What are you doing this weekend?

I tweeted yesterday that I had grand plans for my blog while I was in California—I totally wanted to schedule posts and I even thought maybe I'd update from San Diego—but life (and a wedding) (and my 30th birthday) got in the way, and honestly, it was kind of nice to unplug. So I'm popping in to say that I'll be back next week with all sorts of stuff about the wedding, my impression of California (a.k.a. my new love) and thoughts on turning 30. Until then, I hope you have a fabulous August weekend. And here's a photo of a cute giraffe who lives at the San Diego Zoo, just because.

Gorgeous Sarasota wedding.

Sometimes my job requires me to do things, like, oh, research beautiful Sarasota weddings, and I am usually completely overwhelmed with the beauty of them by the time I'm done. Case in point: Alison and Ryan's stunning celebration, which was shot by Katie Lopez and coordinated by the lovely Sarah Tucker (who worked with us on this shoot). I mean, look at the details. So pretty. And how adorable are those two flower girls?

Just a little eye candy for your Thursday.

P.S. How to plan a Sarasota beach wedding.

Wedding weekend.

What a weekend! I can't believe Kate's wedding has come and gone; it's so weird to not have such a big event to look forward to (or a shower to plan!) anymore. But the wedding was amazing—gorgeous weather, the best group of people, the awesomest band in the world and really excellent food. The photo above is the arbor under which Kate and Ross got married; isn't it pretty? The ceremony was in her mom's back yard, right on the water. It was perfect. We are going to be reminiscing about it for a long time.

And I have to say, after a pretty indulgent last, oh, seven days—I don't know who I was kidding when I said I thought I was going to be able to detox in between celebrations; pinot grigio and cheese and I were totally BFFs all week—I'm looking forward to a week of getting back on track with spin classes, home-cooked meals, sleep (I don't think I went to bed before midnight any day last week) and getting my house organized again (I think it's time for a closet clean-out).

How about you guys—what are your goals for the week?

What are you doing this weekend? (I'm going to a wedding!)

Happy Friday, friends! I'm actually playing hooky from work today because my best friend Kate is getting married tomorrow (!!!), so today is all about the wedding rehearsal in the morning, manicures and pedicures in the afternoon, the rehearsal dinner in the evening (which is going to be full of South African food in honor of Kate's fiance, Ross, who is in fact South African) and a lot of giddiness in advance of the big day. Tomorrow we're getting our hair done—I'm going to make the stylist do a braid of some sort on me, to combat the Florida humidity (because of course it's all about me, right?! Ha!)—and then Kate and Ross are tying the knot at sunset, on the water, in what's sure to be a gorgeous ceremony. Can't wait. Man, I love weddings.

What are you guys up to this weekend? Whatever you do, I hope it's wonderful. And if you're in the mood for some reading, here are three fun links from around the web:

Garance Dore's thoughts on friendship.

This article about being busy has been at the forefront of my mind this week because I...keep saying how busy I am (and then rolling my eyes at myself). Time for a reread. This article, also about busyness, is great, too.

And in honor of Kate's wedding this weekend, here's a slideshow of sweet city hall weddings. Ah, love.

Have a great weekend, friends! See you back here on Monday. xoxo

Photo by Jessica Lorren

Bridal shower dessert menu.

My BFF Kate's bridal shower is the weekend, and her sister-in-law and I are putting the final touches on all the details. We're ordering most of the food, but I'm doing the desserts, so I thought I'd share what's on the menu here today in case you have a similar event coming up or are just looking for a delicious sweet treat to make:

• Salted caramel brownies
• "Pink" shortbread hearts
• Giant coconut cake

We're going to have fruit salad, so I don't feel bad about not having a lemon bar or the like, and a l though I was originally on the fence about making the brownies—why, I don't know—my boss's recent comment that they were "the best thing [she'd] ever put in her mouth" and my friend Jenn's assertion that everyone loves a brownie pushed me firmly into the "make them" category. (Not to mention that they're a Smitten Kitchen recipe, so they're inherently delicious.) Also, that coconut cake is a showstopper. I made it for a charity cake auction last year and it raised more than $600. It's the real deal.

In other food news, over the weekend I ordered Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook, It's All Good, which is focused on clean eating, and I'm looking forward to sharing how the treats in her cookbook stack up. Baked! with a healthy bent? Why not? (Full disclosure: This may be a controversial stance, but I am firmly a member of Team Gwyneth. I love her, even when I'm rolling my eyes at her. And this cookbook looks genuinely good.)

What's your favorite thing you've baked recently?

P.S. You can find an index of Baked! recipes right here, if you're so inclined. 

Photo by Olivia Rae James

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! We made it to the weekend—yay!

What are your plans for the next few days? The bridal shower I've been planning for my friend Kate is next weekend (eeeeek!), which means this weekend I'll be embarking on a major party-decoration-and-baking-supply-buying excursion. My mom is also coming to town (I think), which will be nice. I love when she visits.

But what about you? Tell me, and I'll see you back here on Monday. Oh, and if you're in the mood for some reading, here are three fun links from around the web:

I've been trying to change the way I think about food lately (part of an ongoing mental-health revamp, if you will), and this article by Andrew Knowlton in the latest Bon Appetit really resonated with me: "Why do we mock, and in some cases sue, fast-food companies for unhealthy food, but accept and even celebrate it in fine dining?" Food for thought.

"The Complete Quips of Mad Men's Roger Sterling." Yesssss.

The lavish sets of The Great Gatsby. I am preeeettttyy skeptical about this movie (which is not to say that I won't go see it), but man, it sure will look great.

And in case you missed anything here this week: Rifle Paper Co. iPhone cases (!), my favorite breakfast, gorgeous photos of New Zealand and hot pink lipstick.

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Photo by Olivia

Bridal shower inspiration: Colorful ribbon.

My best friend Kate is getting married in April and her sister-in-law and I are in the process of planning her bridal shower. Kate's probably the least-fussy person I know, and she's the opposite of a bridezilla, so I'm excited about the free reign we have for her shower. I'm planning on making most of the desserts and decorations myself, which means I've been pinning inspiration photos like a madwoman—and I just love this dessert bar featured in Southern Weddings magazine. Ribbons and sparkly paper cake-toppers: So sweet.

P.S. See the rest of the wedding here.

Photo by Brooke Images 

Shannon Kirsten paper goods.

Loving this beautiful wedding paper suite by local illustrator, photographer and stylist Shannon Kirsten. The lavender is such a soothing, refreshing and kind of unexpected color, and the hand-painted lettering is so pretty.

Shop here.

A Big Sur wedding.

Kate of For Me, For You tweeted a link to this gorgeous Big Sur wedding on Once Wed last week, and I've been thinking about it ever since. The bride wanted an intimate wedding (just 10 guests!) in a place where the environment was conducive to both ocean and woods, and though she'd never actually been to Big Sur before, she knew that it was the right location and made it all come together. And after the beachside ceremony, everyone headed to an intimate dinner at a local bakery and restaurant—how sweet is that?

Photos by Rad + In Love, via Once Wed

Sweetness and light.

For the past six months or so, I've been doing a lot of wedding coverage for work, which means I've been looking at a lot of wedding photos, and I have to say: Binary Flips takes some of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. There's just something about the way the photos are composed...and then there's the light. Stunning.

See more here.

P.S. How to plan a Sarasota beach wedding.

How to plan a Sarasota beach wedding.

I know I say this all the time, but seriously: meeting new people is a huge perk of my job. A few months ago, I met and had a brainstorming session about local weddings with the amazing, lovely and talented Naomi Chokr and Sarah Tucker, and the result is a stunning  feature that the two of them concepted, produced and shot for the magazine I work for. Above are just a few of my favorite images; you can see the rest—and a list of vendors—by clicking here.

All photographs by Naomi Chokr

What are you doing this weekend?

Last weekend, I went to one of the loveliest weddings I've ever attended at a place in Sarasota that I never knew existed. My friend Charla got married at The Oaks at Windsong, a tract of green land that's framed by a gorgeous field (where cows happily graze) on one side and thick woods on the other. It was the most beautiful night; the weather was a cool 70 degrees, white cafe lights were strung up everywhere and the whole evening had a comfortable yet elegant country-rustic feel to it, as you can see from the photos above. The simple ceremony took place near a pond—Charla and Harrison got married on a dock hovering over it, and the guests sat in a semi-circle around the perimeter of the water—and then we moved over to the adjacent reception area for a delicious family-style dinner. (And speaking of, we need to talk about gorgeous carrot cake and the homemade Amish pies that were served for dessert, because I am still thinking about them, days later.)

But my favorite thing about the venue was that it didn't even feel like we were in Florida. I think people automatically think of Siesta Key Beach when they hear the word "Sarasota," and this was totally the opposite of that. After living here for more than six years, I love that this city still surprises me with places like The Oaks at Windsong; I'm thinking that many drives out east are in my future this autumn.

No links this week, but I'll see you guys back here on Monday. Have a great weekend.

1. The reception area. 2. That carrot cake. 3. Me and my friend Cindy (I'm wearing my Camilyn Beth dress!). 4. Menu—"pie, pie, pie." 5. Said pies—glorious. 6. The head table with a sparkling chandelier. All photos by me, taken with Instagram.

Sarah Seven.

I attended one wedding last weekend and I'm going to another this weekend, so I've got brides on the brain. If you're one who happens to be dress shopping, heads up: Sarah Seven makes some seriously stunning, romantic gowns. Love that styling, too.

Her name was Lola...

I've got weddings on the brain lately since I'll be attending five of them within the next eight months (!).  Isn't this Lola wedding dress from Whitney Deal so sweet and pretty? I'd pair it with a bright lip, a colorful shoe and a braid just like the one in the photos.

Do you love weddings of all kinds (like me) or would you rather avoid all the hubbub?