fairy tales are true

What I feel most beautiful in...

2012-01-25T19:13:00.000+01:00

What do you get when you cross Mother Theresa's heart, Gisele Bundchen's beauty, and Olivia Palermo's style?

...

A Katie.

Head over to Running on Happiness today to discover what I feel most beautiful in...

the bravest most beautiful affair ...

2012-01-24T16:00:00.007+01:00

when i first read this on on my style/make up/ lifestyle guru steph's blog I got chills, the head to toe variety. I searched out to see if it was in a book... i found the full text on a blog. it is Ann Voskamp's beautiful words.

...

In his sleep, he finds my hand.

It’s the only one I’ve ever known.

Hand in mine, that wraps around a waist, draws in close, slumbering strength always holding on.

I don’t know how another man’s skin feels.

My grandmother lived that kind of courage. The kind that made a vow and had the bravery to let it age.

The wrinkled faithfulness of monogamy, it can look pedestrian, the kind that finishes well, parades up through the Arc de Triomphe, battle scarred, and the tourists just blithely shuffle by, pigeons taking to oblivious wing. She told me about this.

I remember it, nights like these.

How she said that the bravest love is wildly faithful and it falls hard again every morning. How it puts the toilet seat down and the cap on the toothpaste and winks for those already-won eyes. It knows what we seek may be found in what we already have.And there can always be this — the allure of the vows.

I feel his skin, his hand around me in sleep. We sleep like this this night after years of nights, light of the moon stretching long across our room, the pillows, us growing old in this romanced ordinary. It’s grace and fresh gratitude that can make us strong enough to marvel in the seeming monotony of anything. And the happily married have eyes that look long enough to make the familiar new. When he comes up behind me and hugs me at the stove, I still whisper it to him: “I still can’t really believe I get to be married to you.” Grandma washed Grandpa’s underwear for fifty six years, and she said it was always so good.

Warm it falls on the nape of my neck, his sleep breath, close. I press closer. There’s this beautiful drama’s in a long faithfulness and aged love might be heroic. God knows the passion of a covenant.

His stubble rubs my shoulder.

He makes me, shape and rib, and my head’s full of how we’ve known each other and how he still is mystery and how the want is still all his. We sleep in matrimony and it is holy.

... ann voskamp...

beautiful.

what to get: the bride to be

2012-01-23T13:50:00.001+01:00

{future mrs. trophy wife notecard; $14 || sash; $23 || kate spade mrs; $78 || wedding chicks t shirt, custom return address stamp; $40}

With my line of work I'm always trying to figure a good way to thank my brides. and with the holidays behind us, we almost all know someone who got engaged! here are my picks.

though just being someone to bounce ideas off of is definitely the best gift for a bride.

xoxo

chop

2012-01-18T13:45:00.001+01:00

{j.crew necklace, h&m blouse, clutch c/o k.slademade, paige skyline jeans, warby parker sinclair eyeglasses, michael kors watch, bracelet c/o laurel denise}

my deepest thoughts for the day ... I tend to let my hair grow and grow without getting it cut. It weighs me down and gets really unhealthy. or I just snip off a bit, but the ends are still pretty split.

but i get used to it. so it is with life, huh? you get used to something being a certain way even when a simple remedy can chop it off.

so here's to chopping off whatever unhealthy habit we keep... (:

Two Years

2012-01-16T15:35:00.000+01:00

i am even more proud to call you my husband today than i was two years ago.

i thought it not possible!

xoxo

lola vlogs

2012-01-12T17:37:00.000+01:00

hi buds. its me, lola. i have been soooo busy annoying my mom and simultaneously making her heart break from my cuteness, that she is simply too busy to blog. so i vlogged for her. i am obviously really nice to be doing this for her. but i wanted to give henry a chance to see what i'm like too.

since my mom basically is for arranged marriages. hi henry!

love you guys!

lola

i need the sea, it teaches me

2012-01-11T22:32:00.000+01:00

I see a recurring theme surrounding my instagram photos.

the ocean.

where's my mermaid tail, again?

Agave Arnold Palmer

2012-01-10T21:18:00.000+01:00

each summer growing up i'd head to my grandmas (ninny as we call her) in mississippi.

i loved to visit her. i could always count on lots of hours in her little garden, southern made veggies, sweet iced tea, and lots of lemons.

It's warm here in Florida - like 80 degree warm (don't hate me)... so I needed something refreshing.

agave arnold palmer to the rescue!

you just cut your unsweetened iced tea with the agave lemonade
to make the agave lemonade: juice the lemons (12), cut with 4.5 cups of water, and 3/4 cup of agave. stir!

a delicious mid day treat!

what's yours?

home office musings

2012-01-09T15:39:00.002+01:00

You've got to love where you work.

which is precisely why, i've been fixing up my office lately.

there's just something about a room of your own.

Where i can infuse all of the things that I love, and use as much soft turquoise as my heart desires.

oh and the love i have for post it notes, stationary, office supplies, and organizers is kinda ridiculous.

blank pages in a brand new notebook . . . be still my heart.

Here are a few things I would love to have in there.

and i promise to share a peek of it soon.

{mug: $20 || gold french press:$49 || map letters: $12 || chevron rug:$39-$74 || rifle notebooks:$12 || bristol collection}

Watercolor

2012-01-05T23:02:00.005+01:00

Today i was working on a little project for a client and it called for watercolor.

oh my goodness that stuff is fun.

after i finished the project, i picked up the brush for myself.

and though i am far from an artist, i still enjoyed myself. immensely.

a bit like therapy.

it's cheap therapy too.

Pakleni Islands: Croatia

2012-01-04T14:45:00.002+01:00

I would download app's when we'd go traveling in europe. One seemed to be a bust at first. It was a travel app for Croatia. It gave advice like - "hitch hike! everyone does it in Croatia!" ... but it totally redeemed its 99 cent self when we sailed the pakleni islands just off the coast of Hvar.

It was around 4pm and we were close to being back on Hvar but we decided we'd listen to our guide and see Pansion Tonci. I am so thankful we did. It is in the middle of nowhere on an island that is mostly a naturist beach - only to be reached by boat.

There is a pansion, a place to tie up your boat, and a restaurant.

I must have squealed a hundred times. I found this place perfect to the last inch. It might have been the white wine from their vineyards, the grandaughters of the owners playing in striped pink suits, the fig trees that surrounded the house, or the collection of sea urchins that were strung together, or the chandelier out of drift wood, shells, and candles... I could not stop hemming and hawwing over the place. JB sat there and ate fresh sardines as I marveled. It had a huge farm table on the porch and it felt much more like being at your grandma's than being at a restaurant. I think that's why I love environments so much, the feelings they convey. How a certain style transports you to a place of warmth and and one of feeling welcome.

That little afternoon snack at this almost undiscovered place still means so much to me.

Hope you enjoyed a little reminiscing!

Resolutions

2012-01-03T14:51:00.002+01:00

{wearing this beautiful dress c/o BCBG || Max & Cleo}

{photography by Jessica Lorren Organic}

love the start of a new year. somehow you see things a bit clearer. looking back on the past year I do feel blessed, but I also know there are some things I can be working on. I'm thankful for the soul searching that always seems to come with a new year.

Some of those things that could use work:

choosing JB over my phone

consistently exercising

work hard during the week, stop. rest. repeat each new morning.

don't sweat small things

forgive easier

do my hair more often. sounds so ridiculous, but when my hair is wrong - I feel all sorts of wrong.

and a couple that go along with nice typography (:

I'd really like to work on being kind to myself.

sounds so silly.

yes. once again mary oliver. you hit the nail on its head.

i'd like to worry less. trust God more. pray instead of worrying.

Wishing you all tons of blessings and love in 2012!

any resolutions you'd like to share?

2011 in Review

2011-12-30T15:45:00.000+01:00

January: I rang the new years in Las Tablas, Panama, Tried Panama hats on in Casco Viejo, Went to a 100 year old ex-presidents birthday party. We went on our first anniversary getaway in the Gamboa Rainforest! and I moved back to Florida to finish grad school. JB later followed.

Feburary: my best friend got engaged. we had an engagement party. i cooked some delicious treats. JB turned 29!

March: I cooked some more healthy treats. Took a trip for my cousins deb ball for Mardi Gras. Jessica Lorren hosted a bride's brunch. We surprised bff with bachelorette number one in west palm. I fell in love with my kiddos at work. went to the cutest dinner party ever.

April: JB had to go back to Switzerland a bit before me. :( That was a bummer. But I did take my comps for grad school. I got to visit my fave's in Pensacola.

May: My mom turned 60! I went to vegas for bachelorette #2. I moved back over to Basel. We visited Edinburgh. went to the vitrahaus in Germany. hung out in bern. chilled in basel a little more. Oh yes, and I finally got my graduate degree!

June: In June we floated down the Rhine to cool off. No A.C. in practically all of Basel made for a steamy summer. We went to Tuscany with our friends. We visted firenze, ate a ton, met franco, and spent a day in Sienna & San G. We went to Bern yet another time to work on getting our Russian Visa - which involved pompenallo roses and peonies galore.

July: We headed to Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split in Croatia. We kayaked, rented a boat, hopped to different surrounding islands... it was a very good vacation. We also hopped over to Montenegro too. I posted about what it's like at baseball games in switzerland for me. We went castle hunting in Switzerland. JB bought me my bike, Mattisse.

August: I had one of my favorite days in the history of days. We spent some time up in the swiss alps. We went to RUSSIA. We went to Berlin for a night... walked the wall and dined amongst hipsters. We went on many bike rides.

September: Three of my southern mama's came to visit. JB & I were featured in Southern Weddings. JB Surprised me with a trip to Gruyeres - where we went to a cheese factory, and then a chocolate factory. heaven. Two of our closest friends were married in Lake Como, Italy! I hung out in Zurich with my dear friend Bettina. I met the sweet Liz in Paris. I returned home.

October: We had a bridal party brunch for Heath. H&B got married! We went fishing. Friends threw a swedish sendoff party for C&C.

November: I did a couple outfit posts. We surprised Jose in NC for his 30th, and were able to go to JB's alma mater. I introduced Sarah Tucker Events!

{last two photos by jessica lorren}

December: JB surprised me with LOLA. The sweetest cutest boston terrier puppy I have ever seen. I was featured in VIE magazine. I turned 28! Sarah Tucker Event's New Years Day feature went up on 100 Layer Cake. It was later posted on POP sugar. I had a nice Christmas.

This year was good.

Check out last years post if you'd like to see what 2010 was like.

Cheers to 2012 blowing the last two out of the water for all of us
... (if that is possible)... (:

where did you get ?

2011-12-28T15:34:00.000+01:00

A whole post dedicated to what I got for christmas / bought myself with christmas loot.

{sparkle & fade dress - lace trim dress}
{i went with mustard by the way for the holidays}

I also bought jeans.

i'm not much of a jean girl. I prefer to buy dresses instead.

i also don't enjoy trying on jeans. just not into it.

i buy the same ones from j.crew year after year.

which is pretty boring of me.

but with some christmas bounty i bought
paige skyline denim!
and let me tell you they are worth every penny.
I'm 5'9'' and it's hard for me to find jeans the right length. these can be worn with heels, with flats, rolled up ... and they look good every which way.
they look good.
let's just say JB been playing conway twitty's "babies got her blue jeans on"
i might be a jeans girl afterall.

I found this pretty sheer thing at forever too.

I just put the sparkle and fade dress underneath.

i think this is my NYE dress!

I can't find it online... or even a similar one. best to check your store.

{you can buy the iphone case here}

the loafers were found here
necklace is j.crew
watch is michael kors - similar one here

{cardigan is forever, shoes are urganog, necklace is h&m, jeans are j.crew}

All right Happy Wednesday!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T19:57:00.002+01:00

christmas day was spent with just us in the morning, then my fam for christmas lunch,

and then an all-nighter at JB's parents.

i love the holiday season. but sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of it all.

Christmas eve dinner we opted to stay in and cuddle up with just the two of us.

JB grilled lobster and steak, made mashed potatoes & corn dressing.

his prayer was so sweet.

they always are but you know the ones that are just extra meaningful? i love those kind.

{calligraphy: rachel carl &co}

Christmas morning JB and Lola Surprised me!

{with a bike}

{and a veggie garden}

he's pretty incredible, that man i married.

and that's when the real pictures peal off and the instagram pics take over ... oops!

Hope you all had merry everything!

Matthew 2:2

2011-12-23T19:27:00.002+01:00

{via my favorite etsy shop}

Love and Blessings!

Sarah

unrelated life things

2011-12-22T16:23:00.000+01:00

a couple unrelated things for your morning.

First things first, thanks for all of the sweet support yesterday. i was in tears because of so many sweet comments and emails. also because i know this is what i am supposed to be doing. that's a nice feeling(:

secondly. wrapping paper. i love brown paper packages tied with kitchen twine. a little trimmings from the tree. probably the cheapest option out there too. where my money hides is in the gift tags. i can't help myself. particularly at pottery barn. they are so darn cute.

did i tell you JB and I met up with Em at Ceviche in St. Pete. You know the Emily that is in the airforce and is a doctor and looks like Barbie? That's the one! love her.
{and yes, i am wearing my swagg}

Lola. don't be fooled by those eyes ... ok, so i am pretty much a sucker for those eyes every second of the day. But she is cah-ray-Z. she has this little yip going on every once in a while. she's pretty vocal, that little lambiekins. there's more youtube videos of her here. and I'll be adding more. which i'm pretty sure is what some of y'all want... since when i called questions for a vlog - 95% of them were rooting for a vlog with Lola. i am old news. i see how it is.

{what we drank in:

prague, germany, alsace, amsterdam (but brewed in holland- apparently that's important), dominican republic, & france}

need another present for the beer loving guy in your life? my sister and i made our own 6 pack at Total Wine yesterday. We had so much fun looking at all the bottles. If I wasn't going for a different beer that we drank while in a particular place, I would have been seduced by the pretty bottles. Cute packaging wins over taste. a little too often for me.

i love this mask. when i found it for $2 it was u-g-l-y, no allibi. but metallic spray paint to the rescue! soft pink velvet ribbon went in place of the terrible cheap purple ribbon. but speaking of masks... I got seduced by the old Hillary Duff remake of Cinderella the other day. I'm not quite sure how wearing a mask makes you unrecognizable, but whatever. also that time in gossip girl when they did the masks and no one could tell that girl was being serena... huh. there's something called face structure? any person who knew someone would be able to know. okay, ending this rant before i admit more embarrassing things I watch.

Happy Thursday!
xo

Sarah Tucker Events & Jessica Lorren Photography featured on 100 Layer Cake

2011-12-21T15:33:00.001+01:00

It's a big day for Sarah Tucker Events! today I woke up with an email from the west coast that had my heart beating a bit faster way before my morning cup of joe. my first ever inspiration shoot is up on one of my favorite wedding blogs - 100 layer cake!

If you've read this blog before, then you know my deep adoration for Jessica Lorren Organic Photography. I think I've mentioned that, ohhh a couple dozen times on this here blog. Teaming up with her was such an honor. her photographs are thee dreamiest. I'm always left breathless by the beauty she captures. It also doesn't hurt that our models are gorgeous.

So be prepared to be left panting a bit from all this pretty (:

There's a lot of DIY affordable and easy details that could be used for your New Years Soire this year.

I'll be sharing tomorrow and Friday, so check back! (:

A million thanks to all of the incredibly talented vendors!

And to all of you who have been such an encouragement!

::Vendor List::

photography: Jessica Lorren Organic Photography // styling + planning: Sarah Tucker Events // models: Michelle & Eric P (contact me for email) // venue: Phillippi Estate Park // dress: Retro Rosie // invitations + calender: Shannon Kirsten // hair: heather jo of Salon Salon // cocktail napkins: Foglio Press // calligraphy: Rachel Carl & Co // cake topper: Hey Babe Studio // Chevron tray: Tilly || Maison // cocktail sparkler sticks: Twisted Twig // pom tassles: Pom Flair & Over the Moon Handcrafted

birthday weekend

2011-12-19T16:23:00.000+01:00

i said no more instagram pictures, but I was telling a fib.

i actually brought my camera and took so many pictures...

then realized I didn't have a card in my camera. {bang head against hard surface}

birthday weekend was so good.

it was pretty much all of my favorites wrapped into one fun weekend.

really good weather too. i'm a happy girl.

...

thursday night.

went to pacific rim in sarasota.

sushi. so good.

...

friday night.

sign of the mermaid.

which is in this little turquoise restaurant with pink shutters on anna maria island.

home of the best key lime ever.

i wore a little black dress by blaque label

Saturday... the birthday.

started off with blueberry pancakes and homemade whipped creme. thank you huzband.

little girl lola

lunch at skinny's.

a delicious hamburger.

bike ride throughout AMI.

map windows.

shock top on the city pier

dinner at my parents.

which was assorted cheeses, avocado/tom/moz concoction, my fave salad, lobster lasagna.

then we went to the park at night which was lit up with illuminaries throughout.

it was beautiful.

oh, and over here we're getting ready for christmas.

presents are wrapped.

stockings are hung.

comfie jammies are being worn at night.

...

come on christmas!

on turning 28.

2011-12-15T15:36:00.003+01:00

i turn 28 tomorrow. i've been preparing for this day for a while. this summer I would say,
"JB, do you know December 17th I will be (said very slowly, for dramatic effect)
TWENTY - EIGHT?!"
... weird.
age is a funny thing.
last year i was in panama on a beach.
tomorrow and tonight i'll be celebrating with family.
and you know what?
every age
(aside from maybe some incredibly awkward teenage years)
deserves to be my favorite. to be celebrated.
i am not one of those people who says to high schoolers or college kids
"enjoy it! it's all down hill from here..."
because for every year in my life,
i've thought "this is pretty cool. this is my fave"
of course there are some years that are tough.
some filled with disease, a loneliness, death, lots of growing pains.
but like this little bottle cap tells us.
growing older is a privilege denied to so many.
i feel we have a responsibility to those we have lost to appreciate the here and now.
to be thankful for this day. we're alive. and this world is pretty magnificent.

last year i quoted sabrina ward - and i feel like i've been living that outloud for the past two years.

this year I'd like this to be my inspiration for my 28th year (:

{via}

Happy Weekend friends!

bogo sale, dubrovnik & a winner

2011-12-15T15:21:00.001+01:00

Just wanted to let you know all prints from my photo shop are buy one get one free until January!

and I figured I should share a few more from Dubrovnik.

My heart was so happy looking back on these photos.

Don't forget to check out the Shop for the bogo sale.

all photos found anywhere on this blog can be made into prints as well (:

{winner of shannon kirsten giveaway is: Sarah Hunt. thanks to all who entered!}

Life as seen through the Iphone.

2011-12-14T22:14:00.000+01:00

I got an iphone last week and since then I have been instagramming up a storm.

I promise to take real pictures again with my camera but oh my word, at the moment, I can't help myself.

this is what I've been up to || through the eyes of my iphone::

{lunch at rod & reel on Anna Maria Island}

cotton candy skies

Lolita sound asleep

Getting my business cards in

New moleskin from ENNA || ANNE

boatnecks and braids... and stripes.

my $8 find. it actually works... but it needs some fixing up.

Okay next time I promise to post a few less pictures of Lola... i aspire to anyway.

i've also been posting some videos on youtube of our little girl. obsessed much? yes.
On the iphone note - any good apps i should know about?

A Holiday Giveaway || Shannon Kirsten Paper

2011-12-13T14:44:00.000+01:00

I have said it before and I will say it again.

I have super talented friends.

And Shannon is no exception.

She's a photographer and graphic designer out of our Gulf Coast Florida town.

and today you get a chance to win some goodies from her Holiday collection!

A few of my favorite items of hers are:

This Calender for 2012! gorg.

These "Will you be my Bridesmaid" cards.

This little holiday package of corresponding goodies (:

TO ENTER:

Leave a Comment and let us know a little about you.

where you live, what you do, and your favorite holiday tradition.

For additional entries:

{separate comment for each entry}

1. Follow Shannon's Blog

2. Using Pinterest, Pin one of the photos above, or from the shop

3. Tweet about this giveaway. include @shannonkirsten & @sgmtucker

4. Link to this giveaway on your facebook page.

5. Favorite the the shop on etsy.

6. Follow Shannon on Twitter

{3 separate entries}

buy something from and send me the receipt!

I'll announce the winner on Thursday!

2011-12-10T15:52:00.001+01:00

good morning loverlies!

My splash page is up for Sarah Tucker Events

and I'm just too excited not to share!

head on over!

and like me on facebook ... that is indeed if you like me (:

Have a great weekend!

Hot Holiday Hair

2011-12-09T15:43:00.001+01:00

My sister came home with the little teaser brush and at under $5, I had to try. I know it may seem a tad dramatic to say it is life changing. but, it is life changing. i have super fine hair, and this little tool gives it body. i'm inspired, i even feel a tutorial in the works with this one! Next up is the Hot tools 1 inch curler which is awwwwesome, especially with its $34 price tag. Lastly, we've got these cute little ribbon hair ties. I got a few in my birch box and have been hooked ever since. This little package of treats is under $50, and will make a hair loving mom/sist/best elated. Oh and if you head to the links below the hair styles you can print the whole tutorials out - which might make a great little insert into your present.

{1-$5 // 2-$34 // 3-$8}

{hair tutorials: 1 // 2 & 3}