Greatest Ad Ever

During my travels this weekend I came across the greatest advertisement ever. Well that is if you get it. And to get it you have to be from, or be familiar with the Maryland area.

As explained in my previous post I traveled to Baltimore this weekend to attend a wedding expo with one of my best friends. At the door they gave her a few bridal magazines and this piece of amazing advertising was the first page of Baltimore Bride. Too awesome.

The Natty Boh guy and the Utz girl. Classic. Hilarious. If you are unfamiliar with these two Maryland icons, check it out here and here.

You can find out more about the case study at MGH.

So in love with this.

{image cred: MGH}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Vintage Vibe

OK, I have a mixed opinion on the whole "vintage wedding" thing. I think some couples pull it off magnificently and others kind of miss the mark. It is a concept that can be easily overdone if not executed properly. Despite my opinion on all of that, there is one concept of vintage weddings I am totally on board with (or for any wedding actually). I love the concept of heirloom or vintage jewelry. There is something so classy about it. I mean how cool is it that one ring could see more than one love and serve more than one couple. That is just too cool, it's like the jewelry is living out it's legacy.

I stumbled across the work of Erica Weiner, and fell in love. I already have one of her pieces on my Christmas list (ahem, Jon!) but more on that later. While she does have a permanent collection, she also has a small showcase of vintage wedding jewelry. And let me tell you, as much as I absolutely adore the ring the Hub's picked out for me, there is something so special about these pieces from the 1920's and 1930's.

I just cannot get enough. These settings are just so beautiful. I think modern culture has driven us to be so materialistic all we see is the size of the diamond. Here, it is about the jewelry as a whole, not just the stone. In these cases, the sapphire rings are just as beautiful if not more gorgeous than the diamond pieces.

Seriously, go check out her stuff. You won't regret it and I bet you find something to add to that Christmas list your Mom is starting to bug you about (they start early, don't they?).

Happy shopping!

{image cred: Erica Weiner}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Cinema Inspired

So, what originally got me into blogging was designing my wedding. Many of those wedding blogs I still read on a daily basis, there is just too much inspiration to pass up. I don't repost a lot because many of you out there really have no interest in a "daily bouquet," I just want things a little more well rounded than all weddings all the time.

However, today I came across the most wonderful engagement shoot I have ever seen! I am seriously not kidding. If you love The Notebook (and I mean really, who doesn't?) you will adore this post and save it in a safe spot until you can get a photographer to do this with you. Hey Babe, I am totally thinking anniversary shoot here, you with me? OK great!

OK, so this being a repost and all we need to get some links straight, it is only fair and proper.

This shoot was originally posted on Green Wedding Shoes (one of my daily reads) and since they are one of those "A-list Blogs" all of us aspire to be, Blushing Bride Studio sent them this content. Oh, I wonder what it's like to actually have people begging you to post them on your blog. One day.

Now, for a little background from the bride and groom to be. And yes, I promise to get to the images after this:

"We chose the movie The Notebook as inspiration for our engagement photo shoot for a few reasons. For one, Jean-Nicola’s late grandparents had Alzheimer’s disease and this movie touched close to home. Also, the chemistry of the young lovers in the movie was intense! And the era is very alluring to us- the fashion and way of life. We hope that our love endures all that life will throw at us, much like Noah and Allie. Oh, and we always fall asleep hand in hand (reference to the end of the movie)…" (via Green Wedding Shoes)

Totally lovely right? Doesn't it just make you jealous they were able to live such an amazing fantasy. Seriously, I want to do this. It is just so romantic, and they really do look so happy and so in love.

What would you do? For your "E-session" would you want to have a theme or do you just want we are so happy and in love pics of you and your significant other? We did the so happy and in love pics. Jon hates them, but I happen to like ours quite a bit!

For more shots of this amazing couple please visit Green Wedding Shoes. There is much more to be seen at the original post!

{image cred: Blushing Bride Studio via Green Wedding Shoes}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

A Dream Haven

Wow. This was an incredible find.

So, if you had the resources to create a getaway, just for yourself what would it be? I have never stopped to think about this, but now all I can envision is this tiny, cozy piece of heaven.

OK, so a little back story. Sandra Foster of My Shabby Streamside Studio turned an old decrepit hunting cabin in the Catskills into an amazing Victorian retreat. And yes, she did it all herself, on $3000. That is just impressive. Oh wait, what I mean by "she did it all herself" she really did! She renovated this place from the ground up. She scoured antique shops and thrift stores to find window panes and floorboards. She even did all of the gingerbread trimming herself. Impressive you say? I think so!

And the reason for it all, it is what she wanted. I suggest you read the article posted by none of than The New York Times. Her and her husband have had a pretty rough go of it, but with heart and hard work anything is possible. They are part of such a sweet story, it really shows you that anything can be built on love. Besides that they really exemplify that love is all you need to be happy in life. They are living proof.

OK now for the pretties!

It is just so beautiful. What an amazing retreat to dream about. I am fully jealous of her hideaway, but she totally deserves it way more than I ever could. Stories like theirs are so humbling.

Now this cute little 9'x14' place has no bath or kitchen. It is simply a retreat just for her. She resides with her husband in the "Groove Tube," the small trailer located on their property.

It looks like something out of a dream. It is so plush, dainty, light and perfect. Oh and what I wouldn't do for a sleeping loft that looks that comfy?

This really is one of the more beautiful finds I have come across, not only visually but emotionally as well. I really do hope that all of you read the article linked at the beginning of this post. It makes the story all that much more incredible.

Have fun dreaming!

{image cred: Trevor Tondro for The New York Times via Elements of Style Blog}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

On a More Personal Note...

I pre-apologize for any ranting that may occur on this post.

Today I want to formally reflect on a very personal note in my life. My parents divorced when I was 16. Big deal right? Something like 50% of the marriages in the United States end up this way, and by NO means and I trying to cry about me being the only poor kid out there. I just want to reflect a little bit. I was older when my parents split. While it was no shock or surprise that it happened, the after effects were not the happy peace my sister and I had been looking for in all the years before. But here we are seven years later, and the same battles that were waging during the marriage are carried on as my sister enters her college years. All I can say about that, is I need to make the choice to personally remove myself from those problems. I cannot and will not be present for another four years of this situation.

Without all the gory details, which I am sure by now you have decided you have no need to hear I am going to get to the purpose of this post.

I was affected in what I thought were different ways from that of younger children, even my own sister. I didn't realize until I started researching for this post that it is a universal feeling. Anyone who has ever had to deal with these emotions on a daily basis I am sure, will be comforted by this post.

I wanted to explore children's art today. Children's art is sacred in my mind, they are so fearless, so unafraid to just pick up a crayon and draw. They don't worry if they make someones skin purple, or if their nose looks too fat for their face. They use art as it is meant to be, a creative outlet for their thoughts and emotions. And it's honest, oh most importantly, it's honest! It's comforting in a way. As an educated but aspiring creative professional, it grounds you, it forces you to go back to your roots and realize why it is that you are doing this in the first place. It is almost backwards. As an adult, to look back on children's artwork you realize that you don't have to be so precise. Let loose!

So let's take a look at how children perceive such a fragile state of affairs.

These images are just so genuine, and it is a comfort to know that children of divorce at any age all feel the same way.

These postcards come from a website that I will, from now on, frequently visit Postcards from Splitsville. It is just an amazing feeling to know that you are not alone, and even at 22 seven years after the incident, you can still feel that way. Getting people to change is hard, and I know I have all but given up on my own parents. Expression like this gives you hope to keep going. It is OK to live with these feelings, you are not the only one experiencing them. The comfort in that is priceless.

{image cred: Postcardsfromsplittsville.com}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee