Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

About a month ago, my bumpdate shoot was held at a pretty cool place. I was up visiting my parents for the weekend, trying to decide where to take it when my mom suggested the Antelope Vally Poppy Reserve. We drive through the desert and see the wild poppies all the time but I have never been to the preserve. It really only blooms in April so going for my bumpdate seemed like an ideal plan.

My mom and I loaded up into the car and made our way into the preserve, seeing all the wild poppies on the side of the road got me excited! People were out in full force taking their photos along the side of the road. Once inside the reserve we discovered that we couldn't go off the path and take photos in the field. It was also outrageously busy with tourists and gale force winds made it almost impossible to keep the chalkboard upright without recruiting someone to hold it from behind.

We took a couple shots in the Reserve as well as some fun artsy shots, which is the purpose of this post. We decided to stop along a concentrated area along the road, where you can get deep into the fields and take photos which is inevitable the one I chose for the update. My mom couldn't help herself and had me pose for a couple without the chalkboard, but the wind made it really difficult to get a good shot.

It was a fun afternoon and of course after this weekend the poppies really bloomed, so if you live in Southern California or are visiting in April, go and check out this pretty place and take some photos of your own! :-)

It's all in the details - Country Shower Decor (Part Two)

As you read in part one, a party is all about the details. This is the continuation of all the crafts that I have accomplished for the upcoming Blue and Yellow Country Bridal Shower. The next task on my to do list was the banners. My original thought was to make them pennant style similar to this, but after careful consideration of wording and layouts I decided a distressed look with a black background and jute rope to hang them would be best. With my moms handy dandy Cricut machine, the cutting of the letters was a breeze and I went to work distressing, gluing, hole-punching and hanging them

Some of the letters

The wonderful Cricut machine!

Letter attached to card stock

Distressing and black backer card

All done and ready to hang

The next item was to figure out a way to make the silverware seem a little more inspired. I took a simple clothespin, and tied some curling ribbon to the end. I will clip the silverware together with the clothespin either to the bandanna napkins or just lie them on top. How we will set it up is still up in the air.

Clothespin with Curling ribbon

All of them

The next couple of tasks were completed by my friends mother. She took raffia and wire ribbon and tied them around the mouth's of the mason jars to add a pop of color and dimension. She also tied fabric ribbon around the flower filled mason jars that we will use for the centerpieces and various items around the space.

In process of being ribbonized!

Centerpieces done!

Then of course was the assembly of the S'more kits. I knew I could get the hubs to help because he would get a s'more or two out of it. So we went about wrapping the chocolate and and assembly line of stuffing, putting on the Thank you tags, and the raffia bows. I am so excited as to how CUTE these babies turned out!

Of course will all the yummy goodness that is going on, I had to make some signs for the guests to know what is what. (not like they wouldn't know, but again.....all about the details!) Again with my trust Photoshop and cutter I went and I distressed them too!

Everything is coming together! I can't wait to see the house decorated and the bride to have the shower of her dreams! Stay tuned!

To see the completed party please visit my recap post! 

Flowers? On a Thursday?

Today is a typical Thursday.....or is it? Here I was going about my daily business at work. Email checking, renderings, sample requests and meetings with reps. However today was not a typical Thursday. This morning I got an email that Darin and I will be attending a Red Carpet Event! There will be no paparazzi, but we are attending the Calibre Awards next Friday. It's like the Oscar's for Southern California Design firms. But hey, we get dinner, drinks and it's an excuse to get dolled up and walk on a red carpet! What more could a girl ask for?

At 2PM we got a visit from one of our wall covering reps. We got caught up on our gossip about the Royal Wedding and other things while she showed us the new and best of her products. When she was done I returned to my desk to find a large green box from Pro Flowers. I thought in my head the usual things....Not my birthday, not an anniversary, my husband and I have not gotten into a fight.....what were these for??? I cut off the tape and open the box to see a Mother's Day card in it. My boss said to me "Is there something we don't know?" and I thought to myself, well it would be a surprise to me too! When I opened the card and read the note, I realized that it was from my baby God Daughter Charlotte! I felt so honored that Amy and Anthony sent me my first Mother's Day gift! I immediately went to work assembling the vase and flowers and realized that there were chocolates too! Yes! This brigtened up my afternoon immensley! I feel so special.

Thank you Charlotte! I love you!