Good Friday {Friday Linkups}

As much as I feel like Monday morning comes so fast.  I feel like we're reaching the weekends quicker now that it's spring.

so.. Happy Friday!

Happy Good Friday!

Easter Weekend is upon us.  I don't know about you but our weekend ahead is pretty much all about Easter festivities plus a little house work.

Miss Stella is currently getting her haircut; I can't wait to pick her up in her Easter bow so I'm getting my errands in early, hopefully beating the crowds since a lot of people are off today.  Kind of like the weekend, all my errands revolve around Easter.  Gym - so I can indulge extra deliciousness this weekend, Grocery Store - so I can bake some of said deliciousness and then off to pick up our ham for part one of celebrations!

Let's get into my favorites from this week, shall we?

{One: Cadbury Mini Eggs}

I successfully completed my month of no sweets recently and it worked just as I wanted it to! I really only indulge on the weekends now and just a little.  I was in such a phase after the holidays of just reaching in the pantry for something sweet every night after dinner.

Anyway, in addition to the cookie dough I found with Sam, I treated myself to a little pack of some mini Cadbury Eggs in the checkout line at the grocery store. I mean I had to, they are only available once a year, and they were mini!  The package was finished by the end of the weekend, of course.  But there weren't that many in it :)

{Two: Dining at the Table}

During the cold winter months we got into such a habit of eating our meals on tray tables on the couches and watching TV.  All this week we've sat down together at the table for dinner and it felt pretty nice to get back into a routine.  Hopefully we're dining on the deck soon!

{Three: Jack Rogers}

Since things are quiet today, I'm going to attempt to switch over our closet to spring.  I hope I finish today - I usually hit a point and just have to stop but I'm pretty determined and also don't really have any time the rest of the weekend to finish.  

Anyway, I'm so excited to give my Jack Rogers sandals another go this summer.  I am for sure a quitter - I wore them one day at the start of last summer and put them back into the box.  

SO… I know you have to give the effort of breaking them in and then they are perfect and I'm definitely going to work through the discomfort this year because I want to wear my pretty sandals. Any experience tips on the break in phase?! 

I've got hopes that I'll be able to break them in quick and then get another color for this summer.

{Four: Easter Dress Shopping, Last Minute}

Mom and I ran out yesterday to try to find our Easter dresses.  We love dressing up extra for church/brunch on Easter Sunday and usually we're not quite so last minute.  We both walked away with two options, some other goodies and a great day was had.

{Five: Bonefish Happy Hour Date}

I've heard so many people loving Bone Fish for happy hour.  Derek and I went for our first time over the winter and I don't know how we ever went before then! Anyway, we both agreed the appetizers were for sure the best part! Derek was up for picking the spot for dinner last night so he picked some drinks and apps last night at Bonefish.  I'll never turn down drinks and apps.  

Linking up here, here, here and here today.

Easter DIY Inspiration + April Goals

I am so ready for Easter this year. I love Easter; such a bright and cheery holiday.

Another day to celebrate all He does and has done for us.  Because of traveling, I unfortunately haven't been able to attend Easter service the past two years.  That will make this Sunday even more special :)  It's hard to miss church on Easter when He is the reason for the day.

This year we are doing an Easter dinner and and Easter brunch the next day.

One a small gathering.  One a big gathering filled with great people.

Double the deliciousness.  Double the festiveness. Yes!

Planning for the holidays is one of my favorite things.

I love searching Pinterest and finding all the DIY and different inspirations.

I'm not doing anything huge for Easter - a couple desserts mainly, but it was fantastic searching.

My favorite finds below.

{Centerpieces & Tablescapes} 

one // two // three // 

four // five // six

I love the glass candle stick holders with the glittery eggs on top of them.  So beautiful yet so easy.

{Sweets & Treats}

one // two // three

four // five // six

I'm pretty sure I'm making the Cadbury Egg Triffle (one) as well as possibly the Confetti Bars (two).

The Peeps bunny cups were high up on my list too.

{Brunch}

one // two // three

four // five // six

We always go out to brunch so I won't be making any of these but if I was cooking, those little cinnabunnies look pretty hard to pass up! 

Before today ends, let's get to a couple little goals for this month, again nothing huge and personal (gotta keep some things to yourself) just fun things to check off the list.

April Goals:

1. {Enjoy Easter}

Like I said above, we've been on the go the past two Easters, I'm so looking forward to really enjoying the meaning of the holiday and the actual day and all it's celebrations and not rushing through the weekend.

2. {Spring Cleaning}

Switch our closets from our winter clothes to our spring clothes.

Clean up the outside of our house the best we can (our neighborhood is still being finished so it's a little messy out there!)

A couple other organizing and tidying up tasks inside the house as well.

3. {Big Giveaway}

Anytime we do a closet switch we always have a nice size giveaway pile to take to good will.  That's definitely ahead for us this month as Derek's already pre-started his pile in the guest room.

4. {Vacation!}

A couple days away to enjoy some sun, each other's company and relaxation.

5. {Finish our Bathrooms}

Our bathrooms our up next on the home finishing list.  I've already been busy searching for wall hangings and Pinterest inspiration so hopefully we can just find the time to tie everything together.

6. {Be Outside}

The temperature should be on the upswing?! Soon?!

I'm hoping some walks and nights out on the deck are ahead this month.

*Sidenote: I can't wait until it's time to be able to eat outside; there's few things I love more than dining outside.*

7. {Nothing Nights}

As the weather gets nicer I feel like we (and everyone) get busier and busier.

There's just so much more to do when it's nice out.  We have family dinner once a week, we're always wanting to be outside.  This month I'd love to come home from work a couple times a week and just have nothing to do.  Just some couch time and no distractions before our hectic spring/summer heats up.

Checking in on my March goals… 

1. Get some wall hangings up in the house and tackle another room 

Yes. Our first floor is done after we find a plant for the foyer… next up, the bathrooms!

2. Find and purchase patio furniture

Yes. We realized the set we liked at Target was never going to be available in store so we ordered it and it actually just came this week.  It's sitting in our basement now we just need to find a couple little accent pieces to finish it off.

3. Work on commands with Stella.

Yes. girlfriend is making major progress.  Still lots to go.

4. Start walking with Stella

Yes. Stella's walks are pretty short but she's doing great trotting along and it so tires her out.  Win win.

5. Celebrate six months of marriage and St. Patrick's Day

Yes.  We had a great staycation in the city to celebrate both of these milestones.

6. Girls weekend

Yes. I just got back from a fabulous visit to Sam's.

7. More relaxing time doing nothing

Not as much.  I feel like I'm always "doing" even when relaxing.  Definitely giving it another go.

8. Get a vacation planned

Yes. We're heading to Bermuda later this month with some more on the horizon!

For this holiday, I feel like there's so many different ways to celebrate.  Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, a combination of all.  Easter Egg hunts, outdoor activities, etc.

How do you celebrate Easter?!

The Little Things {Wedding Wednesday}

{Place Cards}

The place cards were picked to match the invitations and the table numbers matched the place cards.  I loved the ribbon on the table numbers.

{Entrance Table}

We had this long table at the entrance of the ballroom with plenty of little touches on them.

Florals to match the centerpieces, guest book (more below), a few signs, etc.

In the middle of the table (the gold plate) were hearts with "C & D" on them for people to write marriage and travel advice to us.

They were placed in the golden carriage.

 

{Guest Book}

I made our guest book on snap fish out of our engagement photos, leaving plenty of open room for guests to sign.  We also had a nice feather pen.  It makes for a great coffee table book to flip through every now and then.

 {Menu Cards}

I love how a menu card adds to a place setting; A reception is the first time you can show off your new monogram so of course we had that at the top.

Derek and I also had some special touches at our tables like the Mr. & Mrs. forks.

{Flip Flop Basket}

One of the first things I look for at a wedding is for sure a wedding basket!

This girl does not keep her heels on all night so I knew this was a definite for our wedding.

I purchased a bunch of flip flops in our wedding colors from Old Navy in early spring before they got over picked for the season.  I tied the ribbon and a size on them early on and then just had to take the box to the venue the week before.

  

{Ceremony Extras}

At the entrance of the church we had bubbles as well as cute DIY tissue packs that I made for anyone who wanted them

 {Cigar Bar}

The ballroom connected to the gardens so we had access to them all night.  There was a little cigar bar set up for the gentlemen with personalized matches, cigar cutters, ash trays, mints and plenty of cigars.  A custom sign as well.

{Home Touches}

People were in and out of our house all weekend - we had friends stay Thursday, the bridesmaids stayed Friday and we had a late lunch and hangout on Sunday so I wanted a couple little touches.

{Mimosa Bar + Getting Ready}

Who doesn't love a mimosa bar?! Especially on wedding day.  We had a few variety of juices and plenty of champagne. 

In addition to my parents' house looking fabulous; My mom had cute little touches all over.

{Groom's Cake]

Okay, so not part of the wedding but I couldn't not share.  I love love love cake, Derek not so much but I knew from the start I was doing him a great groom's cake that he'd love. They were everything I wanted and more! The bakery accidentally put the Yankees symbol on the baseball cake instead of the Mets but I didn't care, they looked fabulous, it was a funny story and I was getting married the next day!

This post was getting a little lengthy so I decided to save the ladies room baskets and bridesmaid survival kits how-to's for another day.  Keep an eye out for that in the upcoming weeks or so.