Personal: 50's Themed Mother's Day

This post is a week and a half old, but it's going up anyways.

Mother's day was so fun and crazy this year.

It started really really early and ended really late, but all the in betweens were amazing.

It was the first mother's day for my older sister, 

And the first mother's day for my mom as a grandmother.

Growing up with a single mom meant always going big on mother's day. 

For mother's day I spent a few hours crafting both my mom and sister's presents. I sewed my mom an apron for all the wonderful baking she does. And then spent some time playing with fabric and my jewelry making supplies and handmade necklaces for them both. My favorite part was handcrafting their cards/frames that I'd love to share in the coming days. And the best part of it all, was knowing my mom would love it and hearing her say "there's nothing like handmade presents" when she opened up my gifts.

This year mother's day got a little fancy. As a church we sent our moms out to downtown Bethesda for a snazzy breakfast at a local hotel. The hotel lobby was full of our beautiful mothers and their laughter, and a morning of fellowship. It was a sweet treat seeing our moms relax and enjoy their day.

Church followed after our wonderful morning, and after church we were headed to a 50s themed birthday party for my best friend's mom. Hence the reason me and my family were dressed for a different era.

I woke up bright and early that morning to pin curl/finger wave my mom's hair. And I also let her borrow my totally appropriate vintage carpet bag that matched her outfit perfectly. 

It's the little things that I love sharing with my mom. The jokes we have, jewelry or purses, the times I do her hair in the morning, the conversations we have in the car, make up, stealing her sweat pants, and the way she makes fun of me and Tim calling each other "babe". I love her so very much.

Though I am not a mother, and won't be for a while, I hope that when I am, I am as graceful and as strong as a mother as my mom and my sister are. For now I love being an aunt.

Especially to this handsome guy right here.

I love my family, and I hope you all are loving on yours.

Happy Thursdays folks!

Bride Diaries: Wedzu

My kindergarden teacher knew it long before I did, and she told my mom one day after school 

"You've got an artist on your hands."

I've always been this way, a lover of arts and crafts. So it's no surprise that most, if not all; of my wedding pretties will be DIY projects, or handmade lovelies. That's just the way I like it but I'm not like every bride out there. Not every bride has the luxury of time to craft up a storm for their wedding day, and nor does every bride want to craft. Which ever bride you are some of the sweetest ideas are already out there handcrafted by someone else ready for you to use on your wedding day.

I'd tell you about Etsy, but most of you already know about Etsy and know I have a sweet spot for it. So instead I wanted to share about Wedzu. It's almost exactly like Etsy but geared specifically towards  weddings. 

They've got everything from one of a kind wedding dresses, to stationaries, to customized wedding websites for the indie/DIY bride. Wedzu is only 2 years old so they are still fairly new but their product selections and designers are all kinds of amazing.

Here are a few fun finds I came across while "window shopping" on Wedzu.

fabric wedding bouquet

pompom place holders

seed bomb favors

heart ring

I'd love to hear what you brides think about Wedzu, so go check them out.

Portraits: Misha Lulu

It's live folks!!! 

Misha Lulu and Misha Lulu for Hello Kitty's Spring/Summer is offical up on the website! Go check it out!

After an exciting five month wait I can finally reveal a shoot I wish never had to end. 

I got to work with blog power-house Karen of Misha Lulu, her sweet husband, my friend Christian Cruz and a team of wonderful  blog mamas and their beautiful little girls.

A huge thank you and a million hugs goes out to my west coast 'big sis' Ruby for getting me connected with Misha Lulu. You're always so amazing! And another big thank you goes out to Heather and Citlali for being a huge help and for letting me and Christian borrow your girls for the day.

Anyways no amount of words can explain how much fun this shoot was. Ruby lent her plethora of vintage goodies and props, and her sweet home for us to shoot in. The kids are all so beautiful and despite the rain, shooting inside worked out perfectly.

Also Misha Lulu is doing some amazing things with Sanrio, her previous Hello Kitty lines have been amazing and they are just getting better and better with every season. I'll be the first to admit that I was probably as nervous as the little girls were before our shoot. Working along side such talented people is nervewrecking, but it's always so rewarding because the creative juices flowing all around you are always contagious.

Soul's striped dress had to be my favorite, if there were on in my size I'd totally wear it. 

Towards the end of our shoot we moved around the house, and even took some of the girls out back even in the rain. These girls were such troopers and they were so very patient.

These kids are truly models. Professional even.

I could go on for days with photos from our shoot because every was adorable, beautiful stylized and so much fun. So if you haven't gotten enough check out all four new lines on Misha Lulu's website, where there are plenty more photos. 

Teasers: Abby and Drew

My dear friend's Abby and Drew are now Mr. and Mrs. Mohle!!!!

God kept the rain away till we were ready to dance all night long, the view was simply perfection and everything and everyone looked simply amazing. 

God is so good and His blessings are always the sweetest.

The day was filled with giggles, laughter, and tears I've never seen before on familiar faces I love.

I've never seen these two happier. 

I love you Abby and Drew, so much! Thank you for letting me celebrate your wedding day with you in the best way I know how, by keeping those memories for you forever. I can't wait to call you guys family and I am so blessed to call you friends. Abby, I've loved, loved, loved sharing wedding planning with you but it's not yet over ;) we've got another year of wedding fun to share together again! Seeing God work in your lives already has been such a joy to bear witness of, I'm so excited to see what else He has in store for your future. Congrats my dear friends!

Engaged: Ashley and Glenn

 This week is one special wedding filled week. A few of my friends are getting married, both in Florida and here in Maryland.

 Today two of my dear friends Glenn and Ashley will be getting married!

Their wedding is going to be on the beach in sunny Florida and though I won't be there with them I'm certain everything will be simply beautiful. 

Glenn is a friend who I've grown up with at church. He's really like a brother.

He's goofy, fun to be around and is spontaneous.

 These lovebirds met and fell in love in college while they were still attending Liberty University.

Though Ashley looks American, don't be fooled this girl is much more Filippino than I am.

Ashley was born and raised in the Philippines because her parents were missionaries there.

She calls the Philippines home and she speaks a dialect call Cebuano fluently. 

When Glenn first told me about Ashley I could see how giddy he was on the inside.

She sounded perfect and I remember how eager I was to meet her.

 Well Ashley was perfect for Glenn from the Start. Ashley is the biggest sweetheart, she's smart and silly too everything good for Glenn. She's become one of my many "sisters" here at home and I love her to pieces.

 I can't believe their getting married this week!

It's that year in my life where I feel like all of my friends are getting married. They are the number 3 couple so far this year and the first from my home church. We're growing up you guys!

Ashley and Glenn I'll be praying for you guys this weekend, I hope everything is simply perfect for you both on your wedding day and I can't wait to celebrate with you both as soon as you get home. I miss you guys and love you so very much. 

It was not too far from this bridge looking out at the Jefferson memorial where Glenn proposed to Ashley last fall. Time has flown by so quickly.

 {Kind of my favorite photo from our shoot}

Thank you so much for sharing your "spot" with me during our shoot guys and I am so happy for you guys. I'm thinking about you guys today and I'm praying for you both. God is going to amazing things in your marriage, and through your marriage I know that for sure. You're getting married today! Ahhhhh! I LOVE YOU BOTH SOO MUCH!
HAPPY WEDDING DAY GLENN AND ASHLEY!

The wedding fun does not end here this weekend. I will actually be shooting and attending my friends' Abby and Drew's wedding on Saturday. It's going to be all kinds of wonderful, not to mention Abby's my future sister-in-law!! So much happy going on this weekend and I can't wait to start celebrating.