End of Summer Fun

During a run last week, I officially saw leaves that had fallen off the trees. Summer is over. And I have to admit, I'm kind of sad.

Let me say this: I do absolutely LOVE fall. I love going to the apple orchard. I love the cooler weather. I love getting fall soaps and candles. I love that Luke gets all excited about football season and I get excited about making chili for him while he watches football, but then I only end up making it once.

But I just really enjoyed the summer, and so to preserve it for just a few minutes longer, I'm just rolling out some of the fun things that went on in August, which is by far my favorite month of the year. Here they are, in number order, just because I'm feeling chatty and because I like photo collages.

1. We took our annual anniversary photo on the docks in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Each year, this involves us asking some poor person just enjoying a walk on the docks to take a  picture of us, which I will promptly decide I don't like as much as the selfie we took two minutes before (except for year 2012, and that's only because my phone was stolen that had the selfie on it :)).

2. We stayed at our favorite B&B yet in Saugatuck - the Bellvedre Inn (it was Luke's pick this year and he totally wins). 

This place was so cool. It had a restaurant inside so we got a free 4-course meal with our stay. I had lobster tail and I'm not sorry.

3. We went to our first White Sox game.

At a Tigers game I at least know some of the players. I knew none at this game, but I enjoyed the conversation and the stadium's famous corn. 

4. We got to see the best friend and her man, and eat some of the best ice cream in Chicago.

This is my home when I come to Chicago. The last time I visited we watched a late night (who am I kidding? it was probably 10 PM) PBS special on ice cream shops. This time we went to a pretty darn good one. 

5. We went to the St. Louis Zoo.

This zoo is beautiful, y'all. And free. And my husband had a butterfly land on him in the butterfly house and he became a bit of an attraction in and of himself (seriously, people stopped to take pictures). 

6. We visited the Arch. 

The only bad thing about visiting the Arch was that there was a snake in the grass that my husband jokingly threatened to throw at me. I (not so jokingly) threatened to leave him if he did. (WE ARE STILL MARRIED, HUZZAH!)

7. We rode around the streets of St. Louis in a Cinderella Carriage (don't be jealous). 

At first we were like, "hmmm....I wonder how much for a normal carriage ride?" And then we saw the Cinderella Carriage. I commend the men for dealing with this whole situation pretty well. 

8. I traveled down to Tennessee to see the BFFs. 

We got to visit our old college and play with Rachael's little girl and run together and cry and laugh and it was the best time. It was a last minute trip that I am so so glad I made. 

Oh, man. My heart is full after this August. Luke and I have said several times that this was just a really good summer, and we are thankful. 

Thanks for reading. Sometimes it's just nice to document some memories here and I'm grateful that you stopped by. :) 

Vivian Elle, My Birthday, and a New House

Let's look at some numbers.

31 - number of years I celebrated living a couple of weeks ago.
3 - number of friends that traveled from Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia to visit me on my birthday.
1 - number of pictures taken with an Oreo in Wal-mart while those friends were in town.

1 - tiara these friends made me wear when they took me out to breakfast on my birthday.
20 - approximate number of people that stared because of my tiara.

2 - number of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) books by Mindy Kaling I received for my birthday.

7 - number of times I considered not posting the above picture for obvious reasons (but then thought, "ehhh...who cares?").

1 - day it took me to exchange one of these books for Bridesmaids.

8 - days it took me to read my Mindy Kaling book.

20 - times I had to refrain from posting every funny quote I read to Facebook.

25+ - number of videos that my husband compiled for me for my birthday of friends and family from all over wishing me a happy birthday.

100+ - number of times I've talked about how much I loved the videos.

40 - number of Christmas cards I've completed so far this year for Vivian Elle's Christmas Collection.
3 - number of samples I will now reveal.

{All of these cards are now available at Vivian Elle's Etsy Shop. Click here to visit!}

54 - total number of days between first going out and looking for a home and signing on our adorable little bungalow. 

2 - pictures we had taken of ourselves in front of our new home right before closing. 

1 - number of pictures I was able to pull off the internet of our new home. 

Sigh. I love it.

16 - days until we need to be out of our condo.
5 - weddings I am currently working on, attempting to get each done in the 16 days before we move.
30+ - boxes I already have packed.
61 - number of days we have between moving out of our condo and moving into our new home.
61 - days we will be bunking it up with my parents, who have graciously offered their home to us.
99 - percentage of time I spend thinking about how I'm going to decorate our new home.
1 - moving announcement that I already have designed, but will keep secret until I send it. :)

too many to count - number of times Luke and I have said how grateful we are for the support we've had over the last couple of months.

There you have it. These are the numbers that have been floating around in my head lately. In the midst of it all, there has also been a lot of Vivian Elle activity - buying another new printer, having boxes of product left at our front door, printing, assembling, stuffing...I love it all. For the first time in my life I can say that I daily love the work I am doing. And all of my brides make that possible. So to them - and anyone who has used me for any kind of invitation - thank you!

Rew's Wedding Reception

I have a friend named Heidi, but 9 out of 10 times I'll call her Rew. It's because her full name is Heidi Rew. Are you following me?

Rew and I have been friends since our freshman year of college. Ten years later, I asked her to be one of my bridesmaids and here we are at my Bachelorette party in July 2009. 

I love this girl. You know how people say "she's the kind of friend that you can go forever without seeing and then just pick back up right where you left off"? Well, Rew and I aren't like that. We're the kind of friends that care so much about each other that we actually keep in touch, even though she lives in Atlanta and I'm in Michigan. She's the type of friend that I can talk to about anything from The Bachelorette to what we're learning in our lives (both with the equal amounts of passion). She's a rare type of friend and I am beyond grateful for her.

It's hard to mention Rew without also mentioning that we're a part of a very elite group. (We may be the only ones who consider ourselves elite, but just go with it.)

Here is our circle of friends, if you will (so corny...).

Rew, Rachael, Kauri, and Jenny

Kauri, Rew, Rachael, and I have all known each other since college. Most people at college seem to find their friends based on who they lived with. Not us. We found each other one fall night during our freshman year when we all happened to be on the same hayride. We're pretty sure we were destined to be friends.

I usually manage to see the girls twice a year, which is great considering I live 9 hours from any of them. Our first trip this year was to Birmingham to see Rach right after she had her daughter, Elizabeth (the first baby to come into our circle!). Our second will be when we all see each other at Rew's wedding reception in August.

You see, Rew is getting married to Mike in July. Check this fine looking couple out. 

(If you live in Atlanta, you may know these two...they're kindof a big deal.)

Mike and Heidi will be married in Hawaii in July - just the two of them. They'll honeymoon there and then come back to Atlanta for a reception with their friends and family in August in their backyard. 

Rew wanted a casual, backyard-ish, vintage type wedding invitation. She shared a couple of the plans she had for decorating the reception to help me gain her vision. A few weeks later, I was printing off her wedding invitations and sending them off to her. Here they are, in a picture I straight up stole from Rew's blog (which you can visit here).

I'm loving this type of invitation. Fun, casual...looking like a flyer or poster. I really think it gives off the you-can-kick-back-and-relax-at-this-wedding feeling. Which is pretty much what Rew is wanting for her backyard reception. 

I also love that Rew had people RSVP to an email (and the name of the email they created is presh). What a great way to save a little money. And please...who doesn't know how to email? 

I honestly can't wait for her reception and to officially welcome Mike into our little (elite) group. I may be planning a little ceremony. And there may be a certificate and welcome badge. Mike, get ready. 

Want to hear more about the value of custom invitations? Check out this post.