Swoon...

Trying not to sound like an ad, I just had to post these pictures from the ab fab Jose Villa courtesy of Style Me Pretty. I.Love.Them.

And there are plenty more where they came from - anyone who loves weddings or photos will love it there. The light in these photos is just amazing and they seem dreamy and romantic...mmm. How can he manage to do it every single time? That's what I want to know.

Don't even get me started on the chandeliers...

I like to boogie...

Photo by Melissa Schollaert via Green Wedding Shoes

Perhaps quite ashamedly, I’ve been collecting photographs of wedding bits and pieces that I loved since before I was even engaged and kept them in a folder on my PC. Yesterday I decided to take the plunge and actually print them out. It was quite amazing actually to find how many I no longer liked as a lot of them were 'trendy'.
I took them to my Mum’s and she and my sister had a little look over them to see what they thought. (Funnily I didn’t show Mr Marshall – Note to self: consult hubby-to-be on wedding ideas.) The problem was that Mum and Sis haven’t been reading wedding blogs to know what is ‘trendy’ and I really should have taken this into consideration and prepared myself for some of the “Are you crazy? People don’t do that!” looks.
After deciding that I want the day to be a little bit different, read: trendy (in the true sense), I now think that maybe it should have a timeless look. Because I read that somewhere. I’m so fickle and easy led. Problem is that if it’s timeless then it just looks like everyone else’s and not “timeless” how it is in my head. Overthinking, moi?
At this stage we are no farther on with the plans, the next major decision to be made being evening entertainment. A band or DJ? That is the question. Mr Marshall is holding firm on his choice for the first dance song but other than that we are lost.
I know that it’s one of the most important decisions as it can set the mood for the evening and have an influence on whether people get up and dance or not, but I just don’t want to think about it. The problem is that there is a real mix of people going – people who love country-style waltzes and jives and people who don’t; people who love lively dance music and people who don’t. I love a good boogie myself but only at other people’s parties. The thought of throwing a party terrifies me.
I’m much happier in the blissful safety of planning tablescapes, flowers and stationery suites to be honest.
So everyone I need your help – what is your experience of wedding parties and what works best – a band or a DJ?

Smiling inside...

This is the stuff that makes me smile inside...

photo credit

specifically gorgeous prints - be they on paper, fabric or china.

Elizabeth Kartchner has teamed up with American Crafts to design a line - Dear Lizzy - to be showcased at CHA in Anaheim - where all the major scrapbooking companies tease us with what is to come in the way of loveliness.

Its been a loooong time since I have bought scrapping goodies, apart from my Scrapagogo kit each month which survived the purge-of-all-things-not-required-for-basic-living. The above pics though mean that this drought is now over and as soon as these babies become available I'm going to have to treat myself. The pink ruffle ribbon is more than I think I can bear and don't get me started on adhesive backed fabric! Watch out bank account!

Moving on to Springtime and sunshine...

photo credit

Pantone's 2010 Colour of the Year has been announced as Turquoise - my birth stone. I'm hoping that there will be some luck for me in 2010 in that somewhere. In honour of turquoise I hoped you would enjoy the above pic which isn't at all seasonal but leads me to the next point in my train of thought!

This is the time of year when I get really restless and my mind starts to go into overdrive thinking of all the possibilities ahead of me. The last two whole days I've done nothing but daydream about

• new cars
• new cameras
• holidays (I'm thinking The Netherlands this year)
• mini-breaks
• Springtime
• country roads and gardens in the sunshine (after watching too much Escape to the Country on BBC2 over the holidays)

I'm so ready for the cold and ice to be gone. We woke this morning to another layer of snow and it doesn't ususally bother me but I'm still driving the courtesy car after my bash and I'm not so confident in first gear, being used to a diesel car and relying heavily on my clutch.

This weekend seen the start of the last series of Celebrity Big Brother and although I don't usually watch it anyway, Mr Marshall forbade me to have it on in the house. I had to tell him Claudia Schiffer was going in to the house to get him to watch it with me. I do like some of the people in there this year so I'll prob watch. My faves so far are Stephen Baldwin and Basshunter - a real gent it would seem.

So far I've kept up to date with my project 365 - all 5 days of it! Already I'm putting pressure on myself to come up with professional-looking, thought-provoking arty snaps, all the while trying to reassure myself that normal, every-day look-what-I-done-today pics will thrill me just as much as arty ones in 2020!

Today I came across the The Annual Weblog Awards where you can vote for your favourite blog to win in 2010. I've already voted for my faves and thought all you blog readers would like a chance to nominate your own favourite blogs too. Hop over and have a look. While you're there check out the past winners - there are some great links to fab blogs there!

Happy Tuesday everyone x

2009 in summary...

For the last two years I have done a 'summary of the year' page for my scrapbook and looking back on 2009 I think I squeezed quite a bit in! This year it reads:

• I got engaged to 'Mr Marshall'


• Was published in Scrapbook Inspirations


• Went to Edinburgh with 'Mr Marshall'


• Went to Paris and Disneyland with Nicola, Andrew and Hayley


• Started a blog (!!)


• Celebrated 5 years with 'Mr Marshall'


• Took 3 online classes


• Decorated our living room


• Got Adobe Photoshop


• Got engagement photos taken


• Booked the venue, church and photographer for our wedding in April 2011


• Turned 31


• Crashed my car in show/ice at Mum and Dad's house (that's another story!)

Back at the start of 2009 I had a bad feeling about the year ahead and I done this page for my scrapbook for some self-therapy. The journalling reads:

"I've got such a feeling of impending doom. I've got a bad feeling about what this year is going to bring. It's not that I know if anything horrible that is definitely due to happen but I've had so many 'good years' in a row that I think they have to run out soon. Sooner or later there has to be a bad one. I want so badly to make loads of lovely plans and things to look forward to, just to prove me wrong - to THINK POSITIVE. I'm afraid that if I even say it, it will attract bad karma. I don't want to be thinking negatively but I just can't shake it. I need a sign that it's going to be another good year."

Unfortunately no sign came and the year started out dreadful with quite a bit of family heartache and tears shed. By Spring though things were looking up and its actually turned out to be a great year for me. Spring always makes me feel good - hence the reason I chose to get married in April :)

Thank you 2009 for a great time (in the end) - lets hope 2010 is another great one.

Happy New Year to you all and I truly hope it brings you great things x