Baby Shower: DIY Alphabet Decorating Station

My friend who I have featured many times before sent me the most adorable idea that she used at her cousins baby shower this weekend!!! Everyone by now knows shower games can be SO BORING...yes I said it, phewww that felt good;)! Why not come up with something that is fun, creative, and can be useful in the nursery...

DIY Alphabet Decorating Station 

By: Ali

My cousin is having a baby girl in 4 short weeks. I wanted to do something special that the guests and 'mom to be' would both enjoy. The letters were a lot of fun to paint and will look great in the nursery too!  We even made the boys come in from their "sausage and beer party" to paint letters too :)

Supplies:
Paint (any colors to match the decor)
Paint brushes and sponges
Wooden letters (I ordered mine from Etsy)
Containers for water, paint, and other supplies
Paint pens to write messages and sign the backs of the letters with

No directions needed.  Just let your guests creative juices flow!

Thanks so much for sharing!!! LOVE this idea, and I'm totally stealing it;)!!! XOX

We are 'Buggin' out.. Mac is ONE!

I mentioned in a previous post that ATE is now offering invite design!!! Shortly after that post our very own Modern Momma asked me to design a specific invite she had in mind... its honestly adorable if I do say so myself!!

Thanks for buzzzing over and checking it out! ;)

DIY Fresh Flower Chandelier

This past weekend I coordinated a beautiful Long Beach wedding with tons of giant peonies and bunches and bunches of fresh flowers; it was just GORG! They needed something cohesive for the tents at both their long beach house and the country club, so I decided to create something personalized just for them! I love how it turned out and I think it could be decorated so many different ways!

Need: a large grapevine wreath or garland, heavy chain(preferably bronze to match the grapevine), pliers, fresh flowers.

Step 1: cut 3 pieces of chain approximately 3 feet long(all 3 being the same length).

Step 2:Wrap each piece of chain around the grapevine in 3 different spots equal distances away, making a triangle and use pliers to connect with a chain link.

Step 3: Hang...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!! XOX

{THE} Dream Wedding....

No one can explain the 'awesomeness' of whats about to happen over here at ATE better than the creator of this 'Dream Wedding' herself Brandi Lee of Balee Images... 

You HAVE to check her {dream a little dream} BLOG POST out!!!

...and make sure to like all of our talented, amazing, generous vendors out on Facebook!!!

Greyson's Vintage Circus

Greyson's is not only the cutest, but he is also the luckiest to have parents SO committed to making his first birthday party, THE BEST EVER!! They also had the awesome Wendy Swanson Photography to capture every moment and boy did she...

My talented friend Ali worked on this party for months... and it really shows! From making her own centerpieces, to creating vintage replicas of fun circus games, and even making her own cupcakes with 'fire' jumping tigers and balancing elephants... seriously every nook and cranny was just as adorable as the next!

Just when you think nothing could be cuter than the decor, we then insert these AMAZING pictures of Grey.... Or should I say 'The Ringmaster'...

Make sure to go like Wendy Swanson Photography on FACEBOOK! I have heard it's not easy to capture a first birthday, but really there were SO many cute ones to even post them all!!! 

Sooo Ali, shall we start planning his second birthday?!?!;)

Flowers in Bloom Backdrop

You guys might remember this PINWHEEL BACKDROP that I did for our clothing store Whittaker House...well it was time for a change, and I'm SO ecstatic at how our new window turned out!!! My grandma and I have been working on and off on this project for two days...and SO WORTH IT!! 

With all the funky weather we have had lately, I still wanted to keep it fun and very colorful!! 

You can find my *Free* flower template and tutorial HERE!!! xox

{Pretty In Pink} Bridal Shower

This past weekend was one of my beautiful friends bridal shower; Alison was so nervous about it all coming together, but when I walked in I was BLOWN AWAY. It was just gorgeous, and such a perfect 'pre-party' to her wedding I'm styling this July! I immediately text her after the party and new I had to show you guys a quick look into the "pretty in pink" bridal shower! 

Alison's mom Kathy and her two longtime friends worked so hard on this shower, and every little DIY detail was just lovely!!! From handmade tassels, to the vintage gold and pearl centerpieces it was fantastic!!! Not to mention the unbelievable dessert table, oh my, YUM.

Location: Blue Chip Casino