Support, Shop & get Stylish!

As most of you know, I love supporting small businesses! One of my best gals, opened up a fabulous online fashion boutique, Desert Star Outfitters. What makes this online boutique special, you ask? Well, aside from carrying chic, on-trend and reasonably priced pieces, Desert Star Outfitters was created by a single-mom with a love for fashion and a drive to provide for her family! Desert Star Outfitters  carries something for everyone, the fashionistas, the busy Mom's on-the-go, and the budget-conscious. So please, check it out today, shop & support!

To learn more about why this online boutique came to be, check out April's story here!

In addition to the unique pieces the shop has to offer, Desert Star has a special section to help us choose pieces by our own body shape! SHOP By BODY SHAPE, was created to help women choose tops and bottoms to best flatter their own figure! Chic suggestions for each body type are included to ensure you have a figure-flattering outfit and look fabulous at the same time! Any busy mom or gal, could always use a helpful fashion hint!

Here are a couple pieces I'm currently coveting!! 

This Pullover with elbow patches, only $20! 
This adorable peplum dress, a steal at $35!! 
If you haven't already visited Desert Star Outfitters, please do so today! You'll find chic items for your closet & support my friend's small business!

Here comes the exciting news.... 

To help my friend April kick off her online boutique, I will be hosting a give-away from Desert Star Outfitters!! Stay tuned for the details! One lucky Prose & Company reader will win something fabulous from Desert Star Outfitters! More to come on this in the next couple days!!




DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! If you're preparing the meal this year, best of luck to you and I hope for smooth sailing in the kitchen! If you're visiting and it's not your year to cook, offer to do the dishes! :) Any host/hostess will appreciate a helpful hand! Either way, best wishes to you and your families for a blessed and happy day!

I noticed that I hadn't posted any projects lately, so I whipped up an easy to do place card project that came to me while I was looking for paint inspiration for our playroom addition currently under construction! {More on that in the coming months!}



If you're like me, you love the little details. Upon setting my table for Thanksgiving, I realized my table settings needed a little something more. I have place card holders, but I wanted something a little more rustic. While I was in Lowes looking for paint colors, the idea came to me! It was super easy to do & took a total of 15 minutes!

I must add, if you don't have paint cards, construction paper can work or a pretty card stock! If you have ideas for cute place cards or try this project, I'd love to see your pictures!  Please share them & I can post your projects on the blog too!
And for smiles...I just had to share my little guys place setting too! 

A big thanks to Jack's Uncle Matt & Aunt Brie for the place mat & matching cup from Jack's 1st Thanksgiving & PBK for putting their Thanksgiving plates & bowls on sale a few weeks ago! I love a good deal!
Don't forget! Be sure to share your  ideas for place cards and/or photos of this project, should you give it a try! I'd love to feature it on the blog!

As always, I'm thankful for you taking the time to read my posts! Happy Thanksgiving to you! 


Proses go to the mountains!

We've returned from one of the most beautiful weddings last week! My friend, Erica's destination wedding came together beautifully in the mountains of North Georgia. How could it not in this gorgeous location with perfect Fall weather? I think the day was exactly what she was hoping for!

If you didn't catch my previous post on her Bridal Shower, I mentioned the gorgeous wedding location, Montaluce Estate. This beautiful location, did not disappoint. It served as a stunning backdrop for the wedding ceremony and a lovely reception. No detail was overlooked, the food was delicious, guests enjoyed wine from the estate, and I needed to build up my courage to give my heartfelt speech at the end of dinner. :) I was nervous and emotional about it all day! But I think, it came out pretty well, from what I recall. There was laughter so... that's a good sign, right?? All I remember is tearing up and the Father of the Bride, Joe, coming over & bringing me a tissue {SO SWEET, right?} I'm overjoyed my friend is now a wife to a wonderful man, Congrats again Erica & Ben! :)

Now here's a look at the gorgeous wedding and my quick mountain getaway with the hubby!
This was the scenery upon our arrival to Dahlonega, GA! Beautiful!
                         
During our quick trip for the wedding, we were blessed to have a couple days, just the two of us...although we missed Jack like crazy, we knew he was in wonderful hands and being loved...errr...spoiled by my sweet in-laws. :) Falling in love with the colors of the leaves was a good distraction!!!
 My hubby and I really enjoyed our little mountain getaway, although short, we loved Dahlonega, GA, the fall leaves, the weather, and the cutest little town. And of course, happy to be there to celebrate a beautiful wedding! We will definitely return! Perhaps, we do it all again next year to celebrate their 1st anniversary??? Just an idea. :)

Before the 'I do's'! 


The Bridesmaids stayed with the Bride in a gorgeous villa on the estate the night before the wedding. One last 'girls-only' slumber party before the big day! 

Handsome hubbys before the wedding! photo credit: Tina Jose Overbaugh

Time to say, I-do!! 

 
Photo credit: Tina Jose Overbaugh
 The bride looked absolutely gorgeous. The ceremony was perfect. And now, it was time pop the bubbly and celebrate! 
Thank you Tina for taking this wonderful photo of us! 

The reception...aka Party Time!

Beautiful tables decorated in the dining room. All centerpieces were made with love with help from the bridal party weeks earlier. 
This photo makes me laugh, but we had a great time! 
It was so wonderful to catch up with old friends, especially to the tune of fun dance songs like, Michael Jackson's, "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough". Woooooo! We had such a beautiful time. Friends, if you are reading this & you have pictures to share from the wedding, please email me! :)

Check out the gorgeous cake! 
Congrats again to Mr. & Mrs. Oblander! Soon after the cake cutting and a little more dancing they ran threw a tunnel of sparklers to their getaway car decorated by the bride's Dad, Joe. It was adorable! :) A perfect ending to a fabulous day!





3rd Annual Trick~or~Treat Parade!!

Halloween has come and gone! {Insert sad face here} Before we are rushed into the countdown for Christmas, I certainly, don't want to skip past all the fun that Fall season brings! So, with out further delay, I'm sharing with you our Halloween Party and Costume Parade with Jack's friends a few weeks ago!

This was the 3rd year we hosted our little Halloween party and parade of kiddos to trick or treat in our great neighborhood & I hope it will continue for many years to come!!

Here's a look at the fun we had on Halloween with Jack's little buddies and their parents!


I have always enjoyed Halloween & of course, you know I don't need much reason to throw a party! Our little Trick~or~Treat Parade has been a blast in years past & this year was no different! I made plenty of little treats to enjoy before our costume parade took off in the neighborhood. Our wonderful friends also brought lots of delicious snacks to share! And of course, you know Jack's little guests didn't leave with out a special goodie bag! 
This year, I painted orange polka-dots on paper lunch bags, found a cute free printable & tied with a black ribbon. Simple & cute! Inside, we gave the kids play dough, stickers and stamps to enjoy! 
                            Now check out these little cuties in their costumes!!! 
We had a cowboy, Calvin & Hobs, Rapuzel & a cute Flamenco dancer! {Princess Aurora showed up later!}
After the door opened at this house, all the kids started following the owner inside as she went to find her candy bowl!! 
Bungalow buddies, Jack, Austin & Princess Aurora aka Addi! 
              
How cute is this family? Flamenco girls and their bull! Check out their family blog too, it's awesome! The Great Escape Plan 

I'm feeling blessed that we live in such a great neighborhood and grateful for friends that enjoy coming to have fun together! The kids were so much fun this year, as Cowboy Jack liked to say after EVERY house, "Ok, now to the next stop!" My heart was full, watching how happy he was. 

Here's looking forward to our costume parade next year! 



A bridal shower...

For my girl, Erica! One of my best friends is finally getting married! Later this week as a matter of fact! We'll be driving up to the mountains of North Georgia for her wedding at Montaluce Winery. I am thrilled for her & didn't want skip past sharing her beautiful bridal shower I planned with the help of her wonderful bridesmaids!

Here's a look at Erica's bridal shower!


Once again, Jamie from The Honey Bee Press, designed beautiful invitations and matching advise cards for me! The inspiration for the bridal shower were lace pennants I fell in love with from BHLDN {Anthropologie's wedding site} Of course in DIY fashion, I made my own! We carried the lace through out the shower as you'll see below! 


The candy bar 
Dainty centerpieces 
Bridesmaid, Katie did a great job with this wedding cake cupcake display! 
The food! 
 If you know me, you know I'm all about the little details! I love throwing parties, but most importantly I love sprinkling special details for the guest of honor! The bride & groom had their engagement photos taken weeks before the bridal shower & had just received their proofs the night before, so I surprised Erica with a few of their engagement photos to be displayed at the shower!
I used jute cording, doilies and clothes pins to display their photos! 
                      
Another special detail was displaying bridal photos of Erica's parents & grandparents & I even managed for the groom to supply a picture of his parents at their wedding too! We also had a special table for people to leave some 'Advise for the Bride'  :)
The Bridesmaids
Family checking out the bridal photos of the past! 
Onto the games and opening presents! Older sis & Bridesmaid, Regina, did a great job planning the games for the party! Below, you'll see the bride is struggling with "How well do you know the Groom"...for every incorrect answer she had to eat marshmallows! She ate A LOT of marshmallows! :) 
Bridesmaid Kim is reading her team's Mad Libs wedding vows. 
                 
Erica and her moms! Mother-in-law, Sigi & Mom, Barbara 
Erica had so many friends and family come to celebrate her!  

To my little Bride, I hope you had a wonderful time at  your bridal shower & all your wedding parties! It's been so fun to celebrate your upcoming nuptials!! A big thanks to all the bridesmaids near and far for helping to plan such a wonderful event!