Happy New Year & London Calling…

This year London made my ‘Loveliest Cities” list. I had such a ball meeting online friends in person. Such lovely people and so welcoming. Oh and how can I explain what it felt like when I found out that an online friend, who I absolutely adore, is family? Small world! London was all that I imagined. Busy, bustling, chic, eclectic, and rich with history. All the qualities I love in my favorite cities! I don’t think I could ever get tired of London.

Although our tradition as a couple is to spend New Year’s Eve at home alone, if I could be anywhere with Mr. G this weekend it would be London. So here’s my take on celebrating the new year in the brilliance of “The Square Mile”. Cheers! p.s. What’s your wish for the new year?

What do you hope to accomplish on in 2012? Leave your 2012 wish…

{ideas & inspiration} Garden Party Lighting Ideas

You are going to love these simple yet elegant ideas! Sunday’s are my “chillax” days. I catch up on correspondence, emails, catch up on my favorite blogs, and discover new ones. Yesterday, I discovered Karen Lidbeck’s blog and fell in love with the ideas on her blog. Two in particular really caught my eye. These amazing ideas are so easy to recreate and would be a hit at your wedding or garden party!

Here are Karen’s own words on how to create this elegant idea for yourself:

“Hang with clothesline from a tree, beams or a pergola over your table. Pad the bottom with moss and stand pillar candles inside.”

By using two galvanized tubs, Karen was able to bring light to a gardens border. Here is what Karen said about this garden project:

“Stacking various old galvanized containers for height. The middle is planted with flowers and the top is filled with water and floating candles.”

Thinking outside the box at its best. It does not get any easier than this folks!  lease be sure to visit Karen Lidbeck’s blog it is quite lovely.

{via}

{ideas & inspiration} Easter Tablescape

Easter is almost here. Preparations are underway for the Easter egg hunts, and the many brunches that will take place after church. I love the creativity used to create the tablescapes this time of year but I am not a fan of too many bright colors all at once. That is why the colors of this tablescape caught my eye.

The décor is grownup, simple, elegant, and fuss free. It celebrates spring/Easter without the bright colors that are usually associated with Easter tablescapes this time of the year. The pastels pair together easily and the only bright pops of color are the purple flowers that are placed in the mini floral arrangements. Using a neutral tablecloth makes the beautiful pieces stand out without competing with the other colors or textures on the table. The layering is perfect.

Not only is this a great Easter tablescape, it would be a beautiful presentation for a wedding brunch or lunch; wouldn’t you agree?

A Virtual Wedding Shower Steph aka Steph Bubble!

Jacin of Lovely Little Details and Erin of Sparkle and Hay had the loveliest idea! Why not  throw a virtual wedding shower for our resident sweetheart, Stephanie aka StephBubble? Why virtual? Well in case you didn’t know Stephanie lives in New Zealand. Although I am sure many of us would have love to have been there {what a girls trip that would have been!} we have to celebrate from afar.

Stephanie always is so kind and so eager to lend a helping hand that is just seemed fitting and right to do a little something special for her!

Stephanie, I wish you and Robin many years of marital bliss, happiness, blessings, and above all lots of love. Deep love that is patient, kind, and weathers all. May you always walk in each others light and may your love always remain happy and bright!

XO

Please be sure to check the other beautiful messages by these lovely bloggers.

Erin from Sparkle & Hay – Alicia from The Charity Wedding
Claire from A Realistic Wedding -  Magalie from the Demoiselle – Kristi from Luna & Chloe – Aleah & Nick from Valley & Co. .- Jacin from Lovely Little Details -  Lauren from Every Last Detail - Abby from Life in the Superburbs -  Gaby from Cap Classique
Sofia & André from Brancoprata – Kate from Ruby & Willow – Tami from Fabulously Wed – Christina from Postcards & Pretties – Kim from Bride Goggles - 

Virtual Shower for Erin of Sparkle & Hay!

A very special and sweet lady, that we all love dearly, will be getting married VERY SOON (YAY!) and how could we not tell her how happy we are for her? We are #TWIPS and that’s what we do!

Kate Holland of the GORGEOUS blog, Magnolia Rouge came up with the idea to give our Erin a virtual shower and we were all too please to pitch in. If you have yet to notice the #TWIPS can do anything but collectively we are even better!

When I was privy to see a sneak peek, I knew right away our Erin would be moved to tears…I was. Is it not amazing?

Erin –

I am so happy for you and Dan! To find your soul mate in this great big world we live in is next to miraculous. Life is filled with many twists and turns but somehow we manage to end up right where we belong…in the arms that were made to hold us, care for us, and love us  the way God intended.

No one can tell you what lies in the road ahead; no one can tell you what joys or disappointments you will experience as husband and wife. I can tell you this, the sweetest thing about marriage is the good times are even better together and the hard times don’t seem that hard after all.

Enjoy your special day, sweet friend. Bask in the blessing made just for you and Dan on your wedding day; it is truly heaven sent!

Naomi XO

Head over to these contributing blogs to see their messages…

Sofia@Brancoprata | Kim@BrideGoggles | Gaby@CapClassique 

Abby@TheSuperburbs | Chris@Postcards&Pretties | Kristi@Luna&Chloe

Nicole@NicheWhite | Megan@Glamour&Grace | Allison@EngagedandInspired

  Magalie@TheDemoiselle | Aleah&Nick@Valley&Co | Megan@ForgetMeKnotWed

Fall Table Ideas {Weddings & Home}

 HGTV 

Project Wedding 

Country Living 

Country Living 

Sunset Magazine 

Sunset Magazine 

     I think this is such a beautiful idea and an easy DIY for a centerpiece. Skeleton (aka fossil) leaves can be purchased at your local craft store. Overlap them on a base an insert votives in the middle. Stunning! 

Sunset Magazine 

Another simple idea using wheat shafts, a few votive glasses, and a votive candle, to dress up your fall table or wedding. 

Sunset Magazine 

Being a book worm, I love using printed pages of books as the placemats! 

Midwestern Living Magazine 

From Marriage to Motherhood 

HGTV 

Martha Stewart

You Are Cordially Invited To…

The best virtual wedding shower this side of…well the whole entire world for Abby of Life in the Super Burbs. If you do not know who Abby is (shame on you!) then you maybe missing out on one fantabulous person, blogger, and soon to be WIFE!!!

Here’s how all this came about. A bunch of us superwomen were on Twitter…OK we are always on Twitter…and we were getting all excited about our sweet Abby’s upcoming nups. I came up with one of my better ideas and said “Let’s have a virtual shower for Abby!” Now you would think with all the women involved from all over the country and world this would be next to impossible! Not with these ladies! Suzy of Dog N’ Bird contacted Andrea Bell (quilter EXTRAORDINAIRE please check out her Etsy store!) and made a deal with Andrea and before ya knew it…we had a quilt. A damn fine quilt, I might add!

Each of us had to submit a quote or write something really sweet message to Abby to be stitched on the quilt. We each got to submit two. Here is one of mine…

WARNING TISSUES MAY BE NEEDED FOR THE NEXT SECTION OF THIS POST.

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

This is one of my most favorite quotes, which I do not share often because it is just that special. I picked this quote for Abby’s quilt two reasons. The obvious is our dear beautiful, fun-loving, classy, amazing blogger and all around sweetheart, Abby, is getting married, which is a pure and amazing blessing. To find someone in a great big world like ours that will love, live, and be with you through all of life’s ups and downs is not a miracle. It is a true blessing. A blessing that continues throughout the good and the bad. A blessing that does not need to be seen nor heard to know of its existence; it is solely and purely felt with the heart.

Although, many of us have never heard each other’s voices, sat down for a cup of joe, or live on the same continent the admiration, support, respect, and genuine kindness, we share amongst each other is felt purely by our hearts. Who could have guessed that 140 characters could bring together  some of the most amazing women that I am so honored to call my friends. Thank you, Twitter.

Abby,

OMG the day is almost here! Congratulations on this very important step in your life. May God bless you both and keep you in his care today and always. May you never walk in darkness and may his divine light evermore light your way, together.

Love you lots, my friend! Naomi

Brancopata’s Hotspot  |  Simply & Forever  |  Postcards & Pretties  |  The Knotty Bride

Dog N’ Bird Artful Wedding  |  Weddings & Pretty Things  |  Bride Goggles

     Gwyneth Paige  |  Swatchbook Weddings |  Landlocked Bride | Meant to be Sent

To see the entire quilt and wish the Bride your best wishes please visit our friend Abby at her blog  Life in the Superburbs

America, My Hometown

Happy 4th of July, America!

Statue of Liberty 

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Yosemite National Park, California

 Niagara Falls 

Bryce Canyon, Utah

 Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Ground Zero Memorial to 9/11

Mount Rushmore

Tombs of Martin Luther King & Coretta Scott King

My home, New York City.

Lincoln Memorial  The United States Capitol Denali State Park, Alaska

 The Pink Ladies, San Francisco

 Black sand beaches of Hawaii.

Savannah, Georgia

Central Park, New York City

 Yellowstone National Park, Emerald Pool, Wyoming

Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing

mother’s in the world…especially mine!

 My mom and I hugging the day of our wedding, October 2008, San Juan Puerto Rico. She gives the best hugs but I bet all amazing moms do!

Love you mommy!

Naomi

Party Ideas – Chic Gossip Girl Bridal Shower

Source: Hostess With the Mostess

I am swooning over this gorgemonous “Gossip Girl” inspired bridal shower on Hostess With the Mostess. Every detail of this shower is “Gossip Girl” worthy. I wonder if “Blaire Waldorf” was invited? Enjoy!

Love the pink peonies and aubergine ruffled placemats.

A close up of the place setting…is this not fantabulous! Yes, yes it is!

Guess who gets to sit at the bustled ivory chair?

Check out this spread…

Mmmmmm French macaroons, my favorite!

Perfectly pink peonies.

Credits & Resources:
Event Design & Planning: The Special Day, Carolyn Chen, Photography: Jan Garcia Photography Catering & Desserts: The Dotted Apron, Florals: Mille Fiori,Linens: Wildflower Linen