When we started talking about celebrating our little man and his first birthday (I still cannot believe he’s one whole year old), Bryan and I wanted his party to be something everyone enjoyed – his little friends that he sees on a regular basis (who range from itty bitty to 12) and their families as well as our family. We wanted the theme to be Southern, classic and with the personality of a giggly, happy, sweet little boy. We decided on a “Southern Picnic” (see his adorable invitations here) on our back porch and used bow ties to “tie” everything together (pun intended). And, of course, as his doting Mama, I wanted every little detail to be “just-so” so that Brady had fun and felt loved, loved, loved.

Brady’s first birthday party was full of handmade details, little Etsy-bought details, yummy food and one happy little bow tie’d man. (and handsome bow-tie’d Daddy, I might add). I was so grateful to have my family here to help with the party and to spend a few days before just celebrating little B.

The cute little white die-cut food cards you’ll see throughout these photos are from Unique StashNStuff on Etsy. Great place for little cards like this. Jessica Ulrich of MJ Paperie (and Jessica Haley Ink) hand lettered each card with a gold pen. Love.

Little B posing for the camera with me while we set up.

I adore this photo. This is Brady seeing all the decorations for the first time. He was napping while we were setting up. I could eat that face right up : )

First things first, I used wooden sticks and card stock to make photo props. The backdrop you see in the first image above was muslin I got for 40% off at Joann’s. Thanks to McKay and her sewing teaching skills, I sewed a simple pocket at the top of each piece of 90in x 2.5 yards of fabric. My dad created a wooden dowel to act as a rod that we then fastened to the top of our glass doors. The table cloth is a simple white table cloth paired with a gorgeous fabric also from Joann’s. I based all the colors around this fabric.

I really wanted to have chalkboards everywhere but they were so expensive. I found black foam board at Joann’s and used a chalk marker to hand letter each sign. Do I actually know how to hand letter? No. I winged it the best I could : )

What kind of favors can you give at a one year old’s birthday party that the little guests will really love? BUBBLES! I got this idea from Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty. See her feature on Hostess With The Mostess here where she created these bubble favors for her daughter’s birthday party one year. I followed her steps almost exactly and purchased these little canisters from Specialty Bottle (what a GREAT website). I designed the labels and used twine and pipe cleaners to top them off. I bought a giant bottle of bubbles from Target to fill each of them and displayed them on top of green seersucker fabric! Voila!

More hand lettering on black foam board. Whoops, I ran out of room for “Love, Brady.” : ) He didn’t mind.

For Brady’s little bitty friends, we had Banana and Apple flavored Buddy Fruits for them to eat. I love Buddy Fruits because they’re easy for Brady to hold and eat himself (like a juice box). Plus they’re all natural and organic. Win. Win.

THESE little pretties were quite the hit. I ordered these from Bees Knees Creative on Etsy. Just so happens, Renee lives very close to me and they got here in perfect shape! I just love the shape and the B!!!

I also wanted to have cute little favors for all of our adult friends (besides the beer that was perfectly positioned in a bed of ice inside Brady’s little red wagon… that’s how we do these parties in the South ; ) I LOVE these little gourmet lollipops from This Charming Candy on Etsy. I’ve used them for a few little projects lately. They have the most fun flavors like Salted Caramel, Root Beer Float, Watermelon Basil and Sweetened Grapefruit. (Plus, they’re just plain CUTE). YUM.

It was a rainy day on Saturday, but everything held up. We had the party on our back porch, so we (and the decorations) were protected. There’s the giant (!!!) paper chain I made with clearance rack paper from Joann’s. (Want to know how much that chain cost? $4). Yep. There’s a peek at the little red grown-up-beverage filled wagon too.

Another “chalkboard” sign proudly displaying a few of Brady’s firsts and favorites.

This idea turned out really cute. I designed little 3.5 x 5in cards that read “My Birthday Wish for Brady.” Each guest wrote their wishes for him on one and stuck it inside a handmade little book I created with some chipboard, card stock and leftover 4bar envelopes from Paper-Source. I got the card part of this idea from Joni over at Lay Baby Lay and the sweet invitations she designed for her little Vivi.

And now, the main event… the delicious, delicious “Southern Picnic” food. Many thanks to my Mom and future-sister-in-law, Taylor, for helping prepare this spread.

Yummy individual servings of veggie sticks and buttermilk ranch in small glasses. Totally inspired by Pinterest.

White Sangria with slices of tangerines, nectarines, green apples, grapes, oranges and lemons. DELICOUS. Paper straws from Hey Yo Yo on Etsy. The mason jars were from my personal stash : ) (every Southern gal has a stash).

Mini sandwiches as inspired by Southern Living via Pinterest. These were wrapped in strips of wax paper and tied with brown and white baker’s twine. Did I make the sandwiches myself? Heavens no. They came from Publix: cuban sandwiches, club sandwiches and veggie sandwiches. They were YUMMY.

I just love all these little pieces all lined up in neat rows. It’s my inner perfectionist. From the left: fruit salad in cute green cups from Sweet Lulu also inspired by Pinterest. Then the veggie cups, white sangria and lemonade. This photo doesn’t show it, but we used paper straws (green and white striped) in the lemonade next to the yellow and white paper straws in the sangria. I love the milk bottles we used for the lemonade (with simple twine tied around the necks). The milk bottles came from the same place as the “Bubble” favor canisters: Specialty Bottle. Probably one of my best purchases ever. I plan to use these to many showers, parties and get-togethers to come. At less than $2 each, you can’t go wrong.

I really didn’t know how I was going to set the table up until the day of his party. I knew I’d have to see it all and play with it to finally decide how it would look. I ran around my house the morning-of and grabbed random things that felt classic, Southern and young. We used this little terra-cotta pot to hold the wooden utensils (LOVE these… they’re from Confetti Sunshine on Etsy) The books are part of my Penguin Classics Clothbound Collection. I’m a little obsessed with these.

I love this photo for so many reasons. Thanks McKay for designing and creating matching seersucker bow ties for my little family (and a gazillion others for the other little boys and girls!)

I still cannot get over Brady’s smash cake and bow tie cupcakes. They were made by my sweet friend Dusty (Cupcakes by Dusty). She is one of my favorite people on the planet and most definitely one of the most talented. The cakes were almond flavored (just like wedding cake) and were delicious. I may have eaten a cupcake or two… or three. And maybe some of Brady’s leftover smash cake the next day. Oh dear. I created the little flag banner on top of the smash cake at the last minute after remembering a Pinterest idea I had.

I mean… I still have no words for these. Perfection. Adorable.

Love this photo. A sweet little cupcake for my sweet little boy. I can’t believe he’s one year old.

 We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family who helped put our little party together and who came over to celebrate with us (and sent sweet wishes for those who couldn’t be with us!) We’re one grateful little family.

xo,

Emily

Brady’s first birthday party was so much fun. We decided we wanted it to be sweet and young and classic… so we chose a “Southern Picnic” theme and used bow ties to tie the entire affair together. I worked and worked on his invitations and could NOT for the life of me, create something worthy of his very first birthday (I’m crazy, I know). I knew I wanted them to be tactile, not just a piece of paper. I wanted them to be Southern and sweet and with the personality of a playful little boy.

So I emailed my dear friend Amber Moon, of Pitbulls and Posies, an email with the subject line “HELP”. She went right to work and together we conceptualized the most adorable invitations I’ve honestly ever seen. I took a photo of Brady with my iPhone and sent it to Amber, she traced his sweet little head and created these little wooden silhouettes which she then (by hand, no less!) screenprinted with the party information we designed together. She also designed and created box liners to hold the sweet little silhouette.

Meanwhile, my friend McKay of Oatmeal Lace Designs designed and created bows and bow ties for all of Brady’s little friends. The invitation read “On your neck or in your hair, kindly wear this bow and we’ll see you there!” The bows and bow ties were fastened around the silhouette neck and packaged in the boxes.

MEANWHILE, my friends Courtney Scowby of Brightly Designed and Jessica Ulrich of MJ Paperie designed the vintage postage stamp layout (Courtney) and calligraphy addresses (Jessica) respectively.

Have I mentioned we have the best, most talented friends, EVER?

I’m still in awe of these invitations. If you’re looking for something really different and custom and personal… Amber, Courtney and Jessica are amazing. I plan to display/frame ours (we had one addressed and stamped to us as a keepsake) in our house somewhere as a reminder of B’s first big day.

Next up… Brady’s birthday party. I got all teary eyed just looking through all the detail photos tonight.

xo,

Emily

Dear Sweet Brady,

Could it be that an entire year has already passed since we first met. I’ll never forget that day, so full of emotion and excitement… your daddy and I could hardly contain ourselves. And then that moment came, after so many hours of labor… when we heard your little cry and saw your sweet, sweet face. Our hearts were never the same.

This is a cross in a church in Irvine, California. I’ll never forget visiting and singing Amazing Grace with Aunt Lara and Aunt Gina. I wrote a prayer for you and it’s pinned to the right side of that cross right there in that photo. God is so good to have heard and to continue to answer that prayer. Our cups overflow with gratitude and sincere joy. Becoming your mama has been my greatest adventure. And watching you grow has been my greatest joy. From a tiny little baby who weighed just seven pounds to a precious, growing toddler who keeps us on our toes. You made our little family a real family.

I’ll never forget when I first learned of you… this awful photo is the only one I have of the test because I was shaking so badly. We’d prayed for you for so long little B. So long. And there it was… God’s answer to our prayers…. yes.

You grew and grew and we fell in love with you day after day. We talked to you and sang to you and planned for your big arrival.

And somehow one whole year has passed since that big day last year. This photo is of you and I on our way home from the hospital. We were so excited to take you to your new home. And here you are… your first time in your big crib. You were so little.

On your first birthday, I have so many wishes for you. This morning, before your daddy and I woke you up to discover the surprise balloons in your room, I asked your Daddy what his wish for you was… and he said “the whole world.”

image credit: gina zeidler

At first I thought that was a silly answer, but its the most precious answer there is. We wish everything for you. But above all, we wish you a heart that is full. Full of joy and compassion. Full of empathy and hope. Full of faith and the knowledge that you can be anything you want to be. My heart brims with this enormous desire for you to know that you are so special, so smart and such a source of joy for so many people. Not just your mommy and daddy.

All of this and you only know four words! (Mama, Dada, yuck and uh-oh) : ) I can’t imagine what life has in store for you as you grow. When I was pregnant with you, your daddy would rub my belly and whisper to you “grow and be strong.” I love those words so much, B, because they underline everything we hope for you. We hope all the goodness in the world grows in your heart, no matter where life takes you. And we hope all that you encounter makes you strong and confident and happy and full.

I’ve never met another little boy who smiles as much as you do. I like to think it’s because you have much to smile about. But I know it’s that God gave you a spirit that is joyful. I pray that spirit stays in you as you grow.

image credit: gina zeidler

This year we’ve experienced so many milestones together. From your first laugh (when daddy was playing that silly game where he touched your face) to learning to do things on your own to learning to communicate with us. My favorite memories of your first year are the times you’d fall asleep on my chest so sweet and cuddly, the many road trips you and I took together to visit Nana and Grandpa, this priceless, precious video Aunt Gina made you when you were just six months old (and didn’t like to sleep so much) and the times you now scan the room quickly for your mama and get a great big smile on your face and throw your hands in the air for me to come and get you. Melt my heart sweet boy.

Sleep Baby from Gina Zeidler on Vimeo.

Your daddy and I are king and queen of silly little jokes and goofy names for each other. You have so many. You were Whammy before we knew if you were a boy or a girl… then you were Bman before we knew what your name would be. Then B, Bubba and now Boat. Boat comes from the story “Goodnight Moon.” Nana adapted the story so you could say goodnight to all the things in your house “Night night Fridge, Night night Table…” and lastly “Night Night Boat” to the boat in your nursery. When we lay you down to sleep now, we say “Night Night Boat.” And hence your newest nickname sticks.

image credit: michael newman photography

I love you more than all the stars in the sky, little B. And I can’t wait to experience this next year with you.

Thank you for opening my heart to a world I never imagined could be so joyful one year ago today. You are so beautiful, so special and so precious sweet boy.

With all of my heart,

Mommy

–

As little B grows, it’s very important to our family to teach him about giving and sharing. One foundation that is near and dear to our hearts is Alex’s Lemonade Stand. ALS raises funds to support childhood cancer research. Children all over the country host lemonade stands and raise money, dollar by dollar to give to ALS to children affected by childhood cancer enjoy more happy birthdays. When B is old enough, he’ll host his own lemonade stand. But for now, Bman’s lemonade stand is virtual and every “cup” of lemonade sold benefits the Alex’s Lemonade Stand foundation. We’d love to ask you to buy/give one “cup” of lemonade in honor of Brady’s birthday to help other little boys and girls celebrate more happy birthdays too. A genuine, heartfelt thanks from our family to yours. xo, Emily

Go here to buy a “cup of lemonade” via PayPal or here via credit card.

Introducing the first ever Making Brands Happen three part Business & Branding Webinar Series!! Join us (Lara Casey and Emily Ley of Making Brands Happen… and a whole lot of other great companies we own), for a series of webinars that will transform your business and revolutionize (i.e. simplify!) the way you work.  We know branding, and we’re ready to dive in with YOU!  After droves of requests, we’ve decided to share our branding secrets via the wonderful world wide web and you get to join us from the comfort of your computer.  We suggest PJ’s and hot cocoa for the full experience!  From evaluating where you are, to digging deep into where you want your business to be, we’ll go into detail on the key things you need to know to take your brand to the next level and spread the word with strategic marketing.

We’ve created this curriculum as a SERIES OF THREE ESSENTIAL WEBINARS so we can cover all the essentials you need to know:  Get Branded, The Client Experience and Get Published.  You are welcome to just take one, but you’ll be missing the total package!  Each area directly relates to the other.  We’ve made this super affordable so it’s a no brainer to join us for all three and really take things to the next level.  Our motto: Life is too short to play small!

Live Q & A will follow each webinar, including a live branding evaluation for one lucky attendee! (First come, first served with the single ticket above!)  This webinar series is open to any creative professional — whether new to the business or a seasoned pro — that wants to take his or her brand to the next level. Ready to make 2012 your biggest year yet?  Cancel that hair appointment and Get Branded!

Part 1: Get Branded Wednesday, March 14th from 1pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time.

Strong, powerful brands are built on foundations of passion, authenticity and unmatched attention to detail. Join us as we dive into these details and create an actionable plan for bringing authenticity and personal connection into every aspect of your business and into every step of your ideal client experience. Your brand should tell your story in every detail and should invite your ideal client to be part of an experience she won’t soon forget.

Part 2: The Client Experience Wednesday, April 11th from 1pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time.

Client experiences are viral. From start to finish and beyond, your client experience should be simple, streamlined and full of unexpected, personal touches. Together, we’ll create a strategy for mapping unforgettable client experiences and discuss how to utilize that experience to create a viral buzz around your powerful brand.

Part 3: Get Published Wednesday, May 16th from 1pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time.

Join Southern Weddings Magazine editor-in-chief/publisher, Lara Casey and art director, Emily Ayer as they discuss the key things you need to know to take your brand to the next level and get published in print and online media.

Location: Your computer.  Platform details to follow once you are registered.

Prepare: Have your branding and publication questions ready, your computer open and something to take notes with.

Follow: on Twitter for updates @PowerfulBrand

VERY LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE. 

Please note: This intensive does not cover any of the Making Things Happen curriculum.  To register for Making Things Happen, click here.  Please note #2:  These webinars are just a very SMALL TASTE of the full Making Brands Happen experience.  They do not in any way replace it.  Please note #3:  After the webinar, a recording will be a available for attendees, as well as branding homework.

*Dates and times are subject to change.  Seats are non-refundable and non-transferable.  Space is very limited. 

Warning: this webinar series is awesome. ENTER TO WIN A SEAT HERE!

When I first dreamed up Emily Ley Paper and decided to take my love for drawing and making cute things out of paper and turn it into a business, I think I thought that’s what it’d always be about… the cutest designs, the biggest name and being the “silent face” behind a ginormous business.

ELP morphed into Goodpaper for a while there. I decided I needed to hide behind a “pretend” infrastructure of a ginormous business. Many of my favorite brands were named catchy names and had multiple “employees” (think accounting@whateverbrand.com and inquiries@whateverbrand.com). And who was I to represent my brand? I was just a girl with a stack of envelopes, an Epson printer and Microsoft Publisher (cringe). No one cared about me. They only cared about having the cutest stationery from the greatest brand. Right?

Wrong.

Big bad business decision wrong.

During the first Making Things Happen (literally, in the middle of it) I received a cease and desist letter from another company with no trademark at the time, but prior usage rights to the name Goodpaper. I thought I’d lost everything. I was devastated and embarrassed that I’d missed this tiny loophole in my trademark application. I’d done everything right. I’d hired a trademark attorney and paid a lot of money to have this big conglomerate name. I was going to hide behind this giant business and let everyone think it was ENORMOUS and build automatic trust on that name — kind of the way you trust Target or Macys but have no idea who is behind them.

The best brands in this industry aren’t built that way.

Today I was having a conversation with Kara, our nanny (aka Brady’s Valentine). She’s a remarkable person. And is going to take over the world with her own venture. More on that when she’s fully launched : ) She told me today that even though her business will be huge and probably one of the widest reaching brands I know personally (it’s pure fate and straight up GOD that we met online) that she feels its very important that she and her story be the foundation and face of her brand. I got goosebumps hearing her say this. YES!! I wanted to jump up and DOWN!!

After I lost that trademark, I sat down with Lara, who is now one of my best friends and business partner, who told me… Emily Ley Paper. Why wouldn’t you run with your Southern personality and be the next Martha Stewart? I laughed but inside I knew… why not? Why couldn’t I share my personal journey and let my face and my story be the heart of my brand?

Why not : )

And so as it’s morphed and grown over time, I’ve had those gut-checks where I’ve thought… am I sharing too much? Am I putting too much out there? But those blog comments and amazing connections with clients and the (still amazing to me) growing successes of two booming businesses say otherwise. Hiding behind a brand or even hiding behind your craft might get you only so far. But being authentic and allowing your story and journey to unfold organically and honestly and openly, that is amazing.

And at the same time, being true to myself while making big business decisions is hard. I’m a creative person – totally right brained. Accounting makes me nauseous (though I’m getting better!) And I tend to let my creativity lead my strategy. But over the past few months, I’ve found myself with a few gut-check moments. My businesses are quickly, by the Grace of God, outgrowing my plans for them. And outgrowing my capabilities. Thank goodness for Marissa, who works with both Lara and I (and is, by the way, an amazing writer and enormous part of the Southern Weddings team). She keeps me in line. And we’ve decided to add an Assistant Creative Director (thank you for all the amazing applications, by the way!!) But that still left big decisions to be made.

Today I followed my gut and made an extremely hard decision. A scary decision for a lot of reasons. But God showed me that He is bigger than my worries and my fears. Big decisions are so hard in business – in life, really. But when we trust our gut and we hold true to that promise of authenticity and allow ourselves those gut-check moments… well, in the words of one of my favorite people…

“I’m grateful for gut-check moments. They mean good things are happening.”

Amen to that. Scary as it may be, authenticity and holding true to that which matters most AND allowing our journeys to unfold organically and openly, well its the foundation of any strong brand – big or small. Transition is straight up HARD. Authenticity has two sides – your authentic mission (the core of WHY you do what you do) and being open in putting your authentic self out there to really connect with your ideal client thereby holding true to that authentic mission (see the giant circle?).

It’s not easy to lay all of my fears and ups and downs out HERE for all 600-1,200 of you a day to read – I get nervous hitting the PUBLISH button (I’m so humbled by the growth this little blog has experienced over the past 45 days). But I have no doubt that by holding true to my promise of authentic priorities (even in the face of enormous fear) that God is truly leading this crazy journey. I can’t ask for more.

So this enormous post is encouragement to any of you out there with your own brand – big or small. Be real. Be the face of your brand. Allow your ideal clients/readers to really connect with you in the best ways possible. And allow your work (whether it be a product, photography, services or blog posts) to mesh perfectly with your true, authentic heart. You can never go wrong when you operate your business that way and make those big decisions based on that clear, strong foundation.

xo,

Emily

Super sweet photo of Brady and I when he was just six months old taken by Gina Zeidler. This is a photo of us swimming at 1pm on a Tuesday. Sometimes my attempts to hold true to my priorities mean turning off the computer and hopping in the pool on a weekday. Those are the decisions I’ll never regret.

Brady’s first birthday party is on Saturday. It’s “bow tie” themed. Perfect for our little southern gent. I cannot WAIT to share his adorable invitations and all the details from his party this weekend very soon. I’ve made most of the decorations by hand and ordered about 95% of my supplies from Etsy. But, his celebration isn’t just on Saturday. On Thursday and Friday his daddy and I have a few extra special surprises planned. I’ve put so much thought into every detail of this week and can’t wait for everyone to be here to celebrate our little man on his big day.

There’s just something so special about adding a cute, unexpected tag here or a thoughtfully placed label or sticker there. My Mom used to write me a note every day and place it in my lunchbox. I remember being so excited to read her note when I sat down at the lunch table. Sometimes it was written on a post it. Sometimes it was a card. Sometimes it had a sticker. But the message was always sincere and encouraging. Every since then, I’ve had a fascination with the cute little easy-to-do details that make even the most basic thing a little more special.

Above are a few of my favorite finds while packaging special “things” for this special week for my special boy. Enjoy!

1. Washi Tape from Bahana Splits Boutique on Etsy. Only $15 for ten feet of each pattern. I love washi tape for so many reasons. It feels like fabric – so handmade and gives a really special touch to any package.

2. Twill Ribbon from Olive Manna (LOVE Olive Manna) Just $8 for five yards of your choice of 20 colors. This color palette is delicious. I love how natural twill ribbon looks. Also check out the rest of Olive Manna’s packaging. I love everything. Especially the rubber stamps.

3. Kraft Heart Stickers from Knot & Bow on Etsy. Knot & Bow is one of my favorite go-to packaging shops. Super easy, great customer service and adorable options. Imagine how much fun you could have personalizing these! These are only $4 (including shipping!) for 36.

4. Pink Parcel Tags from Knot & Bow on Etsy. Again a favorite. Parcel tags are so much fun – they feel so old school to me. I use manilla parcel tags with much of my Emily Ley Paper packaging. These are just too cute for Valentine’s Day. And at only $3 for 10, they’re a no-brainer. Pair with some cute Baker’s Twine and you’re done! Speaking of…

5. Cotton Candy Pink Divine Twine from Bahana Splits Boutique on Etsy. Love, love, love. Baker’s Twine can be used for so many things. I purchased yellow and white Baker’s Twine for Brady’s birthday party. Here you can purchase a variety of lengths (in many lovely colors!). The full spool is 240 yards for $14.25.

6. Glassine Bags from Garnish. LOVE GARNISH. I’ve purchased from them quite a few times and everything is always absolutely perfect. I love glassine bags in general and fell in love with their idea for pairing Baker’s Twine with them to wrap cookies. We’re going on a very special picnic in the park on Friday for Brady’s birthday and I’m going to attempt to sew these shut with red yarn (thanks McKay for lending me your sewing machine : ) These glassine bags are just $0.25 each (that’s what I love about Garnish… you can order ANY quantity… I ordered 6 : )

7. Muslin Bags from Amazon. You can get these just about anywhere, but they are SO much fun to personalize. All you need is a rubber stamp or a sharpie and a steady hand. They make cute favor bags and are especially adorable when screen printed.  These are just $4.05 for four bags.

8. Colored Envelopes from Paper-Source. Colored envelopes make any note better. Period. Paper-Source is a great place for a variety of colors and has the best quality around. Check out their wholesale side Waste Not Paper if you have a resale license and are interested in ordering in bulk. Thes are just $3.25 for ten envelopes (retail).

9. Rubber Stamp from Rubber Stamp Champ. I’ve worked with Rubber Stamp Champ a lot and they do an excellent job. I so love the quality of their stamps and how easy it is to design something in Illustrator, save it as a JPEG, upload it to their site, purchase and be done. Easy peasy. Their prices are great too – they range from $3.99 + and include free shipping with orders over $10.

And there you have it! Where are your favorite places to buy small quantity packaging items? Off to finish planning for Brady’s birthday week!!

xo,

Emily

Marriage is hard.

Period.

Can I get an AMEN?

Bryan and I met when I was sixteen. He was the hot bartender at the restaurant I worked at. I was a hostess and it was my first job. And he was in a fraternity and drove a red jeep.

Sold. : )

He was a giant flirt and I was smitten with his crooked smile and the way he made me laugh. He gave me an Ernie car (some silly Sesame Street toy) that a kid left at the restaurant once. I saved it under my bed and re-gifted it to him on our wedding day. He had to think I was crazy, but he met me at the altar anyway.

We might be the most opposite people ever. I eat healthy (unless I’ve had entirely too much Chardonnay and then I eat lobster macaroni and cheese – I die. And I digress…) and he eats like a man (pizza and chicken wings please). He loves football, I watch the Super Bowl 100% for the commercials. Bryan is finance minded, I like to spend money. Bryan’s nickname is Wall Street to many of his friends. Stock tickers confuse me and look like they’re all written in Chinese. Bryan is patient. I’m not.

Sometimes it straight up hard to be married. I thought, when we got married, that high school hostess meets frat boy bartender feeling would never fade. And it hasn’t, it’s just changed. Now instead of big nights on the town we order movies on pay per view and share a ten dollar bottle of wine. Instead of coming home to the wife that’s donning her four inch heels and makeup strutting in from her corporate job, he comes home to a wife that’s typing an email on an iPhone in one hand while holding the cabinet door shut with her foot and trying to keep their little boy from biting her shoulder with his newly sprouted eight teeth.

But such is life! We’ve grown and our idiosyncricies and strange differences really do make us two oddly different peas in a pod. It’s the spice of life, though. And I’m slowly realizing how much I appreciate our differences.

My little brother is marrying his high school sweetheart (who is one of my best friends!) in just a few short months. Today, they’ve been together eight years. AMAZING. They’re also very different. In thinking about our marriage and their impending nuptials today, I just really started thinking about how we have to be OKAY with the fact that marriage is work. There’s no 50/50 in marriage. It’s 100% from each side. And it sure as heck isn’t easy. But at the end of the day, if your cores and foundations are on the same page and you’re headed in the same direction, marriage can still be bliss.

I’m so grateful for Bryan even though he drives me nuts : ) I am so blessed to have married my best friend… whose core is exactly like mine. He loves me when I make mistakes. He loves me when I’m frazzled and stressed. His ability to see the world differently makes life easier and more fun.

He’s funny (as you can tell from these photos), I’m a bit proper and very OCD. He’s a mess, I’m organized. But at our cores, we love family more than anything. We love our little boy more than anything. We love to laugh. And he is a wonderful daddy. All it takes is a little dose of perspective sometimes to realize how good you really have it. And how much your marriage doesn’t need change it needs nurture to grow as you both evolve.

Love you B : )

xo

Emily

Image credits from the top: Our Labor of Love Smilebooth (first two), Meg Baisden Photography (next two), Some random guy in Disney World, Yours truly and lastly Gina Zeidler (left) and Michael Newman (right)

AND… announcing the winner of the adorable Oatmeal Lace bibs from the contest we posted last week….. is CARLEE SIZEMORE!!! Congratulations, Carlee!! I’ll connect you with McKay shortly!

xo,

Emily

I stumbled across Lila Was Here the other day and fell in love with the way Andrea (mom and photographer) has documented her little girl’s days. I have so many random photos of Brady that I really want to keep and treasure in our family yearbook (more on that coming soon, thanks for that idea YHL) and love the way she’s captioned each one so thought I’d give it a try. Here are a few from this morning. What a busy, busy little boy.

xo,

Emily

But just because he’s a boy, doesn’t mean I can’t monogram the heck out of Brady’s clothes or dress him in seersucker seven days a week, RIGHT? I love a good monogram – an if you ask me, every little boy needs a little blue seersucker outfit.

So in my quest to accomplish two things 1) find the most adorable custom clothes for Brady without breaking the bank and 2) support a small, creative business like mine… I stumbled upon Mommy’s Memories in my hometown of Pensacola, Florida. One of my friends’ sister’s little boys (you got that?) is quite possibly the cutest, best-dressed little boy I know. His name is Campbell and I’m not sure I’ve seen one photo of him without a custom made little outfit. CutiePIE.

So through some long chain of Facebook clicks, I ended up on Mommy’s Memories’ page,  contacted Debra and Amber (the owners and seamstresses) and started our first order with them. I purchased my favorite fabrics (one plaid, six seersucker and two gingham… oh my!) and scoured their Facebook page for my favorite appliqués. They made the shorts and appliqués out of the fabrics and monogrammed his name/initials onto t-shirts I found on clearance at Target ($2.50 each!)

They are ADORABLE. I am the worst clothing-photographer ever apparently (do I even own an iron??), but these photos are of some of the outfits they made for Brady. The two not pictured are the two he’s wearing.

Apparently he was VERY upset over LSU’s National Championship loss and did NOT want to wear the yellow seersucker/football outfit OR have his photo taken in it, but the whale outfit was a success.

I so love stumbling on small businesses that do a really, really amazing job. You can guarantee Brady’s closet will be filling with more clothes from these ladies.

I’m starting a special little project collecting favorite small businesses (especially Etsy shops) that sell personalized items. Think babies, children + women in general. I’d love to know your favorites!

xo,

Emily