First comes love, then comes Marriage!

Spent last week with my best friends from college so we could celebrate Ivy's wedding that's rounding the corner! There are 13 of us, and because 7 of the 13 are already married, we wanted to give this bachelorette weekend a different feel. So we themed it out. Like way out.

Welcome to our Junior High Slumber Party!
**All Photos taken by J. Rawlings Photography**

Our focal point. We made paper chains out of scrapbook paper and rigged a pink sheet to become our 'lingerie opening tent!'

We flew Laura in to make our cupcakes.
Kidding. But in all seriousness, she is the best baker.

I used pieces of cardboard and left over fabric to craft the 'Ivy + Drew' centerpiece. I'm all about working with what you have.

For dinner, we picked up dough from Whole Foods and made a variety of pizzas. Soo good.

Drinks: Roy Rojers and Shirley Temples.

Our Junior High Spread of candy, pizza and coke!

Jess and I packaged smore's for later in the evening. What is it about individually wrapped things that is so darn cute?

Oh, we had LeighAnn, the graphic designer of the group, make labels for each item. Her skills are ridiculous.

And here she is. The engaged girl!

I came up with a new rendition of "Spin the Bottle" and LeighAnn made it happen. Ivy spun the bottle, it would land on a face, the person whose face it landed would draw out of a basket filled with questions and answers we asked Drew, if Ivy got it right, she'd spin again, if she got it wrong, she'd have to face the consequences.... ha ha ha! But trust me, the consequences were not bad!

A junior high party isn't complete with out a game of Twister!!

And our group would NOT be the same without our Melanie. She's living in Hong Kong with her husband. We skyped her in :)

It was a fantastic weekend. Thank you Jess for being such a gracious host and Leegs for rolling with the punches. Happy wedding Ivy! I love my friends.

All Photographs taken by Jessica Rawlings of J. Rawlings Photography.

Can you do me a favor?

Want to do me a favor? Pray for our friend Turner's mom - her name is Sissy. She's having surgery in Houston this very moment to remove cancer in her throat. She about 5 feet tall, has a BIG and fun personality and is a woman of tremendous faith.

Instead of flowers, my friends opted for a picture card that she could keep in her room. Sissy got it this morning.

Thanks to our designer friend LeighAnn, who brings these crazy ideas to life!

I'm off to spend the weekend with these friends in South Carolina.
It's Ivy's bachelorette weekend!

The Burton Wedding :: Huntsville Style

A couple of weekends ago, I spent a weekend in Huntsville, Alabama to celebrate the Burton wedding! I could go on and on about things I loved from the weekend. In hopes of you making it through this entire post, I thought I'd limit it to 3 things: Bridesmaid Luncheon, Shari's (Laura's moms) House & The Wedding.

First. The bridesmaid luncheon.

Where: A historical home in Huntsville. Circa 1824. If there was a way to put number in all caps, I would. Is it registering to you that this house was built in 1824??

Observations of this house: It was beautiful. Classic and charming and substantial. The basement housed a giant wood burning fire place that used to be part of the original kitchen. It was actually the first indoor kitchen in the state of Alabama, we learned. The entire downstairs was covered in original cool (in temperature) brick from when the house was built. It kept the whole basement mildly chilly.

The table was perfect and lovely.

Delicious. Darkly stained wood chair and pink and cream ikat upholstery.

Is that ikat? I think it is. Should have asked.

Next.

Where: Shari's House.

Observations of this house: Their bungalow gets cuter every time we stop by. Here's a picture of their darling and newly finished kitchen. I have kitchen envy real bad. And if you look to the left of the hydrangeas, you can see Laura, the bride to be!

And a picture of the master bedroom. Right out of House Beautiful.

Lastly.

Where: The Wedding

Observations: Laura's style revolves around natural woods and greenery and her staple dusty teal color. I love this about Laura. And her wedding.

Amazing what wreaths can do.

Oh you know, just some Kate Spade-esque flowers by the guest book.

And some friends.

What a great weekend!

Laura & Ryan Sitting in a tree...

This is my friend Laura.
We lived in the same house in Auburn, Alabama for 2 years in college.
When I think of Laura, I'm reminded of endless amounts of coffee, brownie confections, robins egg blue, textures like burlap and linen, poofs in the back of our pony tails, Anthropologie, New York and felt tip pens.

Laura and Ryan are getting married this weekend, actually in like TWO DAYS!


Oh did I mention she makes cakes? They're beautiful. This girl has a knack for styling - Whether its a cake, or a room, or an outfit, it's always lovely. I was in Birmingham a few weeks ago for some wedding festivities and got to see her adorable bungalow home that she'll share with Ryan once they're married.


This is what I'm talking about. Here's a run of the mill organizational area done in earthy linen's and creams and its adorable.


Early on in college, Ivy and I went home with Laura and got to see her mom's absurdly cute historical (well maybe not technically) home. The first thing we saw, walking up to the house, was a cush little seating area, complete with outdoor lamps and fabrics. Laura's porch area reminds me so much of her mom!

I want a porch.



Check it. This is a chair Laura had in college. She had it re-stuffed, re-covered and shaped to be a touch more modern. How cute is that.




And here they are. Laura & Ryan. Kissing outside of House Number 410.
Can't wait for Saturday!

Going to the chapel...

No, not me. But my best friend Ivy is!

Ivy and Drew got engaged on Friday, July 2nd. A few close friends helped Drew create the perfect proposal ambiance with blue hydrangeas, white roses and lots of candles...


All photos courtesy of Hayley Wiggins. So talented, that one!

A darling couple. And some serious bling.

To think that little Ivy and I met while dancing in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade almost 8 years ago. A story for another time!

CONGRATULATIONS!
And let the wedding planning begin!

Meet My Crew :: Group Shot

Here's a visual of the group from last weekend!

Photography Credits: Jessica Rawlings

(She's one of the thirteen. And is SO talented. And we love her.)

!!!!

I've started this post a few times. Writing some epic and lovely synopsis of life is just not going to happen. So lets try bullet points...

• I'm SO excited for this weekend
• Can't wait to have all of my college friends under one (very large and fabulous) roof
• Anxiously (the good kind) waiting for tomorrow's First Time Design
• Tickled about my sweet home town, Plano. Thanks for this and this!
• I forgot Harry Potter 6 at my apartment so I'll just have to people watch at the airport
• I'm craving giant cups of coffee, puppy chow and salsa. Thank goodness for this weekend!
  
• I'm feeling scattered and jittery and a little restless, so I think this is the last bullet.

That's all for now. Check back in with you later!

Meet My Crew Update: Laura's Engaged!

Laura is our professional cake baking dietician friend who lives in Birmingham. If you check back to her Dating Pool status, you'll see she was most recently turning flips. She's now seen exiting the deep end of the pool hand in hand with her fellow Hand Stand Competitor, Ryan. Well done you two!

Since most of the 13 couldn't be in Auburn for the post engagement party, we did the only thing left to do....

Made her a video showing our reaction, of course.

All of the 13 are getting together this weekend.

Holy cow. I'm so excited!

Oh, I love the 13.

sweet friends.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Me!

Oh yes. It's finally time to see what I'm up to at the pool.

HANNAH Social Coordinator of the pool deck. She struts her stuff in a brightly patterned cover up. In between drink runs for her friends in the pool, she boldly walks on the edge of the pool, practically daring someone to knock her in. But somehow she makes it back to her burning hot plastic chair... every time. Lets be honest, there is only so much tanning and chattin' you can do. My goodness, its time to cool off in the pool! Instead of roasting in the sun, Hannah has opted for a pool game. She's amidst the longest game of Marco Polo, ever in the history of pool swimmers. Mr. Marco needs to speak up so Miss Polo can swim accordingly.

Meet My Crew ...uh Tuesday? Meet Anne

ANNE A veteran swimmer. Anne can be seen wearing a preppy and conservative Vineyard Vines get up. Her worn Sperry's waiting patiently on the side, as she sits on the deep end/ shallow end floating divider. She generally enjoys the swimming process. Slipping into her suit, marching out to the deck, partaking in pool side beverages, gradually getting in sometimes and falling in other times. Since this January she's tried toweling off and getting some sun. But her chair wasn't very comfortable. She instead decided to jump back into the pool. She was midway through one of her most beautiful underwater flipturns when the accident happened. The pool boy accidentally knocked her unconscious with the pool sweeper. She was under the water for a long time before the other lifegaurds were able to pull her out. After a few nerve racking minutes, her breathing seems to be returning to normal. Anne is on her way to being just fine if not better than before. Word to the wise: Always wear goggles.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet LeighAnn (aka Leegan)

After 16 years of being invited to play chicken with the boys in the shallow end, Leegan was tired of coming in 2nd, every time. While on the shoulders of her most promising partner, she was deceived into treading in the deep end with the canon-ball champion. This was not what she signed on for.After that Leegan spent the better part of her time at the pool doggy-paddling frantically, trying to stay afloat. Amazingly, she finally hoisted herself up out of the deep end, her one piece in tact. After toweling off, she made a VERY quick change into her first string bikini, determined to get noticed in her lounge chair, soaking up the sun. Almost simultaneously, she was blinded by a sparkling gold chain, and immediately tried to push the pool boy with blond highlights into the water, only to be pulled in with him. After realizing they were surprisingly awesome at synchronized swimming routines, they finally came up for air. They abandoned the pool, stopped at sonic, and headed, more permanently, for the beach.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Turner

Photography: J. Rawlings

TURNER A veteran swimmer. Although she occasionally forgets how to hold her breath, she is always ready for the call of the water. This girl lives in her pink seer-sucker tankini. Once known for boisterous stunts off diving boards and dangerous shallow water dives, she has surprisingly remained in tact. After a brief break from the pool, Turner has left her pool side lounge chair and has gone for a game of water polo. The boy she is playing is alllll the way over at the other side of the pool. But the game is in full force! Hope this turns out to be a good game! This girl is one to watch.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Laura

LAURA After plunging into the deep waters a couple years ago and getting majorly freaked out from the waves, Laura has been taking a hiatus from the pool at large, while keeping a few squirt guns around to keep herself cool....Until recently, when she accidentally slipped and fell into the water at the same exact spot she had twisted her ankle a few years prior. She was into the water again!! Shocked, and taking a moment to look around, she realized she DID enjoy...and dare I say the L word...the deep blue - the treading grounds she once knew so well. Now turning flips.

What the heck am I talking about? Take a quick tour.

Did I mention that Laura makes cakes? She is oh so talented and made Mary Brantley's wedding cake last weekend! Please disregard the candelight tinge to the cake. In reality it was creamy white. And perfect. And freakishly delicious.

Morning After

My day is hardly get-through-able without my friends.

-Laura Self

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Mary Brantley!

MARY BRANTLEY In her early days of swimming, Mary was left water logged after a frightening bout in the Hurricane Harbor wave pool. Sitting herself out on the side of the pool was exactly what she needed. After a later premiere at the pool, she braved the waters, her floaties snug on each arm. A little encouragement from a visiting Coast Guard was all this fish at heart needed to brave the deep end once again. She now floats happily down the lazy river in her double tube with her Coast Guard right by her side.

Pool Monitor Sidenote: Mary got married this weekend! 13auburnfriends had a ball watching adorable Mary and Lee get hitched! Pictures and wedding cakes to come!

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Leigh

LEIGH  A staple at the pool. Leigh has been teaching swim lessons for as long as any of us can remember. Leigh and her yellow polka dot bikini could be found doing hand stands under water and flips off the diving board. It wasn't until a fellow, more experienced, swim instructor free-styled into Leighs lane and persuaded her to towel off for a bit. After enjoying 2 years of baking in the sun with her co-swim instructor, they decided to start their own swim camp for kids! It's called "Baby Strokes." They are expected to start camp in October. 

Honest Thoughts

"Don't let my matter-of-factness fool you...it all sucks, no matter how you handle it. Pretty much every day I want to simultaneously throw something, cry, run up to him and beg him to date me again, hit him in the face, cry some more, pray, drink, smoke, cry, beg, and then maybe pray some more if it's a good day. BUT, the more honest you are, both about your emotions and the Truth you know to be valid, the better off you are."

-Dear Friend on the Hill

*Dear friend on the Hill gave me permission to quote her earlier today. I smile at her blunt honesty and vulnerability.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Birthday Girl Erin!

ERIN An occasional swimmer who resides at the pool. Always decked out in a bright speedo one piece, she frequents the high dive but is also no stranger to the kiddie pool. Erin, like Anne, hasn't decided what toy she would like to play with. Would she rather a navy blue kick board or a hot pink noodle? She's still deciding, which is ok. Thankfully the guy that gives out the intertubes and kick boards is patient. Have I mentioned Erin's splash? This girl makes a splash where ever she goes providing just the cool spritz her fellow swimmers may need. I see her returning from the nurses station with band aid on her knee (under water handstand contest accident) and a snow cone in her hand, right now. I think she'll head to the diving board next!

Happy Birthday Erin!!!