cap it off

We are loving the ‘cap toe’ trend in women’s fashion. For Jenna, she’s loving the pumps, and Jodi and I are sticking to the flats.

VC Signature Priscilla Pump, Nordstrom {$225}

Contrast Toe Cap Pumps, Mango {$100}

ASOS Pacey High Heels with Metal Toe Cap, ASOS {$77.61}
 

MICHAEL Michael Kors Cap Toe Flats, Bloomingdales {$145}

Edna by Schutz, Piperlime {$150}

DV by Dolce Vita Luna Flat, Nordstrom {$78}

Women’s Cap Toe Ballet Flat, Old Navy {$22.50}

DIY Cap Toe Shoe
If you want to make a cap toe shoe yourself with a pop of color, Green Wedding Shoes has a great tutorial here.

{images via BloomingdalesPiperlimeGreen Wedding Shoes, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Mango, ASOS}

sale

…don’t you just love that word.

In my mind, the word sale helps to justify a purchase. If you love a good sale like me, and if you can’t make it to the mall like me {it’s a curse for my retail therapy and a blessing for my credit card that I live 2 hours away from the closest mall}, today is a good day to relax and shop online. Here are some good sales you can be a part of today…

Up to 70% Top-Siders and more at 6pm
30% off with code FALLCALLS at Old Navy, GAP and Banana Republic
50% off at BaubleBar
Up to 50% off at Urban Outfitters stock up sale
30% off at Express
Take an extra 30% off sale items at LOFT
Take an extra 30% off already reduced styles at Club Monaco
Take an extra 15% off at Macy’s Labor Day sale
30% off C&C California with code CCLABOR30
Up to 70% off 7 for all Mankind
80% off spring and summer merchandise at Yoox
25% off with code BOOT25 at Steve Madden
Up to 40% off shoes at Nordstrom
Up to 30% off and free shipping at Tory Burch

 {image via H&M}


heather + dennis

I saw this photo…
and was completely in love with this wedding…and I want to borrow the bride’s red shoes!
Heather and Dennis McMahon were married back in June 12, 2010 in Syracuse, New York. Living in Colorado and planning the wedding in New York was no small feat according to Heather, “but damn was it a good time, and a day that I would do over and over again, and never change a single detail.” 
Two years later, the classic ballroom/vintage style of this wedding is still timeless and an inspiration for today’s brides. Per Heather and Dennis’ request, their photographer Kelly Stremmel captured their day the way it unfolded, without too many shots being posed, but rather artistic shots that represent things the way they took place.  The artistic, natural shots Kelly captured was one of our favorite things about this wedding…and we’re happy to share it with you today.
After meeting at SUNY Oswego in New York their last semester of college, and joining mutual friends at a Dave Matthews Concert several weeks later, Heather and Dennis had an undeniable love connection. Having dated only 6 short months, the love birds moved Vail, Colorado and on their 4th anniversary Dennis popped the question at The Vail Plaza Hotel before a romantic dinner at LaTour. They married two years later, almost 6 years to the day of our “first date” at the Dave Matthews show.
In Heather’s words: It was very important to me that my bridesmaids be comfortable and have the ability to showcase their own style. I gave each girl black coque feathers to put in their hair however they desired once it was styled, and a vintage brooch to incorporate into their dress wherever they liked. 
We wanted to have a bit of Colorado inspiration in our wedding, but still pull off the ballroom vintage vibe. We placed hummingbird fly fishing flies in our calla lily boutonnieres for the guys as Dennis is a big fly fisherman and our guest book was a coffee table picture book filled with stunning images of Colorado. 
To see each other or not to see each other before the ceremony was a question Heather struggled with, but as she said, “I knew that if I didn’t see him and get all of those emotions out-of-the-way, the anticipation was going to leave me an emotional, blubbering wife-to-be. Dennis is my rock and I needed him with me for the emotional roller coaster that was our wedding day… and I simply could not wait to be with him! So, about an hour prior to the ceremony Dennis and I met on a street corner.
 
The 590-room non functioning hotel was built in 1924 and has character and charm like no other. The floor to ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the city, the stunning vintage gold chandeliers everywhere create an incredibly romantic ambiance, and on the 10th floor is the Grand Ballroom…perfect for our reception. 
In Heather’s words: The Dave Matthews Band was what sparked our fiery romance, and therefore their music served as inspiration on our wedding day. Our first dance was to none other than the DMB song, “You and Me.” Dennis picked me up when Dave sings “…teach them to fly…” And we leaned back and forth on each other singing “…we could do better than anything that we did, you know that you and me, we could do anything,” with a stratigic high five and then I did my happy dance. 
Per Heather and Dennis, their DJ handed our “flair” toward the end of the night, which brought out the silly in everyone.
And, who wouldn’t want to run in the rain at the end of your wedding night? How romantic and fun…the perfect send-off if you ask me!
 
VENDOR LOVE
Bridal gown: Maggie Sottero Amour Brooch, purchased at Spy Baby Bridal Boutique in Syracuse, New York
Bridal shoes: Nina
Photographer: Kelly Stremmel
Makeup: Gina Scammell {Ginascammell@yahoo.com}
Hair:Tiffany DeWald {tiffanydewald@ymail.com}
Wedding Planner/Day of Coordinator: Amy Preble {miller5401@hotmail.com}
Ceremony Venue: The Most Holy Rosary Syracuse, New York
Reception Venue: The Hotel Syracuse Syracuse, New York
Cake: Pascale Bake House, Syracuse, New York
Desert Bar: DIY {Do-It-Yourself}
Stationery: DIY

to: mom

Motherhood is complete happiness for me. My children amaze me everyday and I can honestly say wouldn’t want my life any other way. As a mother, I have grown as a woman and a human being.

Having said that, I have also never been so tired, dirty, worried and had my patience tried so much as a mother. 🙂

I have an unbelievable amount of gratitude for my mom and all she did for me and a high level of respect for all the wonderful moms doing the best they can to raise happy, healthy children.

Today, we have a few treasured finds to show your mom you care on Mother’s Day.

{P.S. You should order today as Mother’s Day is 12 days away}.

FOR THE ANTIQUE LOVING MOM
Rewired Basket
, Home Decorators Collection {$24}
{this would be adorable filled with short glasses, a bottle of vino, bread, cheese, grapes and some meat along with a soft blanket for a picnic…it would double as a gift and a fun Mother’s Day outing}

  FOR THE FUN IN THE SUN MOM

Two Color Striped Floppy Hat, Echo Design  {$42}

   FOR THE COLORFUL MOM

Gecko Bangles in a variety of colors, Fornash {$25}

FOR THE BEGINNING GARDENER MOM

Flowers in a Can, FredFlare.com {$15}

FOR THE NEW MOM
I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Noble, Amazon {$13}

FOR THE MOM WHO DESERVES A BREAK AND A LITTLE PAMPERING
Lollia Relax Evening Bubble Bath
, Lollia {available for purchase at Fleur de Lis, a paperie for $34}

FOR THE SENTIMENTAL MOM
My Mom Scented Candle
, Curly Girl Store {$17.95}

FOR THE CUTE, SPORTY MOM
Mom’s Toms Shoes
, toms {$54}

FOR THE CLASSIC MOM
Echo ‘Pear Label Conversational Scarf’
, Nordstrom {$38}

 {images via Home Decorators Collection, EchoFornashFredFlare.comToms, Curly Girl Store, Lollia, Amazon and Nordstrom}

if this shoe were a room…

I fully admit, I’m obsessed with Houzz. As my girlfriend says, “It’s like my Architectural Digest fix.” Not only can I find beautiful inspiration for my home, but I found products I want to buy and where to buy them. Gotta love that! If you have an ipad, you MUST get the Houzz App. It’s fabulous.

Combine my obsession with Houzz, and Jenna’s obsession with shoes and…If This Shoe Were a Room was born. It just shows that sometimes all you have to do is look down and find your next piece of inspiration on your very own feet.

If this Sperry Top Sider  Montauk Leather Boat Shoe were a room…

…it would be crisp, clean and oh so coastal nautical.

If this DV by Dolce Vita Archer Sandal were a room…

…it would be a cottage-chic pink and light teal bedroom with touches of gold.

If this Tom’s Corbel Classic Slip On were a room…

…it would be a bright and cheerful dining room full of pattern, color and bright light.

If this VC Signature Lene Sandal were a room…

…it would be bold, unique, glamorous and organic.

If this Kate Spade New York Cindy Wedge were a room…

…it would be a posh and fabulous fashion office in New York City {with black and white stripes, of course}.

If this elaborate Christian Louboutin shoe were a room…

…it would be a chic, detailed and shimmery room {in this case, a bathroom…I know, I know a Christian Louboutin should never be compared to a  bathroom, but just bear with me}

{images via Garrison Hullinger Interior Design, Design House, Honey & Silk, Nordstrom, NL Designs, Tara Seawright, The Designers Palette and Casa Sugar}