Baby Shower Design and Baby Room Update

(Zara Kye is the baby's name:)

Here's a little sneak peek at my custom designed Baby Shower Invitations by Olive Paperie. If you are a long time reader of GFS then you know that Dana from Olive Paperie also designed my wedding invitations in 2011:)

I knew that I wanted something that represented me on my invites. Nothing generic from the store. I told her the colors I wanted and this is the result! Brilliant isn't!

If you are in need of a custom design for paper goods or a special events. Give her a holler and tell her I sent you!

In random news....I have less than 80 days before I have to birth a human being! EEEEKKKK!!!!! It freaks me out a little:)

And here are a few things I'm working on for Zara's room. I found a button(ed) down onesie in the boys' department of Babies R' Us and it was like angels were dancing around it! I couldn't wait to get home to style it and now it will be the focal point over her bed. I will have the frame of the corkboard painted white and possibly find some kind of fabric or wall paper to cover the cork board and hang my version of my baby's "Beyonce' Single Ladies' Baby Onesie" as decoration!

1. A book from Tendrils and Curls on her shelf.

2. Her "Single Ladies" Onesie (You know Beyonce' loves her a good onesie!)

3. A full length mirror 

More updates later...

My Wedding: The Details (Nathan Russell Photography)

 (Picture Heavy Post)

All Photos by Nathan Russell Photography

 When the guests arrived, they were immediately instructed by Eskay Entertainment (event planner gurus) to relax and enjoy the cocktails and music. 

I really was going for the cocktail effect with the whole wedding. Mingling. Drinks. Music. Fun. 

That was the goal.

Shanda Ferguson's artwork was the first thing everyone saw once they entered the building.

I can't tell you how much I cherish that portrait of us. 

(It now sits in our living room)

We didn't do much to the venue itself. That was one of my requirements when looking for the perfect place. I wanted the venue to already be what I wanted. 

I didn't want to go the reception hall with glittered marbles as center pieces.

I enlisted the help of my venue stylist/friend to add the small touches like the pillows and candles/candle holders.

We scouted pillows everywhere from Ross to Dillard's but most of the pillows came from my home.

(I'm somewhat obsessed with decorative pillows)

The guests enjoyed fruit/cheese and drinks for cocktail hour.

(The hubby made 10 gallons of our signature drink the night before...Sweet Tea Vodka)

Our AWESOME caterer Candie of Candie's Catering provided the five waves of food. 

Everything from chicken skewers to bit sized meatloaf boats.

A family friend created our miniature cupcakes/cupcake shotglasses/wedding cake.

If you know anything about me then you know I'm a wedding cake aficianado. 

I do NOT play around with my cake!

I was dead set against buying those corny guest books. 

We decided to utilize our favorite past time of playing SLAM: Scrabble Cards as our guest book.

I typed a simple instruction sheet of what to do and framed the instructions.

It was fun going through the cards the next day to see the messages everyone wrote.

The guests received personalized bookmarks provided by blogger, Olive Paperie Custom Design and Stationery.

(Our entrance song: The Truth by India Arie')

The guests were instructed to arrive at 7pm to mingle/hang out.

We arrived at about 7:45pm and walked in the venue together.

We walked straight to the middle of the room where our pastor met us to conduct the surprise ceremony.

Prior to us entering, our immediate families were lined up. They thought they were lining up to take pictures.

 (Remember, this was a surprise wedding, they thought we went to the courthouse to get married)

Then we got married:)

(Our exit song: Better Man by Musiq Soulchild)

We took quick family photos outdoors with our immediate family. 

That's when the first wave of food came for the guests.

I did NOT want them waiting for us to eat. 

We took a quick picture next to Shanda's masterpiece!

(P.S. We never posed for the portrait, I just described to her what we were wearing and she hit the nail on the head!)

Isn't it perfect!?!

Pure genius.

Then the party began.

If you're new to my blog then you might not know that I'm the stylist for R&B performing artist Lee-Lonn.

(Scroll to the bottom of the blog page to view his video)

So, I forced him to perform "Maybe."

Everyone LOVED him!

Can you guess which "shuffle" dance they are doing?

So....my 20ft tall brother decided to PLANK at my wedding!

He makes me so sick! LOL!

Juanette, my road dog for real...dancing with my "new" 11 year old daughter.

I'm pretty sure we were dancing to a Prince song.

 (His choice, not mine.)

All in all, it was exactly what I wanted.

The next post will be my take on the process and lessons learned during the whole experience.  (sigh)

 Thank you Nathan Russell Photography for EVERYTHING!

GFS Sponsor: Olive Paperie Custom Design and Stationery

Let me start this off by saying that I believe in the power of blogging and social media. If it weren't for me having a blog and Dana from Olive Paperie Custom Design & Stationery reading my blog...I wouldn't have wedding invitations!

Olive Paperie Custom Design and Stationery specialize in print design, small business branding, wedding invitations and other paper goods. They also now have a notecard product called Flip that specializes in Fashion Stationery.

I even used customized notecards she did for me as bridal shower invites!

We're both clever, aren't we!?!?

Olive Paperie did the above for me:

Wedding Invitations

RSVP Cards

Thank You Note Cards

Book Mark: Party Favors

Customized Bridal Notecards (not shown)

Now you know I wasn't going to have any old boring invitations, right?!?

I can't say enough personally about Dana. She is such an inspiring spirit and never once guffawed at my ideas. Not once!

Olive Paperie Custom Design and Stationery will be the featured sponsor for GFS the entire month of July.

In a world of email this and text that...it's such a treat to send and receive personalized stationery.

Bloggers with Benefits!

Blogging has allowed me to connect with fabulous and talented people that I normally would've never met.

So far through blogging I've gained the following:

1. A business partner/BFF

2. A workout partner who encourages me even when I sneak chicken after a work out.

3. A Dallas girl who appreciates the smooth of my skin...(inside joke that you will never get)

4. A Minister of Style who allows me to cuss when we talk:)

5. A Texas newcomer who will be contributing in a major way to a project I'm working on and has met my barkless dog Frankie Beverly

And now Dana, the talent behind Olive Paperie. For no apparent reason at all, she emailed me and told me that she made some stationary using me/my blog as a muse! How Awesome and completely flattering is that!

Thank you so much!