Lovejoy Bakers

Weekends are for sleeping in, relaxing and all-in-all just enjoying good food and good company (those are the elements I need for a fantastic weekend, anyway). Corey and did all of the above this morning when we met our friends Jenna (one of my beautiful bridesmaids!) and her boyfriend, Zach, at the new cafe in our neighborhood, Lovejoy Bakers. It opened a couple of months ago and Corey and I became instant fans. Any place that posts the quote "Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with butter the greatest of feasts" is a winner in my book!

Lovejoy Bakers sits on the busy corner of 10th & Lovejoy in the Pearl District. The space is open and full of bright, natural light. My usual order is the Egg & Fontina sandwich, which is served on one of their house-made ciabatta rolls. Oh. My. Gosh. It is sooo delicious. Probably the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. Simple, but the ingredients are so fresh it makes all the difference. That coupled with a giant cappuccino (complete with cute leaf picture drawn in the foam) and you've got yourself a perfect Sunday morning spot to read the paper, peruse the net (free wi-fi!) and/or sit and chat with friends.

Headbands by Mandizzle

Loving these statement headbands by Mandizzle. They'd brighten any gray Portland day!

{Via Inspired Bride}

California Sunset

Just a little picture of us watching the sunset from my sister and brother-in-law's rooftop in LA.

Missing Amsterdam....

{picture by me}

Today I'm feeling nostalgic for Amsterdam. Maybe it's because Corey surprised me and proposed there... Maybe it was the cobblestone streets... Or maybe it was the entrancing, romantic canals... But whatever it is my heart is yearning for it today. I want to go back!

A San Francisco Elopement

So far, wedding planning has been quite enjoyable and fun, but there have definitely been a couple stressed out moments when I swore I just wanted to march down to City Hall and marry Corey right then and there and skip all the flower, guest list and financial fuss. That's exactly what this San Francisco couple did, and it looks so fun, intimate and wonderful. Now if only Portland's city hall was that beautiful!

P.S. How awesome is that scooter?!

{Photos by Lilia Photography via Green Wedding Shoes}

Feeling Better.. Thanks to you!

{Via}

You all are so great! Thank you so much for the sweet words and encouragement. It was all exactly what I needed to hear. I treated myself to gelato (felt so good on my sore throat) and watched HGTV all night. Today I'm feeling much, much better emotionally, but unfortunately I'm still sick :( Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back to 100%!

Monday, Monday....

{Via}

I'm feeling kind of down-in-the-dumps today. It could be because it's Monday, or because I'm sick, or because I am getting pretty tired of this Oregon weather... but whatever it is, I gotta get out of this funk, stat! Thinking of Spring and pretty flowers makes me feel a little better, but not by much.. Any ideas for a little pick-me-up?

Pretty Chic SF

Just like if I had a more beautiful closet I swear I'd be cleaner, if I had a more beautiful notebook, my notes would be more organized. These Pretty Chic SF notebooks would be perfect!  Richelle, the designer, describes them as "perfect for savvy blackberry and iphone users who still appreciate the written word." That's me :) 

{Via Coco + Kelley}

Mama's Birthday Celebration

Tuesday was my Mama's birthday! She deserves the best in the world. She is honestly the most amazing Mom anyone could ever, ever ask for. She cares about my sisters and me more than words could explain. She would do anything for us, in fact she does a little too much sometimes.. She completely spoils us!

To celebrate we had a little girls' night and I had my aunt, cousin, mom and sister over. Anna (my sister) made dinner (shrimp and chicken fajitas, yum!) and I made her a cake. It was a raspberry poppyseed cake, it was delicious! You can find the recipe here if you're interested!

I love you Mama, I hope we made your birthday special because you deserve nothing but the best!

Wedding Video

Oh my gosh. I don't even know these people and this video totally made me tear up! How adorable. I wish we could play a video like this at our wedding...

Kelli and Sam. from Russell Brownley on Vimeo.

Master Bedroom

Corey and I are going house-hunting for the first time ever this Saturday, so I have interior design on the brain. I found this bedroom a while back and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. It is exactly what we want in a master—dark grey walls, white upholstered bed and bright pops of color.

{via Three Men & a Lady}

Wedding Napkins

{Via Erin Ever After, Via 100 Layer Cake}

I've always hated the over-washed, sterile stiffness of catering napkins (as well as the limited color choices), so for our wedding I would really like to find some nice patterned fabric and make our own napkins. Well, Michonne and Mike did just that for their wedding and let the guests take home the napkins as little favors. Loving that idea!

Anything But Perfect

So... most people would never admit to this let alone take a picture of it... My mom even told me I should delete the photo and never show anyone... But personally, I think this is hilarious. And this is honest.

Within the last two months I've been out of the country for almost half the time and the other half I was enduring the holidays, so things got a little (a lot) out of control. I decided to take all my piles from around the apartment and make them one giant pile. And then jump on them before sorting them for laundry. Honestly, half this stuff is clean laundry that I got lazy and never folded and then threw on the floor... Do any of you ever do that? Or is that just me?...

Hope this entertains you as much as it entertained me :)

Be My Valentine

Corey and I don't usually do much for Valentine's day, but I hardly ever pass up an opportunity to write (and receive) a mushy card to my one and only. These ones are super cute and a little unexpected.

{Via Chocolate, Pizza, Stiletto, Love & Smitten}

Closet Dreaming...

If someone unexpectedly stopped by our apartment tonight (or any night in the past couple months…), it would not be a proud moment for me. With all our international travel and the holidays, I have let the mess get out of control… There are piles of clothes in every nook and cranny (my poor fiancé). Tonight that all comes to an end (I know, you’re jealous. You want to come over and clean with me.).

My looming cleaning spree has me dreaming about my dream walk-in closet. Here are some spaces too beautiful to keep unorganized. If I had one of these I swear I wouldn’t be so messy…. 

{first two images via, last two images of Mariah Carey's closet (hey, I said they were my dream closets didn't I?) via}

Honeymoon

{Via here & here}

After much thought and deliberation, Corey and I finally booked our honeymoon! We will be traveling to the deep, spectacular bays and white sand beaches of Moorea, French Polynesia! The island, only 40 miles around, is surrounded by lush mountain slopes that are covered with rain forest or pineapple plantations. The water is crystal clear and there is no town to speak of, which is exactly what we were looking for-- complete and total relaxation, no pressure of sight-seeing or anything but sipping pina coladas on our own private deck off of our overwater bungalow. Needless to say, we can't wait!

Turn of Events

{photo by Braedon Photography via A Cup of Jo}

After living in Portland for more than 20 years, I think the rain is now accustomed to following me. Due to an unfortunate series of events upon our arrival in California on Friday night, we were forced to reschedule our engagement session with Jill and reschedule for Monday. And then, to further our luck, the biggest storm Southern California has seen in years has rolled in, causing flash floods and therefore forcing us to cancel our engagement shoot yet again this morning. We're super bummed, but with everything going on in the world, we realize that if our e-session getting rained out is the worst of our problems, then we have it really, really good.

Luckily, this gave us more time to spend with my sister and brother-in-law, which made me super happy! And we also booked our honeymoon, which we are SO excited about! I'll reveal our destination next so stay tuned!

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

This week was crazyyyy. Things at work have been quite busy so I've had less time for this little blog. I plan on being back in full-swing next week!

Tonight, Corey and I are flying down to LA to visit my sister and brother-in-law, and Saturday we'll be driving down to San Diego to have our engagement photos taken by the amazingly talented Jill Thomas. We are SO excited. Jill's work is flawless and exactly what we were looking for in a wedding photographer. Below is a sample of one of her engagement sessions (recently in Martha Stewart Weddings!). I hope Corey and I look this cute in our photos!! 

What are you all up to this weekend? 

Dear Diary...

{Via}

The other day when I was at my Mom's house, the home I grew up in, I realized all of my old journals were still just sitting in a box. They've been there since I moved out last April. I decided I wanted to take them home with me...

I found my diary entries from when Corey and I first started dating, and now that we're engaged, reading them made me experience a profound rush of emotions. I laughed at parts and cried, too. They were really happy tears. I am so glad I wrote down all those tiny details so I can read them now and relive our courtship.

When I was done reading, I let Corey read. He, too, laughed and got teared up. Who would've thought when I was writing those little entries more than two years ago that I'd be sitting here today with the same person getting ready to marry him in less than 7 months? It makes me so giddy and SO HAPPY. You know he's The One if you let him read your journal :)

Genius.

{Via}

Corey and I need this poster in our apartment. This weekend we went to two fabulous wine bars in one night. We love wine (particularly a nice, full-bodied red). We started at Noble Rot, then came back over the river to Vino Paradiso, a wine bar in our neighborhood we've been meaning to try for ages but haven't gotten around to. I'm so glad we went because we really fell in love. The decor is unique and modern and the staff unpretentious. Great date spot in the Pearl. We could get ourselves into trouble as it's only a few blocks away from us!

Vintage Dress

I ♥ this vintage dress. The pattern is awesome and the model is perfect for it!

{via}

Sunday Funday

{via Our Labor of Love}

Today I'm trying on wedding dresses for the first time! Yay, I'm so excited! Me, four of my bridesmaids, my mom and Corey's mom are all coming. We're going to start with brunch and mimosas then head out. Cannot wait! Wish me luck.

Real Portland Wedding

Um, Hot Lips Pizza (OUR FAVORITE!!!!) and a rooftop wedding in our neighborhood (the Pearl District)? LOVE! I have a feeling Corey and I would get along with this couple reallll well. 

{Photos by Ben Blood via Erin Ever After via Once Wed}

By the way...

{Photo by Erin Hearts Court via Green Wedding Shoes}

Yesterday it was exactly 7 months until our wedding day! I went to a Bridal Show last night and it jump started my excitement for wedding planning. Now all I can think about is dresses, table settings, invitations and flowers! Yikes, hopefully this Friday zips by!

Wall Art

I've realized that you can pretty much put a collage of anything up on a wall and it will look good. 

For example:

{Oil Paintings}

{Mirrors}

{Plates}

{Botanical Prints}

{Or even ceramic pots!!}