Cobra lilies are blooming!

Any takers?  They're glorious.  (And anyone that has ever hung out with me after a crazy wedding set-up knows I don't use that word lightly.)

Loving lanterns

From Matthew Robbins Design (who I love even more than I love lanterns).

Pretty Walls

Lovely new wallpapers from Amy Butler, with great prices from Graham & Brown.

Real Weddings: Melissa + Michael

I'm out of town for a few days, visiting family and celebrating Jamey's graduation.  Even with sisters to catch up with, I still have a lot more work time than usual since the little boys were left at home.  I'm figuring I should use the chance to post a few of last year's real weddings I've never gotten to, before this year's start coming back.  First up is a late November one from Seattle's World Trade Center.  It's such a downtown type of room...circular with that relief map on the ceiling, LED lights, and a great view of the water.  Melissa wanted to go bold with dark, dramatic red roses used by the boatload.  Her bouquet...gardenia, stephanotis, callas, and roses. 

(#37) Just a glimpse...

of the top candidate for my if-I-could-do-it-again wedding.  Vera Wang Spring 2011. 

Off to the zoo with the little boys today, to thank them for days of putting up with "Momma is busy!  I'm going to have to play with you later.  Want to watch a show?" while I was working on Sylvia and Matt's pretty day.  It went splendidly well, thanks to friends that pitched in to set-up, pick-up, and watch those little boys.  I had a marvelous time working with some of the most talented and lovely people I've ever worked with.  Sylvia knew how to pick 'em!  Pictures to come!

Recentish pictures

Happy Anniversary! Katie + Grant

I just realized this morning while putting inspiration pictures together for a client, that after I posted a preview of my very favorite wedding EVER, I never inundated y'all with a million shots of the most beautiful bride, handsome groom, cute bridesmaids (haha!), fun truck, pretty flowers in the most summery colors, and thoughtful little touches.  So, here they come!

Happy Anniversary to the happy couple, last Sunday.  I love you both!  I'll always treasure my dear sister Katie Bug's wedding; we got to spend more time than ever before while planning, celebrating, showering, bacheloretting, etc., AND I got a new bro that day.  Love ya Grant!  Somehow, you've fit right in and made yourself at home with us crazy Gronewalds. 

I'd say that you deserve a prize, but you already got her.

I'm going to refrain from explaining the pictures throughout, because you all know how much I hate blogger and the photo/layout thing.  Very short explanations of a few and vendor credit at the end.   

Truck was from a family friend of Grant's, and ended up almost stealing the show that day.  Cute boy next to me when I'm on the roof of it is my awesome brother Jamey, little sister Kerry is the bridesmaid with the long beautiful auburn hair.  Boy birdie on top of the cake was wearing a custom made little tiny "Roll Tide!" hat for Grant; blackberry on top of groomscake was Katie's gift to Grant to recognize that she already knew he had a mistress she'd never be able to compete with.  Coffee bean favors from K&G's favorite date spot; beautiful twig table was made by a close family friend that had just passed away a few weeks earlier.  Oh, and I couldn't resist adding a photo of my own lovebird.  Photos by Mint & Sage, all jewelry by Katie (Abilena Studio), all planning by Katie, flowers from Fiore Blossoms on location in Birmingham, Alabama.

(#36) Just a glimpse...

of an oldie but a goodie.  Still love this look of petals and a path, even after all these years.  (For all you kiddies out there, picture from Martha Stewart Weddings, fall '99).

'Tis the season

For sweet, tart, rosy pink, tender rhubarb!  There is nothing quite like rhubarb in the spring.  This is one of my favorite ways to prepare it--a strawberry rhubarb crisp with a very surprising twist.  Don't leave it out, even though it sounds like the BASIL is a mistake in the recipe.  It does something amazing that can't easily be explained; sort of like pepper in chocolate. 

One of my favorite spring (easy!) dinner menus is Uncle Harry's Flank Steak, served with risotto and asparagus, with this crisp as the perfect ending. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 or 3 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups sliced fresh rhubarb (or frozen unsweetened sliced rhubarb, thawed)
2 cups coarsely chopped strawberries
2 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil leaves (not dried!)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats (oatmeal)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. melted butter


Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl combine the 2/3 cup granulated sugar, the cornstarch, and cinnamon. (For fresh rhubarb, use 2 tsp. cornstarch; for frozen, use 3 tsp.) Stir in rhubarb, strawberries, and basil. Spoon into bottom of a 2 quart casserole/baking dish; set aside.
In another medium bowl, comine flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter. Sprinkle over fruit.

Bake 30-35 minutes, or until fruit is tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm with good vanilla ice cream. Serves 6.

(My copy of the recipe lists nutrition info, which shows that this is remarkably pretty good for you! Per serving: 276 calories, 7 g fat, and 51% of your daily vitamin C!).

House updates

Running around today taking pictures with my very trashed camera.  (See how bad these look Steven?  Blurry, bad lighting, scratched up lens.  See?  We really do need a new one!)