Magical Gun

Last weekend, N and I spent a full day registering for wedding gifts. He was a real trooper even in the 6th hour when I was second guessing my dinnerware design for the third time.

We started off the day at Crate and Barrel's Wedding Party Event. It was quite possibly the best shopping experience of my life (and I've shopped...a lot). The store was chock full of newly engaged couples and the Crate and Barrel team gave each duo a "magical gun" that allowed us to scan all the items we wanted to add to our wish list. I mean, I was living a fantasy. Oh but wait, that's not it. They also set up demo stations to show off a few key products and handed our mimosas, paninis and homemade donuts. Can you say, BEST.DAY.EVER?

We also made our way to Macy's and Pottery Barn to round out the spree. I'm really excited to add the new finds to our home and I'm looking forward to the next 9 months leading up to the wedding!

Otherwise Engaged

This Christmas was very special. Not only did I spend it with family and close friends, I also received the most precious gift: a super sparkley, ridiculously beautiful, engagement ring!

The proposal was very romantic and my sweet fiancée, with the help of my sister (pictured below), arranged for both our families to celebrate with us after the big event.

N and I are absolutely over the moon and diving right into the wedding planning. Right now we're trying to nail down a venue for our 200+ guests, hello my big-fat-Italian-wedding, but we're having a blast!

I'm bubbling with happiness and can't wait to say "I do!"

Birthdays!

I celebrated my 27th birthday this weekend and it was wonderful. As much as I hated the thought of creeping into my late 20's, my friends and family put in a ton of effort to make my day extra special. I'm truly blessed.

Top memories of the weekend:

Sweet cupcakes.

Spa day at Emerge.

Gift cards to my favorite stores. 1 and 2.

An (extra) chocolate covered fruit arrangement.

Dinner with N at Hamersley's.

Cards upon cards from friends and family near and far.

Drinks at Bokx and pineapple upside down shots.

Flowers from my favorite 2 year old.

Family brunch.

Two Oprah-approved pot pies.

Thanks for all the love!

I've Got the Blues

N and I are going to be doing a little redecorating. Before I moved in, N painted all the walls in our place and decided that the bedroom would be blue. It's a nice paint color, but everything in our room is blue. Not only the walls, but the bedding and curtains are also the same lovely color. We have fabulous furniture and it pretty much just blends into the blue camouflage background. N did a good job of making sure everything matches, but it might be overkill.

Soooo we're updating. New paint and new bedding. Keeping in mind that we have dark mahogany colored furniture, let me know what you think of my paint and bedding picks below!

Benjamin Moore, Manchester Tan

Pottery Barn Sydney Palampore Organic Duvet Cover & Sham

Love? Hate? Let me know what you think!

Perfect Thought for Today

I love this: "Live your dream, and wear your passion." Fabulous!

Via.

Traditions

I grew up going to my Nana's house every Saturday for lunch. Not many people can say they see their extended family as much as I do, and for that I'm thankful and truly blessed. The tradition still lives on and not much has changed over the years.

For lunch Nana serves meatball and sausage sandwiches, along with a few other weekly staples, but even as a non meat eater, there is no better comfort food than her sauce with bread.

Early Saturday morning, Nana makes the sauce and meatballs. I'm talking early. Like before the birds are chirping. No one in their right mind is awake at that hour, so no one has her recipe. I hope to teach my children how to make her sauce one day, so a couple Saturdays ago I dragged myself out of bed (got to her place at 6am) and got the tips and tricks from the master.

It was an amazing experience, one I will remember forever. Here are a few pictures of my early morning with Nana.

Mixing the meatballs

Browning the meatballs

Nana in action

Sauce simmering before Saturday lunch!

Danny and Annie

The video below brought me to tears this morning (fair warning), but I think everyone should be so lucky to have a love like Danny and Annie.

It is a MUST WATCH.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

A big thank you to Joanna at A Cup of Jo for sharing.