summer winding down...

image courtesy of high street market on etsy

hi everyone!

hope you are staying cool in this hot sun, as summer winds down...

i cannot believe 1 more week left in august! where did the summer go?

i heart this fan. just a bit of inspiration for today.

oh to walk a mile (or down the aisle!) in these shoes...

 image credit: photographer caroline tran via brooklyn bride.

what a creative way to incorporate a travel theme into your big day!

farmer's market love...

photo copyright madison belle

before i get back to my regularly scheduled party-planning posts...
(i know, i promised! and they will come!)

i have been crushing on farmer's markets lately (as you can probably tell from yesterday's post!).  maybe because i haven't really been cooking lately, but instead eating out a lot, and therefore haven't grocery shopped in a while! i travel alot and therefore food does not keep very long in the refrigerator when you are not here to eat it!...so, i am craving a shopping trip to a local farm. i should just plan it when i know i am in town but with wedding planning taking up all my extra time i don't plan too far ahead these days :)

i did actually check out Broom's Bloom dairy last weekend! i mentioned it in the blog a while ago...it is a precious farm stand in Bel Air, Maryland that serves up the creamiest, most delicious ice cream...well, by most delicious i mean it's right behind the BEST and my personal favorites...Cincinatti's Graeter's ice cream, and my beloved Kline's Dairy Bar in Harrisonburg, VA...but, it IS delicious!

do you agree there is nothing like a sweet farm stand (that serves ice cream too!) to bring joy to a usually mundane activity like grocery shopping? ;)

the river garden.

so last month martha stewart featured my ALL TIME favorite florists in their mag....the river garden.

i am so so happy they are getting the recognition they deserve...i fell in love with their gorgeous bouquets at the union square farmer's market. they have the brightest, most breathtaking arrangements that you have ever seen...and a lot of them are dried so you can keep them forever.

check them out if you are ever in nyc (or upstate ny at their farm), it is worth the trip!

d.i.y. mousepad

i finally ran out of my thomas paul mousepad. you know, the cute ones with paper that you can write to-do lists and doodle on. but instead of buying a new one, i was feeling crafty so i got out my magical "yes!" glue and the anthropologie catalog that featured Hatch Show Print...and began ripping & pasting. and, voila! {see image above}. a modge podge of color (actually the colors of my office decor), to coordinate with my beautiful pink dell, and lots of happiness too.

the breakfast nook.

photo copyright madison belle

today, while looking through the zillions of photos i have saved on my computer (i am sure you all can relate), i came acrossed this picture of my sweet little nyc apartment...oh how I miss him. it literally was a nothing of  a place, but the minute i saw it, i knew it was for me...my own d.i.y. decorating project...and i enjoyed transforming it into my happy decorating dream.

at the moment all of my cute retro things are in storage until Craig and I find our new home together, but boy do I miss this gorgeous table! I know in the pic it looks rusted but in person, ah, it makes me feel like I am actually in an ice cream parlor in the 50's. what's better than that!?!

speaking of being aqua & red obsessed...

here at madison belle, we love anything retro. and one thing that we are obsessed with is the aqua and red color combo.

check out this retro inspiration board from the wedding blog snippet & ink!

image courtesy of snippet & ink.

admit it. you have an aqua/red crush too ;)

the happiest little places.

recently i took my sister (the maid of honor) bridesmaid dress shopping...well, we were bridal dress shopping too but the main point of the day was to find a beautiful bridesmaid dress!

lucky for me my sister is a model (not really, but she could be!) and looks amazing in everything!!! so in shopping, it comes down to color, mostly. anyway, on our journey around baltimore bridal shops...we came acrossed two amazing little places that i would recommend to anyone wanting a great and unique bridal experience...

1. the first place was bella bridesmaid. they have them all over the u.s. i think, so check your area! but they are still boutique-y and unique. loved this little place in federal hill, md (they are moving to fells point shortly). they carry so many gorgeous dresses, but one thing i was taken by was the jewelry they carry...

kendra scott jewelry - BEAUTIFUL

LOVE! and then...

2. the second lovely place was Garnish Boutique! not only is Mia, the owner, a doll!!! but she knows her stuff...and is super helpful. they carry gorgeous dresses in every color you can imagine...and the shop itself is so beautiful and calm, ahhhh. seriously the best experience!!!!!

craig & i haven't decided wedding colors yet (i know i know, you are thinking aqua & red right? everyone keeps saying that to me...but i just want to differentiate the wedding and the business...so im trying to find a new color combo. so far it's not workin out ;)... i keep going back to my beloved aqua!) so anyway, in the meantime the dress has yet to be determined, but, hopefully, we can go with a dress from one of these adorable places and support local businesses!!!!

summer ain't over yet!

quite possibly the happiest outfit. thank you kate spade. you always bring color to my life.

i heart anthropologie.

dear anthro,
you know i love every single one of your stores. but wow...anthro at The Grove! LA !!
stop for a quick bite at the amazing Farmer's Market, (meanwhile i have no words for this place...ok, maybe one...AMAZING!) and then do a little shopping at this huge anthropologie store. yum. best day ever.

more on my LA trip later. seriously a life changing experience. now i get it...i get why everyone in california is saying MOVE TO CALIFORNIA. cause it's brilliant. yes, i am officially onboard.

cupcake happiness.

photo courtesy of crumbs bake shop via brides.com

 

just saw this on brides.com...crumbs bake shop now has WEDDING cupcakes. um...heaven! you know i have a thing for cupcakes!

something to think about ;)

lighting is key.

photo via style me pretty.

how amazing is this outdoor party! must. throw. this party. immediately...perhaps in september when the weather is cooler? in the meantime i will look for vintage tablecloths to put on the picnic tables...