Swoon

Okay this is just awesome. I grew up on a large property with animals all around me..cows..horses..chickens, the works. This bride is so lucky to have such natural elements on her wedding day. These elements result in adventurous pictures and you'll never know what the animals will be up to! The whiter leaping sheep makes the picture seem so spontaneous!

Hubbard Photography via The Wedding Chicks

Gotta Go More Southern, for Easton

Living in Kentucky, one can imagine, I get some wonderful country radio stations. Country was not my cup of tea until about a year or so ago. My best friends that I met Freshman year loved it and I (apologizing now) kindly grunted to request a channel change. Now..I just looovve it. I am sure the stations here play some local artists that I don't know about, but I had to take the time and write about an emerging artist from Trenton (and if you know me well you know that I say Trenton completely country...often not pronouncing letters. So Trenton is Treent-in...soft on the 2nd t.)

Now that I'm finished with that tangent...I miss hearing this guy. Easton Corbin is a University of Florida alum (total plus)

and has some sweeeet songs.

My Favorite: A Little More Country Than That

The official music video is located here. I highly recommend watching it. Trenton is only about 20 minutes away from my house and this video

reminds me so much of home. The heat, the bonfires (thanks mom and dad

for allowing me leaving town so I could throw some, and the oaks.

I just had to make this post so it's easily accessible to listen to when I'm missin home. I can't wait for Easton to make it BIG one day and I'll look back on this post and do this: :-)

Swoon

I just absolutely love this hair piece. The green, purple and yellow florals match perfectly with the shades of brown in her hair and makes her blue eyes pop that it makes it difficult to look elsewhere.

JL Photografia via Green Wedding Shoes

September Reading List

I've decided to create a reading list for myself and set a deadline for my goal for some self-determination. So here we are:

(No judging by my number one!)

1. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
The reason why this is on my list is because it is what I'm reading right now...and it's taken quite some time. I am a fan of the Twilight Series, however, I am no fan of what it has become. I read the first and second, before the first movie and obviously (I say obvious because this is usually a trend of book -> movie) the book was a whole lot better. The fourth one probably won't be on my list for a couple of years. I definitely want to read the fourth before that movie comes out, but it's teeny-bopper audience has made it pricey. Stephenie Meyer is amazing at creating characters, illustrating the chapters and each romantic scenario. Many have said that these books have no "literary value." I say that they clearly have not read it. It was meant to be a goth romantic novel, with a Romeo & Juliet storyline. The vampires and the werewolves... the Montagues and the Capulets...with Bella stuck in the middle. Yes, this is an easy read, but us 20-something year olds and college students that do read it enjoy it that way, a break from the textbooks and everyday chaos. Does every girl truly want an Edward? No, depends on the girl. But...he is quite dreamy. :-)

2. Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq - Steve Fainaru

I wish that this was not on my list. I wish that this had not been on my list for how long it has been already.

Author Steve Fainaru traveled among private security contractors in Iraq. One of them, was a friend of mine. These men were privately hired (meaning not paid by the U.S. Government) to carry out jobs that the military can't...or won't do. Unfortunately, this means that they received less protection and less any other "treatment" you may assume that our military receives. The book begins by Steve introducing Jon Cote, a University of Florida student who needed extra money to pay for school, so decided to take time off. An ex-member of the ARMY, he knew the cash would be fast and then he could get back to his education. Jon hung with Steve and reminisced on his days of living in the fraternity house, cooking meals with his best girl-friends, and going to the NCAA Basketball National Championship Game as a winning Florida Gator. This will be no easy read for me. It was a pleasure and all-out funfest knowing Cote. Every minute spent with him was a blast, he was always in the best spirit and that radiated off each person he became close with.

When trying to find a picture, I found Fainaru's website which includes a brief blog about the book. Steve speaks about going to Cote's candlelight vigil. I'm taking a moment to reflect on some great times we had.

He was an amazing asset to this country. You probably can't tell, but the middle picture is him holding up me and two of my best friends in his arms. That's some muscle!

September's list is short, but I need to gauge how many I will be able to read each month.

Please let me know of any reading suggestions, reviews, etcetera!!

VMAs: Seeing Minis & Metallics

I've discovered that the blog has gotten to be more focused on wedding stuff lately and that I needed to switch it up. Plus, some readers may not be 100% interested in all that, so here I go for a fashion entry:

Okay okay okay so we have all heard by now the drama that happened at the VMAs. Some of the planned and not-so-planned performances of the artists, the grande entrances (cinderella, fire truck, Kermit), who got which award, and the fashion. Who wore who? Many of these outfits are surely not daddy-approved. But with that said, the VMAs are popular for having more daring, short, flashy looks.

There were no doubt some double-takes, some "what was she thinking?!"s and definite trends. Let's dig in, shall we?

Plenty of short dresses:

Almost a winner of mine, Beyonce wore a Roberto Cavalli little bright red sexy pocketed dress and took quite the plunge.

Glitz:

Katy Perry, Kristin Cavallari, Leighton Meester, and Taylor Swift sparkled in their silver metallic dresses. Perry's even had spikes built in, ready for combat (she should have gone up against Kanye). LOVED Taylor's gown. Leighton, hot dress, however, hair and make-up looked like it was done the night before with a splash of hangover. Cavallari in vintage. Meester in Christian Cota. Swift in Kaufman Franco.

Uh-oh:

Pink and Shakira both in Balmain leather dress. Not a usual fan of Pink, but I like her look better. Maybe Shakira should have pulled the hair back, it is taking away from all of the detail in the black mini. They embraced it, however.

Close, but no cigar:

Close: I guess Lauren Conrad is playing it safe here, short dress nonetheless.
But, no cigar: Good dress to attend a dinner, but not an awards show targeted to Generations Y and Z.

Close: Solange in a sexy, traditional one-armed LBD with a studded clutch.
But no cigar: I like the ribboning addition, however, Solange looks like she's heading to the front lines packed full of ammunition. Also, the pink nails are good, the pink lips, not so good. Is she branding the next Military Barbie? Good thing I'm, sadly, at 22, a Barbie fan! :-)

ODDLY...I LOVE:

Lo Bosworth. First of all..she is my favorite "MTV Celeb." Some would say she grabbed granny's drapes and took it to the seamstress, but the LBD canvas topped with an ivory damask, I just love..

BLUE RIBBON:

Whitney Port in Christopher Kane.
Whitney Port is almost always ahead of our game. Yet another LBD, but this one is extraordinary. The hemwork is perfect. She, like Beyonce and many others last night, sport the plunge...in fact...maybe 3M or Scotch has a tape in Beta currently? WP dumbs down the short dress with a sheer overlay, this lengthens her body and gives an illusion of hiding skin.

Hope you enjoyed my VMA Fashion wrap-up. Agree with me on anything, heck, disagree? Let me know about it! I'd love to hear who you thought looked best!!


All photos by: Getty Images, Wire Images, Zuma Images, and mtv.com

Swoon

I contemplated not putting this post as one of my 'daily swoons' because of how much I adore it. This gown reflects my personality oh-so well, being simplistic yet having that special unique touch of girly flair. The lack of detail is actually what I like so much. Take a look at a slideshow from me in middle school until now, and I you would see a lot of solids, not alot of "costume jewelry" or crazy accessories, but adding at least one piece to give it some character. This gown has just that. The bow, oh the bow. It is very difficult to add bows to gowns, clothing, shoes, etc., without making it look too prom-y aka...tacky. What I love about this bow so much is: first of all, it being unlevel. Pointing to the 1:00 and 7:00, the ends add length to the neckline and torso. Second of all, this is no traditional bow. There are no fluffy-looped "ties", and the best part: the "knot" is part of the bust. This hemwork looks flawless and it looks as though the bow was sewn right into the gown.

Photos: Jesse Leak via The Bride's Cafe

Inspiration Board

I put together a new inspiration board tonight.

The focus is the B&G's choice of colors:

royal blue, peach, and orange peach.

Inspiration board created here via SMP's Style Circle