May’s Monthly Happy Goals

April showers bring May flowers. We’ve had quite a bit of rain the past few weeks, so I’m excited to see what it brings. I can’t wait to see what blooms are to come in May! Really I’m over the moon for May in general. It’s my birthday month so as you can imagine I really look forward to this month every year. February was spent celebrating my hubby’s birthday and May will be spent celebrating MINE!!

MAY’S MONTHLY HAPPY GOALS
1. Celebrate my BIRTHDAY MONTH! That means lots of cake, ice cream, cupcakes, rosé, glitter, confetti, balloons, birthday crowns, adventures, and parties! Let’s see did I leave anything out? Well, you get the picture.

2. As I have mentioned before I am OBSESSED with my FujiFilm Instax Mini camera. It goes with me everywhere! For my husband’s birthday I took a photo of him everyday of his birthday month. I loved all the different poses and moods of John Paul I was capturing. It’s such a great way to document such an important month and a wonderful keepsake to look back on when we’re old and grey. It’s going to be a new family tradition for us, for sure. This month is my turn!

3. It’s ok to make it just about you! Life as a business owner is filled with wonderful and amazing ups, and like anything else, also has its downs. The hustle and bustle of a typical work day filled with appointments, meetings, projects, discussions, events, shoots etc. can take a toll on anyone. After a long day of work I’m going to take a few moments to unwind with a glass of rosé, a good magazine, and some mellow tunes to re-energize the soul.

4. Life is too short not to be enjoyed, lived, savored and thoroughly experienced while sporting a pretty ol’ party dress. This month I’m dusting off all my party dresses and gonna have fun everyday. Because you only live once!

5. One of my favorite colors is PINK. My home, office, and closet are filled with pink items. This month I am going to indulge in pink colored foods. If it’s pink, I’m eating it!

Now off to enjoy my Birthday Month and check off May’s Monthly Happy Goals!

The post May’s Monthly Happy Goals appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

This year, on the other hand, I plan to see it through to the end. I have kept myself accountable and it seems to be working. Not to say I haven’t lapsed or gone off the track a time or two. However, this time around I get myself back on track and continue. I don’t get down on myself for a miss step or two as long as I get back to it. This year I will not allow myself to throw in the towel and forget about the whole thing, because this year I will be SUCCESSFUL!

One of the many resolutions I made is to venture outside my comfort zone and try new things. That means attempting all those things I have wanted to try, but was too scared to. For instance, participating in styled shoots. For years I have visited thrift stores, vintage shops, and garage sales accumulating an array of vintage and unique finds. These beauties have graced our office, home, and home offices. My finds have been used as decor for vignettes, and many personal get togethers and parties. Styling our home, offices and special occasions has led me to commercial styling.

I have styled many of the photos/films for our two businesses (Le Vintage Photo Booth & John Arriola Films), as well as, for my blog. And I have to say it has turned out to be one of my favorite things to do. I love the process. I begin with an object I want to exhibit or a concept I want to get across and I then must come up with a beautiful display. It usually includes the addition of props and requires experimentation in the placement of everything. It has to be just right. The first time I styled a shoot I knew instantly I was in my element.

I had only used my styling chops for our personal businesses, at least until last week, when I made the leap and worked on A Lovely Styled Film. It was heaven! We have wonderful frendors that create the most exquisite custom invitations. The kind of invitations that blow your mind. And I immediately knew I wanted to create something special for them. My extraordinarily talented and supportive husband was ready to make that happen. He was on board for whatever I had in mind.

One small box of invitations, several prop selections, an array of placement configurations, and a heap load of imagination later we have A Lovely Styled Film to share!

Thank you to Nocta Invitations for allowing us to borrow many of their creations! Thank you to my wonderful husband (John Arriola Films) for always supporting me in all my endeavors and for always being ready to contribute in anyway you can!

Feast your eyes on these beauties!

………………………………………………………………………………….

INVITATIONS Nocta Invitations || CINEMATOGRAPHY John Arriola Films || STYLING & PROPS Brenda Martinez-Arriola of Lovely & Amazing

The post A Lovely Styled Film appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

The following is from the nationaldaycalendar.com:
This day is for those who have waited patiently for that special someone to pop the question without success…It is an opportunity to let the loved one in your life know you are open to marriage proposal.

For National Proposal Day I am celebrating proposals! The elaborately orchestrated proposals. The spur of the moment proposals. The taking advantage of the holiday spirit and atmosphere proposals. The dreamy Paris Proposals. ALL PROPOSALS!

On my blog I have had the opportunity to share some pretty fantastic proposal stories over the years. A few proposals have been elaborately planned, one took place at Disney World, and I once received a proposal from the male and female perspective. The latter was an incredible treat, because I rarely hear the guys side of the story. We tend to be so concerned with the female’s point of view and how SHE felt, we lose sight of the fact two people are getting engaged. And the guys part is just as exciting and emotional as for the female. How ever someone may propose each and every one is unique and special in their own way. And when they are witnessed by and shared with loved ones, they are especially so.

If you’d like to read these amazing proposals you may do so by clicking the following links:
A Sweet Disney World Wedding Proposal
An Elaborate Proposal 
Will You Marry Me!
One Big Love And Engagement Story
Undying Love

Now to this dreamy proposal film. This film took a great deal of planning. My husband and the lucky groom-to-be exchanged many text messages and phone calls so that everything ran smoothly. During the process there was a change of location, and a few other changes, but once it was all said and done it was executed to perfection. The lucky young woman was completely surprised and the family was able to witness the entire moment. My husband captured their magical occasion and created this incredibly dreamy film for them. Enjoy!

………………………………………..
CINEMATOGRAPHY John Arriola Films  ||  PROPOSAL LOCATION Casa de Palmas Renaissance  ||  PHOTO SHOOT LOCATION McAllen Convention Center

The post National Proposal Day! appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

I love movies! Black & white, classics, period pieces, 80’s, love stories, rom-coms…You name it, I love it! I especially love John Hughes movies. He had an incredible way of weaving a wonderful story with the use of relatable and authentic situations and characters, that are so darn genuine. When you watch his movies you instantly feel akin to the character, because you can relate to their situation or feelings. He was simply a genius storyteller.
My favorite John Hughes movies star Molly Ringwald, the sweet girl next door, with the adorable red hair and the amazingly quirky style. She was the loveliest. In John Hughes movies she played an awkward insecure teen that I feel represented puberty, a teen’s life and a young female’s woes perfectly. I gravitated towards her character, because I identified with her. I felt her pain, disappointment, sadness, and happiness along with her.Because of our great love for John Hughes movies my husband and I decided it would be fun to have a John Hughes Movie Marathon. We went back and forth on whether we wanted to declare one particular day John Hughes Day or spread it throughout the month. After some back and forth we landed on spreading it throughout the month of March. Every Thursday we will watch one of our beloved John Hughes movies. I am, of course, partial to those with Molly Ringwald, while my husband can’t get enough of the National Lampoon movies.
The first movie on our list was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). This movie had to make an appearance and it seemed like the perfect place to begin our John Hughes Movie Marathon. To this day it is still referenced to in commercials, movies and everyday conversation. I mean, come on, who can forget these memorable quotes or scenes:

Bueller?…Bueller?…Bueller?

The question isn’t what are we going to do. The question is what aren’t we going to do.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Hey batter, batter, batter, batter, batter, swing batter!

I could go on and on. It’s a great movie. This week we plan to watch Sixteen Candles (1984). I never tire of this movie. I could watch it over and over again. That scene on the table with the cute guy and candles is what swoon-worthy moments are made of.

When you agree to have a John Hughes Movie Marathon be prepared to be taken back in time. It will surely be a blast from the past, and it’s only appropriate you indulge in 80’s treats and candies, and sport some of the popular trends of the era. Really, it’s the only way to enjoy such an experience!

The following is a list of our favorite John Hughes movies that may make an appearance in our John Hughes Movie Marathon.

John Hughes Movie List
1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
2. Sixteen Candles (1984)
3. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
4. Pretty in Pink (1986)
5. National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
6. The Breakfast Club (1985)
7. Uncle Buck (1989)
8. Weird Science (1985)
9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
10. Home Alone (1990)

The post John Hughes Movie Marathon appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

MARCH’S MONTHLY HAPPY GOALS
1. Find the time to sit down, relax, and take a load off with a nice cup of tea and a good book. Read some oldies, but goodies, like The Great Gatsby, or anything by the talented Jane Austen.

2. Get back to pampering myself. Recently I’ve been thinking about the good ol’ days of high school, when I had a lot more time to myself. That was when I had time to pamper myself. For instance, I had the time to give myself manicures and pedicures, hair treatments, facials and so on. Man, those were the days.

Adulting is difficult. Every day you are pulled and tugged in every direction. You are expected to perform certain duties, and sometimes life and all of its complications takes precedence over our own well being. It’s easy to forget about ourselves. But we must remember that when we are not well in mind, body and soul we cannot be expected to function properly.

So this month everything changes! I vow to reserve at least one hour every Sunday to pamper ME. Yup, that one hour will be dedicated to ME and ONLY ME. My special time to think about myself and not feel guilty about it. First on my list is a facial and foot soak combo.

3. Have a John Hughes Movie Marathon. Oh my goodness John Hughes was the most amazing story teller. His movies are fantastic! He had such a way of representing the life of a teenager and telling the funniest stories. Both my husband and I are huge fans of his movies and we’ve been talking about having a John Hughes Movie Marathon. And March seems like the perfect time to do so. It will include movies he either wrote, directed, or produced. Excited about this!

4. Be creative! My sweet husband is always encouraging me to pursue my passions in decorating, styling and crafting. He has been my constant cheerleader and my biggest supporter. This month seems like the perfect time to try new things. We have some projects lined up for the next couple months that will allow me to exercise my decorating, styling and crafting chops. It is going to be fun!

5. Explore & Adventure more! It is so easy to get stuck in a routine–a life of monotony. Sometimes you just get caught in the hamster wheel. Our job isn’t so much routine, it’s quite the contrary, rather my complaint is that our job kind of rules our life. I can’t think of a moment we aren’t thinking about our business, clients, and/or future events. I’d like to break from that a bit. I want to explore and adventure more separate from work. For instance, go on drives to take photos. Or explore our local parks. We need some time away from work to call our own.

This month is about taking care of ourselves. It’s about making sure our mind, body and soul are taken care of, so that we can have a wonderful productive day, week, month, and life. Let me know how you’re keeping your happy!

The post March’s Monthly Happy Goals appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

These couples aren’t scared off by words like, “old-fashioned,” “traditional,” and “conventional.” Rather, they are intrigued by such an idea. They desire a wedding filled with classic touches. They are looking to inject their wedding with tried and true traditions or classic elements that were once a staple in weddings. They see a value in what used to be, rather than a fad that may be here today, but gone tomorrow. They desire a wedding that is timeless and won’t show its age in 10 or 20 years.

Creating a wedding filled with classic or traditional details is quite easy, there are a multitude of ways to do so. You won’t have any problem finding just the right elements for your special day. One lovely way to do so is through classic cocktail recipes. You will likely serve your guests a drink or two, so why not serve up a classic cocktail. Whether you choose one, two or all of the following recipes, your guest will thoroughly enjoy them!

These 11 Classic Cocktail recipes are sure to be a favorite on your wedding day and for years to come!

OLD-FASHIONED WHISKEY SOUR
1 1/2 oz. whiskey
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
4 tsp. cherry juice
5 oz. sweet and sour mix
olives or mushrooms to garnish

Mix whiskey, bitters and cherry juice in an ice-filled martini glass, and fill the remainder of the glass with sour mix. Garnish with olives or mushrooms and serve with a swizzle stick.

TOM COLLINS
2 oz. gin
1 1/2 oz. lemon juice
2 tsp. sugar syrup
splash of soda water

Combine gin, juice and sugar syrup in a highball glass. Stir, add ice and fill with soda water.

CLASSIC MARTINI
1 1/2 oz. gin
1 tsp. dry vermouth
cocktail olive to garnish

Stir gin and vermouth with ice cubes in a mixing glass until chilled. Then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cocktail olive.

CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
3 oz. Champagne
1/2 oz. cognac
twist of lemon
slice of orange to garnish

Soak sugar cube with Angostura bitters in a Champagne flute. Add Champagne and cognac, squeeze in a twist of lemon and garnish with half a slice of orange.

GIMLET
1 1/2 oz. gin
2 tsp. lime juice
wedge of lime to garnish

Shake gin and lime juice in a shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

MOJITO
5 mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh chopped lime
2 oz. white rum
1/2 oz. sugar syrup
1 tsp. superfine sugar
splash of soda water
sprig of mint to garnish

Muddle mint leaves and fresh lime (with peel). Shake with rum, syrup and sugar, and pour into a highball glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a sprig of mint.

CLASSIC BLOODY MARY
2 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1/2 oz. lemon juice
black pepper and salt
3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 drops of Tabasco sauce
wedge of lemon and celer stalk to garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a highball glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stalk.

MANHATTAN

2 1/2 oz. bourbon
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
maraschino cherry
orange peel to garnish

Combine bourbon, vermouth and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Strain over a cherry placed in a chilled martini glass. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the glass rim and twist it over the drink.

OLD-FASHIONED
1 tsp. sugar
splash of water
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 maraschino cherry
wedge of orange
2 oz. bourbon

Mix sugar, water and bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Add cherry and orange wedge. Muddle into a paste, then add bourbon. Fill with ice and stir.

MINT JULEP
1 tsp. superfine sugar
5-6 mint leaves
3 oz. bourbon
sprig of mint to garnish

Muddle mint leaves with sugerfine sugar and a splash of water in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with ice, top with bourbon and garnish with mint sprig.

FRENCH 75
2 oz. sour mix
1 1/2 oz. cognac
5 oz. Champagne

Combine sour mix and cognac in a Collins glass with a litter ice, and stir. Fill with Champagne, then garnish with a French flag!

Cocktail Source THE COCKTAIL 200 Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca

The post 11 Classic Cocktail Recipes appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

3. As I wrapped the yarn on the wreath form I applied a small amount of glue to the BACK SIDE to secure the yarn. I did this about every 2-3 inches. If you don’t apply the glue, every time you let go of the yarn it will unravel. This little bit of glue will secure the yarn and allow you to leave the project if need be or take breaks without disrupting the work you have already done.

Note: I will say this was the most tedious part of the whole project. It took quiet a while to completely cover the entire wreath. Once the wrapping was complete, I did have some achy fingers afterwards. I would suggest taking a few breaks during the wrapping process to let your fingers rest a bit.

4. Once you have finished wrapping your wreath form and the glue has dried, you may move on to the next elements.

5. I placed the XO letters and lips on the wreath playing with the arrangement. Once I found a sequence and spacing I was happy with I then began the gluing.

6. I let the glue dry and once it was dry it was ready to be hung.

The post XOXO Valentine Wreath appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

FEBRUARY’S MONTHLY HAPPY GOALS
1. Savor all that February has to offer! For instance, good weather, my hubby’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and love.

2. It’s my husband’s birthday this month and we plan to celebrate ALL month long! With cake, unexpected excursions, movie nights, dance parties, and many more fun activities.

3. It’s the month of LOVEEE and to celebrate we must have many, many, many candle lit dinners for two. Dinner should be made into a big to do. We get so busy throughout the week and dinner time is the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy one another. And to do so I am planning many romantic dinners for two.

A romantic dinner for two doesn’t have to be such a grand thing. For instance, at home make meals special. Turn on some music, turn the TV off, and dim the lights. Voila, you have a romantic dinner for two. If you’re feeling more ambitious move the meal outdoors on a patio or porch and add a few twinkle lights.

4. Make handmade Valentine goodies for family and friends. Create something pretty to handout for Valentine’s Day.

I was such a huge fan of Martha Stewart. Just how much of a fan? You could fine me on any given day making something published in her magazine or made on her morning show. I especially loved all the creations she made for the holidays. For instance, handmade cards, crafts, cookies, or other goodies for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s, Easter and so forth. I’d follow her religiously making everything she made and gifting them to friends and family. I haven’t done any of that in the last few years. Two-thousand eighteen is the year of change. No more excuses. I can’t blame the lack of time no longer. I just have to make the time and do it.

5. Don’t be shy and really get into the Valentine’s Day spirit. That means wearing everything and anything with hearts, anything pink or red is a YASSS, glittered anything is welcomed, and lace and ruffles are a must. Hey, you only live once and it’s time to seize the day!

I hope you have a splendid February filled with tremendous love, loads of candy, lovely goodies and romantic dinners. Let me know how you are spending your February and Valentine’s Day.

xoxo
Brenda Martinez-Arriola

The post February’s Monthly Happy Goals appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

A SWEETHEARTS FILM is a 45 minute local Valentine’s themed session filled with fun, love and lasting memories. And at the end of this wonderful experience John Arriola Films will create your very own film to share with family and friends.

What makes this offer so special? It is an offer only available in the month of February. John Arriola Films never presents such an offer any other time of the year. And did I mention it is Valentine’s themed. Oh my goodness! It will be filled with many Valentine’s themed props. You can look forward to the color red and pink, hearts, candy, and many other props synonymous with Valentine’s. It will be a shoot filled with loads of color and tremendous love.

These films are so much fun and really a wonderful way to spend an hour with the one you love. During the film you will be creating lasting memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. And you’ll be able to share all the fun with your family and friends, because John Arriola Films will create a beautiful personalized film for you.

Chocolates are wonderful. Candy is great. A stuffed animal is cute. However, this experience will stay with you forever and will be documented so that you can re-live it over and over again.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this once in a lifetime experience call John Arriola and reserve your spot right away!

John Arriola
(956) 686-5055
www.johnarriolafilms.com

The post A Sweethearts Film appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.

What are LovelyDeals?
Every month we will offer our subscribers, for John Arriola Films, Le Vintage Photo Booth and Lovely & Amazing, a monthly promotion, special, or special offer for our sister companies John Arriola Films and Le Vintage Photo Booth. These LovelyDeals will change every month and will only be available for the specified month. Once the LovelyDeal expires it will no longer be available and can no longer be redeemed. But not to worry every month you will have an opportunity to save!

The LovelyDeals will not be advertised, therefore, the only way to be aware of these offers and to receive the offers is through our email list.

How do I receive the LovelyDeals info?
There are several different ways to register or signup for the email list. You may do so via Facebook (there is an email signup button on the left hand side bar of the page), or you may simply send me a DM or PM through Facebook or Instagram. You may also contact me at hello@lovelyandamazing.co I am also currently working on a Signup page for Lovely & Amazing’s website.

Please provide the following information when emailing or messaging:
Your Name
Your email
Specify kind of event?  (if applicable) Wedding/Quinceanera/Anniversary/Party/Graduation etc.
Date of the event (if applicable) MM/DD/YY
Location of event (if applicable)

When will I receive the LovelyDeals?
Once you have sent me your information I will then insert your information to my email list and in about 48 hours or so you will receive your first LovelyDeal. You will then be set to start saving!

This year is going to be filled with so many wonderful new things for Lovely & Amazing!

The post New Feature: LovelyDeal appeared first on Lovely and Amazing Weddings.