Sarah Elizabeth

Lighting for Your Wedding

2012-01-27T14:53:00.003-05:00

Right now I'm working on a lighting proposal for my April bride, and I couldn't be more excited. Nothing spruces up a reception like the perfect lighting. A blue tone can take your reception to a nightclub feel, whereas an amber glow will feel like you're at a candlelit affair.

It's no surprise that complex lighting can rack up quite a hefty bill, but there's some shortcuts you can take to still create an impact but not break the bank. For starters, Nashville Event Lighting has a package where you can rent 10 uplights for $100. This is a great deal for a 100-150 size wedding where the venue isn't too large (any larger and you might need to grab another set). NEL gives you a pack of gels so you can pick the color that you want. Here's a picture from their reception-- you can see the uplighting in the back of the dinner area.

Nashville Wedding Photographers-- Jen & Chris Creed

Here are some couples that took advantage of great lighting opportunity--- what do you think?

Michael Howard

This couple used pink and peach lighting to create a warm, romantic atmosphere at their Oxford Hotel wedding in Denver.

Photos by Jared Wilson Photography

Five Star Holiday Decor

Add caption

Cool Wash-- Project Wedding

Rose & Yellow Gold Bands

2012-01-25T13:02:00.002-05:00

our rings

Now ladies, before you get your panties in a twist...I am perfectly happy with my ring and band. It's only been (almost) 1.5 years since our wedding and I'm not thinking about adding another band to the mix. But if I was, I can't get past these gorgeous mixes of white/gold and white/rose. What do you think? My band and engagement ring are already mixed in textures, so I think it'd be fun to bring a color into the mix.

huge stone- but you get the idea

A steal at only $30

from Pinterest

Love this set! Would like it more if the engagement ring was white gold

Only $150, sapphire

Perfection!

and if I could get a right hand ring, this would be it

Do you like matchy matchy bands with rings, or are you game for a little mixup?

Pillows For Our New Place

2012-01-23T18:35:00.001-05:00

Although we'll only be in this condo for 6 months, I still want to make it feel like home. It's important not to break the bank, since there's no telling what the style of our next place will be like. Our home in Nashville was pretty traditional, I used a lot of red/blue/and white to accent our open living and dining area. We mixed up our furniture a little bit, by using our bonus room furniture as the main pieces in our living room. The brown sectional is modern and fits the space nicely, and we're also using our leaning bookshelves.

our sectional-- picture from Rooms 2 Go website

our shelves-- but we use them separate on both sides of the TV

In the essence of saving money, I've attempted to use our more modern accessories and decorative accents. I loved the pillows that we had in our bonus room, but the colors are too deep and saturated for our current living space. I've decided to make some on my own (and recover the bar stools which are nearby). We have white walls with dark cabinets and dark hardwood floors, so I'm going to try and stick with a modern, neutral palette-- maybe even adding some pops of metallic. Here's some of my inspiration fabric-- what do you think?

all product links can be found at http://pinterest.com/missse06/denver-condo/

Moving Day...And Some

2012-01-12T10:41:00.002-05:00

So yesterday, on top of moving into our new apartment (which btw has no cell service. working on that), something else happened.... Denver got a little more snow than they were expecting (by about 6in), and as a result none of the streets were salted the night before. Here's a little picture story for you:

Yes, I crashed my car into a fire hydrant. Then I proceeded to pull onto a side street and cry uncontrollably because A) I just hit a fire hydrant and B) I had no idea where I was. Towards my winter driving credibility, I grew up driving in the snow in DC and upstate New York.

Here's a news article about the crazy morning http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19724432

So...We Found A Place To Live

2012-01-08T22:31:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Thank you for continuing to follow--even though I've been lame and not posting as of late. Good news, Mr. SE and I successfully made the move to Denver. We had a wonderful night in Kansas City, and were able to spend time with my cousin and their 3 sweet kids. Now we're in Denver and staying with Mr. SE's aunt and uncle. Dever is a blast, and what fun we've had over the past couple days. We've already had 4 inches of snow!

And more importantly, we found a place to live! Mr. SE's uncle was so hospitable and took us on a tour of the city on Saturday morning. He covered all of the neighborhoods that we'd e interested in living in, and we got a good glimpse of the vibe for each area. Once back at home we hit Craigslist, Padmapper, HotPads, and the usual places looking for somewhere that was available for move-in asap. In out drive we passed by this gorgeous condo building, right next to City Park, that totally caught our eye. Although we're not in the market to purchase another home (at least until ours sells in Nashville), I thought I'd call and ask if they were available to rent any of their units. Luckily they said yes, and we were on the road for a site visit within minutes.

There were several units available for lease, two 2-bedrooms and one 1-bedroom. The 2 bedrooms were nice but a little out of our budget. This building had amenities and trimmings beyond our wildest belief! I never imagined that we could live somewhere like this! So we took the less expensive unit, and were able to work the into a 6 month lease, without increasing the per-month price. Excellent! The good news is that we're able to move in Wednesday, which is the exact day our moving truck arrives!

Luck? Blessing, I think! Here's some pictures:

What do you think? We're super excited! And the 6 month lease gives us time to decide where we really want to buy property again.

House Hunting- Again?

2011-12-30T08:18:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, it sure has been awhile since I last posted. As you can imagine, things are pretty hectic in the SE household right now. We're wrapping up our jobs in Nashville, putting the house on the market, packing to move across the country, and preparing for our new jobs in Colorado. Yikes, mama!

Our schedule for next week is packing/loading with movers on Tuesday & Wednesday, and on Thursday & Friday we're making the two day drive to Denver. Lucky for us, my sweet cousins (parents to our adorable flower girl) live in Kansas City and are letting us crash with them for a night! Apologies in advance for our two crazy dogs. We were supposed to move this week, but Mr. SE needed to finish out FY'11 on his current team before heading to the new office. We're thankful for the move because it bought us another week to find a place.

So where are we living? Oh, we still don't know. Yep, that's right. We're heading to Denver and don't have a place to live. Lucy for us (again) Mr. SE's aunt and uncle live in Denver and are letting us stay with them for a couple of nights until we find a place. Also, dealing with the concept of downsizing is hard! Props to those of you who have gone through this before. We're going from a 3 bed/2 bath that we own to a 700-900 sq foot apartment. It's definitely going to be a change, but something that we're super excited about.

hopefully the apartment isn't this small!

Once our house in Nashville is sold we'll be able to look into purchasing another home in Denver. I'm looking forward to the chain of events, since we'll have time to learn which areas of the city fit our lifestyle the best. The rent prices are kind of freaking me out, but that's what happens when you move to a bigger city. We're a little spoiled with home prices in Nashville, but I guess it could be worse if I still lived in DC?

Winter Weather Fashion

2011-12-22T13:33:00.002-05:00

With our winter move to Denver, I've had to re-think my cold weather wardrobe. My light coat and lack of mittens/hats here in Nashville aren't going to cut it in the Mile High. Not like I've needed another reason to shop, but I've taken this notion and run with it. Here's some of my favorite winter looks---

Old Navy Zig-Zag Mittens

Hunter Regent Savoy

Cashmere Cardi Coat

Diamond Down Coat

Kenneth Cole Shearling

Belted Faux Vest

Hallowell Cowlneck

Geometric Zig-Zag Scarf

And speaking of warm...I never tire of the cat pictures!

Rocky Mountain High

2011-12-13T08:33:00.001-05:00

Good morning friends! I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you today on the blog. Those of you who read regularly might have remembered that Mr. SE spent over a month in our company’s Denver office in October. He did a great job driving performance for the high profile team in trouble, and they were sad to see him go in November. So much so, that they offered us the opportunity to move from Nashville to Denver and have Mr. SE take over that position permanently! This is an amazing opportunity for him, since he’s been with the company for over 4 years and has been working towards this role the whole time. If you know me in real life, you’re no stranger to the long hours that he puts in—so you know how big of a deal this is.

I’m so proud of my husband, and incredibly excited about this journey ahead of us! We’re leaving for Denver the week after Christmas! As those of you who have moved long distances can attest, this is no small feat. Thoughts of encouragement and prayers as we make this move are greatly appreciated!

Spring 2012 Color Trends

2011-12-09T11:31:00.001-05:00

It seems like fashion and retail are always one step ahead! Once we start decorating our homes for Christmas, they're releasing Resort and Spring 2012 collections. I can't say I'm disappointed, as I'm a 4 seasons girl at heart. I'm not sure how I'd feel living somewhere without all seasons-- it's so refreshing to prepare for a new season every couple months! So while you're sipping cocoa and listening to your Michael Buble Christmas album, take a look at these color predictions for Spring 2012.

I picked out some goodies fashion and home decor in each of these spring shades. I think my favorite color is the Cockatoo and Starfish. What do you think of these selections?

Final Shot of DIY Light Upgrade

2011-12-03T16:33:00.001-05:00

Here's the final product---

Sequence

2011-11-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

Have you ever played Sequence? Our family started playing this while in Florida for Thanksgiving and I'm addicted! Basically, it's like strategic Connect Four with cards--such a blast. After telling my mother in law how much fun we had, she picked it up for Christmas at her house! Does your family play games during the holidays? What's your tradition?

Oil Rubbed Bronze DIY Light Fixture

2011-11-29T08:36:00.000-05:00

Well friends, I took the plunge and did my first oil rubbed bronze project. The lights in our bathroom were chrome, and I really liked their lines, but they just didn't match with the new knobs and faucets that we'd installed. After researching the Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint, I figured this was something I could take a stab at. I wouldn't use this for a faucet or anything that gets frequently touched, but I think for light fixtures it's perfect.

This was my first adventure in wiring (since I did this while Mr. SE was in Denver), but I made sure to shut off the breaker for the whole house so as to not electrocute myself! Once the cords were disconnected, it was pretty simple. I put my new eco-tarp on the floor of our garage (w/the door open-- don't worry!) and covered the bulb sockets with masking tape.

Two thin coats were all I needed, and this beauty was shining like a brand new girl! What do you think?

Ps- don't hate on my lack of photography skills. Point and click, baby.

LOFT CYBER MONDAY SALE

2011-11-28T09:37:00.006-05:00

Things To Do When You Get Engaged

2011-11-21T11:09:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite engagement pictures! by Gray Photography

I remember our engagement like it was yesterday! Being the Type A girl that I am, I'd been looking at wedding blogs and magazines for awhile. However, there's nothing to compare with that "We're engaged-- now where to start?!?" confusion. Here's a great list I saw on Pinterest this morning, and couldn't help but share with you all. Do you have any must do tips following your engagement?

As you know, I work as a wedding coordinator. So of course the last "to do" was a delight for me to see!

Get A Manicure

You’re hand is about to be the subject of a lot of photos and constant attention (“Ooh, let me see that ring!”), so don’t embarrass yourself with some chipped, unpolished hot mess of a hand. Get a mani, professional or at-home, as soon as possible.

Settle On A Budget

Whoever is bankrolling your wedding — whether it’s you, your fiance, his parents or yours — needs to sit down and have that uber-awkward, but essential conversation about the wedding budget, including a specific number. Keep all familial relationships in tact by minding this budget down to the last red cent.

Sign Up For Sale Alerts

The gown will be your major purchase, and in my opinion is worth splurging on, but the accessories are not. Even designers like Jimmy Choo and Louboutin go on sale, so set sale alerts by designer name or specific product.

Insure Your Ring

If your fiance hasn’t done it already, you need to insure your engagement ring immediately. The jeweler where he purchased it should refer you to certified insurers. Don’t forget to ask the jeweler for an appraisal slip which will be used to determine its value.

Sign Up For Pinterest

Holy motherload of inspiration — I honestly don’t know what brides did before Pinterest. It is hands-down the most intuitive and vast resource for inspiration; search and save photos of everything from your dream dress, to DIY favors, mouth-watering cakes and more.

Have ‘The Money Talk’ With Your Fiance

Not only will you have to have that uncomfortable conversation about the wedding budget, you’ll also need to suss out the logistics that come along with merging your bank accounts. What’s yours is mine! isn’t as simple as it sounds.

Sign Up For Trunk Show Alerts

Follow your local bridal boutique on Facebook and refer to your regional bridal magazine for a list of designer trunk shows in your area. At these shows you’ll be able to see and touch the most recent designer gowns — straight off the runway.

Choose A Diet Plan & Start It

If you plan to loose weight for your wedding, the worst thing you can do is wait until the last minute and crash diet. If you plan to loose more than 5 lb., you should give yourself 9-12 months to do it. Choose a proven plan, like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig, and sign up immediately.

Pick A Location

The location — city and venue — is the most significant decision you’ll make for the wedding, so its better to get this discussion started as soon as possible. All parties involved, ie. his family and yours, will have an opinion about where you should be married, so hear all sides.

Hire A Planner

Girl, I don’t care how Type-A, organized, rockstar you are — you’re going to need a wedding planner. At the very, very least for the day-of, but I highly recommend hiring someone to help you for the long haul.

From Bride Finds

A note from Mrs SE--- ENSURE YOUR RING!

Sweater Sale at Old Navy

2011-11-19T15:28:00.001-05:00

I LOVE SWEATERS! Friends, Old Navy is having a sale tomorrow from 12-5 where all of their adult sweaters are 75% off. Holy cow! With a sale like this, my strategy is normally to buy everything I like-- then bring it all home to see how it fits into my wardrobe. The styles that don't fit will be returned! Old Navy has been quite on trend lately, and while it seems their prices have increased, a sale like this makes them budget friendly again! After selecting images for this post, it's apparent that it's specifically neutral sweaters that have my heart. Here are some of my favorites--

for him

this is men's-- but I'd almost buy a XS for myself!

for him

Home Sick

2011-11-15T09:40:00.002-05:00

Boo :(

Booties on a Shoestring

2011-11-13T12:54:00.002-05:00

Twitpic of my new Mossimo pair from Target

Shoes are so easy in the summertime-- for me it's either strappy wedges or a pair of rainbows. So simple! Once temperatures start getting cooler, I always find myself perplexed for a good pair of warm, comfortable shoes. Mr. SE and I walk about 4 blocks downtown from our work parking, so both comfort and warmth are important to me. My Old Navy Rock Star jeans are a staple during the cold months, and I've finally found a great alternative to ballet flats (cold tops of feet), UGGS (too college), and riding boots (can't wear them every day). Meet the wedged bootie! Le sigh, I'm in love!

This weekend I picked up pairs at both Target ($28) and Kohl's ($24 sale), for less than the cost of one full priced pair. Some of these booties can get expensive, and I' not entirely convinced they'll be in style next year-- so don't break the bank! Yesterday I noticed a ton of pairs at TJ Maxx, including Steve Madden and Sam Edelman. I scored a great pair of knee high Sam Edelman boots at TJ Maxx earlier this fall. It's always worth a shot to check the discount stores (Marshalls, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Ross)

Tangoo by Steve Madden

Steve Madden Annnie

Sam Edelman Effie

Are you hopping on the laced wedge bootie trend? I wore my shearling pair to a birthday party yesterday and got tons of compliments. Not to mention my feet were so warm!

Yankee Candle Sale

2011-11-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that candles are my crack. Check out this awesome coupon from Yankee! They're kind of expensive on their own, and I rarely get Yankee brand for that reason, but when you factor the whole price divided by 4 it's not too bad! I'm going to try and use it at Bed Bath & Beyond, since they're closer. Will let you know if they'll take it!

Pinnable Friday

2011-11-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

Good news, friends. My new Kate Spade bag arrived, and boy was she beautiful as ever! I'm in love! This craft popped out at me today on Pinterest, and I'm going to give it a try. What do you think? Nothing you can't tackle with some fabric paint and 40% coupons to Hobby Lobby!

Of course, you can buy the original here on Etsy. Or if you're like me, you can try and get creative with a knock off version for less moolah!

Follow me on Pinterest! www.pinterest.com/MissSE06

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

2011-11-03T18:39:00.000-04:00

Kate Spade Montrose Antoinette

It's hard to believe how close we are to Christmas-- and my family's "Christmas" is even closer! Since we'll be spending this Christmas with Mr. SE's family, I've decided to give all of my gifts to my side of the family over Thanksgiving. It'll be perfect because we'll all be together in Florida! That being said, I'm a little frantic trying to be creative, thrifty, and prepared at such an early date! I've got some great gifts already picked out, but I can't post them because my family members read the blog.

For those of you who don't know me in real life, Mr. SE just spent a 7 week stint in Denver. It was hard, and I missed him a lot. Luckily the company paid for me to come visit too! With all the craziness in our lives lately, I decided that I could reward myself with a pretty little lovely! (was that a bad rationalization?) This beauty will be making her way to my house in the next 3-5 days. Have you purchased any early gifts for others or yourself?

Old Natchez Wedding

2011-10-29T12:42:00.000-04:00

Here's the inspiration board I created for today's wedding at Old Natchez Country Club-- I can't wait to post a recap!

Denver Bound

2011-10-18T07:55:00.003-04:00

Friends, it's another trip for Mr. and Mrs. SE! This time we're headed to Denver! Our company has another office out there and Mr. SE has been given a great opportunity there. We're excited to visit the office and see what the city is like. Even better, Mr. SE's uncle and his family live there. We'll be sure to pack in a family dinner! Now if only we could get a trip to our new office in Singapore...

Although we'll spend most of our time in the office, I'd love suggestions for things to do!

Niagara Falls Trip

2011-10-16T13:53:00.002-04:00

MissSE06's photostream on Flickr.

So I wrote a really great post about our trip to Niagara falls and somehow deleted it. Here are the pictures!

Looks Like Fall

2011-10-04T08:09:00.001-04:00

My New October desktop for work

These brisk mornings are a welcome sign of the gorgeous season to come! I can't wait to see the leaves turn, and I've enjoyed leaving our screen door open to let some cool air circulate through the house. Yesterday I picked up some little white squash and I just love how they look on our table.

This, coupled with the scent of my new salted caramel candle is making our house so warm and cozy. I've also started wearing more sweaters, and my boots are getting a little more use! Are you looking forward to the new season?

Denim Rug

2011-09-28T10:35:00.001-04:00

This is the rug that started it all. I spotted this beauty on the Anthropologie website, and knew I should pin it to admire for all eternity. Fast forward to last night, when I was watching a DVR'd episode of Secrets From A Stylist on HGTV, and my little jewel Emily Henderson used the denim rug in her room! Holy happiness! Lo and behold, the couple's color pallet mimicked that of ours in our living room. Fate!

love her- watch her show!

Who knew recycled denim was so chic? I love the deep indigo color, and think this rug would look quite fashionable underneath my new oak pedestal table. The table will be refinished in a walnut color, and look something like the below image.

Here's an Etsy seller that sells a dead ringer for the Anthro version (for much less!)

What do you think about the up-cycled rug?