They really did "Love My Dress"...

Wow! Absolutely delighted to announce that our recent wedding was chosen to be featured on the award winning UK wedding blog "Love My Dress" (www.lovemydress.net).  My husband and I are both over the moon to have been selected and extremely pleased that we can play a part in helping to inspire brides (and grooms) to be! 

Love My Dress played a massive role in helping us to create our dream wedding and enabled us to have the confidence to plan a very special DIY wedding of our own. They feature so many wonderful weddings and it is lovely to see how other couples manage to pull their day together and to recognize how much time and effort has went in to planning such a memorable occasion.  Annabel and the team at Love My Dress do a such wonderful job at celebrating the success of so many wedding days whilst capturing the love of each couple that they feature,

Thank you. With all of my ♥

Debbie 

Click here to view our AMAZING wedding feature!

The Book that is a Bag!...

Hello fellow tea lovers! This week I am sharing a fashion concept which I know you will all LOVE as much as I do. Kate Spade continues to prove she is a fashion genius by combining literature with fashion to create the visionary concept known as: the book clutch. In simple terms, it is a clutch bag that looks like a book! This clutch bag adds the WOW factor to any outfit day or night. Just choose your favorite here at www.katespade.com and start getting noticed everywhere you go. I can't wait to take mine on its first outing this weekend......Kate Spade, I heart you!

         

Happily Ever After......

WOW, it is hard to believe that we have been married now for 6 weeks! It feels like a life time ago and just yesterday all at the same time. Our wedding day came and went so quickly but our memories will last for forever. It is only now that I am finding time to sort through photographs, order prints and write thank you cards. I am also just beginning to find time to reflect on not only the wedding day itself but the whole process of planning what really was the biggest day of our lives. 

Looking back on the day, I have to say that I wouldn't have done a thing differently. Every detail was exactly as we wanted it and a lot of love was put in to creating a celebration that matched our personalities down to a tea. We absolutely loved having the flexibility of a venue that we could decorate as we wished and we were so fortunate to have wonderful suppliers on board as well as a lot of family and friends to support us. If it wasn't for them I am not sure we could have pulled it off! 

Our day was more than magical and by sharing it with you all I am able to relive each and every moment......ENJOY! ♥♥♥

                                         

 

                     

                                         

                                                       

             

  

Photos C/O www.mackphotography.co.uk

 

Number Ten gets 10/10!....(a personal review of a very impressionable place)

As part of our mini-moon my husband and I embarked on a 5 hour road trip from sunny St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland to the even sunnier Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland. This trip was somewhat spectacular with every corner a new and enchanting surprise. The scenery was even more breathtaking than we remembered and the drive itself would definitely be in our 'top ten drives of the world' book (if we ever got round to writing one!).  

The Cullins, Isle of Skye, Scotland

As we neared our accommodation for the next few nights not only was our breath taken but we were also left speechless.....This was the sight we were greeted by:

Number Ten, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

Number Ten on the Isle of Skye really does live up to its 'Luxurious Island Retreat' name. The views from the property are second to none and the attention to detail that has went in to making this holiday haven a success is out of this world. Diana and Alan have done a fabulous job of creating a space for two which feels like a million miles away from the rest of the world. They greet you on arrival with a drink of your choice and then walk you round your new home for the next few days. A welcome basket of wine, beers, egg, fresh bread and chocolate (but to name a few) also awaits you.  The living space itself boosts a wood burning fire, an enormous bath tub and sizable bed with sumptuous sheets. There is also a great space out front for you to eat and drink out doors as you watch the sunset. 

The hospitality provided by Diana and Alan makes a great impression and they are more than happy to help you with whatever you need. They even offered to taxi us to the world renowned Three Chimneys restaurant one evening which was well received! 

Not only is this sanctuary a home away from home but there is also a wonderful art gallery on site. Diana (the owner and artist) produces some of the most beautiful paintings and prints of the Isle of Skye landscapes and seascapes. This gallery is worth a visit in itself! 

To conclude, I would have to say that Number Ten is one of the most relaxing hideaways on earth and we wish we could have spent even more time there. Unfortunately our trip only lasted a few days, but we will definitely be back! And for now....we have our very own piece of heaven as a reminder hanging right above our fireplace!.....

'Above the Clouds' by Diana Mackie
http://www.diana-mackie.co.uk

To Blog or not to Blog? That is the Question?.....

After a very busy summer at home in Scotland (getting married and just generally having a blast with all of my family and friends) I have finally returned back to normality to the place I now call home: Louisville. I am now fully settled in to married life and instead of spending our weekends wedding planning we are organizing our honeymoon and house hunting instead. Things haven't got less hectic, the items on the 'to-do list' have just been replaced with new ones. With a lot of 'extra stuff'' still going on and a new full time job just around the corner I recently wondered if I there is still a place in my life for blogging?

Then.....I read this wonderful article (found here) all about the reasons to write a blog and how it impacts positively on your life. My question was quickly answered with a resounding YES! To summarize the article, writing a blog helps you to;

1. Become a better writer

2. Deepen your thinking

3. Live life more intentionally

4. Develop healthier habits (i.e discipline, devotion, commitment)

5. Meet new people

6. Inspire others

7. Develop a more well rounded mindset

8. Remember key life events and keep a personal journal

9. Become more confident

10. Learn from others

Overall, writing a blog changes your life in some way or another. It becomes less about you writing the story and more about the story writing and changing you. If you are considering writing a blog I would highly recommend it. I can't believe that for a short time there I considered giving it up! Maybe one day when I have little kiddos to care for but until then.....I will certainly be making time (and so should you).

White Teeth? Naturally....

Looking for a natural way to get sparkling white teeth? look no further! This is a true tried and tested method which I have been using for just over a week now, and guess what? It really does work. So, how did I learn about this natural approach to teeth whitening I hear you ask? Well let me tell you: over the past few months I have been experimenting vigorously with a range of products, trying desperately to get myself looking and feeling my ultimate best for my up and coming wedding! My friend, is a huge advocate for using natural products instead of chemically enhanced and luckily for me she sent me some in the post for my bday! I LOVED them (esp the gooey seaweed face mask) anyway, since then, and thanks to her, I have been seeking out more and more new ways of enhancing my own beauty..naturally.

I have tried everything from egg in my hair to rubbing banana peels on my face (which btw works like a charm!) and my most recent discovery...yup strawberries to whiten teeth! Apparently, Catherine Zeta Jones swears by it...have you seen her teeth?! So if you are looking for super sparkly whites then this is what to do:

You need 1 strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry?baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Apply once per week. 

If you don't believe me then here are my (genuine) results.....

And if you still don't believe me then check out this article http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/09/27/whiten-your-teeth-with-strawberries.aspx

These are my Obsessions......

Obsession: the state of being obsessed with someone or something

Recently I have found myself obsessing over a few simple things in life that give me great pleasure. These simple pleasures can some times be far more gratifying than anything big. I always believe you should appreciate the small things and when you connect the dots between your little joys, life seems fuller and more satisfying each and every day. 

1. Paper Fans! How can you not love these?...the colours, the shape, their ability to brighten up even the dullest of settings. I recently hung a bunch of these in the corner of my office and they immediately made me smile. I look at them now every day and I instantly feel lifted! Perfect for hanging outdoors too for an instant WOW at any outdoor event.....

                                     

2. Bow- utiful! Love. Love. Love all things with bows on them at the moment. Hair accessories, shoes, rings, earrings, clothes...you name it. Fashion is the ultimate form of expression and you can never go wrong with a bow. Super cute and super stylish. 

                                    

 3. Vintage Tea Sets. What more can I say: uber retro and uber useful. I recently treated myself to my very own china tea set (something I have wanted for quite some time now) and man did I feel amazing when it arrived. The perfect way to host any tea party or gathering with the girls. Feel like Audrey Hepburn every time you drink tea...enough said.