I'll be finishing the Hair Story this week :)

I can explain this. This absence... my behavior. In SIX days, it will be ONE M.O.N.T.H until I get married!

Married.

Like.. I wake up, get my hair done, and walk down the isle to commit to my fiance for the rest of my life. And dance. Lots of dancing. And pictures too :) Though I still haven't decided on a hair stylist (craaaap!!).

So you can see that I've been running around like a mad woman. Mainly getting ready to visit Arizona tomorrow, so the wedding planning itself has been frolicking in la-la land, ready to slap me when I realize what I've neglected.

To forgive me, I'm leaving you with my favorite links from the web that I'm pretty sure you will like too. Then you will forgive me, and I will tell you all about Arizona when I get back. Hopefully with an awesome tan. Or sunburn. You know, the order doesn't matter.

Mmmmmexican Sangria anyone?

My friend Meghan featured my Etsy site! Which now has the Art That Helps work up! 20 of us collaborated to create some art for YOU, where 100% of the proceed will go to Haiti. Promise Tangeman tells you all about it.

This girl's grandfather died, but she is honoring him by creating the CUTEST dresses and tops out of the clothes he left behind! I'm telling you -- PURCHASE worthy creations.

Wouldn't mind seeing this on my bedside table

Some inspiration for my upcoming move. You can bring NY to your home... even in the dessert ;)

I can see myself attempting to make this bedside cabinet

Oh my word. Libraries.

Dummy. I definitely thought the before was the after.

Drag queens meet Easter? Or just really creative people...

What a CUTE (and free!) stationary set.

Goodness, I love red.

LOL. These colorful piggies crack me up. Via ffffound.

He just wants to be a single lady.

If I was starting from scratch (meaning JUST recently engaged), I would be ALL over this wedding inspiration.

I got this AMAZING robe for my bridal shower (which was ridiculously awesome), and now I'm obsessing over this Etsy seller. Particularly her dresses.

Happy Friday everyone! Wish me luck finding our home this weekend (eep!!). And BTW -- I have to say that I got one of the most incredible gifts from my friends this week!! I can't do it justice by one line -- it needs its own post. That will be up next week. Ciao!

Is this not one of the most incredible wedding photos you've ever seen?! They're not models. This photographer (Tracy Turpen) literally had the idea and made it happen...

One day.... I can't wait to get things going in Arizona and just go full force into photography..

These are so beautiful I could cry. I don't care if you are not a 'fancy dress' type of girl -- but goodness.... these could make any girl feel magical...






And in another world... I would change into this one for a "Salsa" wedding performance...


Man oh man. Which is your favorite?

Maaaan, I love really great fabrics. I think this groom really nailed the whole "barn-Americana-retro" look.


By the way, during lunch I will finish working on the Save-the-Date tutorial. I have 1/3 of the draft typed out and can hopefully have it done by later today.

I don't want to open a can of worms (and I may hear a can opening right now...), but I keep chewing on the idea of the lack of diversity in the wedding blog world. I talked to my fiance about it yesterday and told him how an interracial couple was featured on A Practical Wedding and that there was a HUGE response of "finally!" or "yay!"

Now mind you, I am not here to discuss the "race" aspect (yet) -- but more of the business aspect. You know what gets you featured on the "big" wedding blogs? Your photography. You can have amazing little details, DIY, gorgeous dress, etc. -- but if your photography stinks, it will not represent your wedding well. Same with simple weddings -- you can have VERY little but gorgeously captured details -- and BAM! You are on. Obviously, the more unique (and more personalized details) -- the more likely you'll get featured. But that photography needs to be on point!

Speaking directly about the lack of African American/mixed couples featured on wedding blogs -- is it because there is less interest placed in photography? Because the bride can only do so much -- the photographer is the one "submitting" to these wedding blogs. Or are they submitting but not being published? I completely understand the disappointment because you can't necessarily "relate" to everything. I'm Latina and I'm not exactly represented either, BUT I have a "design" and "photography" mentality, so I relate more on the design rather than the personal aspect. Even then though, it's overwhelming because everything is so "perfect" and "ruffled" and "soft" and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh.

I wish I could hear everyone's opinion and thoughts -- but I have a feeling it might be too sensitive? What do you think? Cause seriously.... consider the photography business that is pretty much "directing/driving" the wedding blog world/business.

And this, ladies & gents, is proof that one CAN have a beautiful (simple), white wedding cake -- adorned with some beautiful flowers. AND -- magic photography.


Because you can't deny that the photography just made you drool a little bit more than the actual cake... :)

Remember I was thinking about this for my veil? (Keep in mind, I plan on adding a flower similar to this)



Well now she came out with this one and I think I am in love!! It's a little more expensive, but that's because it's not just the fabric. This would change my plans of putting a flower in my hair since the veil has the embroidered flowers. However, I feel more attracted to the volume of this veil...



What do you think?!?! Please vote!! The 1st or 2nd?!

Are not just for brides....

I would do a free photoshoot if someone wore this


paired with a bolero like this

and maybe paired with these

Ahhhh, talk about eye candy!!!

Five Love Languages series (book review) tonight or tomorrow! If you're in a relationship, don't miss out on this series. Apparently I have 2 love languages that rank equally. Can you guess? AND, Jose and I have the same top 3 but in different order.

p.s. There are some wedding disaster news I have to tell y'all about and could use some advice. Let's just say I may have to get... ahem, creative with my wedding cake. And that's not the only thing...

I got soggy boots on and there's a nice warmth coming from under my desk thanks to my heater.

So .. how about I do something different today? I'm leaving to Texas to do more "wedding stuff" AND Christmas AND my brother is in town = I'm running around & really tired. Grab yourself a nice hot cup of cocoa and let's look at some pretty stuff.

Rain makes me want to do this SO SO badly! Anyone interested in playing in the rain with me?

I just bought this from Etsy to incorporate into my wedding invitation

WHEN did Dakota Fanning suddenly grow up?!

I changed my mind and actually asked this for Christmas instead :P

Speaking of.. You know what's ironic? My photography business is titled Imaginale Design (fusing Imagine with my nickname "Ale") because that describes my mindset -- my imagination is vivid. Then I went to Anthropoligie and almost cried when I smelled MY SMELL!! And guess what it's called? Imagine by Lollia !!! YES. Go to the store and smell this -- I promise you this is what I will smell like on my wedding day :) :)

I think I found my wedding SHOES! They're on sale too! Click on red ... MMM! Now that's Latin... Unfortunately, the 6 was still too big for me, so now I'm on the hunt for a 5 1/2....

Let's gain 10 pounds in the next hour trying these out, yeah? ;)

I died seeing this wedding: bottled coca-cola, Mexico, big flowers, lace --- oh my, oh my

Speaking of Coke -- I gotta run! Taking my brother to the World of Coke while he's here :)

Ciao!!

P.s. I just finished The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I LOVE fiction and need a new book for the Holidays. Any suggestions?

Halloween has come and gone, but I have not forgotten about your curiosity in the "Alice in Wonderland" series! We will start with the centerpiece that my fiance and I made (and later I will feature the rest of the table + shoot + photobooth!). We wanted it to be interactive, but inexpensive (I was already spending enough on candy and prizes!). Jose & I came up with a marshmallow tree! Perfect for the hot chocolate I would be serving in the tea pots since, after all, it was a Mad Hatter Tea Party ;)

Materials:
1- Spray paint (found at Michaels)
1- Styrofoam cone (found at Michaels)
1- Set of branches (found at Michaels)
1- Bag of marshmallows
1- Newspaper
1- Large vase
1- Reel of fishing wire
2- sheets of tissue paper

Too beautiful for words...

Would it be ridiculous to ask my bridesmaids to dress like this? .... Talk about clothing candy by Magnolija.... -swoon-

Again, when I see these things.. they just inspire me




**edit** I went to heat up my food here at work right after posting that video and I saw someone walking with flowers around the corner. I thought "Awwww, how cute someone is-" the person turns the corner and it's JOSE!!! He's been gone all summer and surprised me at work with some gorgeous flowers! :) :)

....just blow me away. I think about what I would be like when I have kids. I don't think I would be too far from this inspirational woman (well, I hope to attain that level of creativity one day). I am talking about Miko Design who is a mother of 2 and a pure creative genius.

Instead of featuring a wedding, I want to feature a BIRTHDAY PARTY she threw for her 8 year old daughter Sofia (LOVE that name!). To defend my post (though it's not necessary ;), it was a Frida Kahlo themed birthday party which is one of the inspirations behind my centerpieces. The amount of DETAIL, creativity, time, and commitment she spent on this is simply honorable.

But enough of my jabbering... take a look:

First the invitations:

She painted a canvas blue to serve as a backdrop for....



A photo somewhat like this...


To be made into an invitation like this!


which then she proceeded to use this picture for Sofia's birthday cake!!


She not only decorated her whole house



but made skirts for her girls as well!



On top of THAT, she MADE a Frida piñata! Yes, made it!


Sofia's friends got to make portrait paintings, reflecting on Frida's work.... I love the protective trash-bag-aprons! :)



Then they got to take home a coloring book of Sofia's drawings with crayons and parrot buttons!



Sofia's present was a sewing box with her own drawing that her mom gocco-ed onto this sewing box!!



Inside was a drawing from her younger sister Mila made...



Amazing... amazing... the end