video save the date.

Um, they are very cute.  Just a little love story to help you along on your Monday. 

Make sure your speakers are on because the song is adorable and chipper.

Cheers.

ode to a purple coat - the 2nd best deal of the month.

I came across this lovely coat yesterday at the store while getting a few necessary things with the husband, and you would.not.believe. the steal of a deal it was.  I'm not really in to spending money lately because we're trying to save for Violet Hills, but it's almost like it was placed perfectly in that spot on the edge of that rack, just for me, and just so I would find it.  It was the last one there, and in my size.  Sooo naturally, I bought it, what else was I supposed to do?  Just leave it there?  Anyways, I WAS  EXCITED!  So excited, in fact, that the husband and I had a fun photo shoot in the sun this afternoon with our new camera, the purple coat, and a yellow balloon:
 

Here are my favorite things about it:

1. It was regularly $70 and I got it for $17.90
2. The military-like buttons
3. I love purple
4. The ruffles and funky cut on the bottom.  This is why the husband hated it.  This is why I bought it.
5. The high neck
6. It was regularly $70 and I got it for $17.90.  I know.  I already said that. 

Also, wanna know why it's only the 2nd best deal of the month?  Because THIS is the 1st best deal of the month!!

Now.  Go find some stellar winter deals.  And, enter the Giveaway!

Cheers.

DIY: centerpiece or favor? u-pick.

Sweet.  And simple.  And inexpensive.  And springy and summery.  Lots of great things all rolled up into these precious little brown bags.  And yes, I am already looking ahead toward spring and summer.  Winter schminter.  I'm over it.

Use this easy little project as centerpieces along your tables, or even favors for your guests to take home with them.  You can fill them with your favorite fruit - cherries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries - take your pick.  And how great would it be if you brought a crew along with you to do your own u-pick berries at your local farm?  I'm in love.  With berries.  And local farms. 

Materials

Mini Brown Bags (found at your local craft store)
Berries
Tissue Paper (if desired)
Card Stock
Square Scalloped Hole Punch (found at your local craft store)
Color Printer

Instructions

1. Using your color printer, print out whatever you'd like to be on the front of your bags.  A cute motif?  Your monogram?  Your names?  Your wedding date? 
2. Using your hole punch, punch out the squares.
3. With double stick tape, adhere the labels on to your brown bags, right in the center.
4. If you don’t want to fill your bags completely with fruit, stuff the bottom half of the bags with tissue paper, then fill to the brim with your berries.
*via Style Me Pretty

Springtime, can you come any sooner?  I have craft projects to make.

Cheers.

i do. me too.

Yes please.

* Signs by French Knot via a gray blog

Cheers.

GIVEAWAY: amy butler honeysuckle tote.

Oh, do I have a treat for you.  As a lover of all things Amy Butler, of course my very first giveaway would feature one of her fabulous products.  Fitting, right?  Amy has so many gorgeous patterns and color palettes - her creativity and knack for mixing and matching designs is inspiring to me.  Whenever I'm browsing her work, I automatically and instantly get happy and want to create lots of awesome things.  You should give it a try.

So, without further adieu...

Introducing the Honeysuckle Tote:

THE GIVEAWAY

The Prize: 

Amy Butler Honeysuckle Tote (winner will have 3 patterns to choose from, see choices below).

The Rules:

1.) Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already.
2.) Comment on this post.

Optional:
3.) For additional entries, if you feel like being ambitious and you really want this adorable tote, e mail me at {violethills.weddings at gmail dot com} the name(s) of anybody you think that may not already be connected to me or Violet Hills, that you plan to share this giveaway with.  If that person becomes a follower and comments on this post after I receive your e mail, your name gets put in the pot again (1 for each separate name)!  Their name gets entered too, of course.

Contest End: 

Comments will be accepted through Friday, February 25.

Winner Announcement:
Winner will be announced on Monday, February 28.

Pattern Choices:

Fountains Tangerine

DIY - fabric flower bouquets.

I love finding new, creative ways to do things differently for weddings.  Check out this project for making your own flower bouquets out of fabric.  As a fabric/sewing lover, I'm all about this crafty project.  It's charming, inventive, colorful, and really allows you to show your personality with the different fabric choices.  On top of all that - it's inexpensive.  Score.

 *All photos via Elizabeth Anne Designs


Brilliant, right?

View the printable instructions here by Andrea Gray Harper via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

You can turn this DIYer into a great craft night project for you and all of your bridesmaid ladies - you pick the fabric, they make their bouquets!  I can picture it now... all-girls night, wine, cheese and crackers, moose munch, chocolate, laughter, pajamas, gossip, and your favorite Justin Bieber CD playing in the background (partially kidding about JB).

These would make great home decor pieces post-wedding also!  In fact, as soon as I'm done writing this, I'm going to add this to my list of must-do craft projects for when I get back into my craft-inspired season - springtime!

Cheers.

dog love.

I saw this.  And I loved it.  And I had to show it to you.

Honestly, how could you not love these sweet faces?

Lola - 2.5 years

Trudy - 9 months

Just a little bit of my lovely life for you - my sweet girls.  That is all.

Cheers.

say 'i do' to j.crew

i love j.crew.  i love that in a way, you always know what you're going to get with j.crew: classy and clean. And classy and clean never goes out of style.  Here are some of my fav dresses from their collection right now... fabulous.

And my all time fav:

 Um are those pockets I see?? 

And if you didn't already know, j.crew is a great place for bridesmaids dresses.  I've been in a couple of weddings where the brides chose the color of the dress from jcrew, but all the bridesmaids were able to pick which dress style they wanted and fit their body type perfectly... win-win!  Take a looksie.

we all scream for ice cream.

Planning a summer wedding?  Nothing says nostalgic summer past time more than Mr. Good Humor and his ice cream truck, along with his light and happy music that dances in your little kid ears, right?  Soooo why not have your very own ice cream truck at your wedding?  I mean really, why the heck not? 

This Good Humor guy looks pretty ready to serve you whatever your little kid heart desires.  I wouldn't mind hiring a good lookin' ice cream man to serve ice cream or gelato to my guests... just sayin.
*Photo by Gold Coast Ice Cream via Flikr

*Photo by He and She Photography via lushlee

*Photos credits via Brenda's Wedding Blog

Serving ice cream at your wedding is really nothing new.  But serving it a la a vintage ice cream truck with a cute server boy?  AWESOME!

 Cheers.

 

i heart balloons.

So I know I just posted a picture last week of balloons, but I just can't help it, how cute are these??

Photos by Youkeun Oh Photography via Style Me Pretty 

Cheers.

Penny sweets and old photos.

Wedding favors seem to stump many brides that are working on planning their big day.  There's so many guidelines that you want to follow, such as:

• Inexpensive, since you have to buy multiple
• Creative, you want something "different"
• Personal, something that holds meaning to you and your groom

What about this one?

This bride from Rhubarb & Rose made up little bags filled with their favorite penny sweets and tied them with ribbon.  Then they added an old picture of their parents' weddings to add that unique personal touch.  They used Moo Minicards for their pictures, but I'm sure you can get something similar printed at your local Kinko's.  They placed their sweets bags in vintage tea cups for the table tops (why not use them as your centerpieces??  two-in-one!).

* Photos by Silver Pearl Weddings via Rhubarb & Rose

Cheers.

friday favorite.

I want to share a favorite wedding of mine.  It's not necessarily a favorite because it was a fabulous wedding and fittingly unique like the bride and groom, but mostly because the bride is one of my dearest friends, Tiffany Lane (and her new husband, Tim)!!

I loved lots of things about this wedding - her vintage dress that she picked up at a second hand store, that they served delicious pizza to their guests, the typewriter as their guest book, her candy table because I have a major sweet tooth, the boys' shoes, that it brought her family together, to see that she had so many dear friends there to share in her special day because she's one of those selfless people that is always giving of her time for others... OH and that I got to be a bridesmaid.  But I ESPECIALLY loved the song Tiffany and Tim danced to, it was perfect for them.

Have a listen and enjoy their photos:

 

Happy Friday everyone!

ps. Wanna see more vintage?  Check out this photo shoot.

Cheers.