Friday Favorites: Color palette love!

In between planning the wedding and keeping my toddler entertained, most of my time is spent daydreaming about my future home. What style it will be, what furniture I'll choose, and of course the design and colors. I've been obsessively hoarding my favorite color palettes on Pinterest so I thought it'd be fun to share some of them with you this week for Friday Favorites!

I originaly planned to link each picture to its original source, however I just discovered that about 70% of the original links don't work anymore. So I'll link you guys to my Home Inspiration board on Pinterest instead! You can find each of these on there.

I love this cranberry and teal color combination, don't you? I think it's very relaxing and unexpected. I would probably use these colors for a master bathroom.

The yarn palette is more color than I would normally do, but I like how they are still subtle tones. I think this palette would be perfect for a girl's bedroom or nursery!

The bread palette is my absolute favorite. I can't even pick one particular room, because there are so many I would use it for! Bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room... I love the espresso paired with the cream and that teal and tiffany blue add the perfect pops of color! It feels really rustic and earthy which I love!

I adore bright and sunny kitchens so this yellow and aqua palette would be absolutely perfect! How pretty would it be paired with natural wood and all white dishes? SWOON! I'm also loving that vintage colander in the picture.

Another bright palette! I love this coral and turquoise combination for the master bedroom. I would have never thought to put these colors together on my own, but I've recently seen some gorgeous bedrooms in these shades and they compliment each other really well.

This espresso and robins egg blue palette is another favorite. I just find these colors very calming and peaceful which, again, I think is perfect for the master bathroom!

This palette is another idea for the master bedroom or a guest bedroom. I love that mint color especially paired with the creamy browns. The purple is an unexpected pop of color that totally works. These tones also give off a vintage vibe which I really love.

I can't wear mustard yellow (pale girl, holla!) but that doesn't mean I can't have it in my house, right?! This palette is the perfect combination of rustic and modern with the earthy tones and pop of bright color. I think this palette would work really well for a family room or dining area.

Another rustic inspired palette, hooray! These colors remind me of a cozy cabin in the winter time and it would be perfect for a family room! I love the cranberry color and although I don't normally like green, it really works here and makes me think of pine trees and the woods. So pretty!

What color combinations are you loving right now? Don't you just love all of these beautiful palettes popping up everywhere? I like how easy is it to just choose a photo that inspires you and design an entire room around it! I can't wait to put some of these design ideas in action! Hopefully someday soon! Have a great weekend everybody! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Hey girl.

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I wanted to do a post about candy... eye candy that is! And what better eye candy than Ryan Gosling? I don't know if it's his role in The Notebook or what, but it seems like he has every girl open mouthed and drooling these days. A few months ago I started seeing these 'Hey girl' handmade Ryan Gosling pictures popping up on Pinterest and not only do they feature yummy pictures of Mr. Gosling, but they are also effing HILARIOUS! I die laughing every single time I see one and they are quickly gaining more and more popularity in the handmade community. You probably won't understand them if you don't have an Etsy shop or if you aren't involved in the crafty/DIY community (aka every male on the planet), but it's like porn for crafters, yo! This week for Friday Favorites I wanted to share my favorite Hey Girl's, and be prepared because there are A LOT of them! 

All of these come from the handmade Ryan Gosling tumblr site, so if you want to spend the next 4 hours cracking up make sure to check it out! New ones are constantly being added, too!

Oh, and if you're looking for REAL Valentine's Day dessert ideas you can check out my posts from last year which include 3 days of unique Valentine Dessert ideas! You can see them here, here, and here. Happy Friday everyone! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Party themes & ideas!

I love me a good party. I'm always thinking of unique ways to celebrate any and every occasion. One of my favorite things to do is read party planning blogs and search for inspiration on Pinterest for all of my imaginary future parties. I have a board dedicated to all of my favorite themes, and I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you for Friday Favorites! I broke this down into three catagories: adult, special occasion, and children's parties. Of course any of them could be adapted to fit whatever occasion you need though!

Adult

Outdoor movie night: I remember the day I saw this party online and my mouth literally dropped. Not only is this party styled to PERFECTION, but the outdoor, picnic style is so up my alley! I love the idea of renting a projector, throwing some quilts on the ground, and having a gourmet popcorn bar for you and some close friends. We were actually going to do something like this for our rehearsal dinner, but went with something else last minute.

Gourmet pizza party: I love parties that have anything to do with cooking or baking or you know, eating. This adult DIY pizza party is such a fun way to get all of your friends together and do something different! Just put butcher paper over your table, make piles of gourmet toppings, and write descriptions right on the paper next to each pile. This is perfect for people who have picky guests too, because everyone gets so make their own mini pizza with the sauce/toppings of their choosing!

Special Occasion

Gender reveal party: In my family, someone is ALWAYS having a baby or getting married. I capital L-O-V-E the idea of a gender reveal party instead of a baby shower. One of my Twitter friends showed me this amazing mustache or bows party theme and I AM doing it for my next baby! Each guest chooses a mustache pin if they think it's a boy, or a bow pin if they think it's a girl and they wear it around the party until the big reveal! Adorbs! You know I'm a sucker for anything with a mustache!

Breakfast party: I have been obsessing over the idea a breakfast party for months and months now. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and an entire party dedicated to it? Hello, perfection! This coffee and donut tasting party would be perfect for a bridal shower theme, don't you think? After all, who doesn't like donuts??

Children

Farm party: This theme has been done so many times and in so many different ways, but for some reason it never gets old. I love that it's wholesome and kind of old school! Pony rides, bobbing for apples, tractors, petting zoos... I also love that it works for a boy or a girl easily. How gorgeous is that table, by the way? I die for that cake and the haystacks being used to hold the cake pops? Genius!

Camping party: I'm DYING to do a camping themed party for Cayden but I want to wait until he's older so he can enjoy it more. This particular party uses a ton of vintage which of course I love. There are so many activities that go with this theme too... scavenger hunts, s'mores, 'camping out' in the backyard. It seems like so much fun for little ones! After all, who doesn't love to go camping?!

What party themes are you loving these days? You can see the rest of my favorite ideas on my Pinterest party board here. Immediately after this wedding I have to get started on Cayden's 2nd birthday party and although it won't be huge this year, I'm still really excited! Happy Friday everyone! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Birthday Wishlist!

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've done a Friday Favorites post! My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and since everyone in my family has been bugging me and asking me what I want, I thought it would be fun to do a little birthday wishlist!

I don't like big or fancy gifts... My favorite type of presents are small, silly, or sentimental things that I know people put a lot of thought into. I have a bunch of stuff favorited on Etsy or Pinned that I wouldn't normally buy for myself but that I would definitely like to have! Here are just a few of the items I'm currently crushing on...

Santa didn't bring me my Kate Spade iPhone case, so on the birthday list it goes! Polka dots are my favorite thing in the world and I adore anything Kate Spade!

I've had my eye on this bag from Etsy for ages. It's the perfect shape and size and you just can't go wrong with black and white stripes! I love!

I need a new makeup bag, yo! I have an adorable one from Olive Blue but it's just too small for all my stuff. I absolutely adore this little chevron cosmetic bag. It's the perfect size and you know I'm crushing on that print!

I'm a huge nerd, and if you get me anything at all to do with Harry Potter I'll be the happiest chick on the planet. I don't think there's anyone in the world more obsessed than me! I pink puffy heart this key chain from Etsy! It belongs to me!

I need the Harry Potter cookbook! Enough said.

I love mugs and I love Harry Potter, and I especially love this quote from Harry Potter. And the best part? When you pour in a hot drink the mug changes to white and the words change to 'Mischief Managed'!! AHHH! Need!!

Along with Harry Potter, matryoshka dolls are obviously another obsession/collection of mine and I'd be happy with pretty much any matryoshka gift. I adore this sweet little necklace from Etsy. Too cute!

I love to bake, and weird, kitchsy bakeware always makes me happy. This mini tiered cake pan from Amazon is so cute and fun! Mini cakes for everyone!

I die for this mustache jar! I go nuts over random, funny, and clever stuff like this and I want it so bad!

I'll stop there and save you from the rest of the Harry Potter and mustache madness! Birthdays are so fun and although I'd be happy with a cupcake and a kiss, it's fun putting a little wishlist together! And please, feel free to print this list out and show it to Mando ;)  Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend with your loved ones! XOXO

Wedding Planning Wednesday - My Favorite Pins!

We're back for another edition of my favorite wedding pins! I actually had an entirely different post planned for today, but I didn't quite finish it on time so I'm saving it for next week! Instead, I'm going to show my favorite Pinterest finds of the week!

 You know by now that I've been planning on doing my own florals for the wedding, but when I saw this fabric flower bouquet on Etsy my jaw dropped. She mixes all different fabrics and textures based on your wedding colors and adds in these amazing vintage brooches. Isn't is just stunning? I may or may not be re-thinking my bouquet right now. I mean, how could I not??

I've been looking for cost and eco-friendly ways to display my floral centerpieces on our tables, and I L-O-V-E the idea of painting coffee cans. I am obsessed with the copper metallic colors, they look so pretty in the sunlight. Perfect for an outdoor wedding in the woods!

I still don't know if a dessert table will be in our budget (crossing my fingers!!!) but if so, I have my heart set on mini pies. How sweet is this little display? I just love pie, it may be my favorite dessert ever!

We've been going back and forth on how we want to display our seating chart, and after Mando rejected about 10 of my ideas we decided on a chalkboard sign. I think this one is really cute and would definitely go with our vintage/rustic theme.

Right now, I have all of the bridal party's outfits chosen except the flower girls. I fell in love with a dress that was WAY too pricey, so my very talented sister may be making them instead. (By the way, we really need to get started on all these sewing projects, Jess!). I love this fluffy champagne dress and it's definitely one of my inspiration photos!

Another sewing project in the works are my table runners that my sister is also making for me. (I know, I owe her big time!)  I'm doing an ivory table cloth and the table runners will be a strip of burlap and a strip of ivory lace like the one above. I also love her flower arrangements, how cute are those vintage glasses?!

I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving tomorrow! We are actually having 2 Thanksgivings, one with Mando's family tomorrow, and my family on Saturday. Double the pie, sweet! I'll be back Friday with some awesome Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals for Mama Matryoshka! You don't want to miss it! XOXO

Wedding Planning Wednesday - My Favorite Pins!

I cannot even begin to explain how valuable Pinterest has been to me for my wedding planning... To have all of your inspiration pictures in one place that can be added to any time? It's every planners dream! I can easily say that over half of my great ideas for my ceremony and reception have come from Pinterest. It's such a great source of inspiration! Today for Wedding Planning Wednesday, I wanted to share my favorite wedding pins. I am so happy that this amazing new site popped up... The timing couldn't be better!

I am obsessed with these favor bags. I love the burlap + lace combination and the clothespins on top! I will definitely be creating something similar to put our skeleton key favors inside. The only thing I would change is to have the little tag say Thank You instead of LOVE. So cute!

Lately I have been trying to figure out what I want our flowers girls to wear and carry. There are so many options these days from traditional basket to big, fluffy flower poms. I saw this picture and I'm now in love with the idea of doing little paper cones. I think it adds the perfect rustic touch!

You guys may remember that I'm doing my own florals for the wedding, so I've been looking for inspiration pictures for the bouquet wraps. I really love this burlap wrap with the lace coming from the top. It's so pretty! I would do a skeleton key instead of that little round pendant though!

Mando and I are trying to find a way to creatively display the seating arrangements. I love the idea of finding an old window frame and writing the names for each table in the squares. It's the perfect vintage touch, don't you think?

Are you sensing a theme here? I'm obsessed with burlap and lace and this ring bearer pillow is beyond perfect. How pretty are those fabric flowers? It's both rustic and elegant! I'm going to see if my amazingly talented sister can help me make something similar!

I've been obsessed with these burlap banners long before I even got engaged and now I can't wait to use them! I love the idea of Mr and Mrs banners to hang on the back of our chairs for the reception. It's little details like these that make me happy!

Have you used Pinterest to plan your events? If you're not on there yet you really need to sign up! And if you need an invite, just leave me a comment with your email address and I'll make sure to get you one!

Tonight we are off to meet with our amazing wedding planner (I just hired her this week!) to go over some of my ideas and to-do lists. It's getting to be crunch time! Oh, and I promise that next Wednesday you will get to finally see our engagement pictures. So excited! Have a great week everyone! XOXO

Friday Favorites: My favorite pins for children!

One of the things I love about Pinterest is all of the amazing ideas I get for Cayden. You can find anything from toys and adorable outfits to learning and art activities! I am constantly finding new fun things for him to do which is helpful for weeks like this week when he's been especially restless. Of course I also stash away pins for any baby girls that may be in my future someday (I can't resist the shoes!). Here are a few of my favorite pins that have anything to do with babies and children!

I've been really into teepees lately. I'm always building forts and play-houses for Cayden out of anything I can get my hands on... boxes, sheets, chairs, and pillows; the possibilities are endless! Anything that encourages imagination and pretend play is a plus in my book. I'd love to get him something like this black and white striped teepee when he finally has a big boy room of his own! He could use it as a clubhouse or reading nook or just to play explorer with his friends!

When I was a little girl I was obsessed with dress-up dolls. I (like every other girl in the world) begged my mom to get me an American Girl doll complete with a stocked wardrobe. I would have D-I-E-D for this doll, no joke! Her little fur jacket, patent leather shoes, and polka dress... omg. I would play with it even today. And that little hanger and tiffany blue box? I can't even handle the cute.

Creativity is super important to me. Growing up, my sister and I were always doing arts and crafts and making SOMETHING. I really want my kids to be the same way so I want to encourage artwork from a very young age. Right now Cayden is still in that puts-everything-in-his-mouth stage so it's hard to do much, but I'm stashing away tons of ideas for the future. I love this idea of using twine and clothespins to display artwork on the wall (easy to rotate, too!). And how adorable is this turkey hand puppet? All you need is a brown bag, some buttons, and construction paper and you have a fun holiday project for your kids! LOVE.

I just bought Cayden his first set of finger puppets and I'm really excited about it! When he's older I want to get him a little theatre for plays and puppet shows. If you haven't checked out this Etsy shop, you need to do so immediately. She makes adorable felt finger puppets of all different types. This woodland set is my favorite... dying over that moose!!

I am so, so excited about this idea. Fill jumbo muffin tins with shaving cream and a few drops of food coloring and your kid is able to "paint" a masterpiece in the bathtub. The best part? When they're finished you just spray it with water and clean-up is done! No stained clothes, dripping paper, or messy brushes. Genius!

Remember when you were a kid and you were SO excited when you got a loose tooth? My sisters always joked they were going to tie a string to my tooth and the door so when they slammed it, my tooth would be yanked out (terrifying!). I love the idea of having a special tooth fairy pillow and this one is just too cute for words. I love the smiling tooth on the front and the little pouch. No more stumbling around the dark trying to find baby teeth under pillows!

I warned you about the shoes, right? I am obsessed with kid's shoes and let's face it, they aren't that many adorable options for boys out there (although my little man rocks the slip-on Vans if I do say so myself). I have so many baby girl shoes pinned you would think I'm expecting (I'm not -- let's just be clear on that!). I found this sweet little pair the other day and fell in love. I die for anything with stripes so these striped shoes with their teeny tiny flowers attached found a place deep in my heart! Now I just need to convince Mando to have another baby! ;)

I hope you got some inspiration for the little ones in your life! If you haven't joined Pinterest yet, you better run there now and sign up! The inspiration is just endless! I hope everyone has a great weekend... we finally have the first quiet weekend at home planned since we've moved and I could not be more excited about it! XOXO

Wedding Planning Wednesday: Photographer booked + our engagement shoot inspiration!

Big news in the wedding world: We finally booked another vendor, yay! I'm so excited to have booked Tammie Halcomb as our engagement and wedding photographer! I 'met' Tammie on Twitter and actually designed some party decor for her adorable triplets' birthday party earlier this year. When I saw all of the amazing pictures on her FB, I knew she was the perfect photographer for us and I'm so, so excited to work with her! She's sweet, funny, and has the biggest heart... I just know that we'll work well together!

Our first order of business is doing the engagement shoot. We probably should have done this months ago but with Cayden's birthday, the Oregon trip, and our move we honestly have not had a chance to do it yet. Now we're forced to do it before it gets too cold out which means we have about a month left. EEEK! I have been pinning and scouring Etsy like a mad woman trying to get our concept and 'props' down and I think everything is finally coming together.

We went back and forth over what theme we wanted our engagement pictures to have (because you all know I NEED a theme!) and after my 'country fair' idea was thrown out we agreed on a picnic theme. It's very romantic and timeless (as Tammie wisely pointed out) and I'm getting really excited about it! Here's some inspiration pictures I've dug up so far...

{Original image sources can be found on my Pinterest wedding board here.}

Aren't they all gorgeous?! I seriously can't decide which one I like best! I think if I had to choose it would be the top and middle left pictures but they are all amazing! Right now I'm obsessing over patchwork quilts and trying to find the perfect one for the pictures. Then I'll work on styling the props... I'm thinking a wooden picnic basket, a pretty bunch of sunflowers, and maybe some fruit/bread/wine in there somewhere. I'm also enlisting the help of my sister to make me a few coordinating throw pillows! Then I need to figure out outfits and accessories, and well, as you can see I'm very busy!

What do you think of the picnic theme and what items do you think I should include in the photos? I'd love to know your opinion! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Fantastic flats!

I've mentioned before how pre-baby I wore heels every single day. I worked in an office and rocked 5 inch stilettos like it was no big deal. After Cayden was born I tried to put on some of my old heels to go see a burlesque show with my friend Toni and it felt like my ankle was breaking. I have no idea why, but I'm guessing my feet changed like so many other parts of my body did during pregnancy. Although I still love heels, they just aren't practical in my life anymore so I have ventured into the world of flats.

Now I know you Sex-and-the-City girls think I'm crazy, but I fell in love with ballet flats and now I would choose them over a cute pair of stilettos any day. They are cute, comfortable, and stylish and you can make them work with almost any outfit. Now my discovery has turned into a full blown obsession and I'm always on the prowl for a unique pair. Here are a few of my Pinterest finds that I have been lusting over...

I die for these shoes. Love the silver, love the glitter, love the nude lining. Love, love, love!

Ya'll know how I feel about lace and doilies by now, so when I saw this pair I immediately wanted them. They would easily dress up or down and I adore that eggshell color!

These are the classic ballet flat. I love the contrast of the black and white stripes and that bow just kills me! So sweet!

I think we can all agree that we would sell our souls for this pair of Chloe flats right? Right. Moving on...

I'm not really a 'yellow person' but for some reason I have been wanting a pair of sunny yellow flats in my collection. I think they would work with so many different colors.... navy blue, red, teal. This pair makes me happy and they are perfect for summer!

I'm no Snookie, but I love leopard print as much as the next girl. This pair is neutral enough to go with several outfits, but patterned enough to make a statement. I love pairing fun shoes with a simple outfit!

**All image sources can be found on my Pinterest fashion board here.

I hope everyone has a fun-filled weekend with your loved ones! I'm surprising Mando tonight and taking him to the beach to for some hamburgers and milkshakes on the pier! I'm so excited to see Cayden playing in the ocean! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Pins of the week!

I wanted to do something light and fun for this holiday weekend and because I have found some amazing inspiration on Pinterest this week I decided to dedicate today to my favorite pins of the week! I don't know if it's because it finally feels like summer is here, but I just can't get enough of all of these bright and sunny colors!

I absolutely love the colors in this vintage kitchen. The red and aqua, the vintage colanders, and that big open window make this the kind of kitchen a girl dreams of!

One of the best DIY ideas I've seen to date: Cover a pot with mod podge and some pretty fabric to give yourself the sweetest container garden in town! I NEED to do this on my balcony!

I think we can all agree that my sister really needs to find some giant yarn and make me this cozy blanket! LOVE!

I'll admit it, I'm not really into art. It's very rare I find a painting or a picture that I love enough to look at day after day, but when I saw these AMAZING pieces by Michelle Armas my mouth dropped. I love her use of colors and texture and I would love to hang one of these paintings in my family room. (The prices are very reasonable too!)

Just a little bite of wonderfulness! How adorable would these spoons be at a baby or bridal shower? I love the pastel colors too!

Ever since I saw this stand mixer on The Pioneer Woman I have lusted after it. It is so pretty and unique, it's truly a work of art! Now get in my kitchen! 

Another creative idea: use vintage colanders as hanging flower pots! So different, so pretty and you can bet I'll be on the hunt for some of these on my next antique trip!



That's all for now! I hope everyone has a fun and safe July 4th (my personal favorite holiday, and Cayden's first)! We'll be spending the weekend BBQing, watching parades, and lighting sparklers! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Crafty Craftersons

It's no secret that I love to make things. I mean, I love it so much I made a business out of it. Anytime I see something in a store that I like I automatically ask myself 'could I make that?' before buying it. It's a great way to save money and recycle/upcycle materials you have laying around! And when it comes to home decor, there are plenty of DIY ideas out there. I've been on the hunt for some wall art, specifically items to include in a gallery wall, and I've found some great ideas on Pinterest. Here are just a few of my [Friday] favorites!

I love this idea for a gallery wall. Whenever I go to antique stores or flea markets I always see old letters made out of brass or steel and I love them but I never know what to do with them. You could either leave them as-is for the weathered look or spray paint them a fun color and then just attach it to some scrapbook paper and pop it in a frame! If you don't have antique stores near you it's easy to make a large initial out of cardboard and paint it!

I love these yarn wrapped monograms and have been dying to make one. You can cut out the letter from an old cereal box or buy one made from wood or recycled materials from Michaels. Then just pick out yarn that you love and get to wrappin'!

Chalkboard paint is all the rage right now. I love this idea of making a countdown with it because you can use it over and over and customize it whatever way you want! Just get a 2x4, sand it, paint it, and attach vinyl letters that say 'days until'. Easy peasy!

This is one of my favorite finds on Pinterest. Find places on a map that you love or that you've gone to with a loved one, cut it out in a heart shape, and then frame it! It can be used as art in your home or given as a sentimental gift!I want to do this for Mando for the place of our first date, our first apartment, the place I gave birth, the place he proposed, etc.

This is one of the simplest projects I've seen... literally anyone could do it! Cut out pieces of cardboard in various sizes, cover them with pretty fabrics, and BAM! You have yourself a pretty little gallery wall! I think this would be a great way to decorate a craft or play room!

I've been looking for a wreath for my door that I can hang year-round so I was super excited when I saw this. I know Michaels sells these wreaths for pretty cheap as well as the wooden numbers. Slap some paint on the numbers, find some pretty silk flowers and you've got a pretty new wreath to greet your guests!

I challenge you next time you see something in a store to ask yourself if it's something you can make at home! You never know until you give it a try! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I'll be spending it catching up on some crafting of my own! XOXO

Friday Favorites: Wonderful one-pieces

I love Memorial Day because it's recognized as the official start of the summer. It represents the beach, BBQ's, and bathing suits! Sure enough, we spent the holiday weekend in the pool with some friends. Now, I'm not ashamed of my post-pregnancy body... after all, it's what grew Cayden and that is no easy task! I am however 100% positive that I will never be strutting around in a bikini again which is why I've been spending my time scouring the internet for a cute one-piece that I won't be embarrassed in. Luckily, I've found a ton of cute, vintage inspired suits on Pinterest like the REAL vintage ones above. Aren't they amazing? Here are a few of my absolute favorites. Now to actually buy one!

This ballet pink is becoming one of my favorite colors. It's flattering on my pale skin and it's girly while still neutral. I love the criss-cross detailing on the front!

This black halter bathing suit is my absolute favorite. I love the fabric over-lay, sweetheart neckline, and the halter looks super comfy and flattering. If it didn't cost hundreds of dollars and come from Europe I would totes buy it! ;)

This bathing suit is bright, girly, and fun. I love the little ruffle detail along the bottom and the bright color!

This pretty gray suit looks comfortable and effortless! I love the side gathering and the shape!

I like nautical anything, so when I saw this sailor swimsuit I instantly loved it. The plunging neckline is pretty without being TOO revealing and I love the bow detail (of course)! The only thing that concerns me is the horizontal stripes!

Polka dots, vintage cut, halter top... this bathing suit is everything I could ever want and need!

That's all for now! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend full of warm weather, water, and cute bathing suits! Happy Friday! XOXO

*All image sources can be found on my Pinterest fashion board here.