OUR WEDDING

This day last year, on the most beautiful fall evening, surrounded by friends and family and our children, Matt and I married each other. After 8 (now 9) years together, the ceremony was less about promises and more about honoring what already was...deep respect, acceptance, mad love, and the joy of sharing it and solidifying it with our people in that season of our life.

  

We wanted the day to feel laid back and easy and it truly was. Our bridal party was all family (my sisters and niece/ Matt's brothers and dad). Everything was held at the Art Institute here in Dayton. A string quartet played The Cure and Phosphorescence. We snacked on hors d'oeuvres, a macaroni and cheese bar, almond and apricot cake, and macarons. There was lots of dancing (our first dance was to Beauty by The Shivers), and we ended the night just the two of us at a Taco Bell drive thru in our suit and dress. 

Perfect day with just the happiest memories. Definitely worth the wait. 

Happy anniversary, lover guy! 

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Vendor list: Photography- Jenny Haas// Venue- Dayton Art Institute// Dress- Emily Riggs// 
Flowers and table centerpieces- Evergreen Flower Co.// Makeup and Hair- Sweetly Pinned Hair and Makeup// Bridesmaids dresses- ASOS// Bridal Headpiece- Anna Marguerite// 
Veil- Etsy:Veils of Love// Rentals and Table Styling- Something Old Dayton// Music- Viva La Strings// Cake- Cakery// Sweets- Michelle's Macarons// 

PHOEBE'S RAINBOW SPARKLE UNICORN PARTY

Hi friends! Happy summer! We celebrated Max and Phoebe this weekend as they turned 12 and 4 on Friday and Saturday. My July babies. It's always a bit of a whirlwind and I was thankful that Max just wanted to go play paint ball with friends this year. He's truly 12...dubstep music and cat videos and perfecting the art of wearing socks with sandals. He's such a light-hearted blessing of a guy and we're going to soak up this last year of him being just a kid. No teenagers yet!

Phoebe girl was all about birthdaying this year. She knew back in February that she wanted a Rainbow Sparkle Unicorn birthday and didn't budge until the day before her birthday when she decided she wanted to scrap the whole thing and just have a balloon party. We did both. Everyone came over Saturday and we ate food and listened to funny music and doted on our girl. And there were ponies. Ponies! It's one of those things I've always wanted to try for a party and it ended up being hilarious and awkward and totally making the kid's day.

Phoebe at 4 is sugar and spice with a disdain for underwear and a flair for the dramatic. She sings with conviction and wears heels and a purse before leaving the house. She's confident and funny with a preternatural love for horses and marshmallows and lemonade. She's kind and giving and tells me that we're best friends and I know it to be true.

I hope you all are having a nice and simple summer. My heart is heavy with the world right now. It's been good to hunker down with my family and show them love and take these moments to teach our little ones about hope and goodness and action. Everyday action.

xoxo

Most decorations were found at Sweet Lulu, Fawne Shoppe, boxes and tablecloth from IKEA, Unicorn head from Target, Phoebe's dress is from Alice and Ames. Unicorn birthday invitations at Bonjour Berry, organic cotton candy found here, the pink punch flavor is so good!!

Design Mom Feature

It's been forever and a day since I've been here...I almost forgot how to log in. haha. Ack! 

I hope this finds you all well and if you're reading this, thank you for sticking with me! I didn't intend on being away so long but here we are. 

I got an email from Gabrielle over at Design Mom a few weeks ago to see if I would like to contribute to her Living With Kids feature and I couldn't pass it up. 

I shared pictures of our house these days and some thoughts on love and divorce, living in a rougher neighborhood, steering clear of blogging and social media, and of course, living and decorating with kids.

Go check it out! 

xo