I Do and a Happy 34th to me!

Busy is an understatement. I am excitedly drained. As Saturday approaches we have been realizing how much work planning this event (although small) has been. Our photographer cancelled on us just yesterday (we were able to get someone else last night) and we had to do a last minute alcohol run as we noticed we had not bought enough Pink Champagne. Did I tell you it is a possibility it might rain that night? :(

I'm crossing my fingers.

But no matter what the outcome, I promise to share pics with you on Monday.

Wish us luck :)

I do by lulubef featuring wedding necklaces

The Pink Circus Wedding Vow Renewal/B.day Preparations

I've been working hard on our celebration. Well it's not that hard when I am enjoying myself and looking forward to our big day :)

I made a series of trapezes to hang from the candy buffet tent. They are about 3 ft wide with dangly ribbon tassels and white ribbon to hang them from. I love them!

Swirly lollis for the candy buffet, pretty and yummy!

Voila! The lovely, puffy, burlesque style train I'll be wearing on top of my tutu.

It's a pink circus wedding remember? :)

I made these petite buntings with our names to adorn the jellybean bowl.

This weekend hopefully my bridesmaids and I will be working on putting together the pink chinese takeout boxes that guests will fill up with candies, eating some yummy food and chitchatting the evening away!

It's going to be a sweet filled event :)

New Invites

I proceeded to make new invites to match the celebration of our big day.

I am so excited!

A Birthday Turned Wedding Re-Do

Spring is certainly synonymous with love! And with that in mind, the hubby and I have decided to incorporate into my birthday party a re-do of our wedding. We felt it was the perfect time! Our friends are all here to accompany us, we have done so much this last year- I started my own private practice, our home is falling into place, what better time than now! I am so excited!

Today I bought a large tiered chocolate fountain in which to melt white chocolate for our fondue. Fluffs of pink cotton candy have been ordered as well as candies for our candy buffet :)

I even started working on the bunting below which will hang by our candy table.

These are some of the glassine bags that will be filled with candy for our guests to take home.

*glassine bags by Linen-Chic (Ebay)*

We will be doing cupcakes with sparklers to celebrate my birthday and a traditional wedding cake for us. I think I am more excited for our wedding re-do than I was at our wedding. I can't wait to share the pictures with you!

Just a house or a home?

Through the years I've learned it is highly important to surround yourself with colors and objects you like, not what necessarily is in everyone's homes or considered the norm. When you buy something you love, you will display it with pride and happiness and the good energy associated with that feeling will radiate from that object into your home. No matter the price tag, no matter if its a flea market or high end designer store buy. Our homes tell a story about us, about the people who live there, about the love and effort that was put making a house into a home.

My husband and I both love white, clean and sea glass tones. I also like incorporating old with the new as you can see here in my dining room. Do you?

My hubby found both this milkshake maker and vintage mixer he cleaned up nicely for me.

They add a splash of color to an otherwise sterile steel kitchen.

These tones are equivalent to serenity for me.

Even my Foo Dogs are turquoise.

What makes your house a home?

My Pink Fairytale B.day Inspiration Board

Well, here they are- the thing I have so far purchased for my b.day. (The corset and tutu are similar but not these exact ones) We were first planning to do the party here at my home, float balloons in the pool etc..., but since April in the Pacific means usually showers, we decided on hosting my b.day at my parents home where there is room to set up walled canopies. So far we purchased the items shown here (cake is a gift from my mom's bf) aside from a 30 ft white canopy and an extra 20 ft. canopy. We figure it's an investment we can get a whole lot of use from. I also discovered ebay is a great place to get pink lights on white string when it's not Christmas :)

B.day Inspiration by lulubef featuring pink soda skirts

It's still a couple of weeks away, but planning is a must! I am blessed to have friends who are awesome and always there for me. And it doesn't hurt that one of them is a wedding designer/coordinator :)

I feel so lucky :)

Little surprises :)

I finally received my Lolita Lempicka Fleur de Corail. The bottle is indeed gorgeous and the color soothing. The scent, well, at first spray it reminded me a bit of Shalimar. Hmm. Fortunately the dry down was delicious!

I've always dreamed of owning a real soft, fluffy Alpaca. I don't think my tribe of chihuahuas would take of it kindly, so the next best thing was this pink one my hubby surprised me with as a very early b.day present.

Thank you love.

Speaking of b.days, today I finished making my very simple DIY invitations for my themed party. Ladies are required to dress like dreamy, ethereal dolls. Think Marie Antoinette flying on a cloud over Tokyo! The men will be wearing all white. I can't wait!

I have a bit more planning to do.

See you tomorrow.

A little newness

I finally received my little white chic table I had ordered. It's stable and beautiful and really goes with the rest of my decor.

I think my Ray Caesar and Mark Ryden prints look at home here, don't you?

My hubby already put up my new bookcase. As I dusted and placed each book on the shelves, I knew this would be a good spot for my little female Betta fish, Ponyo. Can you see the little black streak in the fishbowl? Yes, that's my sweetheart fish :)

I also received these two Juicy charms in the mail yesterday,

I wonder which purses they'll go on?

No patients or school today, just me, myself and a book.

I hope your day is just as serene.

Rain

Rain, rain go away...

I wanted to take my new Juicy's or Betsey's out to play :(

I hope you stay dry this day :)

Red

My Daddy got me these.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's day.

Time for Love!

Today, 68 years ago, my paternal grandparents celebrated their wedding. They are both no longer with us but I can still feel their love through the love my parents give me. I find myself falling in love every day all over again with my sweet husband, I am lucky to have a wonderful son, and to have such wonderful friends in my life.

Thank you all for making Valentines Day so special to me.

I will now rest some, as we have a great evening planned out with my family.

Happy V.tines day!

Time for me

All this week my schedule had me going non-stop. To top it off this morning I awoke to find there was a leak in my water dispenser. Gallons of water drenched my floor and I had to order a new dispenser, another expense to add to our list of things we need for our home. I think life throws at us all kinds of curveballs as little reminders to take time for ourselves, to slow down, to daydream a bit if you may. I cleaned up the mess and instead of being angry at the lake our kitchen had become I started thinking of things I love to do and would do today.

I promised myself to close my schoolbooks, turn off my phone, stay home and make time to read something that was nourishing spiritually.

While I cleaned the rest of my home I dreamt of far away places I'd like to discover,

I took a warm shower and sprayed myself with something pretty that brought back a wonderful memory,

And did a series of gentle asanas that helped me feel at peace.

Om Shanti.

A morning post in the evening

I love the feeling of the early morning, the smell and crispness of a clean home, the sound of my family sleeping as I quietly begin my day by brewing a cup of chai.

Namasté.

Jala Neti to scare colds away

As an Ayurveda student I believe that preventing illness is always worth the extra step. With the cold season upon us, the drying effects of air heating and the exposure to many more ill people than usual we are more vulnerable to colds and dryness. Jala Neti, also known as a Neti pot, is a great way to cleanse your nasal passages thus limiting the amount of bacteria, viruses and foreign matter that can make it's way into our bodies.

I purchased my Neti pot from the company Himalayan Institute. It's a nifty ceramic piece that hold just the right amount for cleansing and fits your hand and nostrils snuggly. "Fits your nostrils?" you might ask. Please don't cringe. Although it's different, if done properly it is rather easy with no discomfort.
Here are the directions from Himalayan Institute on how to properly use a Neti pot:

To use the Neti Pot™, simply prepare the saline solution by adding 8 oz of warm water and a heaping ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt to your Neti Pot™. Then turn your head to the side, and insert the spout into the upper nostril. Raise the Neti Pot™ so the saline solution flows into the nose and out of the lower nostril.

I personally prefer to use organic sea salt as the one pictured below.

There are videos you can find online on how to use your Neti pot. Nasal irrigation is a great way to clear out your sinuses and gently flush out your tear ducts which is great for allergy sufferers as well as those with dry eyes. It's cooling effects have a calming impact on migraines and can relieve mouth breathing as it helps to clear out the mucus. This year commit yourself to putting your health first and give this Ayurvedic treatment a try.