Rained Out

Well, it's official. Our engagement photos have been rained out yet again... I'm losing count. I think this is the third time (first time being in Southern California, of all places!). Unfortunately for us we live in one of the rainiest cities in the U.S., my hair turns into a giant frizz ball at the sight of any moisture and (unlike these cute Californians below) I don't find rain charming. I've lived here too long to embrace it! So instead, I whine and wish for sun. Thank goodness I'm escaping to 100-degree paradise (Palm Springs ) next weekend! 

{Photos by Shannen Norman Photography via Grey Likes Weddings}

Happy Friday!

Hooray! The weekend has arrived. And a holiday weekend nonetheless. If the weather holds out for us, Corey and I will finally be taking our engagement photos this Sunday. Please cross your fingers! Other than that, we will hopefully be checking off a lot of wedding to-do's (including wedding band shopping!) and working on some DIY projects. What are you all up to? I'd love to hear!


Hope it's sunny where you are. Have a lovely weekend, friends!

{Photo by Amy Carrol via Once Wed}

Marley

Meet Marley. He's our family dog (well, my Mom's dog...). He's a Puli (Hungarian Sheepdog). He has curly hair, a bad temper and hides his bones in the couch. Even though he barks a lot and the UPS man is deathly afraid of him, I know that he is the cuddliest little man, and I love him!

And P.S., For what it's worth, we named him Marley loooong before Marley & Me.

Costa Rica Wedding

Isn't this Costa Rica wedding lovely? I am especially in love with the top of the bride's wedding dress. I would love a fun mini dress (maybe royal blue or kelly green?) with that top.

{via Once Wed}

Cupcake Heaven

I ran across this cupcake blog last night and thought I bookmarked it, but now I can’t find the link! But just look at the amazingness! The photos are simple and gorgeous, and the addition of the recipe makes it that much better. There are some super creative cupcakes on this site. I can’t wait to see what else the baker comes up with!


Please let me know if you know the link to this amazing blog!


Update: Thank you, Lisa! Check out even more cupcakes at Ming Makes Cupcakes!

New Blog!

Hey Guys!

I'm in the process of launching a new blog design (as you can see), so I'll be playing around with backgrounds and photos and such for the next couple of days. Just wanted to apologize for the maintenance. I'm hoping to have it back into a more permanent state by early next week. So if you see some funky stuff going on, I'm probably just struggling with HTML or something and you can just ignore it :)

For now, I'd love feedback on what you think about the new layout! Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see that isn't on here (besides my "Blog Envy" links, those are coming back shortly!).

Thanks, as always, for being such wonderful readers!!

Craving Picnics and Bike Rides

I know I’ve been complaining about the weather a lot, but it’s nearly June and it is cold and dark and grey and so, so rainy in Portland. It’s driving me bananas! I could really go for a bike ride and a picnic right about now…

{via Summer Goals via Unruly Things}

Cynthia Rowley for Roxy

Cute, cute, cute!

Summer, please get here soon so I can wear fun shoes again!

Find these gems here and here.

{Via Express-O}

It's Friday!

Hooray for the weekend! It feels like life is moving at lightning speed these days. Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up. I need to keep reminding myself to slow down, take a deep breath and take in the moment. Corey's birthday is Monday so we're starting the festivities this weekend. I absolutely love spoiling him rotten and I plan on doing so for the next couple of days!

Have a fun weekend everyone!

{image credit}

Mara Hoffman

Loving this dress. Longing for summer.

Puppy Love

Now that's true love. I want a doggy. Real bad. Pretty pleeeaaasseeee.

{Photo by Sarah Rhoads via Sugar Comb Event Design}

Wedding Nightmare

Last night, I had a horrible wedding nightmare. It was so vivid and felt so real. I was extremely relieved to wake up and realize it was all just a dream. With only two-and-a-half months left until the big day, we are clearly in full-on wedding mode. I wish it would just get here already!

{photo by Our Labor of Love}

Heart Art

So our frame wall is officially hung, but now I’d like to change the photos in the frames. I’d like to have a good mix of some art, fun prints, my own photography and pictures with family and friends. I’d love to recreate this little piece of art in one of them! Simple and sweet. {By Sarah and Bendrix Via Erin Ever After}

Surprise Proposal

This photographer had been begging her brother and his girlfriend to model for a photo shoot for ages. They finally agreed, but she didn't know her brother had a little surprise in store. In the middle of the shoot, he got down on one knee and proposed-- unbeknownst to his sister-- who continued to snap photos in utter shock! How sweet is that?! Love these photos.

{photos by Maddie E.}

Lauren Moffatt

What a cute outfit! And there's more where that came from. Check out more Lauren Moffatt loveliness here.

{via}

Just a Dream

Someday, I want to dine al fresco on a beach, just me and Corey and an amazing ocean view. This setting pretty much looks like dreamy perfection.

{photo by Kate Webber via Style Me Pretty}

Hurley Dress

Selling my Anthro dress was such a success, I thought I would try this again! I bought this super cute Hurley dress last year and never wore it, never took the tags off. It's a great dress you can style a million different ways, and it was sold in a limited capacity to only a few select retailers. Super soft heather grey fabric. It's comfy yet sexy. The one problem is, it's not made for tall gals (I'm 5'8" and it's just a smidge too short). It's a size medium. I'm normally a 2/4 and it fits fine, but since it's stretchy I would say it would fit a 4/6 person just as well! It's originally priced at $90 and I'd like to sell it for $40. If you're interested, please email me at liz.balaesh@gmail.com

Thanks, all!

{images via Swell, and Style With Benefits}

UPDATE: The dress has been sold. Thanks everyone!

iomoi Coasters

I am seriously pining after these awesome custom coasters. Wouldn't they make an amazingly fun and unexpected wedding gift? The problem is... How do you choose just one design?

{See even more designs here}

National Bike Month

Did you all know May is National Bike Month?! Thanks to Caitlin from Sacramento Street, I'm now aware, and ridiculously excited! Why, do you ask? What exactly does National Bike Month entail? Well... Good question, friends! I haven't the slightest clue! All I know is I am embarrassingly in love with my pretty, mint green cruiser bike and will take this month as an excuse to ride it (and obsess over it) even more than I already do! That's all.

{image via Public Bikes}

Weekend Recap

{Cathedral Park, taken on my iPhone}

Happy Monday! I'm a little slow to the blogging today. I'm a bit slow in general, actually. It's just one of those Mondays I suppose! How was your weekend? Mine was, in one word: Busy! We had a lot of family stuff going on, but it was all so much fun and the weather was absolutely fantastic here in Portland. It's tough for anything to get me down when the sun is shining.

We made it out for a bike ride to the Farmer's Market to get some flowers for our Moms (and my first bunch of peonies this season!!!), spent some time up on our rooftop, went for a reallyyyy long walk through Portland's West Hills (my bum is a bit sore today!) and had an awesome family dinner for Mother's Day. I'd love to hear what the weekend was like for you!

Three Months!!!!!

The closer we get, the more real it feels... Yet it still all feels very much like a dream. Can't believe I'm going to be a Mrs.! YAY!

{via Snippet & Ink}

So, last night we were supposed to hang our frame wall, but we had a much different night than we had planned. We left straight from work to meet with our wedding officiate. This was just our first in-person meeting and we weren’t even getting into the really good stuff, but it was so powerful. I have been having so much fun planning all the little details, but yesterday we got to really take time to talk about us and the vows we want to share and the commitment we’re making. I honestly had to hold back the tears. I am so excited to work with our officiate to craft a uniquely Liz-and-Corey ceremony and I am beyond words excited to call Corey my husband at the end of it all. I haven’t doubted since the moment he asked me to marry him that he is the absolute best person I could’ve picked to spend the rest of my life with.

After meeting with Patti, the officiate, we went to Alu Wine Bar. It was so amazing. I’ll tell you all about it in a later post.

{image by Elizabeth Messina}

Frame Walls

Tonight, Corey and I hanging our frame wall (and drinking some margaritas, of course!). I found these inspiring images to keep us on track. I’ll post pictures of how ours turns out (and the entire apartment) as soon as I finish up all the decorating.

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Jill Thomas Photography

Here is the latest shoot by our amazing wedding photographer, Jill Thomas. She never ceases to amaze me! I get giddy with excitement every time I see more of her work, I can never get enough!

Looking Forward

How is everyone out in blogland? To be honest, today I’m feeling a little down. I feel silly complaining as I’m very aware how many things I have to feel lucky for. But sometimes I just have those days where I feel like the world is closing in on me. This grey Portland day isn’t helping my mood, either.

So, in an effort to snap out of my gloom, I am thinking ahead. In exactly one month I’ll be flying down to Palm Springs with my sisters and best girlfriends to celebrate my bachelorette weekend. Words can’t explain how excited I am to lay by the pool, cocktail in hand, laughing and having a great girly time with my faves! Ah... See? Feeling better just thinking about it!

{image credit here and here}