Eco and Elsie: A Place for Brides Who Love the Earth

In Love + Plaid

2012-05-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

Whenever I think of plaid, I think of Al Borland, the plaid loving fellow from the old show, Home Improvement. Not that I mind of course - that was a great show, although I know this totally dates me and and some of you have no idea what I'm talking about. Anyway, I digress... Now, I can thank Joleen Willis Photography and Megan and Landon (pictured below) for changing my go-to visual image when it comes to plaid - to their super sweet engagement session! The couple decided to use their love for each other, the changing of the seasons, and their love of plaid as inspiration for their engagement shoot. Hope you enjoy!

Hand Crafted Wedding Dresses

2012-05-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

If you checked out the Etsy featured seller yesterday, it would be hard to miss Claire La Faye, designer extraordinaire. I was immediately wowed by her beautiful dresses, full of romantic feathers and soft flowing fabrics. She hand crafts each wedding gown, some traditional and some not-so-traditional, but each remarkable in their own way.

Claire La Faye - Midsummers Night Dream

Claire La Faye - Parisian Princess

Claire La Faye - Pocket Full of Posey

Claire La Faye - Tangled Up in Blue

Unique Bridal Jewelry

2012-05-22T07:30:00.000-04:00

I love unique jewelry, so when I came across Yoola on Etsy, I was starstruck! Her jewelry is described as "crochet wire jewelry," but she professes that her creation process actually involves a unique blend of crochet and knitting. (Pictured above: Faux Pearl Gold Pendant)

Bridal Necklace

Bridesmaid Necklaces

Silver Cuff

Band Ring

Onyx Ring

My Apologies + Farm Tables

2012-05-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

Oh gawd peoples, I was such a horrible blogger last week. Gone! Without a trace, I was! Please forgive me, folks. My hubby and I have been looking at homes, which involved a lot of driving around last week, and that coupled with my daughter being sick early in the week all made for one frazzled mama.

So anyway, we put an offer down on a foreclosure on Friday. The wait to see if our offer was accepted will take a couple of days, but hopefully we'll know by Monday. I'm really nervous - nervous we'll get the house and nervous we won't, haha! In any case, I'll keep you all updated on what happens.

Alright, so I doubt you came here to read all about my house hunting issues, and unfortunately I can't even think of a good way to use it to transition to a new topic, so let's just jump right into something else, shall we? I've been thinking lately how hard it would be to dabble in wood working. Granted, I've never really done any wood working except for when I went to summer camp and made half a rain stick, but I do admire those who seem to attain carpentry skills. If I could, I would make a beautifully large farm table from reclaimed wood. These folks did it. Maybe one day I will, too!

BNG Industries

The Homegrown Shop

Uncle Brian

Lorimer Antiques

Brooklyn Farm Table

Seashell Wedding Ideas

2012-05-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

We'll be taking a trip to Florida over the summer with two other families, which I am over the moon excited about, and I've had beach crafts on the brain ever since we booked the condo. I've come across quite a few awesome seashell crafts, bouquets, and all around home decor ideas, but I also came across some pretty hideous stuff. One should never give their grandma a glue gun, a bag of seashells, and free reign over the house. Just because you scored an awesome deal on 100 seashells doesn't mean you need to use them all! Less is more, my friends, less is more... Have a great weekend, everyone!

Left: New Jersey Bride / Right: Martha Stewart

Left: Better Homes and Gardens / Right: Flickr Blue Ridge Kitties

Left: Martha Stewart / Right: Martha Stewart

Karen Tran and Bauman Photographers

Print by Lucy Snowe Photography

Row One Left: Almas Weddings / Row One Right: Cake Central
Row Two Left: Alpha Delights / Row Two Middle: InStyle Weddings / Row Two Right: WeddingCake.name
Row Three Left: Theme Wedding Ideas / Row Three Middle: Fairy Hill Cakes / Row Three Right: Sweetopia
Row Four: Cake Pop People

Mason Jar Chandelier

2012-05-10T07:30:00.000-04:00

I'm letting the pictures do the talking today! This mason jar chandelier is stunning - I love this!

This styled shoot was created by Kayli Atha Designs and photographed by Ivan Diego. The entire setup was inspired by an old ombré whiskey decanter which Kayli found in an antique store.

In Kayli's own words, "...each guest had a hand painted place card and I chose more masculine tabletop accessories to balance out the delicate china and soft glitter ribbons."

Thank you for sharing your wonderful shoot, Kayli and Ivan!

Reduce Stress in Five Easy Steps, Sort Of

2012-05-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

Earlier, I posted about ways to de-stress. If those don't work, do this instead. :)

Be Creative

2012-05-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

I've noticed that since I have a toddler, my imagination has really taken off. For instance, this evening I put her to bed with a story I made up. It involved a little catipillar named "Lilly-Butt" who went to the laundromat everyday just so she could visit the bubblegum machine. One day, Lilly-Butt got a "top" - a suggestion from my daughter - out of the bubblegum machine, rather than a piece of gum, which invariably led her out into an array of different adventures with a wise young owl. I know what you're all thinking: I'm a literary genius! No, it's okay, I'm not really, but please go on with your thoughtful praise! :)

Tavi Gevinson, above, blogger behind StyleRookie.com and founder of Rookie Mag, is one of those people I think we all wish we could've been as kids - she doesn't let what others think get in the way of her creative vision. Though she's 16 or 17 now, she's been posting her videos and style choices on her blog since the age of 13.

Being creative and imaginative is something that I think we all possess when we are children, but for some reason we tend to put skills like those on the back burner as we get older. I'm not sure why really - maybe it's because we are too afraid of what others will think or concerned that the world around us will laugh at something that has come from the heart?

I think it's time we take our creativity out of the closet and wear it like the one-of-a-kind, invaluable accessory that it is! There are all these books and videos and lists about how to be more creative, how to put your mind into the "creative zone," if you will. However, I think all you need to do is just relax and put down the judgemental goggles you think people look at you through. If you're planning a wedding or event, be the creator of your wedding! If you're moving into your first apartment or home together, be the creator of how your abode feels and looks. And finally, this is your life - be the creator of your own goals, dreams, and opinions.

Kick the Wedding Stress

2012-05-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

I get a lot of e-mails, many of which have to be tended to, even when there is little time to do it. It's overwhelming when half of the emails are from people who want something from me. (Note that I'm not complaining - helpful bloggers make the virtual world go round - but my brain starts to hurt after reading the fifth e-mail asking me to post about this new product or link to that new article.) It's a similar ride for those who have to plan a wedding. Everybody wants something from them - decisions to be confirmed, deadlines to be met, plans to be finalized, and money to be handed over.

If the constant neediness is a drain on your motivation, then remember to take a moment to de-stress. Everyday, if possible. I have been finding relief by hitting the gym and getting into a good cardio routine again, but you might find that just a quick walk around the block while listening to your favorite song is enough to send your spirits higher.

Here are a few other ways to combat the stressful blues:

Yoga Journal

A long, fun list of ways to reduce stress

Using imagery in mental stress management

But this is the best way!!!

Non Wedding Color Resources for Wedding Inspiration

2012-05-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

So this is about the only thing I learned in college. Not entirely true of course, maybe it's just the only thing I remember. I love color theory. I am one of those moms who not only explains the color blue to my daughter, but I also make sure to mention that orange is it's complimentary color! "Let's talk analogous colors, Sophia." And my beautiful little girl responds only with, "Analgis," smiles happily and runs away to play with her newest obsession - mermaids.

Since my daughter isn't too interested in colors, I thought maybe you might be! Especially if you've got an upcoming wedding and are on the hunt for the perfect wedding colors. Below I've compiled a few great non-wedding inspiration resources for very wedding colors. Enjoy! :)

Hi+Low always has fun and colorful prints and designs. I love checking out this blog for bits of graphic related inspiration.

I love Krisatomic's fun illustrations and she's always featuring unique photographs.

Colour Lovers! This is an enormous site filled with amazing color goodies.

{Sponsored Post} Honeymoon Pixie - A Honeymoon Registry Website

2012-05-01T21:41:00.001-04:00

Planning a wedding is an incredible amount of work. When I tied the knot, I remember sneaking peaks of wedding websites whenever the boss was out of town and my weekends were spent meeting with vendors, checking out venues, and calling up bands. In addition to all that, there was the budget to worry about.

After the stress of wedding planning and wedding finances, there's no reason to start your marriage off worrying about the honeymoon budget. Honeymoon Pixie, the newest sponsor of Eco and Elsie, offers an easy-to-use website that allows couples to set up an online honeymoon registry. This way you can focus on planning your big day and rather than getting another blender or toaster oven, your guests can "gift" you an amazing honeymoon!

Setting up the registry is easy peasy. Couples receive their own webpage, which includes an introduction or story, details about where they are going on their honeymoon, and the registry itself.

What I love about Honeymoon Pixie is that you can specify what exactly you would like. You can register for everything from dinner at a highly rated restaurant, a night in the honeymoon suite, or as in the Disney Honeymoon in the picture above, a trip to Hollywood Studios or Epcot. (Check out some of the honeymoon registries available on their sample page for more ideas!)

It's a great alternative to the traditional registry - no more worrying about returning duplicate gifts or fear of offending guests by asking for cash. Guests love honeymoon registries because it gives them a real sense of being able to contribute to something greater.

Visit Honeymoon Pixie's Website!

Check out Honeymoon Pixie on Facebook, where they have over 6000 fans, and Wedding Wire, where they've received an array of really positive reviews and the 2012 Bride's Choice Award.

Eco-Wedding (Love In Tennessee)

2012-05-01T09:24:00.000-04:00

Just a hop, skip, and jump away from Atlanta, I've been to Tennessee many times over the past few years. The drive to Chattanooga is a favorite of mine since I really enjoy wide open spaces and pastoral greenery. Only a couple hours North of Chattanooga is a town called Maryville, where this lovely couple, Rachel and Dennis, tied the knot.

There are so many sweet, down-to-earth details that I absolutely love. They used river stones instead of place cards, lanterns surrounded by moss and pine cones as centerpieces, and small vintage birdhouses added to the "Southern Living inspired" decor.

Thank you to Rachel and Dennis, as well as their talented photographer, JoPhoto, for sharing this lovely wedding with us!

Photographer: JoPhoto

Caterer: simply southern catering

Event Planner: live laugh love weddings

Floral Designer: Floral Designs by Samuel Franklin

Dress Store: White Lace & Promises

Cake Designer: KupKatie's KupKakes

Event Venue: Smithview Pavilion & Event Center

Eco Gift Tags and Labels

2012-04-29T22:11:00.000-04:00

Hey all! This is a re-post from 2011. I didn't have time to create anything new. My hubby took me out of town for our five year anniversary over the weekend! Be back tomorrow - enjoy!

After writing about mason jars, I started thinking about how many very cute and very eco-friendly tags and labels are out there. I've always been the kind of person who starts out wanting to do this kind of thing on my own - I always have grand DIY illusions come to think about it - but I never have the time. If you find yourself in the same position, check out these gift tags, labels, and one gift tag making accessory in case you do go all DIY (ahem, it's the twine...).

1. Circle kraft round tags.

2. Recycled magazine paper gift tags.

3. Recycled tea tags.

4. Recycled canning labels or stickers.

5. 100% cotton bakers twine.

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Pinata Cookies and Not My Nachos!

2012-04-26T21:04:00.002-04:00

Last night, I got mad at my husband for eating nachos in front of me. I have been working so hard to eat healthy and there he was, munching on delicious cheese from a jar and corn chips. I wanted to share in the ridiculous horrible-ness! Alas though, I refrained, primarily because I had already brushed my teeth and I didn't feel like doing it again.

So nachos I can apparently resist. But pinata cookies! PINATA Cookies! How awesome are these? Even though I am not a fan of food coloring, I definitely could not resist these. They look a bit difficult to create, but Cinco De Mayo only comes around once a year - I might just have to give these a try. Find the tutorial on She Knows.

Getting Into Shape

2012-04-26T08:33:00.000-04:00

Source: healthandworkouts.tk via Laurie on Pinterest

Oh my God, people. I just got back from my very first Zumba class. I am not even sure what just happened. Move your butt here, put your hips on the other side of the room, now walk around, now slap your bootie... WTF!? I spent the entire hour trying to figure out which body part went where and avoiding eye contact with the mirror. Of course, when I finally did look in the mirror I literally had to bite my tongue from laughing. I looked ridiculous! Was I dancing or seizing? I'm not really sure, but in the end I had a ton of fun and it certainly forced me out of my comfort zone.

My motivation stems from the fact that we are heading to the beach over the summer. However, having to get back into a bathing suit after having a baby is probably only the second most popular reason for hitting the gym. The first most popular, I'm willing to bet, is an upcoming wedding. Are you a bride trying to get into shape for your wedding? If so, share your workout plan and/or your own goals.

SmartPhones and Electronic Wedding Invitations

2012-04-25T08:18:00.000-04:00

My dad is looking for a new cell phone. He's got this basic little, clam shell Motorola. You know? The kind where everyone said, "Wow, it's so thin," when they saw it! My dad and this phone - they've been through a lot together and when it cracked, he lovingly patched it back up with duct tape. Duct tape that his phone still wears. It's like a badge of honor. If it could talk, it would say, "Look! I still work and I am still loved." Now, my dad says he is ready for a smart phone. HOLD UP! Stop the presses, folks. My dad, who is in his late 60's is ready for a smart phone.

This means one thing and one thing only. Paper wedding invitations are on the way out. Now, I hate to say this, especially since I grew up in a world where paper invitations and handwritten thank you cards were the epitome of proper etiquette, but technology is changing too quickly. And there is a whole new generation of brides and grooms ready to put their mark out there with stunning animated gifs (as seen above from From Me to You), hilarious video content, and easily created e-mailed invitations - it's only a matter of time before electronic wedding invitations are perfectly acceptable. This is of course a good thing for the environment, as less paper will be used, but it's still quite sad in my opinion.

Will this happen tomorrow? No, but I predict in the next ten years e-invitations will be pretty commonplace, perhaps even revolutionary. Of course, what is old always becomes new again, so I imagine in 60 years, after electronic invitations become the norm, people will start handwriting their own invitations on vintage paper or something just to be unique. Like when they tried to make bell bottoms cool again. Or maybe that was just me? Maybe I was the only one who tried to revive bell bottoms... It didn't work out very well.

Pets, Parades, and Weddings

2012-04-24T07:18:00.000-04:00

My weekend got off to a "ruff" start with the Atlanta Pet Parade, a fundraising event from the Atlanta Humane Society. We met up with some friends of ours and even though I thought my toddler would enjoy all the animals, she was much too focused on mastering the outdoor steps to care about petting any dogs. In any case, we all had fun and I was reminded of how special our pets are to us.

There is a brilliant mountain resort featured on Fab You Bliss, which includes one very charming guest: their doggie. Will you be including any pets in your wedding?

photograph by Amelia Soper
See the rest of this mountain resort wedding at Fab You Bliss

Unique Eco Gift Idea

2012-04-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

Isn't this a great idea? And what a fabulous way to ease the transition from paper towels to re-usable towels. Plus, you can fully customize your towels with a range of stylish fabrics. $48.00 at MamaMade

Ways to Celebrate Earth Day That Don't Involve Money or Scheduling

2012-04-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

The weekend is almost here and so is Earth Day! Contrary to what corporations always seem to push this time of year, you don't have to donate or volunteer to actually celebrate Earth Day. Of course, donating and volunteering are both awesome, so if that's what you do then rock on! But if you are short on time or don't have the funds to donate, here is a small list of ways to enjoy this wonderful holiday in your own way and in your own time. Have a great day, friends!

Win Some Stuff!

2012-04-17T20:20:00.003-04:00

Hey there peoples! There are a few give-aways and promotions around these interwebs that I've been meaning to post for a while. Take a look at the links below for an opportunity to win some good sh-bang!

Seed Bomb Give-Away at Blue Collar Bride

Handmade Jewelry Bridal Party Give-Away from Cocoon

BooBoo Cover-Up's Weekly Give-Away of a Bridal Emergency Kit

Five Positive Affirmations For Brides, Mothers, and Anyone In Between

2012-04-17T08:27:00.000-04:00

Hello dear readers! I was reminded today of how important it is to be patient. My daughter, who is almost two, is not a good napper. That's an understatement really. If she could speak full sentences, she would say, "Dreaming is for the birds! My life is about doing!" She'd rather be running, jumping, playing - even doing taxes or watch a bug crawl around is better than sleeping to her. The irony is, she has all the time in the world to sleep, yet never wants to. However, I love naps and never have the time, so I relish her one short hour of rest and relaxation. So today when my little girl refused to nap (and I'm trying to teach her to nap on her "nap mat," not in the crib), I was incredibly impatient with her. She was sent to time-out three times, which was a stupid idea in hindsight considering all the time-outs in the world wouldn't help her fall asleep. My heart hurt at seeing her cry and eventually I laid on her mat with her and we fell asleep together, her head on my arm and my hand on her belly. And we both passed out and slept for one glorious hour.

Even though motherhood and weddings seem very different, both still require quite a bit of emotional skill, an ability which I am learning is highly underrated. It's so easy to get caught up in the moment and it's so hard to exercise restraint when you're frustrated or irritated. If you add tired to the mix, you start to actually sympathize with all those woman labeled as "bridezillas" over the years, understanding quite easily how quickly you can go off the deep end in certain circumstances. As a bride or wedding planner, you have to navigate the seas carefully, which are riddled with iceberg like obstacles, including but not limited to: financial stress, family fall outs, and bridal party feuds. As a gracious person, you have to hoist your sail high, keep your ship steady, and have all hands on deck.

Living up to the highest expectation of yourself is hard and in most cases, impossible. Instead, you have to focus on what is possible: being the best person you can be. I've been trying pretty hard the last few months to do this and ever since my experience with hypnobirthing (something I'll have to share another time), I've become a pretty big believer in affirmations. Below I've included a few of my own affirmations, which are kind of a conglomerate of different ones I've found around the web and made into my own. Print them out and read them before bed or when you wake up - it takes less than a minute to do so - and as long as you believe what you're reading, you'll notice a change.

Eco-Crafty Springtime Centerpiece

2012-04-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

It's springtime. Beautiful springtime. This means two things: allergies and vegetable gardens! I sneeze. I plant. I sneeze. I plant. This year we expanded our garden and I've planted everything from watermelon to eggplant to carrots. The fruits of my labor better be worth every sneeze, sniffle, and soggy tissue!

Anyway, I came across this, seriously, seriously awesome little centerpiece idea. I truly love this milk carton planter - it's an easy DIY creation from one of my new favorite blogs, Family Chic. (See the entire tutorial here.) The wrapping is a simple linen cloth, but I suppose you could also use a biodegradable fabric, such as burlap or jute. Perfect for a springtime wedding or shower.

See more eco-crafty ideas on my Pinterest board!

Pizza Party Weekend

2012-04-15T21:31:00.000-04:00

How was your weekend? It seems April is the month to have a baby as we have birthday parties to go to every weekend. Even though we're keeping busy, it's always nice to see friends and family, especially when our visits seem to get increasingly rare.

The latest birthday we attended was a "make your own pizza party" for our friend's six year old girl. Our little girl had a blast, although she ate most of her pizza while she was supposed to be creating it. My husband and I of course had a ton of fun as well. I especially enjoyed eating my creation, er, I mean, my daughter's pizza. :)

Polaroid Weddings + Links to Get Creative

2012-04-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

I have an old Polaroid - not old old, but probably circa 1995 or something like that. (Of course, to some of you that is "old old," which just makes me feel old.) I have flirted with the idea of dusting it off and purchasing some seriously expensive film for it and getting all creative in my endeavors. Each picture would cost around $3 to $5, depending on the film I got, which brings new meaning to the term "money shot." And yet, I still want it, which is to say a lot considering I am a cheepie kind of gal. Maybe it's the flapping involved in "developing" the photo or the sense that the end product is a tangible memory that you can hold in your hands, unlike most of our digital photos, which seem to rest forever in a universe of computer-y gigabytes.

Or maybe I am just being sucked into the trend that seems to glamorize all things nostalgic. The Polaroid trend isn't exactly a new one. There are quite a few Polaroid weddings, including this one of Eri and Philip, and of course with the infinite amount of talent we graphic designers have, one doesn't really have to have an actual Polaroid anymore to at least get the effect.

What do you think? Are you a Polaroid fan? Here are a few links to wet your appetite:

Need a camera or film? Check out The Impossible Project - when Polaroid stopped making film, they decided to step in and make their own.

This photographer offers a second shooter who uses only Polaroids.

A DIY wedding with all Polaroids.

Pretend you have an old Polaroid with this new instant one.

A blog of candid Polaroids.

A Polaroid wedding on Flickr.

The never ending Polaroid Project - trippy!

(picture credit above (clockwise): Stephanie Williams Photography, Apartment Therapy, The Impossible Project, Maile Lani, East Side Bride)