Tag Archives: Bijou

Summer Party Inspiration

It’s been awhile since I shared any Bijou stuff over here–mostly because it’s been awhile since we’ve done a shoot. We’re in the midst of planning our fall issue though, so that will change soon!

My pal and partner in crime Jackie recently posted some shots from our rustic vintage inspiration shoot (you should totally check out her blog, by the way. Lots and lots of pretty photos!). When I saw these photos again, it struck me that it was not only good inspiration for a laid back backyard wedding, but for any kind of laid back backyard celebration.

It’s perfect for a breezy summer evening filled with talking,  laughing, and eating under the stars. The best part? You can put something like this together without spending much money at all.

We collected a bunch of mismatched dishes and crocheted pieces. We happened to have a lot of this stuff on hand, but they’re inexpensive and easy to find in thrift shops, Goodwill, and Salvation Army stores.

We love the tablecloth because it adds a bit of sophistication that would otherwise be lacking. It really elevates the look so it doesn’t just look like any old picnic, don’t you think?

For a centerpiece, we used an old mirror to sort of contain things and added old family photos, pretty bottles and an old tin to hold flowers. The possibilities are really endless. Candles, a pretty pitcher, floating flowers. There are so many pretty options!

Rustic/Vintage for Bijou Issue I: Styled by Jackie Pfeffer and Jen Garry / Photos by Jackie Pfeffer

For the food, we set up a wooden saw horse with another crocheted cloth laid over it. We added bright flowers, a stack of dishes and some pretty upcycled bottles. These used to hold Yuengling, but once they were cleaned they seemed perfect to sip refreshing summery spritzers from.Revisiting these photos makes me want to call up some friends and plan a little backyard barbeque!

What are your must-haves for a summertime party?

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Revisiting Resolutions

Since we’ve just about reached mid year, I thought I’d take a look back at some of the goals I set for myself this year and see how I’m doing on accomplishing them. Here’s the list I shared with you way back in January:

  • Start exercising regularly (hello muffin top, it’s time you find someone else’s midsection to cling to)
  • Reopen my jewelry shop (for real this time!)
  • Style a photoshoot
  • Organize more fundraising/volunteer work (because honestly, nothing feels better than knowing you’ve helped someone when they’re down)
  • Go on a vacation (my husband and I have never been on a vacation together (!). I want to pack up the kids and do something fun for a couple of days–even if we don’t even cross state lines!)
  • Finish the projects I start (I’m talking to you, to-do list!)

. . . . . .

OK, so I haven’t tackled many of these (which probably automatically  means I’m not doing so good on that last one, huh?).

I absolutely have not exercised regularly. Or much at all, to be honest. Maybe oogling some pretty workout clothes will fix that?

1 Old Navy :: 2 Athleta :: 3 Old Navy :: 4 Athleta :: 5 Puma

I have not reopened my jewelry shop, although I did make a few pieces for our Bijou shoot, which ignited a little bit of a flame under my butt. I even discussed photo sessions with my fab business partner and photographer friend. Still, I have not made a single new piece for said photo session. I did make these headpieces though!

photos by Jackie Pfeffer

Pretty much the only thing I did do on this list is styling photo shoots. We had a few for Bijou that  I haven’t shared photos from yet. Here are two screenshots from pages in the first issue:

I haven’t organized any fundraising/volunteer work, but that is definitely staying on my list. I’ll have to brainstorm this weekend.

The vacation thing needs some more brainstorming too. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’m hoping to have that ticked off my list by the end of July!

How have you done with your resolutions?

PS I finally launched a FACEBOOK PAGE! Come on over and like me! ;)

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My Week(s) Through Instagram

I’ve been a little absent the last few weeks, but with good reason. My partner Jackie and I have (literally) been working night and day to finish the first issue of  our bridal magazine, Bijou. We’ve gotten an absolutely incredible outpouring of positivity since its release. We’re so grateful for all of the support from friends and family (and absolute strangers!). It has been truly amazing.

Here’s a little look at what I’ve been up to while we were finishing things up.

At the beginning of our most labor intensive week (we had FOUR shoots that week, including an all-day extravaganza) I sprained my ankle. I wish there was a fantastic story behind it, but the truth is that I’m completely uncoordinated.

I was rushing out of the house, trying to get my girls to story hour on time and I fell down my front steps (seriously). I was holding the baby at the time, so I was twisting and trying to make sure she wouldn’t hit her head on the concrete and voila!: ankle sprain.

I always add in the baby part when telling the story but honestly I’m such a klutz I could just as easily have done it without a baby on my hip.

I’ve been doing a lot of working while Ellie crawls all over the place exploring what new things she can reach and get into. She has discovered that she likes climbing into small spaces. While I was taking a super quick shower the other morning, I corralled her in my room. Halfway through the shower she started yelling “Maaamaaaaa!” I jumped out to find her stuck in a Rubbermaid box that was on the floor. She thought it was hysterical.

This picture here is one of her favorite new spaces: underneath the TV in our bedroom.

Samantha (who is anti photo lately) is a Daisy this year. She absolutely looooves Girl Scouts! Here she is outside of a local supermarket collecting donations for a local food pantry. She’s been learning about the community in school so she was beyond excited when she connected the dots and realized that she was doing something to help her community. She’s such a sweetie.

Until recently, Samantha has completely refused to feed her sister. We always thought she’d love to because she’s so maternal, but her sensitive sense of smell and extreme pickiness when it comes to food has sent her running from the room more often than not when she sees what her sister is eating.

The other day Sam got really excited when she saw Ellie was about to have some yogurt. She decided she absolutely had to feed her sister. They both loved it. Sam was so patient and started making airplane noises and everything. I love watching these two together.

I made a few of the accessories for our photo shoots. With so much else going on, it was always at the last possible minute. This is my mess of supplies while I tried to make headpieces the morning of our fashion shoot. Good thing I work well under pressure!

Ellie has some molars coming in and has been a little cranky lately so when I have to bring her along to meetings, we’ve been trying just about anything to make her happy while we work. This is a shot of her wearing one of the Click Pictures photo booth props. In the end, she was happiest holding my keys and a water bottle, pretending she was leaving while staring out the studio door at the passersby.

Last but not least, we had a play date this weekend with our buddies. We were seriously a traveling circus. My friend Meg and I took our kids (my two and her three) to the diner for brunch and then to a delicious ice cream place that has a nice little area overlooking the river where the kids could run around like wild things. They had lots of fun digging in the dirt and pretending to climb trees. They also got to watch a couple of dogs jump into the water for a swim and giggled like crazy when the dogs came back out and got them all wet. This picture is of the babies checking each other out while the big kids played hide and seek. Can’t wait until these two can really play together!

What did you do this week?

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My Week Through Instagram

Anyone who follows this column regularly knows that my little bean is a messy baby. Pretty much any day of the week you’ll be able to find a blueberry stain somewhere on her body (if anyone has tips on removing them, please share! I’ve been meaning to try baking soda and water, which I saw on the Food Network, but I can’t imagine her staying still that long).

Well, her messiness isn’t just contained to her eating habits. This week she has been the Mess Queen. It makes me laugh because she looks almost exactly like her sister did when she was this age, yet their personalities couldn’t be any more different.

Samantha is the most pristine little thing. She will literally get out of bed in the middle of the night if she thinks she might have possibly touched her nose. The idea of even a trace of boogers on her fingers drives her crazy. Ellie, on the other hand, smears food in her hair during each and every meal.

First, she discovered the flour. Like her sister, she loves the feel of it. She can be a stealthy little ninja, so sometimes I’ll be doing work or the dishes or something and notice it’s awfully quiet. That usually means she’s getting into trouble.

She also loves emptying things. Here she is with a nice little bed of coupon inserts. She loves to spread them out and rub her hands and feet on the smooth paper. She also likes to shoot me a devilish little smirk while doing it.

This was yet another moment this week when it was a little too quiet. I thought she was playing with her books at the end of my bed, but she had grabbed her wipes container and started making (big) piles of wipes on either side of her. She was very proud of herself–especially when I noticed what she had done.

Aside from cleaning up after messy baby, this week was jam packed with work-related stuff. We had our first two Bijou photo shoots this week! They went really well (and were way too much fun) and we can’t wait to share more with everyone!

My Sams tried on another pair of heels during a mall trip. I always love trying to figure out which pair she’ll be drawn to. I can usually spot them from a mile away and this iridescent leopard-print platform was no exception. I love that she makes me take a picture each time. That kid is hilarious.

This is one of my favorite moments from this week. Every night the girls and I climb into Sam’s bed for bedtime stories. Lately Sam has been reading a couple of short ones and then I’ll read the girls one that’s a little longer. Sometimes Ellie crawls all over the bed trying to get into trouble. Sometimes she can’t keep her tired little eyes open any longer. On this particular night, the little bean flopped herself over both my legs and Sam’s legs and completely passed out. Samantha loved it.

We had a little play date with my nephew, Jack, yesterday after school. We took the kids to the library, where they traipsed in hand in hand. So cute. Afterwards we headed over to the playground to wear them out and enjoy the gorgeous weather.

Last but not least, I just had to share this one of my husband and Ellie. I had run out to the store after putting the ladies to bed. Ellie woke up at some point and I came home to her passed out on Tim’s shoulder. So precious!

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Giveaway: Golden Plume Necklace

Hello lovelies…

I just wanted to let you all in on a little giveaway we’re doing over on my bridal blog, Bijou. One lucky lady will win this beautiful Rose Quartz Romance necklace from Golden Plume.

Just head over to Bijou for the rules (you don’t have to be a bride to win it!)–but go quick! We’re drawing the name of the winner tomorrow.

Good luck!

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Bijou’s First Giveaway!

Most of you regulars know that my super-talented photographer friend Jackie and I are in the process of launching an online bridal magazine called Bijou. As of now, we have our blog up and running and are shooting for an April 30th magazine launch date (yay!).

But today we decided to do a fun giveaway that I had to share with you lovelies.

Since we were shockingly chipper this morning and Janine reviewed it last week, we decided to give one lucky reader a tube of YSL Shocking mascara.

It will usually set you back $30, but if you head over to Bijou and enter, you might just get it for free! :)

And if you do check it out, come back here and tell me what you like or dislike about the blog!

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