After a lovely long weekend in SoCal with Troy's family, we are home again! Lots of driving, eating and seeing Troy's old friends!  We have much to be thankful for, but it's bittersweet against the suffering and loss of this year.  Look for a sneak peak pictures of a new project we just finished!  b
A year ago today, we officially adopted Emma.  Here above she is with Troy's side of the family.  (She is trying to wiggle away from the judge.)  She's become such a big girl!  We're so glad that Troy's mom Judy could be there.. it will be a tough Thanksgiving without her this year!  May you have a sweet time celebrating with family!  b
Labor of Love blog

Stephanie Williams photography

After a few days of rain, I'm happy to see the sunshine!  Look for some sneak peak pictures of some recent letterpress projects!  Thanksgiving is almost here!!!

Ken Kienow photography

Artfool via MS

The weekend is almost here, as is the holiday season!!  Here is some sparkly, holiday, pretty inspiration!  More letterpress printing for more me this weekend!!





Lisa's new blog and website design??  It's as chic as ever!!!



  My little brother and I above at Easter


Yes, yes, I am FINALLY downloading pictures from Easter of this year!!!!  All year we've been taking some still image on our camcorder and I just now got around to seeing them all!!  So here are a few things we've done in the last 6 months......

 

Emma's first year dying Easter eggs!  It took 5 adults to make it happen.. talk about spoiled!!  Here is Troy and I, then my brother is mixing up more dye, my dad is getting another egg ready and my mom is ready to to clean up more messes!



Troy and Emma hiking in Santa Rosa, CA  June 2010
We went to a family reunion in Santa Rosa in June.. here is Emma with my cousin Amy.. they were given matching PJ's so cute.  This is Emma's silly camera face!

Grandpa Todd and Emma in Santa Rosa, more silly faces by Emma!  Other things not pictured, our Napa Valley trip, seeing Troy's Grandma (age 94) in Texas in the spring.  Emma's first trip to Disneyland with my long time friends, Emma's 2nd birthday in SoCal with Troy's family, countless beach trips, and Troy's birthday trip to Disneyland.

Below is us for Halloween, Emma is a baby duck, I'm a soldier in my father-in-laws jacket and Troy is a mechanic with a few extra pillows to fill out his overalls!


Ken Kienow photography above



Just because you don't live in an urban, ritzy area, doesn't mean you can't find a beautiful place to get married in.  Rural areas can be surprising gorgeous locations. These hidden treasures can be wonderfully accommodating because of their size and out-of-the-way locations. Many bed and breakfast inns these days also have renovated barns that can be used for receptions. Great old barns provide wooden dance floors, rustic high-beamed ceilings that can be enhanced with fairy lights at night for lighting.

In wine country, you can host a wine-tasting reception and give favors with a wine theme to your guests. Many small to medium-sized wineries can also offer wedding venues.

 Rural areas also provide great natural resources like National Parks.   Remember to get permission for any wedding in a park, but there are countless possibilities, tall waterfalls, huge meadows, dormant volcano's!  Be creative!!



Ken Kienow Photography


Lemon PI 
 



Fall is finally here on the coast, and I'm looking forward to holiday baking!!  I was inspired by this recipe for warm caramel cake here!!  Don't you love the warm caramel inspiration board by Snippet & Ink!?  Happy Monday!


Stephanie Williams
Martha Stewart

Snippet & Ink
Ken Kienow photography

via Pottery Barn above


Being a West Coaster, New England seems very exciting, formal and traditional.  (My friends from Boston laugh at me for this!)  What is more East Coast than a Clam Bake?  It's a great way to celebrate with loved ones at the beach!!  Fresh clams, lobsters, mussels, and corn all shared family style.  Sounds like the perfect rehearsal dinner.  Have a great weekend, I'm letterpress printing Christmas cards!!


 Brian Vanden Brink photography above


 Ken Kienow Photography






Every little girl has to love flowing fabrics, pretty bridesmaids dresses and the softness of pink.  For every 6 year old girl playing dress up, here are some dreamy ideas!!! 



See more of Mike Larson's photography of this wedding above.. here!


Troy likes to say, that if you put a bird on something, I'll buy it.  (Pillows, paper, cakes etc. )

Beautiful hand painted cake.  See more of this real wedding here....

Birds of Feather inspiration here...

Cute Love Bird here...

Rachel Thurston photography above








You in your wedding, you could have ONE item to have an unlimited budget, what would it be?

My choice:  Flowers


Endless fresh flowers please... anemones, roses, peonies, freesias

What would you choose?



image above by Austin Gros

Well, I finally have laptop up and running again.. yeah!!  Did you see the great green bridesmaids dress at Green Wedding Shoes, as of late?  Love it.  Also as a paper lover, I adore Creature Comforts Gifted e-zine.. it's awesome!  Check it out here.


 image above by Adrienne Gunde

image above by tempting weddings


Hope you are brushing your teeth after Halloween!!  Emma is catching up on sleep after too many late nights and too much sugar!!  It's going to be a long Monday!