I know everyone else on planet earth is all like #GTFO2016 but I have to go against the grain here and say it was my favorite year ever. Selfishly, it's definitely because it sort of felt like #theyearofErin and those special years don't just pop up all the time so I want to take the time to properly savor it and show appreciation for 2016 and all the amazing humans that made it so incredible. Here are my top eleven (I tried for ten but just couldn't give one the boot) reasons why it was the effing GREATEST.
1. Our freezing cold engagement shoot that I will cherish forever. The memory of warming up at Faustini's for some wine tasting after just was magic to me.
2. I nested like a mofo. We are still a work in progress but it's my favorite apt we've lived in to date!
3. I got to spend MDW at the actual beach this year! Again, riding the Coastal Highway beach bus with my fiance down the main strip, playing mini golf, and sampling every kind of sweet Ocean City, MD had to offer - flavored popcorn, salt water taffy, ice cream (we split them all) feels like remembering something really special.
4. The most incredible bachelorette party of all time. I actually have guilt about it because I know I will never be able to return the favor - it was that good.
5. I turned 30 and actually liked it! Surprised myself.
7. I survived wedding planning and got married! It was pretty much the best day of my life hands down. I wont get all mushy but nothing can compare. This day alone would make 2016 my favorite year of life.
8. I went on a really awesome honeymoon, some photo evidence here, here, here, and here. We really just went for it all around. You only get one and the trip just feels so amazing and romantic and unique.
9. I really just felt a continuous stream of love - maybe it's always there but I got to look it in the eyes and give it a big open mouthed kiss this year. Very present indeed.
10. I got to spend my first Christmas with my new husband's family.
11. I am ringing in the New Year in the same fashion that I have basically lived in this past one, spending a candle lit night with my new husband at a fancy dinner at Casa Luca. What's one more romantic night for us in 2016? It was the year of love for me anyway!
The deets: J.Crew button down; GAP vest; SAM hat; Hunter boots.
Whether you are my bestie, a family member, or someone I have never met and just happen to be seeing this on the internet, I wish you a Holiday filled with love and a New Year filled wit happiness. I forced my tiny family to do a Christmas card shoot with me and a tripod and these were the two I liked best. We ended up going with the one below because Alba, our fur baby looked better in it and let's be real, she's the star of this operation. This is the first married Christmas for me and I will be spending it with my wonderful in laws. Looking forward to the much needed time off and warm cozy feels.
Happy Holidays!
The deets: Concept by Gilded Lily Events; Created by Mary Kate Moon; Photographed by Alexander Johnnides for Pat Furey Photography.
When your fur babies are your real babies and you get married out of state it's a sad thing to not be able to include them on your most love filled day. When we were first asked about ourselves so our planner, Paige, could get an idea of who we were as a couple we basically both said "we're really into our pets." Who isn't, right? She suggested we bring our love bugs to the party in spirit by naming our signature cocktails after each of them. She then did us one better by finding the most talented artist that totally captured their essence perfectly (see their last Christmas photos here). I saw this and my whole day was made. I took it home as a keepsake and plan to have it framed.
The deets: Framebridge photos in the "Irvine Slim"; Super-Rural "For Like Ever" print in a frame from Michael's; Target art here and here.
It's taken me being two months off the wedding train but I have finally picked up the nesting bug again. We moved into our new place only a week after getting engaged (brand new here, little unfinished home tour here) so decorating really took quite the back seat to wedding planning. Now that I have the time I decided to tackle a small "gallery wall." Our planner put one of the "For Like Ever" posters up at our wedding so I wanted one of my own because it makes me smile. I then chose my favorite pics from the year and added a couple cute target finds. It needs some more additions but were off to a good start.
This year I am most thankful for all the love that surrounds me and for the opportunities I have to give that love back. It makes me feel whole and unchanged as the underdog against time. I wake up each day so happy to be living the life that I have, by some miracle, created - and that is truly the greatest gift. Love your family, love your friends, love yourself (especially). You wont regret it.
The deets: J.Crew sweater; Karen Walker sunnies; Zara skirt (similar); Banana Republic heels (sold out - very similar and 30% off); Knox Thomas Designs necklace; similar bag.
My grandparents renewed their vows last weekend so I took a trip up to NJ to celebrate with them. My teenage cousin Sarah snapped these photos of me after the reception. A mini skirt was a bold move for a wedding but the dress I originally planned ended up not working and this was the only other outfit I packed. It actually ended up being pretty appropriate as the reception DJ was straight out the club - I will never forget dancing in a circle with my aunts, grandma, and teenage cousins to "Shots" by LMFAO. It was hilarious and sweet at the same time. It's always great to have an excuse to go spend time with family and the cherry on top was an insanely gorgeous November day, the no coat required kind of Saturday. I love how I basically blend in with the Fall scenery with my olive sweater and floral tapestry skirt.
The deets: Old Navy chambray; patches and pins from various Etsy sellers including Craft Boner, Wildflower & Co, Winks for Days, KodiakMilly & Ban.do. Photos by Alexander Johnnides for Pat Furey Photography.
This might be one of my most favorite posts of all time. Not only because it is of one of the most fun crafts I ever did but because it includes all the faces of all my favorite humans. It's a photo heavy post but I think that's okay because look how adorable they are.
I realized early into my engagement that my favorite thing about the getting married process was getting to do special things for my ladies (see their bridesmaid ask boxes here). We were going to spend four hours at a salon the morning before the wedding which was in a very public downtown area so the usual robes and jammies (while I love a good Plum Pretty Sugar set) didn't seem appropriate. There wasn't too much else available in this arena that I was into so after seeing Lena Dunham's Instagram (here and here) of her custom sequin bridesmaid skirts a light bulb went on. The patch trend was coming in hot and I loved the idea of making funny custom chambray shirts for them based on their personalities and style. I made one for myself that was the same shirt but in white and got the bride emoji and some other fun ones. I had my stylish bestie help me place them on the shirts to make sure they didn't come out too "arts & crafts" looking. We started out by making the groups of pins and patches by person, then she would arrange them and I would iron. It was a pretty efficient little workshop we had going...and we went through a few bottles of wine which is always a good time. I told all my girls they could show up in whatever bottoms they wanted which made it really easy. They also were great for hair and makeup because you could just unbutton them off and didn't need to worry about messing your glam up by pulling anything over your head. Check out the end result! These photos make my heart just warm right up because they take me back to one of the best mornings of my whole life! So much fun and love and awesomeness.
I hope everyone has a groovy Halloween!
..Bye Bye Punta Cana Honeymoon
October 24, 2016 • AWAY Couples Trip dominican republic honeymoon MAMA Outfit Post travel
The deets: Mara Hoffman dress (also available here and here); J.Crew hat (similar); & flip flops; Ray-Ban sunnies; Kate Spade bag (similar).
Even though these photos were taken on the very last day of our honeymoon, this was the very first view we saw on the way to our room (Instagram of Mike below on that day) and it really just took my breath away/got me super excited for the week to come. It reminded me of a tropical version of the photos you see of the Greek Isles (which are totally on my bucket list of places to see). We went to our favorite place to eat breakfast on the resort, walked around the marina, purchased some souvenirs for the family, and lazed around the private pool area until dinner which was served on the beach that night.
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