Today

This resonates with me pretty well today...happy almost weekend!

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Party Edition

So, the next couple months are gonna be currrazzzy. Beginning in February, we have engagement parties to attend, Austin's bachelor party and my first bridal shower (so excited!) With March comes my bachelorette, more showers, and more engagement parties for other engaged couples! Before I know it, it will be April and I will be gettin' hitched and stuff. With that said, I'm taking my down time right now to get gifts squared away for things we have coming up. First up, an engagement party in a couple of weeks. I like to bring gifts to these types of things, but am looking for some new unique ideas. Any ideas floating around out there? Here are some ideas I thought were cute:

Just because its adorable

The couple that cooks together stays together

Because you need something to toast with! Austin and I received a bottle of this at our engagement party and became hooked!

For toasting to newly engaged bliss!

For displaying their engagement photos

Any other neat ideas out there?

xo,

Katie 

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Some people have a love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day. I personally love the "Hallmark holiday." I think its a great time to show the ones you love that you love them even more than you do on a daily basis! Below I have put together a mini gift guide that I sure would love to receive on the 14th! They vary in all prices, high to low! I have included the links below on where to buy everything if something catches your eye! :) 

xo,

Katie

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Weekend Recap

This past weekend was relatively low key. Friday night, Raleigh experienced an "ice storm" that left us a little stranded for the evening. We had dinner at Fox and Hound (all that was open) but they managed to have cold beer and surprisingly delicious guacamole, so all was right with me. Saturday, we went to the State/UNC game and then met up with some old friend for celebratory drinks afterwards.

As if I didn't post enough photos of my child dog

Basketball game with my future MIL in 88 short days (whoa)

My sweet friend Kathryn from DC was in town for the weekend. We missed her


Sunday, I opted for a change of scenery and headed home to the coast for a little R&R and minor wedding planning. (Less than 3 months to go! As if I needed the reminder from Knot.com) I so enjoy my time at home with my mom. We spend our evenings cooking up new recipes, drinking wine and just unwinding from all that life brings. There really is no place like home! 

Have you read "My One Word"? The pastor at our church in Wilmington wrote it and it really is a great read! With the start of a fresh year, it is great for helping pinpoint what really means most to you and how to just enjoy what you love most MORE. Taking time for the simple things tends to sometimes be a major flaw that I am working on fixing! Note: This is not a "self-help" book for any of you that are adamantly against those types of books :)

Here is a little snippet of my motivation for the week. I loved this little print so much, it made it to the iPhone wallpaper too!

Make it a great one!

xo,

Katie 

Gallery Walls Galore

Hope everyone is keeping warm out there! I woke up to my phone reading 18 degrees this morning. However, I'm sure most of  you have got me beat. Our last home in Georgetown is currently blanketed with snow. No. Thanks. Anyway, I digress. Last week I finally completed my gallery wall that I have been planning for going on a  year now. Much of my procrastination was due to the fact I wasn't quite sure which wall to place it on. Once we moved into our new place, I knew our gallery wall had the perfect future home above our bar cart. I decided to make most of the photos on the wall from our year in DC. I'm glad I did. I now find myself looking at those photos quite frequently! Other photos are from our engagement and our dog (of course).

I decided not to do a print on this wall, and keep it strictly for "memories." I think I am now hooked and will do another wall in our bedroom with prints I have been collecting as well as photos. Here is my creation: (don't judge for the minor mis-measurements. After hour 3, I was so over it, I ditched the tape measure and just went to hammering and drinking)

Have any of you done your own gallery wall? Do you have any tips for making life easier when it comes to measurements? I welcome any advice before I start round two! I also need to think of a good enough bribe to have Austin help me lacquer our bar cart that we have been discussing for a solid year. Again, I'm indecisive on color. Was thinking either a gold or bright red may even be fun (insert my blog post about adding color to our home)

Here are some other gallery walls that I love.

 

xoxo,

Katie

Favorite Fridays: Honeymoon Edition

I can't believe we will be off on our honeymoon in a little over three short months. Austin is surprising me with our honeymoon destination and is not telling me where we are headed until we arrive at the airport at 5am. I was a little stressed being the control freak planner that I am. But thankfully,  he was able to tell me the "type" of clothing to pack. He said "pack for hot." I can "pack for hot." Here are a few items I have my eye on that I would love to bring along for our first vacay as a Mr. and Mrs!

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 Has anyone else ever had their husband surprise them with their honeymoon location? I cannot wait for some much needed R&R!

Happy Weekend!

xo,

Katie  

Snow Day

They are calling for "snow" here tonight and tomorrow. Snow in the south = panic ensues. When, the reality is, we probably won't see anything but a few flakes. However, I sure wouldn't mind a snow day! 

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