The Dress

The Shoes:

Kate chose these Kate Spade Purple Satin wonders

And of course the necessary accessories

The Pearls

The Rings

The Shades

And the mini-Fans!

(given that it was unseasonably H-O-T  for mid June, these were a fantastic idea and counted as the brides “something blue”

The Bride & Groom

The Wedding Team

The Flowers

Phil Cato’s About Vase outdid themselves with these vibrant, happy arrangements of gerbera daises, roses, and fruit.

The Food

The Cakes ( with a side of gelato – yum!)

Of all the many decisions this couple made along the way,  it is obvious choosing each other was the best decision of all.

Kate and Kyle,  Thank you so much for giving Heather and me the opportunity to be part of your big day.   We wish you a lifetime of laughs and love together.

To see this enchanting event through Heather’s lens, click on over to her blog, Heather Owens Photography.

“When my Mother first dressed me in a hat as if I were a Lady, I owned the title.” – unknown

We attended a rather formal church where such accoutrements were not out of the norm. I wore them each Easter well into my twenties. I now attend a less formal church. Flip flops and jeans are acceptable for worship. Hats – well – that just may be TOO over the top. Still, I’m mad for a beautiful hat. They are the epitome of a lady. I often think of Eliza in My Fair Lady or Vivian in Pretty Woman how they were transformed with the right hat. Iconic pictures of Jackie O and Grace Kelly are of them in simple pillbox designs. Thankfully the new tradition of the First Lady’s Tea held at the Govenor’s Mansion each spring has given me new reason to find a fine piece of millinery. I was over the moon when my friend asked if I wanted to be part of the planning committee this year.

The event was held on a gorgeous spring day. Lady Grey Tea, Orange Blossom, and blueberry tea were accompanied with an array of tea sandwiches, tea cakes, and tarts. My wee contribution to the day was creating the “Forage through the Foliage” Garden Hunt that encouraged our younger ladies to explore the wonderous grounds our Govenor’s mansion: a family garden, a vegetable garden, the par terre garden blooming with roses, and the herb garden. Great fun was had by all ages. And I must say that although the roses in the garden were in full bloom, they paled in comparison to the beauty of the ladies in attendence in their gorgeous hats.

As for my hat, it was pink, ribboned, rose’d, and poofed. It is girly and I. love. it. So, for those flip flop wearing folks at my church, grace to you, my friends. I hope you’ll return the grace – I’ll be the one in the hat.

Un Noche Perfecto.   Flowers, Food,  Friends   –   ¿Que Mas? (what more?)     Last Friday evening I had the privilege of capturing how this seamlessly pulled together.   Inspired by Nature created a floral wonderland that would make anyone cry ¡Ole´!   The catering genius of Trios provided a Mexican feast that was beyond delicioso!    Even the mariachi band commented that the Chicken Enchiladas were the best they had ever had.  And don’t even get me started on the desserts.    Despite the threatening skies and the periodic torrential rains,  nothing could dampen the spirits and the love felt at this party hosted to encourage a young couple as they embark on their new life together.    Enjoy this peek at the fiesta!

Pink Martini is a 12 member group (sometimes more if accompanied by a string section or full orchestra) who has been bringing it’s vintage hollywood chic to the soundwaves since the late nineties. I recently discovered them and can’t get enough. It may be the perfect soundtrack for my peripatetic attention span.

The Toronto Star says their sound is “the type of delight that sometimes involves dressing up and carousing” – Did some one say dress up? Count me in!

Thomas Lauderdale the band’s leader describes their music as“ …a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure … if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we’d be that band.”

I describe it as the kind of music that makes my work go faster. I’m more productive and happier when I have these tunes playing in the background. I samba from my desk to the kitchen. I merengue when I mop. ( ok, I don’t mop, but if I did I would listen to this to make it far more enjoyable). It’s perfect background music for cocktails and dinner with friends of all ages. And it makes me want to put on a tight waisted, full skirted knee length dress, Miss Cha Cha Louboutins and saunter the night away in a posh mid century nightclub. It spans classes, countries, ages. Slow ballads to fast tempo dances. My favorites include: the encouraging “My Little Tomato”, the hopeful “Over the Valley”, the romantic longing of “La Soledad”, the Italian lullaby Ninna Nonna, and the inspiring, “Lets Never Stop Falling in Love”

Once you take a listen to the group, you will fall in love and never stop listening.

Salud, Y’all!

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ”

Light tries to break through the bleak sky.  Winter chill is still in the air, and I’m dreaming of spring.   I’m ready for the green to return to the grass and the warmth of a sunspot.   I look forward to the festival of color, when earth puts away her bulky grey sweaters and says, “I’ll be wearing that bright party dress today”

Thankfully,  I don’t have to wait until the sunnier months to get my flower fix.   This past weekend several of my dear friends were part of the committee hosting the “Chocolate Fantasy Ball” for the Ronald McDonald House.   They let me sneak a glimpse of the wonderment in the making.   Behind those plain ballroom doors,  a kaleidoscope of colors warmed my soul.  Bright, bold, graceful flowers:  french tulips, lilies, amaryllis, roses, forsythia, lilacs- sigh.  Be still my heart.

Inspired by Nature -  Becky Clement and her team – brought fun and elegance together in one spot.  I recently met Becky and I have been a fan of her work for years. I’ve seen her transformations of gardens and the Junior League of Little Rock building for other special occasions. I’ve always walked away in awe.   The Chocolate Fantasy Ball was no exception.    So grab a cup of coffee on this cold day and enjoy a glimpse of spring.  

Cheers, Y’all!

When my home League and city were slated as a conference site, I was thrilled.  I was even more excited to be part of the host committee planning the hometown side of the event.  I was flat out ecstatic when my responsibility was decreed that I would choose decor for the wine and cheese reception held last night welcoming all the delegates to Little Rock.   After years of looking at budgets, project proposals and annual plans,  choosing posies sounded like the perfect task for me.

The Grand Hall of the Clinton Presidential Library set a modern back drop for JLLR to mingle with other Leagues and highlight our 88 years of service to the city.   A place where old would meet new.  Vintage Modern

Distinctive Designs by Tanarah was the perfect fit for helping us achieve this vision.   Junior League logo colors set the base color palette of red and black.  To me,  this can be quite risky in a modern environment and come off too cold or 1980′s.    Tanarah has a brilliant eye for unique design and color combination – which is why I love her work.  She suggested a range of hues from pink to red with tulips, roses, and hydrangeas.   Modern black vases, classic flowers, ribbons, and chandelier prisms came together in a most stunning way.

Using sleek silver clothes pins we attached the black and white photos to  black satin ribbon that strung across a 30 foot expanse of window.  The modern clothesline served as a timeline of JLLR service from 1920 until today. 

We also carried the prism theme to the timeline display to tie it all together.

Great fun, food, and conversation with various community leaders in a beautiful environment made for a wonderful evening.  The legacy of service of the Junior League continues with young vibrant volunteers building better communities across the world…vintage modern personified.

My friend, amazing photographer, and new business partner Heather Owens had given this 6 ft beauty my name.   Heather had a blast with them doing their engagement session and suggested to Rachel I might be a good fit for her party.   Of course, when I got the call,  I jumped at the chance to work with such a fun, good looking couple – especially when Rachel said  - “I’m not a bridezilla.  Come have a great time, bring a date,  eat, hang out”      I liked her style immediately.  When I got to the ball field, saw her in her gown and gold flip flops, met her spunky friends in their chartreuse strapless numbers,   I knew a good time would be had by all. Dancing lasted into the night as the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football game played on the jumbo-tron in the outfield accompanied by a concession stand, cupcakes and crakerjacks. These sport fans / lovebirds hosted a fabulous event.   It was definitely a home run in my book. 

5

There weren’t cute and clever invitations.  There wasn’t a guest list.  There weren’t even reservations to my favorite restaurant.  It was a simple celebration..at the McCottage.  It was perfect.

The Angler arrived home last night with an armload of pink and white flowers wrapped in paper and tied with a blush bow.  As he handed off the blooms he explained how he had stood in the florist’s cooler handpicking each posey.  Roses -which, of course,  he knows this belle loves  ( We only had 1500 of them at our wedding) and white flowers which he choose for fragrance.   I smiled.  He does pay attention to my domestic ramblings sometimes.

He also brought home a catered meal.  Start to finish. An appetizer of cheese and crackers,  a delicious strawberry goat cheese salad, Chicken Florentine with a bechamel sauce, twice baked potatoes and green beans almondine. (Again, he picked them all himself!  The boy can plan a menu.)

Our dinner was interrupted by a call from his brother – I suspect this was perfectly timed.  By the time he returned to the candlelit dining room.  (Yes, The Angler  had set the table with our china and candles), he told me he had drawn a bubble bath – again candlelit. (This girls, is why you keep three dozen glass votive holders and a mass of tea lights at you disposal.  One day – the mister will finally realize he can use them, too)   Pink Martini  softly playing in the background. He told me to enjoy the bath…alone.  Ahhhhh!   I did.

After the bath he poured the perfectly chilled Veuve Cliquot into our Waterford Millennium Prosperity flutes -which I completely forgot that we owned. What a surprise to see those beauties again.     And then of course the piece de resistance…a pink cupcake.

Everything I adore was wrapped into one evening.  I had the flowers, the meal, the cupcake, the music, the bubbly, the hot bath, and mostly my guy.

Thank you, sweetie,  for a wonderful birthday.