A little weekend treat…

The weather is supposed to warm up a bit this weekend and I think this little dessert photo shoot might offer the perfect recipe for a sunny Sunday brunch! Head on over to Grey Likes Nesting to check out more images and to see the full recipe!

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Gift Idea: The Coffee Drinker

Looking for a simple gift for your coffee/tea fiend of a friend? Check out these Coffee Cozies from Wayside Violet. These were on the front page of Etsy today and I couldn’t resist sharing them with you. They are affordable enough to give to all your bridesmaids, or (if the other way around) to give to a bride along with something coffee related from her registry, such as her coffee maker, mugs, etc….

Gifting: Spicing up the Registry

While on the topic of bridal showers, my friend Katie complained to me about giving gifts off the dreaded registry. As she put it: It’s so boring and impersonal! Which is funny, because although it can definitely be impersonal for the giver, it is decidedly NOT for the recipients.

Registering is a deeply personal experience…that involves Pottery Barn, a gun-like scanner and limitless possibilities. But I agreed with Katie that as the giver, one may feel a little lack luster by purchasing the first item on the registry that we’re actually able to locate within the labyrinth of said store.

HOWEVER! I’ve got a few suggestions for turning what could be an impersonal purchase, into a present that has room for your gift giving flair and panache! The key is to purchase one item from the registry and pair it with related items that you love or that means something special. (Because that’s what we really want to do…share what MEANS something to us with this special person).

I decided to come up with a few examples to get you thinking:

Pair a Panini Grill:

with a Panini recipe book:

Pair this pitcher:

With ingredients for you and the bride’s fave cocktail from back in the day, such as the “Girl’s Vodka Soda”:

Vodka

and “soda”:

Or pair a few of their towels:

with a few custom ones:

Pair their flatware:

with your fave Etsy Napkins or Placemat:

Or with this lovely plate:

Hopefully you get my drift! Go therefore and be creative! (And use the registry for goodness sake!)

Modern Dowry: Ceramics

I found Ninainvorm via Thoughtful Day. And I’m so glad I did. Because with plates like these, I could serve burnt casserole and it wouldn’t matter. The plates would make up for it. I mean it…I really do. My boyfriend may not agree, but that’s neither here nor there. He just doesn’t appreciate pretty things like I do.

Please note how Nina uses vintage pieces and reworks them. Excuse me while I wipe the tears from my eyes. Vintage + Modern = Absolute Obsession! Casserole anyone?

Besides the fact that I want these for my house…be it hung on the wall or serving casserole, I also think these pieces could be a great little addition for a wedding. The Yes, Oui and Love collections are all so perfect. Perhaps you could prop these up on display next to your guest book, hang a few amongst a collage of photos, or implement them pretty much any other place where you can possibly justify their use.

Check out Ninainvorm’s Etsy shop to purchase one of these, keep up with her on her blog AND visit her flickr page in case you can’t get enough.

Emerson Made

I am so excited to share with you a most delightful design studio called Emerson Made, which I found via Lily and Co. Proprietor Emerson is an absolute delight. Not only does she hand make each one-of-a-kind piece (which are also hand dyed!!!), she also styles each of her photographs, collages, and artwork. Whew! Her lovely blog is a portfolio/catalogue with just too much good stuff! (I could hardly decide which photos to share with you).

Emerson let me know that this coming Monday, her new online store, Emerson Made, will be open. She has an upcoming line of apparel which will be available at the end of the summer. I’m more than pleased to share with some of my favorite wedding worthy finds.

First off, here are a few lovelies for your big strong man. I adore these ideas for a groom. After the wedding, you can steal his boutonniere for yourself. What a delightful little memory that will come attached!

Second, here are some finds that would work for bridesmaid gifts, or perhaps for corsages for your mother dearest. Not to be redundant, but I really love the versatility of these pieces. They really CAN be used again and again!

Third, look how these lovelies can go from t-shirt to wedding dress. Swoon!

And finally…check out what Emerson Made offers for the table. I know…this may not be realistic for a wedding, but they’d be oh-s0-charming for a bridal shower. If you’re hosting the affair, buy enough for each guest and if you can resist keeping them for yourself, then offer them as favors or give them to the bride as a gift. If you’re a guest for an upcoming shower, I think these would be a rather lovely shower gift! They are custom made and can be printed with the couple’s monogram or the apropos “EAT”.

Feathering a Pretty Nest

I know that one of the most overwhelming (yet TOTALLY fun) parts of wedding planning is the process of registry. These days, with as many choices as there are out there, it can be rather cumbersome trying to wade through all of the options. If you’re like me, you’re always down for a little (or a lot) of inspiration. So I’ve got just the thing for you; a new blog called Feathering a Pretty Nest. And I’m already in love. Check out some of my favorite posts so far…

Mellow Mint

French Flourish

Sweet Home Hollywood

Today on Nesting…

Today on Grey Likes Nesting, an Ode to June Gloom:

Click here for grey sources.

Today on Nesting…

Organize in style with these vintage baskets.

Blurries on Sale!

Trever Hoehne, my FAVE photographer, is now selling his fine art images on his Etsy store. Remember how popular our giveaway was? Well, for those of you that didn’t win, you can console yourself by purchasing one of his little gems. And I’m not kidding, this stuff is so fabulous and ultra unique–if your nest needs a little pick-me-up, these will do the trick!

Today on Grey Likes Nesting…

Check out today’s post on Grey Likes Nesting. I’m in love!