LOVE is a beautiful thing...

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.

~Saint Augustine~


I found this video tonight from Elysium Productions-a fantastic videographer. This video had me in tears by the end, it is so full of elegance, beauty, love and raw emotion and I LOVE IT. We (I say we as a society and as a bride myself) often get caught up in the "wedding" part of the wedding. It is a lot of fun to plan all these details but at the end of the day, Joe and I become husband and wife and share a commitment that is everlasting and unconditional.

I see a collage of weddings like this and I feel the love, my heart beats when the girls walk down the aisle because instead of seeing their groom, I see my own. I hear my own father's voice as he gives his toast and I see my own dress hanging up in the doorway. But most of all, I love what this video represents-true, unconditional love and the joining of two individuals journeys into one. I for one, cannot wait to start ours!

Enjoy!


XO,

Grace

P.S. Right click on "Elysium Productions" to open in a new link!

Wedding Wedding Wedding on the brain

Hello faithful followers,

Tonight I abandoned reality (except for a glass of wine and Modern Family snuggle time with Joe) and delved deep into my mind to create some inspiration boards for our wedding. I have so many fun ideas and most of them probably won't come to fruition but I want to remember the process and the journey as the wedding evolves and so at 11 months away-this is what I have. Try to blur the edges and focus not on the actual details of the details but the bigger picture/theme/ideas within the pictures. I am in love with what I believe our wedding will be and I honestly cannot wait to see how the real thing plays out!

So, enjoy and know that this is the first of many because at this point inspiration is truly inspiration and I feel like like an artist with a blank canvas and a hell of a lot of paint.

This first one is more of an overall theme for the wedding, which I've coined Rustic Organic Elegance. Picture the thick woods of Northern Michigan in the early days of Fall. The sand between your toes as you munch that perfectly toasted smore, not caring that marshmallow and chocolate are smeared on your face and hands. You watch the stars begin to emerge and even spot a shooting star or two as the waves lap on the beach and the embers glow to warm the crisp air around you. A perfect Northern Michigan bonfire.



This second one is the development of our color palette. I am really not going to be too strict with this but in general, warm plum tones will blend with earthy greens and browns and sand like neutrals...maybe even some wine colored amaranthus to give another pop of color. The possibilities are truly endless! Joe wanted to make note that he will not be wearing this suit exactly and to absorb the deep purple and gorgeous calla lilies that just scream elegance.






Like I said, more to come, just a taste to get the juices flowing. Now, off to bed to dream of plum colored linens, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting and a handsome groom to share the rest of my life with!

XO,

Grace

P.S. Click on the pictures to open in a new window and you will be able to see the whole board!!

DELICIOUS PEANUT BUTTER ENERGY BARS

I recently discovered this recipe via Kelli Curtiss (Thanks Kelli!) and Joe and I are hooked. We have been making them every week and usually have one for breakfast every morning.

I love that they are a) EASY PEASY b) versatile-you can add whatever fruit and nuts suit you c) delicious without being bad for you. They pack a punch of energy and seriously, who doesn't love peanut butter.

I highly recommend them, in fact, I'm off to buy more ingredients so we can make more today!!



Here is the assembled ingredients-like I said, SIMPLE.



Next, melt your peanut butter, oil/butter mixture or coconut oil and agave nectar over medium low heat. Really you just want to meld all of this together and make it pliable enough to mix your dry ingredients in.





Mix in all your dry ingredients until they are thoroughly coated with the butter mixture. Press into a 9 1/2 X 13 inch pan. You can line the pan with parchment for a little bit easier time but either way is fine. Cool in the fridge and Kelli and I both recommend storing in the fridge so they stay together better.



Last Step: EAT YOUR HEART OUT.

Happy Eating

XO,

Grace

Double Take

A post dedicated to my lovely little sister. A reminder to her that she is all of the following:

Stunning

Worldly

Intriguing

Delightful




All in all-truly one of a kind. On that note, she does have a striking resemblance to someone else in this world. While I haven't met this other woman, I'd dare to say that my sister probably has the one-up. Just saying.



And if Joe and I were getting married back in Aix, this would be your MOH dress without a doubt.



An ode to you Claire, for all that you are, and all that you'll be in this lifetime and the next. My Maid of Honor, my best friend and forever my little Claire Bear. Dream big Bear for the world is truly your oyster.

Love,

Big Sis

XO