By Invitation only- Thoughts on October

Good October morning to you....its time for an another installment of By Invitation Only where a group of bloggers get together and each serves up their own interpretation of that months said theme. This months is titled "Thoughts on October".....and what does this month mean to us? This was a fun one for me because A. I love fall  B. I do have a few fun things on my agenda,  C. Its my sons birthday month and D. the sleeveless shirt season is officially over..woo hoo!.......so we have some nice things that happen to fall in October.   I am sure it has a slightly different meaning for each of us but here is my own personal thoughts on the month.........

My oldest sons birthday is in October....hard to believe he is turning 25 this year! 

It means soccer games. Lots of them. Love it when I have a reason to throw on a toasty sweater or wrap. And love it when they win!

It means having an opportunity to wear and buy more beautiful soft cashmere scarves and sweaters...just love the "cozy season"

October is a license for lots of cooking  of delicious comfort foods. Nothing is off limits:) Including a decadent chicken pot pie.....

It is the perfect month for  carving out time for a one or two day road trip to admire and ogle over falls parade of colors, nothing beats fall foliage in the Northeast!

For some reason I get very into antique stores in the fall...so October is a time to explore and discover some new ones!

This particular October means road trip with one of my dearest friends in the whole world...we are heading to beautiful Newport, Rhode Island!

October is a month ripe for apple picking

October means adding a little fall decor throughout the house to welcome in the new season

It means Halloween and getting to see all the cute little kids in their adorable costumes!

October is all about gorgeous clothes and an excuse for a little retail therapy (hellooooo Ralph Lauren)

A surplus of apples...hopefully enough to be inspired to bake that homemade apple pie!

October is a time for quiet walks with Teddy taking in the magic of the season of fall

A great excuse to get a brand new fabulous handbag....like clockwork every fall, I indulge and splurge on a really great new bag.

And lastly October is a month like every other to be thankful for good health, the blessing of family and company of great friends....you included!
So that sums up October and what it means to me....a lot of goodness, and hopefully happy times ahead. How about you....what does October mean to you?  Anything happening this month that has you excited? Thanks for stopping in and hope you have a fabulous October day! Be sure to stop on over at the brainchild of By Invititation Only, Marsha over at Splenderosa to see other talented bloggers' takes on October. Click here to visit. 

By Invitation Only....you are invited to my wedding!

OK I knew I was going to have fun with this months theme when I got the email. Its time for our monthly "By Invitation only" where a group of bloggers get together and present their interpretation of an agreed upon theme......This was right up my alley,  Planning your wedding as if you were getting married today! A chance to do my wedding all over again? Fun and how fast can I say I do! Same guy of course but you better believe I might want to do things a bit differently almost 30 years later. I had a beautiful wedding, make no mistake, but it was more about a lot of pomp and circumstance, the big dress, and I do mean it literally, lots of ugh....volume shall we say! A formal affair, wonderful but honestly a little overwhelming to my then 22 year old self.

What would I choose today? Well something quite different, partially reflective of how times that have changed, and very much with how I have changed. How I appreciate the simpler things in life, that less can be more, and that some of the most beautiful moments occur when surrounded by nature so I have decided to spend this wedding outdoors as much as possible. So, here we go, the details right down to the nitty gritty details of my wedding, IF I were getting married today.......

The invitation would look something like this.....cannot make up my mind, but one of these beauties from The Lettered Olive! It has to be letterpress...have such an obsession with it!

Where is my wedding going to be?  Why, Napa Valley of course! I would have to have it there, its a place that calls my name and a place near and dear to my heart and I have made no secret of my love for Napa on this blog, as I talk about it often. I cannot imagine a more wonderful place to call in my guests from all over and invite them to come spend the weekend for pre wedding festivities. Wineries, outdoor jazz concerts, al fresco dinners, bike rides through the vineyard would all be a part of the weekend iternary. Everyone arrives on a Friday night, just in time to be part of a welcome dinner we are hosting outside under a great big tree at one of my favorite vineyards of course, but first everyone settles into their hotel rooms.........

Right at sunset, everyone gathers to marvel at the landscape and view, and soon we are seated ushering in a perfect night of friendship and celebration........

The next day everyone is able to  do as they please, go into town, visit wineries, go on a scheduled group bike ride and picnic lunch, spend the day at the spa, whatever strikes their fancy......

That night is the rehearsal dinner, held under a beautiful trellis at one of our favorite wineries, this is an intimate affair for my closest family and friends and it goes on until the wee hours of the morning....

First what am I wearing you ask? Well, since I am the belle of the ball....have to go with something that makes me feel princess-y but still fun and party like, so I opted for this fun party dress, that has a little bling, a few feathers...fun, chic and definitely special and with legs like these....I want to show them off!

Moving to the actual dinner......held under a fabulous trellis at my favorite vineyard, this is a night to remember, don't remember feeling this happy!

The most scrumptious mini wedding cakes are served for dessert!

As the night nears (or should I say early morning begins) we are told that we are expecting the most beautiful weather on Sunday, the wedding day.....clear skies, no humidity and 75! I will take it can am giddy with anticipation........as we end the night! 

We awaken to the most brilliant blue sky, slightly breezy cool air and blazing sunshine, its a custom ordered day! My bridesmaids are all dressed in different dresses but all done in blush tones, some lace, some silk, some linen, they each got to choose their own according to their own taste wtih a few parameters..they blend harmoniously like a perfect symphony!

The flowers are all done around the palest pinks, peaches and creams...my favorites peonies, roses, french tulips 

And if you are wondering about my own gown,I have decided to go wtih the most delicious vintage wedding gown that I have ever laid my eyes on......true I could have gone with something simplier but I just couldn't resist and if theres one day to pull out all the stops this is the one! Come to Mama......

The ceremony is outside of course and has been beautifully designed to focus on the beautiful nature, but oh what a magical setting!

 Love how outdoor seating areas have been set up, with real furniture, absolutely stunning right in the middle of the vineyard.

And for the actual tables.....a fantasy like concoction of bring the best of nature and elegance with touches like the crystal chandeliers and urns overflowig with luscious white blooms, how exhilarating to see my vision come to life. All this under a great big white tent right smack in the middle of my favorite vineyard.  The icing on the cake is seeing all those that I love and care about enjoying what I have dreamt up!

A close up of the all white flowers on the table

My cake is simple but elegant, inspired by beautiful and timeless Wedgewood....and very similiar to my wedding invitiation.

As the guests depart a small wedding favor is given to each and every guest, specifically designed just for them, monogrammed silver votives holding my favorite gardenia candle as a special keepsake of this memorable day in my life.....

The wedding is deemed a wild success...everyone proclaims it is the best wedding they have ever attended and that no other could possibly top it. The band goes on and on at the pleas from the crowd until 3 am! Cheers to that!

      And soon, after a weekend fit for a princess, we are off  driving into the Napa sunset....happy as a glass of a good Chardonay!

Thanks for stopping by "my wedding". How about you? Would you do things differently? How would you like to plan your wedding if you were doing it all over again? Would love to know!

Wishing you an enchanted day!


If you want to see more interpretations of a wedding day done by other talented bloggers, then visit Marsha the brainchild aka glamourpuss over at Splenderosa and you will see not only her gorgeous rendition but links to all the others, Click here to visit!

By Invitation Only.....Springs rebirth

Hi there! So happy to be here for our monthly "By Invitation only" post where a very special group of bloggers get together to present our  interpretation on a mutually agreed upon theme for a particular month. This month its all about spring, a new season, new beginnings and a  reawakening.  What does spring mean to us? Well to me, its a time of rebirth, a time of renewal, a time to open the windows both literally and figuratively. The warm air is knocking on our door, the blooms are bursting and everything feels new again..........
When I think of spring my mind branches off in so many directions, I think of new beginnings, a beautiful season brimming with hope, bright skies, flowers in bloom everywhere you look, watching winters bare limbs come to life with lush green leaves, new life taking shape. Spring is such a beautiful season....it is impossible to contain it to just a few ways. So to try to capture my thoughts I decided to do an "ABC's" on what spring is to me, without further adieu here we go.....

                                      A is for  April showers

 B is for Bunnies, especially cute ones that fit into darling little tea cups for two!

              C is for cool,crisp flawless skies

D is for daffodils...gotta love their vivid yellow colors and perky blooms, they are like the poster child of spring!

E is for Easter eggs, what is spring without them!

                    F is for forsythia and their explosive     color             

G is for gardening because if you ever want to feel like a green thumb, this is the time!

H is for hydrangea, another one of my most favorite flowers, of all time....love love love them for their heavenly blooms as much as I do for their staying power

I is for investing in a few wonderful new pieces of springs finery in bright fun colors!

J is for Jasmine whose intoxciating scent reeks of spring!

K is for knowing when to take a break just because you deserve it!

L is for lillies, one of springs many beautiful flowers

M is for misty mornings, I cherish my morning walks with Teddy, my faithful walking companion and there is nothing as beautiful as a misty morning in the spring

N is for the nests resting in the trees ready to bring new life in a new season

O is for orchids because lets face it they are spectacular during any season!

P is for Parties....spring is a perfect time to throw a party. Even a small get together for friends or family

.

Q is for quiet, I love the quiet and  peace that spring brings, when things stand still a little longer

R is for rabbits....it is their season afterall!

S is for sunshine, does it shine any brighter than during spring?

T is for  Tulips....gotta love them and I do in all their many colors!

U is for Umbrellas because we all know rain and spring go together like singing in the rain and Gene Kelly!

V is for Vases....something I have plenty of on hand during the spring to take full advantage of all of natures bounty ready to be displayed!

W is for Wisteria, yet another gift from nature that is just jaw dropping gorgeous!

X is for Xpresso al fresco  (come on just let me spell it this way)

Y is for Yellow...a color I think of as springs poster color it is happy, uplifting and oh so cheery!

Z is for  Zoo, because seriously what better season to visit one than when everything is in bloom and the animals eagerly await a visit?

So that wraps up just some of what I love about spring. I am sure I could easily go on and on, its such a glorious and majestic season. One that inspires us to fling open the windows, let the rush of fresh air fill us with renewed vigor and hope, clean our homes and fill them with the scent of freshly cut flowers, and mark the new season as time to start anew. I know for me its a time to reflect on what I am grateful for, what I hope to achieve and what I hope to be. Cheers to a magnificent spring to each and every one of you!

Want to see more....here are more links to the others in this wonderful group of talented bloggers!

Enjoy!

MARSHA HARRIS http://www.splenderosa.blogspot.com/ 

TISH JETT an American in France http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/ 

YVONNE PRATT USAhttp://stonegable.blogspot.com/ 

CHARLOTTA WARD in Sweden http://spaceforinspiration.blogspot.com/ 

GREET LEFEVRE in Belgium http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/ 

CATHERINE ROBINSON in London http://www.catherinerobinsoncashmere.com/ 

ANNIE BOUTERSE USA http://plumsiena.blogspot.com/

COTY FARQUHAR in Australia http://cotyfarquhar.blogspot.com/

FIFI FLOWERS artist with Parisian flair  http://fififlowers.com 

DEBORAH PETERSON between Houston & Scotland http://www.dumbwittellher.com/

DUSTJACKET ATTIC, Debra in Australia http://dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

SHARI MILLER USA http://www.littlebluedeer.com/

TINA USA theenchantedhome@gmail.com http://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/

MONA THOMPSON USA http://providenceltddesign.com/

JACQUELINE MUMFORD England http://home-biba.blogspot.com/

KARIN JANSKY France http://lapouyette-unddiedingedeslebens.blogspot.com

VICKI ARCHER an Australian in France http://frenchessence.blogspot.com/

CECILIA GONZALEZ Spain http://desdemventana.blogspot.com/

RENEE GRANIER & ANGELA FOSTER USA http://underspanishmoss.com/

LISA USA not participating this month http://amidprivilege.com

FRANCINE GARDNER a woman of the world in NYC http://interieurs.com blog

CHRISTINA FLUEGGE USA http://greigedesign.blogspot.com/

STACEY BEWKES USA http://quintessence.com

LEANN BROWN USAhttp://linenandlavender.blogspot.com/

LENE Norway http://theessenceofthegoodlife.blogspot.com/

SANDE CHASE Canada www.agiftwrappedlife.com

SHARON SANTONI France http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/

KAREN MALAN UK Pas Grand-Chose Blog http://athousandmiles-k.blogspot

DEJA PSEU USA unefemme.net.

ISA CHANDLER http://isaslittleworld.blogspot.com/

VERONICA tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com/