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!

Bohemian Beauty

Whenever the temperature starts to rise and bare feet no longer means frostbite, I find myself on a hunt for bohemian pieces. There’s something about golden rays of sunshine and feeling a warm breeze on your skin that releases your inner hippie, don’t you think? It just makes me want to wear flowy skirts and flowers in my hair.

This is a major reason why, when we were putting together the first issue of our bridal magazine (a summer issue), we decided to do a bohemian photo shoot. We chose flowy, laidback dresses, piled on bracelets and big floral hairpieces (which I made!). The result was a gorgeous spread that even non-brides can look to for inspiration.

Since way back in December I shared my list of to-dos for 2012 with you, I thought I’d share some of the fabulous photos from my first big styled shoot!

photographer: JacPfef for Bijou
makeup: Meredith Hayman
stylist: Jen Garry

Bijou is here!

Our new online bridal magazine, Bijou, launched last night. Check it out and let me know what you think!

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!

Introducing: Bijou!

For those of you who check out my blog regularly, you know I lost my job as editor of a wedding website at the beginning of the month. A lot of you lovely ladies reached out and offered sweet words of support and encouragement. Some of you advised me to start my own wedding site.

Then the lovely and oh-so talented Jackie Pfeffer (she’s the co-owner of Click. Photography, which is a The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 pick!) contacted me about a project she was hoping to get started. And guess what? It just so happened to be an online bridal magazine. If that’s not serendipity, I don’t know what is!

So for the last couple of weeks we’ve been busy brainstorming and planning and plotting away. We’ve got something truly unique and exciting in the works and I’m glad to finally be able to share with you the first few posts of Bijou’s blog!

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Winter Weddings

For those of you who don’t know, I’m kind of a huge wedding nerd. As in, I love everything about them and continue to watch insane amounts of wedding-related reality TV years after I tied the knot myself.

Luckily for me, I can chalk some of my wedding dorkiness up to “research” since I’m the editor and head fashion woman over at Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever.

Anyway, since I usually have weddings on the brain and I haven’t shared much of it with you lovelies over here, I thought I’d show you one of my winter wedding inspiration boards (here’s the link to my original post, where you can find all of the sources. I found most via Pinterest):

I’m not gonna lie, I’m totally in love with everything about this board. I almost (almost) want to renew my vows just to have a winter wedding.

Are you wedding obsessed?