love is in the details

One brisk, December morning I got a call from my friend Blake.
Blake: Hey Mia it's Blake, I was wondering if you could help me out.

Mia: Of course I can, what's up?

Blake: I'm going to ask Angela to marry me, and I need some help bringing my plan to fruition.  I want to create a vintage picnic in a grove of trees.  I've spent hours on Pinterest and I know exactly what she loves. I drove around and found the perfect spot, I just need help putting it all together.  I'm going to grab our favorite take out for dinner and her favorite cup cakes for dessert. 
I found these old light bulbs that I want to put flowers in and hang from the trees.  Angela will love them.  She also loves roses, birds, and vintage books.  Can you tell me where to find the perfect flowers and help me arrange them?

Mia: Count me in.

I hung up the phone and had weird thoughts, like even though I'm happily married, and probably old enough to be his mother, maybe I want to marry him!

So Blake came over to show me his pins and talk over some ideas. 

We spent a good part of the morning putting his plan in motion.

I had just rained for three solid days, but today the clouds parted and the sun came out. 

Blake was adorably nervous, but I assured him it was going to be perfect. 

He drove Angela to the designated spot, took off the blind fold, and read a poem. Every line was meticulously thought through.

Then he pulled a diamond ring out of his coat pocket and asked her to marry him. 

She said yes.

Angela and Blake's parents snuck over to congratulate them and I snapped a picture of her dad getting his first look at her engagement ring.  Worth 1,000 words.

With Valentine's day just around the corner, love is in the air.  I have two friends who are planning their weddings right now.  Such an exciting time in life.  With wedding planning comes wedding gifts.  I designed two note cards just in case you know anyone who is tying the knot too.  Click on the image to download and print.

On the 7th of January, my man and I celebrated our wedding anniversary.  He surprised me with a trip to San Francisco, booked a bed and breakfast in an old, Victorian mansion, took me ice skating in Union Square, secured tickets to the Michael Jackson Immortal Tour (which was incredible), took me shopping at all the local thrift stores, and was my personal guide on a culinary tour.  So blessed that after all these years, his desire is simply to make me happy. 

If I could give Blake and Angela a little advice, here's what it would be. I can't say we've never gone to bed with unresolved issues, or that I've always been a pleasure to have in "class", but after 17 years of marriage, here's what I know, for sure.

-Two unselfish people can always make a marriage work
-Agree to disagree (thank you Dr. Phil)
-Surprises keep love fresh and unpredictable
-Marriage is simply about two people helping one another reach their ultimate potential.

do over, please?

Remember our friend Nicole from the {single ladies lunch}? 

Well, she ain't single no more.  I'm happy to report she's found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and Jilly and I couldn't be more thrilled.   In three weeks she'll be mother of six (five boys and one girl), and we can't think of a better person for the job.  She's extraordinary.  

All our girlfriends have had a great time selecting wedding colors, deciding on food, coordinating bridesmaid dresses, shopping for shoes, and I'm in the process of sketching invitation ideas for the big day. 

All this wedding planning has got me wishing I could have a serious DO OVER!  The good news is, I married the right man.  But that's where it ends.  From the sequined, puffy sleeved, mermaid gown, to the posed photos and white lattice, looking back now, I'd have done it entirely different.

I wanted to shape my eyebrows in Photoshop SO bad, but I resisted.  When I look at this picture I find myself asking, where was my mother?  I guess she was busy glittering my faux bouquet. 

Sometimes when I'm all alone, I fantasize about doing it all again.  My way. 

The venue would be something like this

Or this....

Or maybe even this....

Could we all agree that wedding photography has come a long way in the last 16 years?  Seems like each wedding photo I get is more creative then the last.  No more posed couples, no more looking at the camera.  Anything goes. 

We might serve individual baby cakes like this...

oh, but I really like these.

A few pics that caught my eye on Pinterest.  Ya, I logged on, and now my family will be eating mac 'n cheese for dinner.  Every night.

And how adorable are these wedding parties?

and a thoughtful favor for the wedding guests...

Maybe we would end it all like this.

It's 3:00 and the nino just walked in the door from school.  Back to reality.

PS. Don't forget to sign up yourself (or a loved one) for a day with the ladies of Club Project.  See all the details {here}.  No request too big or small!