The Enchanted Crystal{ San Francisco City Tour Part One)

If you ever get a chance to shop in San Francisco, make sure you go into the Marina on Union Street where there is a plethora(yes a plethora) of cute boutiques: M.A.C. super store, great restaurants, the oh so fun Bar None, and a few blocks away, a Paper Source-need I say more??? Well yes I do,actually, my friend Stella and I found a wonderful shop filled with wonderful trinkets. It was gorgeous in there and it took my breath away when I saw the fabulous storefront. I was like a little kid taking my time walking around the store.

The loveliest man was there and seeing the cameras dangling from our necks he assumed we were tourist and struck up a conversation asking where we were from.
I wanted to reply, I hail from a great far land called Daly City( P.S. it's a border city of San Francisco about 9 miles away), but I was honest and told him we were just playing tourists on a Sunday afternoon.
He walked us around a bit and while Stella gave in to the beautiful selection of rings, I walked around and snapped pictures.

Okay, fell in love with this gorgeous mirror.............

I tried to capture the "B" in this glass that I personally KNOW stands for "Brenda", ahem, but you know, it could also stand for "bride", I suppose...........

Every table was a theme and I just couldn't get enough!

This is also a great place to get Easter hats that are GORGEOUS and handmade by the owner.

It really was beautiful in there and it was one of those places you can't quite see everything in one shop because it looks like one big treasure chest. You also suddenly don't hear traffic and don't remember that you have an appointment or that the meter is running.....it's a nice little retreat.

As we were walking out, he came up to us and said hold out your hand.
I thought he was going to pull a granddad move and give us chocolate or something and he said
While you guys tour our beautiful city carry this with. I always carry my heart with me in SF.
and he placed a heart shaped glass in our palms!

So if you get a chance. stop by, they are super nice in that store and I bet you will have a nice time in there feasting your eyes on all the treasures. It was truly magical in there!

The Enchanted Crystal
1895 Union St
(between Laguna St & Octavia St)
San Francisco, CA 94123 (415) 885-1335

To Trash or Not to Trash?

What do you think about Trash-the-Dress sessions? Are they art or a passing fad?

Well, check out these amazing photos from http://www.trashthedress.com/ before you make up your mind:

The idea of getting to wear the wedding dress one more time and playing in the water, not being afraid to get dirty? Sounds like fun to me!

Till next time,

-Jen

DIY Inspiration

Mathew Mead is a genius. There I said it. Go take a look at Matthew Mead Style
but after you finish here because if you click away now you will be gone for a very long time.....
I can spend outrage amounts of time just pouring through archives and reading the instructions on how to assemble, well, just about any and every picture featured on the site.
Great ideas for wedding pojects, favors, for just about any wedding theme you can think of!

{The pictures I used are all from matthewmeadstyle.com}

Grab a cup of coffee and a notepad and settle in my friends because the ideas are superb and easy to construct based on the instructions I have seen. Store bought stuff made to look super cute. Old household items transformed into shabby chic must-haves....ugh. I could go on and on, so take a look for yourself.

Ok one more,
Wanna give away match boxes,. but don't wanna to give away matches?

In love with M.M.,

B

Waterlily Pond

"modern, free-spirited, exotic, adventurous, organic, nature-inspired, sexy"
waterlilly pond excerpt


amen sister.amen.

I was in a class recently with Soho Sakai and she mentioned how Natasha had an eye for color and even from her first class she knew that Natasha had a special gift. She asked if we had ever heard Waterlily Pond and I was thrilled to know that this great floral design studio in San Francisco was the same one I had bookmarked on my computer. I LOVE Waterlily Pond and wish that I could be as innovative and ambitious as Natasha is with her floral design and colors.

I could just go on and on and post her whole portfolio, it's that beautiful. She's based out of SF and if you get a chance to check out her site, it's gorgeous eye candy.


B

Run don't walk!

OMG.
I have fallen in love.
This is the real thing.........I absolutely ADORE these photos, this art, that Alicia Bock has created.
I came across her Etsy shop and yay! she has a blog, Bloom,Grow, Love
Another for me to blogstalk how awesome is that? I only have about 25 I read daily...that's not a lot though right? right?

AUGH! They are gorgeous. Check her out. :)

B

Light Em' Up

Hi, yeah, um I *loVe*Candles in tall vases. This is a stunning picture to me because not only is it simple and beautiful, but it makes such an impact and doesn't cost a whole lot to recreate!

{Pictures via social design}

{here}

I just had to post of about the impact of lighting at a reception. I am just a huge fan of candles and think it is such a great way to add to the decor of any room. Jen actually made some wonderful soy candles for her wedding.
This was her beautiful head table. Check out my flowers :P
The soy candles she and her husband made at home using old glasses from thrift stores I want to say?
Here are some candle holders, candlebras that I found at Mocoloco Design, Add Style UK, and CocktailVibes.

{here}

here

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In black and in clear



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I love this table top. Its so simple to recreate. If you are on a budget, Marshalls always has these tall candle stands for like $6.99....I mean this can be a total DIY recreation if you are up for it.
Floral foam wreath, flowers of your choice, candle stand or low pillar.
I'm talking about $25-35 max.

Last weekend we checked out the Oakland Museum in downtown Oakland, CA. We were pleasantly surprised by how cool it was, both literally and figuratively. It was pretty toasty outside, but we were able to relax and enjoy the exhibits in nice cool temps sans AC thanks to the crafty engineering of the building. They have an exhibit right now called "The Birth of Cool" which is all about "California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury". They also asked local students to share their definitions of cool in the present day, and that exhibit, entitled "Cool, Remixed" is a fresh, youthful take on modern day cool.

The museum is also available for rent for special events, and after seeing the amazing terraces, I just had to tell you all about this amazing venue!

Photos are from the Oakland Museum website, rental info here

Some of the details that I found most promising:

• you can use any licensed caterer
• they offer parking in the garage (170 spaces) for only $55 per hour
• there is no cost to have your caterer serve alcohol
• and, of course, it is always good to have your money go towards supporting a good cause

For those Bay Area brides with a guest list of 150+, this is a great venue.

Till next time,

Jen