

I have a sale alert to share with you!  Kate Spade is having a sale on their sale, meaning you can save an extra 25% off the sale prices by using the code SALE25 when you check out.  Here are a few of my favs from the sale...

I love the color and texture of this wallet!  $118.50 when you take the additional 25% off.



Isn't this just a happy little travel bag?  It's $45 price tag makes me happy!

Sigh...so pretty and probably my fav.  $159 when you take an additional 25% off. 

I also tried my hand at another inspiration board using items from the sale.  I still need quite a bit of practice (as I am sure you can see) but you get what I was goin for at least...I hope...

Black, White, and Pink.  All images via Kate Spade

Check out the sale and let me know if you find something you can't live without!  Till next time...

Taylor

Black Baroque = Etsy Shop I Love!

I have come across one too many amazing Etsy shops to continue keeping them to myself!  Black Baroque is my latest fav and it's easy to see why!  This seller creates the most gorgeous, cute, and quirky prints all done on antique book pages.  I would like to say I was one of the first to discover this super shop, but that would be far from true!  Their prints will even be featured in an upcoming issue of Coastal Living Magazine!  Just look at how great these are....

All prints via Black Baroque

I guess if I haven't already mentioned this, now would be a good time to tell you that I have a slight obsession with adding random, quirky, animals to my home decor...they keep popping up all over my house and I can't seem to stop!  With this latest find, it looks like I better make room for more random cuties because I simply have to have at least 3...haha, who am I kidding?!?  (I think I want 7 or so for my hallway alone!)  Oh, and I almost forgot to mention a very important part...they are just $10 each!  (Very important because my hubby reads this... Breathe easy babe!  They are only $10!)  I love the deer print for sweet hubby's office and the crown print for mine, and don't you think the elephants would be too stinkin cute in a nursery or child's room?  I hope you are digging these as much as I am!  If you are, then head over to Black Baroque's Etsy Shop and check out all of the amazing prints they have to choose from and let me know which ones are your favorites!  Until next time! 

Taylor

Have You Heard of Swag Bucks?

I have been meaning to mention Swagbucks for a while now but it keeps slipping my mind, so I better share now while I'm thinking about it!  I first learned about Swagbucks while doing my couponing research.  Nearly every couponing blog I came across mentioned Swagbucks as a way to earn a little extra money, and although skeptical, I figured if all of these couponers were doing it, then it couldn't be all that bad...I am glad I did!  (Good job couponers!)  I have already earned one $5 Amazon gift card and am well on my way to another and the best part is how easy it is!  So here's the 411...

What is Swagbucks?

      It's a site that awards a type of "digital dollar" called a swagbuck for doing things as simple as using their search engine to search the web.  (Seriously, that easy...basically rewarding you for using them instead of Google for your internet searching.)  Other ways to earn include taking their daily poll, going through their site to purchase Groupon or Eversave deals, using the free coupons they provide on their site...I could keep going!  You can then cash in your swagbucks for tons of great stuff!  (My favorites are the gift cards!) 

How Do I Get Started?

      Super easy!  Just go to Swagbucks and register!  You will get 30 swagbucks just for signing up and then keep reading to learn more about all the ways you can keep earning.  I would suggest installing the Swagbucks toolbar which makes it really easy to search (and earn) plus you get a point every day when you open your browser just for having it. 


That's it!  It really is that simple!  I mean, you are not going to make tons of cash, but $5 Amazon gift cards will add up nicely, especially when they come FREE!  Give it a try and see what you think!  I'll be back soon with who knows what?!  You'll have to check back to see!  Bye for now!

Taylor

Taylor Takes On eBay!

Today I listed my very first eBay item for sale ever!  I am not sure how someone who spends as much time online as I do is just now attempting this, but better late than never I guess!  I think it is probably one of those things that many of us have probably thought about doing before, but then never actually get around to or start looking into and decide there's a little more to it than expected and figure it can wait.  Due to my surplus in free time lately, I figured the time had come!  Now, if you have previously read my blog, you already know that I am a big fan of bargain shopping and I can not tell you how many times I have painfully left amazing deals behind because they were not the right size or because I just really had no use for them myself.  This very such situation was happening to me just the other day and I decided enough was enough, I was not leaving these trophies behind...it was time to take on eBay!  I had to do a good amount of research (probably should have done that first....) and was a little overwhelmed at first, but finally got my first item listed today!  I came across this beautiful Nicole Miller cocktail dress in a gorgeous color and as much as I wanted it for myself, it simply was not the right size, so I decided to let it be the start of my eBay attempt.  Here's the dress...

Pretty, right?  I thought so!  I know I need to work on the quality of the pictures that I post that I have taken, (I need some additional supplies) but I am pretty pleased with my listing.  Now if you have a second and you are just bored to tears, click here and check out my listing and then if you are still bored and have some feedback for me, please share!  I am all ears (or reading eyes)!  Do you sell on eBay?  Any pointers in general, especially for newbies?  I can see getting a little obsessed with this...especially if I actually sell something!  I'll keep you posted on the status of my eBay efforts, and in the mean time, wish my pretty little dress luck!  That's all I have for ya tonight!  Later gators!

Taylor

Online Magazines

Hello there!  I had hoped to have a wonderful post prepared for you, but I have a good excuse!  You see, I fell in love with the guys that did my wedding from Darryl & Co.  and they were in town for market this weekend!  (Super exciting!)  I love them so much, that I have basically become the bride that wouldn't leave and luck for me, they don't seem to mind too much!  I have had such a fabulous weekend tagging along with them at market and watching their genius, creative, minds at work!  (Ladies, if you are getting married, you simply must use Darryl & Co..... like you have too...you are missing out if you don't!)  They found so many amazing things, I almost wish I was having another wedding....almost.  Anyways, that is why I don't have some really awesome post prepared for you, but I do have one little thing I can share with ya for now.  If you have read my profile, you know that I have a bit of an obsession with magazines.  (I am up to approx. 25 or maybe a bit more subscriptions.)  You would think that would be more than enough to keep me busy, yet, I have found a few more that I have to have, only these don't have tangible pages to turn.  Online magazines seem to be gaining popularity and I am a fan!  The cost (the ones I am sharing with you are all free!) and the "green factor" (no dead trees), are nice, but the content is even better!  One of the features that I especially like is that most of the magazines allow you to click directly on an item or ad featured in the magazine and be taken to the product's website.  There are so many great online magazines, but here are just a few of my current favs...

High Gloss Magazine

Lonny Mag AND Trad Home Magazine

Rue Mag

Nesting Newbies Magazine

Like I said, these are just a handful of online magazines available, but they are a few of my favs so check them out and see what you think!  (No subscription needed, so you might as well!)  I would love to hear about any great online magazines you have discovered, so please share!  I hope you enjoy at least one of these and be sure and check back soon to see what I have come up with next!  I have some great Neiman's Last Call finds and ideas to discuss! 
Ta Ta For Now!

Taylor