Celebrating 3 Years!

Three years ago, I stood on a soft sanded breezy beach in Maui and married my dream boat of a lifetime. Happy Anniversary to my D!

And as it goes: I love you more!!!

I've spent almost half my life together with you, a feeling that can never be summed up with words.  I will strive to always be a better wife and a supportive companion. 

I love you, and will love you, forever.

Sneak Peak of a Maui Fave!

Tune in tomorrow peeps, I'll be sharing a favorite Maui shop (bridal + more) that I know you'll drool over.  I did.

personal photo

Love That Place

Oh my.  Looky here.  This amazing Etsy shop designs watercolor maps of several different States, Provinces, and Countries in a variety of colors.  Best part, the artist will place the heart wherever you'd like (WHAT!!!?!)- I love this.  I just declared to D that we need this painting of the islands, heart set on Maui near Makena, hands down, done deal.  Beautiful.

photo via Poppy and Pinecone

Almost Fall

I believe the kick-off to Fall starts this Friday- ? - I think~!  I can't believe how quickly this year has passed and it's already time to get out the pumpkins, look over recipes and pretend like I'll get around to possibly making some sort of baked good (hmmmm, we'll see), and look over all the Fall fashions to see what leggings are worth purchasing.

We'll, the forecast for today is in the 90's, so I'll wait on breaking out those sweaters, throw on my peep-toes and scoot off to work.  It's a little bit of a tired Monday- as usge.

One last pic, for now, of Maui.  I'm attempting to make a little video clip of our trip, so once that's completed, I'll attempt to load and share it!

Island Details

Loved capturing the details of our favorite island.  Really............there is no other place like Maui.  I may be biased since we were married there and have made so many amazing memories, but it really is a little piece of paradise.

No Words

Some Maui views have no words to express the beauty.

South Maui

Our amazing photos taken by Ian Shepherd 

Maui Madness week

Ok....ok..... as if you haven't seen/heard enough of Maui, I'll be sharing throughout this week more details of our trip, then I'll leave it alone :)  We had such a great time and still mentally have not come to terms that we are back home, when we wish we were still on the island.

Fall is such a tough time to transition to, all I really want to do when I wake up is sip a salted mocha caramel Frappaccino and relax at home while catching up on blogging, wear comfy clothes, and work on Etsy.  Instead it's off to work, whatever the workday holds, come home, Etsy all night, then bed.  I love the season as far as breaking out the boots, getting a chill in the air, smelling fireplaces burning, football (in the background as I work on Etsy and D hoots and hollas at the television), although I miss the long days of sunlight, summer smoothies, and wearing bootie shorts to bed.  Haha.

I'll stare at our vacation pics just a little more and remember the awesome chill time that I soaked up with my Hubby.


We began our trip with renting a Camero SS (because I gave into D's dream of wanting to pretend like he was Hawaii Five-o for a week).  Major Joke.  Ok, he's been raving about the Camero since it came out, and I thought why not let him drive it on vacay, since he'll never be owning one.  Done.

Our first night was magical, much like every night in Maui.  

Stunning coastline.

We drove the road to Hana this time around.... beyond amazing.

Loved this sign...."Litter Bugs Me"

Back tomorrow with more Island love.

Starting off the week with Maui Memories

Happy Monday........is it going to seem like a long week since last week was a short one?  Actually, even with the holiday last week, it seemed to be the longest week ever, no?

We had a pleasant surprise on Saturday when we woke up, and our favorite person ever to live in Maui, Ian Shepherd, sent our Maui photos over from our trip.  I'm so excited to get our disc and share more, just thought I'd show a few:

Oh Maui......we love you....and miss you....and can't wait to return!

So Much Ahead

There's so much to catch up on with all of you, and so many exciting things to share!  It's going to be a challenging month of Etsy orders, as my schedule is almost fully booked for September and the shop just reached over 300+ orders since opening last year.  Exciting indeed.

Also, I must share some exciting news this week of my very first publication (and the hilarious comment Hubby D made following my statement of blogging it).  More to come!

And because I just can't let go of summer................enjoy another Maui pic  ;)

One of my Faves

As I begin to compile photos from our Maui trip to share, I've come across one of my faves.  On a day when I can't quite wake up and get going, or days full of stress, or days that may be dubbed as "bummer" days, I will look at this photo and remember exactly where I was with Hubby D.


Also, I love exactly how this photo turned out, not needing one ounce of Photoshop:

Back in Full Force (or a even a little force at least)

Hello out there...........it's been a while!  I'm sure most of you noticed the blogs getting lighter and lighter.  Work was getting more and more stressful, on top of busy schedules and lots of Etsy orders to take care of.  My husband and I took a much needed vacay to Maui for our 2nd wedding anniversary.  It was absolutely amazing, just as we anticipated it would be.  I'll share some fun highlights throughout the next month.

Hope you all are well and looking forward to taking a bit of time to catch up on your blogs.  Stepping back and taking some time for yourself is definitely a must (a small detail that can be forgotten when the stress kicks in).  So glad to be back and refreshed!  How are you all doing?

Blogging more regularly- really?

Ok, what happened to blogging again more regularly?  I don't know.  I really will get my booty in gear again soon!  I've been focusing on clients Etsy orders before we leave for our vacay, and any spare time has been planning mode.

Here's a bit of a week re-cap:

Booked our stay for the first 4 days of vacay, in none other that T-Tams parents condo- Thank you Tami for the 'rents hook up'- we absolutely cannot wait!

Picked up a little white number for photos with D:  (not exaggerating on 'little', I will be stepping up the workout routine until we leave):

Brushing up on reading material:

I've been working closely with a few brides with Hawaii weddings, you all know who you are girls, all whose weddings are within the next 3 months.  If I could make it to all your events I would, unfortunately our vacay doesn't fall in between any of them.  But Hubby D and I are going to rock our 2nd wedding anniversary in the very place we said 'I do'- we are beyond ecstatic!

Hugs to you all!

Gearing Up!

In a few weeks, I will be here with Hubby D (for a much needed break):

And I'm looking forward to catching up on like a month's worth of blogging that I've been absent from.   Hope everyone is well!  I'll be back to posting hopefully more regularly!

xoxo
M

Happy Friday- Happy Earth Day

Have a happy Friday, and a happy reminder to enjoy our surroundings and the place we live in on this Earth Day.  I wish people could remember to take a little extra care on a daily basis of their routine and carbon footprints.  Have a great weekend!

A Couple's Gratitude

I had the pleasure of working with the lovely, awesome Haley again for her thank you cards following her Maui, Hawaii wedding.  If you missed the couple's amazing photos posted earlier this month, view them here.  Working with repeat clients is absolutely a thrill.  It forms that constant contact again for a while and has the feeling of speaking with an old friend.  I was honored to have had the opportunity to design the thank you cards for this couple and was even more taken back by the new bride's thoughtful comments.

Below are some shots of her cards, we switched up the final version a bit with reversing their names and changing a few small details, although the bride provided her own thank you message:

The lovely comments I received back:

Shout Out to the Guy

Hubs and I are approaching our one year wedding anniversary in a few days- has it really been one year since we flew over to Maui, had the time of our lives, got married, stayed in some amazing places, met awesome people, and explored beautiful things?  Awwww, the time has flown by.  And by the end of this year, we'll be celebrating 12 years together (which blows my mind even more)!  To the most amazing man that God could have ever brought into my life........

Photo via: EverythingLovely

Almost 12 years ago, we were kids (sort of)- I just turned 17, he 20 and inseparable:

It's always been him, and always will be.

Sometimes

Sometimes it's the simplest thoughts that take me to another place.  Maui, can't wait to go back!

Real Wedding- Haley and Sam

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with amazing clients such as Haley and Sam.  Haley contacted me through my Etsy shop to have a few items designed for her wedding including programs, menus, and place cards.  I now have the pleasure of designing her thank you card booklets while viewing all her breathtaking photos in the process.  All of my Hawaii wedding clients hold a special little place in my heart, myself being a Maui bride.  This wedding is just too spectacular not to be shared!

Haley and Sam were married this past May in Maui, Hawaii at the Olowalu Plantation House located North-West of the island in Lahaina.  The location was perfect, the weather was perfect, and their wedding appeared no less than perfect.  Their amazing photographer Shawn Starr has graciously allowed S&S to feature his amazing work, which can also be viewed on his site here and blog here.  Check out his talented work and browse through the many Hawaiian weddings when you have some time, just gorgeous!  So without further delay, enjoy!

Thank you Haley and Sam for sharing the memories of your special day!  May you have a blessed marriage filled with happiness and unending love!