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A Weekend Well-Spent

Sasha and I headed to Austin at the crack of dawn on Saturday, after spending Friday with one of my best friends, Kirby, who flew in town from Oklahoma City for her baby shower (she’s due exactly 4 weeks after me!). We had plans to meet my childhood best-friend – Alisdair, (we met before we were one years old in Scotland), who came to live with us in Texas for his senior year of high school, then ended up going to The University of Texas at Austin with me and married an Austinite! They moved back to Scotland last year, much to my dismay, and I only get to see him once a year, so I was anxious to hug him and Erica. We stayed with another best friend, Sophee, at her gorgeous house (where we spent my bachelorette weekend!). She recently got engaged to Johnny (who took many of these wedding preview pics) – they are the sweetest, most attractive couple ever (see pictures of them at our rehearsal here). I am over-the-moon excited to be one of her bridesmaids next March. Her invitation was perfect (see picture below!).

In the late afternoon, we went to one of my good friend’s wedding – Eric and I have been close since fourth grade! Him and Alisdair also became best friends during our senior year, so we’re one big happy family. Stephanie, his bride, looked radiant. I love weddings! The reception was held at Thurman’s Mansion, just south of Austin. The venue couldn’t have been prettier, neither could the weather.

We had a big family breakfast at Kerbey Lane on Sunday morning, then headed back to Houston. I had a bit of a scare in the car, as I suddenly felt nauseous and then fainted while Sasha was driving. I am a big fainter (errh, fainted at the altar), and have passed out during every pre-natal appointment that involved needles, but this was the first unprovoked fainting, which is a bit concerning. I have my 36 week appointment today and plan on checking with my doctor. Fingers crossed!

I hope you had a good weekend! Happy Cinco de Mayo and first year wedding anniversary to my sister and Carl (pictures here and here).

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the back view of thurman mansion in austin // sasha and kenneth getting rather competitive with bean bag toss (‘cornhole’)

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sophee’s amazing bridesmaid invitation – obsessed and so excited // mother-son dances always make me cry

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shameless selfie with my new ray-bans (after mine got stolen) and haircut (long overdue) // most amazing photo album from ryan ray

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32 days from my due date (feeling ever-so-swollen) // dad and sasha being competitive per usual

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post-breakfast at kerbey lane with dad // wedding selfie in the hot-hot texas sun (think 90+ degrees already)

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outside kerbey lane with my childhood bestfriend/brother and his wife (vising from scotland) // belle is petrified of our stroller… so we’re practicing

Super Sweet 16 Balloon Invites

I am always looking for creative invitation or announcement ideas – a deviation from the standard colored cardstock. I have finally decided what to do for Isla’s announcements, after making the time conscious decision not go to the same letterpress + photo route for Sasha’s UT MBA graduation announcements (to be posted soon!), and no, it’s not a balloon! However, when I saw these super sweet 16 birthday balloon invitations on Oh So Beautiful Paper, I swooned. The balloons are so colorful, and I love the design by Cristina Pandol. I recognized Cristina’s name, and searched Snapshots and My Thoughts – low and behold, I have posted two of her previous projects before here. She is wildly talented – I totally love her style. Have you ever received a save-the-dates or invitation via balloon? Such a cute idea.

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Glassine Envelope Announcements

I am ever-s0-slightly obsessed with glassine birth announcements. When I saw these on Etsy, I could not get over how cute they were!  I love the colors, liner, letterpress, and typography… but most of all, the glassine envelope with Liam’s sweet photo. I love the simplicity of glassine envelopes – and especially when they are sealed with colorful washi tape (good online selections here). Another cute example is here. Making your own glassine invitation or announcement can be simple! You can order envelopes here on Amazon. You can get a custom stamp made on Etsy or Antiquaria and easily print on them, or leave them blank and include them as an accessory to paper goods. Have you seen any cute glassine invitations or announcements before?

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DIY Bridal Party Invitation

Anna Bond, owner and creator of Rifle Design and Rifle Paper Co. (by far my favorite paper store in the world!) was featured on Once Wed for her amazingly creative bridal party invitations. I seriously cannot believe these are DIY. I’m not sure I’d be able to whip something up that looked quite as amazing, but I love this idea so much! What a unique way to ask your bridesmaids/maid of honor to be by your side on the big day! What do you think?

My bridal invitations are here!

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Pop-Up Birth Announcement

I’m always on the look-out for a creative baby announcement idea, and absolutely love these pop-up baby boy ones by Atheneum Creative. My love of these unique cards is enhanced by my obsessed with elephants (see evidence here). I have no idea how one goes about designing a pop-up card – that’s why I’d love it to the pros. What a cute way to announce a little baby boy to the world! What do you think about these cards?

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